© 1996 - 2007
Golden Branches
Western NC Genealogy Resource Center
for Cherokee County
Letitia Parker was born in Henderson County, North Carolina in 1808; She was
the ninth of ten children born to William Soloman, Sr. and his wife *. The
1840 Census for Henderson County under William Parker showed one male age 0-4
(William J.), one male 70-79 (William Solomon, Sr. ), one female 30-39
(Letitia) and one female 70-79 (*). Letitia never married, and the presence
of the male child corresponds to the family oral history that Letitia had a
son out of wedlock in the middle or late 1830's. The oral history, as passed
on to the author of this biography by Elizabeth Crawford Barton, well known
historian of the Parker family, also says that a member of the Parker family
may have been the father of this child.
*Some researchers believe the wife of William Solomon was named Martha
Anderson. My belief is that his wife's first name was Elizabeth and that
Letitia remained with her until at least 1850. See below
By 1850 Letitia was living in Haywood County in the household of an Elizabeth
Parker, age 80. Also in the household with Letitia were her sons William J.
Parker, born in 1836, and a second son, George W. Parker, born in 1842.
Again, although no certainty is attached to the statement, it is possible the
father of William and George were one and the same person.
In 1860 Letitia was living in Cherokee County, North Carolina with her son
George W. Parker. William J. Parker was married by about 1856 and had two
children by 1860, Victoria and William
William J. enlisted in the 25th Regiment of the North Carolina Infantry on
15 July 1862, about one year and one month after his younger brother George
W. enlisted in the same Regiment. William was assigned to Company "D", the
same Company as his brother George. William was wounded and lost his left
leg. He was on the Hospital muster roll of the 4th Division General Hospital
Camp Winder at Richmond, Virginia in October of 1864. The 1890 Veterans
Census for North Carolina, under Cherokee County, had the following entry :
8) 2-2 (conf) *William J. Parker, Private, Co. D, 25 NC If, 15 July 1862 to
30 July 1864, 2y15d, PO: Cobb's, "Left leg shot off".
George W. Parker enlisted in the 26th Regiment of the North Carolina Infantry
on June 1, 1861 about one year and fifteen days before his brother, William
J. enlisted in the same Regiment. George was mustered into Company D on June
29. When his brother William enlisted he was assigned to the same Company as
George. George was present on the Muster Roll for the period of January and
February of 1864. The last record retrieved shows he Appeared on a Roll of
Honor for the Regiment. No notation was made as to his death which is
assumed. It may be possible he was killed in the same battle that wounded
his brother William J and caused him to lose his left leg.
By 1868 Letitia was living in the home of her cousin, Martin Parker, whose
wife Jane nee Hatten Parker, had died about 1867. In the census year of
1870, the household of Martin Parker included Letitia, Letitia's son William
J. Parker, his wife Sarepta and five of his six children: Victoria, age 13,
Willis, age 10, John, age 8, Sarah, age 6 and George, age 1. In the 1880
census for Cherokee County, Murphy, North Carolina, Letitia and Martin Parker
were in the household next to his daughter Emeline nee Parker James, her
husband William and their children. William J. Parker and his family were
also living in Murphy but not close by.
Martin Parker's will, probated the 20th day of July 1897 stipulated that
Letitia was to be taken care of for the rest of her natural life from the
proceeds of Martin's estate. Martin Parker referred to Letitia as "his
beloved cousin" There were several dispositions filed between the death of
Martin and the death of Letitia. Several of the filings were testimony
concerning the transfer of the position of executor to William James, the
son-in-law of Martin Parker and his failure to fulfill the requirements of
the will. Several people swore to the mistreatment of Letitia by William
James. Ultimately the court removed William James as the executor of the
will. After the death of Letitia about 1902, the estate was turned over to
Emeline nee Parker James, the daughter of Martin Parker.
Unfortunately Letitia did not seem to receive any support from other members
of the Parker family. Her son William J. Parker and his family with a couple
of exceptions including Sara (Sally) nee Parker Hampton had moved to
Southwest Missouri about 1890 or 1891. Letitia had several siblings living
in Murphy, but they and the rest of the family seemed to have shunned her.
According to oral family history, and also sworn testimony, Letitia was a
quarrelsome and ill-tempered person, at least in the latter part of her life.
The following disposition by Letitia summarizes to some extent the conflicts
concerning the will.
Transcribed from film copy of estate records
Of the Cherokee County, North Carolina Court
By Eugene Hampton in September in 1996
North Carolina } In the Superior Court
Cherokee County } Before the Court
}
In Re W. H. James, Admin. }Affidant
Cum. test. Am. of Martin Parker }
Dec'd }
Lettie Parker being duly sworn, saith;
1 That Martin Parker late of Cherokee County departed this life in May 1897
leaving a last will and testament, wherein Hugh Rogers, was named executor
thereof; that said executor therein named failed to qualify and W. H. James
was duly qualified as Administrator c.t.a. of Martin Parker, dec'd, on the
20th day of July, 1897.
2 That in said last will and testament is the following provision, to wit;
"I direct that my executor hereinafter to be named take personal charge of
all my estate both real and personal as soon after my death as is practicable
and that my said executor retain control of all my said estate both real and
personal during the lifetime of my beloved cousin Lettie Parker who has lived
with me for more than twenty five years and that my said executor manage my
estate as follows
I direct my executor to see to it and provide that my said cousin Lettie
Parker shall have a decent and comfortable support out of the proceeds of
all my said estate. I desire that the said Lettie Parker be provided yearly
with two hogs to be used by her as she may choose, and one milk cow shall be
hers during the term of her natural life: In case of illness the said Lettie
Parker shall be provided with suitable medicines, Physicians services and a
competent nurse and my said executor shall pay all reasonable charges for the
same out of the proceeds of my said estate together with the expenses of her
burial. My said executor shall have full control of all my real estate
during the lifetime of the said Lettie Parker to rent and lease the same and
to receive into his hands the rents and profits of the same to be disposed of
by him as herein directed"
3 That as affiant is informed and believes the said Administrator has failed
to fill the inventory and accounts required by law. That he has failed to
provide the said Lettie Parker with a decent, proper and comfortable support
out of the estate of the said Martin Parker. That he has failed to provide
her with two hogs yearly; he has failed and refused her with suitable
medicines, physicians service and a competent nurse and pay charges of same
out of the estate of said Martin Parker at diverse times when affiant was and
became sick and in need of the same. On the contrary he has neglected her in
almost every way possible, furnishing her during the entire time of his
administration only a small quantity of food of quality unsuited to the wants
of a woman of her advanced age. That he during the whole period of more than
two years has furnished her with a small and insufficient quantity of coffee
and what food he has furnished has been in shape of corn in the ear, which it
was necessary for affiant to shill or have shilled and ground, and possibly a
few turns of meal, and only two hogs which she had to have slaughtered. He
has never furnished her one particle of flour during the whole time, not one
article of clothing and but little firewood. Affiant has often had to cut
and drag down wood herself in extremely cold weather and thereby endanger her
health and will being to say nothing of her comfort.
4 That affiant is now about ninety six year old and on the 10th day of last
April, being unprovided for and neglected and in want of suitable food and
sick without a nurse, and entirely alone, was suffering for proper care and
attention when she found it necessary to go elsewhere for care and support,
and was taken into his home by one Wm. Arrowwood, where she has since abode,
and been supported by said Arrowwood, and the said W. H. James hasn't
contributed one penny to the support of affiant. On the contrary, as she is
advised and believes, the said James now contends that the failure of affiant
to reside on the lands heretofore belonging to said Martin Parker releases
said Administrator from liability to care and support her further.
Subscribed and sworn to } her
before in this Dec. 16, 1899} Lettie + Parker
S. W. Lovingood C.S.C. }mark
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