PARKHURST, Robert (1603-1651), of Cheapside, London; later of Broad Street, London and Pyrford, Surr.

Parkhurst’s paternal grandfather was a Guildford mercer and his uncle Thomas was several times mayor of the town.17 Vis. London (Harl. Soc.) xvii. 144; M.F. Keeler, Long Parl. 296. His father was also a mercer, on a much larger scale, based in London’s Cheapside, although he had moved to Broad Street by the time of his death.18 R.G. Lang, ‘London’s Aldermen in Business: 1600-25’, Guildhall Misc. iii. 248. He served as master of the Clothworkers’ Company, governor of the Irish Society and alderman of London, but did not lose touch with his native town. It was through him that Archbishop Abbot sent a gift of £100 to the town in 1614, and at Christmas 1624, when he was serving sheriff of London, the corporation presented him with a boar.19 Keeler, 296; Hist. of Guildford (1801), p. 15; Surr. Hist. Cent. BR/OC/6/1, p. 22.

Parkhurst’s return for Guilford in 1625, at the first election after he came of age, was due to his father’s influence. An account of the life of his unsuccessful opponent, Nicholas Stoughton*, written in the 1670s, stated that Parkhurst’s father had promised ‘great matters’ for the borough if his son was elected and threatened ‘what prejudice he could do’ if he were not.20 Add. 6174, f. 144v. Parkhurst was re-elected, apparently without difficulty in 1626, but in 1628, when he was chosen for a third time, there was a double return. In one return he was paired with Poynings More, whereas in the other More’s colleague was (Sir) Francis Carew II*. There is no evidence that the Commons ever resolved the difference, but as it was Parkhurst rather than Carew who was named in the Crown Office list it may be that he took the seat and that Carew decided not to pursue the matter.21 OR. Parkhurst took no known part in any Parliament of the period.

In early 1628 Parkhurst’s father purchased the manor of Pyrford, seven miles from Guildford, which he settled on his son in May of that year on the latter’s marriage to the daughter of a Kentish baronet.22 VCH Surr. iii. 432. Parkhurst was again successful at both elections of 1640 and supported Parliament in the Civil War. However, a combination of declining health and, possibly, a growing disillusionment with the parliamentarian cause led him to withdraw from Westminster after 1643, although he was never formerly secluded from the Commons and remained in office locally until his death.23 CJ, v. 330a; vi. 34a; Keeler, 296.

In his will dated 7 Jan. 1650 Parkhurst described himself as being ‘a long time afflicted with a weakness and infirmity of body’. He mentioned property in Devon, Gloucestershire and Exeter, as well as Surrey, provided an unmarried daughter with a portion of £2,000 and instructed that his second son should be apprenticed as a merchant. He was buried at Guildford on 21 Aug. 1651 and his will was proved the following February by his eldest son Robert. The latter was returned for Guildford in 1659.24 PROB 11/220, f. 325; Manning and Bray, Surr. i. 50.