Josiah Parker Timeline

Timeline: Colonel Josiah Parker (1751–1810), Isle of Wight County, Virginia

References cited at the end. Due diligence required on references.

Early Life (1751–1774)

• May 11, 1751: Born at Macclesfield estate, Isle of Wight County, Virginia.

• 1773: Married Mary Pierce Bridger (widow); one child, Anne Pierce Parker (later Cowper).

Revolutionary War Service (1775–1778)

  • Jan 13, 1775: Committee for the County of Isle of Wight.

  • Jan 17, 1775: Committee for the County of Isle of Wight.

  • Feb 13, 1775: Committee for the County of Isle of Wight.

  • Feb 27, 1775: Committee for the County of Isle of Wight.

  • Mar 20-27, 1775: Second Virginia Convention, Richmond.

  • Apr 17, 1775: Committee for the County of Isle of Wight.

  • May 15, 1775: Committee for the County of Isle of Wight.

  • May 22, 1775: Committee for the County of Isle of Wight.

  • Jun 3, 1775: Committee for the County of Isle of Wight.

  • Jul 17-August 26, 1775: Third Virginia Convention, Henrico Parish.

-1st and 2nd VA Regiments created.

-Did Parker also serve on Virginia Committee of Safety?

  • Dec 1, 1775 - Jan 20, 1776: Fourth Virginia Convention, Henrico Parish, Richmond. The Convention established the need to immediately raise seven additional Virginia Regiments, based in part on the early December battle at Great Bridge. JP chosen as Major for the 5th Virginia Regiment with Colonel William Peachey Commanding and Lieutenant Colonel William Crawford. The 5th VA Regiment was Richmond-centric, while the 4th formed from Isle of Wight County and neighboring County militias. 

  • Jan 13, 1776: Commissioned as Major in 5th VA Regiment.

• Dec 25–26, 1776: Distinguished at the Battle of Trenton.

  • Jan 3, 1777: Distinguished at the Battle of Princeton.

• Jul 28, 1777: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

  • Sep 11, 1777: Fought at the Battle of Brandywine.

  • Nov 1777 - April 1778 On furlough.

• Apr 1, 1778: Promoted to Colonel.

• Jul 12, 1778: Resigned commission from the Continental Army.

State Leadership (1778–1788)

• 1778–1779: Member, Virginia House of Delegates (Isle of Wight County).

• 1781: Appointed to command Virginia militia south of the James River; coordinated with Lafayette.

• 1782–1783: Returned to Virginia House of Delegates.

• 1786–1788: Naval Officer for the ports of Norfolk and Portsmouth.

• 1788: Unsuccessful candidate for Virginia convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

U.S. Congress (1789–1801)

• 1789–1793: Representative, U.S. House (Virginia’s 8th District), Anti-Administration.

• 1793–1801: Representative, U.S. House (Virginia’s 11th District), Pro-Administration then Federalist; chaired Naval Affairs Committee and supported establishing the U.S. Navy.

Later Years (1801–1810)

• 1801: Retired to Macclesfield; engaged in agricultural pursuits.

• March 11, 1810: Died at Macclesfield; interred in the family cemetery.

Legacy

  • Among the first U.S. congressmen to publicly decry slavery.

  • Home site and cemetery listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places.

 

Sources & References

Josiah Parker – Biographical Directory & History, U.S. House of Representatives: https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/P/PARKER,-Josiah-(P000065)/

Josiah Parker – Wikipedia (overview of offices and dates): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Parker

Library of Virginia, A Guide to the Josiah Parker Letters (1780–1800): https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi00593.xml

Find A Grave, Josiah Parker (burial details): https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47502915/josiah-parker 

HMdb Historical Marker, ‘Josiah Parker (Macclesfield)’: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=35974

Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Col. Josiah Parker Family Cemetery (VLR/NRHP): https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/046-5049/ 

Virginia Gazette. Seven or more regiments raised. January 13, 1776.

Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, ‘Revolutionary Correspondence of Col. Josiah Parker’ (1914): https://archive.org/details/jstor-4243362

Kent Lewis