idiah Jewett of Pepperell, to whom he was married on the 14th October, 1777. She is still surviving.

Exactly five months after this date, he received an ensign's appointment in the army, and engaged for the term of nine months to serve in RhodeIsland. He enlisted fourteen men, and marched to Providence, where he remained in command of that portion of the company, with others who joined, for about three months, before the other officers came on. The company was afterwards placed under the command of Capt. Joseph Boynton, and attached to the regiment of Col. Nathaniel Wade, of Newburyport. About the first of August, the army commanded by Gen. Sullivan proceeded to the Island, and remained in the face of the enemy about three weeks, when by reason of the dispersion of the French fleet, it was obliged to retire; and being pursued by the British, the action of the 29th August commenced, which terminated in the retreat of the enemy. In this action the regiment of Wade was not engaged, though drawn up in battle array, and in momentary expectation of orders to engage, when the British retreated.

In October, 1779, there was a requisition for men to go to New-York for three months--the officers to be taken from the militia, unless they could procure those of an equal rank to serve in their stead. A lieutenant who belonged to Pepperell was detached, and applied to Parker, to take his place, to which he consented on receiving a commission of equal rank in the army, which was issued 28th October, 1779. A portion of the troops marched the day he received his commission, and he was ordered to bring on the remainder of the men from Pepperell and Groton. He marched shortly after with the residue, but before he arrived, met those who had first marched on

their return-the contemplated attack on the city of New-York having been abandoned.

On the 5th of May, 1780, Mr. Parker removed from Pepperell, and commenced a settlement in the northeasterly part of Jaffrey, that part of the town being then nearly a wilderness. Here he began clearing and cultivating a farm-devoting his days to severe toil, and his leisure evenings to the acquisition of knowledge. He was industrious in his pursuits, and blessed in his industry. He contributed liberally to the formation of a very respectable library in Jaffrey, and another in Dublin, and made himself thoroughly acquainted with the books which they contained, and studied such treatises on the law as he could elsewhere conveniently procure. In his early years, the advantages of education were of difficult attainment; and he was indebted in a great measure to his own exertions in this respect, for his success and respectability in life. He always regretted his want of opportunity for a better education in youth, and was solicitous to provide for his children, the advantages of which he had been deprived.

The various offices he sustained may be mentioned, to show how far his own exertions for the acquisition of knowledge were successful, and in what estimation his intelligence and patriotism were held, by those who knew him well.

He was appointed a justice of the peace by President Langdon, Oct. 9, 1788; a justice of the peace and quorum by Gov. Bartlett, Oct. 5, 1793. At this period, these appointments were more sparingly conferred, and the honor of the office, and the duties of a magistrate, were considered of far greater importance, than in our day and generation, when similar honors are indiscriminately conferred on all who can muster friends. enough to recommend them. On the 10th June,

1813, he was appointed a justice of the peace and quorum throughout the state. Under the act of July 9, 1798, for the valuation of lands, &c. and the enumeration of slaves within the United States, Mr. Parker was appointed an assistant assessor.

A vacancy occurring in the office of judge of probate for the county of Cheshire, he received that appointment from Gov. Gilman, 17 May, 1802. This office he held until he arrived at the age of 70, a period of more than twenty years. During this time he gave an unremitted attention to the discharge of its duties, and his promptness and exactitude were well known, and acknowledged; and his decrees in the very many contested cases which came before him were so far satisfactory, that the appeals during his administration averaged only about one a year, and in those cases only two decrees were reversed, and partial alterations made in three or four others.

Judge Parker discharged the duties of postmaster of Jaffrey, from Jan. 1812, for about five years, when he resigned.

Beside these various appointments, which evinced the confidence of government in his probity and intelligence, he was elected to various civil offices by the people among whom he resided, and who most intimately knew him. He held several offices in the town--was a member of the Convention for the adoption of the Federal Constitution -was seven years a member of the popular branch of the Legislature-and an elector of president and vice-president in 1824. It was a subject of satisfaction to him, that all the various appointments with which he had been honored, were voluntarily bestowed, without solicitation or request on his part.

Judge Parker became a professor of religion in 1780, and his unwavering religious belief sup¬ ported him during the severe illness, which termi

nated in his decease, as well as in all other periods of affliction. He was a constant supporter and liberal contributor to various benevolent and charitable institutions. He was a life member of the N. H. Bible Society-N. H. Missionary Society, and Evangelical Tract Society-an active member of the Cheshire County Bible Society, and for several years its president.

After the expiration of his office as judge of probate, he retired in a great measure from all public business, cultivating a small farm, and devoting the greater portion of his time to reading and reflection. His favorite subjects were theology and history, and with almost the ardor of youth he continued his application to these studies so long as disease left him power so to do. He died, of a dropsy in the chest, 2d May, 1831, aged 78 years.

Judge Parker was emphatically a friend of the poor, a lover of justice and of peace.-The memory of his honorable and irreproachable private character, his benevolence, and high regard for the principles of honor and integrity, will long be cherished in the neighborhood where he spent the greater portion of his life, and among the people at large, whom he was frequently called upon to serve, and who knew his worth.

Of the children of Judge Parker, four sons survive, and are all favorably known to the public. Isaac, is a merchant in Boston, has been a member of the common council in that city, and a representative in the legislature of the commonwealth. Edmund, is in the practice of the law in Amherst, has been repeatedly a representative from that town in the legislature of this state, and is now judge of probate for the county of Hillsborough. Asa resides in Jaffrey, has been a senator in our state legislature, and is now register

1813, he was appointed a justice of the peace and quorum throughout the state. Under the act of July 9, 1798, for the valuation of lands, &c. and the enumeration of slaves within the United States, Mr. Parker was appointed an assistant assessor.

A vacancy occurring in the office of judge of probate for the county of Cheshire, he received that appointment from Gov. Gilman, 17 May, 1802. This office he held until he arrived at the age of 70, a period of more than twenty years. During this time he gave an unremitted attention to the discharge of its duties, and his promptness and exactitude were well known, and acknowledged; and his decrees in the very many contested cases which came before him were so far satisfactory, that the appeals during his administration averaged only about one a year, and in those cases only two decrees were reversed, and partial alterations made in three or four others.

Judge Parker discharged the duties of postmaster of Jaffrey, from Jan. 1812, for about five years, when he resigned.

Beside these various appointments, which evinced the confidence of government in his probity and intelligence, he was elected to various civil offices by the people among whom he resided, and who most intimately knew him. He held several offices in the town-was a member of the Convention for the adoption of the Federal Constitution -was seven years a member of the popular branch of the Legislature-and an elector of president and vice-president in 1824. It was a subject of satisfaction to him, that all the various appointments with which he had been honored, were voluntarily bestowed, without solicitation or request on his part.

Judge Parker became a professor of rel in 1780, and his unwavering religious beli ported him during the severe illness, v