William Parkman Collection, 1760-1826
Vault A45, Parkman Unit 1
Extent: 23 items.
Arrangement: Organized into two series: I. Papers, 1773-1826; II. Wallets, 1760, 1770. Papers arranged chronologically.
Biography: William Parkman (1741-1832) was born in Westborough, Massachusetts (the eighth of seventeen children). He worked as a carpenter and surveyor until about 1770, when he moved to Concord, Massachusetts, and purchased a farm. In addition to his work on the farm, he served as deputy sheriff from 1770 to 1795. At this time, his farm also functioned as a tavern specifically for teamsters. In 1778, he was appointed Deacon to the First Church of Concord. In 1795, having moved close to the town center, he became a shopkeeper and postmaster, a position he held until 1810. Meanwhile, William Parkman also served as a Justice of the Peace. From 1798 to 1825, he was a member of the Social Circle in Concord. Parkman had eight children with wife Lydia Adams, to whom he was married from 1766 to 1787. He second wife (1789-1810) was Lydia Proctor. His third wife was Sarah Wheeler, who was the mother-in-law of Parkman’s fifth daughter, Sarah. They remained married from 1811 until William Parkman’s death in 1832.
Scope and content: Collection (1760-1826) consists of correspondence, one writ, one receipt, and two wallets. The writ dates from William Parkman’s time as deputy sheriff and relates to the case of Sprague v. Seaver. Parkman’s correspondence consists largely of letters from his brothers, Alexander and Samuel Parkman. The letters describe the financial situation of Alexander Parkman, who is requesting or waiting for money. Samuel Parkman writes to William Parkman about their brother’s debts. Additionally, the letters provide some information about the personal lives of William and Alexander. Related to these letters is a receipt signed by Samuel Parkman acknowledging receipt of $300 from Roger Brown on the account of Alexander Parkman. The collection also contains a letter from J. Wheeler concerning items that William Parkman would like for his shop. The collection also includes one letter from William Parkman’s son William and one from Esek Marsh. (Both involve personal matters.) Accompanying the papers are two leather wallets inscribed by William Parkman: one dated 1760 and one dated 1770.
Processed by: Sarah Galligan; finding aid completed 03/01/2012.
Container List:
Series I: Papers, 1773-1826 (in folder):
All letters are addressed to William Parkman in Concord, Mass.
Writ to William Parkman as Deputy Sheriff (Case of Sprague vs. Seaver) 1773 July 10.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1796 Nov. 22.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1797 April 15.
ALS from J. Wheeler, Boston, Mass., 1805 May 9.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1806 May 17.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1806 Dec. 27.
ALS from Samuel Parkman, Boston, Mass., 1807 May 8.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1807 May 9.
ALS from Samuel Parkman, Boston, Mass., 1807 May 25.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1807 June 21.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1807 September 12.
ALS from Samuel Parkman, Boston, Mass., 1898 January 19.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1808 May 7.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1808 July 12.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1808 September 3.
ALS from Alexander Parkman, Westmoreland, N.Y., 1808 December 17.
ALS from Samuel Parkman, Boston, Mass., 1809 February 9.
ALS from Samuel Parkman, Boston, Mass., 1809 February 18.
Receipt signed by Samuel Parkman acknowledging receipt of $300 from Roger Brown on the account of Alexander Parkman, 1808 February 13.
ALS from William Parkman, Camden, Maine, to his father William in Concord, Mass., 1818 Sept. 28.
ALS from Esek Marsh, Holliston, Mass. 1826 April 8.
Series II: Wallets, 1760, 1770 (in artifact box):
Wallet inscribed “Wm Parkman 1760.”
Wallet inscribed “Wm Parkman 1770.”
c2012 Concord Free Public Library, Concord, Mass.
Not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the Curator of the William Munroe Special Collections, Concord Free Public Library.
Back to the Special Collections homepage
Mounted 3 March 2012. rcwh.