David Parker
Biography
Role: Scottish immigrant — patriarch of the Parker family in South Australia
Born: 29 June 1822 — Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland (christened 13 Jul 1822)
Died: 4 April 1888 — "Wheatlands", Port Pirie, South Australia (aged 65)
Buried: Port Pirie Cemetery, South Australia
Family
| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Father | Hugh Parker — Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Mother | Christian Fulton — Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Spouse (1) | Isabella Kelly (abt 1825–1867) — m. 9 Aug 1846, Barony, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Spouse (2) | Clementina Minto — m. 20 Jun 1871, Hailes House, Hackney, Adelaide |
| Notable Son | William Humphrey Parker (1850–1926) (1850–1926) — grandfather of Shirley Telfer |
Life Summary
David Parker was born in Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland in 1822, son of Hugh Parker and Christian Fulton. He worked as a victualler (licensed victualler/innkeeper) in the St Quivox area of Ayrshire — the 1851 census shows him at Wallace Street, Wallacetown, with wife Isabella, infant son William H, and a servant.
Immigration
In 1852, David made the life-changing decision to emigrate to South Australia. He sailed from Liverpool aboard the barque Martin Luther, arriving in Adelaide on 4 May 1852 with his wife Isabella and three children.
Life in Australia
The family pioneered in the Port Gawler / Virginia / Peachy Belt districts north of Adelaide. David's first wife Isabella died in 1867, and he remarried to Clementina Minto in Adelaide in 1871.
He moved north to the Port Pirie area later in life, establishing "Wheatlands" farm. He died there on 4 April 1888, aged 65, described as "respected by all who knew him."
Children (14 total)
With Isabella Kelly (9):
| Name | Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Parker | 1847 | Scotland |
| Christian Parker | 1848 | Scotland |
| William Humphrey Parker | 17 Jul 1850 | Ragged Hill, Mossblown, Ayrshire |
| Henry Kelly Parker | Nov 1851 | Born in Scotland, infant emigrant |
| Agnes Parker | 15 Nov 1853 | Port Gawler, SA |
| David Parker | 1 Feb 1856 | Peachy Belt, SA |
| Margaret Parker | 16 Dec 1857 | Virginia, SA |
| Hugh Parker | Nov 1859 | Virginia, SA (died young) |
| Hugh Parker | 31 Oct 1864 | (second Hugh) |
With Clementina Minto (5):
| Name | Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| James Parker | 15 May 1872 | Virginia, SA |
| Jeanie Humphrey Parker | 17 Jun 1874 | Virginia, SA |
| Charlotte Stoddart Parker | 11 Jun 1876 | Virginia, SA |
| Frederick Robert Parker | 21 Jan 1880 | Hundred of Pirie, SA (twin) |
| John Albert Parker | 21 Jan 1880 | Hundred of Pirie, SA (twin) |
Sources
- WikiTree: David Parker (1822–1888) — full profile with sources
- 1851 Scotland Census — Wallace Street, Wallacetown, St Quivox, Ayrshire
- Ship Martin Luther — arrived Adelaide 4 May 1852 from Liverpool
- Marriage notice (2nd): Evening Journal (Adelaide), 22 Jun 1871 — "PARKER—MINTO"
- Death notice: Evening Journal (Adelaide), 11 Apr 1888 — "PARKER.-On the 4th April, at his residence, Wheatlands, Pirie"
- FindAGrave: Port Pirie Cemetery, South Australia
Tags
Spouse
- Isabella Kelly
Parents
- Hugh Parker
- Christian Fulton
Children
- Elizabeth
- Christian
- William Humphrey
- Henry Kelly
- Agnes
- David
- Margaret
- Hugh (x2)
- James
- Jeanie Humphrey
- Charlotte Stoddart
- Frederick Robert
- John Albert