The James Parker Family

Theophilus L. Parker first married Roxy Ann Daughtry on March 8, 1847 in Houston County, Georgia. Roxy Ann was the daughter of Bryant and Nancy Neel Daughtry of Houston County. Before Theophilus’s death about 1851 in Pulaski County, Georgia, he and Roxy Ann had at least two children, both daughters: Sarah Clifford Parker and Nancy Jane Parker. After Theophilus's death, Roxy Ann married again to James Elbert Holley and they had a daughter, Georgia Elizabeth Holley who later married a nephew of Theophilus Parker, Benjamin Franklin Parker. Theophilus is believed to be buried in an unmarked grave at the Parker Family Cemetery.

Mary Jane Parker was the only known daughter of James Parker. She married Alford Lawson Hudson on April 30, 1837 in Houston County, Georgia. Alford was born ca. 1814 can died at about age 40 ca 1854. He is probably buried in an unmarked grave at the Parker Family Cemetery. After Alford’s death Jane Parker Hudson moved her family to Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, where she died at about the age of 83, ca 1897. The children of Alford and Mary Jane Parker Hudson were: James Hudson, William Hudson, Matthew Hudson, Hamilton Hudson, Mary Hudson, Weeks Hudson.

James Parker, Jr. was a farmer on land purchased with his brothers in Houston County which consisted of 580 acres at the current location of the intersection of Lake Joy Road and Langston Road between Perry and Warner Robins, Georgia. It is believed that he never married. He died ca 1862 and is buried in an unmarked grave in the Parker Family Cemetery.

William Parker married Rebecca Jane Peddy on August 27, 1857 in Houston County, Georgia and was a farmer on land purchased with his brothers. Rebecca Jane was born on June 16, 1837 and was the daughter of John Peddy. She was also the sister of William’s brother Arch's wife, Mary Ann. William died ca 1872 at about age 50 leaving Rebecca with five minor children: William A. Parker, Shaulten P. Parker, Mary Rebecca Jane Parker, Josephine Parker and Arasbus Parker. There was a sixth child, Eliza A. Parker, who was the first born; however there is no record of Eliza after 1870. William is buried at the Parker Family Cemetery in a grave marked by a stone honoring his service in the South’s struggle for independence. Rebecca died September 20, 1886; her grave at the same cemetery is unmarked.

Carey Weeks Parker (my ggg-grandfather) was born in North Carolina and married Nancy Elizabeth Ivey daughter of Myrick Ivey and his wife Lucinda. Weeks and Nancy were married on his birthday, December 22, 1846. They resided on a farm adjoining that of his brothers and had ten known children: Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Francis Marion, Lucinda Ann, Sarah Frances, Louis Hill, Laura Emma, Joseph Weeks, Sylvester V. and James Myrick. Weeks Parker was a Confederate veteran and his grave in the Parker Family Cemetery is marked with a military marker bearing the "Southern Cross of Honor". Nancy is also buried there and though her grave is marked the information on the poured stone is barely visible.

Archibald Andrew Parker the youngest of the sons of James Parker was also born in North Carolina. On June 8, 1851 he married Mary Ann Elizabeth Peddy, born October 30, 1830 and the daughter of John Peddy and his wife. Farming on land purchased with his brothers, Arch and Mary Ann made their home also along what was then known as Tharpe’s Mill Rd. but is today known as Lake Joy Rd. Arch died at age 41 on November 29, 1873 of pneumonia as reported in the Houston Home Journal and Mary Ann died only a month later, December 20, 1873 at age 43. Mary’s death came only 17 days after giving birth to the couple’s last child. Their deaths left the following orphaned children: James Madison, John Thomas, Walter T. Colquitt, Mary Emma, Charles Edwin, Archibald Parker, Jr. and Anna Elizabeth. Archibald Parker is buried in the Parker Family Cemetery with a marker honoring his Confederate service. Also buried there is Mary but her grave is not marked.

Three of James Parker’s sons joined an artillery battalion, the Southern Rights Battery, formed in Houston County in March of 1862, to defend against the Yankee aggressors. A history of the Southern Rights Battery also known as Havis’s Battery can be found elsewhere on this site. This history is dedicated to the Parker brothers, William, Arch and Weeks and also to Benjamin Franklin Parker, son of Weeks Parker, who at age 14 joined the Southern Rights Battery as a replacement for his father who had been discharged due to illness. Ben Parker was my gg-grandfather.

Additional information and a more detailed history of this family can be found in William A. Mills’ publication, The James Parker Family of Georgia, 1780-1930.

Dedication

These pages are dedicated to those who have spent countless hours researching the Parker lineage. It is the their efforts that have made this cyber history possible. In particular, thanks must be given to the late Dr. Wilmer Oscar Holloway of Tifton, Georgia who so graciously shared the information he gathered. Also, the Parker family owes much gratitude to William A. (Billy) Mills, our adopted cousin. Billy became interested in the history of the Parker family when he acquired land in Houston County, Georgia, which once belonged to the Parker brothers. This interest became a passion which culminated in a book about the history of the James Parker family authored by Mr. Mills.

It is hoped that Parkers everywhere will find this site informative and treasure the efforts of those who have made it all possible.

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