In a message dated 6/11/2004 7:36:05 AM Central Daylight Time, jitsu@gru.net writes: I'm descended from Capt. James Parker of Groton, MA and also descended through his brother Abraham of Chelmsford, MA. Does anyone have the names of their parents or birthplace in England? Charles The father of these men was John Parker who was born in Great Burstead, Essex, England based on information in an article in the NEGHR of January 1999. His wife, and mother of his children (there were seven) has been commonly accepted as Joane Drake although I have seen no evidence of that other than a statement of their marriage in a marriage CD which is some records, some statements. According to that record it claims that Joane Drake and John Parker were married in 1616 which is after the births of the oldest sons, John and James. However I have found transcriptions of parish registers in Great Burstead (on the LDS website) for the births of all the children that list the mother as Ann - and a marriage of John Parker and Ann Gelley in Great Burstead in 1611 which is the proper time frame. These are transcriptions and not submitted records - a big difference. Obviously more research is needed, but I personally believe that Ann Gelley was the mother of all of these children born in Great Burstead, Essex, England and that Joane Parker was his second wife. I too am descended by James Parker and his brother Abraham Parker throug the marriage of their children, James (James) and Mary (Abraham) Parker. What is your line of descent? Jo Hogle