Mary Parker (1779 - abt. 1828)

Born 1779 in Hampshire County, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of William Thompson — married 3 May 1800 in Sumner County, TN.

Died about 1828 at about age 49 in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joe Crouch [send private message]

MYTHS BUSTED

MYTH #01 - The children listed on the above profile are children of Nathaniel Parker and Elizabeth Scott: Isaac Parker, Thomas Parker, Richard Parker, Nathaniel Parker, Jr., Mary (Parker), Elizabeth (Parker) Collier, Aaron Parker and Robert C. Parker are children of Nathaniel Parker (1724-1811) (yDNA Family Group #18). It was the Nathaniel Parker (1724-1811) who married Elizabeth Scott that migrated about 1790 from Hampshire County, VA to Sumner County, TN., settled at Greenfield, and is buried near the old Fort Morgan in Sumner County, TN. The link below shows the proof based upon the documentation:

There were 2 Nathaniel Parkers in Hampshire County, VA., but only one migrated to Sumner County, TN. circa 1790.

MYTH #02 - Some genealogy researchers have stated this Mary 'Polly' Parker married Bushrod W. Thompson, but that is INCORRECT! Bushrod W. Thompson married Elizabeth Parker, daughter of Nathaniel Parker's son Isaac Parker on the 3 November 1828 Sumner County, TN.

BIOGRAPHY

Mary "Polly" Parker was the daughter of Nathaniel Parker 1724-1811 who migrated with most of 7 of his 10 children from Hampshire County, VA. (now Mineral County, W.V.) to Sumner County, TN. abt. 1790. Mary "Polly" Parker being his daughter is proved by the Fifth bequest in Nathaniel Parker's 25 Feb 1811 will wherein he stated:

Fifth, I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Thompson, her heirs and assigns, my negro boy Edmond, and no more of my estate, real or personal.

And by a deed written on 19 November 1814 which was recorded again on 3 May 1825 in Sumner County [Sumner Co., TN DB 11:66]. At that time the name of E. Collier had been inserted at the top in the listing of the six men who executed the deed. In addition, the signatures included not only the six named men, but also Elizabeth Collier, Mary Thompson and William Thompson.

Nathaniel Parker's 1st wife (and the mother of Mary "Polly" Parker is proved by an 1851 letter by Ohio Supreme Court Justice Thomas Scott found in the Ohio State Archives wherein he stated:

"My father's sister Elizabeth, intermarried with Mr. Nathaniel Parker. He owned a beautiful well-kept cultivated farm and mills, two or three miles above the town of Frankfort on Patterson's creek, in Hampshire County, Virginia."

"My aunt had three daughters and seven sons by him, namely, Susannah, Elizabeth and Polly, John, Thomas, Richard, Aaron, Robert, Isaac and Nathaniel."

"After the decease of my aunt, Mr. Parker with the residue of his sons and daughters, their families removed to the state of Tennessee, where he intermarried with the widow of Col. Bledsoe deceased....."

Nathaniel Parker's 2nd wife was the widow (Mary Ramsey Bledsoe) of Col. Anthony Bledsoe whom he married 4 Dec 1791 Sumner Co., TN.

BIRTH

Mary Parker's grandfather John Parker bought land on Patterson Creek in 1748 in that portion of Frederick County, VA. that in 1753 became Hampshire County, VA., in 1863 became Hampshire Co., W.V. and is now Mineral County, W.V.. Her father Nathaniel Parker 1724-1811 inherited land from his father in 1760 and in June 1765 a deed of partition split lands belonging to John Parker between Thomas McGuire and wife (late Elizabeth Parker relict of said John Parker), Robert Parker, Richard Parker; Nathaniel Parker; Aaron Parker; John Nall and wife Elizabeth and the said William Foreman and wife Catherine. In 1771 Nathaniel Parker purchased 220 acres from James Rogers and his wife Martha in Hampshire Co., VA.; in 1779. Nathaniel Parker then appears in the 1782, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788 Hampshire Co. VA. Tax lists. Based upon this record all of Nathaniel Parker's children were born in Hampshire Co., VA.

Mary Parker born 19 May 1779 Hampshire Co., VA.

MARRIAGE

Mary 'Polly' Parker married William Thompson on 3 May 1800 in Sumner County, TN.

CHILDREN

01. - Charles Thompson (1801-1836)

02. - Elizabeth Thompson (1804-1836)

03. - William Parker Thompson (1805- ); married 1st. Ann J. Whiteside 14 Feb 1829 Davidson Co., TN.; 2nd Ann Hearn 23 July 1835 Davidson Co., TN.

04. - John W. Thompson (1811-1860); married Mary J. _______

05. - Dela Fletcher Thompson (1814-1893); married 1st Margaret Ann Whitsett 5 Aug 1838 Davidson Co., TN. 2nd married Jane P. Johnson 30 Nov 1847 Davidson Co., TN. 3rd married Zurelda E. Watson born 14 May 1855 Davidson Co., TN

06. - Mary Catherine Thompson (1817- _____); may have married John J. White 22 Dec 1840 Davidson Co., TN.

07. - Susan Margaret Thompson (24 Aug 1818 Davidison Co. Tn. - 22 Feb. 1898 Osceola, St. Clair, MO.; married Daniel P. Morgan 25 Sep 1838 Davidson Co., TN.

William Thompson's 24 Aug 1836 will, probated on 19 Oct 1835 Davidson County, TN. list his living children as Wm. P., Dela F., John W., Mary C., & Susan [Records of Davidson County Court, Minute Book B Oct. 19, 1835 – Sept. 7, 1841, p. 177]

DEATH

At least one Ancestry tree states 26 Jul 1828 Davidson Co., TN. which seems to be confirmed by the 1830 Davidson Co., TN. U.S. census record for William Thompson where there is no age 51 female enumerated.

SOURCES

March 1805 probate of brother Aaron Parker's nuncupative will references Mary (Parker) Thompson.

25 Feb 1811 will of Nathaniel Parker 1724-1811 references Mary (Parker) Thompson.

1800 Sumner County, TN. marriage Polly Parker to William Thompson 3 May 1800 (Ancestry)(FamilySearch)

1820 Davidson County, TN. U.S. Census (Ancestry)(FamilySearch)

1830 Davidson County, TN. U.S. Census (Ancestry)(FamilySearch)

October 1851 letter by Ohio Supreme Court Justice Thomas Scott (letter page 9, PDF page 11) - lists Mary Parker as a daughter of Nathaniel Parker and Elizabeth Scott of Hampshire Co., VA. who migrated with her father from Hampshire Co., VA to Sumner Co., TN.

The Parker Family of Sumner County, Tennessee by Shirley Wilson, CG; Revised 27 January 1997