Comment on Note #694. PARKER. W. H. M. A., Dec. 16, 1908. For some time I have had on my memoranda lists - to look at Uncle Webb's will at Middlesex Court and see how Rebecca (Ayer) Arlebe and her relatives are mentioned by him, to verify for myself, a descendant of Mary Arlebe and Samuel Frye, and for others who are from the Ayer family, what I have hoped to prove in regard to the family of Hannah, the wife of John Ayer, who was either named Webb or Evered. The power of the little link word alias has always seemed to me, after study of other lines where a name was changed, such as "Donham alias Singletary" of New Jersy, to show that Webb was the original name of family of John and Hannah Webb, and that he took the name of Evered for some estate he may have inherited with this proviso, or else for some political misdemeanor, obliged to take another name; he may have used his mother's name, perhaps Evered. I had not time for this will, but called to examine Vol. iv., of Cambridge deeds, for Hinxman papers caught the estate of "Uncle Webb," another way, in receipts from the heirs of the same - who turned over to the executor Hinxman, the claims to Webb's real estate. I sat down in my hurry and read all the deeds for a long way into the book, with great gleanings on many things, beside what Uncle Webb and Uncle Hinxman had to accomplish. Incidentally the parentage of Mary, the wife of our Nathan (1) Parker, was revealed. His first wife was Susan Short, a sister of Henry Short of Newbury, by whom he had Nathan (2) who married Mary Browne, and their only child, Mary (3), died in youth. This left Mary, the second wife of Nathan Parker as ancestress of all the descendants in this line. She was executed as a witch in 1692, and her parentage is of interest to all historians of Andover and the witchcraft horror. In talking with Mr. George Chamberlain one day, he said he had proof that Nathan Parker's wife was Mary, daughter of John Ayer of Haverhill, and this was to be found in Middlesex Court. I do not hesitate, however, to announce my discovery of the source of his information, for so many aged correspondents, historians and descendants, will be glad to put Mary Ayer in the Parker spoke of their wheels, and look forward to all Mr. Chamberlain will bring forth in his work on the Ayer genealogy which I heard of for the first time after I had read the Vol. iv.of Middlesex Records on my quest elsewhere. John Eyre, Robert Eyre, spelled without the final s - on signing. Thomas Eyres - mark, so uses the lawyer's spelling, as do Peter and Nathaniel. The variety of signatures of this family as to spelling on Essex deeds is more remarkable still. John Arlebe (for Rebecca Ayer), Stephen Webster (for Hannah Ayer), and Nathan Parker (for Mary Ayer), left a maiden, according to the Essex Antiguarian), all sign quit claims for value received L20 each, I believe, in 1662, recorded in 1670. Page 43, Peter Ayer of Haverhill said he had received of the estate of Mr. John Webb, deceased, full amount of his L20 legacy, July 11, 1670. Edward Fish, aged seventeen, and Samuel French, aged seventeen, were the witnesses, acknowledging both their ages and his signature, Oct. 10, 1670. Someone may need these two apprentice friends of Peter. The use of Webb only on the part of Peter [Ayer] leads me to think it was his mother's and his uncle John's original name. The use of "Uncle Webb," sort of guardian angel to Nathan Parker as a family friend, may have led Joseph Parker also to use the same. Perhaps Webb was allied to the mother of Parker, but as he does not name Joseph Parker in his bequests, I venture a guess that the Joseph Parker tribe adopted "Uncle Webb" along with the new sister-in-law Mary Ayer. To him, a trader and shipper, all foreign business was referred, hence the letter to John Woodbridge while abroad in regard to estate turned over to "Uncle Webb." In 1897 queries arose #1636, #1987, and one from B. T. in regard to Nathan's wife Mary and "Uncle Webb's" relationship to Joseph Parker. The tie was not in blood, only to Matthew. Elizabeth, widow of John Stevens, deposes in regard to brother Parker's son Samuel, 1673 (said B. T.) and we also have Joseph's aid in settling her Stevens estate, as a brother-in-law (in my opinion). "Uncle Webb" was evidently the guardian angel of a large group of relatives and collaterals. I vote for Hannah Webb as the maiden name of grandmother Ayer and for one shall look forward eagerly to many more good things unearthed by Chamberlain. C. H. A. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Transcribed by Gloria ODOM. Paragraphing changed to make it more readable. Brackets [ ] inserted by Gloria.
||| New England Families Rendezvous |||