WILLIAM D. PARRISH

William D. Parrish

By

Professional Genealogist

Valerie J. Thompson

January 26, 2012

William D. Parrish

  William D. Parrish was born 15 Dec 1782 according to the biography of his son Benjamin Bomar Parrish ( Fannin Folk and Facts) His son’s biography states he was born in Cumberland County Kentucky, but the 1850 Census notes his birthplace as Virginia. He was the son of Timothy and Mary Parrish of Clark County Kentucky. He served in the War of 1812 and was a Representative from Adair County Kentucky to the Kentucky Legislature 1827 and 1835. He married three times, first on 6 March 1803 in Cumberland County Kentucky to Elizabeth “Betsey” Chilton, daughter of Rev. Thomas John Chilton and Margaret “Peggy” Bledsoe. After the death of his wife Betsey and his service in the War of 1812 he married secondly, Nancy Bomar, daughter of  Benjamin Bowmar and Mary Burbridge on 25 May 1815 Adair County Kentucky.  While a resident of Adair County he was appointed as Tax Commissioner for the County and served as Justice of the Peace. When the town of Millersburg was formed by act of the General Assembly, he was appointed trustee. He was a member of the Zion Baptist Church. (Adair Court records) (History of Adair County)

 Thirdly, he married Minerva Fergus, on 24 Aug 1841 (Marriage affidavait, pension papers) in Creelsboro, Russell County Kentucky.  Minerva was the widow of James Fergus, Jr., and daughter of Elisha and Nancy Embree.  William D. Parrish died in Cumberland County Kentucky 24 Jan 1865 (Pension papers).

Children of William D. Parrish and Betsey Chilton:

*Jefferson Chilton Parrish born 31 Mar 1804 married Amanda Lee 15 Sep 1828 Barren County Kentucky. Elizabeth Lee gave consent for her daughter’s marriage. Jefferson C. Parrish married secondly, Elizabeth Ketchings 21 April 1841 in Fannin County Texas.  Biographical Souvenir of State of Texas, page 367 biography of John E. Harnest, states J. C Parrish died Aug 1860 in Fannin County Texas. He is listed on the 1860 Census of Fannin County which was enumerated 10 Aug 1860.  John E. Harnest was married to Mary Parrish, daughter of Charles Penn Parrish, son of Jefferson C. Parrish.

*Sallie D. Parrish was born about 1806. She married Sinclair Stapp 1 Nov 1826 Adair County Kentucky. “By an Act of the General Assembly of the state of Kentucky the couple divorced 7 Feb 1845” (Acts of the General Assembly of state of Kentucky 1845, page 165) but remarried a few months later in Pike County Missouri on 10 June 1845.

She married secondly, George N. Denton in Fannin County Texas 5 Mar 1873. She was affectionately known as Aunt Sallie Denton.  She and George are listed on the 1880 Census Fannin County Texas.

Children of William D. Parrish and Nancy Bomar:

*Elizabeth Parrish was born 3 May 1816 Kentucky.  She married James G. Gilmer 21 Sept 1837 Adair County Kentucky. He died a few months after their arrival in Fannin County Texas. Secondly, she married Benjamin Stuart Walcott on 25 May 1848 in Fannin County Texas.  She died 26 Mar 1865 Fannin County Texas.  She and both husbands are buried at Oakwood Cemetery. See Historical Markers for James Gilmer and Benjamin S. Walcott Honey Grove, Fannin County Texas.  Honey Grove was built upon the land left to Elizabeth Parrish, when James Gilmer died. Oakwood cemetery was also set aside from this same land.

*Martha Jane Parrish born 12 Sep 1823 Kentucky. She married Paschal Willis on 9 September 1841 in Adair County Kentucky. William D. Parrish gave consent for his daughter. She died 15 Apr 1851 Adair County Kentucky. (Family Group Sheet, Mary Allis Garnett Cundiff, of Columbia, Adair Co. KY). Martha seems to be the only child of William and Nancy that remained in Adair County Kentucky, while her siblings removed to Fannin County Texas. Paschal Willis married secondly, Susan McCain 13 Nov 1851 Adair County KY.

*Cynthia Maria Parrish was born Feb 1824. She married John Turk Allen 19 Dec 1844 Russell County Kentucky. She died 22 Dec 1905 Fannin County Texas. She is buried at Oakwood Cemetery as Mrs. C. M. Allen.

*Benjamin Bowmar Parrish was born 8 Aug 1829 Adair County Kentucky. He married first Tabitha Cheatham, daughter of Josiah Cheatham of Cumberland County Kentucky 8 Jan 1852 Lamar County Texas.  Secondly, he married Sally S. Rogers 24 Oct 1869 Fannin County Texas. His biography, written by Lieutenant Colonel James Parrish is in Fannin Folk and Facts, page 282, which is online at www.txfannin.org  He died 31 May 1895 Fannin County Texas. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas. Photo of the double stone of he and Sally is located at Findagrave.com

*Theresa Catherine Parrish was born 16 Nov 1831 Kentucky. She married Andrew Jackson Nicholson 20 Dec 1848 (Biography of Andrew, Handbook of Texas).  She died 16 Dec 1915 Fannin County Texas. Captain Andrew Jackson Nicholson was a Confederate officer and later Texas State Representative of District 11. Both are buried at Oakwood Cemetery Fannin County Texas.

*Timothy Parrish – “died young” (Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas, F.A. Battey & Co., Chicago, 1889.

 *Dickerson Parrish – “died young” (Biographical Souvenir of State of Texas, F. A. Battey & Co., Chicago, 1889)

*Elmira/Almyra Parrish was born 12 May 1835 in Kentucky. She married James M. Taylor 12 Dec 1856 Fannin County Texas. (Texas Marriages 1814-1909) She was widowed by 1889, when biography of Benjamin Bowmar Parrish was written, (Biographical Souvenir of State of Texas). She died 7 Oct 1898 Montague County Texas.

She and James are buried at McDonald Cemetery, Montague County Texas. James M. Taylor was born 12 Dec 1835 Georgia and died 10 Oct 1886 Montague County Texas.

Minerva Fergus, widow of James Fergus, Jr. became the third wife of William D. Parrish on 24 March 1841 at the “residence of Benjamin Walter Graves in Russell County Kentucky” (Marriage affidavit, Pension papers).  She was the daughter of Elisha Embree and Nancy Wilhoit. She was born 5 Apr 1802 and died 11 May 1890 in Irish Bottom, Cumberland County Kentucky. (Fergus Family Bible)   

Minerva filed a pension application for husband, William D. Parrish for service in the War of 1812. Minerva provided a wealth of information about William D. Parrish amid the affidavits, including the marriages of his first two wives.  Nancy Radford wife of John Page in affidavits in pension application for her husbands Civil War service states she gave birth with the help of midwife, Minerva Parrish. Minerva Parrish signed affidavit to the same 12 Oct 1877.  (Dumroese, 2012)

William D. Parrish, himself applied for Bounty Land for his service in the War of 1812. He stated in affidavit that he was a private in the Company commanded by Captain John Butler in the Regiment of Colonel Young Ewing commanded by Major General Samuel Hopkins. The burial location of the soldier and United States Representative William D. Parrish is not known. His residence was Cumberland County, Post Office Amandaville in the 1860 Census.  Minerva states “at the time of his death the soldier lived in Cumberland County Kentucky” (Widow’s Brief)

References:

Pension File of Widow, Minerva Parrish

Biography of Benjamin Bowmar Parrish, Fannin Folks & Facts

Court Records Adair County Kentucky

Court Records Cumberland County Kentucky

Court Records Russell County Kentucky

Court Records Clark County Kentucky

History of Kentucky by Collins

Fannin County Texas, www.txfannin.org

Biographical Souvenir of State of Texas

Handbook of Texas online

Pension application of Nancy Radford, widow of John Page

History of Adair County Kentucky

History of Cumberland County Kentucky

http://page-dumroese.name/getperson.php?personID=I1288&tree=Page-Dumroese (Jan 2012) Permission for use of Portrait of William D. Parrish which was first downloaded to Ancestry.com by Linda Knowles.