Isaac Parsons (American military officer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Honorable Isaac Parsons
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Hampshire County district
In office 1854–1857 Serving with Jesse Lupton Asa Hiett
Preceded by	James Allen Thomas B. White
Succeeded by	Robert Massey Powell Hugh Parrill
Personal details
Born	(1814-01-07)January 7, 1814 Hampshire County, West Virginia (now West Virginia)
Died	April 24, 1862(1862-04-24) (aged 48) Grassy Lick Run, Hampshire County, Virginia (now West Virginia)
Resting place	Indian Mound Cemetery, Romney, West Virginia, United States
Spouse	Susan Blue Parsons
Relations	James Gregg Parsons (father) Mary Catherine Casey (mother) Isaac Parsons (grandfather) William Foreman (great-grandfather) Edna Brady Cornwell (granddaughter)
Children	Catherine E. Parsons Isaac Parsons, Jr. Sarah Louise Parsons Brady James Donaldson Parsons Mary Susan Parsons Pancake Virginia B. Parsons Arnold Garrett Williams Parsons Burr A. Parsons Edith Parsons Waddle
Residences	Wappocomo, Romney, Virginia (now West Virginia), United States
Profession	Planter, politician, and military officer
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1862 (CSA)
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Huckleberry Rangers Company K 13th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Isaac Parsons (born January 7, 1814 – died April 24, 1862) was an American planter, a politician, and a military officer in what was then Virginia. This area is now West Virginia.

Parsons served as a Justice of the Peace for Hampshire County from 1852 to 1853. Later, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. He represented Hampshire County from 1854 to 1857.

Isaac Parsons was from an important family. His grandfather, also named Isaac Parsons (1752–1796), was also a Virginia House Delegate. His great-grandfather, William Foreman (died 1777), was a military officer in Colonial Virginia. Isaac Parsons was also the grandfather of Edna Brady Cornwell (1868–1958), who became the First Lady of West Virginia.

Parsons inherited his family's Wappocomo plantation. This large farm was located north of Romney. In 1855, a person named Jacob Green, who was enslaved by Parsons, escaped from Wappocomo to Pennsylvania. Several other enslaved people also escaped. Parsons and his nephews went north to find them. This led to his nephew, James "Zip" Parsons III, being arrested.

The arrest and trial of Parsons' nephew caused a disagreement between Virginia and Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania refused to follow the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. After the trial, Parsons had a dispute with Charles J. Faulkner over legal fees in 1857. Faulkner was a member of the United States House of Representatives at the time. Parsons said that Faulkner had offered his legal help for free during his nephew's trial.

When the American Civil War began, Parsons joined Hampshire County's "committee for safety." He was allowed to create his own company of mounted infantry (soldiers on horseback). These soldiers would defend the border. He served as an officer in the Huckleberry Rangers and Company K of the 13th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This unit was part of the Confederate States Army. Parsons died in 1862 after a fight with Union Army cavalry near Grassy Lick Run.

Early Life and Family

Isaac Parsons was born on January 7, 1814. His birthplace was Hampshire County, West Virginia, which is now part of West Virginia. He was the third son of James Gregg Parsons (1773–1847) and Mary Catherine Casey Parsons (1773–1846).

The Parsons family was well-known in America. Their ancestors came from England to the Thirteen Colonies in 1635. They moved to Hampshire County around 1740. Isaac Parsons was likely named after his paternal grandfather, Isaac Parsons (1752–1796). This grandfather served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1789 until his death in 1796. He also ran a public ferry across the South Branch Potomac River.

Through his mother, Isaac Parsons was the great-grandson of William Foreman (died 1777). Foreman was a military officer in Colonial Virginia. Isaac Parsons grew up on his family's Wappocomo plantation. This large farm was located north of Romney.

Wappocomo Estate

When James Gregg Parsons died on January 25, 1847, his will gave Lot Number 21, which included Wappocomo, to his son Isaac Parsons. Isaac's brother, James "Big Jim" Parsons, Jr., inherited another part of the land. Their other brother, David C. Parsons, inherited Lot Number 13. The brothers also received other nearby land and town lots in Romney.

Isaac Parsons eventually owned the Wappocomo plantation completely. In 1861, he added a two-story stone section to the main house at Wappocomo. The ballroom on the upper floor of this new section was used for many events and parties.

Political Career

After the 1851 Constitution of Virginia was approved, Parsons was elected as a justice of the peace. He served for Hampshire County's District 3 in 1852 and 1853. He worked with David Gibson, T. M. Davis, and Joseph C. Pancake in this role.

Parsons then served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. He represented Hampshire County from 1854 to 1857. Hampshire County was a district with multiple representatives. Parsons served with Jesse Lupton in 1854 and 1855. He served with Asa Hiett in 1856 and 1857. Before the American Civil War, Parsons strongly believed that Virginia should leave the United States. He supported the idea of passing an Ordinance of Secession.

The Jacob Green Incident

Charles James Faulkner

In August 1855, Jacob Green, an enslaved person owned by Parsons, escaped from Wappocomo farm. Four other enslaved people from nearby farms also escaped. In October, Green returned to Parsons' plantation in Romney. He convinced four or five more enslaved people from family farms to escape with him to Pennsylvania.

A group of eight to ten men, including Parsons and two of his nephews, went north to find the escapees. They captured two enslaved people who belonged to one of the nephews, Mr. Stump. These two were sent back to Hampshire County. James Parsons III was the son of Isaac's brother, James "Big Jim" Parsons, Jr.

With information from the recaptured individuals, Parsons went to Johnstown. James Parsons III went to Hollidaysburg, and Stump went to Altoona. They hoped to stop Green as he traveled west. James Parsons III found Green in Hollidaysburg. However, local abolitionists (people who wanted to end slavery) stopped his attempt to capture Green. James Parsons III was then arrested for kidnapping.

When Parsons learned of his nephew's arrest, he asked for help. He contacted Charles J. Faulkner, a well-known lawyer and U.S. Representative from Virginia's 8th congressional district. He also contacted James Murray Mason, a U.S. Senator from Virginia. Both Faulkner and Mason offered to help defend James Parsons III. The Virginia General Assembly promised to support Parsons and other Virginia slaveowners. They wanted to protect their rights and prevent them from being charged with crimes. Virginia Governor Henry A. Wise sent John Randolph Tucker to Parsons' trial as a special representative for Virginia. The disagreement between Virginia and Pennsylvania grew. On January 31, 1856, the New York Herald newspaper published an article titled "Threatened Civil War between Virginia and Pennsylvania."

Parsons, Faulkner, and Tucker traveled to Hollidaysburg for James Parsons III's trial. Faulkner defended Parsons' nephew. James Parsons III was found not guilty. The court decided he had acted legally under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

In September 1856, Faulkner sent Parsons a bill for $150 for his legal help. Parsons argued against this charge. He wrote articles in the Virginia Argus and Hampshire Advertiser newspaper. He said that Faulkner had first offered his services for free. Parsons claimed Faulkner had been praised publicly for his generosity without denying he was working for free. Parsons accused Faulkner of being dishonest.

James Parsons III and his brother William Miller Parsons later owned the Virginia Argus and Hampshire Advertiser. In May 1857, Parsons wrote a series of articles in the newspaper. He described his nephew's 1855 arrest for trying to capture an enslaved person. He also wrote about the dispute between his family and Faulkner over legal fees.

American Civil War

Hampshire County Courthouse

After the American Civil War began, Parsons joined Hampshire County's "committee for safety." This committee included James D. Armstrong, John M. Pancake, and others. The committee met until May 29, 1861. Parsons, Pancake, and Armstrong were allowed to raise money for "war purposes" for the county.

On May 18, 1861, two groups of soldiers, the Hampshire Guards and the Frontier Riflemen, gathered in front of the Hampshire County Courthouse in Romney. They were leaving to fight for the Confederate States of America. Parsons and about a dozen of his men led the wagon train carrying these volunteers. They went to Green Spring on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. From there, Parsons and the volunteers traveled by train to Harpers Ferry.

Parsons went to Richmond. He received permission to form his own company of mounted infantry. This group would defend the border. Parsons began signing up volunteers. Soon, he had about 30 men. This company became known as the Huckleberry Rangers. They were part of the Confederate States Army's 13th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Parsons was elected as the captain in command. John Blue was the first lieutenant, and Parsons' son, Isaac Parsons, Jr., was the second lieutenant.

Parsons and his company used flintlock muskets. They had found these in the courthouse attic. They also used sabres and flintlock horse pistols that had been used during the American Revolutionary War. Parsons gave Lt. Blue a Minié ball rifle. It was said to have been taken from John Brown at Harpers Ferry.

Parsons traveled to Richmond again with cattle supplies. He returned to his company's camp on the North River in Hampshire County around November 15, 1861. When he returned, Parsons wanted to check on his family and property at Wappocomo. He also needed a change of clothes and a blanket. He went with Lt. Blue and Adam Parrish. They traveled west and then took various roads and paths. They reached Sugar Hollow, about 2 miles north of Romney, at night.

Parsons stayed in the hollow while Lt. Blue and Parrish went to Wappocomo. They wanted to get some clothes for Parsons. Lt. Blue and Parrish knew that Union Army forces had guards at the main house day and night. Lt. Blue went around to the back of the mansion. He knocked on the window of his uncle, Garrett W. Blue, who was staying with Parsons' family. Blue warned his nephew about Union Army soldiers possibly on the front porch. He then got Parsons' daughter Kate, who gave Lt. Blue a package for her father.

Wappocomo, seen from Cumberland Road (West Virginia Route 28) in July 2013

Lt. Blue and Parrish returned to Sugar Hollow where Parsons was waiting. Parsons looked for pine wood to make torches to light their way out of the hollow. He had a small hatchet and began splitting pine in the dark. Parsons accidentally hit his knee with the hatchet. Lt. Blue used a handkerchief to stop the bleeding. The three men traveled through the dark and rain to Frank Carter's home. There, they ate and dried their clothes by the fire. The next morning, they rode their horses to Rev. Harris' home. Parsons and Lt. Blue then left Parrish.

Parsons and Lt. Blue continued east over Town Hill. They reached George Thompson's house on the Little Cacapon River. The river had risen because of the previous night's rain. Parsons and Lt. Blue stayed with Thompson for two days until the river went down. Then they traveled to Blue's Gap and set up camp. There, Lt. Blue received orders from Col. Angus William McDonald. He was to go to Romney for General Stonewall Jackson. His mission was to find out how many Union Army infantry (foot soldiers), cavalry (horse soldiers), and artillery (cannons) were in and around the town. Lt. Blue left for Romney with Parsons' son Isaac Parsons, Jr., and W. V. Parsons. Throughout 1861, Parsons "freely" gave Confederate soldiers food and horses from his stables at Wappocomo.

In 1862, Parsons moved part of his family from Wappocomo to Shull's Gap. This was on the Lost River in Hardy County. Dr. Lupton, a Romney doctor, and his wife were also staying with Parsons' family there. In March, Union Army forces were not close to Romney. This allowed Parsons and his wife Susan Blue Parsons to return to Wappocomo with their younger children. Parsons' older daughters, Kate and Sallie, stayed behind with his son Isaac Parsons, Jr., and others. On March 24, 1862, Parsons' oldest daughter, Kate, died. Despite being ill, Lt. Blue carried the news of Kate's death. He met Parsons halfway to Romney. Parsons told Lt. Blue to go to Romney and tell his wife Susan. The Parsons family no longer felt safe in Romney, so they returned to Shull's Gap.

Parsons and Lt. Blue traveled to Harrisonburg. They stayed there for a few days. Then they decided to return to Hampshire County. Lt. Blue went to his family's home north of Romney. Parsons went to his home at Wappocomo plantation. Lt. Blue was later captured by Union Army forces. He was held at the Wirgman Building, but he later escaped.

On April 24, 1862, Parsons, his sons, and other Confederate soldiers met Union Army cavalry. This happened along Grassy Lick Run south of Romney. Parsons had a double-barreled shotgun. He fired his weapon at the Union forces from close range. As Parsons escaped, he saw his son being shot as he ran across the road. Parsons thought his son had been killed. He went to the home of a Mr. Hott and told him the news. Parsons became pale. Hott's sons helped him off his horse so he would not fall. According to Hott, Parsons died moments later.

Gravestones of Parsons (left) and his wife Susan Blue Parsons (right) at Indian Mound Cemetery in Romney

Parsons' body was taken to Wappocomo. He was buried in the Parsons family burial ground. Union Army forces believed Parsons had died in the fight. They claimed the right to examine his body to look for wounds. They said if he had wounds, they could destroy his property. Professor Nelson, a Presbyterian minister and teacher, was a friend of the Parsons family. He did not allow Union Army officials to access Parsons' body. As a compromise, Professor Nelson allowed Union Army officers to be in the room while Parsons' body was examined. No wounds were found on Parsons' body. His remains were buried in the Parsons family burial ground at Indian Mound Cemetery.

On April 26, 1862, acting Quartermaster Lt. F. H. Morse completed Parsons' death certificate. The details of Parsons' death were not recorded. Captain William Firey and Captain C. W. Shearer were present for the examination. They stated there was "no evidence of gun-shot wounds or any other violence on him." William Vance and George William Washington were also witnesses.

Parsons wrote his own will. It was accepted without problems. It was later mentioned in a court case in West Virginia. His wife, Susan Blue Parsons, died on October 2, 1889. She was buried next to Parsons at Indian Mound Cemetery. Virginia Parsons MacCabe, a family genealogist, wrote about Parsons in 1913. She said he was "broad minded and conservative, gifted with good common sense and judgment, his honesty and integrity was unimpeachable."

Personal Life

Parsons married Susan Blue (1817–1889) on May 18, 1836. Susan Blue was born in Hampshire County on January 9, 1817. She was the daughter of Uriah Blue, Jr., and M. Elizabeth Donaldson Blue. Parsons and his wife Susan had nine children. They had four sons and five daughters.

Through his daughter Sarah Louise, Parsons was the grandfather of Edna Brady Cornwell (1868–1960). Edna Brady Cornwell served as First Lady of West Virginia from 1917 to 1921. This was during her husband John J. Cornwell's (1867–1953) time as Governor of West Virginia.