John Parkins

Who was John Parkins?

John Parkins was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1621 to 1622.

Parkins was the son of William Parkins of Dorchester He became a merchant in the town. On 1 October 1619 he became bailiff of Dorchester for the third time. In 1621, he was elected Member of Parliament for Dorchester. He became bailiff again on 4 October 1624. On 10 July 1625 a ship Francis Sandars was taken by French pirates and as a result Parkins lost kerses to the cost of £700. On 6 October 1629 King Charles granted Dorchester a new charter and Parkins became first mayor under this charter.

Parkins died at the age of about 69.

Parkins married Rachel Chappell of Exeter as his second wife. Of their children, Eleanor married William Whiteway, and Margaret married Robert Walker.