The family of Humphrey Parrish 1705 ish-1773

 Humphrey Parrish is likely the son of Humphrey Parrish 1680-1743, although some family historians seem to think the two are uncle and nephew.  I'm still showing Humphrey and Mary as his parents on my tree, until proven otherwise.  His wife is still unproven to my satisfaction, although there are countless trees showing her as Mary Morton Hamilton.  I don't know where the "Morton" would have come from, and I'm not sure she was a Hamilton.  His will does refer to his wife as Mary, so I'm at least somewhat comfortable with that as a first name.  (Yes, she could be from a second marriage, but there's no indication that's so.  It's just a reason to keep our antennae alert when working with this family.)

Humphrey and Mary seem to have had at least seven children.  The first was David, born about 1725 and died in Goochland County after 1779.  His wife's first name may be Juda, but this does not seem to be the David Parrish who married Judith Holland and died in Granville, North Carolina.  David's children are Martha, Betty, David, Sabra, Susanna, Claiborn, Booker, Sally, Judy, and Ann.  (Note: Some of these, especially Claiborn, are just as likely to belong to David Parrish of North Carolina.)

Humphrey was born about 1730 and died in 1823.  He married Elizabeth Layne or Lane, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Harris Lane.  They are said to have had 10 children, but I could locate names for just four-Constance, Sarah, Humphrey, and Mary.  I believe it was a later Humphrey who married Mary Ann Rain, perhaps the child Humphrey mention above.   

Ursula was born in 1732 and died in 1801, although I have not determined her location at the time of her death.  She married William Rutherford, whose parents are still unknown.  Their children are Susannah, Julius, Ursula, Benjamin, David, Joseph, Randolph, John, Thomas, Absalom, and John.  

Joel was born in 1737 and died in 1816 in Louisa County, Virginia.  He married Elizabeth Hill, but I am not at all sure who her parents are.  Joel's marriage is listed as having occurred in Goochland County, but the Elizabeth Hill references I am finding are from Massachusetts (James and Esther Turner Hill.)  I would like to get this figured out, for reasons I will mention in my next paragraph. Joel and Elizabeth's children are Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Nansie, Joel, Samuel, and Parks.  

Moses was born "about" 1737, possibly 1739 or 40, and married Mary Hill.  I have often wondered whether Elizabeth and Mary are related, which seems at least possible, and that enhances my interest in determining the parents of each of these women.  He died after September 30, 1832, probably in Goochland County.  His children are Nicholas, William, Tabath (Tabitha), Matthew, Frankie, Francis (it's possible these are one and the same but it appears one is male and one is female), and Sukey.  I will follow this family in my next blog post, but want to mention here that Moses served at least a three year term of enlistment in the Revolutionary War, and may be the Moses Parrish who served in the French and Indian war earlier, receiving 50 acres of land on Fincastle County (Kentucky) for that service.

Aaron was born about 1742.  I've found conflicting dates for his death-before Jan 10 1785 and after 1820.  He married Sarah Barnes, whose parentage is still uncertain.  Their children are Mary, Sarah known as Sally, Charity, Elizabeth, Martha, Carter, Turner, Nancy, Lucky, Jacky, and Robert.   He is listed as a patriot in the Revolutionary War.

Bookere was born in 1745 and died in 1822.  He married Constance Massie, the daughter of David and Ann Holland Massie.  Their children are Anne, David, Booker, Margaret, Susanna, Constance, George, Mary, and Catherine.

Humphrey is a slave holder, passing "ownership" to several children in his will.  That indicates that he was not dirt poor, so it's hard to accept that there seems to be so little verifiable information about his family.  More research needs to be done, but we can see enough to know that his family helped America achieve freedom, and for that, we are grateful.