RICHARD WATSON PARKER (1835-1899)
- was born in Greenwich, London, son of Edward Stone Parker (1802-1865) & Mary Cook WOOLMER (?-1842) who sailed to Sydney, Australia in 1839 with their 6 sons & became a Methodist preacher and assistant Protector of Aborigines

He married Alice Watson JACKSON (1854-1931) in 1875
- 1 of 6 children of Adam JACKSON & Allis SIDEBOTTOM who married 1841 in Stockport, England & became pioneer settlers of Runnimede, Blenheim

On July 21 1875 at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev G. S. Harper, Mr Richard Watson Parker, of Blenheim, to Alice Watson, second daughter of Mr Adam Jackson, Runnimede, near Renwick


RICHARD & ALICE had 8 daughters:
... 1
1876 - 1963 Alice Woolmer Parker
- named after her paternal grandmother
- Alice married Robert Talmage RUSH (1876-1913) in 1899
- they had at least 10 children


... 2
1877 - 1897 Ida May Parker
- Ida died aged 20


... 3
1880 - ? Amy Armstrong Parker
- Amy married Edward Alfred Stone PARKER (1876-1946) in 1906 (they were cousins)
On 6th Feb 1906 at the Church of Nativity, by the Ven Archdeacon Grace; Amy Armstrong Parker, third daughter of the late R. W. Parker, Grove Road, Blenheim, to Edward Alfred Stone Parker, of Granity, son of the late Edward Lancelot Parker, C.E., Victoria
... A quiet wedding was solemnised at the Church of the Nativity yesterday afternoon, the contracting parties being Mr Edward Alfred Stone Parker, C.E., of Victoria, and Miss Amy Armstrong Parker, third daughter of the late Mr R. W. Parker, of Grove Road, Blenheim. The Ven. Archdeacom Grace was the officiating minister. The bride, who was attended by Miss Mary parker as bridesmaid, was given away by her uncle, Mr W. B. Parker. The bridegroom was assisted by Mr Shirley Parker as best man. The bride wore a tailor-made travelling costume of grey tweed; the bridesmaid was gowned in pink Panama cloth, with hat to match. After the ceremony a large circle of guests were entertained at afternoon tea by the mother of the bride and the customary healths were drunk. The happy couple left by the four o'clock train for Granity. West Coast, where Mr Parker pursues his vocation as lay preacher for the Church of England. In the evening a large party of young people assembled at the residence of the bride's mother, Grove Road


... 4
1883 - 1973 Mary Emma Parker
- Mary did not marry


... 5
1887 - 1960 Violet Edna Parker
- Violet married John WRIGHT in 1915


... 6
1888 - 1971 Irene Vera 'Rene' Parker
- Irene married Charles Gray Campbell GEE (1883-1943) in 1911
- Charles was in partnership with Andrew Duncan McLaughlan as Land, Estate and General Commission Agents at Blenheim until 1915


... 7
1891 - 1973 Doris Winifred Parker
- Doris married Victor Andrew LOGAN (1889-1975) in 1915
- Victor was a Telegraph Operator in Blenheim


... 8
1894 - 1985 Gladys Maud Parker
- Gladys married Roy HOLDAWAY (1894-1966) in 1920
- son of John Frederick Ernest HOLDAWAY & Mary Ann Emma KIRBY



NOTES
19 Oct 1878
... Richard Watson Parker was nominated as a Candidate for Election as Conservator to supply an Extraordinary Vacany at the Lower Wairau District


10 March 1884
... Richard Watson Parker, storekeeper of Grove Road, was a witness in Court describing a drunken fight between James Andrill and Henry Sutherly


in November 1888
... Richard applied for parcel of land No 435, as did his brother, William Benoni Parker (1837-1911), youngest son


On 10 March 1890
... Eichard Watson Parker, Storekeeper of Blenheim, filed for Bankruptcy


30 Nov 1897
... Richard is on the jury in the Court case of Mills v Christchurch Press Company in a libel action. The other jurors were: John Annear, William Cumming, Robert Beatson (foreman), William Henry Buckman, Charles John Fulton, Robert March Harding, Harry Hillam, Edward Bayley Mabin, Edward Mead, Alexander Mowat & John Charles Poole


8 May 1899
... BLENHEIM this day - Richard Watson Parker, a storekeeper, 64 years of age, a very old resident of the district, died suddenly this morning from heart disease while engaged in turning some hay in a paddock

PARKER, Richard Watson
... It is our painful dity to-day to announce the death of Mr Richard Watson Parker, storekeeper, of Grove road, which occurred suddenly this morning. The deceased was engaged with Mr W. Mills, one of his employees, turning hay in his paddock in Hutcheson street. They were working at opposite ends of a row, intending to meet in the middle of the row, and on looking up Mr Mills saw that Mr Parker had fallen; and found on going over to him that he was quite dead. The cause of death was heart disease. Deceased was sixty-four years of age on the 4th inst., and had not been ailing to the time of his death. Yesterday he was out and about as usual.
Mr Parker first arrived in Marlborough in 1865 from Australia, and about 1866 embarked in partnersihp with his brother, Mr W. B. Parker, in the business of general storekeeper. The partnership was dissolved in 1883, the deceased keeping on the business, in which he has continued up to the present time. He was also connected as a contractor with the formation of the Blenheim-Awatere railway, but unfortunately, the venture did not turn out successfully.
Mr Parker did not actively engage in local politics, although he served two terms of office on the local River Board, during the second term occupying the office of Chairman of the Board. He was highly esteemed and respected for his many good qualities by a large circle of friends, who will extend their hearty sympathy to his widow and family of seven daughters in their sad bereavement.
In consequence of Mr Parker's death the social to have been held in Wesley hall on Wednesday evening, and also the meeting of the W.C.T.U. to-morrow, have been postponed


Richard is buried Plot 7, Block 12 at Omaka Cemetery
Alice died 11 January 1931 aged 77 & is buried with him


PHOTO
Edward Stone Parker
father of Richard Watson & William Benoni Parker