Person:Jacob Parkhurst (1)

BIOGRAPHY: Sketches of Jacob PARKHURST (1772-1863) by Himself. Recorded in a 14 page letter by Samuel M. Meyers, Jr.

Jacob speaks of "Uncle Gershum GARD", "Aunt Huntington", and "Cousin Jemima". "Uncle Gershum" undoubtably was Sarah GARD's brother and "Aunt Huntington" was Gershum's wife Phebe, as set out in Percy Crayon's account of the "GARD FAMILY". Gershum GARD did in fact have a daughter named Jemima. His will, recorded in Hamilton County, Ohio, names a Jemima as one of his children. Furthermore, there is a Daniel PARKHURST shown in Washington County in the deed records and in the tax record, but he is listed as a single man (Penn. Archives Series Three, Vol. XXII - p.705, and Penn. Archives Series Three, Vol. XXIII - p.218. Daniel Parkhurst, Ranger on Frontier 1751-1782, Fifth Series, Vol. IV, pp. 415,723.

Also, in 1785, a Daniel PARKHURST did have a Warrant to land which joined Samuel PARKHURST's, "Jersey Delight", but title to this tract did not pass from the State of Pennsylvania in the records. Finally, Jacob, in his account of his life, mentions his oldest brother, Daniel, several times. The first account, is on April 15, 1775, when Daniel took the three year old twin boys (Jacob and Isaac who were born February 19, 1772) in his wagon, which "he had made for his own accomodation", to a neighbors, about a mile away."

The second, which happened "about these times", ie: 1775 or 1778, perhaps, when Daniel killed the deer with his tomahawk. Jacob says Daniel was at this time "about 13". Next, when in 1781, the Rangers came and stayed at their house and "Daniel went with Caleb GOBLE on a Scout", to the head of Wheeling (Creek) and "spyed a trail of Indians". He goes on, "Our spys hastened home with all possible speed to give the alarm." (Samuel Meyers estimates from the above account that Daniel was in his teens in 1775, possibly being born about 1762/1764).