Jos. Parker Ensn, his signature from a regimental paylist dated Grantham, England, 1 March 1782
Nationality: "British"
Born: unknown
Regimental commission dates:
Ensign 20 September 1777 (vice Ensign Alexander Hay, promoted 20 September 1777)
Lieutenant 18 March 1782
Captured: Battle of Freeman's Farm, 19 September 1777 (prisoner of war)
Retired: additional company reduction half-pay, 1784
Died: unknown
Jonas Parker joined the 62nd Regiment of Foot as a volunteer, and in that capacity acted as a private soldier with multiple companies before finally settling in as a corporal in Captain Abraham Bunbury's company by the latter half of 1776. As such, Volunteer Parker participated in the invasion of New York during the Northern Campaign of 1777.
Jonas Parker was promoted to the rank of ensign in room of Ensign Alexander Hay, who was in turn promoted in place of Lieutenant Stephen Harvey, killed in the Battle of Freeman's Farm on 19 September 1777. However, as with Sergeant-Major James Green, Parker was unaware of his promotion for some time since, like the serjeant-major, he too was captured by rebels during the Battle of Freeman's Farm.
After being enumerated in "A Return of British Prisoners taken 19th Septr 1777," dated New City (present-day Lansingburgh, New York), 21 September 1777 (Horatio Gates Papers), Parker's subsequent disposition is unclear, but by November 1779 he was listed as having joined his parent regiment in captivity. The date of his repatriation is unknown, but as late as July 1781 Parker was returned as “on his way to join from America” on regimental paylists. He was home by March 1782, mustering as the ensign of Captain William Sotheron's battalion company. He was soon after promoted to a lieutenancy and placed in Captain John Grimston's additional company. As with all additional company officers, Parker was soon after placed on half-pay due to post-war regimental reductions.
Jonas Parker's given name was sometimes erroneously returned as “Jones" or "John."