Generation Two
The Children of Thomas Sr.
3. James2 Parsons, (Thomas1) born - -1728 in West
Virginia, Hardy County,2 died 13-preAPR-1813 in West Virginia, Hardy
County,3 James military service was allegedly in the Revolutionary War as a
Captain. His occupation was primarily as a farmer. He signed his will
25-JUL-1811 in West Virginia, Hardy County,4 and it entered probate
13.APR-1813 in West Virginia, Hardy County.4
CAPTAIN JAMES PARSONS
Captain James Parsons, son of Thomas Parsons, Sr., was
born in Virginia. It is speculation and not proven in the story that told
that James escaped from the Indians in Ohio in 1762 and passed through the
Holly Meadows area and told everyone how beautiful it was (VPM citation),
however, there are other stories in which it was his brother Thomas, and
another story that states it was Thomas's adopted son. James returned to the
Holly Meadows about 1769 with his brother Thomas, although they never lived
at Holly Meadows, they owned a lot of land there. He enlisted in the
Revolutionary war and arose to the rank of captain. He and his brother
Thomas Parsons allegedly were the first explorers of Randolph County, then
Virginia, however courthouse records indicate they were among the first. He
and his brother preempted the HorseShoe lands in 1769-1770, and after he
obtained his patents, he bought other tracts of land. During the time
Captain Parsons and his brother were locating and surveying their lands the
Indians were on the warpath. The Indians would kill every man they could for
a horse or a gun. The brothers were so well posted on Indian tricks they
were not led into the many decoys that the Indians would place in their way.
They made many trips from Hardy County over the Allegheny Mountains, while
they were exploring and surveying the lands. (VPM citation)
Court records of the 1770's indicate he was a blacksmith
by trade for a period in that he built military furnaces and repaired the
military arms. By the 1790's, he was serving as sheriff of Hampshire County.
In March 1774, Captain Parsons with his party made the
journey from his home in Hardy County, Virginia to the Horse Shoe lands
traveling over the mountain trail with packhorses. Arriving at their
destination, they camped in the woods until the fort was built of logs with
holes between that they might see the approach of the Indians and defend
themselves by shooting through these holes. The door was of heavy wood and
bars across the inside. The men cleared the land for cornfields, while the
women and children remained in the fort. When the alarm was given of
Indians, the men all ran to the fort and barred the door. During the night
one man stood guard while the inmates slept without fear. Wild geese, deer,
bear and other animals furnished meat. The men would hunt in pairs. The
fresh water streams furnished all kinds of fish. (VPM citation)
Early in the fall the Indians were growing so bold
that Captain Parsons and his party concluded to return to Hardy County. The
fort and all the improvements were then . . .
Read more in the Book. . .
