Abel Parker

Hon. Abel Parker was born in Westford, Massachusetts, March 25, 1753, son of Samuel Parker by his second wife, Mary (Proctor) (Robbins) Parker. In 1767, when he was fourteen years old, he removed with his father's family to Pepperell, where in 1774 he enrolled in Captain John Nutting's company of minute men, in Col. William Prescott's regiment. When, on April 19,1775, the Lexington alarm reached Pepperell, Abel Parker was plowing in a field about a mile from his home and did not receive the news until his company had left for the seat of action. He immediately left his oxen, unyoked, in the field and hurried home. Seizing his gun and Sunday coat, he started on a run, passed the Groton companies, and overtook his own at Groton Ridges, but the company was too late to share in the glory of the day. On arriving at Cambridge he enlisted in the same company in Col. Prescott's regiment and was stationed at that place. He was not included in the troops detailed for the occupation of Bunker Hill, but so anxious was he to participate in active service that he gave his ration of spirit to a comrade, and obtained by exchange a share in the battle. He received a severe leg wound by a musket ball, which was preserved by his descendants, the ball passing between the bones of the leg without breaking either. Upon recovery he served the remainder of his enlistment, and later he was in service in New York and Rhode Island, and held commissions as an ensign and lieutenant.

Following the war he returned to his farm in Pepperell, and on May 5,1780, he came to Jaffrey, where he settled on lot 20, range 1, then an unbroken forest. For many years past the place has been known as the Old Crowe farm, and the present house on the premises was built by his son, Asa Parker, about 1832. In 1807 Abel Parker removed to the center of the town, where he had built in 1803 the house at present (1931) owned by his great-granddaughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Cabot, where he spent the rest of his life.

He was a man of recognized ability and commanding influence, and held many offices of dignity and importance in town and State. For twenty years he was Judge of Probate for Cheshire County; he was also a delegate to the State convention which adopted the Federal Constitution; and, as a member of the electoral college of 1824, he voted for John Quincy Adams. In 1812 he was appointed postmaster and held the position for five years. He was a life member of the New Hampshire Bible Society, New Hampshire Missionary Society, Tract Society, and the Cheshire County Bible Society. He is described as a "man tall and stately in appearance, dignified in his manners, grave in his deportment." He died May 2, 1831.