Early Life
Edward Clark Parish would have been born c.1704 (he was 60 when he died in 1764, see
Death below), probably at Ipswich. His father was
Samuel Parish, a linen draper from
Ipswich.
Career
Though most likely born in Suffolk, Edward moved to London and spent much of his working life there. An apprenticeship record from 1719 (when he would have been 15) shows that Edward was apprenticed to George Newport, a Merchant in the City of London. It's clear that he did extremely well, as his estates bequeathed in his will (see
Death) were large. However the Parish family were definitely well-to-do: his father bequeathed £2,000 to Edward, which would be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds today.
In 1727 Edward was made a freeman of Ipswich.
Edward did business in the Caribbean (e.g. see
this site). He was the executor of the will of Abraham Cumberbatch of Barbados (
https://cumberbatch.one-name.net/getperson.php?personID=I529&tree=001). He was also a co-owner of the merchant ship Rebecca (
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books-papers/vol4/pp334-348).
His memorial (see
Death below) describes him as a Merchant. The entry at the
Manxnotebook says he was a West India (i.e. Caribbean) Merchant.
In 1748 Edward was appointed a Governor of St Thomas's Hospital in London, an institution which he recognised with a bequest in his will.
Family Life
Edward married
Elisabeth Paris, daughter of
Joseph Paris, a London broderer, on the 29
th of June 1728 at St Benet in the City of London. Given that Edward's father was a linen draper, there may well have been some business connection between the Parish and Paris families, if indeed they were not actual cousins. In the marriage records Edward is described as of "
St Dionis Backchurch" and Elisabeth of "
St Mary le Bow". They had at least three children, though I suspect many more given the age range:
- Elisabeth, eldest daughter, who married Ebenezer Radcliffe1
- Alice, born c. 1738, who married Sir Wadsworth Busk
- Anna, who probably died as a child (see Death below)
I cannot find baptismal records for any of the daughters.
Death
Edward died on the 3
rd of January 1764, aged 60
2.
A memorial on the wall at
Ipswich St Lawrence reads:
Sacred to the Memory of
EDWARD CLARK PARISH Esq.
late of London Merchant
who in Public Life
Was Esteemed for his Inviolable Integrity
In Private an Example
of Conjugal Affection, and Parental Tenderness
His Religion was free from Bigotry
His Charity Liberal, without Ostentation
His Friendship without Disguise
Zealous & Hearty
In vindicating the Accus'd, & releiving [sic] the Distress'd
In his Manners Gentle
In his Conversations Chearful [sic]
In his Dealings Sincere
and
That his Virtues might receive their full Lustre
They were put to the Test
of a Long & Severe Affliction
Which he bore with the sensibility of a Man
and the Fortitude of a
Christian
who died at Walthamstow in Essex
3d January 1764 aged 60.
Also ELIZABETH PARISH
Wife of the above
EDWARD CLARK PARISH Esq.
who died the 11th of January 1776
Aged 68 years
The History and Description of the Town and Borough of Ipswich2 also notes the following:
...Also his daughter, ANNA PARISH, and several others of the family.
His death was also reported in the
Gentleman's Magazine where he is described
4 as of "
Crutchet-friars" (which is a
street in London), possibly where he did business.
His will, dated 26 March 1763, also describes him as "of Crutched Friars, London" and mentions:
- His wife Elizabeth
- His daughters Elizabeth and Alice
- His sister-in-law Elizabeth, wife of his brother Robert Parish and their daughter (his niece) Elizabeth Parish
- His wife's sister Mrs Jane Proctor and her husband the Rev. Henry Proctor
- Richard Parish Witts, son of Jane Proctor by her former marriage
- His cousin Elizabeth Park?
- His cousins James, Samuel, Eleazer and Sarah Loasell?
- His business partner Samuel Osborne
- His friend Mr James Butler Harris (link) of the island of Barbados, for his friendship and care in looking after Edward's "concerns in that island" was made executor for all his estate in Barbados
His will mentions quite extensive farming and other estates in Suffolk: Brantham, Rattlesden, Whatfield, Grundisburgh and Hitcham which he left in trust for his daughter Elizabeth. Further Suffolk estates in East Bergholt, Harksted, Witnesham and Lawford (in Essex) he left in trust for his daughter Alice.
Footnotes
[1] Wadsworth Busk corresponded with Ebenezer Radcliffe regarding the death of his wife Alice
[2]
History and Description of the Town and Borough of Ipswich,
p203
[3] Possible portrait:
http://www.artnet.com/artists/noah-seaman/portrait-of-a-edward-clark-parish-in-blue-jacket-qudjytbSXygdHI1VK6sULQ2
[4] This source suggests he died on the 4th of Jan, not the 3rd.
Abt 1704 - 1764 (~ 60 years)
[1] 
