John Parker (1758 - 1836)

Born 6 Sep 1758 in Baltimore, Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (White) Parker — married Nov 1779 in Culpepper, Virginia, United States

Husband of Sarah (Pinson) Parker — married 21 Mar 1825 in Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died 19 May 1836 at age 77 in Fort Parker, Milam, Republic of Texas

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Patsy Satterwhite [send private message], Leonie Rose [send private message], Karen Hysell [send private message], and Karla Lang [send private message]

Biography

Elder John Parker - Parker yDNA Family Group (FG #5) See Wikipedia Biographical Sketch.

BORN

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND

Per the Elder John Parker's 1833 Revolutionary War pension application filed in Coles County, IL. He "was born September 6th in the year 1758, Baltimore County, State of Maryland & that the only record of his age now in existence is taken from his father's family Bible."

CULPEPER COUNTY, VIRGINIA

John migrated to the Culpeper County, Virginia area before 1777 as that is when he entered Revolutionary War service (SAR/DAR #A087621) But between 1782 and 1787 only one 'Parker' is listed in the Culpeper Co., VA Personal Property tax lists and that was Richard Parker 1723-1799 of Parker yDNA FamilyGroup #18, son of John Parker 1700-1760 who died in 1760 Hampshire Co., VA.

Per the Elder John Parker's revolutionary war pension application, he lived in Georgia for a total of 17 years, which means he left the Culpeper Co. VA. area abt. 1786.

ELBERT COUNTY, GEORGIA

After the war, John and Sarah moved to Elbert County, Georgia. Here John was made an Elder in the Primitive Baptist Church and in 1803 received permission from the governor of Georgia to leave Elbert County to visit the "Natchez Indian Territory."

Elbert County, GA land indenture dated 13 Sep 1792 between John Shackleford of Columbia Co., GA. and John Parker 287 1/2 acres.

Passports issued by Governor of Georgia 1785-1820 pg 10 Jackson County, Georgia,

14 April 1804 To all whom these presents may come--- We certify that Moses and John Parker two Brothers Hatters to Trade have lived neighboors to us for a considerable time and have from their steady conduct acquired general confidence as honest worthy citizens and where as they with their familys have a mind to move remove to the Nathchez Country . We recommend them to the attention of all Honest men and we recommend to his Excellency the governor of Georgia to Grant them as Pass port to Travill Through the Indian Tribes.

B Harris Br Gen

John F Compton Colo

DICKSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

John Parker in his 1832 Coles Co., IL revolutionary war pension application stated he lived in Hickman Co., TN. Hickman Co TN was formed from Dickson Co TN in Dec 1807.

Their family eventually established the Turnbull Primitive Baptist Church in 1806 which remains the oldest continuously meeting church in Dickson County Tennessee.. Parker's listed as church members in 1806 were: Aaron PARKER, Daniel Sr, Jr, Ruth, Sary Sr, Jr, Nancy, Moses, and John and Hannah PARKER.

Governor of Tennessee granted land to John Parker:

1807 August 14th DEED - Dickson County, TN. [DB C, p. 435] Deed from Tennessee to John Parker. By virtue of part of Certificate No. 307, dated 20th day of August 1807, issued to John Parker, and entered on the 14th day of March 1808 by No. 1411, we have granted to him a tract of land containing fifteen acress, and lying on the waters of Turnbull Creek, beginning on the south boundary of a survey located for the heirs of Lewis Lodge. Surveyed March the 30th 1808. Given under my hand and seal this 20th day of February 1809. Willie Blount, Govenor. Grant was registered on the 5th fay of June 1822. Molton Dickson Register.

Elder John Parker then sold/assigned the land to Aaron Parker.

Dickson County, TN. Deed Book C, page 436 "Deed from State of Tennessee to Aaron Parker, Assignee of John Parker. No. 2865. By virtue of part of Certificate No. 307, dated the 20th day of August 1807, obtained by John Parker, and entered on the 28th day of August 1807, by No. 180, we have granted to Aaron Parker, assignee of John Parker, a tract of land containing 39 acres, and lying on the waters of Parker’s fork of Turnbull Creek. Surveyed the 24th day of September 1808 by John Davis, including his improvement nearly in the center.

Elder John Parker was a missionary that moved from place to place establishing churches. He moved to Dickson County later Hickman County, Tennessee and lived there for about twelve years. He resided there until the stories of Fur Trappers lured him to Crawford County, Illinois in 1814.

CRAWFORD COUNTY (now COLES COUNTY), ILLINOIS

It was here on the 28th day of July, 1821 that Sarah "Sally" White died. (Findagrave) It was also here that John married Sally Duty on the 21st of March 1825.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION

When this veteran applied for a pension on 4-6-1835, it was stated that he rendered the following service as a private: He volunteered sometime in October 1777, and served 10 months under Capt. Fields in Colonel Slaughter?s Virginia Regiment; he enlisted in the later part of the year 1779 and served 12 months under Captain Collier in Colonel Alexander?s Virginia Regiment. See Daughters of the American Revolution: A087621

Pension Certificate No. 22 365 was issued Oct. 22, 1833 to John Parker, rate $80.00 per Annum, set of June 7, 1832, Illinois Agency.

TEXAS

The Parker family moved to Texas from Quincy, Illinois, taking the Baptist Church in Illinois with them. On Saturday evenings they would pitch their tents and on Sunday all of the ordinances of the Church were observed. The caravan of the Parkers came up on the east side of the Navasota River until they struck the old San Antonio Road and made their way to the present Houston County, near the north line of the present town of Grapeland.

From this place the Parker clan scattered. Daniel took his children and went a few miles north to what is now Elkhart, in Anderson County; Silas, James, Benjamin and Elder John pushed on to the west. They first took their families to the last fort that was thought to be safe from Indian attack, Fort Houston, which is about 2 mi. west of the present city of Palestine, Anderson County, Texas. The fort was an important point of frontier defense from 1836-1839. It was abandoned in 1841, and later the site became the home of Judge John H. Reagan, called Fort Houston.

LIMESTONE COUNTY, TEXAS

Elder John, Silas, Benjamin and James W. Parker moved on to the head of the Navasota River in present Limestone County, near the present Groesbeck. Here they erected Parker's Fort, a kind of wooden barricade or wall around their cabins, as a means of protection agains hostile Indians. Completed in March of 1834, the stockade's walls were constructed of split cedar logs buried in the ground and extending up 12 feet with sharp points. Inside the walls were two-story blockhouses, rows of log cabins for living quarters, and a livestock corral.The Parkers and other families moved inside the compound and began farming outside the walls. Since there had been no Indian troubles, they felt so secure they left the fort's gates open so workers could come and go with ease.But on May 19, 1836, while the men worked in the fields and the children played inside the fort, more than 100 Indians -- Comanche, Kiowa, Caddo and Wichita -- appeared at the gates with a white flag of peace. Benjamin Parker left the fort to talk to the warriors, who told him they wanted a safe place to camp, water and some beef. As Parker returned with beef, the riders surrounded him and killed him with their lances. Before the gates could be closed, the raiders rushed inside the fort, and killed Elder John Parker and his son Silas. As the men in the fields rushed to the fort, the Indians escaped with two women and three children. Behind them, five settlers lay dead and others were wounded, some of whom died later.

CHILDREN

1. Holly Parker

2. Daniel Parker b: 5 Apr 1781 in Culpeper County, Virginia

3. John Parker b: 1783 in Culpeper County, Virginia

4. Mary Jane Parker b: 6 Mar 1785 in Elbert County, Georgia

5. Benjamin F. W. Parker b: 13 May 1788 in Georgia

6. Pheobe Parker b: 1790 in Elbert County, Georgia

7. Isaac Duke Parker b: 7 Apr 1793 in Elbert County, Georgia

8. Joseph Allen Parker b: abt. 1795

9. James W. Parker b: 4 Jul 1797 in Elbert County, Georgia

10. Nathaniel Parker b: 1 Jun 1799 in Franklin County, Georgia

11. Silas Mercer Parker b: 5 May 1804 in Bedford County, Tennessee

12. Susannah Parker b: 5 Nov 1807 in Hickman County, Tennessee

13. Sarah Parker b: 1804/1810

14. Rachael Parker b: 19 Feb 1818

DEATH

Elder John was killed and scalped by Comanche and Kiowa Indians on 5-19-1836 during a raid on fort Parker by Comanche Indians. The raid in which Cynthia Ann, his niece, was kidnapped by the Indians. Burial: 1836 Mass Grave at Fort Parker Memorial Cemetery, Limestone Co TX. (Findagrave) Baptist Minister & Missionary, Soldier, Farmer, Pioneer, Martyr.

NOTES

Were they in Franklin Co GA tax lists, 1800-1808? This is near the Oconee Co SC area Nancy Misenheimer thinks they're from.

Was he in Robertson Co TN, 1820? This man has many children: 221101/01011

1820 Clark Co Illinois: John Parker 0,0,0,3,1-, 0,2,0,0,1-4

Nancy Misenheimer wrote: In my opinion only, I really think Elder John and his brothers and I know his father was a Indian agent/trader. They were heavily involved in the Cherokee Nation. My tracking of them shows them in Oconee Co SC at the time that the Cherokee still were on their reservation, and they applied to Congress to own land that at that time belonged to the Cherokee Nation. [Oconee Co was formed in 1868 from Pickens which was formed from Pendleton District.]

Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842. There are some very interesting documents here and it lists the names Moses, John, Daniel Parkerand Levin Dixon with petitions they sent to Josiah Tattnall to get some actions for their family's benefits. (June 29, 1802) Some are to "treat" with the Cherokees for the Tugaloo property and other petition is for protection from the Indians. One letter is signed by a Daniel Parker and you can copy this letter in jpeg and transcribed. The item that convinced me this is the family of Elder John Parker was the name Levin Dixon which is included in the two pages of people asking protection.

There is also a letter that proves the family was within several miles of the SC state border when they were attending their church and then after the emigration to TN, it was moved into SC

Server S | A GALILEO Digital Library of Georgia Database

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Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842 New Search/Browse About DjVu Images

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Document: TCC391

[Petition] 1802 June 29, to Josiah Tattnall, Governor of Georgia

date: June 29, 1802

extent: 4p

summary: This document is a petition addressed to Josiah Tattnall, Governor of Georgia (1801-1802), and dated June 29, 1802. The petitioners are not identified as being from any particular county in Georgia, but they inform the Governor that they have sent a petition to the President of the U.S. (Thomas Jefferson) requesting that he appoint Colonels Carnes, Easley, Harris and Captain James Blair as commissioners for treating with the Cherokee Indians. The petitioners are specifically interested in obtaining a tract of land five miles wide between the Tugaloo and Apalachee Rivers and ask that the Governor support their petition.

repository: Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries

collection: Telamon Cuyler

box: 45, folder: 13, document: 01, subject headings: * Legal documents, * Indian land transfers,

* Indian agents, * Cherokee Indians, * Georgia

Page: [1]   [djvu image | jpg image]

Georgia 29th June 1802

To His Excellency Josiah TatnallGovenor [Governor]

Sir we have this day Sined [Signed] a petition To the presidence [president] of the United States -- praying him to apoint [appoint] [unclear: Colo [Colonel]] CarnesEasley& Harris& Capt. James BlairCommissioners To treat with the Cherrokee Nationfor the Lands Contained between Tugolo& the Appelachy riverso as To obtain a space of five miles wide & as our Sittuations [Situations] air [are] well known To you we pray you to aid our applacation [application] otherwise our woman [women] & Children will Most Cartainly [Certainly] Com [Come] to destress [distress] Not Less in Number then [than] seven hundred Souls from the Great Influence that Colo [Colonel] CarnesEasleyHarris& Capt Blairhave with [unclear: them] we have no doubt of suckess [success] should the presedence [president] Cloath [Clothe] them with proper powers at [unclear: Suquee]the 27t [27th] Instant a Talk was held with a Deputation from the Cherrekee Nation -- whain [when] we plainly discovered that is those men wair [were] fully autherised [authorized] we might be Restored to our former happy sittuations [situations] with full Relience [Reliance] on your Excellencys Good wishes towards his fellow men we subscribe our selves his Most obbedent [obedient] Humble Servents [Servants]

Page: [2]

[Signed] Benjn [Benjamin] Wofford

[Signed] [unclear: Phil Burford]

[Signed] Nathaniel Wofford

[Signed] Thos [Thomas] Warren

[Signed] David [unclear: Ulreckie]

[Signed] Owen Carpenter

[Signed] John Tucker

[Signed] William [unclear: Pansey]

[Signed] Richard Barks

[Signed] Thomas Case

[Signed] Jephthal Yarbrough

[Signed] Samuel McKenney

[Signed] Isac Hollensworth

[Signed] John Parker

[Signed] Nickels Smith

[Signed] Stephen Smith

[Signed] Nathan Hearn

[Signed] Charles Crawford

[Signed] Jacob odom

[Signed] James Mcrackin

[Signed] Joseph Dickinson

[Signed] Vincent [unclear: Alenxaneder]

[Signed] John Fulton

[Signed] Gideon [unclear: Yarbrough]

[Signed] William Hilton

[Signed] Garland Lane

[Signed] Hezekeah Stephens

[Signed] Nathan Smith

[Signed] Benjn [Benjamin] [illegible] Binford

[Signed] Nathaniel Williams

[Signed] George Hopper

[Signed] Matthew Allexander

[Signed] James Henson

[Signed] Edwd [Edward] Tatum

[Signed] Wm [William] Halton

[Signed] Saml. [Samuel] Hollinsworth his X mark

[Signed] Thomas Warren

[Signed] John Shuffeald his [illegible] mark

[Signed] John Warren his [illegible] mark

[Signed] John Blann his [illegible] mark

[Signed] Joseph McCracken his [illegible] mark

[Signed] Saml. [Samuel] Jones his [illegible] mark

[Signed] Reuben Warren

[Signed] John Brown

[Signed] Micajah Clark

[Signed] DB Glenn

[Signed] Augustin Brown Jr.

[Signed] Isaac Brown his [illegible] mark

[Signed] Wm. [William] Washington Wofford

[Signed] James Martin

[Signed] Robert Brown

[Signed] [illegible] May

[Signed] James Maxwell

[Signed] Philemon Martin

[Signed] John Martin

[Signed] Wm. [William] Varnell

[Signed] Thos [Thomas] Duke

[Signed] Jesse Tatum

[Signed] James Mainyard

[Signed] Charles Wells

[Signed] Augustin Brown

[Signed] William Weatherspoones

[Signed] Charles Holt

[Signed] Morgan [unclear: Gust]

[Signed] John [unclear: Kech]

[Signed] John [unclear: Pesnell]

[Signed] Bradock McDonald

[Signed] Jas [James] [unclear: Denman]

[Signed] [unclear: aql.] McCracken

[Signed] William Deal

[Signed] Isaac Hollingsworth

[Signed] Joseph Shelton

[Signed] James Stigler

[Signed] John McDavid

[Signed] David Spradling

[Signed] George pierce

[Signed] Jacob hollingsworth

[Signed] Lewis Jones

[Signed] William Bright

[Signed] David Clark

[Signed] Hugh Startgrove

[Signed] Levin Dixon

[Signed] Daniel Parker

[Signed] John [unclear: Sharon]

[Signed] Jos. Sharon

[Signed] Moses Parker

[Signed] Garret Watts

[Signed] Solomon Huitt

[Signed] Jessco Covagh

[Signed] Jno [John] Little

[Signed] Lewis Phebus

[Signed] Peter Bogus his X mark

[Signed] James x huitt

[Signed] [unclear: Samil Lette] his X mark

[Signed] Thos. [Thomas] Wafer

[Signed] Benjamin Lewis

[Signed] Joseph Wilson

[Signed] Joseph Dunnagan

[Signed] Ezekiel Dunnagan

[Signed] Anday Dunnagan

[Signed] Isaiah Dunnagan

His Excellency, Josiah Tattnall, Governor of Georgia

Sources

• Elder John Parker

Birth: Sep. 15, 1758 Maryland, USA Death: May 19, 1836 Limestone County, Texas, USA

Founder of Fort Parker. He helped build the Parker Fort where he was one of the five that was killed during the Indian raid. He is buried under an oak tree in a mass grave approximately one and one half miles from the fort. Today, the area is known as the Fort Parker Memorial Park, and many relatives of the families are interred there too. (bio by: Helen L. Smith Hoke)

Family links: Spouses: Sarah Pinson Parker (1758 - 1836)* Sarah White Parker (1759 - 1824)*

Children: Daniel Parker (1781 - 1844)* John Parker (1783 - 1832)* Mary Jane Parker Kendrick (1785 - 1846)* Benjamin F.W. Parker (1788 - 1836)* Phebe Parker Hassell (1790 - 1852)* Isacc Parker (1793 - 1883)* Phoebe Parker Anglin (1796 - 1863)* James William Parker (1797 - 1864)* Nathaniel Parker (1799 - 1855)* Silas Mercer Parker (1804 - 1836)* Susannah Parker Starr (1807 - 1875)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Fort Parker Memorial Park Groesbeck, Limestone County, Texas, USA Plot: Mass Grave

Maintained by: ScottNicholson Originally Created by: Helen L. Smith Hoke Record added: May 12, 2003 Find A Grave Memorial# 7433560

• Fort Parker Massacre (from Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Parker_massacre

• A brief history of the Parker family of Illinois, Sargent, Samuel S., cir. 1949