West Virginia Pioneers

William [Lowther?] Parsons

Male 1769 - 1839  (70 years)


Personal Information    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name William [Lowther?] Parsons 
    Nickname Captain Billy 
    Born 24 Jul 1769  Queen Anne Parish, Prince George Co., MD Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Died 10 Oct 1839  Frozen Camp, Jackson Co., WV Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Buried Jackson County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Notes 

    • 1820 Mason, VA
      William Parsons
      1m 0-10
      1m 10-16 Wm (14)
      2m 16-26 John F (26), Charles (20)
      1m 26-45 Henry(28-32)
      1m 45+
      3f 0-10 Mary(10), Ann(6), Elizabeth(1)
      1f 10-16 Susan
      2f 16-26 Martha(18?), Hannah(19)
      1f 45+

      1830 Mason VA William Parsons Srn
      1m 0-5 Lafayette(1)
      1m 5-10 George(9)
      1m 50-60
      1f 0-5 Margaret(1)
      1f 5-10 Caroline(6)
      2f 10-15 Jerusha(9), Elizabeth(11)
      1f 15-20 Ann(16)
      1f 20-30 Mary(20)
      1f 40-50

      1840 Jackson Co VA Nancy Parsons
      1m 10-15 Lafayette(11)
      1m 15-20 George(19)
      1f 10-15 Margaret(11)
      1f 15-20 Caroline(16)
      2f 20-30 Elizabeth(21) & Mary(30)
      1f 50-60

      There is no proof that William was born or married in Queen Anne Parish, Prince George Co., Maryland, it is as likely that he was born in Augusta County, Virginia. 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. Joseph had a son, William Lowther, and they are distinguished by the nicknames, 'Captain Billy' and 'Devil Bill'.

      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 340

      John 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.
      ---
      Source: Newspaper article "Judge William Asbury Parsons" Biographical Tribute dated August 17, 1933 in THE MOUNTAINEER, Ripley, West Virginia.

      Captain William Lowther Parsons as Caption of the Virginia militia in 1796; took part in Indian Wars, while living within Buchannon Fort with Henry Fink, a noted pioneer, his father-in-law; was an Indian Spy and Scot, whose business it was to conduct a suspicious Indian into the presence of Gen. Anthony Wayne; settled with Samuel Tanner at Warth's Bottom in 1797; came to his tract of 550 acres, the present site of Ripley and became first settler; constructed a road from Point Pleasant to Clarksburg; was appointed Captain of two companies with the celebrated Jesse Hughes as his lieutenant for the war of 1812 by his excellency, Gov. Barber of Virginia; took part in the Battle of Craney Island on June 22, 1813; his campaign over he was mustered out of service the same year.
      ---
    Person ID I2640  WVPioneers
    Last Modified 15 Sep 2016 

    Father Charles PARSONS,   b. 4 Nov 1745,   d. 4 Nov 1823, Mason County, now Jackson County, (West ) Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth CHESTNUT,   d. 1790, Harrison County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Between 1764 and 1768 
    Notes 

    • Probably married 1764-1768, possibly in Maryland, probably in Virginia.

      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 - 2-6

      Kanawha 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. March 15, 1792 to Dec 1, 1792.
      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 probably 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, to the 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 the 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.
    Family ID F601  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Susan Fink,   b. Est 1770,   d. 1808, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 38 years) 
    Married Between 1786 and 1790  Maryland or Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 

    • "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 Casto

      William 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 
     1. Henry Parsons,   b. Between 1788 and 1792, Buchannon Fort, Harrison County, VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Sep 1862, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 74 years)
     2. John Fink Parsons,   b. 20 Aug 1794 OR 1797, Warth's Bottom, Jackson, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Sep 1873, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years)
     3. Martha Parsons,   b. 1796 OR 1802,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Charles Parsons,   b. 1800, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1884, Hancock County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years)
     5. Hannah Parsons,   b. Abt 1801, Warth's Bottom, Jackson, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. Susan Parsons,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. William M Parsons, Jr,   b. 20 Sep 1806, Mason, Mason County, West Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Jan 1892, Ripley, Jackson, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 85 years)
     8. Infant Parsons,   b. 1808, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1808, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
    Family ID F895  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Nancy Elizabeth Walker,   b. 1789,   d. 1870  (Age 81 years) 
    Married 28 Feb 1809  Harrison County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Notes 

    • John House says Wm's second wife was Hannah Fauquier

      1820 Mason, VA
      William Parsons
      1m 0-10
      1m 10-16
      2m 16-26
      1m 26-45
      1m 45+
      3f 0-10
      1f 10-16
      2f 16-26
      1f 45+

      1830 Mason VA William Parsons Srn
      1m 0-5
      1m 5-10
      1m 50-60
      1f 0-5
      1f 5-10
      2f 10-15
      1f 15-20
      1f 20-30
      1f 40-50

      1840 Jackson Co VA Nancy Parsons
      1m 10-15 Lafayette
      1m 15-20 George
      1f 10-15 Margaret
      1f 15-20 Caroline
      2f 20-30 Elizabeth & Mary
      1f 50-60

      1850 Jackson Co, VA , living with Polly and Isaac Rollins
      Nancy, 61
      Lucetta Parsons, 7

      Buried Baptist Grove, Frozen Camp, Jackson Co, WV
      Parsons, William Lowther, 1765-1839, Capt., 6th Regiment Va Militia, War of 1812
    Children 
     1. Mary "Polly" Parsons,   b. 1810,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Travis Parsons,   b. 1812, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1890  (Age 78 years)
     3. Ann E Parsons,   b. 1814,   d. BY 1868  (Age 54 years)
     4. Elizabeth Parsons,   b. Abt 1817, Mason, Mason County, West Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Jerusha "Sally" Parsons,   b. Abt 1821,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. George Walker Parsons,   b. 11 Jul 1821, Mason, Mason County, West Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Oct 1901, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years)
     7. Caroline Parsons,   b. 1824,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. Margaret Jannette Parsons,   b. Abt 1829, Mason, Mason County, West Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. Marquis De LaFayette Parsons,   b. 1829,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F894  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 24 Jul 1769 - Queen Anne Parish, Prince George Co., MD Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S33] Parsons discussion group.

    2. [S102] John House - Cemeteries.

    3. [S45] James and Janet Lockhart.