William was born in Sheffield on 24 March 1783, the son of Thomas (1747-1806) and his wife, Mary, daughter of Thomas Holy.  William’s father was a merchant and table knife manufacturer; his grandfather was William Parker, who had been Master Cutler in 1761 (Clay, 1894-6¹).   William became an American merchant, whose office was in South Street during the 1820s and 1830s.   He lived in Convent Walk, then Springfield.  He may have been involved in other merchant partnerships, such as Staniforth, Parkin & Co.

More is known about the events after his death than his previous business career.  He died on 4 February 1837, aged 53, from ‘apoplexy’, and was buried in the General Cemetery.  According to the press reports, 1,500 followed his hearse, including the merchants of the town (who apparently numbered a hundred).  Parker’s press obituary was lengthy for the time, but it only highlighted his worthiness as a Congregationalist (he was a deacon at Nether Chapel) and not his life as a businessman.   A subscription amongst his fellow merchants and manufacturers raised £200 (over £15,000 at current prices) for an impressive monument – the largest in the General Cemetery.   His wife, Catherine née Elliott, was buried there, after her death, aged 53, at 6 Broomhall Place on 4 May 1844.  Burdened by the winding up of the business (William died intestate) and other family responsibilities, she had cut her throat with a razor (Sheffield Independent, 11 May 1844).   Their sons formed Parker Bros.

^1. Clay, John W (ed), Familiae Minorum Gentium  (London, 4 vols, 1894-6)