William PARSONS was born 1709. He died 1778. William married Gartturett LAURAY on 6 Jan 1733 in Queen Anne's Co., MD.
Fought in French and Indian War, in PA. 1725 settled in Queen Anne's
County MD. Moved to Rockingham or Augusta Co about 1763, then 1776
to Buckhannon (now Lewis) Co WVParson linnage based on web site:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~deschart/z0000058.html
Gartturett LAURAY married William PARSONS on 6 Jan 1733 in Queen Anne's Co., MD.
They had the following children:
M i Charles PARSONS Sr. was born 4 Nov 1745 and died 4 Nov 1823. M ii Joseph PARSONS was born 1755.
Charles PARSONS Sr. [Parents] was born 4 Nov 1745 in Queen Anne's Co MD. He died 4 Nov 1823 in Jackson Co VA(WV). Charles married Elizabeth CHESTNUT on 1764 in MD.
Other marriages:FLESHER, Nancy Ann
buried Upper Mill Creek Baptist Church Frozen Camp Cem, Ripley WV
Served in Rev. War: private, Virginia Malitia with Capt John
Harness' Company of Virginia Rangers. Was at Buchanan Fort. Jul 21
1791, Randolph Co VA, bought 200 acres on the waters of Stone Coal
and Brush fork, a branch of Fink's Run. He and son William were
among the 1799-1801 settlers of Ripley WVHistory of Harrison County:
Land Patent Certificates issued 1781:
John Ratliff, assignee to Charles Parsons, 1000 acres on Elk Creek to include his settlement made in 1773.Randolph Co. Va. pg 190 Court Notes of a Century.
Court records for July 1787, contain this item: "Ordered, that Charles Parsons be exempted from paying taxes on three head of horse creatures that have been taken from him by the Indians since the 9th. of March of last past."Buried on the farm at the present Baptist Grove Cemetery. His is said to be the first grave there.
Charles Parsons Sr 1745-1823In his brother, Joseph's, Revolutionary War Pension Declaration, there are affidavits from Elias and William, sons of Charles, who state they are nephews of Joseph.
Elias stated on 12/27/1834 that his father, Charles was ten years older than his uncle.
Capt. William, aged 65 yrs, on 12/28/1834, stated he was a nephew of Joseph and they lived together at Fort Buckhannon.
Joseph stated he was born in 1755 in Queen Ann County, MD. Parents: William PARSONS and Martha HUGHES.
He was married to Elizabeth CHESTNUT in 1764 in Maryland. (34)
HEADS OF FAMILIES--- VIRGINIA,1782
FIRST CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES (1790)
Monongalia County, Virginia
Parsons, Charles 07
Parsons, George 06
Parsons, Charles 06
Parsons, George 06
Parsons, Joseph 04
~~
Harrison Co PP tax list
1785 - 1 tithable, 4 horses, 6 cattle
1786 - 1-3-5
1795 - 1-1 (horse)
1796 - 1-1
1800 - 2-3
1803 - 1-3
1804 1-4
1805 - 2-6Kanawha Co tax list 1802, 1 white male over 21
~~
Mason Co tax list
Charles Pasons Sr 1805-06-07-09-10-11-12-13-14
~~
Buried in the Baptist Grove Cemetery, formerly known as the Parsons Graveyard, on farm owned by Elias Parsons
~~
"Jackson County in the Wars"
Revolutionary Soldiers
Charles Parsons Sr. Son of William Parsons, who came to the Eastern Shore of Maryland from Prussia about 1725. Charles was born about 1745 in Queen's Anne's County, Maryland. He entered service as a private in the Hampshire County Militia in the Company of Captain John Harness' VA Rangers in 1775, and also served as a scout in Harrison county in 1792. He came to then Kanawha County about 1802 and settled on Sycamore Creek, near Ripley. Later, he moved to present Frozen Camp in Washington District, where he died November 4, 1823, and is interred in the Frozen Camp Cemetery. A Marker in his memory was placed at his grave in the cemetery by the Ravenswood Chapter of the DAR in 1970. Children of Charles Parsons by his first marriage to Elizabeth Chestnut, in Maryland, 1764, were: William L; George; John; Elias; Margaret 'Peggy', who married Joseph Bibbee; Mary 'Polly', married Thomas Carney; Elizabeth. Children by his second marriage to Mrs Nancy Ann (Flesher) Sleeth, a daughter of Henry Flesher, in Harrison County, May 3. 1797, were: Martha 'Patsy', married William Casto; Nancy, married (1) John Casto and (2) John Board; Charles; Sarah 'Sallie', married James Cunningham, of Tug Fork. Charles Parsons' widow, who was also the widow of John Sleeth, made application for a pension on the service of her first husband.
Indian Wars
The following were scouts in the Indian Wars following the Revolution:
Charles Parsons, Randolph County.Source: Virginia State Papers, Vol 7, page 469
~~~"The Parsons Family book" by Augustine Chapman Parsons.
"In 1779, Charles Parsons "Choiles Parsones" and Joseph Parsons were among the signers of a petition dated May 25, as inhabitants of the West Fork of the Monongalia County (Chalkey, 1989). In 1782, Charles was listed in the tax roll of Monongalia County with seven white souls. Also listed here are Joseph with five and a George Parsons with six. In 1785,
a census of all white inhabitants of Randolph county was taken and Charles Parsons was listed in H. Delay's District from Petty's Ford to Joseph Crouch (Bosworth, 1916). He also appears this year in the tax rolls of Harrison Coiunty which had just been formed from Monongalia. These were used to reconstruct the 1790 cnsus which had been destroyed.
Charles is listed with 8 whites, Joseph with 6 and George with 7. Also present is a William Parsons and a James Parsons who were almost certainly descendants of Thomas Parsons, Sr. (see McCabe, 1913.). George Parsons is also porbably from this family however, both Charles and Joseph named a son George, and so it is possible that George is their brother. There is further confusion here because Charles, Joseph and George are listed twice in the 1782 tax rolls, however, they have different numbers of children in each listing and it looks like an earlier (1781) tax roll was inadvertently included."John House "Pioneers of Jackson Co"
pg 44 -
His (William Lowther Parsons) father, Charles Parsons, moved on Sycamore, just above town (Ripley) probably not far from the bridge and it is not unlikey on the same farm (as WL)pg 54-
As far as we are able to trace the records back, the founder of the Parsons family in Jackson county was a hardy pioneer who had seen active service during the Indian Wars of the last half of the 18th century and bore a full part in opening the country west of the Allegheny Mountains.His first wife was a Miss Chestnut. After this he migrated to the banks of the South Branch of the Potomac River, and about 1786, as the record goes, tot he Fort on the Buckhannon River. The actual date may likely have been earlier, as the Bush Fort which it probably was, was destroyed by the Indians in 1782.
There is a tradition that the Parsons and Carney families were in the fort when it was taken.
It is commonly the belief handed down by word of mouth that they lived on the Buckhannon River and I have no doubt it is correct.
The next recorded move was about 1796 or 1797 to Warth's Bottom. Whether he came with his son or later is not known, but they probably moved at the same time.
He lived afterward on Sycamore, above the bridge, probably he came there about teh same time William located on the present site of Ripley. He had moved to the farm owned by John Duke at Frozen Camp, before March 1816. I take this date from parent to HF Knopp, land which calls for line of lnad owned by Charles Parsons, but does not say he lived on it. Date of patent, 1818.
pg 56-
. . .He married, probably in Maryland, and raised seven children. His wife dying, he married again, it is almost certain, after moving to Warth's Bottom, and raised five children more.House goes on to list the names and spouses of the children and includes, for Elizabeth Chestnut, a daughter Betsy who married John Smith. Chapman Parsons does not include her in his book. The Parsons discussion group has named another daughter, Mary, b 1/1/1769.
Betsy, a daughter of Charles Parsons, Sr., married John Smith, of Lewis County. Their children were:
George Smith, who lives in Roane County, and was three times married, the third wife's name being Smith.
Elias Smith, went to Illinois, was married. His children were Calvin and David.
Dolly Smith, married Jonah Woodruff, brother of David Woodruff. He was drowned, and she later married John Law, who, it is said, was also drowned. One child by the first marriage, John Woodruff, is mentioned. Children were: William Lowther "Capt Billy" Parsons, Mary Polly PARSONS, John Parsons Sr, George Parsons, Hannah 'Patsy' Parsons, Elizabeth 'Betsy" Parsons, Margaret 'Peggy' Parsons.He was married to Anna "Nancy" Flesher on 3 May 1797 in Harrison Co, WVa.(74)
Marriage to Nancy Flesher Sleeth found in History of Upshur County, Harrison County Marriage Records.Harrison Co Marriages, 1785-1894:
Charles Parsons & Nancy Sleeth, 5/3/1797"Marriages of Virginia, Early to 1800":
Parsons, Charles to Nancy Sleeth, 30 Aug 1796, Harrison VA
Parsons, Chas to Nancy Sleeth, 3 May 1797, Harrison VAClark Blake:
The 30 Aug. 1796 marriage date was recorded by John Loofboro in Harrison Co. The later date, May 3, 1797, was recorded by Joseph Cheuvront, a famous Baptist minister. Children were: Elias Parsons, Martha 'Patsy' Parsons, Nancy 'Ann' Parsons , Charles Asbury Parsons, Sarah 'Sally' Parsons.
Elizabeth CHESTNUT was born 14 Jul 1769 in Queen Anne's Co MD. She died 1794 in Harrison Co VA(WV). Elizabeth married Charles PARSONS Sr. on 1764 in MD.
They had the following children:
M i William M (Lowther) PARSONS was born 14 Jul 1769 and died 10 Oct 1839. F ii Mary PARSONS was born 1 Jan 1773 and died 4 Dec 1863. M iii John PARSONS was born 1778 and died 10 Jun 1859. M iv George PARSONS was born 1780 and died 1823. F v Hannah PARSONS was born 1784 and died 1820. F vi Margaret PARSONS was born 1788 and died 1871.
William M (Lowther) PARSONS [Parents] "Captain Billy" was born 14 Jul 1769 in Queen Anne's Co MD. He died 10 Oct 1839. Captain Billy married Susan FINK on 1786.
Other marriages:WALKER, Elizabeth Nancy
middle name may not be Lother;
buried Baptist Grove Frozen Camp Cem, near Ripley WV
When first arrived in Jackson Co he lived at Warth Bottom, in
about 1801 built cabin on Mill Creek, near Ripley WV. He and
wife Susan were first to be buried at Old Settlers Cem, RipleyCaptain in War of 1812
William Lowther "Capt Billy" Parsons was born on 24 Jul 1769 in Queen Anne Parish, Prince George Co., MD.(116) He died on 10 Oct 1839 in Frozen Camp, Jackson Co., WV. (116) He was buried in Baptist Grove/Parsons Cemetery. (49)
There is no proof that William was born or married in Maryland. It would appear that John House is the only source for the middle name 'Lowther', but I am leaving it in place to make it easier to find him.Sims Index
92 a Sycamore Fork, 1812, Bk 1, pg 327
150 a Bill Mill Cr, 1813, Bk 1, pg 329
100 a Big Mill Creek, 1818, Bk 1, pg 340John House "Pioneers of Jackson Co"
pg 44-
The very first settlement at Ripley was made by Captain William Lowther Parsons in 1804. He was in the Buckhannon Settlement during the last Indian War where he served as a spy or Indian scout. there he married Susan Fink.As soon as peace was assured, he moved to Warth's Bottom, this was in 1796 or 1797. A few years later, he purchased a tract of 550 acres of land at the mouth of Sycamore, on to which he move in 1804. He built his humble log cabin on the bank of the creek somewhere between where George Armstrong now lives and Sycamore.
Parents: Charles PARSONS and Elizabeth CHESTNUT.
He was married to Susan Fink in 1786 in Maryland.(34)
"Jackson County in the Wars"
War of 1812
In the summer of 1813, a body of Mason County troops under Capt. William Lowther Parsons, who then lived on Scyamore Creek near present Ripley, crossed the Alleghenies and served for a time at Norfolk, VA, They were mustered out in 1814. Known men from present Jackson County who served with Capt. Parsons' Company in the 6th VA Regiment were:. . .
Cornelius Staats, who was either killed in action or died of other causes at this time
Sidney CastoWilliam Lowther "Captain Billy" Parsons, son of Charles Sr and Elizabeth (Chestnut) Parsons, was born in Quen Anne's County, Maryland, and died at Frozen Camp, Jackson County, (July 24, 1765-Oct 10, 1839). He married (1) Susan, daughter of Henry Fink, 1786, and they had 8 children, 7 of whom lived to maturity and an infant who died with his mother on Sycamore Creek, near Ripley in 1807, and was interred with her in the present old Ripley graveyard. "Captain Billy" married (2) Elizabeth Nancy Walker, and by this marriage there were 9 children, making a total of 17 in all. He is interred in the Frozen Camp Cemetery. Children were: Henry Parsons, John Fink Parsons, Martha Parsons, Hannah Parsons, Susan Parsons, Charles Parsons, William M Parsons Jr, Infant Parsons.
He was married to Nancy Elizabeth Walker on 28 Feb 1809 in Harrison Co, WVa.(82)
John House says Wm's second wife was Hannah Fauquier1840 JC Nancy
1m 10-15 Lafayette
1m 15-20 George
1f 10-15 Margaret
1f 15-20 Caroline
2f 20-30 Elizabeth * ?
1f 50-601850 JC, , living with Polly and Isaac Rollins
Nancy, 61
Lucetta Parsons, 7Buried Baptist Grove, Frozen Camp, Jackson Co, WV
Parsons, William Lowther, 1765-1839, Capt., 6th Regiment Va Militia, War of 1812
Children were: Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Parsons , Travis Parsons, Henderson Parsons, Ann E Parsons, Elizabeth Parsons, Jerusha "Sally" Parsons , George Walker Parsons, Caroline Parsons, Margaret Jannette Parsons , Marquis De LaFayette Parsons.
Source:Source: History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and its Early Settlement; Compile by John A. House; 1906; http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/title.htm#01
Susan FINK died 1807 in Mill Creek, near Ripley WV. She married William M (Lowther) PARSONS on 1786.
They had the following children:
M i Henry PARSONS. M ii John Fink PARSONS. F iii Martha PARSONS. F iv Hannah PARSONS. F v Susannah PARSONS. M vi Charles PARSONS. M vii William M. PARSONS Jr. was born 20 Aug 1806 and died 20 Jan 1892. viii Infant PARSONS was born 1807. Infant died 1807.
William M. PARSONS Jr. [Parents] was born 20 Aug 1806. He died 20 Jan 1892. William married Susannah BONNETT on 12 Nov 1826.
Other marriages:HOGSETT, Nancy
First white person born in the area of Ripley WV
William M Parsons Jr was born on 20 Sep 1806 in Mason Co, WV. (5) He died on 27 Jan 1892 in Ripley , Jackson Co, WV. (116)(157) (5) Parents: William Lowther "Capt Billy" Parsons and Susan Fink.
He was married to Susannah Bonnett on 12 Nov 1826. (855)
1850 Jackson county census page 70, #491-496
Parsons William 44 M Farmer Va
Parsons Susanna 43 F Va
Parsons John 19 M Farmer Va
Parsons Hanah 17 F Va
Parsons Lydia 12 F Va
Parsons Nichols 9 M Va
Parsons Henry 8 M Va
Parsons Louisa 5 F Va
Parsons Ruth 3 F Va
Parsons Barbara 1 F Va1860 JC # 266-247
William, 53
Susan, 52
Nicholas, 20
Henry, 18
Louisa, 16
Ruth, 14
Barbara, 11
Mark, 91870 JC Mill Creek Dist # 47-47
See marriage with Nancy
Mark, 18, l/w W R & Sarah Scott, next door1880 Census Place: E.D. 43, Jackson, West Virginia Page 454C
l/w Alx. F. PARSONS
William PARSONS Father M S W 74 VA
Fa: VA Mo: VAMt Moriah Cemetery, Parchment
Parsons, William, d Jan 27/1892, aged 85y 4m 7d,
Parsons, Susanna (Bonnett) d Feb 7, 1863, aged 63y Children were: Alexis Fink 'Leck' Parsons, Margaret Parsons , John Nelson Parsons, Hannah Parsons, Lydia Parsons, Nicholas H Parsons, Henry Parsons, Louisa Jane Parsons, Ruth Parsons, Barbara E Parsons, Mark Parsons, Trotter Parsons.He was married to Nancy Hogsett on 6 Dec 1866 in Jackson Co, WV.(10) (7)
1870 JC Mill Creek Dist # 47-47
William, 64
Nancy A, 43
Trotter, 11
Source: Source: History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and its Early Settlement; Compile by John A. House; 1906; http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/title.htm#01Extended the children based on Casto gedcom at:
http://castoconnections.com/gedcom/d71.htm
Susannah BONNETT was born 1807. She died 7 Feb 1863. Susannah married William M. PARSONS Jr. on 12 Nov 1826.
They had the following children:
M i Alexis Fink PARSONS was born 13 Oct 1827. F ii Margaret PARSONS was born 29 May 1829. She died 1892. M iii John Nelson PARSONS was born 1 Mar 1831. He died 13 Feb 1912. F iv Hannah PARSONS was born 1833 in Jackson Co., WV. F v Lydia PARSONS was born 26 Jan 1838. M vi Nicholas PARSONS was born 1841 in Jackson Co., VA. M vii Henry PARSONS was born 20 Jun 1842. He died 31 Dec 1924. F viii Louisa Jane PARSONS was born 1845 in Jackson Co., VA. She died 1 Sep 1860 in Jackosn Co., VA. F ix Ruth PARSONS was born 1848 in Jackson Co., VA. F x Barbara PARSONS was born 1849. M xi Mark PARSONS was born 1851.
Alexis Fink PARSONS [Parents] was born 13 Oct 1827. He married Phoebe CASTO on 1848.
born at family home on Parchment Creek
Phoebe CASTO was born 10 Aug 1830. She died 6 Feb 1919. Phoebe married Alexis Fink PARSONS on 1848.
John Harrison HILL was born 1 May 1838. He died 23 Apr 1897 in Wellsville WV. John married Lydia PARSONS on 23 Nov 1856.
Lydia PARSONS [Parents] was born 26 Jan 1838. She married John Harrison HILL on 23 Nov 1856.
William M (Lowther) PARSONS [Parents] "Captain Billy" was born 14 Jul 1769 in Queen Anne's Co MD. He died 10 Oct 1839. Captain Billy married Elizabeth Nancy WALKER on 1809.
Other marriages:FINK, Susan
middle name may not be Lother;
buried Baptist Grove Frozen Camp Cem, near Ripley WV
When first arrived in Jackson Co he lived at Warth Bottom, in
about 1801 built cabin on Mill Creek, near Ripley WV. He and
wife Susan were first to be buried at Old Settlers Cem, RipleyCaptain in War of 1812
William Lowther "Capt Billy" Parsons was born on 24 Jul 1769 in Queen Anne Parish, Prince George Co., MD.(116) He died on 10 Oct 1839 in Frozen Camp, Jackson Co., WV. (116) He was buried in Baptist Grove/Parsons Cemetery. (49)
There is no proof that William was born or married in Maryland. It would appear that John House is the only source for the middle name 'Lowther', but I am leaving it in place to make it easier to find him.Sims Index
92 a Sycamore Fork, 1812, Bk 1, pg 327
150 a Bill Mill Cr, 1813, Bk 1, pg 329
100 a Big Mill Creek, 1818, Bk 1, pg 340John House "Pioneers of Jackson Co"
pg 44-
The very first settlement at Ripley was made by Captain William Lowther Parsons in 1804. He was in the Buckhannon Settlement during the last Indian War where he served as a spy or Indian scout. there he married Susan Fink.As soon as peace was assured, he moved to Warth's Bottom, this was in 1796 or 1797. A few years later, he purchased a tract of 550 acres of land at the mouth of Sycamore, on to which he move in 1804. He built his humble log cabin on the bank of the creek somewhere between where George Armstrong now lives and Sycamore.
Parents: Charles PARSONS and Elizabeth CHESTNUT.
He was married to Susan Fink in 1786 in Maryland.(34)
"Jackson County in the Wars"
War of 1812
In the summer of 1813, a body of Mason County troops under Capt. William Lowther Parsons, who then lived on Scyamore Creek near present Ripley, crossed the Alleghenies and served for a time at Norfolk, VA, They were mustered out in 1814. Known men from present Jackson County who served with Capt. Parsons' Company in the 6th VA Regiment were:. . .
Cornelius Staats, who was either killed in action or died of other causes at this time
Sidney CastoWilliam Lowther "Captain Billy" Parsons, son of Charles Sr and Elizabeth (Chestnut) Parsons, was born in Quen Anne's County, Maryland, and died at Frozen Camp, Jackson County, (July 24, 1765-Oct 10, 1839). He married (1) Susan, daughter of Henry Fink, 1786, and they had 8 children, 7 of whom lived to maturity and an infant who died with his mother on Sycamore Creek, near Ripley in 1807, and was interred with her in the present old Ripley graveyard. "Captain Billy" married (2) Elizabeth Nancy Walker, and by this marriage there were 9 children, making a total of 17 in all. He is interred in the Frozen Camp Cemetery. Children were: Henry Parsons, John Fink Parsons, Martha Parsons, Hannah Parsons, Susan Parsons, Charles Parsons, William M Parsons Jr, Infant Parsons.
He was married to Nancy Elizabeth Walker on 28 Feb 1809 in Harrison Co, WVa.(82)
John House says Wm's second wife was Hannah Fauquier1840 JC Nancy
1m 10-15 Lafayette
1m 15-20 George
1f 10-15 Margaret
1f 15-20 Caroline
2f 20-30 Elizabeth * ?
1f 50-601850 JC, , living with Polly and Isaac Rollins
Nancy, 61
Lucetta Parsons, 7Buried Baptist Grove, Frozen Camp, Jackson Co, WV
Parsons, William Lowther, 1765-1839, Capt., 6th Regiment Va Militia, War of 1812
Children were: Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Parsons , Travis Parsons, Henderson Parsons, Ann E Parsons, Elizabeth Parsons, Jerusha "Sally" Parsons , George Walker Parsons, Caroline Parsons, Margaret Jannette Parsons , Marquis De LaFayette Parsons.
Source:Source: History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and its Early Settlement; Compile by John A. House; 1906; http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/title.htm#01
Elizabeth Nancy WALKER married William M (Lowther) PARSONS on 1809.
buried Baptist Grove Frozen Camp Cem, near Ripley WV
William and Elizabeth lived first on Sycamore, then Frozen
Camp, Jackson Co
They had the following children:
F i Mary PARSONS. M ii Travis PARSONS was born 1812 and died 1890. F iii Ann PARSONS. F iv Jerusha PARSONS. F v Elizabeth PARSONS. M vi George Walker PARSONS. F vii Caroline PARSONS. F viii Margaret Jeannette PARSONS. M ix Lafayette PARSONS.
Travis PARSONS [Parents] was born 1812. He died 1890. Travis married Mary HESS on 6 May 1830.
Trimble Letter of Guerilla list: Travis Parsons
Wheeling Intelligencer, 12/27/61:
West Virginia Database (Boggs captured):
West Virginia in the Civil War, Ripley Raid:
West Virginia in the Civil War, captured after Ripley Raid:
Camp Chase list of Prisoners, OR, Series II, Vol. 2. Page 263 - 266:
Mary HESS "Polly" was born 1812. She married Travis PARSONS on 6 May 1830.
They had the following children:
M i Henry C. PARSONS was born 1836.
Jourdan TOLLEY married Jerusha PARSONS.
Jerusha PARSONS [Parents] "Jana" married Jourdan TOLLEY.
George Walker PARSONS [Parents] married Emaline MILAM.
Emaline MILAM married George Walker PARSONS.