Merrimack New Hampshire Educator and Actress: Marjorie “Maggi” Blanche Parker (1927-still living)

When I browsed the files of the Merrimack Historical Society a year ago, I found a yellowed newspaper clipping describing a remarkable woman whom I had never heard of. The people I write about on this blog are interesting in their own way, but mostly they come from a fairly conservative mold. Maggie broke hers. She is a lovely role model–a bold woman who has pursued her dreams.

She was born in Nashua, and grew up on the Parker homestead on Boston Post Road in South Merrimack, New Hampshire.  She attended the local schools, then continued her education at Keene State College (Bachelor’s Degree) and Boston University (Master of Education in School Administration).

She loved to both teach and to perform. From Grange shows in Merrimack to the Hudson Players she managed to find time for both.  She taught in, and managed school in New Hampshire and on Cape Cod.  Then she was hired by the Air Force to run schools in Japan and later Madrid, Spain and Mallorca.  Her focus shifted to the needs of emotionally disturbed children and young adults.

She moved to California, taking a position as assistant professor of education at California State College, in Los Angeles—Summer Term.  There she married and moved to Hawaii in 1964.  While there she was able to land the role of May, a secretary to actor Jack Lord, in the then-popular Hawaii-Five-O television series.

Promotional photo of Maggi taken
for Hawaii-Five-O

She also performed in a variety of other television shows (I Dream of Jeannie ), movies (I Sailed to Tahiti with an All-Girl Crew, Hawaii, and Paradise Hawaiian Style ) and other television and radio appearances, commercials and roles in local theatrical productions.   She didn’t give up her educational career, being co-founder and partner in the Parker-Ames Center in Honolulu, which offered psychological and educational services to emotionally disturbed children and young adults.

For many years she has assisted the Hawaiian Royal family in a variety of roles. She was on the board of directors of Friends of Iolani Palace, working on the restoration of the palace.  She was a member of the board of the Kawananakoa Foundation under Harriet Sylvester aka Lanihau Makekau when she was raising money for Iolani Palace.  In 1970 she stopped in Merrimack, New Hampshire with Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kawananakoa on their way to England to locate heirlooms that had been previously auctioned off.

At the young age of 86 she has not yet retired.  She continues to consult three days a week at the Abigail K. Kawananakoa Foundation in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Maggi is a 10^th generation descendant of Deacon Thomas & Amy Parker of Lynn and Wakefield, Massachusetts who immigrated in 1635 on the ship “Susan and Ellen.”  She is also a 7^th generation descendant of William & Elizabeth (Boyd) Patterson He came from the parish of Priestland, town of Glenlace, county of Antrim Ireland to Londonderry NH about the year 1724 and settled on Patterson’s Hill.   See her PARKER GENEALOGY below.

I had the great privilege to speak with her recently by telephone and to insure this article is accurate.  She exudes energy, personality and class.  Aloha.

—-PARKER FAMILY GENEALOGY—-

Deacon Thomas-1 Parker, son of John & Jane (Bates) Parker b. 31 March 1609 in England [either Little Norton, Derbyshire, or Brownsholme, Wiltshire; and d. 12 Aug 1683 in Reading, Middlesex Co. MA.  He immigrated in 1635 on the ship “Susan and Ellen”, Edward Payne, Master. He stopped first in Lynn MA; He was made a freeman 17 May 1637, and was one of the first settlers of Reading MA. He married Dec 1635 in Lynn, Essex Co MA to Amy –.  She was born 1609 in England and d. 15 Jan 1689/90 in Reading MA. The Parker homestead of 23 acres upland, orchard and meadow was on a knoll a few rods northeast of the present Town Hall in Wakefield MA. At the time of his death he owned at least 228 acres, and was able to bequeath large farms to his sons. He was a deacon from the time the Reading church was organized until his death, a period of nearly 40 years. He was a selectman in 1661, 1665, 1665, 1667 and 1669. He was a commissioner with Deacons Cowdrey and Kendall to end small causes. His name appears in several petitions addressed to the General Court by leading citizens. His burial stone is the oldest in the cemetery of the First Parish, now Wakefield:

Memento Mori Fugit Hora
Here lyeth within this Arched place ye body
of Deacon Thomas Parker who was won of ye
Foundation of ye Church who dyed ye
12 August 1683. Aged about 74 years.

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Children of Dea. Thomas & Amy (?) Parker:
1. +Thomas Parker, b. 1636 in Lynn, Essex Co. MA
2. Hananiah Parker, b. 1638 Lynn MA; m. Elizabeth Brown, dau of Nicholas; m2) widow, Mrs Mary Bright.
3. John Parker, b. 1640 Lynn MA; m. Hannah Kendall
4. Joseph Parker, b. 1640, died young
5. Joseph Parker (2), b. 1645 Lynn MA, died young
6. Mary Parker, b. 12 Dec 1647 Lynn MA
7. Martha Parker, b. 14 March 1648/49 Lynn MA
8. Nathaniel Parker, b. 16 May 1651 Lynn MA; m. Bethiah Polly
9. Sarah Parker, b. 30 Sep 1653 Lynn MA, died young
10. Jonathan Parker, b. 18 May 1656 Lynn MA; d. 1680 in the service during King Phillip’s Indian War
11. Sarah Parker (2), b. 23 May 1658 Lynn MA

=====NEXT GENERATION=====

Thomas-2 Parker, son of Deacon Thomas & Amy (?) Parker, b. 1636 in Lynn MA; d. 9 June 1699 in Reading MA; m.13 Nov 1667 in Reading MA to Deborah Kibbe. She  was born 7 Nov 1647 in Boston, Massachusetts. Her parents were Edward Kibbe and Mary Partridge.
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Children of Thomas & Deborah (Kibbe) Parker:
1. Thomas Parker, b. 9 Aug 1668 Reading, Middlesex Co. MA
2. Samuel Parker, b. 26 March 1670 Reading MA
3. Sarah Parker, b. 28 Feb 1672 Reading MA
4. Deborah Parker, b. 15 Aug 1674 Reading MA
5. Jonathan Parker, b. 4 Nov 1678 Reading MA
6. Elizabeth Parker, b. 25 June 1681 Reading MA
7. Abigail Parker, b. 11 Aug 1683 Reading MA
8. Ruth Parker, b. 22 Apr 1686 Reading MA
9. +Joseph Parker, b. 23 Nov 1688 Reading MA

=====NEXT GENERATION=====

Joseph-3 Parker, son of Thomas & Deborah (Kibbe) Parker; b. 23 Nov 1688 in Reading, MA and d. 2 Feb 1752 in Reading MA; m. 6 April 1711 in Reading MA to Elizabeth Eaton, dau of Jonathan & Elizabeth (Burnap) Eaton of Reading MA.   She b. 25 Feb 1687/68 and d. 27 Nov 1767 in her 80th year (gravestone record). Middlesex MA probate records, vol xiii, p. 124 show a document of Jonathan Eaton, brother to Elizabeth, and that her husband “John Pool and Joseph Parker, both of sd. Reading, who married the two sisters of the Dec,d….”
—————
Children of Joseph & Elizabeth (Eaton) Parker:
1. Sarah Parker, b. 5 Sep 1713 in Reading MA
2. +Joseph Parker, b. 10 Apr 1717 in Reading MA
3. Elizabeth Parker, b. 20 Oct 1719 in Reading MA
4. Jonathan Parker, b. 24 July 1724 in Reading MA
5. Ephraim Parker, b. 31 March 1728 in Reading MA; m1) 1749 Ruth Bancroft; m2) 1752 Rebecca Temple; 1785 to Sarah –.

=====NEXT GENERATION=====

Joseph-4 Parker, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Eaton) Parker, who was b. 10 Apr 1717 in Reading MA; m. 22 Sep 1743 in Reading, Middlesex Co MA to Mary Walton, daughter of John Walton.
————————–
Children of Joseph & Mary (Walton) Parker:
1. +Joseph Parker, b. 3 July 1744 Reading MA
2. Mary Parker, b. 1745
3. +Isaac Parker, b. 16 March 1746 Reading MA
4. Elizabeth Parker, b. 1753
5. Catharine Parker, b. 1757

=====NEXT GENERATION=====

Joseph-5 Parker, son of Joseph & Mary (Walton) Parker, b. 3 July 1744 Reading MA; m. 30 Nov 1769 to Jerusha Mcintier [sic McIntire], dau of John & Lois (Upton) McIntire, and sister to Eunice, who married Joseph’s brother Isaac.  She b. abt 1749.
———————-
Children of Joseph & Jerusha (McIntire) Parker:
1. Joseph Parker, b. 28 Aug 1770 Reading MA
2. Jerusha Parker, b. 25 Oct 1771 Reading MA; m. 8 Dec 1785 in Reading MA to John Nichols.  Had issue [NICHOLS]: John, Jerusha, Bethia, Clarissa, Luther and Nancy.
3. Lucretia Parker, b. 20 June 1773 Reading MA
4. Mary Parker, b. 25 Feb 1775 Reading MA
5. Lois Parker, b. 1 July 1780 Reading MA

Isaac-5 Parker, son of Joseph & Mary (Walton) Parker b. 16 March 1746 Reading MA; d. —; m. 19 June 1783 in Lynn MA to Eunice McIntire/Macentire, dau of John & Lois (Upton) McIntire [although another source says David & Eunice (Hayward) McIntire Jr.]  She was the great grand-daughter of Philip McIntire of Scotland who d 1719 in Reading MA, a Scots prisoner sold into servitude in 1650, arriving on the ship “Unity.” [A Eunice Macentire, dau of David & Eunice was bap 1752 in Reading MA.]
——————-
Children of Isaac & Eunice (McIntire) Parker:
1. +Isaac Parker Jr., b. 4 Aug 1784 in Reading, Middlesex Co. MA
2. Eunice Parker, b. 6 June 1786
3. Amos Parker, b. 7 Oct 1788
4. Betsy Parker, b. 4 Feb 1791
5. Haven Parker, b. 12 May 1793
6. Ephraim Parker, b. 7 Sep 1795 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co. NH; d. 26 June 1886 Bedford NH; m. 16 July 1826 to Rebecca Dowse, dau of Benjamin & Rebecca (Marshall) Dowse.  She b. 5 Apr 1796 in Billerica MA and d. 28 Nov 1851
7. Polly Parker, b. 2 Nov 1798, d. 4 Nov 1798 Bedford NH

=====NEXT GENERATION=====

Isaac-6 Parker, Jr., son of Isaac & Eunice (McIntire) Parker, b. 4 Aug 1784 in Reading, Middlesex Co. MA, and died before 1850 probably in Amherst NH; m. 6 Feb 1816 in Merrimack NH to Nancy Dows/Dowse, dau of Benjamin & Abigail (Frost) Dows/Dowse Jr.  She b. 6 Oct 1788 in Billerica, Middlesex Co. MA; bapt 12 Oct 1788 same place.  She d. 6 May 1864 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co. NH.  After her husband’s death, Nancy lived with her son Isaac in Amherst NH, as shown in both 1850 and 1860 U.S. Census records.
———————
Children of Isaac Parker & Nancy (Dows) Parker, Jr.:
1. Jonathan Parker, b. 14 March 1818 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co. NH, d. 19 Oct 1850
2. Nancy Parker, b. abt 1820 Amherst NH, prob. died young
3. +Isaac Parker Jr. b. 10 June 1822 in Amherst NH
4. Nancy J. Parker, b. 11 Feb 1825 Amherst NH; d. Milford NH; m. 14 Nov 1850 to Rodney Howard, son of Henry & Polly (Odell) Howard;  He b. 20 March 1817 in Amherst NH. Had children [HOWARD]: Charles Rodney, b. 1851 and Ada L. b 1864; res. Amherst NH
5. Joseph Parker, b. 14 June 1828 in Amherst NH; d. Nov 1833 in Amherst NH

=====NEXT GENERATION=====

Isaac-7 Parker, son of Isaac and Nancy (Dows) Parker; b. 10 June 1822 in Amherst NH and d. 3 Aug 1882 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co. NH.  He married 30 July 1857 in Amherst NH to Julia P. Hodgman, dau of George & Mary (Parker) Hodgman.  She b. 30 June 1834 in Bedford, Hillsborough Co. NH. [census says b. Massachusetts]  Resided in Amherst NH
———————-
1850 US Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Amherst > 23
Isaac Parker 28 M Farmer 2000 NH
Jonathan Parker 34 M Laborer NH
Nancy Parker 62 F NH
Eunice Parker 66 F NH
Amos Parker 62 M no occupation NH
Nancy J. Parker 25 F. NH
———————-
1860 US Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Amherst > 27
Isaac Parker 27 M Farmer 2500 1000 NH
Julia H. Parker 26 F wife Mass
George E. Parker 1 M NH
Amos Parker 72 M Laborer Mass
Eunice Parker 74 F Spinsters Mass
Nancy Parker 71 Widow Mass
———————-
1870 US Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Amherst > 2
Parker, Isaac 45 M W Farmer 2500/1000 NH
Parker, Julia 36 F W Keeping House Massachusetts
Parker, George E. 11 M W at home NH
Parker, Fred H. 8 M W at home NH
———————-
1880 US Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Amherst > District 104 > 6
Parker, Isaac W M 57 Farmer NH Mass Mass
Parker, Julia h. 44 F wife Keeping House Mass Mass NH
Parker, Fred H. W M 18 son farm laborer NH NH Mass
———————-
Children of Isaac & Julia P. (Hodgman) Parker:
1. +George Edwin Parker, b. 6 Nov 1859 in Amherst NH
2. +Fred H. Parker, b. 4 July 1861 in Amherst NH; m. 14 Jan 1885 in Groton MA to Alice Fanny Holden, dau of Charles H. & Lorenza M. (Stevens) Holden.  She b. 8 March 1861 in Groton, Middlesex Co. MA.

=====NEXT GENERATION=====

George Edwin-8 Parker, son of Isaac & Julia P. (Hodgman) Parker, was b. 6 Nov 1859 in Amherst NH.  He married 27 Jan 1886 in Amherst NH to Mary Ann Atkinson, dau of Robert & Annie (Bethel) Atkinson.  She b. 6 Feb 1866 in Philadelphia PA.
———————————-
Children of George E. & Mary A. (Atkinson) Parker:
1. George Atkinson Parker, b. 30 Oct 1886 in Amherst NH
2. +Charles Richards Parker, b. 18 Jan 1889 Amherst NH
3. Annie Julia Parker, b. 30/31 March 1890 Amherst NH; m. Ralph Claude Bills,  he b. May 23, 1889, Amherst, New Hampshire; d. June 24, 1959, Amherst, New Hampshire
4. Forest Grover Parker, b. 31 May 1892 Amherst NH; m. 23 Oct 1915 in Somerville MA to Lillian Grace Rogers; resided 123 Brooks St., Medford MA, he was employed Chamberlain & Co. Inc. 24 S. Market St. Boston MA.
5. Elizabeth “Lizzie” M. Parker, b. 14 Apr 1894 Amherst NH
6. Willard Howard Parker, b. 5 Aug 1897 Amherst NH; On 8 Oct 1942 he registered for the WWII Draft indicating he was single without dependents, had two years of high school and worked in a hotel.
7. Leroy “Roy” Parker, b 27 Oct 1905 Amherst NH, d. April 1986 in West Palm Beach FL; m. 12 April 1925 in Merrimack NH to  Edith F. Thibodeau, dau of Maurice & Julia (Lavoie) Thibodeau.  She b abt 1906 ? Rumney NH.  Ch: Edwin S. (b abt 1928) Beverly A (b abt 1930) and Elizabeth M. (b abt 1932).  Resided in Amherst NH.

Fred H. Parker, son of Isaac & Julia P. (Hodgman) Parker b. 4 July 1861 in Amherst NH, and died before 1927 when his wife is shown a widow in the local directory; m. 14 Jan 1885 in Groton MA to Alice Fanny Holden, dau of Charles H. & Lorenza M. (Stevens) Holden.  She b. 8 March 1861 in Groton, Middlesex Co. MA; resided Baboosic Road, Merrimack NH.
———————
Children of Fred H. & Alice F. (Holden) Parker:
1. Wilbert Fred Parker, b. 2 Sep 1890 Amherst NH; d. September 1978, Amherst NH. He was a member of the Souhegan Grange;
2. +Clyde Holden Parker, b. 19 July 1894, d. August 1971 in Manchester NH

=====NEXT GENERATION=====

Charles Richard-9 Parker, son of George Edwin & Mary Ann (Atkinson) Parker, was b. 18 Jan 1889 in Amherst, Hillsborough Co. NH, and died April 1986 in Claremont, Sullivan Co. NH  He married by 1915 to Susanne/Susan “Susie” Belle Patterson. She b. April 1888 in Merrimack NH, dau of George E. & Anna M. (Foster) Patterson [He b June 1837. He m1) 24 Nov 1867 in Dorchester, Grafton Co. NH to Bertha P. (Youngman) Roberts; he m2) 15 May 1878 in Rumney, Grafton Co. NH to Anna M. Foster].and died October 1968 in Merrimack NH.  In 1920 residing in South Merrimack NH. He was employed for many years at the Nashua Bleachery (Indian Head Mills), and was a member of the Souhegan Grange for 60 years, once master. He was caretaker for both the South Congregational Church and the parish house.
——————————
1900 US Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Amherst > District 76 > 14
Parker, George E. W M Nov 1859 41 married 13 yrs NH NH MA Farmer
Parker, Mary A wife W F Feb 1866 34 married 13 yrs 6 ch 6 living PA Engl Engl
Parker, George A. son W M Oct 1886 13 single NH NH PA
Parker, Charles B. son W M Jan 1889 11 single NH NH PA
Parker, Annie J. dau W F March 1890 10 single NH NH PA
Parker, Forest A son W M May 1892 8 single NH NH PA
Parker, Lizzie M. dau W F Apr 1894 6 single NH NH PA
Parker, Willard H son W M Aug 1898    2 single NH NH PA
——————————
1920 US Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Merrimack > District 80 > 16
Parker, Charles R. Head M W 30 M NH NH PA farmer, home farm
Parker, Susan wife F W 31 married NH [b abt 1889]
Parker, Richard P. son M W 5 single NH
Parker, Lois A dau F W 2-11/12 single NH
Parker, Forest E. son M W 1-4/12 single NH
Patterson, George E. father-in-law M W 83 widow NH Scotland Massachusetts
——————————
1930 US Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Merrimack > District 79 > 2
Parker, Charles R. Head 3000 M W 40 married at age 23 NH NH NH Laborer
Parker, Susan B. wife F W 42 married at age 25 NH NH NH
Parker, Richard P. son M W 15 single NH NH NH
Parker, Lois A. dau F W 13 single NH NH NH
Parker, Forest E. son M W 11 single NH NH NH
Parker, Marjorie dau F W 3-1/2 single NH NH NH  [b 1926-27]
——————————-
Children of Charles R. & Susanne/Susan B. (Patterson) Parker:
1. Elizabeth M. Parker, b. and d. 1914, on stone in Reed’s Cemetery, Merrimack NH]
2. Richard Patterson Parker, b. 1914 NH; d. 1940 [?twin]
3. Lois Ann Parker, b. 9 Feb 1917 in Merrimack, Hillsborough Co. NH, and d. 31 Aug 1997 in Claremont Sullivan Co. NH; housewife in Claremont NH; She m 14 June 1947 in Merrimack, Hillsborough Co. NH to Roscoe Wilson Brown, son of Wilson Grant & Arcada Zella (Foster) Brown. He was b.6 May 1908 in Woodsville NH and d. April 1977 in Claremont NH. They had one child, Richard Wilson Brown who resides in Bow NH.
4. Horace E. Parker, b. and d. 1918, [on stone in Reed’s Cemetery, Merrimack NH.]
5. Forrest E. Parker, b. 18 Sep 1918 NH, d. 24 Nov 1993, age 75, in Norwalk, Fairfield Co. CT; he married Doris A. Heath, dau of Apthorp & Marion (Collins) Heath of Boston MA. She b. 23 Nov 1920 in MA and died Sep 1983 in Norwalk CT; He was asst. superintendent of (manual arts) teachers in Norwalk CT, completed 5 yrs of college; resided 19 Winnepauk Drive, Norwalk CT; 2 daughters, Wendy and Nancy.
6. +Marjorie “Maggi”-10 Parker, b.  1927 in Nashua NH.  [SEE ARTICLE ABOVE]

Clyde Holden Parker, son of Fred H. & Alice F. (Holden) Parker, b. 19 July 1894, d. August 1971 in Manchester NH.  He married abt 1922 to Lucy Sanborn, daughter of Albert Fellows Sanborn.  She b. abt 1897 in NH. Lived on Hall Street in Manchester NH. Was a clerk in a cotton mill, and later a bank clerk.
———————
1930 US Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Manchester > District 28 > 6
Parker, Clyde H. Head 4500 M W 38 married at age 27 NH NH NH clerk office cotton mill
Parker, Lucy S. wife F W 33 married at age 25 NH NH NH
Parker, Robert S., son M W 5 single NH
Parker, Audrey L. dau F W 2 single NH
Sanborn, Albert S., father in law M W 68 widow  m age 30 nh nh nh
———————
Children of Clyde H. & Lucy (Sanborn) Parker:
1. Robert S. Parker, b 17 Dec 1924 Manchester NH; d. 14 Feb 2008 Bradford, Penobscot Co. Maine.
2. Audrey L. Parker, b. abt 1928 Manchester NH

=====ADDITIONAL READING======

Biography: Maggi Parker on Merrimack Historical Society web site.

Maggi Parker: The Hawaii-Five-O Fan Club (a bit outdated but fun to read) http://www.hawaiifive0.org/jan01.shtml

Kingdom of Hawaii
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Hawaii