The Lowell Sun
Friday May 7, 1937
Deaths
Mrs. Philena Parker
Mrs. Philena C. Parker, widely known in Lowell and Chelmsford and widow of Jesse H. Parker, a Civil war veteran, died Wednesday afternoon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred S. Ashworth in Wenham, aged 92 years. She was the oldest member of the First United Baptist Church, a member of the Floyd Bible class of the church and for many years conducted an embroidery shop in Davis Square, now Gallagher Square in Lowell.
She resided in Chelmsford for over 20 years. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Fred S. Ashworth, Mrs. Mabel A. Dana of Lynn, and Mrs. James Bartlett of Sudbury; 11 grandchildren and two nephews. The body was removed to the Blake Funeral Home, Westford at Stevens Street.
The Lowell Sun
Monday May 10, 1937
Funerals
Mrs. Philena C. Parker
Funeral services for Mrs. Philena C. Parker, a resident of Lowell and Chelmsford for many years, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred Ashworth at Wenham, were held at the Blake Funeral home, Westford at Stevens Street, Saturday afternoon. Rev. Ambrose M. Bailey, D.D., pastor of the First United Baptist Church, officiated. The bearers were Fred Ashworth, Robert W. Dana, Benton P. Dana, and Carl Moxley. There were numerous flowers. Burial was in the family lot in Edson Cemetery where the committal service was read by Rev. Dr. Bailey.
There is also an article from the Lowell Sun, Friday Sept. 19, 1969 by Frances Berg
“The forthcoming exhibit at the Wenham Museum Route 1A, Wenham, will have a special opening on Sunday, September 21 from 2 to 5 p.m.
“Fancy Goods” is a reconstruction of an embroidery stamping shop and fancy goods store of the type found in Lowell in the 1870’s. This city probably had more such stores than any other New England city. Thousands of country girls came here to work in the mills and made better wages with a greater buying power for their dollars than existed anywhere else in the world.
One such girl was Philena (Moxley) Parker, who learned the embroidery stamping trade while still in her teens and subsequently felt capable enough at it to own her own business. She purchased a choice piece of land in Lowell and had her own shop and home built on it.
The embroidery stamping blocks she purchased from one of her former employers, who had brought them from Glasgow, Scotland, the center of Scotland muslin manufacture and its attendant industries, sewed muslin and cotton printing. The carved wooden blocks used for quick printing of repeated patterns were generally made of sycamore planed smooth and the pattern traced on from a sketch made on paper. The designs were carved out with gouges.
The blocks were dipped in a flour and water paste, dyed bright blue and pressed onto the material to be stamped. Blocks of this type were brought to Lowell in the 1840’s and were used to create designs to be embroidered on coats, dresses and baby things. Larger blocks were used for designs on burlap for hooked rugs.
The embroidery stamps which form the basis of the “Fancy Goods” exhibit were donated to the Wenham Museum by Mrs. Fred Ashworth of Wenham, the daughter of Philena Moxley Parker. At the age of 81 Mrs. Parker gave a demonstration of stamping to the Wenham Village Improvement Society, completing an entire design on burlap of a rug later to be hooked by a partial blind woman. This rug is also part of the exhibit. “
This was also on-line but I have no idea if this is accurate:
www.nh.searchroots.com/HillsboroughCo/Merrimack/trees.htmlPARKER FAMILY #1
DESCENDANTS OF EBENEZER PARKER OF CHELMSFORD MA & MERRIMACK NH
(see ancestors of this line at top of page)
Normally generations are indicated by the immigrant ancestor. In this case, in the first PARKER family shown here, Ebenezer Parker, although not the immigrant ancestor, is being designated generation #1, and he apparently is the first generation of his family to remove to the area now known as Merrimack NH.
***FIRST GENERATION***
Ebenezer-1 Parker, b. 6 Dec 1748 in Chelmsford Mass, son of Jacob and Rachel Parker of Chelmsford MA [Chelmsford MA records]; removed to Merrimack NH, and m. Keziah, dau of Benjamin & Elizabeth (Taylor) Hassell (Keziah's oldest sister was the first white child born in Merrimack). She b. 7 May 1746 in Merrimack NH. He d. in Merrimack NH, 16 April, 1804, age 51 and his wife died 24 Feb 1816, age 68. He and his wife are buried in Turkey Hill Cemetery, Merrimack NH. Ebenezer Parker served Merrimack NH as Surveyor of Highways, Selectman and Town Clerk. In 1781 he is listed in Tax List District #1.
Children of Ebenezer & Keziah (Hassell) Parker:
1. +John Parker, b. 15 June 1774 Merrimack NH; m1) Hitty B. Wilkins; m2) Sarah McCain
2. +Benjamin Parker, b. 17 June 1776 Merrimack NH; m. Elizabeth Gibson
3. Willard Parker, b. 19 Aug 1778 Merrimack NH, died young
4. +Jesse/Jessie Parker, b. 2 May 1782 Merrimack NH; m. Jane Moor
5. Rachel Parker, b. 3 March 1785 in Merrimack NH; m. -- Mills. Two of their sons, David and Cyrus Mills, became ministers, the former settling in Peoria and the latter a missionary in Ceylon.
6. Joseph Parker, b. 2 June 1786 in Merrimack NH
7. +Elizabeth "Betsey" Parker, b. 29 Feb 1788 in Merrimack NH; m. David Nichols
8. +Willard Parker, b. 14 April 1790 in Merrimack NH; m. Anna Riddle
SECOND GENERATION
Jesse/Jessie-2 Parker (Ebenezer-1), son of Ebenezer & Keziah (Hassell) Parker, b. 2 May 1782 in Merrimack NH; m. 31 Oct 1809 to Jane Moor(e), dau of John and Betsey (Miller) Moore. She b. 23 Feb 1781. He d. 27 Nov 1824 aged 42. She d. 27 May 1863.
Children of Jesse & Jane (Moor) Parker:
1. Keziah Parker, b. 29 Jan 1811, m. Samuel Patten [see Bedford History]
2. Jane Parker, b. 6 May 1812, m. James McPherson [see Bedford History]
3. +Jesse Parker, b. 3 Apr 1814 in Bedford NH
4. Ebenezer Parker, b. 1820, d. 1834
5. +Thomas Parker, b. 17 Apr 1822
THIRD GENERATION***
Thomas-3 Parker (Jesse/Jessie-2, Ebenezer-1) son of Jesse & Jane (Moor) Parker, was b. 17 Apr 1822 in Bedford NH; m. Alma Goodnow. She b. 19 Oct 1822 in Unity NH. He served three years in the Civil War in Company G., 3rd NH Artillery. He went to California in 1852 and died there February 1865. His wife died July 1869 in Lowell MA.
Children of Thomas & Alma (Goodnow) Parker:
1. +Jesse H. Parker, b. 31 Dec 1843 Lowell NH
2. +Alma J. Parker, b. 11 May 1847 in Lowell NH
3. Frank T. Parker, b. 17 Apr 1850; unm.
FOURTH GENERATION
Jesse H.-4 Parker (Thomas-3,Jesse/Jessie-2, Ebenezer-1) son of Thomas & Alma (Goodnow) Parker, was. b. 31 Dec 1843. He m1) 1 Apr 1864 to Clara Pressey, who d. 19 Oct 1872. He m2) 1 Sep 1880 to Philena Moxley. SHe was b. 29 Nov 1844 in VT [census says 1847]. They resided Lowell MA; he was a moulder. In 1900 living in Lowell MA, his occupation iron moulder.
Children of (1st marr) Jesse H. & Clara (Pressey) Parker
1. Charles F. Parker, b. 4 Dec 1864, d. 17 Apr 1899
2. Fred H. Parker, b. 12 June 1868
Children of (2nd marr) Jesse H. & Philena (Moxley) Parker
3. Minnie E. Parker, b. 7 Apr 1882 [census says April 1881]
4. Philena "Lina" A. Parker, b. 28 May 1883
5. Mabel A. Parker, b. 21 July 1886