Clifford Bethel Parmley's Family Tree

I'll begin by letting you know that the spelling of Parmley changed over the years.  Grandma Parmley (Edna Jewel Meredith) has some wonderful documentation kept in her family Bible that shows the family line clearly tracing back to the 1500s with the name spellings of Parmelin and Parmelee.  The documentation comes from letters from a Dorothy H. Smallwood whose "favorite hobby" was genealogy.  I don't know if she was related somehow, or where her interest in the Parmley family began, but she did a lot of research and corresponded with Grandma and Grandpa.  In a letter dated June 13, 1977, she said, "I am working on a manuscript copy of the genealogy, now in 13 volumes.  It can never be printed by me as it would cost hundreds of dollars.  Shall probably leave my roomful of data to the Library of Congress, here in Washington (D.C.).  The DAR does not have the space for it, and Salt Lake City, Utah Mormon Library too far for most people to get to."

I tried to find information on Dorothy, and whether any of her manuscripts were available to read online, but I haven't found much. There are references to several volumes titled "Parmelee Data," published by Dorothy H. Smallwood, but I haven't been able to find a way to read any of it.  A Google search led me to a family tree blog, "The Descendants of John Bishop," which has the following paragraph:
PARMALEE PARMELEE*

Mrs. Mary Melinda (Parmelee) Marsh states in "Parmelee Family" that they were Huguenots of Normandy, France, the name being spelled de Parmele; that they fled to Holland, thence to England where Parmelee became the accepted spelling of the name. [Good information on the history of the Huguenots here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reynaud/huguenot_history.htm]

According to Parmelee Data" edited in 1940 by Mrs. Dorothy H. Smallwood of Washington D. C., Col. John Bion Richards, Genealogist Gerald of the Federation of the Hugueonot Society.

I tried to contact the author of the blog to ask her how she was able to get information from "Parmelee Data", but her last post in the blog was in 2007 so I doubt I'll receive a response from her anytime soon!

I've traced my grandfather Clifford (Cliff) Bethel Parmley's paternal tree back to Maurice Parmelee, born in Belgium in 1537, died in Holland in 1570.  This goes back two generations farther than Dorothy Smallwood shows in her letters. Hooray for the internet!  So here is the family line starting with Maurice:

Maurice Parmelee, born in Belgium in 1537, died in Holland in 1570.  No record of his wife's name.

John Parmelee, born about 1550 in Gex, Ain, Rhone-Alpis, France, died 1 May 1583 in Lewes, Sussex, England.  Married Alice Russell, born 1551 in Lewes, Sussex, England, died 1 May 1583 in Lewes, Sussex, England.  Interesting that they died the same day.  I'd like to find out how they died.  

John Parmelee, born in Lewes, Sussex, England, about 1580, died 8 Nov 1659 in Guilford, New Haven Connecticut.  Married Hannah Bradley, born 1593 in Surrey, Kent, England, died 1653 in New Haven, Connecticut. This John Parmelee is the first person listed in the information from Dorothy Smallwood.  She shows the name spelled as Parmelin.  The blog that I mentioned earlier has this information about John:

John Parmelee is listed among passengers of ship St. John, Captain Russell commanding, which sailed from England May 20, 1639 and arrived at New Haven about July 10, 1639. He was accompanied by his wife and daughters, Hannah and Mary. his son John born 4.13.1615 died probably in Guilford in 1687; married (1) Rebecca who died in 1651; married (2) Anna, widow of William Plaine who died in 1658; married (3) Hannah. He came to America ahead f his parents on the ship Elizabeth and Ann, Roger Cooper, Master, and arrived probably in Boston in 1635. He joined his parents in New Haven and with them was one of the first settlers of Guilford, Conn.

Dorothy mentions that his wife, Hannah Bradley, is said to be the sister of William Bradley.  I don't know enough about history for that name to be familiar.  I tried to research William Bradley and came up with nothing.  All my searches wanted to give me information on William Bradford, one of the Pilgrims that came over on the Mayflower, and the second Governor of the colony.  I'd like to know if anybody has information on William Bradley so that we could find out if he was a person of note, or if there has been a mix-up with William Bradford.

Next in the family tree is their son, yet another John Parmelee (Dorothy still shows it spelled as Parmelin).  He was born 13 Apr 1615 in Durham, Surrey, England, died 31 Jan 1689 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut.  Married Rebecca Eaton, born 1619 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut, died 24 Sept 1651 in Guilford.

Nathaniel Parmelee (here Dorothy shows it spelled as Parmelee), born 1645 in Guilford, died 16 Jan 1676 in Albany, New York.  Married Sarah French, born 25 Aug 1650 in Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut, died 19 May 1717 in the same town.

Nathaniel Parmelee, born 22 Mar 1672 in Killingworth, Connecticut, died 26 Jan 1718 in Killingworth.  Married Esther Kelsey, born 14 Sept 1675 in Killingworth, died 21 May 1712 in Killingworth.

Hiel Parmelee, born 2 Jan 1702 in Kilingworth, died 24 Dec 1779 in Killingworth.  Married Eunice Gardner, born 1704 in East Hampton, Long Island, New York, died 25 Feb 1782 in Killingworth.  Interesting to note that they had 4 children and in the records I have found, 4 of them have the name spelling of Parmelee, but one of them, our ancestor, has the spelling Parmley.  I suspect his name was recorded erroneously in some official document at some point in time and so was changed forever! 

His name was Giles Parmley, born 1 Jul 1731 in Killingworth, died 26 Feb 1803 in Franklin, Williamson, Tennessee (we actually moved away from Killingworth!).  Married Margaret Frazee, born 1731 in West Field, Essex, New Jersey, died in Spartenburg, North Carolina.

Now we have another John, but now we are the Parmleys.  John Parmley, born 4 Jun 1762 in Elizabethtown, Essex County, New Jersey, died 22 Apr 1848 in Clinton County, Kentucky.  Married Rebecca Gibbons Cross, born about 1765 in York County, Virginia, died  about 1830 in Russel County, Kentucky. 

There is a handwritten document dated August 6, 1834 showing John Parmley appearing before the court in Kentucky "in order to obtain the benefit of the pension" for serving in the Revolutionary War.  Unfortunately, it is mostly illegible, so I can't get much detail from the document. It says that he entered the service in 1778 (16 years old!) and "served out fully the three months for which he entered the service as a _____ (illegible) and was discharged by Captain ______ (also illegible). He lived in North Carolina when he entered the service.  Another document shows that his pension was paid at the rate of $20 per annum. I found the following information on the message board archives of ancestry.com:
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JOHN PARMLEY lived in Wilkes Co, Georgia after his service in the Revolutionary War. He married first, 1 Dec 1785 in Wilkes County, North Carolina to Rebecca Cross, the daughter of Edward Cross and Rebecca Gibbons later of Hawkins County, Tennessee. Rebecca was born in 1765, probably York County, Virginia and died after 1830 in Russell Co, Ky. The community of Parmleysville in Wayne County, Kentucky was named for this family.

John and Rebecca's eldest son, John Parmley Jr, was born 1787 and died between 1830/60 Roane Co, Tn. He married Catherine Gibson, born 1785 Va, sister of George Gibson, children of Randolph Gibson Sr and Mary Crowley of Wilkes Co, Ga.

John Parmley Senior's brother, Ephraim Parmley also lived in Wilkes Co, Ga. They were sons of Giles Parmley (1731-1784). Many descendant carried the name of "Giles" named after this man and or his son Giles Jr.

Revolutionary War Pension Record:
"Russell County, Ky. Circuit Court - 6 August 1834 - Pension No S30637; Bounty Lane No.WT36619-160-55 - North Carolina:
John Parmly [Parmley], a resident of Russell Co., Ky., age 72 states he was a resident of Wilkes Co., North Carolina when he entered the service. He enlisted in the year of 1778 for a three month tour under Capt. Cleveland as a substitute for his father [Giles Parmley], who belonged to the regiment of Col. Benjamin Cleveland.

They marched in the direction of Ramsours Mill in North Carolina for the purpose of surprizing the Tories. Then to a place called Hamblins Old Store and was stationed there a short time; then marched to Wilks Court House and remained there until he had served out his 3 month tour. Was discharged by his Capt. Judd who commanded the company in place of Larkin Cleveland who had been wounded on the Catawba River by the Tories who had lay in ambush on the march toward Rainsours Mill.

He thinks he received a discharge in writing which has long since been lost or worn out and destroyed by age.

In May of 1780, he volunteered for six months in Capt. John Morgans Company under Col. Benjamin Cleveland. He was still a resident of Wilkes Co,, N.C. States he was in the Battle of Kings Mountain in which battle the Lt. of the company, Martin Gambrel was wounded. After the battle he was ordered to assist in guarding the Tories. They marched back to Wilks Court House for a month then was ordered to Salisbury then to Guilford Court House, then to Hamblins Fort in Wilks Co. and was discharged. This tour was for 5 months but received a discharge for 6 months service.

Still a resident of Wilkes County [NC] he was drafted for 3 month tour in the company of Capt Paul Patrick in June 1780. He belonged to the Regiment of Col. Elisha Isaacs.

They rendezvoused at Hamblins Old Store and joined General Rutherford at Salisbury and them joined the main army under General Gates at the mouth of Rocky River. At this River they had a battle with the British and the Tories. The army then marched to the road that leads from North Carolina to Camden and was then marched toward Camden - was in a battle - fought between the British and Tories on one side and the American Militia and Regulars on the other side. General Gates was defeated in this battle.

Still a resident of Wilkes Co [NC] in 1781 he became a substitute for Burnett [Burnell?] Brewer to serve for 6 months under Capt Alexander Gorden. Was in the Battle of Ectaw Springs on this tour.

States that he has been acquainted since 1816 with Congressman Martin Beaty as he was then a resident of Wayne County, Kentucky. He is also known to John Lane, Clergyman and Enoch Yantis.

John Parmley [Sr] was born in New Jersey about 10 miles of Elizabethtown, according to his present recollection, in ESSEX COUNTY, on the 4th of June 1762.

After the Revolutionary War, he was marched to the state of Georgia and lived in Wilks County for over 12 months.

Then moved to Hawkins Co., Tennessee for 8 years, then to Claiborne County, Tn., for 1 year, then to Cumberland County, Kentucky for 4 or 5 years, then to Wayne Co., Ky for about 26 years, then to the State of Missouri, and have lived there since about 14 months ago and moved back to and settled in Russell County, Kentucky adjoining Wayne Co., in 1830. John Lane lives in Russell County, Ky.

(Records from "Wayne Co, Ky Pioneers," Vol 4:71-89; 460-462, by June Baldwin Bork <http://www.junebaldwinbork.com>;).
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Next came John and Rebecca's son Robert Parmley, born 4 Mar 1789 in North Carolina, died 12 Sep 1875 in Monticello, Wayne, Kentucky.  Married Barbara Adair, born 15 Nov 1793 in Hawkins, Tennessee, died 25 Nov 1834 in Wayne, Kentucky.  This is a picture of Robert Parmley (date unknown).











James Parmley, born 19 May 1810 in Wayne, Kentucky, died 18 Jan 1881 in Wayne, Kentucky.  Married Charlotte Baker, born 1821 in Kentucky, died 1870 in Mill Springs, Wayne, Kentucky.

James Emery Parmley, born 1 July 1856 in Mill Springs, Wayne, Kentucky, died 23 April 1920 in Banks, Washington County, Oregon.  Married Mary Alice Randall, born 18 Aug 1863 in Pulaski County, Kentucky, died 29 Sep 1953 in Forest Grove, Washington County, Oregon.

This brings us to Clifford's father, Philmore Bethel Parmley, born 29 Sep 1883 in Kentucky, died 30 Aug 1966 in Banks, Oregon.  Married Viola Lucinda Shipley, born 18 Nov 1888 in Arnold, Custer County, Nebraska, died 20 Oct 1975 in Forest Grove, Washington County, Oregon.

Clifford was born August 21, 1915.  He was one of 5 children: Cleo, Christina, Clifford, Cecil, Charlotte, and Clinton.  He married Edna Jewel Meredith and they had two daughters: Janice Lee (my mother) and Barbara Jo. 

Jan married Joe Andrews and their children are Carrie Lee, Kelli Jo and Jeffrey Michael.
Barb married Art Kacalek and their children are Deena, Debbie, Danny and Dawna.

Cliff and Edna live in Bend, Oregon.  We will celebrate his 95th birthday this year (2010).