Abraham Parker
Private Abraham Parker was born around 1843 in Gilford, Franklin Co., Pa to Daniel and Rosanna Parker.1 There is little known about Parker before the war. He was a laborer and had a couple of criminal convictions. In 1858, in Com vs. Allen Whiten and Abraham Parker, Parker was found guilty of larceny and sentenced to 6 months in prison.2 He was again sentenced to 3 months imprisonment and fined for larceny in Com. vs. Abraham Parker in 1859.3 He was mustered January 14, 1864, in Carlisle, Pa into the 25th USCT Company C.4 Parker deserted Camp William Penn on March 17, 1864. He was swiftly arrested on April 9, 1864, and returned without a trial on May 8, 1864. He was fined $30 for desertion. According to Find A Grave, Parker contracted scurvy while stationed in Florida.5 Parker was discharged December 6, 1865, as a Private returning to Carlisle, Pa.6 By 1888, he began to receive a pension for his service.7
After the war, Parker became a member of Corporal Jesse G. Thompson Post No. 440 G.A.R. and went to the Pomfret Street A.M.E. Church. 8 He served as Officer of the Guard (O.G.) in the G.A.R from 1884-1894 before becoming a Service Member (S.M.) in 1895.9 10 11 Eventually, in 1897, Parker became the Junior Vice Commander (J.V.C.).12 Based on the 1860-1870 census, Parker married a woman named Margaret, who was confirmed as his wife in the 1880 census.13 14 They lived in house 3 on Jail Alley, Carlisle, Pa
Parker was a laborer and distinguished G.A.R. member; however, he also had a criminal history in Carlisle. The first trial he was in was 1872 Com. vs. Scott Foulk and Abraham Parker. He was accused of larceny but not convicted.15 Then, in 1883, Parker was brought before the judge again for surety of peace.16 His most interesting crime was detailed over two days in the Carlisle Weekly Herald and Sentinel. The August 18, 1887 report in the Herald, accused Parker and Adolphus Wilkinson of public intoxication and misconduct.17 Nevertheless, the story progresses on August 19, 1887, Sentinel article. The Sentinel explains that Wilkinson placed a dead rat in Parker's pocket. In retaliation, Parker threw rocks at Wilkinson, ensuing a fight on Court House Avenue. The men were summoned to be fined.18 Wilkinson and Abraham make another the appearance together, along with other black men, before the court in 1888 for disturbance and drunkenness.19
After 1888, Parker did not have any more criminal reports. Nearing the last 10 years of his life, Parker received a soldier's license 1892.20 In 1893, Parker's wife, Margaret, died from heart disease. She was ill before her death.21 Two years later, Parker was back in the papers as a victim of a crime. The police arrested Robert Goens for attempting to enter Parker’s home. 22 In 1898, Parker died from consumption. The Carlisle Evening Herald reports that he had no children survive him.23 He was buried in Lincoln Cemetery Memorial Park. His grave location is row A-2, grave number 21. The gravestone has a G.A.R. Star and date of birth of 1838 on it. However, the date seems ten years early when cross-examined with the census records.24 25
1 “Seventh Census of the United States, 1850.” Ancestry.com
2“The Shippensburg News.” (1858). Newspapers.com.
3 “Carlisle Weekly Herald.” (1859). Newspapers.com
4 “Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers for Abraham Parker.” Fold3.com
5 “Abraham Parker.” Find A Grave.
6 “Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers for Abraham Parker.” Fold3.com
7 “General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934.” Ancestry.com
8 “Carlisle Evening Herald.” (1898). Newspapers.com
9 “The Sentinel.” (1884). Newspapers.com
10 “Carlisle Evening Herald.” (1894). Newspapers.com
11 “The Sentinel.” (1895). Newspapers.com
12 “The Sentinel.” (1897). Newspapers.com
13 1860 U.S. census, population schedule.” Ancestry.com 14 “1870 U.S. census, population schedules.” Ancestry.com 15 “Carlisle Weekly Herald.” (1872). Newspapers.com
16 “Lancaster Daily Intelligencer.” (1883). Newspappers.com
17 “Carlisle Weekly Herald.” (1887). Newspapers.com
18 “The Sentinel” (1887). Newspapers.com
19 “The Sentinel” (1888). Newspapers.com
20 “The Sentinel.” (1892). Newspapers.com
21 “Carlisle Weekly Herald.” (1893). Newspapers.com
22 “Carlisle Evening Herald.” (1895). Newspapers.com
23 “Carlisle Evening Herald.” (1898). Newspapers.com
24 “Abraham Parker.” Find A Grave.
25 “Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012.” Ancestry.com
Bibliography
Brandt, Dennis. “Abraham Parker.” Find A Grave. 22 May 2014. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130193284/abraham-parker.
Carlisle Evening Herald. “Abraham Parker.” Nov. 21, 1898. Newspapers.com. www.newspapers.com/image/270408693.
Carlisle Weekly Herald. “Court Proceedings.” Newspapers.com. Apr. 18, 1872. www.newspapers.com/image/270016201.
Carlisle Evening Herald. “Grand Army Officers.” Newspapers.com. Dec. 7, 1894.. www.newspapers.com/image/275376712.
Carlisle Weekly Herald. “In the Quarter Sessions.” Newspapers.com. Nov. 23, 1859. www.newspapers.com/image/270336117.
Carlisle Weekly Herald. “Mrs. Abraham Parker.” Newspapers.com. Dec. 21, 1893. www.newspapers.com/image/270113872.
Carlisle Weekly Herald. “Robert Goens Arrested.” Newspapers.com. Aug. 7, 1895. www.newspapers.com/images/27538938.
Carlisle Weekly Herald. “Will be Given a Hearing.” Newspapers.com. Aug. 18, 1887. www.newspapers.com/image/270176072.
“Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who served in the United States Colored Troops: Miscellaneous Personal Papers for Abraham Parker.” Fold3.com. National Archives and Records Administration.
“Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 for Abraham Parker.” AncestryLibrary.com. National Archives and Records Administration.
Lancaster Daily Intelligencer. “ August Court: Next Week’s Trial List.” Newspapers.com. Aug. 17, 1883. www.newspapers.com/image/146140804.
“Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012 for Abram Parker.” AncestryLibrary.com. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau of Archives and History.
The Sentinel. “A Soldier’s License.” Newspapers.com. Aug. 10, 1892. www.newspapers.com/image/343956740.
The Sentinel. “Election of Officers.” Newspapers.com. Dec. 8, 1884. www.newspapers.com/image/343942033.
The Sentinel. “Installation.” Newspapers.com. Feb. 5, 1897. www.newspapers.com/image/344338080.
The Sentinel. “Jesse G. Thompson Post Officers.” Newspapers.com. Dec. 12, 1895. www.newspapers.com/image/343969086.
The Sentinel. “More Arrests.” Newspapers.com. Aug. 19, 1887. www.newspapers.com/image/342869025.
The Sentinel. “Summoned to Appear.” Newspapers.com. Jan. 6, 1888. www.newspapers.com/images/343929569.
The Sentinel. “Robert Goens Arrested.” Newspapers.com. Aug. 7, 1895. www.newspapers.com/image/275383938.
“Seventh Census of the United States, 1850 for Abraham Parker.” AncestryLibrary.com. National Archives and Records Administration.
The Shippensburg News. “Court Proceedings of Cumberland County.” Newspapers.com. Jan. 23, 1858. www.newspapers.com/image/89213043.
“Tenth Census of the United States, 1880 for Abram Parker.” AncestryLibrary.com. Records of the Bureau of Census,. National Archives.
“1870 U.S. Census, population schedules for Abraham Parker.” AncestryLibrary.com. National Archives and Records Administration.
“1860 U.S. Census, population schedules for Abraham Parker.” AncestryLibrary.com. National Archives and Records Administration.