SC Rev. Service (Qv 1830 Census, Liberty Co)
Grant 810A Colleton Co, South Carolina, USA nr Michael Hiers/Godfrey Hiers
To Liberty Co, Georgia, USA (Marker)
War of 1812: Private Capt Winn's Co, 2nd Reg, Georgia, USA Militia (At Ft Telfair)
Planter
Source: A History of Jones Creek Baptist Church, Long County, 1810-2000, by Elmer Oris Parker
William Hall Parker, the earliest known member of this family, is thought to have been born in eastern North Carolina, and during the American Revolution served in that state's militia. He moved in 1791 to South Carolina and settled first in Winton (now Barnwell) County. Three years later he was granted 810 acres in Colleton District on the Orangeburg line, between lands of Littleberry Walker and the Hiers family.
He appears to have been married three times - the first wife has not been identified [note: Recent data shows that her maiden name was Ferguson] ; the second, a daughter of Littleberry Walker; and the last, Anna Susannah, a daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Howard) Hiers. In 1811 he and Anna moved from their home in the forks of the Saltcatchers to the Jones Creek community of Liberty County, Georgia. During the second war with Great Britain he was enrolled but saw no active service beyond guarding the frontier from hostile Indian attacks. William, his wife, Anna, and his son, John, joined the young Jones Creek Church. He became a planter, owned three slaves, and a herd of 150 cattle that grazed the Altamaha range. For ten years he retained ownership of his 960 acres in South Carolina.
For some indiscreet remark about a fellow church member he was expelled, but later repented his act, was forgiven and restored to full fellowship. All of his children, by his last marriage, were members of Jones Creek.
Son Richard Hall Parker, though not a member, did support the church and his wife, a daughter of its first deacon, was a member until they moved to Alachua County, Florida.
Son William Hall Parker, was for fifty years a Baptist minister, and during the Confederate War was postmaster at Johnston Station.
Son Hampton Cling Parker was a member for fifty-three years and a deacon for over forty-eight.
Son George Washington Parker, eschewed politics, holding no office other than constable of Liberty County - but was a delegate to the preliminary convention that led to the organization of the New Sunbury Association.
The following from "A Book of Remembrance" by O. E. Parker
WILLIAM HALL Parker, according to one of his sons, was born in North Carolina, and it is believed that it probably was in Onslow County, about 1765. As an old man he stated that he was a veteran of the American Revolution. It appears that he served in the Wilmington District brigade of militia*.
After the war he moved to Winton (now Allendale) county, South Carolina, and on September 2/3, 1791, purchased by means of a lease and release 200 acres on the waters of the Coosawhatchie River then in Lincoln (now Hampton) County from Charles Ferguson and his wife Milly. This original lease is the oldest family document to have been passed from him to his descendants. It was made out first to Levi Long of Winton County, but his name was struck out and that of William Parker inserted in its place. When Levi's father Thomas Long of Orangeburgh District made his will in 1796, he bequeathed a child's part to his wife Margaret, another to "Thomas Long Parker," and others to Sons Jacob and Levi, and to daughters Katy, Vicy, and Creecy. This document suggests a family tie existed between Long and Parker. The Long family maintains that it migrated to South Carolina from North Carolina. Thomas Long of Perquimans County, N. C, in 1754 willed to his son Thomas a place commonly known as "Daniel Hall's plantation," and named as an executor Joseph Creecy. Could this have been the source of William Hall Parker's middle name, and the name of Thomas Long, Jr's daughter, "Creecy"? It should be noted that William H, Parker named sons Thomas and Jacob, the latter for his wife Ann S. Hiers' father. But, could Thomas Long Parker and Levi Long have been his half-brothers? Anna S. Parker's uncle, George Howard, bought in Charleston in 1805 a negro slave Mary from Levi Long's son-in-law Marks Lazarus.
Parker moved to the forks of the Saltcatchers, Colleton District, and in 1794 was granted 810 acres that adjoined lands of Godfrey and Michael Hiers, and Littleberry Walker, whose daughter he had married. After this wife died and he married Jacob Hiers' daughter Anna and moved in 1811 to Liberty County, Georgia, he continued to pay taxes on this land as late as 1825 his return was made for him by his wife's step-father, Duncan Stewart.
In January 1815 he enrolled in Capt. John Winn's Company of Cal, John Pray's 2nd Regiment Georgia Militia, Gen, John Floyd's Brigade, Gen. John Mcintosh's Division, and was stationed for a month at Beard's Bluff on the Altamaha River to guard the frontier from hostile Indian attack, During the Nullification crisis he sided with the followers of John C. Calhoun and declared he would fight for states' rights in the event of war.
In 1817 he was granted 500 acres near Jones Creek Baptist Church, of which he became a member. He was a planter, owned three slaves, and 150 head of cattle that grazed the range of Altamaha swamp. In his old age he was crippled from rheumatism and because of his affliction some objected to his exercise of the right of suffrage. Those on the opposite side took up the dispute and the two factions nearly had a dogfight. In those days tempers would flare and passions rise against anyone whose thoughts and actions were contrary to the popular belief of the majority.
He died about July 1838 and was buried on his plantation, later owned by his grandson Senator Joseph H, Parker of Long County. His widow, being much younger and in better health, survived him many years, dying on January 28, 1857.
*Wilmington District then embraced the present counties of Onslow, Duplin, Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Pladen, Sampson, Harnett, Lee, Moore, Cumberland, and Robeson.
