Jonas K. Parmenter (abt. 1839 - bef. 1888)

Born about 1839 in Worcester, Washington, Vermont, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah J. (Van Orman) Hersey — married [date unknown] in UNMARRIED, BUT FATHERED CHILD 1859-1860, Williamstown, Orange, Vermont

Descendants

Died before 28 Feb 1888 before about age 49 in Orange County, Vermont

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Biography

Jonas K. Parmenter was born about 1839 in Worcester, Washington County, Vermont. He was the son of Gilmore and Lavina (Fisher) Parmenter.

Jonas's mother, Lavina, passed away on May 16, 1858, leaving Jonas's father, Gilmore, a widower with young children. Gilmore's loss of his wife and mother of his children necessitated his seeking assistance for housekeeping and child care. Sarah Van Orman was employed as a live-in domestic, who from 1858-1859 served the Parmenter household in Williamstown, Vermont. Jonas, age 19 was a member of his father's household at this time. Jonas fathered a child with Sarah.

William Parmenter was born from unwed parents, Jonas and Sarah, on March 26, 1860 in Montpelier, Vermont. When Gilmore Parmenter, Jonas's father, assumed paternal responsibility and identified himself as father on William's birth certificate, he likely was protecting Jonas and his son's reputation. This extraordinary action has led to a majority of family trees presenting Gilmore as William's father, but this is not the case. Some trees even have Gilmore and Sarah married. Sarah never married a Parmenter; and certainly Jonas and Sarah never married.

Identification of William C. Parmenter as son of Jonas occurred during probate of Gilmore's estate. Gilmore died intestate in Brookfield, Orange County, Vermont on March 15, 1887. His estate was inventoried, assessed, and his heirs determined by Marshall Green, court-appointed administrator. Jonas having never married, nor fathering any additional children, had deceased. William C. Parmenter was found by Administrator Green to be the only living heir of his father and hence was in line to receive his father's 1/4 share. Quoting the probate record: "Willie Parmenter, son of Jonas deceased, New Harbor, Me." On February 28, 1888, $445.50 was calculated in probate court to be transmitted to William C. Parmenter as heir to his grandfather's estate. This must have been a surprise to William, since after such news, William filed an application (#446526) on September 29, 1890 to receive pension from his father's military service in the Civil War. William was age 1-3 years old during the period of his father's active military service, and therefore eligible as his father's "minor" to receive a pension, though it is doubtful that William ever knew or saw his biological father.

Jonas enlisted into military service on August 14, 1861 and served as Private in the 6th Regiment, Vermont Infantry Company H, Union side. He mustered-in on October 15, 1861 and mustered-out on June 25, 1863. He was a POW, and survived the front lines of the war.

The exact date and location of Jonas's death is unknown; however, it is known that he died before February 28, 1888, the date probate was completed for his grandfather's estate. William C. Parmenter residing in New Harbor, Maine, at age 28, not only received his father's heirship interest portion, but also learned of his living siblings and 1st cousins on his father's side.

Sources

• 1850 United States Federal Census for Gilmore Parmenter; Vermont, Orange, Williamstown. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census (database on-line, frame #18 of 35). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.] (Gilmore Parmenter's household in Williamstown [VT], wife Lavina, and children including Jonas K.)

• Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908 for William Parmenter (Birth Record); 1870 and Prior (Montpelier, Vermont). [Repository: Ancestry.com. Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908 (database on-line, frame #2628 of 4017). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: State of Vermont. Vermont Vital Records through 1870. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. State of Vermont. Vermont Vital Records, 1871–1908. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.] (birth record of William Parmenter, b. March 26, 1860): https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/4661/41599_312409-02638/708524?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/155752776/person/102054156123/facts

• U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865; Film Number: M557, roll 10. [Repository: National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online <https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/>, acquired 2007.]

• U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865. Enlistment Date: 14 Aug 1861 from Brookfield, Vermont; Service Record: Enlisted in Company H, Vermont 6th Infantry Regiment on 15 Oct 1861. Mustered out on 25 Jun 1863. Sources: Roster of Vermont Volunteers During the War of the Rebellion 1861-66. [Repository: Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. Original data: Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from the following list of works. Copyright 1997-2009; Historical Data Systems, Inc., PO Box 35, Duxbury, MA 02331. Vermont. General Assembly. Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers and lists of Vermonters who served in the Army and Navy of the United States during the War of the Rebellion 1861-66. Montpelier: Watchman, 1892.]

• General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288, 546 rolls. [Repository: National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 (database on-line, frame #4216 of 4804). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.] (William C. Parmenter's Application for pension for his father's service in the Civil War)

• Vermont, Wills and Probate Records, 1749-1999; Orange [County]; Folder 108; Need, Peter, Jr. to Ring, Newton J., 1887-1893. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Vermont, Wills and Probate Records, 1749-1999 (database on-line, frame #199 of 412). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Vermont County, District and Probate Courts.] (Probate record documents of Gilmore's estate)