Job Parsons (1789 - 1883)

Born 11 Jun 1789 in Hardy, Bedford, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 18 Mar 1883 at age 93 in St George, Tucker, West Virginia, United States

Biography

Note: JOB PARSONS DIARIES: Job Parsons diaries were filmed by the University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV^[1]

Married two times.

History of Tucker County / His principal occupation was farming, although he engaged in stock-raising, Merchandising and runnig a grist-mill. He lived in the Holly Meadows, and Job's Ford is named from him. His farm was called the "Job Place"

FORMAT: 2 reels of 35mm microfilm

• 1 reel contains: 1874; 1884; 1886; 1887; 1888; 1893 & 1894 • 1 reel contains: 1875; 1879; 1880 thru 1883

Eldest son of William and Catherine Stoker Parsons, was born in Hardy County, Virginia. He was a man of fine physique and possessed a powerful constitution, and was capable of enduring almost anything. He was six feet four inches in "height and weighed 250 pounds. When he was in his nineteenth year, he enlisted in the army of the war of 181 2, and did duty at Fort Maiggs and Norfolk, Virginia. While he was at Norfolk he was taken sick \vith camp fever and his aunt, Mary Parsons Hanse, had him carried to her home and she nursed him to health. He returned to his regiment and continued in the service until the war closed. After his return home he married Jemima Ward, and moved on his plantation and engaged in farming and stock raising ; his herds of cattle, sheep and horses were of the best.

He was a great lover of hunting and always kept a pack of hounds. It was his delight to hear them cross the distant mountains, deeply baying on the trail of a deer ; such sport was indulged in by the people along Cheat river.

When the civil war began, Job Parsons was a warm sympathizer of the South, and expressed his sentiments by casting his vote for secession. In October, 1861, the report came to him in the evening that the Unionists were coming to take the property of the Southern sympathizers. The following morning he arose early and caught his best horses and hurried oflf to a place in the woods above the "Yellow Rocks." Scarcely had he reached the place of concealment when the soldiers came down the road with a field glass, searching every nook and corner of his premises. They spied the horses and made a dash for them; they met him coming down the path with his old rifle—he was looking for a safe place to conceal it. As the "blue coats" confronted him, he threw his rifle to his shoulder and called "halt," "Ground arms" and they obeyed his command. Enjoying their surprise for a moment, he said, "now, I suppose I am your prisoner." They disarmed him, taking all his horses with them, carried him a prisoner to Rowelsburg, to the headquarters of General Kelley. He poured vials of wrath upon the head of the commanding officer when he was taken to his quarters, telling him he fought in the war of 1812 to make America a free land, and now freedom was denied him. The General was so confused and ashamed that he would not answer but gave him his liberty and horses, and he returned home, and was not molested again except by the "Dry Fork Home Guards," better known at the "Swamp Dragoons," a name given to them by Parsons. The rifle, his old friend of 1812, could never be found, though a diligent search was made for it by his grandson, J, H. Glascock.

He spent the most of his life on the plantation land pre-empted by his grandfather. He dispensed true Southern hospitality to his friends and all who came to his home. His last days were spent with his daughter, Emma Parsons, near St. George, West Virginia.

Marriages

Son of William Parsons and Catherine Stocker Parsons. Married May 25, 1815 to Jemima Ward Parsons and on Sept. 15, 1836 to Sarah Losh Parsons, daughter of Stephen Losh and Sarah Dashner Losh^[2]

Wife 1: Jemima Ward^[1]

Marriage: 25 May 1815, Randolph Co., (W) Virginia

Marr Memo: by John Rowan

Children^[1]

1. Mary (1816-1834)
2. Emily (1817-1898)
3. Jacob Ward (~1819-1896)
4. Catherine (1821-1893)
5. Phoebe Ann (1823-1905)
6. Solomon (1824-1850)
7. Hannah (1828-1906)
8. Susannah (1830-~1918)
9. Adinijah (1832-1838)
10. Infant (1835-1835)

Wife 2: Sarah Dashner Losh (4 Apr 1810 - 22 Sep 1902, West Virginia)^[1]

Marriage:15 Sep 1836

Children:^[1]

1. Jemima Elizabeth (1837-1922)
2. Janetta “Jane” (1839-1881)
3. Rebecca Annis (1841-)
4. Lavinia J. (1844-)
5. Elmira V. (1847-)
6. Emma (1850-1938)
7. Job Ward (1853-1883)
8. Paul H. (1857-1864)

Possibly a third marriage (relationship)

Wife 3: Ann Bonner (bet 1812/1815, Tucker Co., (W) Virginia Death 15 Feb 1884, West Virginia )^[1]

Birth Memo: another source says: b. abt 1812

Ann BONNER b abt 1812 never married Job PARSONS, but had 5 girls by him. She did marry a RAINES, but I don't have his name. The girls all went by BONNER as with "Kitty" above. Barsheba died after her son, Job BONNER, was born, his father was never named. Job PARSONS was married to Sarah LOSH.”^[1]

Death

Death Date: 18 Dec 1883 (aged 94)

Death Place: Tucker County, West Virginia, USA

Burial

Saint George Cemetery

Saint George, Tucker County, West Virginia, USA

in 1860 his real estate holding were valued at $8000

Military Service in 1812 in the Northwest territory at Fort Miegs

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} http://www.ccsnyder.com/clan/snyder/family/report/ps07/ps07_278.htm
2. ↑ FIndAGrave: Job Parsons: Memorial ID: 62553246

• 1850 U.S. Census, District 52, Randolph County, Virginia
• 1860 U.S. Census, District 3, Tucker County, Virginia
• 1870 U.S. Census, Hannahnills, Tucker County, West Virginia
• 1880 U.S. Census, Licking, Tucker County, West Virginia
• Find A Grave Memorial
• Page # 183, History* Parsons Family History and Record by Virginia Parsons Maccabe pg 43 of Tucker County