Category Archives: Parr of VA

Parr of VA, Savage

Who Is John Savage & How Is He Related to the Parr Family of Essex County, VA, 1600s?

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There is one more loose end in the Parr family that needs to be closed.

John Savage of Essex County wrote his will on 18 February 1697; it was proved 11 August 1701:

IN THE NAME OF GOD Amen. I John Savage of the Parish of South Farnham & County of Essex being sick & weake of body but of perfect mind and disposeing memory thanks be to Almighty God & calling to remembrance the uncertaine Estate of this Transitory Life and that all flesh unto Death when it shall please God to call, doe make & declare this my last Will & Testament in manner and forme following, Revokeing and annulling by these pr:sents all & every Will & Wills heretofore by me maids and declared either by word or writeing; And this is to be taken only for my last Will & Testament & none other; And first being penitent for my Sins past from the bottom of my heart most humbley desireing forgiveness for the same I give and comitt my Soul unto Almighty God my Creator & Redeemer in whome and by the merritts of Jesus Christ I trust & believe to be saved and to have full remission and forgiveness of all my sins and that my soul with body on the General! Day of the Resurrection shall rise againe with Joy and through the merrits of Christs death and passion possess and inherits the Kingdome of Heaven prepared for his Elect, & my body to the ground to be buryed in such decent manor as shall seame good & att the discresion of my deare & loveing Wife, And now for the settling of my Temporal Estate that it bath pleased Almighty God farr above my deserts to bestowe upon me I doe order give and dispose of the same in manner and forme following, that is to say

First, I will that all those debts justly oweing in right & conscience to me any manner of person Or persons and funeral charges shall be well & justly entitled & satisfied & paid within convenient time after my decease and likewise I doe institute & make my deare & loveing Wife, Mary Savage, full whole & sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament and all my lands goods & chattel’s dureing her natural life & after her decease I doe give and dispose of the said lands in manner and forme following, that is to say

I first I give and beque. to Judeth Parr, the Daughter of Phill: Parr and Judeth his Wife, my house & plantation and part of my lands lying & being as followeth; first beginning at a marked white Oak that stands neare to the corner tree of Brookes land next to Brownes Swamp, from thence to strike right across to the head of a branch that runs up just beyond my Spring Branch soe downe the said branch to the maine Swamp of Kilmans Bever Dame soe downe the said draines to the land of Thomas Greene & soe to the line of the said Brookes that devides his land & mine to the place first mentioned

Item I give to Elizabeth Roberts, the Daughter of Edmund Roberts and Constant his Wife, the other part of land lying Lords. Dicke Brridge & Brownes Swamp on the land that was John Websters but in case of her death without issue my will is that Ann Roberts, Daughter of the said Roberts and his Wife, should have itt and enjoy the said Elizabeth Roberts part

Item I give to my God Daughter, Ann Straton, one Cove and Calfe to them and their heires.

This is my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and fixed my seale the eighteene day of Febry: One thousand six hundred Ninety & seaven

John Savage

Sealed and signed in the prsens of us
John Stephens
Constant Roberts
Margeret Raley
Edmund Roberts
Phill: Parr

Proved by the oaths of Edmund Roberts & John Stephens in Essex County Court ye 11th day of August 1701 and truely recorded

The big question here is who is John Savage? He was obviously married, as wife Mary was named executrix, but they had no children of their own in 1697. Were they newlyweds? Or were they an older couple who had no surviving children? John may have been older, as Mary was to inherit everything with no mention of what was to happen to the estate if she married again.

Ann Stratton is the third mentioned legatee and is clearly named as a godchild of John Savage.

There is no stated relationship, though, between Judith Parr or Elizabeth and Ann Roberts and Mr. Savage. They were still legally infants, but became heiresses. Judith was to inherit the entire house and plantation where the Savages lived. There must be some close family connection, but what is it???? Was Mary Savage related to the Parr family? Where does the Roberts family fit in this picture?

John Savage’s will raises many more questions than it answers, but he was clearly part of the extended Perkins FAN club.

There is an interesting THEORY posited by an S.W. Edmondson on the old Genealogy forum. He asks if Phillip Parr of Lancaster County might be the father of Robert Parr and Mary (MNU), who he believes to be the father of “our” Phillip Parr. Further, he wonders if Mary Parr, widow of Robert Parr, later married this John Savage.

Mary would then be the grandmother of Judith Parr, who inherited the plantation when Mary died. He further questions whether Constant, wife of Edmund Roberts, might be the sister of Phillip Parr who married Judith and a half sister to Mary (MNU) Carter, as William Young married a widow Parr.

That would certainly put together a lot of the pieces in this extended family puzzle and addresses the thoughts of researchers who place Mary (MNU) Colclough Carter Smith as a Young by birth.

Given that this is not my husband’s direct line, I will leave the Parr puzzle to others to solve!

 

Allaman, Parr of VA

Phillip Parr & Judith Allaman, Virginia, 1600s

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Phillip Parr is not a direct line ancestor in my husband’s Perkins family. However, the early Perkins family in Old Rappahannock County and, later, Essex County, Virginia formed a tightly knit FAN club in South Farnham Parish, so it is important to expand the research view a bit to cover the Parr family – particularly as Phillip Parr also left a will.


Source: Library of Congress

Not a lot is known about the Parr family, so minus Phillip’s will, we would know a lot less.

There is no record of the birth of Phillip Parr, but unless he was the son of an earlier Phillip Parr, the first mention of his name is in a Lancaster County court record from 18 December 1656:

Whereas it appeares to this Court that Mr. Williamson deceased haveing a Note in his hand for 11 lbs. 8s. 8d due to Edward King from Philip Parr. . .

If this is our Phillip, then we can assume he was at least 21 years old and thus born no later than 1635. If the man mentioned in Lancaster County records is the same man who died in 1701, then his relationship with Mary Carter is a bit more complicated.

First, let’s look at Phillip Parr’s will, which was written on 13 December 1699 and proved on 10 June 1701. Interestingly, it was first recorded in Gloucester County because the Essex County Court noted that witnesses James and Judith Edmundson lived there. The will was proved and then returned to Essex County and recorded in its own books.

In the Name of God Amen. I Philip Parr of South Farnham in the County of Essex being sick and weake of body but in perfect sence and memory praised be to Almighty God and knowing the uncertainety of Mans life I doe therefore revoke & disannull all former Wills and bequests by me made and do acknowledge & owne to be this my last Will and Testament.

Imprimis I comend my soule into the hands of Almighty God my heavenly Father trusting through the merritts of my blessed Lord and Savior at the General Resurrection to receive a full pardon & remission of all my sins and I desire to have a decent and Christian buryall and as for what worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath it in maner and forme following.

Item I give and bequeath unto my loveing Kinsman, Richard Carter, one hundred and fifty acres of land lying upon the Gleeb Swamp and to him and his heires forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter, Judith Parr, all my land in Middlesex forever formerly given to her by her grandfather, Mr. Thomas Allaman.

Item I give and bequeath unto my loveing daughter, Mary Parr, my maner plantacon one hundred and fifty acres of land belonging to itt and to her heires forever.

Item I give and bequeath to my child my loveing wife, Judith Parr, goes with all the rest of my lands to his or her heires forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my loveing daughter, Constan [Constance] Parr, one plantacon knowne by the name of Toby Leveritts one hundred and fifty acres of land to her and her heires for ever.

Item I give and bequeath to my child my loveing wife, Judith Parr, now goes with the rest of my lands and to his or her heires forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my aforesd. daughters, Mary and Constan Parr, the sume of twenty five pounds sterling to each of them and their heires to be paid to them at the age of twenty one yeares or day of marriage which shall first happen and to my aforesaid daughter, Judith and the child my wife now goes with I doe ordaine each of them one gold ring about twenty shillings price.

Item I give and bequeath unto my loveing wife Judith Parr, all my estate saveing what is already disposed of.

Lastly, I doe ordain constitute and appoint my father inlaw, Mr. Thomas Allaman, and my Brother inlaw, Richard Covington, Exers. of this my last Will and Testament. In testimony to what is already expressed I have hereunto sett my hand and fixed my seale this thirtieth day of December 1699.

Phil Parr

Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us
John Smith
Charles Jones
Hen Winchester
At a Court held for Gloucester County ye 10th day of June 1701
This Will was proved by the oaths of John Smith, Charles Jones and is recorded by P Beverley, Cl Cur
A true copy Test P Beverley Cl Cur
Truely recorded amongst the records of Essex County Test Francis Meriwether Cl Cur.

First, let’s look at how old Phillip Parr was when he died. Without the mention of one Phillip Parr in 1656 (and born no later than 1635), I would estimate that the testator was a generation younger, around 30-40 years old, as he names three daughters – Judith, Mary and Constan [Constance] – all unmarried – and his wife is expecting a fourth child. He also names Richard Carter as his first heir, but only calls him kinsman. Richard and Mary Carter were probably born around 1660, making this Phillip a more likely contemporary than a man a generation older.

So, is the Phillip Parr in Lancaster County, Virginia the father of Phillip in Essex County? I don’t know and I am not sure that anyone has gone digging in Lancaster County, from part of which Old Rappahannock County and later Essex County was formed, so they are in the same neighborhood.

One other thought is that Phillip Parr might be an older man and Judith/children are a second wife and family.

Next, Phillip’s will gives up one more very important detail. He left to his daughter Judith the land he owns in Middlesex, given to her by her grandfather, Mr. Thomas Allaman. Phillip’s wife Judith then was a daughter of Thomas Allaman.

Judith married (2) James Edmondson, c1701, probably in Essex County, Virginia. She, too, left a will, dated 6 March 1763. Her husband, James, predeceased her in 1741 and she named only four daughters – Constance Edmundson (This is Constance Parr who married Thomas Edmundson), Judith (Parr) Faulkner, probably wife of Henry Faulkner, and Mary (Parr) Breedlove, probably wife of Charles Breedlove and Eliza (Edmundson) Hull. She also named two sons, John and Thomas Edmundson. Her brother, William Alleman was to receive “negroes now in the possession of Toy Tabb.”

insert will image

James’s 1741 Essex County  will helps complete the family details:

In the name of God Amen I James Edmondson of Essex County being of disposeing sence and memory make this my Last will and Testament

First I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God my Heavenly Father in hopes of pardon and forgiveness of all my Sins in and through the merits of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and my body to the earth to be decently buried and as to my Estate real and personal I dispose of as follows.

2ly I give to my son John Edmundson and his heirs forever my manner house with all the Land I have on the West side of the main Swamp that runs into Dunns Mill Dam I also give mysd Son John Two of my Negro’s Cook and Harry and one horse named Wonton Ten head of Cattel and the best Bed and furniture Excepting that Whereon my wife Lies and six of the newest Silver Spoons

3lyI give to my Grandson John Edmondson and his heirs the Plantation where his father lived with all the Land I have on the South side of the above sd Mill Swamp

4lyI give to my Grand Daughter Sarah Edmondson my Negro Jenny to be delivered to her at the age of eighteen or the day of Marridg Allso one feather bed of six pound prise but if she should died before this Legasie becomes due then its my will that it return to my Son John Edmondson.

5ly I give my daughter Susannah Edmondson three Negroes Dirk, Beck and Plato and the next best feather bed and furniture not disposed of AllsoEight head of Cattle ten Barrels of Corne Eight hundred Tobo one horse Colt named Blasd the chest wherein her Cloaths Lies and Liberty to Live on my Plantation and work her Negroes as long as She remains unmarried and no longer

6ly I give my Daughter Elizabeth Hay my Negro man Named Walley and twenty six pound cash and six head of Cattle

7ly I give to my Grand Daughter Sarah Hay my Negro Rachel

8ly I give to my Daughter Sarah Townly Twenty five pounds cash

9ly I lend my beloved wife Judith the use of four Negro’s Tom Duke Rose and George dureing her widowhood and no longer. I give my beloved wife Eight Hundred pounds of Tobo

10ly all the goods I have in the hands of my Son Thomas Edmondson and Cash that I have in the hands of James Webb I desire should be Equally Divided between them Excepted fifty
??? s of brown linen and all the white Sheeting and twenty two yards of Negroe’s Cotton which is for my famileys use and twelve yards of Cheek Linen

11ly I give to my Son Jno Edmondson all my Cash and Cash accts and Tobo & plate not above dispos’d of in this my will.

12lyIlend my beloved wife all the Remainder of my household Estate not above disposed of as long as She remains a Widow and after my sd wifes decease or marring again I give George and Rose and my Lent Estate to my Son John Edmondson and Tom to my Daughter Susannah and Duke to my Daughter Elizabeth Hay: and it likewise is my will that no part of my Estate be appraised and Lastly I do hereby ordain my beloved Son Jno Edmondson my Executor to Execute my Last will and Testament

Signed Sealed and delivered(s) James Edmondson(seal)
to be my Last Will
Test Thomas Edmondson jun
Robert Edwards
Aug19th1741
Christian Gresham

At Court held for Essex County at Tappahannock on the 15th day of September 1741This Last will and Testament of James Edmondson deced being Exhibited by John Edmondson the Executor therein Named, Thomas Edmondson jun heir at law to the said James came into Court and declared that he had no objections to make against the said Will being proved; and then the said John Edmondson made oath to the said Will as the Law directs and the same being duely proved by the oath of the Witnesses thereto was admitted to record
Test S. Robinson

Children of Phillip & Judith (Allaman) Parr:

  1. Judith; died after 1763; married Mr. Faulkner, probably Henry
  2. Mary; died after 1763; married Mr. Breedlove, probably Charles
  3. Constance; died after 1763; married Thomas Edmondson
  4. Unborn child when Phillip wrote his will in 1699

Children of James  & Judith (Allaman) Edmondson:

1. Eliza, died after 1763; who married Mr. Hull
2. John, died after 1763
3. Thomas, died after 1763

There are other children named in James’s 1741 will. However, I don’t know if Judith was a second wife of James’s and perhaps her stepchildren. In any case, if they were her children, they died before she wrote her will.

 

Carter, Parr of VA

Richard Carter and Mary ?Parr, Essex County, VA, 1600s

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Not a lot is known about Richard Carter of Essex County, Virginia. He and his wife, Mary (possibly) Parr, were both young parents when they died and left three young children.

Richard Carter was likely born c1660 and married Mary ?Parr before 3 February 1687/88, probably in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia. Mary was also probably born in the early 1660s and was maybe the sister of Phillip Parr, who died before 10 June 1701, when his will was proved in Gloucester County Court, Virginia. After Mary died, Phillip Parr was called her closest relative. [Note: Some say she was Mary Young, daughter of Robert and Anne (MNU) Young.] Anne died by 10 August 1677 and didn’t mention a daughter named Mary. However, William Young, in his 1697 will, stated that four of his daughters were to buy a slave for Mary Carter.]

Phillip Parr’s first item in his will: I give and bequeath unto my loveing Kinsman, RICHARD CARTER, One hundred and fifty acres of land lying upon the GLEEB SWAMP and to him and his heires forever.

Mary Parr married (1) George Colclough, who died before 3 February 1687/88 when this this order was entered into the court records in Old Rappahannock County:

Judgment is granted to James Webb against Phillip Parr as Securitie of Richard Carter as Marrying the Relict of George Colclough for Six hundred pounds tobb [tobacco] & caske upon Bill, to be paid with cost of suit.

There are no details about the reason for the lawsuit, but it gives the important detail that Richard was Mary’s second husband.

After Richard Carter died, Mary (?Parr) (Colclough) Carter married (3) Henry Smith, but didn’t live long afterwards as on 11 June 1701, Henry Smith was appointed the administrator of Mary his late wife who was the widow of Richard Carter, deceased.


Henry Smith, Administrator of Deceased Wife Mary, Relict of Richard Carter, 1701
Essex County, Virginia Deed and Will Book 10:85
Source: FamilySearch

Richard Carter left no will, but at least two children and possibly three survived him.

Children:

1. Richard, born c1686; living 16 May 1721 to prove the will of Thomas Mountague of South Farnham Parish, but dead by 16 June 1730, when William and Catherine Gatewood sold land bequeathed by Phillip Parr to Richard Carter, who was now deceased, with Catey as the next rightful heir. Richard apparently was unmarried or widowed and had no children.
2. Catherine (Catey), born c1688 or later as William Young was appointed her guardian in 1701. Children aged 14 and older were allowed to request a guardian; died after 20 March 1744; married William Gatewood, c1717.

Some show a third child, Elizabeth, for Richard and Mary Carter, but I find no record mentioning her.