John Parker 1740-1793 and Sarah Gordy 1743-1825

I am descended through John Parker born 25 Sep 1740 Sussex Co., DL and Sarah Gordy born 11 Aug 1743 MD, through their daughter Mary Polly Parker b. 28 Aug 1774. John and Sarah were married on 03 Jun 1760 Sussex Co., MD.

John Parker is listed on the muster rolls of Cpt Charles Pope at Lewestown, Apr 1776; on payroll of Cpt Joseph Vaughan, Nov 1776, and on muster roll of Cpt Thomas Holland under Command of John Haslett; On payroll of Cpt. James Moore, Apr 1977 then on muster roll of Cpt James Moore Nov 1777 and payroll May 1778; On payroll of Cpt John Learmouth, formerly Cpt Pope's Company, Jun 1778 and payroll of Cpt John Parten. John Parker and his brother Jacob, were militia members during the Revolutionary War and their records are well documented in the Library of the DAR. They both received land patents in GA for military service ( In the Revolutionary War Records of Georgia in Library of Congress, page 711). In The Descendants of John Parker and Sarah Gordy, Ima Zylks-Adcox wrote that Jacob "came by boat from via Baltimore to Savannah and then overland to the area of the Ocenee River where his brother settled. This was in 1790."

On 10 Jul 1784 the Govenor of Georgia signed land grants to Revolutionary soldiers, including John and Jacob Parker and on "16 Jul 1784 John Parker sold 'Snow Hill' in Dorcester Co. MD and claimed the assigned 2871/2 acres in Georgia, bound SW by the Oconee River, SE, by Charles Curtis' land, all other sides vacant." This area was originally in Washington Co. but was redistributed several times before it is recorded as Hancock Co., GA

I am also descended through Peter Gordy and his wife Hannah Christopher of Worcester Co., MD, through their daughter Sarah Gordy that married John Parker (above).

"I quote from Lewis B. Melton of Annapolis, MD, "Peter Gordy, Sr. and his brother Moses Gordy, owned acreage that straddled the Mason-Dixon line-that portion between Fenwick Island on the Atlantic seaboard and the Middle Point, where the stone set y Mason and Dixon bisected the Eastern Shore peninsula. Most of Peter Gordy, Sr.'s lands remained in MD. The Maryland Hall of Records lists them as: "

Ima Zylks-Adcox wrote, "Apparently, his lands laid just east of present day Delmar, the town straddling the MD-DL state line. The Wills of both Peter and Moses Gordy were submitted for probate the same day at the Worcester co., Courthouse 15 Jul 1775. The executor for Peter's will was Peter Gordy Jr. with John Williams Sr. and John Williams Jr. as Surietie. Moses Gordy's executor was Nanny Gordy (his wife) with James Parker and Jacob Gordy as Sureties. Several years later, the Will of Peter Gordy Jr. was filed, and Eleanor and William Gordy were shown as co-executors and bonded on 4 Mar 1778, with John Parker and Samuel Hearn as Surieities. "

Many years later, Leonard Gordy is witness to the probate of John Parker's will written 18 Feb 1793, probated 16 May 1794 in Hancock Co., GA. This would give further evidence that the Gordy ties appear close with Hancock Co, GA.

  John and Sarah's daughter, Mary Polly Parker married her cousin Samuel Parker in 1792 in Hancock Co., GA. Samuel was born on 7 Jun 1765. Noah Parker (Samuel and Mary's son) Bible records state that "Samuel Parker, father of Noah was born Sunday Morning, June 1765). Samuel came to live with his Uncle John Parker around 1776. Samuel was the son of John's brother George. Notes by Judge McGregor state "When his brother George Parker, died in Worcester County Maryland, John Parker took his nephew, Samuel, born in Worcester Co.,
Maryland and reared him." Samuel sold Snow Hill in Worcester Co., MD in 1787 and bought 10 Aug 1790, 500 acres near Rock Creek Landing on the Onconee River in Washington Co., GA** Witnesses were Curtis Welborn, Lewis Pope, and John Brown. Deed was filed in Hancock Co., GA**.

Between 1806 and 1813 Samuel and Mary moved to Baldwin Co, GA. Samuel is in the land lottery for Baldwin Co., GA in 1806. According to the Will of Jacob Parker 1 Mar 1813, Samuel is listed as a witness and as Jacob's brother. This was in Baldwin Co. GA. Samuel most likely had other brothers and sisters that were farmed out to relatives.

Samuel and Mary moved on to Conecuh Co., Alabama around 1818. Samuel is listed on the tax list. In 1819 Samuel bought land in Covington Co., AL. In 1820, Samuel is shown with a wife and seven children. His other children are shown with residences nearby.

On 27 Oct 1821 Samuel Parker of Conecuh Co., AL states in a deposition that he lost 5 horses while living in Washington Co., GA in 1791. Samuel died 23 May 1840 according to Noah's Bible and his own obituary in The Christian Index dated 2 Jul 1840 pg. 41. Mary Parker lives out her life with in several of her children's homes and dies 12 Dec 1861. Mary Parker is buried in Fairmont Cemetery in Red Level, AL.

The Moore, Gordy, and Parker families are intertwined all the way down to Alabama.

There is a great deal of information on Sarah and John in Ima Zylks Adcox book The Descendants of John Parker 1740 and his Wife Sarah Gordy. 1989, Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD. The Parker and Gordy lineage above is my maternal grandmother's.