The second son of John Parkhurst (1701–65) of Catesby House, Northamptonshire, he was born in June 1728.
[citation needed] He was educated at Rugby School and Clare Hall, Cambridge, where he proceeded BA 1748, MA 1752, and was elected Fellow.
[1] Soon after he was ordained the death of his elder brother made him heir to considerable estates at Catesby and Epsom, Surrey.
In early life he became a follower of John Hutchinson and was influenced by his principles of biblical exegesis.
His monument by John Flaxman in St Martin's parish church, Epsom carried an inscription by his friend William Jones of Nayland.