A First Settler of Charles City Co. and Henrico Co., VA

My thanks to Cousin Jerry Rathmann,

and cousin Waunita Frye Powell

for sharing a lot of great data on this line with me.

1) Virginia Historical Magazine, "Virginia

Gleanings in England" -- commentary

on James Fowler's will, pertaining to

Richard Parker and family The testator

had evidently bought lands in Nansemond,

as his name does not appear in the land

grants. Daniel Sullivan was clerk of

Nansemond in 1702, &c., and Burgess

for the county in that year. He owned

the land on which Suffolk was

afterwards built. The fifty acres on which

the town was laid out belonged, in part,

to Jethro Sumner in right of his wife

Margaret, one of the two sisters and co-heirs

of Daniel Sullivan, Jr., deceased, who was

only son and heir of Daniel Sullivan,

also of Nansemond, deceased.

(Hening, V, 242, 243)

2) "Mr. Richard Parker" patented 400

acres on the south branch of

Nansemond River, October 5, 1654;

3) 300 acres on the north side of James

River in Henrico county, at the head

of Four Mile Creek,

4) October 28, [669; 314 acres in

Surry county on Blackwater Swamp,

December 20, 1670 (due to him in

part for coming twice to Virginia);

5) 100 acres in Nansernond at

Hood's Neck, February 24, 1675-6.

6) On April 23, 1681, Thomas, Richard

and Francis Parker, the three sons of Richard

Parker, deceased, were granted 1,420

acres on the south branch of

Nansemond River, at Parker's Creek,

&c., left them by their father's will.

7) At the end of the century these

three sons were living in Nansemond

county. See this Magazine, V, 444, 445.

8) Some members of this family

of Parker appear to have lived in

Surry county.

9) There is in Sussex county a deed

reciting that Thomas Jarrell, of Isle of

Wight county, by his will dated April 20,

1742, bequeathed a negro woman to

Thomas Parker, son of Richard Parker

and Sarah, his wife, who was daughter

of said Jerrell, and said Richard Parker,

by his will dated January 20, 1750, and

recorded in Surry, bequeathed the

negro to his daughter Martha Parker.

It seems certain that Richard Parker,

the patentee of 1654, was a son of

James Parker of Trangoe, Cornwall,

who was descended from the ancient

family of Parker of Browsholme.

10) An account of this Cornish branch

of the family was published in this

Magazine, V, 442-443, and soon

afterwards a descendant of the Nansemond

Parkers wrote as follows: I am the

son of Dr. Richard Henry Parker, died in

Portsmouth, Va., 1855, who was the son of

Willis Parker of South Quay, Nansemond

or Isle of Wight county, who was magistrate

of Nansemond in 18oo and whose wife was

a Miss ---- Harrison, daughter of a Col. Henry

Harrison of Surry or Isle of Wight, who was

a relative in some degree of the ancestors of

W. H. Harrison, who was President. Willis

was the son of a Richard Parker who was

the son of another Richard Parker and the

same from father to son back to the Dr.

Richard Parker who came from England.

Family tradition, as related by my mother

and other older members of the family,

was that our first Virginia ancestor was a

Dr. Richard Parker, one of a very large

family and whose wife was from

London and that other members

of same family also came to Virginia.

11) There were three sons and three

daughters. Some of the latter, or may

be two of them, died. The sons were

Thomas, Francis and Richard. This

tradition is so well corroborated by the

article of Maj. John Parker of Browsholme

Hall, Yorkshire, published Vol, V, No. 4,

of the Magazine, that I am inclined to

accept it as proof of the ancestry of this

branch of the Parkers. The family tradition

from my mother and aunt is to the

effect that from the emigrant Dr. Richard

Parker to my brother's son, Richard, that

with the one exception of my grandfather,

Willis, that it would be either nine

generations of Richards from father to son

or nine Richards with one instance of

another name. I do not think that Willis could

have been old enough to have served in the

Revolution, but his father, Richard, may

have been. I figure him out as born about 1730

or 1735 and I will thank you to try and find

record of this Richard or of the great

-grandfather, Henry Harrison. I believe,

from what I remember of tradition, that it is

possible that this Richard, father of

Willis, may have served in the Revolution

and in the North Carolina troops.

12) 1662. May 1 Will of John

Rowen. ... Wit: Richard PARKER,

Wm Fisher, Margaret Crewes.

Misc. Henrico Court Records 1650-1807,

Vol. I, p. 15.

13) 1669. Oct. 28 Mr. Richard PARKER

, 350A., 3 R., 16P., Henrico Co., S.[N.?]

side of James Riv., on the head of the

4 Mi. Cr., beg. at Harrowhaddo

Path. Trans. of 7 pers. Virginia

Land Patent Book, 6:279.

14) 1674. Sept. 26 Nicho. PERKINS,

537 acs., 3R., 20P., Henrico Co.,

N. side James Riv., adj. Richard

PARKE; Trans. of 11 pers.

Virginia Land Patent Book, 6:530.

15) 1707. Feb 8, recd 1 Mar 1707.

Darby Enroughty, son of Darby

Enroughty of Henrico Co., dec'd of

Henrico Parish, planter, for 600 lbs

tobacco, to John Pleasants of same,

a tract of land my mother now

liveth on, on north side of James

River on south side of Four Mile

Creek, bounded by Deep Bottom,

Nicholas PERKINS, Robert Sharp,

160 acres. Land was purchased of

Robert Sharpe by my father 20 Dec.

1686. Wit: John (I) Gyles, Robert

(RG) Green. Signed: Darby

Enroughty. Henrico Co, VA Wills

& Deeds 1706-1709, p. 79.

16) 1709. Sept 1, recd 1 Sept 1709.

John Pledge of Henrico Co., planter,

for £25, to Nicholas PERKINS, Sr.,

planter, of same, land in Henrico

Parish on north side of James River

up Four Mile Creek, adjoining

said PERKINS' land and John

Cannon, 100 acres, 50 of which

descended to me as heir of my late

father John Pledge, dec'd, and other

50 purchased of said Cannon. Wit:

Wm Frogmorton, Nowell Burton,

John Pleasants. Signed: John Pledge.

Dorothy, wife of Pledge, relq her

dower right. Deed of livery witnessed

by Wm Frogmorton, Nowell

Burton, Abraham Childres

and Peter (+) Baize. Henrico Co,

VA Wills & Deeds 1706-1709,

p. 181.

17) 1730. Sept 7, Recd 1st Mon.

Sept. Abraham PERKINS of St.

James Parish, Goochland Co., to Joseph

Woodson of County & Parish of Henrico,

for £32, land on north side of James River

on upper side of Four Mile Creek, bounded

as by a deed from John Cannon to Nicholas

PERKINS, and another from John Pledge to

Nicholas PERKINS, 200 acres. Wit: Amos (X)

Ladd, John Burton, Charles Griffith. Signed

Abraham (X) Perkins. Henrico Co, VA Will

& Deeds 1725-1737, p. 281.

18) 1632. June 20 William Dawkes,

Planter, 250 acs. in the upper part

neare the Neck of land commonly

called Verinas, butting E. upon

2 Mi Cr., W. towards land

of Thomas PARKER ...

Virginia Land

Patent Book, 1:107.

19) 1632. Sept. 7 William Dawkes, of

Verinas, within the Corp. of Chas.

Citty, Planter, ... 200 acs. within sd.

Corp., Ely. upon 2 mi. Cr.,

W towards land of Thomas

PARKER ... Virginia Land

Patent Book, 1:114.

20) 1632/3. Mar. 15 William Dawkes,

of Verinas within the Corp. of Chas.

Citty, Planter, 50 acs., within

sd. Corp., W. towards land

of Thomas PARKER ...

Virginia Land Patent Book, 1:138.

21) 1633. 21 Mar John Ward,

Planter of Verinas, 25 acs. E.

upon his own land, W. towards

land of Thomas PARKER ...

Virginia Land Patent Book, 1:146.

22) 1635. 12 Feb Elizabeth PARKER,

Widdowe, 100 acs. in Varinaes,

Henricoe Co., Between land granted to

William Dawkes on the E. & the Gleab

land on the W., abutting on the Long field

towards the maine river, Sly. Nly. into the

woods & S.W. adj. (land) in the tenure

of the sd. Elizabeth. 100 acs. in the right

of her first husband William Sharpe, an

Ancient Planter in the time of Sir

Thomas Dale, & 100 acs. for trans of

2 servts. ... Virginia Land Patent

Book, 1:330.

23) 1636. July 12 Elizabeth PARKER,

Widdowe, 500 acs. Henrico Co., Between

Curles & Varinaes, S. upon the maine

river, E. upon 4 Mi. Cr., W. towards the

3 Mi. Cr. & N. into the woods. Due in

the right of her late husband Serjeant

William Sharpe, whoe, as by certificate from

the Ct. of Henrico dated 25 Apr.

1636, transported 9 servants

& 2 Negroes: ... Virginia Land

Patent Book, 1:373.

24) 1637. Aug. 17 Elizabeth PARKER,

Widdowe, 950 acs. Henrico Co., E.

upon 4 Mi. Cr., W. upon land of Seth

WARD, S upon the river & N into the

woods. Due in right of her late husband

Serjant William Sharpe, & Thomas

PARKER, whoe at their own

costs & charges trans. 19 pers

. ... Virginia Land Patent

Book, 1:454.

25) 1684. dated 1 Apr, recd. 1 Apr.

Edward Hatcher of Henrico to

Thomas Jarvis of Kiquotan in Elizabeth

City Co, Gent. who m. relict of Nathanie l

Bacon decd 50a in Varina Parish,

next to land formerly belonging to widow

PARKER and now in occupation of

Will Byrd, Esq., part of 200a formerly

belonging to Will Danks, purchased by

Will Hatcher, Jr. and Hen. Hatcher of

Robert Bullington and Hen. Rowing

and Alee his wife in two deeds dated

1 Feb. 1661, and by Hen. Hatcher, the

survivor of the joint purchasers, sold

to said Edward Hatcher 20 Aug. 1667.

Wit Hen. Randolph, Wm Hatcher.

Henrico Co, VA Wills & Deeds

1677-1692, p. 269.

26) 1692/3. Feb. 13, Recd. 17 Apr.

1693. Robert Sharp of County & Parish

of Henrico, to John Baugh of Bristol

Parish, Henrico Co.; witness that

Elizabeth Baugh, alias PACKER,

alias SHARP, died by will recorded in

Henrico Co. 1 Feb. 1650 give to her dau

Dorothy PACKER all land she bought of

John Baugh, commonly called "Peircyes

Toyl", ... and by right devised by Dorothy

PACKER, now dec'd, sister to John Baugh

above by the mother's side ... Now

said Robert Sharp, grandson and heir

of said Elizabeth, for £20 released to

said John Baugh all the above lands ...

Wit: Henry Randolph, James Baugh.

Signed Rob (RS) Sharp. Katherine,

wife of Robert, relq. her dower right.

Henrico Co, VA Wills & Deeds

1688-1697, p. 389.

27)This is the Dr. Richard Parker

who was the son of James [1590 - 1672]

& Katterren Buller Parker [1600 -

1686] of Browsholme, County

Cornwall, England.

28) Richard Parker was Christened

29 Nov 1630 in Warlegon, Cornwall,

Eng.

29) His brother Rowland Parker

on 1 Sept 1673 wrote in an account

of the family

29a) "Richard ye 9th, Dr. of Phyzicke went

to Virginy, married a Londoner and

had issue six children, Liveth upon S'nt

James River in ye Uplands of Virginy

29b) & hath been High Sherife of ye s'd County."

30) Richard Parker was listed as a

head right for Capt Francis Morgan

in 1652 for 510 ac in Glocester Co

VA [Morgan had previously pat.

in Charles City Co. 22 June

1656 in Charles City Co

31 William Fisher indentured himself

to Richard Parker, Cheurgeon, for

two years ten months to learn the

profession of Dr. Richard Parker.

32) In 1656 in Charles City Co, Dr. Richard

Parker was given order by the court to

perfect the cure of the leg of John

Matthews that he had treated for two years.

33) Nicholas Perkins and his second

wife Mary had their son Nicholas Perkins

Jr Christened 11 Oct 1649 at Stepney

St, Dunsten in London. Nicholas Perkins

patented 3 Aug 1650 in Bermuda

Hundred - claiming 4 head rights:

Mary Perkins, Wm Owen, and \

Richard Hughes 31 July 1656 -

a marriage agreement.

Charles City Co VA Rec pg 62.

34) This present writing witnesseth that

I Richard Parker, do freely give consent

to and with Mary Perkins that she

shall make unto herself all the estate which her

late dec'd husband left her by his will . .both

here and in England, and further I do enjoyne

myself to bring her children up to the learning

to the true intent and meaning hereof. I, the

said Richard Parker, hereunto set my

hand, dated this last day of July 1656.

Signed Rich'd Parker. Test: Richard

Delabere. Rec- 5 Sept 1656.

35) First Sept 1656 Westover Court, Charles

City Co pf 67 - Probate of the last will and

testament of Nicholas Perkins, dec this

day proved in court is granted to

Richard Parker, who md. the

relict of the said deceased.

36) "Hath been Sheriff of sd County"

3 April 1660 [p232 Charles City Rec.]

Depostition: I, Richard Parker age 31,

or about, exaed. & sworn saith that having

brought the warrent from Capt. Edward Hill

for contempt of Wm. Hunt to appear before

him, the Dept' del'vd the said warrent

to said Hunt in presence of Thomas

Davis and another man, and sd.

Hunt instead of - - - etc.

37) "Liveth upon Saint James

River" 29 Oct 1669 Henrico Co

VA Pat Bk 6 pg 279 - [Cavaliers &

Pioneers] Mr. Richard Parker

L.P. 350 acs NS James River on

Head of Four Mile Cr. beginning

at Harradox Path . . .

38) "Uplands of Virginia" Henrico

Parish Bk. In 1755 the third precinct

comprised "all between Chickamony

Swamp

& Upland Dist." This is the area of Dr.

Richard Parker & where Richard

2nd purchased land from John

Woodson and area of Nicholas

Perkins 2nd.

39) Children of Dr Richard Parke

r and wife Mary: 1. Richard Parker

ca 1659/60 - 1726/7 Henrico Co VA

planter married Elizabeth ?Ballard

d 7 Jan 1716/7

[prob. dau of John Ballard] a. Ann Parker

married James Daniel [inv

21 May 1734 Goochland] b. Elizabeth Parker

married Wm Atkinson at St John Parish c.

Mary Parker married Lewis Jenkins of St

James Parish Henrico Co VA d. Richard

Parker ca 1700 - 1782 Halifax Co VA married

Judith ?Watson dau of Benj. married 2nd

Myra ? no issue 2. Thomas Parker 1666 -

aft 1709 married Mary the widow of Thos.

Wells ?3. William Parker married Lucy

Turner dau of Abel ?4. Mary Parker d by 1686

married John Cannon [he married 2nd Ester

Pledge] ?5. Katherine Parker married John

Crissey married 2nd 1697/8 Francis Pierce 1663 -

?6. Susan Parker married Thomas

Holmes ??married 2nd Robert Smith

40) ". . . the most interesting part of my work

is how I was lucky enough to fulfil

all Dr. Richard Parker's bro. Rowland

stated about him. Richard Parker was

a Dr. of Phyzicke Went to Virginy married

a Londoner Had six children (hope I

have all six) Liveth upon the St. James

River in ye uplands of Virginy, and Hath

been High Sherife of ye s'd county.

41) It was this that proved Dr Richard Parker

was of Charles City Co. and Henrico Co., Va.

and not either of the others, Richard

of Nans. Co, and Richard of Surry Co.

Waunita Powell -Paris Illinois