In a message dated 1/23/03 3:02:40 PM Central Standard Time, nelsondean@cox.net writes: > Aaron & Abigail Parker named their second son Samuel > probably in recognition of the child's grandfather, > Samuel WINSHIP. The child was not named after any > of Aaron's ancestors, brothers or uncles because none > were named Samuel. Pelatiah and Ruth (names of the > parents of Abigail ADAMS, born 7 Jun 1697) are not > among the names of Aaron & Abigail Parker's children I have, myself, ruled out Abigail ADAMS daughter of Moses and Lydia (Whitney) because of the Sherborn connection and the logic there, Although I agree to some extent with the logic of Nelson Dean, I never trust the "naming" as a way of determining parentage. Just based on that, Aaron Parker and Abigail (????) named one of their sons Moses, which some used as an argument to state that therefore the Abigail was that mentioned above as they named a child after Abigail's father - Moses. As I said, I do not believe this is the case, but I also do not rule out the daughter of Pelatiah and Ruth (Parker) Adams either. She is noted in the "History of Chelmsford", and the "Adams History" as being the wife of Aaron Parker. However, she would have only been 15 at the time of this marriage, rather young. Actually in the "Adams History" there is another possibility noted -- that she was the daughter of Jonathan Adams (wife Leah), born in 1693. The point is made that these are all secondary sources. And we all know that some records are just not to be found, even in towns such as Chelmsford that has published records. Unfortunately, we do not have original documents and must rely on secondary sources combined with the the VRs (when they exist) and the common practices of the time. Preponderance of Evidence is the best we can do. Assuming Aaron Parker did marry Abigail Winship in Concord, (according to the VRs) was this the SAME Aaron Parker? Do we have that information? There were other Aaron Parkers as well. And the logic of Aaron Parker, born and lived in Chelmsford, marrying Abigail Adams, daughter of Pelatiah, also born and raised in Chelmsford, is also a point. All of their children were born there as well. Nelson Dean listed quite a few secondary sources - I have others as well, all adding to the confusion as to the parentage of the wife of Aaron Parker. I am HOPING someone somewhere may have a will or probate record or other document where the child and parentage are made clear. Does ANYONE have such a document? Jo Hogle