MARY PARMENTER (WOOD) 1600-1690

[Ancestral Link: Lura Minnie Parker (Stagge), daughter of Minnie May Elmer (Parker), daughter of Mark Alfred Elmer, son of William Elmer, son of Sarah Peak (Elmer), daughter of Lemuel Peake, son of Jonathan Peake, son of Hannah Leavens (Peake), daughter of Hannah Wood (Leavens), daughter of Mary Parmenter (Wood).]

John and Mary (Parmenter) Woods
John WOODS - born February 6, 1609/10, England; died July 10, 1678, Marlborough, Massachusetts. Son of James WOODS. John WOODS, a pin-maker by trade, arrived in America at age 26 in 1635 aboard the 'Hopewell,' and first settled at Salem, Massachusetts, but removed to Sudbury, Massachusetts by 1638, becoming a proprietor there in 1639. He was admitted freeman on May 10, 1642, and received several Sudbury land grants through 1655. After Marlborough was formed in 1660, John sold his property at Sudbury and relocated to Marlborough, where he had been granted land and served in various town offices. On April 4, 1664, he deposed that he was about age 54. His will, dated November 26, 1677 and proved October 1, 1678, names his wife Mary, his three sons, daughter Katherine, son-in-law John BELLOWS, and grandchild Hannah LEVINS. The inventory of his estate, on July 19, 1678 at £303.03.07, mentions son-in-law Joseph NEWTON. Married about 1633.

Mary PARMENTER - born about 1610, probably at Bures St. Mary, Suffolk, England; died August 17, 1690, Marlborough, Massachusetts. Daughter of John PARMENTER and Bridget.

Note: There are various unresolved date differences in alternative publications for events recorded for the following children.

Children of John and Mary Woods
Mary - born August 30, 1634, England; died September 16, 1707. Of Sudbury and Marlborough, Massachusetts. Married May 9, 1655 John BELLOWS (1623-1683) of Concord. After their marriage Mary and John BELLOWS lived at Marlborough, and had the following children: Mary; Samuel; Abigail; Daniel; and Benjamin married.

Dorcas - born 1636, England. Lived at Sudbury and Marlborough, Massachusetts.

Hannah - born May 10, 1638, England; died October 25, 1666, Roxbury, Massachusetts. Married John LEAVENS.

John - born May 8, 1641, Sudbury, Massachusetts; died April 5, 1715. Of Sudbury and Marlborough, Massachusetts. Married Lydia RICE (born December 10, 1649; died September 24, 1723), daughter of Edward RICE and Anna BENT.
Children of John and Lydia:
John married first Martha BIGELOW, and second Patience BENT;
Lydia married Abraham EAGER;
Hannah married Thomas WITHERBEE;
Joseph; Sarah married Simon GATES;
Silence;
Col. Benjamin married Elizabeth MORSE; and
James married Dorothy BARNES.

Frances - born October 3, 1645, Sudbury, Massachusetts; died May 14, 1718, Marlborough, Massachusetts. Married June 7, 1671 Isaac HOWE (born August 8, 1648; died December 9, 1724), son of John and Mary.
Children:
Elizabeth;
Sarah;
Mary possibly married James RUSSELL, then married Jonathan WILDER, then married David CHURCH;
John died as infant;
John married Deliverance RICE;
Bethia;
Hannah; and
Thankful.

James - born July 18, 1647, Sudbury, Massachusetts; died August 7, 1718, Sudbury, Massachusetts. Married April 22, 1678 Hopestill WARD (born January 24, 1647; died December 23, 1718), daughter of William and Elizabeth.
Children, who all died young:
Bethiah;
James;
James;
Mary; and
Bethiah.

Catharine - born 1651, Sudbury, Massachusetts; died January 26, 1617, Sudbury, Massachusetts. Married Joseph NEWTON (died September 24, 1727).

Isaac - born July 14, 1655, Sudbury, Massachusetts; died July 18, 1720, Marlborough, Massachusetts. His will, dated June 8, 1720 and proved August 17, 1720, names his wife, sons Isaac, Joseph, Sharles and Solomon, and daughters Elizabeth and Dinah. The estate was inventoried August 2, 1720 at £515.18.06, about 2/3 being in real property. Married first Mary MAYNARD (died February 3, 1689, Marlborough, Massachusetts), daughter of John MAYNARD and Mary GATES, and second on May 8, 1700 Mary FAIRBANKS.
Children of first marriage:
Isaac died young;
Ephraim died young;
Mary married Abijah BRUCE; and
Elizabeth married Josiah NEWTON.
Children of second marriage:
Isaac married Margaret;
Joseph married Thankful;
Dinah;
Bethia died young;
Charles; and
Solomon.

James Woods, son of John Woods and Lydia Rice, born 30 October 1694, did not marry Dorothy Barnes. Deacon James Woods, son of James Woods and Hopestill Ward, born 11 October 1687, married Dorothy Barnes, (second wife Hepzibah Eager). Deacon James, Dorothy and Hepzibah are buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
found on ancestry.com

Surname History
The surname of PARMENTER was an occupational name 'le parmentier' a taylor. The name was probably brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. Occupational surnames originally denoted the actual occupation followed by the individual. At what period they became hereditary is a difficult problem. Many of the occupation names were descriptive and could be varied. In the Middle Ages, at least among the Christian population, people did not usually pursue specialized occupations exclusively to the extent that we do today, and they would, in fact, turn their hand to any form of work that needed to be done, particularly in a large house or mansion, or on farms and smallholdings. In early documents, surnames often refer to the actual holder of an office, whether the church or state. Early records of the name mention Ralph le Parmenter, 1273, County Cambridge. John Permonter of County Somerset, was documented during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377). Johannes Parmenter of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. Hamo de Parmenter was recorded in County Lancashire in 1400. John Parmynter and Margaret Dunnington were married in London in the year 1530. The name has many variant spellings which include Parminter, Parminter, and Parmater. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield, and embroidered on his surcoat, the draped and flowing garment worn over the armour. Surnames as we know them today were first assumed in Europe from the 11th to the 15th Century. They were not in use in England or in Scotland before the Norman Conquest, and were first found in the Domesday Book. The employment in the use of a second name was a custom that was first introduced from the Normans. They themselves had not long before adopted them. It became, in course of time, a mark of gentler blood, and it was deemed a disgrace for gentlemen to have but one single name, as the meaner sort had. It was not until the reign of Edward II (1307-1327) it became general practice amongst all people.
found on ancestry.com