[Page 262] Baptized 1693 [m.] 2 [D.] 16 Mary, D. Timothy & Elizabeth Cutler [In 1693, the 2nd month was April.]
Common belief seems to follow Wyman (p. 726) which says that John Parker, s/o Daniel, m. 12 Jan 1713-14 Mary Cutler (VRs, p. 1:257), and had two children Hannah m. 1741 William Sweetser and Stephen, both baptized together 1728 (Church Records, p. 127, "children of John Parker"). Stephen's birth is recorded in 1727 (VRs, p. 1:294, "son of John & Mary Parker").
The concern with this scenario is the will of Mary's mother in 1726. Mary is not mentioned. If Mary is assumed to be deceased due to this, then the will faithfully names every surviving child (i.e., only Elizabeth) and every surviving grandchild of all deceased children. If Mary is not deceased, then a mother with only two surviving children out of 10 simply left all mention of one out of her will? So the lack of mention of Mary is striking. Some confirmation of the more morbid assumption is seen in Wyman himself, p. 257, where the division of the father's estate in 1718 is described, and Mary is not named.
There is no death record for Mary. But Stephen's birth in Dec 1727 makes him only the second child after 14 years of marriage, which seems odd. Combined with the will, this raises doubts. It would not be surprising if John Parker married Mary who died soon, and that Hannah and Stephen are children of a second wife. More research is needed.
