Moses Parris (abt. 1792 - 1868)

Born about 1792 in Cherokee Nation East, Indian Territory, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Annie Wickett — married about 1813 in Cherokee Nation East, Forsyth, Georgia, USA

Descendants

Died 1868 at about age 76 in Tahlequah District, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, United States

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Biography

Moses was Cherokee.

Moses Parris born in 1792 was a Cherokee, the son of George Parris and one of his Cherokee wives, possibly a woman named Caty Baldridge. He was probably born in the Cherokee Nation, now Georgia, although his father owned extensive property in South Carolina and lived there at least part of the time until 1809 (see profile for George Parris). Moses first appears in records in 1806. The Moravian missionaries at Springplace, now Georgia, wrote, "A week ago Mr. George Paris brought two boys to us to go to school; they will board with Mr. Vann. Last year he had as schoolmaster in his home a certain Yarborough.... and with him the oldest boy, Moses (about 14 years old), had made a small beginning with reading,.... Both of them seem eager to learn.... " ^[1] Moses married a white woman named Mary Langley before 1812. ^[2] They were the parents of ten children: George, Green, Rachel, Bryant, Emaline, Thomas, Richard, Sallie, Melissa, and William. ^[3] In 1818 the Moravians wrote that George and Moses Paris had signed a statement giving a missionary family from Pennsylvania permission to teach in the Cherokee Nation. ^[4]

Moses Parris was nominated candidate in the 1825 election to represent Hickory Log District at the Constitutional Convention. ^[5] In 1832, Moses Parris, seven in family, had property assessed in Georgia by emigration agents at the following locations: Pine Log, Chattahoochee River, Hightower River, Alatoony River and Little River. Emigration Rolls show that the Moses Parris family consisted of seven Indians living on Pine Log, Georgia prior to their emigration to Indian Territory in 1832; upon arrival there he and his wife were age 25-49, 2 males & 1 female age 10-24, 1 male & 1 female age 1-9. ^[6] His son George W. Parris, age 10-24, emigrated under his own name at this time, but he apparently returned to Georgia as he was listed on the Emigrant Roll of 1851 rather than the Old Settler Roll.

Moses signed the “Act of Union” on behalf of the Western Cherokees in 1839 at Tahlequah, as well as being a signer of the Cherokee Constitution of 1839. He was senator from Illinois district in 1841; appointed an Associate Justice on the Cherokee Supreme Court in 1844; and served as a Circuit Judge for the Southern Circuit in 1849. ^[7] By 1851, Moses was residing in Illinois District, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory with daughters Sally and Malissa. William Parris and Richard Parris were listed next to Moses, as they were apparently of adult age at the time the roll was taken. ^[8] Moses was elected councilor from Illinois District in 1853. ^[9] He lived in the Tahlequah District at the time of his death. His death date is uncertain, but he is believed to have died in the 1860's.

Sources

1. ↑ Crews & Starbuck, eds. Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees. Cherokee Heritage Press, Tahlequah, OK. Vol. 3, p. 952, August 6, 1806
2. ↑ McClinton, Rowena, ed. The Moravian Springplace Mission to the Cherokees. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE. 2007. Vol. 1, p. 481, March, 17, 1812.
3. ↑ NARA M1104. Eastern Cherokee Applications of the U.S. Court of Claims, 1906-1909. Application# 1387, Ruth Mounts. Image at Fold3 [1].
4. ↑ Crews, Moravians, Vol. V, p. 2197
5. ↑ Starr, Emmet. History of the Cherokee Indians. Oklahoma Yesterday Publications edition, Tulsa, OK. 1979. p. 52
6. ↑ Baker, Jack D., transcriber. Cherokee Emigration Rolls 1817-1835. Baker Publishing Co., Oklahoma City, OK. 1977. pp. 26 & 42
7. ↑ Starr, History, pp. 122, 130, 269, 292, & 294
8. ↑ Hampton, David K., transcriber Cherokee Old Settlers, combined transcript of 1851 and 1896 Old Settler Payrolls. 1993. Illinois District, Group s 1,2, 3, p. 260.
9. ↑ Starr, History p. 278

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 01 November 2018, 20:09), entry for Moses Tulusquit Parris(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LZNJ-VZR); contributed by various users.