The opening pages give us information with which to draw the tree for the earliest recorded Parke family in Sligo:
Evidence for the existence of RogerParke1
Identity of Roger Jones
Robert Parke3
Following the death of Jane Parke (nee Barker) before 1635, his sister-in-law, Constance Plandon, petitioned the Lord Chancellor (p. 15-16 of ”Deeds etc.” ) to have enrolled a deed on behalf of the children of her dead sister, saying that the original deed was executed by Sir Roger Jones on the marriage of his nephew Robert Parke3. Jane had died after delivering two young sons. This deed identifies one of the sons as Roger Parke, and also mentions William Barker of Dublin (presumably, Jane’s father). In a deed, dated 16th June 1639 (p. 16 of ”Deeds etc.” ), Robert Parke3 created the manor of Newtowne and left some of it to “the son of his wife” and some to his (Robert’s) son William Parke4. This gives us the names of his two sons by Jane. Sir Roger Jones died in 1635 – hence the need for Constance Plandon to have the original deed “enrolled” by the Lord Chancellor on 20 January 1635. Assuming that Captain Robert3 was 21 yrs or older when married, his marriage to Jane Barker would have taken place between 1626 and 1635.Captain Robert3 later (possibly much later – say, shortly before 1660 when he would have been in his 50s) married Anne Povey from Roscommon, by whom he had children Robert (b. abt 1661), Maggie (b. abt 1663) and Anne (b. 1660 – 1665). In a deed, dated 10th January 1631, Sir Edward Povey was granted lands in Roscommon. Within the deed are found the words “for the love of his three sons…Allen, Charles and Edward”. This Sir Edward was probably the father of this Anne, who married Robert Parke3. In 1677, their children Robert and Maggie were on Lough Gill, returning from a visit to a neighbour, when a storm capsized their boat and they both drowned. There is a memorial to them in the chapel attached to Parkes Castle (formerly Newtowne Castle). Captain Robert Parke3 died in Sligo on 24 Nov 1671 (Betham’s extracts of prerogative wills). In “Irish Wills” compiled by Lorna Rosbotton (S.O.G.) Captain Robert’s will names his wife Anne Povey, son-in-law Sir Francis Gore, daughter and heiress Lady Anne Gore, his niece Jane Floyd (alias Parke) and his gt-nephew Charles Parke (2nd son of nephew Roger Parke). Captain Robert’s widow Anne died in 1688. This gives us some information about the family of his brother William Parke4.
There is a Roger Parke mentioned in the 1659 Census of Carbury Parish and in the Hearth Rolls, living in Drumcliff, Sligo in 1665 and this is, most likely, Roger Parke5 but could, possibly, be Roger Parke1 – although he would be well over 80 if it were.
William Parke4
A William Parke lived at Dunally in Sligo. There does not appear to be much evidence relating to Dunally in the period 1609 – 1686, when a William Parke, J.P. was Sherriff of Sligo. If this was the brother of Captain Robert, then he would have been nearly 80 years old at that time, which makes it seem improbable that this was Captain Robert’s brother.
The various researchers, who are mentioned in the opening paragraphs, have this William producing children Roger (High Sherriff 1720, d. 1726), Jean/Jane, Lieutenant John, Ensign William. There is, however, a problem with ages and it is possible that the William Parke (High Sherriff 1686) was actually the son William6, b. bef. 1635, of Captain Robert Parke3 and Jane Barker, or another son of William Parke4. This leaves, unanswered, the whereabouts of William Parke4.
In the Administrative Index to Prerogative Grants, vols. 10-11, O-Z, 1591-1810 there is reference to an indenture, dated 1658, to William Parke of Oxmantowne, Dublin. It is possible that this refers to William Parke4, although he could also have been the William Parke living at Ballybegley, Donegal in 1650 or another William Parke living at Londonderry in 1665
Dunally House
Ann Park 2
There is no evidence of any marriage for Ann. She could be the “Ann Park born abt. 1600 in Newton, Leitrim” found in the IGI.