Asahel Parker
Pioneer
Ancestor Story Submitted by Marjean Holmes Workman
First Families of Huron County Member #166
[Footnotes are marked *.]
Pioneer
Ancestor Story Submitted by Marjean Holmes Workman
First Families of Huron County Member #166
[Footnotes are marked *.]
ASAHEL PARKER, son of John Parker and Lydia Castle, was born 1 April 1762 in the part of Waterbury, Connecticut which is now in Watertown. 1* He died 16 May 1841 in Lorain County, Ohio, and is buried in the Bentley-Parker Cemetery in Florence Township, Erie County, Ohio. 2* Asahel was a descendant of many of the early settlers of Connecticut, including John Warner of Farmington, Henry Castle, Edward Adams, Robert Meeker and Thomas Richason.
He married first PHOEBE FINCH, daughter of Samuel and Anna Finch, probably about 1787 in what is now Saratoga County, New York. 3* Phoebe died between 1804 and 1810 in Ontario County, New York. Asahel married secondly JEMIMA [surname unknown] probably between the time of the 1810 and 1820 censuses. Jemima was born about 1770 and died 3 September 1823. She is also buried in the Bentley-Parker Cemetery. 4*
Asahel Parker, his father John, and brother Elisha, left Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1776 to join the British on Long Island. Both John and Elisha died while with the British, Elisha of small pox and John of an unknown cause. Asahel returned to Waterbury, a boy of 14 or 15, apparently disgusted with their treatment by the British, and joined the local militia. His pension records state that in October of 1778 he was drafted as a private from the militia of the Town of Waterbury. His company marched to New London, Connecticut, where they remained about 6-8 weeks until the River was frozen, and the company was discharged and returned home. He was drafted again in June of 1779 as a private, and went to Horseneck situated in the southwest part of the state of Connecticut in Long Island sound. Asahel was a member of some of the scouting parties, and had frequent skirmishes with the enemy scouts. At the expiration of three months, he returned to Waterbury. 5* From September of 1779 until the Army went into winter quarters, Asahel was employed as a teamster for the Army, hauling from Hartford, Connecticut, to Fishkill, New York. 6* Unfortunately, Asahel never received a pension for his service during the Revolution, not because of his one time support of the British, but because he served less than six months.
From 1780 until 1801, the exact residence of Asahel is uncertain. He apparently was living in Greenfield, New York, in 1788 when his eldest known child was born. There is also some indication the family lived a few years in Montgomery County, New York, before moving, by 1801, to Ontario County, New York.
On 25 April 1801, Asahel Parker, of Phelpstown in Ontario County, New York, bought for $637.50, 150 acres in Ontario County, New York, from Augustus Porter of Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, agent and attorney for Theodore Sedgwick of the County of Berkshire, Boston State. (This being the north 112 of Lot No. 4 in Township No.10 in the second range of townships.) 7* The same day his brother-in-law, William Finch, bought the south half of this lot.
The first time Asahel can be found in the census records is 1810 at Gorham, Ontario County, New York, apparently living on the 150 acres purchased in 1801. Asahel Parker of Gorham, Ontario County, New York, sold the 150 acres for $1000.00 on 9 October 1812 to William Maltby, also of Gorham. 8* Asahel next appears in Florence Township, Huron (now Erie) County, Ohio, about 1818. 9* According to his pension records, he lived in Florence, Milan, and Clarksfield before moving to Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio, about 1837/8. The only census in Ohio where Asahel can be found is the 1820, apparently he lived with his children for the other years.
No record has been found of him owning land in Ohio or any information if his occupation was anything other than a farmer.
Known issue of Asahel Parker and Phoebe Finch:
i. LYDIA PARKER, b. 28 Jun 1788 Greenfield, Albany (now Saratoga) County, New
York; d. 10 September 1861/2, prob. Wakeman Twp, Huron County, Ohio. Married
WILLIAM BENTLEY.
ii. SAMUEL PARKER, b. ca. 1790-1, prob. Greenfield, Albany (now Saratoga) County,
New York; d. after the 1850 census, supposedly in Wisconsin. Married first RUTH
ROOT and second ELIZABETH BARNUM.
iii. ANNA PARKER, b. ca. 26 September 1792, New York; d. 28 April 1862, Erie County,
Ohio. Married JOHN BENTLEY.
iv. MARY "POLLY" PARKER, b. 1795-1800; left father's household by 1820; m. first a
CRANDALL and 2nd, as his third wife, HENRY BATES.11* Henry B. Bates is buried in
the Bentley-Parker Cemetery, Florence Township, Erie County, Ohio; no dates
appear on his gravestone. 12* They lived at Camden Twp., Lorain County, Ohio.
iv. HERRICK PARKER, b. ca. 1800, New York; d. after 1850 census, perhaps Lorain
County, Ohio. Married Mary [--?--]
v. WILLIAM W. PARKER, b. 17 February 1802, Gorham, Ontario County, New York; d.
19 March 1880, Florence Twp., Erie County, Ohio. Married SARAH PARKER.
An Asahel Parker was married to Betsey Dunham on 24 June 1850 in Erie County, Ohio, by William W. Parker, J.P.13* Is this Asahel a son or grandson of the Revolutionary War veteran Asahel Parker?
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Footnotes:
1 "Birth record of Asahel Parker," 1 April 1762, Waterbury, Connecticut, Vital Records 1:399a, in Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records, AGLL Microfilm No.1316-56. Also "Letter from Irene Parker Warner to Pension Board, " 13 September 1839, Asahel Parker Revolutionary War Pension File, R7935.
2 Erie County Cemetery Census Before 1909. (n.p.: n. pub., n.d.), p. 88. Photocopy provided to the author by Arlene Symonds. Hereinafter cited as Cemetery Census 1909. A photo of the gravestone is also in possession of the author.
3 Hewson L. Peeke, A Standard History of Erie County. Ohio. Vol. II. (Chicago and New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1916), p. 946. Hereinafter cited as Peeke, Erie County. Vol. II
4 Cemetery Census 1909. p. 89.
5 "Affidavit of Asahel Parker," 17 September 1839, Asahel Parker Revolutionary War Pension File, R7935.
6 ibid.
7 Deed of Sale from Theodore Sedgwick to Asahel Parker, 25 April 1801 (recorded 10 October 1812), Ontario County, New York, Deeds 17:457-458. Photocopy in possession of the author.
8 Deed of Sale from Asahel Parker to William Maltby, 9 October 1812 (recorded 10 October 1812), Ontario County, New York, Deeds 17:458-459. Photocopy in possession of the author
9 W. W. Williams, History of the Fire Lands: Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio. (Cleveland, Ohio: Press of Leader Printing Company, 1879), p. 449. Photocopy supplied to the author by Arlene Symonds.
11 Dr. F.E. Weeks, Pioneer History of Clarksfield. (n.p.: n.pub.. 1908). p. 73. A photocopy, taken from a copy of this manuscript at the Wakeman Community Library, was supplied to the author by Ronald Scott Purvis, Falls Church, Virginia. Hereinafter cited as Weeks, Clarksfield.
12 Cemetery Census 1909, p. 88
13 “Marriage Record of Asahel Parker and Betsey Dunham,” 24 June 1850, Erie County, Ohio, MaRRIAGE Records 1:289 in Erie County, Ohio, Marriage Records 1838-1851, compiled by Martha Pitkin Chapter DAR and typed by WPA, AGLL Microfilm No. V21-0030.
He married first PHOEBE FINCH, daughter of Samuel and Anna Finch, probably about 1787 in what is now Saratoga County, New York. 3* Phoebe died between 1804 and 1810 in Ontario County, New York. Asahel married secondly JEMIMA [surname unknown] probably between the time of the 1810 and 1820 censuses. Jemima was born about 1770 and died 3 September 1823. She is also buried in the Bentley-Parker Cemetery. 4*
Asahel Parker, his father John, and brother Elisha, left Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1776 to join the British on Long Island. Both John and Elisha died while with the British, Elisha of small pox and John of an unknown cause. Asahel returned to Waterbury, a boy of 14 or 15, apparently disgusted with their treatment by the British, and joined the local militia. His pension records state that in October of 1778 he was drafted as a private from the militia of the Town of Waterbury. His company marched to New London, Connecticut, where they remained about 6-8 weeks until the River was frozen, and the company was discharged and returned home. He was drafted again in June of 1779 as a private, and went to Horseneck situated in the southwest part of the state of Connecticut in Long Island sound. Asahel was a member of some of the scouting parties, and had frequent skirmishes with the enemy scouts. At the expiration of three months, he returned to Waterbury. 5* From September of 1779 until the Army went into winter quarters, Asahel was employed as a teamster for the Army, hauling from Hartford, Connecticut, to Fishkill, New York. 6* Unfortunately, Asahel never received a pension for his service during the Revolution, not because of his one time support of the British, but because he served less than six months.
From 1780 until 1801, the exact residence of Asahel is uncertain. He apparently was living in Greenfield, New York, in 1788 when his eldest known child was born. There is also some indication the family lived a few years in Montgomery County, New York, before moving, by 1801, to Ontario County, New York.
On 25 April 1801, Asahel Parker, of Phelpstown in Ontario County, New York, bought for $637.50, 150 acres in Ontario County, New York, from Augustus Porter of Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, agent and attorney for Theodore Sedgwick of the County of Berkshire, Boston State. (This being the north 112 of Lot No. 4 in Township No.10 in the second range of townships.) 7* The same day his brother-in-law, William Finch, bought the south half of this lot.
The first time Asahel can be found in the census records is 1810 at Gorham, Ontario County, New York, apparently living on the 150 acres purchased in 1801. Asahel Parker of Gorham, Ontario County, New York, sold the 150 acres for $1000.00 on 9 October 1812 to William Maltby, also of Gorham. 8* Asahel next appears in Florence Township, Huron (now Erie) County, Ohio, about 1818. 9* According to his pension records, he lived in Florence, Milan, and Clarksfield before moving to Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio, about 1837/8. The only census in Ohio where Asahel can be found is the 1820, apparently he lived with his children for the other years.
No record has been found of him owning land in Ohio or any information if his occupation was anything other than a farmer.
Known issue of Asahel Parker and Phoebe Finch:
i. LYDIA PARKER, b. 28 Jun 1788 Greenfield, Albany (now Saratoga) County, New
York; d. 10 September 1861/2, prob. Wakeman Twp, Huron County, Ohio. Married
WILLIAM BENTLEY.
ii. SAMUEL PARKER, b. ca. 1790-1, prob. Greenfield, Albany (now Saratoga) County,
New York; d. after the 1850 census, supposedly in Wisconsin. Married first RUTH
ROOT and second ELIZABETH BARNUM.
iii. ANNA PARKER, b. ca. 26 September 1792, New York; d. 28 April 1862, Erie County,
Ohio. Married JOHN BENTLEY.
iv. MARY "POLLY" PARKER, b. 1795-1800; left father's household by 1820; m. first a
CRANDALL and 2nd, as his third wife, HENRY BATES.11* Henry B. Bates is buried in
the Bentley-Parker Cemetery, Florence Township, Erie County, Ohio; no dates
appear on his gravestone. 12* They lived at Camden Twp., Lorain County, Ohio.
iv. HERRICK PARKER, b. ca. 1800, New York; d. after 1850 census, perhaps Lorain
County, Ohio. Married Mary [--?--]
v. WILLIAM W. PARKER, b. 17 February 1802, Gorham, Ontario County, New York; d.
19 March 1880, Florence Twp., Erie County, Ohio. Married SARAH PARKER.
An Asahel Parker was married to Betsey Dunham on 24 June 1850 in Erie County, Ohio, by William W. Parker, J.P.13* Is this Asahel a son or grandson of the Revolutionary War veteran Asahel Parker?
------------------------------------------
Footnotes:
1 "Birth record of Asahel Parker," 1 April 1762, Waterbury, Connecticut, Vital Records 1:399a, in Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records, AGLL Microfilm No.1316-56. Also "Letter from Irene Parker Warner to Pension Board, " 13 September 1839, Asahel Parker Revolutionary War Pension File, R7935.
2 Erie County Cemetery Census Before 1909. (n.p.: n. pub., n.d.), p. 88. Photocopy provided to the author by Arlene Symonds. Hereinafter cited as Cemetery Census 1909. A photo of the gravestone is also in possession of the author.
3 Hewson L. Peeke, A Standard History of Erie County. Ohio. Vol. II. (Chicago and New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1916), p. 946. Hereinafter cited as Peeke, Erie County. Vol. II
4 Cemetery Census 1909. p. 89.
5 "Affidavit of Asahel Parker," 17 September 1839, Asahel Parker Revolutionary War Pension File, R7935.
6 ibid.
7 Deed of Sale from Theodore Sedgwick to Asahel Parker, 25 April 1801 (recorded 10 October 1812), Ontario County, New York, Deeds 17:457-458. Photocopy in possession of the author.
8 Deed of Sale from Asahel Parker to William Maltby, 9 October 1812 (recorded 10 October 1812), Ontario County, New York, Deeds 17:458-459. Photocopy in possession of the author
9 W. W. Williams, History of the Fire Lands: Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio. (Cleveland, Ohio: Press of Leader Printing Company, 1879), p. 449. Photocopy supplied to the author by Arlene Symonds.
11 Dr. F.E. Weeks, Pioneer History of Clarksfield. (n.p.: n.pub.. 1908). p. 73. A photocopy, taken from a copy of this manuscript at the Wakeman Community Library, was supplied to the author by Ronald Scott Purvis, Falls Church, Virginia. Hereinafter cited as Weeks, Clarksfield.
12 Cemetery Census 1909, p. 88
13 “Marriage Record of Asahel Parker and Betsey Dunham,” 24 June 1850, Erie County, Ohio, MaRRIAGE Records 1:289 in Erie County, Ohio, Marriage Records 1838-1851, compiled by Martha Pitkin Chapter DAR and typed by WPA, AGLL Microfilm No. V21-0030.
