The military service of this young solder is a sad story. James K. Parker, is the son of George A. Parker and his wife Hawley Lee. James was born about 1838. About 1859 or early 1860, when James was about 21-22 years old he married Nancy who was just barely 16 years of age. They are enumerated in the 1860 Chesterfield County Population Census. [1] James is listed as age 23 and Nancy is listed as age 16. I have written about this couple before which can be found here; Nancy is believed to be Nancy Davis, daughter of Michael Davis and Hulda Rivers.
In December 1860, South Carolina became the first state to succeed from the union and in January 1861, Cadets from Fort Sumter fired on a civilian merchant ship Star of the West resulting in what was to be the start of the Civil War.
The War started out being a War of Volunteers but later turn to conscription due to the dwindling numbers of volunteers. James K. Parker, age 23, volunteered and was enlisted by Capt. B. T Davis (my 1st Cousin 4 times removed) on 29 December 1861. Image #2 in his military service record shows that he enlisted for 12 months. Image 3, the final image in his file is a Muster Roll dated March-April 1862. This Muster Roll shows that James enlisted 8 January in Chesterfield by Capt. B. T. Davis and the duration has changed from 12 months to the entire War. [2]
The War started out being a War of Volunteers but later turn to conscription due to the dwindling numbers of volunteers. James K. Parker, age 23, volunteered and was enlisted by Capt. B. T Davis (my 1st Cousin 4 times removed) on 29 December 1861. Image #2 in his military service record shows that he enlisted for 12 months. Image 3, the final image in his file is a Muster Roll dated March-April 1862. This Muster Roll shows that James enlisted 8 January in Chesterfield by Capt. B. T. Davis and the duration has changed from 12 months to the entire War. [2]
The next paragraph shows that he was last paid on February 28, 186 ; though the year is not filled in, we know it was 28 February 1861.
The next section is a real shocker. It showed that James K. Parker died 14 April 1862, Hospital, 21st Regt' SCV. Surviving James is his Widow Nancy Parker back home.
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| http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|83356832 |
The 3 pages of his military service record contain no additional information. We know that his body was returned home to Chesterfield because James K. Parker is buried in the Davis Family Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. [3]
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| Tombstone Photo courtesy of Julious Burr |
Additional information about James K. Parker was found in the book "Broken Fortunes" by Randolph W. Kirkland, Jr., page 271[4]
Parker, James K.
Private
Co. E, 21st SCVI
Died 04/14/62, Georgetown, SC, DOD (died of disease)
Sources: PP, HAG
PP = Paths to the Past. Confederate death and burial lists compiles in a number of bound pamphlets by the Lauderdale County (Mississippi) Department of Archives and History. These are largely based on the Watkins compilation, with added material derived from local research. Copies in the collections of the South Carolina Historical Society.
HAG = Johnson Hagood, Memoirs of the War of Secession (Columbia, S.C.: The State Company, 1910; repr., Camden, S.C.: J.J. Fox, 1989)
I have a copy of Hagood's Memories [5]so let's take a look. Hagood's book is indexed but individual soldiers are not indexed. Since I am well familiar with this book I know that Hagood has a Section on the 21st South Carolina Volunteers. A roster of the men of Company E, 21st SCVI begins on page 402. James Parker is listed a member of Co. E, 21st SCVI in Column 3 on page 403. No other information about James was found within the book.
I have one additional document relating to James K. Parker. In the Probate Judge office, Chesterfield Courthouse, there is a land deed book called the "Burnt Book." The Burnt Book was recovered from the smoldering Courthouse flames after Gen Sherman forces burnt it to the ground in March 1865. The Courthouse was not rebuilt until 1884.
Page 22 of "The Burnt Book" contains remnants of a land deed between George A. Parker to his son James K. Parker, dated February 1861, in the 85th year of our sovereignty. [6]
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| Chesterfield County, SC; Burnt Book, page 22 |
The above document provides a historic visual picture of why genealogy research pre-Civil war in Chesterfield County, South Carolina is challenging and often frustrating.
For those of you out there with plenty of records to review I envy you. For the Certified Genealogist (CG) I ponder how you would proceed in this environment using the FAN principle. I would love your feedback.
I can be reached by e-mail
[1] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 125; Line 14, Dwelling 449, Family 448, Jas. K. PARKER Household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 7 July 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
[2] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 8 July 2012), entry for J. K. PARKER (James K.), Corporal; Co. E, 21st SC V Infantry; Confederate.
[3] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for Corp James K. Parker; (1838–14 April 1862); Memorial # 45433656; Record of the Davis Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 8 July 2012.
[4] Randolph W. Kirkland Jr., Broken Fortunes: South Carolina Soldiers, Sailors and Citizens Who Died in the Service of Their Country and State in the War for Southern Independence, 1861-1865 (Columbia, South Carolina: Univ of South Carolina, 1997), page 271.
[5] Johnson Hagood, Memoirs of the War of Succession (Camden, SC 29020: Jim Fox Books, 1997 (Reprint)), page 403.
[6] Land Deed - George A. Parker to James K. Parker Deed; February 1861; Deed Book #BURNT BOOK; Page(s) 22; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; 5 July 1997.
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