Isaac Parsons (Virginia politician)
Honorable Isaac Parsons | |
---|---|
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Hampshire County district | |
In office 1789–1796 | |
Preceded by | Samuel Dew Robert Parker |
Succeeded by | Fielding Calmes |
Personal details | |
Born | |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | Virginia militia Hampshire County militia |
Rank | Captain |
Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War |
Isaac Parsons (January 27, 1752 – August 25, 1796) was an American
Early life and family
Isaac Parsons was born on January 27, 1752, in Hampshire County, Virginia (now West Virginia).[1][2] Parsons was the third son of Thomas Parsons and his wife Parthenia Baldwin (also spelled Bayldwin) Parsons.[1][2] The Parsons family was a prominent family whose ancestors arrived to the Thirteen Colonies from England in 1635 and relocated to Hampshire County around 1740.[2][3] Parsons' father settled on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1725 prior to relocating to Hampshire County, Virginia.[2]
Landholdings
Following the death of his father Thomas Parsons between the date of his
By 1790, Parsons also owned the corner of Lot Number 1 within the town of Romney.[5] In 1795, Parsons acquired an additional 100 acres (40 ha; 0.16 sq mi) along the South Branch Potomac River.[6] Parsons' Lot 16 property along the South Branch Potomac River was later purchased by David Gibson in 1836, after which Gibson established his Sycamore Dale plantation there.[7]
Ferry service
Parsons petitioned the Virginia General Assembly to establish a public ferry across the South Branch Potomac River, thus connecting his property on both sides of the river.[8] In October 1786, the Virginia General Assembly passed an act establishing the public ferry at Parsons' property near the present site of the U.S. Route 50 bridge west of Romney.[8][9] The assembly's act set the ferry's toll at three pence and three farthings per man, and the same price per horse.[9] By 1790, Parsons was continuing the operation of the ferry, which had become known as "Parson's Ferry".[7][10][11] On December 26, 1792, the Virginia General Assembly passed an additional act for the settlement and regulation of public ferries.[12] The assembly's act mandated that Parsons' ferry be "constantly kept" at its location, and established its toll amounting to six cents per man, and six cents per horse.[12]
Political and military careers
During the American Revolutionary War, Parsons served as a captain in command of a company under the charge of Major Vincent Williams in the Virginia militia.[13] By December 11, 1788, Parsons was again serving as a captain in command of a company in the Hampshire County militia.[14]
Parsons served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing Hampshire County from 1789 until his death on August 25, 1796.[10][15] Parsons represented Hampshire County, which was a multi-member electoral district,[16] in the Virginia House of Delegates. During the October 19 – December 19, 1789, session, Parsons served alongside Elias Poston and Isaac Miller.[15][17] In the sessions between 1790 and 1793, Parsons served alongside Elias Poston.[15][18][19][20][21] Parsons served alongside Francis White during the 1794 session.[15][22] During the 1795 session, he again served alongside Elias Poston.[15][23] Parsons died on August 25, 1796, before the November 8 – December 27, 1796, session of the Virginia House of Delegates, where he was to have served alongside Alexander King.[24] Parsons' seat was filled by Fielding Calmes, who served out Parsons' term during this session.[10][15][24] During his final two sessions in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1794 and 1795, Parsons was a member of the Federalist Party.[16]
By February 14, 1788, Parsons had been appointed as an appraiser of property in Hampshire County by an act of the Virginia General Assembly.[25] On December 4, 1789, Parsons was again appointed by an act of the Virginia General Assembly to serve as a trustee of the town of Romney.[26][27][28][29] Parsons served as a trustee alongside Isaac Miller, Andrew Wodrow, Stephen Colvin, Jonathan Purcell, Nicholas Casey, William McGuire, Perez Drew and James Murphy.[26][28][29] Parsons and his fellow trustees were given authority by the Virginia General Assembly to settle disputes regarding the town's land lots and to "open and clear" the town's "streets and lanes" in accordance with the original survey and plan for Romney.[28][29] In 1790, Parsons was either elected or appointed as a justice for Hampshire County alongside Jonathan Purcell, James Martin, Cornelius Ferrel, Edward McCarty, Solomon Jones, and Elias Poston.[30] Parsons died on August 25, 1796; according to tradition, he died from drowning in the South Branch Potomac River.[1][10]
Personal life
Parsons was married on April 23, 1772, to Mary E. Ellender Gregg.[1][10] Mary E. Ellender Gregg was born on February 27, 1756.[1] Parsons and his wife had two sons: James Gregg Parsons (1773–1847), married to Mary Catherine Casey in 1795, and David Parsons (1775-1857), married to Catherine Miller.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h MacCabe 1913, p. 254.
- ^ a b c d e MacCabe 1913, p. 18.
- ^ a b Zimmerman 2012, p. 9.
- ^ a b Brannon 1976, p. 286.
- ^ a b Munske & Kerns 2004, p. 144.
- ^ Maxwell & Swisher 1897, p. 405.
- ^ a b Brannon 1976, p. 300.
- ^ a b Virginia House of Delegates 1828, p. 56
- ^ a b Hening 1823a, pp. 403–404.
- ^ a b c d e Munske & Kerns 2004, p. 45.
- ^ Maxwell & Swisher 1897, p. 280.
- ^ a b Shepherd & Hening 1835, pp. 152–153.
- ^ Johnston 1977, p. 119.
- ^ Horton 2009, pp. 25–26.
- ^ a b c d e f Munske & Kerns 2004, p. 46.
- ^ a b "Biographical Information: Isaac Parsons", The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776–2007, Department of Politics, University of Virginia; University of Virginia Center for Politics; University of Virginia Library, archived from the original on December 24, 2013, retrieved December 15, 2013
- ^ Virginia State Library 1917, p. 30
- ^ Virginia State Library 1917, pp. 32–33
- ^ Virginia State Library 1917, pp. 34–35
- ^ Virginia State Library 1917, p. 37
- ^ Virginia State Library 1917, p. 39
- ^ Virginia State Library 1917, p. 41
- ^ Virginia State Library 1917, pp. 43–44
- ^ a b Virginia State Library 1917, pp. 45–47
- ^ Horton 2009, pp. 7–8.
- ^ a b Lewis 1892, p. 44.
- ^ Lewis 1889, p. 487.
- ^ a b c Federal Writers' Project 1937, p. 58.
- ^ a b c Hening 1823b, p. 90.
- ^ Maxwell & Swisher 1897, p. 276.
Bibliography
- Brannon, Selden W., ed. (1976). Historic Hampshire: A Symposium of Hampshire County and Its People, Past and Present. OCLC 3121468.
- from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- Hening, William Waller (1823a). The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature in the Year 1619 : Published Pursuant to an Act of the General Assembly of Virginia, Passed on the Fifth Day of February One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eight, Volume 12. from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- Hening, William Waller (1823b). The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature in the Year 1619 : Published Pursuant to an Act of the General Assembly of Virginia, Passed on the Fifth Day of February One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eight, Volume 13. from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- Horton, Vicki Bidinger (2009). Hampshire County, Virginia (Now West Virginia): Minute Book Abstracts, 1788–1802, Volume 1. from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- Lewis, Virgil Anson (1889). History of West Virginia: In Two Parts. Philadelphia: Hubbard Brothers. OCLC 4270768.
- Johnston, Ross B. (1977). West Virginians in the American Revolution. from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- Lewis, Virgil Anson (1892). Southern Historical Magazine: Devoted to History, Genealogy, Biography, Archæology and Kindred Subjects, Volume 1. Charleston, West Virginia: Virgil Anson Lewis. from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- MacCabe, Virginia Parsons (1913). Parsons' Family History and Record. OCLC 8590919.
- OL 23304577M.
- Munske, Roberta R.; Kerns, Wilmer L., eds. (2004). Hampshire County, West Virginia, 1754–2004. OCLC 55983178.
- Shepherd, Samuel; Hening, William Waller (1835). Volume 1 of The Statutes at Large of Virginia: From October Session 1792, to December Session 1806 [i.e. 1807], Inclusive, in Three Volumes, (new Series,) Being a Continuation of Hening. from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- Virginia House of Delegates; Virginia General Assembly (1828). Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia; Begun and Holden in the City of Richmond, In the County of Henrico. Thomas W. White. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- Virginia State Library (1917). Report of the Virginia State Library, Volumes 13-15. Virginia State Library, Division of Purchase and Printing. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- Zimmerman, Courtney Fint; Aurora Research Associates, Hampshire County Landmarks Commission (August 24, 2012). National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Valley View (PDF). United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.