Parker Wickham
Encyclopedia
Parker Wickham is famous for being a Loyalist
politician who was banished from the State of New York under dubious circumstances.
Wickham was the oldest son of Joseph Wickham and Abigail Parker of Cutchogue
, Long Island, New York. Wickham inherited nearly all of his father's large estate at age 22, including the legendary Robins Island
. He lived in the Old House in Cutchogue, which was built in 1649. Currently a museum, it is said to be one of the oldest English-style houses still in existence in the USA. Wickham married Mary Goldsmith and had several children. He was the brother (and rival) of Patriot leader Thomas Wickham and the uncle of noted Federalist attorney John Wickham
.
In 1751, Wickham was elected as Fence Viewer
and Prisor of Damage. , he was elected in both 1754 and 1755 asOverseer of the Poor and in 1763, he received an appointment as justice for the County of Suffolk. He was elected town assessor in 1765 and 1766, then elected nine times to the highest post of local government, town supervisor of the Town of Southold. In addition, he served as a major in the local militia.
During the American Revolution, Wickham was known for his pro-Loyalist views. He was kidnapped by Connecticut rebels on December 13, 1777 and placed on parole soon after. He was required to forfeit his property without compensation on October 22, 1779 after a bill of attainder
was passed by New York's legislature passed. He was also banished from the state under threat of death. Wickham was forced to move to Connecticut, where he died shortly thereafter. He insisted he was innocent of the charges, but was never granted a trial. Acts of attainder were banned under the U.S. Constitution, which was adopted a few years after Wickham's death.
Shortly before his death in exile, Wickham wrote:
In 1989, several of Wickham's heirs filed a lawsuit to try to regain ownership of Robins Island
. The lawsuit failed, but also discouraged development. Most of the island is now protected by an easement to The Nature Conservancy
.
Wickham was interred in the Raymond Cemetery in Waterford, Connecticut.
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
politician who was banished from the State of New York under dubious circumstances.
Wickham was the oldest son of Joseph Wickham and Abigail Parker of Cutchogue
Cutchogue, New York
Cutchogue is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York . The population was 2,849 at the 2000 census.Cutchogue CDP roughly represents the area of Cutchogue hamlet in the town of Southold.-Geography:...
, Long Island, New York. Wickham inherited nearly all of his father's large estate at age 22, including the legendary Robins Island
Robins Island
Robins Island is a undeveloped island in Peconic Bay by the eastern end of Long Island off the coast of New Suffolk, New York. The island is privately owned and not accessible to the public and is within the jurisdiction of the Town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York in the USA.- History...
. He lived in the Old House in Cutchogue, which was built in 1649. Currently a museum, it is said to be one of the oldest English-style houses still in existence in the USA. Wickham married Mary Goldsmith and had several children. He was the brother (and rival) of Patriot leader Thomas Wickham and the uncle of noted Federalist attorney John Wickham
John Wickham (1763)
John Wickham was an American Loyalist and attorney. He was one of the very few Loyalists to achieve any sort of national prominence in the United States after the American Revolution, and is best remembered for his role in the treason trial of former Vice President Aaron Burr in...
.
In 1751, Wickham was elected as Fence Viewer
Fence Viewer
A Fence Viewer is a town or city official who administers fence laws by inspecting new fence and settlement of disputes arising from trespass by livestock that have escaped enclosure.The office of Fence Viewer is one of the oldest appointments in New England...
and Prisor of Damage. , he was elected in both 1754 and 1755 asOverseer of the Poor and in 1763, he received an appointment as justice for the County of Suffolk. He was elected town assessor in 1765 and 1766, then elected nine times to the highest post of local government, town supervisor of the Town of Southold. In addition, he served as a major in the local militia.
During the American Revolution, Wickham was known for his pro-Loyalist views. He was kidnapped by Connecticut rebels on December 13, 1777 and placed on parole soon after. He was required to forfeit his property without compensation on October 22, 1779 after a bill of attainder
Bill of attainder
A bill of attainder is an act of a legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a judicial trial.-English law:...
was passed by New York's legislature passed. He was also banished from the state under threat of death. Wickham was forced to move to Connecticut, where he died shortly thereafter. He insisted he was innocent of the charges, but was never granted a trial. Acts of attainder were banned under the U.S. Constitution, which was adopted a few years after Wickham's death.
Shortly before his death in exile, Wickham wrote:
- "I have acted consistently and consciously throughout my whole conduct, with a firm belief there is a future existence, and defy the state to produce one instance wherein I have acted rigidly, defrauded, or abused one member of it, although it was in my power."
In 1989, several of Wickham's heirs filed a lawsuit to try to regain ownership of Robins Island
Robins Island
Robins Island is a undeveloped island in Peconic Bay by the eastern end of Long Island off the coast of New Suffolk, New York. The island is privately owned and not accessible to the public and is within the jurisdiction of the Town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York in the USA.- History...
. The lawsuit failed, but also discouraged development. Most of the island is now protected by an easement to The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
.
Wickham was interred in the Raymond Cemetery in Waterford, Connecticut.