Parker Adkins

Parker Adkins

• Birth: about 1720 in Machumps Creek, Henrico County, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America
• Death: after 19 Jun 1795 in Montgomery, Virginia, United States
• Burial Details: Unknown, Specifically: Burial Lost to History. His name appears on the Monument to Revolutionary War soldiers of Giles County, along with his son Hezekiah and Millington.

Biography

Extracted from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Adkins-431 on 9 August 2021

William Atkinson (Adkins) and Elizabeth Parker were married on January 17, 1716 at St. Johns Church in Richmond, Virginia.

Their son Parker Adkins was born in Virginia about 1723/4 to William Adkins and Elizabeth Parker.[1] His birth year is estimated based on him attaining at least the age of majority by the time he first appears in court records.

He is seen with a middle name of Vincent, which seems a misreading of “V” with a “W” seen in documents.

Parker married Mary "Polly". Based on her estimated marriage to Parker, Mary was likely born about 1730. She died about 1777.[citation needed]

Children:

1. Keziah Adkins (Born about 1753 in Giles, Virginia Colony). Married George Peter Fry II.
2. Millington Adkins (Born 20 Sep 1755). Married Mary Fry.
3. Isom Adkins (Born 1757 / 1763). No marriage seen.
4. Hezekiah Adkins (Born 20 Sep 1759 in Halifax, Virginia). Revolutionary war veteran. Married Mary Polly Levon.
5. Susanna Adkins (Born about 1760 in Halifax, Virginia). Married Thomas McGriff.
6. Littleberry Adkins (Born 10 May 1762 in Pittsylvania County, Colony of Virginia). Married Nancy Ann Adkins.
7. Champ Adkins (Born 1763 in Halifax, Halifax, Virginia). No marriage seen.
8. Sherrod B Adkins (Born about 1766 in Fincastle, Botetourt, Virginia). No marriage seen
9. Elijah Adkins (Born about 1768 in Montgomery, Virginia). Married Nancy Hunter.
10. Charity Adkins Adkins (Born about 1768 in Fincastle County, Virginiamap [uncertain]). Married Randolph Adkins.

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Disputed wife / wives

Author Ronnie Adkins states that "Parker m [married] Mary (Polly) ca 1754 Halifax Co. Va. There are no records of Mary and her first name is known only from death records of some of her children in Wayne Co. W.Va. and from a 1773 Pittsylvania deed. Several family researchers are carrying her as a Fry and daughter of George Fry Sr. Mary the d/o George Sr. married Parker's oldest son Parker Millington; this may have been the cause of some researchers making this mistake. If, indeed Mary was a Fry and there is no evidence of this, she would have been a sister to George and not his daughter."[1] [Emphasis added]

This claim is seen:

Parker Adkins also married/partnered with Bluesky Cornstalk, producing at least three children, Littleberry Adkins, Charity Adkins and Elijah Adkins (see entry for April 4, 2021 below).. See attached discussions.

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A sole entry in Deed Book 3, page 469 provides the only actual documentation of a name for a wife of Parker Adkins when it mentions "Parker Atkinson and Mary his wife of County of Fincastle..." [emphasis added] This deed was dated September 11th, 1773 and recorded on March 24th, 1774. Parker signed the document as "PA". Other than the oral family history of children with Bluesky, no other wife has been suggested for Parker.

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Extracted from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Adkins-431 on 9 August 2021

In Shawnee Heritage, Volume 5 link it mentions that Parker had four wives. They are listed as:

• Mary Polly Fry, married in 1739, daughter of John Peter Fry and Catherine French. (See paragraph above. While author Ronnie Adkins states that a Mary Fry would have to be George's sister, he does state that there is no evidence of this).
• Mary-Polly Littleberry Jones, married in 1754, parents unknown. The book claims she was of the Hopia tribe and taken in by Parker's family when she was ill and married Parker when she recovered. There is no oral family history on this story. It is unclear where it originated.
• Mary Blue Sky Cornstalk, married in 1766, daughter of Strongman Cornstalk, another name for Chief Cornstalk, while still married to his second wife. In 1769 he resumed his marriage with his second wife. Note: While the oral family history includes Bluesky, it does not give her the name of Mary. The facts contained in the book are not accurate to the oral tradition.
• Mary Alexander, married 1777, parents unknown. For this one the book mentions at the age of 20 she was a spinster and unlikely to find a younger husband and "therefore fair game to the much older thrice widowed Parker Adkins."

The sources in the back of the "Shawnee Heritage" series contains short abbreviations that are known only to the author. In the introduction of Volume V, Don Greene states "The sources are still in my stubborn way of only listing the names but not going with any detailed bibliography." By the time Volume XIV of the "Shawnee Heritage" series came out in 2018 only two wives are shown as a parent with Parker Adkins and they are Mary Blue Sky Cornstalk and Mary Polly Jones.

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References

• Adkins, Ronnie. The Adkins Family of Wayne County, West Virginia: Also Cabell, Lincoln, and Boone : a Genealogical History : the Descendants of William and Elizabeth (parker) Adkins of Henrico County, Virginia, from 1690 to 1990. Montgomery, Ala. (3540 S. Georgetown Drive, Montgomery, 36109-2232: R. Adkins, 1990. Internet resource. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/608645507 see attached document
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196703414/parker-vincent-adkins shows Children: Millington Adkins 1755 – unknown Photo Adkins 1759–1842 Susanna Adkins McGriff 1760–1831 Photo Littleberry "Berry" Adkins 1762–1849 Charity Adkins Harless Adkins 1768–1820
• https://parkeradkins.wordpress.com/
• https://www.indianreservations.net/2019/07/parker-adkins-and-mary-b...
• https://thecaseforblueskyandparkeradkins.com/the-proof/ last updated July 10, 2021