The Washington herald., 1915-06-06

Of Gov. Thomas Htnckeley, OF MaSSachu-
sets colony. and later moved to New
Jersey and settled at Woodbridge.
Elisha's son, Elisha Rolfe. who was
horn in 1860 and died in III. lived in
Woodbridge and became sheriff Of Mid
dlesex County. y. J. His son. John John
son Parker. born In 1893, removed to
Pennsylvania, and established his branch
of the family there. His son, James Skin
ner Parker. born in 1855. was A prominent
citizen of Pennsylvania, and James Skim
ner's son, James Butler Parker, born in
ZIG. was a member of Congress from
Pennsylvania. The latters son. Cortlandt
Sites, returned to New Jersey and be-
came prominent lawyer of Newark.
Joel Parker. one-time governor of New
Jersey, belonged to this branch of the
Parker family. He was born in 1876 near
Freehold. n J. He was elected governor
in 1862 by an unprecedented majority, and
expended his energies raising troops for
the Union.
There were many other first settlers OF
the name besides those which established
the other early settlers were Amariah.
Edmund. George Jacob, James. Thomas.
Nicholas. Robert. William. John Robert
and others-who were early residents in
the New England colonies.
The arms illustrated are described: Err
mine. six escallops, 3. >, l. The crest is a
cubit arm erect in coat of mail holding in
hand proper falchion argent hid and
pommel gold.
These arms were granted to John Par
ker. of Shepherds Wells. Kent. in 1890.
Similar arms were borne by other Par
kers in other parts of England.
Ermine in heraldry is the perfect badge
of dignity. EscaIlops. or shells. We're
horne by crusaders or others who had
taken long journeys or pilgrimages.
Answers to Correspondent.
To a correspondent who asks if it is
true that the English branch OF the Leav-
enworth family is at present extinct also
for description of the coat-of-arms.
The Leavenworth family presents one
of the very few instances where an Amer
lean family of pure English origin Is now
the sole representative of the name 1t
took from the mother country. After the
most diligent and painstaking search
throughout the length and breadth of
England the genealogist has not found
the name to be in existence there at the
present time. But the American family.
family, is to be found represented in al
most every state in the Union.
The origin of this name is not definitely
known. 1t may be an anglicised form of
the Germanic Lowenworth, or possibly a
deviation of the English surname Lew
enoth. But the most likely theory is that
Levenworth or Lcavenworth. is derived
from the Welsh patronymic Llyongworth.
The name is obviously an ancient one. but
il surely was never at all usual.
The arms of the Leavenworth family
are described: Argent. on a chevron azure
between three leopards statant guardant
proper a crescent argent. The crest IL an
arm endowed in armor grasping a sword
proper.
To r Shannon who asks for an account
OF the New England Shannons
Nathaniel Shannon was the first man
OF his name in New England. where he
arrived in 1857 at the age of thirty-two.
He was born in 1875. at Londonderry. IT,
ster County. ireland. of an old Scotch
Irish family of strong Presbyterian allie
glance. He was poor, but he was well
educated and he had perseverance and
energy. so he was just the sort Of man to
make a success OF his life in an unsettled
community.
Nathaniel came from an important fam
lily in Ireland. His brother Robert was
mayor OF Londonderry. appointed by
King James II. In 1856 and removed by
Queen Anne for religious reasons In 17o4.
He took part In the defense Of London
derry against siege in 1859.
There Is a tradition that Robert, BROTH
er of the first American Shannon. was
mayor of Dublin. but this tradition is not
borne out by records. and Robert Shan
non. brother OF Nathaniel. really was
mayor of Londonderry. The same tradi-
ton which makes Robert Shannon mayor
of.Dublin states that the nrst American
Shannon-whose frst name II not given,
had son. born on the ocean, whom he
named Seaborn and who afterward be-
came q shipmaster and died In the West
Indiea Before his death. says the ira
dition, he lived in New Hampshire, where
he left two sons-Nathaniel and Cutts.