This page was created on 2024-03-31.
This page was last updated on 2024-11-14.
Please check back from time to time, as that I will be adding to this as time permits. If you have information not listed here, or may correct what I have written here, please email me at bootlegger79 at yahoo dot com.
I am indebted to several other Parker researchers who provided information used on this page, particularly Ray Parker, who compiled a lot of what you are about to read around 2001, largely verbatim.
The following links were used in addition to my own research on the Parker family, and my readers are encouraged to check them out:
https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/parker/12826/
https://poegen.net/NC/Studies/parkergeorgeandRebeccafamilies.htm
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LB3M-VBW/elizabeth-lydia-bryant-1768-1844
http://www.tedmrd.com/ (Pierce family info, related)
https://lva-virginia.libguides.com/land-grants
https://nclandgrants.com/index/
BACKGROUND:
Up until I was in high school in 1975, I had thought that all of my forebears came over after the country was founded. I also thought that I was of German and Irish ancestry exclusively. That year, my uncle Loren Mosier, doing some genealogical research, learned about an ancestor named William Riley Parker. William Riley Parker is my great-great-great grandfather, and was born in Surry County NC on 1801-01-07. He was the son of John Parker, and later I was to learn that his mother was Sarah Connelly.
William Riley Parker married Martha (Patsy) Hodges in Surry County. Martha was the daughter of Edmond Hodges and Elizabeth Robinson (some sources say Elizabeth Summers).
William Riley Parker, according to a writeup from the Kansas Historical Society, was a Captain in the North Carolina state militia before moving to Lawrence County IN. Other members of the Parker family went with him, as well as Edmond Hodges, and likely some members of the Hodges family.
He moved again to Doniphan County, KS, around 1857. He owned a farm at Iowa Point, which is very close to where the states of Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri meet. He became involved in politics, and was elected to one term in the Kansas State Legislature. He failed to win re-election and returned to his farm, where he passed away on 1868-04-01.
Beginning below is a chronicle of the Parker family. This information has been drawn from several sources and organized here. We are going to start off with the early Parkers, and what we know about them.
CHAPTER I. THE EARLY PARKERS, FEATURING JOHN PARKER I.
The furthest back that I have been able to trace this line goes to my 5th great grandfather, John Parker, who was born in Northern Ireland around 1725. He married Hannah Jones (one source says Bryant, another says Hannah Jane Emery), born c1735, in Olveston, Gloucestershire, England, on 1746-09-28. One son, William Parker, is known to have been born in Ballyhay, Down County, Northern Ireland in 1748. They and their children arrived in Colonial America in the early 1770s, most likely 1774 according to one source. I've seen another source state that they arrived in Baltimore in 1766, and two others stating that they originally settled in CT/MA. As that we have a listing for John Parker being a taxpayer in Surry County NC in 1772, it suggests that they didn't spend a lot of time in New England, provided that they were really there.
Ray Parker's opinion is that all of John Parker's children born before 1774 were likely born in northern Ireland. From what I have posted in SUPPLEMENTAL below, it appears that some of the Parker family may have been Quakers. Also, I wish to note that familysearch.org has John Parker registering for military service in 1775, but the documentation referenced has John Parker as being in MA.
As stated above, John Parker is listed as a taxpayer from Surry County, NC, in 1772. With one source having his son Joshua being born there, we can surmise that John Parker lived there at that time.
John Parker received a land grant of 296 acres in what became Grayson County VA on 1774-12-27, listed as being on both sides of Meadow Creek. This land grant was confirmed and signed by Governor James Monroe on 1802-02-23, which listed his heirs. John Parker also received land grants in Surry County in 1779 and 1782 totaling 400 acres on the south side of Yadkin River in present day Yadkin County NC. This land was on the headwaters of Forbush and Fall Creeks, on both the north and south sides of present day Nebo Road. (source: Ray Parker). This makes for a total of 696 acres that John Parker received.
From what I have been able to gather, the Parker family was also based in Grayson County, VA. This is adjacent to Surry/Yadkin counties of NC. (Dave Mosier, 2024-04-10)
John Parker sold 200 acres of the Surry County land to David and Alice Fleming. Ray Parker cites the Surry County Deed Book P, page 63, as the source of this information.
From Ray Parker:
John Parker seems to have been closely associated with Doswell Rogers b. C1736 who migrated from Tyrone County Ireland to
John Parker and his son Samuel Parker were Revolutionary War veterans. (Ray Parker)
John Parker is known to have died before August 1793, as that his wife was listed as "Widow Parker" in a document with that date. One source has him passing away in 1789, in Johnston NC. I'm leaning towards 1793.
Children of John Parker I and Hannah (Jones?):
1. William Parker, born 1748-04-04 in Down County, Ireland. He married Elizabeth Lydia Bryant, born 1768, daughter of John Bryant and Lydia Allen Bryant. He died in 1820 in the Fall Creek Community of what was in Surry County NC, and is now Yadkin County NC.
2. Joseph Parker, born 1752 in Ballyhay Ireland, died 1819-05-05. He married his first wife Mary Hutchens in Isle of Wight VA. He owned property in Monroe County VA in 1799. He married his second wife, Elizabeth Rector on 1800-09-17 in Grayson County, VA. In his will he listed as owning 1021 acres of property. He moved to Monroe County, VA, which became part of West Virginia. He is buried in Parker Cemetery, Monroe County, WV.
3. Samuel B. Parker, Revolutionary War veteran, born c1760 in Ireland, listed in 1790 census as living in Surry County. This census listed two males over the age of 16, one male under the age of 16, and four females. He received three land grants in the Ca(u)dle Creek area of Surry County totaling 900 acres (this is now spelled as Caudle Creek). On 1807-02-21 he purchased 118 acres of land in Grayson County VA from William Greg(g). He was also deeded 209 acres of land from his father's estate (see below). We don't know who he was married to. One website does not have a listing for him as a son of John Parker, yet we know that he was deeded land in 1807 as noted below. Samuel Parker served on a grand jury empaneled in Grayson in May 1814 and May 1816 along with his brother Arthur.
4. John Parker, my 4th great grandfather, born 1764 in Ireland, married Sarah Connelly in 1790. Sarah is thought to have died around 1810. John Parker later married Polly Pinion in 1821. John Parker died 1829-11-12 in Surry County.
5. Joshua Parker, born 1772 in Surry County NC, married Sarah (unknown), died before 1840 in Grayson County VA. He was empaneled on a petit jury in Grayson on 1811-03-26 to decide a civil action.
6. Arthur Parker, born 1775-07-17, married Eleanor Ballard in 1808, and moved to White County Tennessee. He was a lieutenant in the Grayson County (VA) militia in 1811. Arthur Parker served on a grand jury empaneled in Grayson in May 1814 and May 1815 along with his brother Samuel. He also served on a grand jury in Grayson in May 1816.
7. Susanna Parker, born 1780, in Grayson County VA, married Garner Bryant. One source lists her husband as Thomas Bryant. She is thought to have died in 1850.
From the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, November 1977, from an article titled "Some Migrations from Virginia into North Carolina", authored by Virginia Pope Livingston:
7 Jan. 1807. WILLIAM, JOSHUA, ARTHUR PARKER and SUSANNA BRYANT of Grayson, JOHN PARKER of Surry Co., N.C., and JOSEPH PARKER of White Co., Tenn., to SAMUEL PARKER of Grayson, for 100 cents, 209 acres on Meadow Creek, a branch of New River, adjacent to ROBERT MUCKOLLS. (Grayson Deed Book 2, p. 312) This appears to be the final settlement of the estate of John Parker I.
It is interesting to note the connection to the Bryant family, based upon the two marriages listed above.
I will add to this section as information becomes available.
CHAPTER 2. THE SECOND GENERATION, INCLUDING JOHN PARKER II
This chapter was originally going to be about John Parker II, but I decided to expand it to include the next generation as that it would add more to the story of the Parker family. I'm not sure that this is a complete listing. I will add what I believe to be accurate information on his siblings. (Dave Mosier, 2024-06-02).
William Parker
William Parker was born on 1748-04-04 in Ballyhay, County Down, Ireland. He was christened on 1748-04-10 in Ballyhay, County Down, Ireland. He married Elizabeth Lydia Bryant (1768-1844) in 1789. He is known to have been living in Grayson County VA in 1807. William Parker died in Yadkin NC in 1820, and is buried in Deep Creek Township (Yadkin County NC). Fun fact: William Parker had nephews named William Riley Parker and William M. Parker. (Dave Mosier, 2024-06-02)
Joseph B. Parker
Joseph Parker, born 1752 in Ballyhay Ireland, died 1819-05-05. He married his first wife Mary Hutchens in Isle of Wight VA. He owned property in Monroe County VA in 1799. He married his second wife, Elizabeth Rector on 1800-09-17 in Grayson County, VA. In his will he listed as owning 1021 acres of property. He died on 1819-05-05 in Monroe County, (then in Virginia, now in West Virginia). His children:
James A. Parker, Sr, 1787-unknown
Joseph Parker, 1801-05-01 - 1883-12-09.
Mary Elizabeth Parker Lively, 1809-1888.
William M. Parker, 1815-1900.
Andrew Parker, 1816-1865.
John William Parker, Sr (a/k/a John Parker II)
The second known person in this family named John Parker, called John Parker II, had the middle name of William according to one source. He is my 4th great grandfather and father to William Riley Parker.
John Parker was born c1764. He married Sarah Connelly, born 1765, on 1790-12-28. Sarah Connelly died around 1810. (research by Ray Parker, which agrees with my research. 2024-04-10) From what I can tell, John Parker lived in Surry County for all of his adult life. He owned 600 acres of land on Stewarts Creek.
After the passing of his wife Sarah, John Parker married Polly Pin(n)ion.
John Parker is listed in the 1810 census of Surry County NC. This lists a white male between 26 and 45, and a white female between 26 and 45. This suggests a birthdate of about 1765 for both he and Sarah Connelly. The marriage age of both appears to be about 29. (Dave Mosier, 2024-04-14)
Children of John William Parker, Sr:
1. Edmund Parker. 1793 - 1858-10-22. Edmund was born in Surry County NC and died in Buchanan County MO.
2. Mary Parker. born 1796 in North Carolina. Married Benjamin Hinshaw. Died in Coles, Illinois, in 1829.
3. Margaret Peggy Parker: born 1799. Married Abraham Knot (Knott?) on 1818-09-30.
4. William Riley Parker. born 1801-01-07 in Surry County NC. Married Martha (Patsy) Hodges on 1826-11-25. Later moved to Lawrence County IN, and then Iowa Point (Doniphan) KS. Fun fact: both William Riley and his brother Joseph William had daughters named Sara Ann Parker.
5. Joseph William Parker. born in 1805 in White Plains, (Surry) NC. Died on 1880-12-10 in White Plains (Surry) NC. Fun fact: Joseph William Parker had an uncle named Joseph Parker and a first cousin named Joseph Parker (if my research is correct).
6. Jane Parker, born c1807. Married Steven Vaughn in IN on 1839-02-27.
7. Sarah P Parker, nicknamed Sally, was born on 1811-05-21 in Mount Airy, (Surry), NC. She married Newton Pierce in Surry on 1829-08-03. They moved to Bedford, (Lawrence) IN. She died in Bedford on 1870-08-30. Trivia: her niece, Evaline Parker, daughter of William Riley, married Joshua Puckett Pierce.
(from Ray Parker's research)
John Parker (II) b. 1760 D. 1829 lived in
Wife 1, Sarah Connelly b. 1765in VA m. est 1794 D. abt 1810 Surry Co. NC
Mary Parker b. abt C1796 m. abt. 1811 Benjamin Hinshaw,b. C1782 d. 1829 son Thomas Hinshaw & Hannah Seasfield
Margaret Peggy Parker, b. 1799 m. 9/30/1818 Abraham Knot
William Riley Parker b 1/7/1801 M, 11/25/1826 Martha (Patsy) Hodges b. 1810 dtr
Moved to Lawerence Co. IN by ox team in 1837.
Joseph Parker b. 1805 D. 12/18/1880 m. 12/151830 Mary Ann Hickman b. C1812 in Va D. 8/19/1892 stayed in Surry Co. NC.
Jane Parker b. C1807 m. 2/27/1839 Steven Vaughn in
Sarah Parker b. 5/21/1811 D. 8/30/1870
Wife 2. Polly Pinnion b. abt 1785 m. 2/21/1821
Justine Parker b. abt 1825 m. 1839 Edmond Nichols b. 1820 in Va moved to
Lucinda Parker b abt 1822 d. aft 1880 m. Jacob Keller moved to
Munro Sidney (Meky) Parker b. abt 1825 m. ? (Note, I can find no record of this child, Ray Parker)
James Monroe Parker b. 9/20/1826 Surry Co. NC D. C1910 Cove Union
CHAPTER 3: THE MIGRATION TO WHITE COUNTY TN
CHAPTER 4. WILLIAM RILEY PARKER, MY 3RD GREAT GRANDFATHER
William Riley Parker was born in Surry County NC, on 1801-01-07. He married Martha (Patsy) Hodges in Surry County in 1826. His wife was the daughter of Edmond Hodges and Elizabeth (Robinson) Hodges.
The children of William Riley Parker:
1. Evaline Parker. 1827 (or 1828-09-17) - 1923. Born in Surry County NC. Married Joshua Puckett Pierce in Bedford, Shanswick Township, Lawrence County IN on 1842-01-08. The couple were the parents of at least four sons and 8 daughters. She lived in Orion Township, (Fulton) IL in 1880 and Glasford (Peoria) IL. She died in Peoria IL. She was buried in Trivoli, (Peoria) IL. This from ancestors.familysearch.org.
2. Columbus Franklin Parker. Born 1829-12-17 in Surry NC. Died on 1919-08-03 in Tulsa, OK. He was a Private in the Mexican War, serving in the 16th Infantry. He was married to Mary Susannah Shannon Kinnick.
3. Elisabeth R. Parker. Born 1830 in Surry County NC. She married William Henry Harryman (1830 - 1854?) on 1851-01-07 in Lawrence County IN. She lived in Marshall Township (Platte) MO in 1920 and Wyandotte Township KS in 1830. She passed on 1934-10-29.
4. William Conley Parker. Born 1833-01-05. He married Mary Hodges (1840-1917) on 1868-04-28 in Holt County, MO. He died in 1883.
5. Samuel Parker, born 1833. A twin of William Conley? Or is the year wrong here? I have no further information about him.
6. Isham Henry Parker, born 1836-04-14. Died in 1935.
7. John Parker. Born 1837-11-18 in Lawrence County IN. He married Nancy Ann Rebecca Wininger on 1868-07-30. He lived in Perry Township (Lawrence) IN in 1850. He died on 1902-09-19 in White Cloud (Doniphan) KS, and is buried in the Olive Branch Cemetery there.
8. Sarah Ann Parker, my great great grandmother. Born in Springville (Lawrence) IN on 1841-08-25. She married John Fletcher Pierson. They later moved to Doniphan County KS. She died in St Joseph MO on 1927-01-17.CHAPTER 5. THE MOVE TO INDIANA
William Riley Parker and his family moved to Lawrence County IN by ox train in 1837. It is known that his father-in-law, Edmond Hodges, moved with him. Also moving to Lawrence County was his younger sister Sarah and her family. His older sister, Margaret (Peggy) Parker, married to Abraham Knott. was also part of the migration to Lawrence County. At least two of the Pierce families moved with them, and it is believed that other members of the Hodges family moved as well.
One thing I'm going to have to do here is look at some census records of 1830 Surry County and 1840 Lawrence County. This might shed some light and how many made this move to Lawrence. I expect that I will add to this chapter once this is figured out. (Dave Mosier, 2024-07-17).
In looking at some census records, I haven't been able to find any Pierce families living in Surry County in the years of interest. I want to double check this. (Dave Mosier, 2024-07-23)
CHAPTER 6. PARKER MIGRATION TO MISSOURI, 1841.
CHAPER 7. THE MOVE TO KANSAS
SUPPLEMENTAL:
I am cutting and pasting the raw information below.
(from Ray Parker, 2000-10-25)
https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/bryant/4639/
Dawna,
I live 2 miles from the Deep Creek Friends Meeting in Yadkin County, NC.This church was chartered in 1793.Listed on the charter are many of my ancestors, Reeces, Huffs (Houghs), Hadleys, Martins, Adams, Footes, Vestals, Hutchens etc.
Lots of my ancestors are buried there.I am attaching what I have on the Grayson/Surry County Parkers, there are bound to be errors, since these folks were so hard to track.John Davis owned the farm next to My GGGGrandfather George Parker in the Nebo Community about 1 mile from the Deep Creek Friends Church.Elizabeth Davis born 1737 married to Thomas Vestal b. 1727 was one of my G-Grandmothers.Nancy Davis born 1816 m. Jesse Mickles was another of my G-Grandmothers.
I have most of my lines back eight generations or more.The Parkers have been the most troublesome line.
Look at the following at tell me your opinion.
Grayson County Va – Surry County NC ParkersOctober, 2000Ray Parker
John Parker (I) born est 1750,in Mass, Prince George County Maryland or Accomac County, VA
Wife unknown. M. 1768 esthave three different places John (I) came from???
Children:
John Parker (II)B. 1768 m. Sarah 1794, Polly Pinnion 1821, d. 1829 in Surry Co. NC
William B. 1773 m. Mary Airy 1796, Soloman Parker Bondsman
Joseph B. 1775 m. Elizabeth Rector 1800moved to Tennessee
Joshua B. 1781 m. Mary Jones 1805
Samuel B. 1783 m. unknown
Arthur B. 1785 m. Elanor Ballard 1808 moved to Tennessee
Susanna B. 1778 m. Garner Bryant
John Parker (II) b. 1768, lived in Surry County, NC on Stewarts Creek.
Wife 1, Sarahm. est 1794
Edmond Parker b. 1795, m. 1819 Nancy Hickman
Peggy Parker, b. 1807 m. 1818 Abraham Knot
Mary Parker b. m. Benjamin Hinshaw
William Riley Parker b 1801 m. 1826 Patsy Hodge
Joseph Parker b. 1805 m. 1830 Mary Ann Hickman
Jane Parker m. ?
Sarah Parker m. 1829 Newton Pierce
Wife 2. Polly Pinnion m. 1821
Justine Parker m. 1839 Edmond Nichols
Lucinda Parker m.?
Munro Sidney Parker m. ?
William Parker b. 1773 m. Mary Airy 1796, lived in Surry County, NC 1803, in Grayson Co. Va 1805
Thomas Bryant Parker b. 1798 in Grayson, Co. Va, m. Catherine Hamlett in 1825 in Missouri?
Rebekah Parker b. 1803 in NC m. Jesse Adams 1822
George Parker b. 1805 in VA m. Kesiah Adams 1833
(note Soloman Parker was the bondsman for the William Parker and Mary Airy Marriage Bond.)
Arthur Parker b. 17, July 1775, d. Oct 6, 1830
Eleanor Ballard b. 5 Jun 1790 d. May 2, 1845
Andrew Parker b. 1809 Grayson Co. Va. d. 1847 White County, Tenn
Elizabeth Parker b. 1812 Grayson Co. Va. d. 1849
Margaret Parker b. 1814 Grayson Co. Va. d. 1895
Samuel Parker b. 1816 White Co, Tenn d. 1894
Caroline Parker b. 1819 White Co. Tenn d. 1899
Susannah Parker b. 1820 White Co. Tenn d. 1851
Mary Parker b. 1823 White Co. Tenn d. 1910 in Nebraska
Arthur Parker b. 1824 White Co. Tenn d. 1901
Joseph Parker b. 1828 White Co. Tenn d. 1893
William Parker b. 1831 White Co. Tenn d. 1863.
Note: By 1817 Joshua Parker was the only Parker who owned land in Grayson County, Va.
The others had sold out and moved west.
Also, there was a Thomas Bryant Parker born in 1798 in Grayson County Va for which we have no
Parents.Thomas Bryant Parker moved toMissouri, married Catherine Hammett in 1825.I suspect that Thomas Bryant Parker was the son of William Parker and Mary Airy.Note that George Parker and Kesiah Adams first born son was named Thomas B. Parker in 1835?
In addition we have recently learned that the Quakers Living in Grayson County often attended the Deep Creek Friends Monthly Meeting off Nebo Road in Yadkin County, until a the Mt Pleasant Friends Meeting was established later in the 1800’s.This helps explain the intermarriage between the Surry/Yadkin County and Grayson County residents.This was a 60 mile of o to church on Sunday. so trip to g
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