Hi, folks....here is a copy of a letter I've sent to Park Family members in KY....if any of you are in my line or allied families, please contact me. Or if you would like to exchange info or can help me with locating the burial place of Ebenezer Park (1747-1839) and Tabitha Mills (1752-1826), please let me hear from you too. November 1, 1999 Dear Park Family Member, My name is Doug Park and I currently live in Fayetteville, NC where I am assigned to Pope Air Force Base with my wife and 4 children. Although, I live in North Carolina, 7 generations of my Park Family have lived primarily in the Irvine, Richmond, and Wagersville areas of Kentucky beginning in 1796 when my 5th Great Grandparents, Ebenezer Park (1747-1839) and Tabitha Mills (1752-1826), came to Madison County on horseback with their 10 children from Salisbury, North Carolina (Rowan Co.). The purpose of this letter is to reach out and contact other Park family members in the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, like you, to exchange family history (genealogical info), particularly if our lineage makes us cousins. I am very interested in finding the graves of my Pioneer Grandparents, Ebenezer and Tabitha. Nell Park Gum in her 1929 book, "Park of Kentucky", writes that Ebenezer died on Drowning Creek in Madison County. Ebenezer's Grandson, George W. Park (1829-1919) (married to Patsy Collins) through his son, Eli Park (1787-1858) married to Winnaford Dillingham (1795-1854), reportedly kept a diary and recorded the exact date and time of Ebenezer's death in his bible. Below is my direct line, beginning with Dr. Roger Parke, my 8th Great Grandfather, who came to NJ from England in 1682. Roger's son, John Parke I and Sarah Smith, the grandparents to Ebenezer Park, migrated from NJ to Frederick Co., VA in 1735. Ebenezer arrived in Salisbury, NC from VA in 1771 and married Tabitha Mills there on Jan 6, 1772. I also am closely related to the Cobb and Durham Families of Kentucky on my father's maternal side, if any of you are part of or interested in these lines. My father, William Henry Park II of Bowie, MD, an Honorary Kentucky Colonel and a past President of the Kentucky Society of Washington, DC, was born in Richmond, KY. His sister, Martha Lamb, has lived most of her life in Danville, KY. I had the opportunity to perform some field research in Estill, Madison, Boyle, Lincoln and Clark Counties this past June with my father. During this time, we located and explored ancient cemeteries, where we found the graves of many of our Park and Cobb ancestors; historical landmarks; conducted interviews; and viewed land tracts and homesteads owned by the Park and Cobb families. The results of this work were compiled into a more than 50 page trip report entitled "Park and Cobb Family Summer Field Research and Expeditionary Project I (Over 90 hours and 1,700 miles of driving), Estill, Madison, Boyle, Lincoln and Clark Counties, 9-14 June 99". A copy of it can be found in the Estill County Library. My father and I are preparing to release Edition II, which contains updated and expanded information and will once again, provide a copy of this newest release to the Estill County Library. I am eager to receive and freely share information on our Park Family. My Direct Line: Dr. Roger Parke, Sr. (1654-1731) m. Anne Pattison (8th Great Grandparents) - NJ John Parke I. (1674-1757) m. Sarah Smith (1675-1759) (7th Great Grandparents) NJ/VA John Park II. (1707-1758) m. Mary Davis (1710-1771) (6th Great Grandparents)- VA Ebenezer Park (1747-1839) m. Tabitha Mills (1752-1826) (5th Great Grandparents)- VA/NC/KY John Park (1772-1828) m. Mary (Polly) Peeler ((1774- )(4th Great Grandfather)- NC/KY Jonah Park (1806-1884) m. Malinda Wagers (1810-1862) (3rdGreat Grandparents)- KY John McMonegal Park (1827-1901) m. Martha Cobb (1835-1911)(2nd Great grandparents) - KY William Henry Park I. (1860-1932) m. Eleanor Simpson (1865-1944) (Great Grandparents)- KY William Holton Park (1900-1980) m. Elveree Collins Durham (1911-1989) (Dolly) (Grandparents)-KY William Henry Park II. (1930- ) m. Frances Theresa Bell (1932- ) (Prioriello) (Father and Mother)- KY/MD **William Douglas Park (Myself) (1959- ) m. Pamela Rae Long (1959- ) (Myself and wife) MD/WV/NC Thank you for your attention. I really hope to hear from you! If you have any info regarding the burial place of my 5th Great Grandparents, or would like information regarding my line or our field research, please contact me at: Major Doug Park, USAF 7809 Expo St. Fayetteville, NC 28311 (910) 823-9157 (Home) (910) 394-7260 E-mail: [email protected] Or my father at: William H. Park 12312 Starlight La. Bowie, MD 20715 (301) 464-1608 E-mail: [email protected] Sincerely in the Spirit of Our Park Family, Doug Park Fayetteville, NC My Park and Cobb Family Home Page: http://home.att.net/~parkefamilyheritage/index.html