JOHN R. PARKER
HOUSEHOLD 18
[A60]
John Riley Parker, son of John Parker and Sarah Riley, was born in Accomack Co., VA circa 1741. John died before 24 February 1800.
He married Elizabeth Fletcher circa 1766 in Accomack Co., VA. Elizabeth was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1742. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry Fletcher and Leah Corbin. She was born circa 1752 and was the sister of Euphemia (Fletcher) Finney. See household 19. In the will of Henry Fletcher she was named heir. An Abstract of his will reads:
FLETCHER, HENRY, SR. - 27 Sept. 1794 - 29 Apr. 1799 - To my eldest son Thomas Fletcher land where I now live at Massongoes containing 600 acres. To son Henry Fletcher land where he now lives containing 450 acres. To grandson Henry Riley, son of Thomas Riley, deceased 6£ current money. My 4 daughter now living, viz: Elizabeth Parker, Leah Dickerson, Susanna Riley & Euphamia Finny and the 5 younger children of my deceased daughter Ann Riley, residual legatees. Son Thomas Fletcher & son in law John Riley Parker Exrs. Witt: Spencer Drummond, Thomas Evans" (Nottingham 459).
On 29 May 1781 Garret Topping was recommended as Captain instead of John Riley Parker. The text reads: "Recommended: William Drummond, Lieutenant in the room of Tomas Slocomb; Garret Topping in the room of John Riley Parker" (Soldiers and Sailors 4). NOTE: There are no orders previous to this in this book that John Riley Parker was made Captain during the Revolutionary War, but it is possible, knowing that he was approximately 36 at the time of the war, that he was made Captain of the militia before the start of the war. Note, too, that "in the room of" means "in the place of."
The Procession of 1795, as it originalyl reads: "Eleventh District Decr 29th 1795 - Lines between John R. Parker & Holden’s heirs... Lines between John R. Parker & Scarburghs. Lines between John R. Parker & Garrett Topping... Lines between John Finney’s heirs & John R. Parker" (Processioners Returns). The lands between Holden's heirs and that of the Scarburgh's and Garrett Topping were located in Dahls Swamp (Whitelaw 812). The land that bordered John Finney's heirs was what remained of "Mattaponie," the home place patented by John Riley Parker's grgr grandfather John Parker, born before 25 May 1634, will proved 19 September 1695 (Whitelaw 823).
John made a will on 20 November 1799 in Accomack Co., VA. It was probated 24 February 1800 (Nottingham). An abstract of his will reads:
PARKER, JOHN RILEY - 20 Nov. 1799 - 24 Feb. 1800 - To wife Elizabath whole estate during her natural life, should my said wife die before my son William Parker arrives to the age of 21 years, whole estate except the land to be sold on a credit upon interest until my said son arrives to the age of 21, & the lands to be rented out. To 2 daughters Elizabeth & Leah Parker. I give the plantation where I now live together with the Island marsh to my son Henry Parker. I give my land bought of Bennet & George Scarburgh containing 90 acres to my son Charles Parker, also 25 acres purchased of Stephen Pusey. To Nancy Riley, daughter of Thomas. Daughter Euphamy Rodgers & daughters Elizabeth & Leah Parker & my son William Parker residual legatees. I leave my son William in the hands of my wife Elizabeth & Thomas Fletcher & Henry Parker. William Finney, Edmond Bayly, John Bayly & George Scarburgh to appraise & divide estate. Wife Elizabeth, Thomas Fletcher, William Finney & Henry Parker Exrs. Witt: William Finney, George Dewey, Henry Custis.
John Riley Parker and Elizabeth Fletcher had the following children:
1 i. Henry Parker was born in Accomack Co., VA, on 5 January 1767. Henry died on 7 December 1818 (Graven Stones 194). He married Agnes West circa 1802.
Henry Parker was the defendant in a court case 10 October 1816 in Accomack Co., VA, (Court Records 186). The text reads:
Thursday October the 10th 1816 George Parker successor of Thomas Evans decd Judge of the General Court. Levi Rodgers and Euphemia his wife & Elizabeth Young an infant by Thomas Young her next friend - Plt. - Against - In Debt William O Parker, John Custis, William R. Custis, Isaac Smith, Richard Read & Henry Parker - Defts.
This day came the parties by their Attorneys and The parties in this cause by their Attorneys agree to the following statement of facts in lieu of a Special Verdict: that John Riley Parker decd late of this County on the 20th day of Novr 1799 duly made and published his last Will and Testament in these words 'In the name of God &c.' which Will after the death of sd Parker Viz: 24th day of February 1800 was duly proved and admitted to record before the County Court of Accomack - That Euphemia Rodgers, the Plaintiff, William O. Parker and Henry Parker are the only children of said John Riley Parker who were living at the death of said Elizabeth Parker a daughter of sd J. R. Parker but previous to the death of said Elizabeth the widow - That the said Elizabeth Parker the elder immediately after the death of her said husband took possession of all the real and personal Estate of her sd husband pursuant to his will; and continued possessed thereof until her death on the __ day of October 1813 she never having renounced the provision made for her by the Will of her sd husband - We also agree that the personal Estate of the said John R. Parker at the time of his death amounted (exclusive of slaves) to the sum of £2277.16.01 as appears by the inventory thereof now of record in the Clerk's Office of Accomack County Court. That the personal found in her possession (exclusive of slaves) amounted the sum of £3072.08.11 and if the foregoing state of facts and upon the Will of John R. Parker, the Court should be of opinion that Levi Rodgers and Euphemia his wife, Elizabeth Young and William O. Parker were entitled to all the profits of the Estate of said John R. Parker during the life of the widow - That Judgment shall be entered for the Plaintiff for the sum of £2935,02.06 with interest from the 24th April 1815 being 2/3 of all the personal Estate left by the said Elizabeth the widow and the costs. And if the Court should be of opinion that the profits of sd Estate during the widow’s lifetime her own Estate the we agree that Judgment be entered for the Plaintiffs for the sum of £1915.17.01 with interest from 24th April 1815 and 2/3 of the Estate of sd John R. Parker and ½ of the profits thereof made by the said widow & the costs. We also agree that Elizabeth Parker the elder died intestate leaving the Plt. Euphamia, the Defendant Wm O. Parker and Henry Parker her only children and the Plaintiff Elizabeth Young her granddaughter being the daughter of her deceased daughter Elizabeth Parker - We also agree the William Parker was upwards of 21 years of age at the death of sd Elizabeth his mother & that the Defendant now called William O. Parker is the same Wm mentioned in the Will of John R. Parker decd. Pitts & Joynes for Plts. Thos M. Bayly Defts’ Atty. And the court having maturely considered the Law arising upon the Case agreed aforesaid is of opinion that the profits of the Estate of John R. Parker when in the hands of Elizabeth Parker his widow belonged exclusive to her the sd Elizabeth. Therefore it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiffs Levi Rodgers & Euphemia his wife & Elizabeth Young recover against the said Defendants the sum of One thousand nine hundred and fifteen pounds seventeen Shillings and one penny with interest thereon from the 24th day of April 1815 till paid and his costs about his suit in this behalf expended. And the Defendants in mercy &c.
2 ii. John circa 1769. John died on 12 October 1793.A bible record published in the Virginia Genealogist:134 states, "John Parker, son of John Riley Parker & Elizabeth his wife departed this life in Accomack Court yard at Mrs. Robinson this twelfth day of October 1793."
3 iii. Charles Parker was born in Accomack Co., VA, in December 1776. Charles died on 13 December 1802 (Virginia Genealogist:134). In John Riley Parker's will on 20 November 1799 in Accomack Co., VA, Charles was named as an heir. It was probated 24 February 1800 (Nottingham).
4 iv. Euphemia Parker was born on 19 May 1778. Euphemia died on 10 March 1826. She was buried as Euphemia Rodgers along with her 1st husband (Graven Stones 231) in the Rodgers Cemetery. She married twice. See household 17 for more on Euphemia Parker and her husband Levi Rodgers.5 v. Elizabeth Parker was born on 4 April 1779. On 27 November 1805 she married Thomas Young (Turman 333). The record reads: "Thomas Young to marry Elizabeth Parker of John R. on 27 November 1805. James Echelberger security." Thomas was born circa 1775. Their son Thomas was named in the above court case in 1816.
6 vi Leah Parker was born on 25 March 1782 (Virginia Genealogist:134.). She died before 1816.
7 vii. William O. Parker was born in Accomack Co., VA, on 28 February 1784 (Virginia Genealogist:134). William died in July 1820 (Graven Stones 208). He married Sudey Wise on 11 March 1816 in Accomack Co., VA (Turman 220). Sudey was born in Accomack Co., VA, circa 1798.
William O. Parker was the defendant in a court case 10 October 1816 in Accomack Co., VA, (Court Records 186).
Sources:
Mihalyka, Jean and Faye Downing Wilson. Graven Stones. Inscriptions from Lower Accomack County, Virginia, including Liberty and Parksley
Cemeteries. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1966.
Nottingham, Stratton. Soldiers and Sailors of The Eastern Shore of Virginia In the Revolutionary
War. Westminster MD: Family Line Publications, 1995.
Nottingham, Stratton. Wills and Administrations of Accomack County, Virginia
1663-1800. Bowie MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1990.
Walczyk, Gail M. Accomack County Processioners Returns 1796 - 1816 for Accomack and St. George's
Parishes. Coram NY: Peter's Row, 2004.
Walczyk, Gail M. District Court Records 1805 - 1816. Coram NY: Peter's Row, 2004.
Whitelaw, Ralph T. Virginia's Eastern Shore A History of Northampton and Accomack
Counties. Volume Two. Gloucester MA: Peter Smith.
***Virginia Genealogist