Anson County NcArchives Biographies.....Parsons, Vincent ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ruth E. Dunlop darrelldunlop@attbi.com September 6, 2009, 8:00 pm Source: Personal research Author: Ruth E. Parsons Dunlop Vincent Parsons of Anson County, NC By Ruth E. Parsons Dunlop Before discussing the currently known details about Vincent Parsons and his descendants, I must say that there were other Parsons' families in early Anson County. Whether they are related has yet to be discovered. One interesting connection is Berta Parsons Moss, (a descendent of the Rev. James Parsons) who married a grandson of my Vincent Parsons. There will be more information about Berta later. Another connection is the Parsons' Drug Store on the square in Wadesboro. Descendants of both James Parsons and Vincent Parsons were owners and operators of the Drug Store. Now, here is what I know about my Vincent Parsons. (I say "my" Vincent Parsons because there were other Vincent Parsons' in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Tennessee.) Born in Maryland, circa 1783, Vincent (Sr.) came to Anson County, North Carolina, about 1804. Someone has suggested that he ran away from his home in Maryland. This may or may not be true; we do not know. If he did run away to North Carolina, we can't help but wonder why. Was he running away from a tyrannical father? Was he in trouble with the law? Was he a high-spirited young man seeking adventure and fortune? It has been reported that Vincent came to the old Morven area of Anson County with "old Mr. Thomas of Cheraw" (SC). For a while, Vincent was the manager of Mr. Thomas' river plantations. We believe this was near the Pee Dee River. Reportedly, Vincent saved his money and purchased land near old Morven. It has also been reported that years later, he had to sell everything to satisfy a security debt, possibly for a Ben Pearson. According to land transaction records that I have found, Vincent purchased land in Anson County in 1818, 1819, 1822, 1824, 1828, and 1829. These lands were located near Mill Creek and Jones Creek. A 1937 map of the county shows the site of Parsons' Mill about 2 miles from Morven on Mill Creek. I do not know if Vincent Parsons or his descendants had anything to do with this mill. A listing of lands for sale in Anson County for arrearages of taxes in 1823 shows 640 acres belonging to Vincent Parsons. Records show that Vincent and second wife Charlotte sold land in 1842. There are probably many more land records that I have not found. On the 1810 census, Vincent was married and had one female child under ten years of age. (This was Elizabeth Ann, born in 1809.) There is some conflicting information regarding the name of Vincent's first wife. Although all agree that she was a daughter of William and Mary Covington, tavern operators at old Morven, some list her name as Mary Burton Covington and some show Nancy Burton Covington. William Covington and his wife seem to have been in old Morven prior to 1800. There they operated a tavern and stage stop described as being 2 ½ half stories high with 16 rooms. Mrs. Covington's name is reported as Mary Hicks; possibly she was related to Robert, William, and George Hicks from the Pee Dee area. The 1840 census indicates that Vincent had 46 slaves. Children of Vincent, Sr. and his first wife are: 1) Elizabeth Ann "Eliza" Parsons, born 6 October 1809, at Morven. Elizabeth married Robert Thomas Scott at Sneedsboro in 1826. Robert Scott, son of a Scottish immigrant, was a planter, tavern operator, newspaper editor, Alabama legislator, and land developer. He founded the town of Scottsboro, Alabama. Elizabeth and Robert Scott had at least five children (Mary Jane, Charlotte, Lucy, Robert, Jr. and Walter). 2) Mary Jane Parsons, born circa 1816, reported as second daughter in a newspaper article. Mary married Dr. William L. Terry in 1834. They lived in Wadesboro and had 6 children (Sarah, Ellen, William L., Annie Rose, Walter, and Virginia). 3) Ellen H. Parsons, born 4 November 1818, at Morven. Ellen married Dr. William Henry Glass in 1839. No children shown on 1850 census. 4) Sarah J. Parsons, in June 1842 married Joseph Presley Nelms, son of Presley Nelms, Jr. and Anne Montgomery Ingram, Anson Co. The notes of Berta Parsons Moss, who married Frederick C. Parsons (grandson of Vincent, Sr.), say that Sarah married and moved to Mississippi. 5) Robert H. Parsons, born between 1810-1820; died between August 1844 and April 1845. His will names sister Sarah Nelms and brother Vincent Parsons. 6) Vincent Parsons, Jr., born 12 November 1822, married on 15 December 1842 to Sarah A. Buchanan (daughter of May Buchanan and his second wife Mary Eliza Atkinson, from Cheraw). Vincent Jr. died 6 December 1888, in Anson County. He and Sarah are buried at Shiloh Methodist Cemetery, near Morven. Vincent, Sr. probably had other children. The 1820 census shows 2 male children. Both the 1830 and 1840 censuses show 5 male children. Some old handwritten notes in the Wadesboro library say, that while they lived near the Pee Dee River, several children died of fever. In 1841 Vincent, Sr. married Charlotte DeBerry Kirby, widow of James Hough Martin. Born in Anson County in 1795, Charlotte was the daughter of William Kirby, Jr. and Temperance DeBerry Drake. The 1850 census shows: 1) Vincent, Sr. living with his son, Vincent, Jr., his wife Sarah and their youngest child, Frederick; 2) Charlotte living with her daughter, Melvina Martin. Charlotte's will was signed 13 Mar 1858. One source says she is buried near Newport, TN. I know almost nothing of Vincent, Sr.'s ancestors. My only source of information is the handwritten notes of Berta Parsons Moss. Her notes say, "Vincent Parsons came from Wales to Maryland. Said to have been rector of Episcopal Church. Married Miss Wright. Her father, Edward Wright, was quartermaster in army during Civil War (not possible, perhaps she meant revolutionary war). Vincent, his son, married Mary Covington, Richmond Co., NC. His heirs are Sarah, Eliza, Ellen, Mary, Vincent." If Berta's notes are correct, there were at least three Vincents in a row. We now know that there were quite a few more Vincents to follow. Unfortunately, there are other of Berta's notes that seem to intermingle Vincent Parsons (her husband's ancestor) with Joseph Samuel Parsons, Jackson Parsons, and Col. Joseph Parsons, some of which are names found in her ancestry. Possibly, they are all related. Vincent Parsons, Jr. was my great-grandfather. Anson County land transaction records show he purchased land in 1845 on or near Brown Creek, in 1850 on or near Dead Fall Creek and in 1850 "adjacent to Gracy". Reportedly, he sold all in 1856 and moved. In 1860 Vincent, Jr. and family were living in Sumter District, SC; he is shown as a merchant. In 1870, they were back in Anson Co., NC. Vincent Jr. served as a private with Company E, Palmetto Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery in the Confederate Army. The children of Vincent, Jr. and Sarah were: 1) Mary Eliza "Molly" Parsons, born 9 Oct 1843, died 18 Nov 1930. She married William Andrew Pratt on 29 January 1868, and they had Sarah Evelyn Pratt (married Elisha Edward Pipkin), John Vincent Pratt, William Edward Pratt (married Marion Robeson), Fred Parsons Pratt (married Jonnie Eaves and Lelia Pipkin) and Mary Eliza Pratt (married Preston Elijah Ratliff). Molly & Wm. A. are buried in Morven Cemetery, Anson Co., NC. 2) Edward Augustus Parsons, born 15 May 1845 and died 11 Sept 1906. He married Eliza Jane Pratt on 12 Mar 1882. He purchased land in Anson County as late as February 1904. Edward & Eliza are buried in Shiloh Methodist Cemetery, Morven, NC. 3) May (or Mary) Buchanan Parsons, died in infancy. 4) William Covington Parsons, born 9 June 1849. He was my grandfather and more information about him is below. Also, see attached. 5) Frederick Buchanan Parsons, born 23 Apr 1853. He married Estelle Smith (daughter of Dr. John Calvin Smith and Flora A. Barrentine). Buried at Shiloh Methodist Cemetery, Morven, NC, Frederick died on 27 June 1883, shortly after the birth of son Frederick Calvin Parsons. Frederick Calvin married Berta Parsons Moss. She was the daughter of Cornelia Alberta "Berta" Parsons and William Thomas Moss and granddaughter of Hilliard Crawford Parsons, former pastor of First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro. William Covington Parsons moved from North Carolina to Williamson County, Texas. There he met and married his first wife, Tabitha Jane Juvinall. They had eight children and listed their commonly called names in a rhyme: "Annie, Corinna, Vince, and Ed; Lottie, Olin, Charlie, and Fred." Tabitha died in 1887. In 1889 William married his first cousin Leila G. Buchanan (daughter of Henry Buchanan and Ella Boggan). They had 2 children: Manton and Ellen. After Leila died William married Ida Alberta Davis, a widow (of J. M. Stokes) with 5 children. William and Ida had Harlan, Rubye, Leslie, Floyd and twins which died at birth. I have more information on descendants and will be happy to share with anyone who is interested. This information was compiled from many sources. Additions and corrections are most welcome. Ruth E. Dunlop, 207 Oak Forest Trail, Euless, TX 76039 e-mail: darrelldunlop@attbi.com April 13, 2001; Updated June 1, 2002 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/anson/bios/parsons49bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ncfiles/ File size: 9.7 Kb