Lewis PARSONS [Parents] "Lute" was born 1838. He married Malinda DEPEW.
Malinda DEPEW married Lewis PARSONS.
John Wesley CAIN married Sarah Jane PARSONS.
Sarah Jane PARSONS [Parents] was born 1845. She married John Wesley CAIN.
Other marriages:DAVIS, Willaim
Willaim DAVIS married Sarah Jane PARSONS on 3 Apr 1853.
Sarah Jane PARSONS [Parents] was born 1845. She married Willaim DAVIS on 3 Apr 1853.
Other marriages:CAIN, John Wesley
David B. PARSONS [Parents] was born 16 May 1848. He married Rebecca STAATS on Nov 1870.
David and wife moved 1883 to Jackson Twp MO
Rebecca STAATS married David B. PARSONS on Nov 1870.
James H. CUNNINGHAM was born 1802. He died 1871. James married Sarah PARSONS.
Sarah PARSONS [Parents] "Sallie" was born 6 Jun 1812. She died 6 Jul 1862. Sallie married James H. CUNNINGHAM.
They had the following children:
Joseph PARSONS [Parents] was born 1755 in Queen Ann Co. MD. He married Matilda MOTTS.
Other marriages:BUSH, Elizabeth
Fought against Indians during Rev. War, entered service abt 1777,
issued pension Dec 31 1833. Moved to Jackson Co (WV) about 1800.
There is apparently no proof first wife was Matilda, the children
listed of this marriage are thought to be correct and there may
have been others, specifically a George ParsonsJohn House:
The name of Joe's Run was derived from Joe Parsons, a wild and picturesque character who came to Mill Creek from the settlements on the Buckhannon, about the same time the other Parsons did. Just what relation he was to them does not fairly appear, some call him a cousin to Captain Billy, others just first cousin once removed, and others make the kinship still more distant.He was a hunter only, and did not try to permanently locate on a farm or earn a living, other than by hunting and trapping. His wife is said to have been a wild untamed creature named Mat, who, though scalped and left for dead by the Indians at the destruction of the Buckhannon fort, was not half so easily killed as that, but recovering, came to Mill Creek and lived for many years more. There is much confusion as to Joseph Parsons and his son, who is universally known as "Devil Bill", for both led wild roving lives without a fixed habitation, simply building a pole cabin and "squatting" at a place as long as suited their convenience.
The cabin of Joe Parsons is said to have stood on the left of the creek, near the old ford below the Center View Church, but whether it was there or across the point on the run itself, it could have given a name to the stream, for the other Parsonses at Sycamore, if hunting among the hills at its head, would naturally have distinguished it from the other streams by the appellation Joe's Run.
This cabin was built about 1812, or not long thereafter, and was standing in 1828.
Joe Parsons afterward squatted at the mouth of Little creek, farther up stream.
About 1820, he was living on what is now the Knopp farm, at that place, and there we lose sight of him.
The only one of his children of whom there is now any knowledge is the aforementioned Devil Bill. He lived the same wandering, vagrant life his father had before him. When game became scarce he substituted fishing and digging "sang" for the old means of livelihood. He wore garments of skins and furs, when obtainable, or coarse linen or woolens, and lived in rude pole huts, sometimes without floor or door, and with rudest and scantest of furniture and utensils, even utilizing, as one informant says, large chips for plates. He appears to have been thoroughly imbued wit the "camping out" spirit. Every few years, he would make a pilgrimage to the West Fork, Cherry or Birch Rivers, to hunt fish and "sang", the family walking and carrying their household goods on their backs.
Parents: William PARSONS and Martha HUGHES.
Matilda MOTTS married Joseph PARSONS.
They had the following children:
M i Charles PARSONS. M ii Joseph PARSONS. M iii William Lowther PARSONS was born 1794. M iv John L. PARSONS was born 1795. M v Adam PARSONS died 28 Jun 1841.
Charles PARSONS [Parents] married Anna.
They had the following children:
F i Martha PARSONS.
William Lowther PARSONS [Parents] "Devil Bill" was born 1794. He married Elizabeth FREELAND on 1817.
Trimble Letter of Guerilla list:
Wheeling Intelligencer, 12/27/61:
West Virginia Database (Boggs captured):
West Virginia in the Civil War, Ripley Raid:
West Virginia in the Civil War, captured after Ripley Raid:
Camp Chase list of Prisoners, OR, Series II, Vol. 2. Page 263 - 266: William L. ParsonsWilliam Lowther 'Devil Bill' Parsons was born in 1794. (87) Parents: Joseph Parsons and Matilda Motts.
He was married to Elizabeth Freeland in 1817.(87)
1850 JC # 605-611
Parsons Jno S 32 M Farmer Va
Parsons Elizabeth 22 F Va
Parsons Hannah 2 F Va
Parsons William 56 M Farmer Va
Parsons Elizabeth 52 F Pa
Parsons Lyda 26 F Va
Parsons Josiah 21 M Farmer Va
Parsons Alfred 17 M Farmer Va
Parsons Dorothy 13 F Va
Parsons William 11 M Va
Parsons James 9 M Va
Parsons Abigal 3 F Va
Children were: Sudna Parsons, John S Parsons, Lydia Parsons, Josiah Parsons, Alfred B Parsons, Dorothy Parsons, William Parsons, Daniel James Parsons, Abigail Parsons.
Source: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/index.htmThe children of William (Devil Bill) Parsons were:
John Parsons, married Elizabeth Good, daughter of Jacob Good. He lived on the Middle fork of Poca.
Josiah, killed on West Fork, during the war.
"Said", lived with her father.
James, was in Major Harpold's Company during the war, and was killed at Cedar Creek.
Alf, was lost in the Union Army.
A son was, when a boy, killed during the Civil War, in an incident which occurred on the Ripley-Ravenswood pike, which incident is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/upmillck.htm#01
A son was, when a boy, killed during the Civil War, in an incident which occurred on the Ripley-Ravenswood pike, which incident is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.The only one of his children of whom there is now any knowledge is the aforementioned Devil Bill. He lived the same wandering, vagrant life his father had before him. When game became scarce he substituted fishing and digging "sang" for the old means of livelihood. He wore garments of skins and furs, when obtainable, or coarse linen or woolens, and lived in rude pole huts, sometimes without floor or door, and with rudest and scantest of furniture and utensils, even utilizing, as one informant says, large chips for plates. He appears to have been thoroughly imbued wit the "camping out" spirit. Every few years, he would make a pilgrimage to the West Fork, Cherry or Birch Rivers, to hunt fish and "sang", the family walking and carrying their household goods on their backs
A son was, when a boy, killed during the Civil War, in an incident which occurred on the Ripley-Ravenswood pike, which incident is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
Source: History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and its Early Settlement; Compile by John A. House; 1906; http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/title.htm#01There was a good deal of trouble at the mouth of Big Run during the Civil War. There was a harboring place of the bushwhackers in the woods next the head of the stream. A part of the logs where they had a shed to keep horses in until ready to run them south may still be seen, and there are two places shown where the guerillas and returned southern soldiers used to camp under the rocks. The bridge over Big run was cut down and Captain Baggs' company were fired on while going from Ripley out to Spencer. One man, it is said, was killed or wounded, so he died. In return, Baggs burned several buildings, and there was a fight on the point between Gravel Run and the pike, back of the blacksmith shop at John Dukes.
Source: History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and its Early Settlement; Compile by John A. House; 1906;
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/upmillck.htm#01Leib describes one of the leaders of such a group, whom he does not regard in any greater esteem than their followers: "A notorious bushwhacker is Bill Parsons, or 'Devil Bill,' as he is called. Bill is filthy in appearance, and, like the rest of his class, has low instincts, and is as ferocious as a hyena. It is said he has eleven wives, and it is a fact well known that one of them is his own daughter. He resides in Roane County, where he has been guilty of many gross outrages."
"A notorious bushwhacker is Bill Parsons, or 'Devil Bill,' as he is called. Bill is filthy in appearance, and, like the rest of his class, has low instincts, and is as ferocious as a hyena. It is said he has eleven wives, and it is a fact well known that one of them is his own daughter. He resides in Roane county, where he has been guilty of many gross outrages."
Source: Michael Egan in the book The Flying, Gray-haired Yank quoted Captain Leib from a book The Chances for Making a Million with one of the best descriptions of bushwhackers I have found. From The Flying Gray-haired YankAlso see:
Pioneers of Jackson County, West Virginia; History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and Its Early Settlement, by John A. House
Published: WebRoots, Inc., 2001; (c) 2001 Betty Briggs. Written in 1906
Online: http://www.webroots.org/library/usahist/pojc0000.html
Elizabeth FREELAND was born 1792. She married William Lowther PARSONS on 1817.
They had the following children:
F i Sudna PARSONS was born 1817.
"Said", lived with her father.
Source: History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and its Early Settlement; Compile by John A. House; 1906; http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/title.htm#01M ii John S. PARSONS was born 1818. F iii Lydia PARSONS was born 1824 in VA. M iv Josiah PARSONS was born 1829 in VA.
Trimble Letter of Guerilla list:
Wheeling Intelligencer, 12/27/61: Josiah Parsons
West Virginia Database (Boggs captured):
West Virginia in the Civil War, Ripley Raid:
West Virginia in the Civil War, captured after Ripley Raid: Josiah Parsons
Camp Chase list of Prisoners, OR, Series II, Vol. 2. Page 263 - 266:
Josiah, killed on West Fork, during the war.
Source: History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and its Early Settlement; Compile by John A. House; 1906; http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/title.htm#01
Wheeling Intelligencer, 12/27/61 "Another Big Lot of Prisoners…."
Captured by the 11th WV, of the notorious Moccasin Rangers….RMJ Sheppard, …Henry Amick, David Enoch, Jr., Martin Sheppard, Josiah Parsons….
Wheeling Intelligencer (hereafter as WI), 4/1/62 "Escape of Rebel Prisoners"
… George Dusky and Josiah Parsons, two rebel prisoners, escaped from the Sprigg House Hospital…
DUSKEY (DUSKY), George W., Co. A, 3rd Virginia State Line (Moccasin Rangers). Commissioned Captain of Infantry on 18 Sep. 1862. On August's list of Virginia State Line Officers prepared on 27 Jan. 1863. On T. E. Davis' list of Virginia State Line Officers dated 28 Feb. 1863. Private, Co. C, 19th Virginia Cavalry. Born Lewis Co., W.Va. about 1840. Age 20, Calhoun Co. 1860 Census. Captured Wirt Co., W.Va. 15 Dec. 1861. Confined at the Atheneum Prison under heavy guard. Pretended to be ill and was sent to the Sprigg Hill Hospital, Wheeling, W.Va. While there he escaped with a few of his men, including Josiah Parsons, and returned to Calhoun Co., W.Va. and there reorganized the Moccasin Rangers. Enlisted Pocahontas Co., W.Va. 1 Apr. 1863. Absent 31 Dec. 1863 to 31 Aug. 1864. Has one horse; captured Roane Co., W.Va., 20 June 1863. Absent 1 Sep. 1864-31 Oct. 1864, $100 enlistment bounty due. Was reported on 29 Nov. 1864 that Duskey and Lieutenant William A. Gandy were being held in solitary confinement , and to be sent to Ft. Monroe for exchange, 21 Jan. 1865. Reported as being held in the Wheeling City Jail which served as a State prison, 25 Jan. 1865. Duskey being held by civil authorities, under indictment for treason and robbing the mail (Ripley, W.Va. Post Office). Captured 2 Feb. 1865, no place stated. (This is probably their release date from prison and the time that the military took control of them again.) Confined at Baltimore, Md., then sent to Camp Hamilton. Transportation to Ft. Monroe for Duskey and William Gandy ordered 4 Feb. 1865. Confined at Camp Hamilton, Va. military prison awaiting exchange 6 Feb. 1865. Released 11 Feb. 1865. Post war rosters show service in Co. A. Duskey, apparently an officer at some point during the war was not considered as such by the U.S. Son of Daniel Duskey and brother of Andrew Duskey. C.S.A.
Source:http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvcalhou/soldiers.htm
PARSONS, Josiah, made his escape with George Duskey from Sprigg Hill Hospital while being treated for minor illness. C.S.AM v Alfred B. PARSONS was born 1832 in VA.
Alf, was lost in the Union Army.
Source: History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and its Early Settlement; Compile by John A. House; 1906; http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/title.htm#01
1860 JC # 170-160 l/w James & Sarah Good Boggs ???
Parsons, Alfred, 26
Civil War soldier in Capt. Henry C. Hunter's Home Guard. Parents: William Lowther 'Devil Bill' Parsons and Elizabeth Freeland.
He was married to Nancy Hall on 29 Aug 1862 in Jackson Co, WV.(7) Children were: McClellan Parsons, Elizabeth Parsons.
He was married to Mary Jane Wilson on 7 Sep 1874 in Jackson Co, WV.(7)
1880 Census Place: Union, Jackson, West Virginia Page 398A
Alfred PARSONS Self M M W 48 WV
Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: --- Mo: ---
Mary Jane PARSONS Wife F M W 40 WV VA VA
Mc Clellan PARSONS Son M S W 17 WV
Elizabeth PARSONS Dau F S W 13 WV
Peter PARSONS Son M S W 6 WV
John PARSONS Son M S W 4 WV
1900 JC Union Dist
Alfred B 3/1832 wd, WV WV PA
John S 7/1877 m 3y
Viola dil 5/1877
Serena K n 3/1876
Children were: Peter Parsons, John H Parsons.F vi Dorothy PARSONS was born 1837. M vii William S. PARSONS was born 1839 in VA. He died 1862.
Trimble Letter of Guerilla list: William S. Parsons
Wheeling Intelligencer, 12/27/61:
West Virginia Database (Boggs captured):
West Virginia in the Civil War, Ripley Raid:
West Virginia in the Civil War, captured after Ripley Raid:
Camp Chase list of Prisoners, OR, Series II, Vol. 2. Page 263 - 266:
Parsons, William Private Co. G; enlisted 10/1/62 at Gross Salt Lick; cut off during retreat in Kanawha Valley and killed by home guards 11/62. born in 1839.
[listed as prisoner with Henry Amick]
Source: From an abbreviated Muster Role transcribed from 17th Virginia Cavalry by Nelson Harris.
WI - 5/21/62 The Guerrillas
…William L. ParsonsM viii Daniel James PARSONS "James" was born 1841 in VA.
James, was in Major Harpold's Company during the war, and was killed at Cedar Creek
Source: History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and its Early Settlement; Compile by John A. House; 1906; http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bbriggs/title.htm#01F ix Abigail PARSONS was born 1845 in VA.
Adam PARSONS [Parents] died 28 Jun 1841 in Jackson Co., VA. He married Susanna GREATHOUSE on 9 May 1803 in Harrison Co., VA.
Susanna GREATHOUSE married Adam PARSONS on 9 May 1803 in Harrison Co., VA.
They had the following children:
F i Mary PARSONS was born 1810 and died 1880.
William STEWART was born 1802. He died 1889. William married Mary PARSONS on 19 Mar 1829 in Jackson Co., VA.
Mary PARSONS [Parents] "Polly" was born 1810. She died 1880. Polly married William STEWART on 19 Mar 1829 in Jackson Co., VA.