Family:James Parker and Katherine Buller (1)

A family this large raises suspicions that it represents 2 families whose parents happen to have the same first names (the first 2 children are confirmed by the 1620 visitation, and all the christenings from 1627 to 1644 give the first names of both parents). However, the following record from 1673 is quoted at Find A Grave^[1]:

"Rowland, ye 20th, is a Corporall in Prince Ruperd's Regiment of Dragonnes; Sir Jo. Talbot is Leiuetenant Colonell, James Walker his Captin, now quartered at Hull, who gave this Information at Brosholme, 1673, Sep. ye 1st."

"Rich'd, ye 9th, Dr. of Phyzicke, went into Virginy, married a Londoner & had issue 6 children. Liveth upon S'nt James River in ye uplands of Virginy & hath been High Sherife of ye s'd County."

"George, ye 13th, prentice to a wollings draper at Hunington 12 myles of Exeter; went from there into Virginy."

The references to "the 20th", "the 9th" and "the 13th" apparently refer to the number of the child within the family, suggesting that there were as many as 3 more children if Rowland was truly the 20th child, although the numbering of George (conceivably a transcription error) raises a question about the accuracy of the numbering. Other than saying that the record is "at Browsholme", no source is given.

Since the family was clearly well-to-do, they likely used wet nurses, so the close spacing of the children is feasible, and it is entirely possible for a woman to have a child at 18 or 19 and to have one at age 45.

1. ↑ Dr Richard Parker I, in Find A Grave.