Nichole here are some notes I copied on John Parks found on rootsweb submision by Shirley Haskell < Iruby@hotmail.com > John Parks, our ancestor, the son of Thomas Parks, was born May 18, 1706 at Essex County, Virginia. He married Mary Sharp August 20, 1715 at King George County, Virginia. The daughter of Elisha Sharp and Margaret Proctor. In the diary of The Rev. Robert Rose he states: "John Parks came to Orange County in 1736 and he was a shoemaker. Parks had two sons, William and John Parks, Jr. and leased 100 acres of Parson Rose's land on Piney River in present Amherst County.---In the lease agreement, Parks was to pay Rose 436 pounds of tobacco annually, on December 26, either at Richmond or Warwick warehouses, and to plant a minimum of 100 apple trees with fence." John Parks was in Albemarle County, Virginia by 1749; he might have been there slightly before that date. From this date until the movement to North Caroline about 1767 he and other Parks had land in that section of the state that in 1761 became Amherst County. Another source of our information on John Parks family comes from the diary of E.M. Parks, which was sent to the Parks Society, stating: "This book was wet and damagaed spring 1853 when returning from Texas trying to swim on horseback one of bayou's in the north of Louisiana and also had myself and all my belongings wet and damaged. In this book he states who John married names their children and date of birth and what happened to them. Also stating that John's father was Thomas Parks. John and Mary Parks settled in Wilkes County, North Carolina and in 1778 John Parks helped to found the capital city of Wilkesboro in Wilkes County, North Carolina. There he made his will February 7, 1787. Mary had died in 1779. The will reads: I John Parks, Sr. of State of North Carolina, County of Wilkes being in perfect sences and memory calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing it is appointed for all men to die I make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following I leave my soul to almity God that give it to me hoping through the merits of my blessed saviour to inherit eternal life and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned and to all my worldly goods it hath pleased God to bless me with I bequeath in manner and form following. Item: my will and desire is that all my just debts be paid fully and satisfied. Item my will and desire is that my son John Parks be paid eight pounds Virginia money out of my estate for one hogshead of tobacco I borrowed of him. Item: I give unto my daughter Sary Sailes five shilling sterling for her full part of my estate. Item: I give unto my son Samuel Parks the land and plantation where I now live also my wagin for his full part of my estate to be delivered to them by my exercutors. Before the day of sale-of my estate. Item: my will and desire is that my son Samuel Parks should have the care and management of my daughter Milly Parks and her part of my estate. Item: my will and desire is that my negros be sold at the highest bidder amongst my children as it's my desire that they be kept among my children. Item: my will and desire is that all the rest of my estate be sold at Publick sail after my death and all the money arising from my hole estate be equally divided amoung the rest of my children and constitute and appoint my son Benjamin Parks, Will Carrel and Samuel Parks executors of this my last will and testament revolking and disannulling all other wills by me heretofore made allowing this to be my last will and testament. Witnesses: on 7 February 1787 William Carrell, George Parks, Benjamin Thruston My will and desire is that some of my estate should be sold to pay my dets before the division of my estate. (There was not much punctation and many mis-spelled words.) The original will is in the North Carolina Archives, cross reference to page 357, Will Bk 1: Wilkes County, North Carolina. (Will, Bk 1, pg 257: Wilkes Co., NC; pages from E.M. Parks diary; Land Records of Albemarle and Amherst County, Virginia and genealogy papers of Rose Parks, website of Bokay family.") Teresa Quist -----Original Message----- From: Nichole Davis <nichole@techdavis.com> To: PARKS-L@rootsweb.com <PARKS-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 8:57 AM Subject: [PARKS] John Parks Journal >Hi, I am researching the Parks line in Burke County. I found some >information on an ancestor of mine in the Burke County Heritage - NC >Book published in 1981. My ancestors are John Parks (1795 - 1865) and >Thomas Parks (1740 - 1819). In this book it states that John Parks >kept a journal which he bought in July of 1812 in Morganton, NC. He >wrote in the front cover - "John Parks his cyphering book Price 50." > >This book also notes that some research was done to find the journal >and it was found in the possession of a Hubert Parks, but that was done >back in 1981, so may or may not still be in his possession. I have not >gotten any farther than that. > >I am very interested in locating this journal and will welcome any >information from anyone researching the Parks line in Burke County, NC. > >Thank you! > Nichole > > >==== PARKS Mailing List ==== >Posting back to the list helps the whole group, not just one person. >If we work as a TEAM, we will succeed at as TEAM. > >