Thomas Parker (minister)

Thomas Parker (1595–1677) was an English nonconforming clergyman and a founder of Newbury, Massachusetts.

Parker was born at Stanton St. Bernard, Wiltshire, the only son of the Revd. Robert Parker, M.A. and Dorothy Stevens. He received his schooling from his uncle William Noyes of Cholderton, Wiltshire, 'perhaps a godly, but a very severe master', who prepared him successfully for a University education. Following his father's departure into the Netherlands as a religious exile, Thomas matriculated sizar at Trinity College, Dublin at Michaelmas 1610. There he came to the attention of James Ussher, who, finding him a promising student, gave him encouragement. Returning to England he matriculated from Magdalen College, Oxford in April 1613: but a little more than a year later, in July 1614 (the year of his father's death at Doesburg, Gelderland) he registered as a student of Theology in the University of Leyden. He then proceeded to the University of Franeker, in Friesland, where he studied with his father's friend and colleague William Ames, taking his Master's degree on 1 April 1617.

Parker returned to England, settling at Newbury in Berkshire, where he taught at St. Bartholomew's School, and served as assistant preacher to William Twisse. His puritan opinions caused him to embark for New England, with a number of Wiltshire men, in the Mary and John of London, 26 March 1634; they landed in May. Approximately one hundred settled at Agawam, afterwards Ipswich, Massachusetts, where Parker remained a year as assistant to Nathaniel Ward.

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