It's been interesting to get all the Parks emails today!I decided to post my Parks line again. I haven't done it since 1998, so here it is.: 1. Sir Robert Parke was born in 1580, at Preston England. He sailed to America on the "Arabela" with 76 passengers and landed in Boston, Mass., March 30, 1630. Sir Robert Parke was a man of some means. He did not come to America through dire necessity or to better his condition, but rather a desire to have more religious liberty. He brought one son, Thomas, with him. His son William came to America in December 1630 and his son Samuel came about the time of his father's death. Robert married Martha Chaplin, the daughter of William Chaplin, Feb. 9, 1601, in England. She was the mother of all his children who were Martha, Robert, William, Thomas, Samuel, and Anne. His second wife was Mrs. Alice Thompson, mother of Dorothy Thompson, who became the wife of Thomas Parke. He died at Mystic, Conn, c. 1665. 2. Thomas Parke, born c. 1620 in Hitcham, Suffolk County, England, came to America with his father in 1630. He married Dorothy Thompson, the daughter of John and Alice Thompson, who was baptized July 5, 1624, at Preston Capes, Conn. Thomas died July 30, 1709 in Preston, Conn., and she died after that date in Preston. Their children were Thomas, Nathaniel, Robert, William, Martha, Dorothy, Alice, and John. 3. Nathaniel Parke was born in 1651 in New London, Conn. He married Sarah Geer Feb. 28, 1676/7. She was born Feb. 27, 1659, at New London, Conn., the daughter of George and Sarah (Allyn) Geer. In 1701 he was allotted land for service in colonial wars. He died c. 1718 at Preston Conn. Their children were Nathaniel, Joseph, Ezekial, John, Isaac, Jacob, Phoebe, and Margaret. 4. Joseph Parke was born at North Groton, Conn. in 1677, and married Mary Smith (or Brintall, widow of _______ Paine) in Feb. 1709/10. He was a weaver in Groton in 1721, resided in Middletown 1724-1736, in Sharon to about 1744, and in Salisbury for a few years. He was one of the original members of the Congregational Church in Salisbury. He was buried Sept. 8, 1760, at Salisbury. His children were Josiah, Sarah, Joseph, Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, Daniel, Smith, and James. 5. Smith Parke Sr., was born in Preston, Conn., and baptized Nov. 5, 1721. He married Mary Davis July 9, 1747. She was born in 1729 and died Feb. 15, 1826, age 97. He was a farmer and was a Minuteman in the Revolutionary War. He moved to Canaan, N.Y., in 1780 and died Feb. 12, 1807. They are both buried in the Old Castle Burying Ground, Canaan, Columbia County, New York. Their children were Smith Jr., Mary, Eunice, John, Ezra, Joseph, Jonathan, Daniel, Lucy, and Reuben. 6. Smith Parke Jr. was born Nov. 13, 1749, at Sharon Conn. He married Mary Lord, b. 1753, on Sept. 5, 1771, Sharon, Conn. He died Dec. 23, 1848, and she had died Feb. 20, 1843, both in Hamilton, N.Y. They are both buried in Beaver Meadow Cemetery, near East Hamilton, N.Y. Their children were Ephraim, Davis, Smith, and John, plus one son and four unnamed daughters who died young. 7. Davis Parks, born Oct. 16, 1792 (maybe 1790) at Canaan, N.Y. died March 28, 1893, at Fowler, Clinton County, MI. He married Catherine Coon Feb. 14, 1812. She was born Nov 7, 1787, and died Sept. 14, 1842, at Fowler, MI. I do not know if they had children other than one son, Samuel. 8. Samuel Henry Parks was born Oct. 14, 1812, and died May 18, 1896 at Fowler. He married Zelpha Butler, Jan. 3, 1832. She was born April 12, 1812, Deleware County, N.Y. the daughter of John and Betsey (Brown) Butler, and died at Fowler May 6, 1897. Their children were George, Sydney, Riley, and Lucinda. 9. George W. Parks was born Oct. 11, 1834 in Novi Twp., Oakland County, MI, and died Nov. 1, 1889, at Fowler. He married Lois Mansfield, the daughter of Miles and Samantha (Eddy) Mansfield, March 23, 1862. She was born Aug. or Nov. 20, 1847, at Eagle, MI, and died Sept. 23, 1921. Their children were Rose, Edwin, Archie, Perry, Clarence, Floyd, Margaret, and Beryl. Addison, Ida, and Edith died as children. 10. Edwin Parks was born Sept. 21, 1865 in Dallas Township, Clinton County, MI, and died April 1, 1938, in Lansing, MI. Edwin married Lena Nurenberg, born March 1, 1868, in Westphalia, Clinton, County, MI, the daughter of Anthony and Mary Fedewa, March 22, 1890. She died March 7, 1922. They are both buried in Weidman. Their children were Addison, Maude, Hazel, William, Mable, Bernice, Beatrice, Helen, Edna, and Lois. Helen was my mother and I am Leila. Much of my information on the early generations came from the Parke Society Newsletter 1984, Volume XXI, No. 1. Leila Noah Klaiss