William Parker (abt. 1728 - 1808)

Born about 1728 in Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1808 at about age 80 in Sugarcreek, Venango, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

It is said that the Parker family had been in America for several generations prior to the birth of William Parker. There is nothing known of the family, however. William Parker is the first of which there is any record (of which I know). ^[1] It is believed probable that William was born in Virginia, but he lived in the border territory between Virginia and Pennsylvania, so may have been born in Pennsylvania, perhaps in Washington county.^[2]

Wiley's history of Indiana and Armstrong counties in Pennsylvania, does not ascribe such a long tenure of Parkers in America and surmises that William is the son of the original immigrant. Wiley also says the family was from Washington County, Pennsylvania: "In the days of pioneer danger, privation and adventure in western Pennsylvania, the Parker family settled in what is now Washington county. Col. William Parker, the grandfather of Fullerton Parker, and in all probability a son of the founder of the family in western Pennsylvania, came from Washington county in 1798."^[3]

Neither Babcock nor Wiley give a date for William's birth, (but Babcock does say that he was an old man when he relocated to Venango/Armstrong County). William Parker's FamilySearch profile gives his birth date as 1728, but doesn't give a source other than noting the information was found at Ancestry.com. I have seen his birth date on other sites as late as 1756. The 1728 date seems more credible considering the dates of his children's births and Babcock's description of William being an "old man" at the time of his removal to Venango.

William married Mary, the daughter of Jeannette (Wilson) Moore Guthrie. Mary's FamilySearch profile indicates that she was the daughter of Jeannette's first husband, William Moore. Babcock thinks it more likely that she was the daughter of Jeannette's second husband, James Guthrie. In any case, Mary's brother (whether full or half) was John Moore, who was the presiding judge of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania from 1785 to 1791.^[4] William and Mary Parker raised their family in Westmoreland County. Their children were Samuel, John, and Mary ("who married Thomas McKee, one of the first two associate judges of Venango county.")^[5]

In 1797 or 1798, William and his family moved to Venango County, (actually, their land is variously cited as Armstrong County, Butler County, and Venango County. Perhaps their property straddled all three? Or perhaps the county names have changed over time?) following their son, John, who had already relocated there. William settled on the banks of Bear Creek and built a mill. Of the mill, Wiley says: "He built the first grist-mill of northern Armstrong county, and although it was a log structure, equipped with machinery of the most primitive description, yet it was the main dependence for grinding of the settlers for many miles around."^[6]

Both Babcock and Wiley say that William and Mary lost a son to drowning during the move from Westmoreland to Venango/Armstrong. Babcock does not give the son's name. Babcock names only Samuel, John and Mary as children of William, implying (since we know John was not on the journey) that the drowned son was Samuel. Wiley, however, says the drowned son was named George.^[7]

Wiley consistently refers to William as Colonel, but does not say where he earned that rank. If William was born in 1728, he probably earned the rank by fighting in the French and Indian War that began in 1754. If William was born in 1756 then he would have been of prime age to serve in the military during the Revolutionary War.Wiley says of William: "He was an influential man in his section, and prominent in military matters."^[8]

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Sources

Babcock, Charles Almanzo. Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People. Two Volumes. Chicago, IL: J.H. Beers & Company, 1919.

Wiley, Samuel T. Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1891.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Entered by Joann H., Sunday, October 6, 2013.
2. ↑ Babcock, Charles Almanzo. Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People. Chicago, IL: J.H. Beers & Company, 1919. Page 462.
3. ↑ Wiley, Samuel T. Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1891. Page 500.
4. ↑ Babcock, Charles Almanzo. Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People. Chicago, IL: J.H. Beers & Company, 1919. Page 462.
5. ↑ Ibid. Page 462.
6. ↑ Wiley, Samuel T. Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Indiana and Armstrong Counties, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1891. Page 500.
7. ↑ Ibid. Page 500
8. ↑ Ibid. Page 500.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Joann H. for creating Parker-10995 on 6 Oct 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Joann and others.