Richard Parker of Bertie Co, NC

[Donna Shumate]

Seeking information on the ancestors of my gggrandfather, Richard Parker (b1814).  He married Bernetta Early and had a son - James Richard Parker (b1856, d1931).  Any information, or leads, would be greatly appreciated.   Donna

[Bonnie Parker Carter]

I had always been told by my Mother that my father's grandfather was  James Parker of Bertie County, N.C.  However, my Mother recently passed away and I found her first child's baby book.  The child was born in 1943.  In the baby book were the following names on the family tree:

My father was Joseph Perry Parker born in Aulander, N.C. in 1916.

My Grandfather was also Joseph Perry Parker married to Sara Lucedie Green (daughter of William Green)

My Great-Grandparents were Grandison Parker and Matilda Parker.

I saw somewhere on the internet that a Grandison Parker was married to a Mary M. Parker.  I was thinking perhaps that Mary's middle name was "Matilda".   My cousin and I had previously been on the path of James Parker being our Great-Grandfather.  But since the information in the Baby book would have been possibly more accurate since my Mother would have gotten the information from her Mother-in-law in 1943....which to my way of thinking would stand less of a chance of being wrong.  Any information you would be willing to share would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

[Donna Shumate]

Bonnie,

We share the same great-great-grandparents, Richard Parker and Bernetta Early!  These are the parents of Granderson P Parker, your great-grandfather, and my great-grandfather, James Richard Parker.  We are third cousins!

Granderson Parker's wife was Mary Matilda Howard.  They were married 4 July 1866 (record online at Familysearch.org).   I found records of their son, Joseph P (I didn't know his middle name was Perry) in 1880 and 1900 census records on Ancestry.com.  Also, I have a picture of Granderson Parker's tombstone.  We were in Bertie last March and visited the family cemetery.  I will try to attach a copy of it.  Should it not go through, I'd be glad to email it to you directly. 

It is so good to connect with you online!  Donna

[Bonnie Parker Carter]

Donna,

Thank you for responding.  That is exciting news.  I have a really nice picture of my father's Mother and Father--Joseph Perry Parker and Sara Lucedie Green.  I'm not familiar with the process on this website.  I would love to send you that picture.  I was not able to open the picture from the cemetery.  I will gladly give you my email address but does that mean my email address will be on the Parker website for all to see?  If you could, would you explain how I go about this?  Thanks so much for any information you may be able to share.  (My sister's name is Donna) 

I can't wait to learn how things are done on this Parker site.  So glad to make a family connection so quickly!          Bonnie

[Bonnie Parker Carter]

Donna, when I tried to reply to your email, the message I sent was returned and the following was sent to me as the reason it was returned.

*** ATTENTION ***

Your e-mail is being returned to you because there was a problem with its
delivery. The address which was undeliverable is listed in the section
labeled: "----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----".

The reason your mail is being returned to you is listed in the section
labeled: "----- Transcript of Session Follows -----".

The line beginning with "<<<" describes the specific reason your e-mail could
not be delivered. The next line contains a second error message which is a
general translation for other e-mail servers.

Please direct further questions regarding this message to the e-mail
administrator or Postmaster at that destination.

[Donna Shumate]

Bonnie,

I don't know what that error is all about.  Write to me at [e-mail].  Donna

[Donna Shumate]

Bonnie,

Here is the picture of Granderson Parker's tombstone.    Donna

[Warren A. Smith]

You responded to my direct email.  I in turn replied to it, but my email was rejected by your server, so here's a similar message.  You and my wife are 3rd cousins by Grandison and James Richard.  Grandison married Mary M. Howard and James married Caroline Howard.  I've worked all this year to find Richard's father.  I found a Bertie Co deed, for two tracts dated 27 Aug 1875, from Matthew Parker dec'd to John or his heirs, (Berry, Richard, Sarah, Mary, Jack, W. J. Hoggard and wife Barthema (Parthenia) and heirs).... This may mean that Berry, Richard, Sarah, Marry, W. J. and Parthenia are heirs of John or Matthew.  There is another deed dated 22 Dec 1875 between Richard and Berry, Sarah P, John P, and the Hoggards. (where are Mary and Jack?).  Richard buys the small tract from the others.  The middle initials give on the second deed are different than Richards children so these are probably Richard's siblings.  The Census for Bertie Co has two John Parkers (Jr. and Sr.) for 1810 to 1850.  I have found not found wills for a John or a Matthew Parker during this period.  So this is a working theory until proof arrives.  Who is Matthew?  He may be a bachelor brother of John.  I can't find a Matthew in the Bertie Co. Census.  The part that Richard bought is called the Matthew Parker tract.

[Donna Shumate]

Warren,

I'm perplexed by the email problem since I'm using a gmail account.  Nevertheless, I appreciate you being persistent and trying again through the message board.  This is all very interesting information and I'm going over it with my records to see if it fits together and perhaps leads to some conclusions (or at least some new good leads).  I was at the Bertie Courthouse in March of this year and pulled lots of wills and deeds, but not these, so I am very grateful to have this new information. 

Also, I've been in correspondence with another researcher who suggested following the Richard Parker of Chowan County.  He died in 1752 and left land to his son Richard on the Somerton Swamp.  Does any of this sound familiar?  Have you checked out this other Richard? 

I would be glad to share my findings with you and your wife.  I have some information on Grandison, including the family cemetery.  Do you have any pictures of Richard?  Also, do you know any details about his wife Barnetta (many spelling variations) Early? 

I look forward to sharing and working together to solve this mystery of Richard's parents, and the Parker ancestry - when did they come to the Americas, where did they come from. . .

With regards,

Donna

(Please try my email again.  Thanks.)

[Warren A. Smith]

Yes I am aware of the Richard of Chowan Co, 1752.  I think the is another Richard that should be considered first.  Joseph Parker of Bertie Co signed his will 15 March 1798.  He mentions his son Richard dec'd and Richard's wife Elizabeth and eight children.  Some of these may have been of age, and one may be the John mentioned in the deed between Mathew and heirs of John.  Our Richard was born in 1814 and there are two Johns Parkers in the Census for Bertie County. 

TTYL  Warren