HISTORICAL SURVEY AND INVENTORY OF OLD HOMES

VA WPA HISTORICAL INVENTORY PROJECT

(Record in Isle of Wight County Courthouse)

 “Macclesfield” – 10 May 1937 research by Florence Jordan, Benn’s Church, VA.

            Location – 1.8 miles east of Benn’s Church on Rt. 17, thence 4.2 miles north on Rt. 665, thence one mile east of Rt. 665

            Date – 1651

            Owners -       Thomas Parker                     1650

                                    Thomas Parker                     1688

                                    Francis Parker                      1717

                                    Nathaniel Parker                   1730

                                    Nicholas Parker                    1789

                                    Copeland Parker     

                                    Josiah Parker                        ca. 1815

                                    Josiah Parker’s heirs

                                    Captain & Mrs. Simmons     1937

            From historical marker K247 – “Josiah Parker was born in 1751 and married Mary (Pierce) Bridger (widow of Joseph Bridger) and had a daughter, Ann Pierce Parker who married Captain William Cowper, United States Navy, in 1802.  They had a son who changed his name to Parker and became the heir of Josiah Parker.  These Parker’s were not the same family as that of Henry Parker of “Plainfield” and his brother who later lived at “Macclesfield”.  Copeland Parker and Ann S. Parker are buried at “Macclesfield”.  Ann S. Parker died July 18, 1800.  Mrs. Simmons said that there was a ship-yard landing back of the house on a creek.”

 

“Plainfield” – 27 Nov 1937 research by Mary M. Wilson, Rushmere, VA.

            Location – 4.5 miles northeast from Carrolton, VA, 3 miles northeast on Rt. 665, 1 mile west on Rt. 665, .5 of a mile northwest on a private road leading to the farm

            Date – 1835

            Owners -       Mr. B. A. Norsworthy             1835-1877

                                    Mr. B. A. Norsworthy 1877-1900

                                    Mr. Earnest Parker               1900-1929’

                                    Mr. Ray Villines                     1929

Description – “This old frame home which stands high of ground sits in a grove of very old oak trees.  There are no gardens.  It has very little appearance of age as it has been weather-boarded, raised half story and the dormer windows removed.  But the inside has not been remodeled.  There are two large brick chimneys at one end of the house and on the same side are the entrances to the house and to the basement.  There is a very small one story porch with eleven steps up.  There are three rooms downstairs; a small enclosed stairway to the second floor is built in one of the rooms.  There are no halls and two rooms on the second floor.  There is wainscoting in all rooms.  The house is lathed and plastered; laths are all made by hand.  There are only nine windows in the house and they are tall and narrow.  The fireplaces are small.  The mantels are carved a little.  Exterior – rectangular, 2-story, frame, gabled roof, metal roof, 2 brick chimneys both at one end, weatherboarding plain, plain wood cornices, 9 windows, 10 panes each, 9 1/2” by 11”,, plain shutters, no dormers.