Background
John Parker was born on July 13, 1729 in Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. His parents were Josiah and Anna (Stone) Parker, and he was descended from Thomas Parker who was in New England as early as 1635.
John Parker was born on July 13, 1729 in Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. His parents were Josiah and Anna (Stone) Parker, and he was descended from Thomas Parker who was in New England as early as 1635.
John Parker served his military apprenticeship in the French and Indian War, and fought at Louisburg and Quebec. At one period he was probably a member of Roger's noted corps of rangers. In time of peace he was a farmer and mechanic, and held various town offices. On the eve of the Revolution he was captain of a company of minute-men, and he became one of the foremost figures in the opening event of the war at Lexington, April 19, 1775. As the British detachment under Major John Pitcairn approached Lexington on the night of April 18, Parker placed a guard around the house which sheltered John Hancock and Samuel Adams, and collected about 130 men. This force he soon dismissed, but as the British column neared the town, he again assembled his men, from forty to perhaps seventy in number. Apparently he had no definite plans, a suggestion has been offered that he was acting under orders from Samuel Adams.
Modern historians have cast a doubt on the authenticity of the famous words with which Parker is said to have harangued his men, and which are carved upon the modest stone in the green: "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon. But if they mean to have a war, let it begin here. " The events which followed are involved in controversy, but in the skirmish on the green eight Americans were killed and ten were wounded. Following the skirmish Parker assembled as many militiamen as possible, marched in the direction of Concord, and had a share in the fighting during the British retreat. As the provincials gathered for the siege of Boston, he conducted a small body to Cambridge, but was too ill to have a part in the battle of Bunker Hill. Nothing further is recorded of his career, and he died in the following autumn, on September 17, 1775. A cenotaph was installed in his honor in Old Burying Ground.
John Parker was a stout, large framed man, of medium height.
On May 25, 1755, John Parker married Lydia Moore. They had seven children.