Benjamin F. W. Parker (1788 - 1836)

Born 13 May 1788 in Elbert, Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Robertson) Parker — married 11 Dec 1812 in Tennessee

Descendants

Died 19 May 1836 at age 48 in Fort Parker, Milam, Republic of Texas

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Biography

Benjamin F.W. Parker was born May 13, 1788 in Elbert County, Georgia, the third son of John and Sarah (White) Parker.

Benjamin's father Elder John Parker was born September 5, 1758 in Baltimore, Maryland. His mother Sarah "Sally" White was born July 10, 1759 in Culpeper County, Virigina.

Siblings were:

• 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)

Benjamin's first marriage was to Patsy "Sally" Stewman in Tennessee. To this union was born a son, Benjamin Parker,JR. According to family records, Sally Parker died during child birth or shortly after the birth of Benjamin Junior.

Children were:

• Benjamin Parker, Jr. (1812 - 1866)

His second marriage was to Susannah (Robertson) Parker. They were married December 11, 1812 in Benjamin married Susannah Robertson December 11, 1812 in Sumner County, Tennessee by David Wilson, Bondsman. Susannah was born January 3, 1796 in Summer County, Tennessee.

Children were:

• John Parker (1813 - 1874)
• Joseph Allen Parker (1816 - 1894)
• Isaac Green Parker (1816 - 1875)
• Mary Parker (b: 14 Feb 1819)
• Jesse Robertson Parker (1821 - 1890)
• Daniel Parker (1823 - 1870)
• Nathaniel Parker (1825 - 1871)
• Catherine Abigail (Parker) Cassady (1827 - 1862)
• Susan Parker (1832 - 1901)
• George Washington Parker (b: 19 Jul 1834)
• Rebecca (Parker) Chaffin (b: 08 Oct 1832 in Illinois)

See also, Evaline Parker.

Benjamin and Susannah were the Great-Grand parents of John Burr Clark, son of Edward W.Clark & Theodocia (Chaffin) Clark. Theodocia was the daughter of William Joseph Chaffin & Rebecca Parker. Rebecca Parker is the daughter of Benjamin and Susannah Parker.

The Parker Families migrated as a unit from Georgia to Tennessee in 1803, and from Tennessee to Illinois in 1819. Benjamin Parker, built the first log cabin, and thus became the first actual settler in Coles County, Illinois. That cabin was built on the east bank of the Embarras River. It has been said, "The first apple orchard in Coles County was set out about 1830 by Benjamin Parker."

Benjamin first came to Texas in early Spring of 1833 with brothers, James, Daniel and Joseph to explore and consider the new country for settlement. But decided not to make the move permanent. In the fall of 1835 after the death of his wife Susannah, in Illinois, Benjamin left nine of his thirteen children in the care of his brother Nathaniel, while he again came to Texas to seek a new beginning. Accompanied by his father, Elder John Parker and his wife, Sarah Parker the former Mrs. Duty.

Elder John Parker's group settled near the headwaters of the Navasota River, and built a fort for protection against Native Americans. Fort Parker was made about two miles west of present-day Groesbeck, Limestone County, Texas, by Elder John Parker (1758–1836), his sons, Benjamin, Silas and James, plus other members of the Pilgrim Predestinarian Baptist Church of Crawford County, Illinois.

On May 19, 1836, Fort Parker was attacked by several hundred Caddo, Comanche and Kiowa. They killed several of it's inhabitants. Benjamin F.W. Parker 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.

Benjamin Parker died May 19, 1836 in the Fort Parker Indian Massacre at Fort Parker, Limestone County, Texas.^[1]

The leaders of Fort Parker were John Parker and his sons, Issac, James W. and Benjamin, father and brothers of Elder Daniel Parker. All these,except James W. Parker were killed in the Indian massacre at Fort Parker on May 19,1836. Parker brought news to Fort Houston, near Palestine,Texas. All the surviving Parkers then returned to what is now Anderson County, Texas.

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

Inscription: HERE REST MARTYRS OF FORT PARKER KILLED BY COMANCHE INDIANS MAY 19, 1836 ELDER JOHN PARKER BENJAMIN F. PARKER SILAS M. PARKER SAMUEL M. FROST ROBERT FROST IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO LAID FOUNDATIONS OTHERS HAVE BUILT UPON.

Bio by: Martha Yates Vandver, the Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter of Benjamin F. W. Parker Sources: Illinois Statistics-County (Land) Area Illinois History Timelines, 1768-1868 History Of Coles County, Illinois, by Charles E. Wilson "Return The Parker Story", by Jack K. Selden

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 February 2018), memorial page for Benjamin F.W. Parker (13 May 1788–19 May 1836), Find A Grave Memorial no. 7433558, citing Fort Parker Memorial Park, Groesbeck, Limestone County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by MYates Vandver (contributor 46783522) .

See also:

• Find A Grave Memorial# 7433558
• {Parker History in Illinois}