John Parker was born in Baltimore Co, Maryland in 1758. His parents are unknown at this time. He fought in the American Revolution. Drew a pension for it when he lived in Tennessee. Married Sarah White~~ Nov, 1779, Culpepper Co, Va.
 She was said to be the daughter of Benjamin White a direct descendant of Peregrine White, being the FIRST baby born in the new world, America. Peregrine was born on the Mayflower after it was docked in American waters, waiting to be disembarked by the new settlers. His parents were William and Susannah (some say Fuller) White. I have not been able to prove this though. I did find the right Benjamin White and he did have daughters Sarah "Sallie" and Rachel that married William Bennett. This is where the Bennett line comes into the Parker line.  Benjamin died Aug. 1818. Copy of WILL attached in history of said Benjamin White. John and family lived in various places, Tenn, Ill, Ga, Virginia and maybe other places before coming to Texas.
 They decided to bring a church to Texas called Pigrim Predisterian Protestant Baptist Church. Texas was under the control of Mexico so the only churches were Catholic. Stephen F. Austin managed to get it approved to establish a new type of church in Texas, so the Parker's came with their 25  wagons and people to this new land called Texas. They had established members of the new church. All family members. Other families came with them. names have been floated around over the years, but some names are, Bennett, Box, Douthit, Duty, and various others, not recalled at this time. All his sons were grown so they have married and brought their families as well. All of his children except a few came. Nathaniel stayed in Ill, and I believe a daughter stayed. John, Jr. had already died. Killed by Indians in Missouri.
 After they get to Texas, John and some of his sons move on to Limestone Co, Texas. They decided to build a fort. It was named Fort Parker, out of Groesbeck, Texas. The sons that were with him at the time, was Benjamin F., Silas M. and James W.
 They all have families with them except for Benjamin F., I believe. The fort is used for Indian raids. Some of them lived outside the fort, with there families. they farmed, and did other various work.
 One morning on 19 May, 1836, most of the men were out working in the fields. The people at the fort were women and children, and a few men. John Parker his sons Silas and Benjamin and maybe a few other men were there. A large band of Indians came to the gate which was not locked. Benjamin went out to the Indians which were brandishing a white flag. They said the wanted a beef,(and various other stories) have surfaced as to exactly what they wanted. Benjamin went back inside and Silas told him not to go back out there, but he was a afraid if he did not go back they would attack. When he went back they surrounded him and killed him, and then attack the fort anyway. Silas was killed, John tried to get his wife Sarah "Granny" Parker out another gate but they were caught and he was killed and scalped. Granny was attacked, raped and left for dead. Lucinda, wife of Silas was trying to get her four children out when and Indians caught up to her and made her put two of her children up on horses. Cynthia Ann (9) and John Richard (7) they would never see there mother again. Elizabeth Duty Kellough was captured, also Rachel Parker Plummer and her young son, James Pratt were captured. Rachel was the daughter of James W. Parker. He would see her again but years later when she was returned. James Pratt was returned some years later. Elizabeth was returned. John Richard never came back, but he was abandoned after the Indians thought he had small pox, cared for by a Mexican girl captive named Donna Juanita, later going into Mexico and living there throughout his life.  He did join the Civil War, but left when he got out and went back to Mexico, not having much to do with his Parker family. He lived to be an old man. Cynthia Ann was recaptured in about 1860-1861 by Sul Ross and brought
 back to civilization, returned to her Parker family, but never was satisfied with her surrounding and finally died in 1864 or 1870. Controversial dates as to when she really died. but she was buried out of Palestine, Texas in Fosterville Cemetery. I have seen her original rock tombstone. In 1910 Quanah had her remains removed to Okla, and buried in the Indian Post Oak Cemetery. he died in 1911 and was buried beside her. They later removed the bodies to Fort Sill Military Cemetery, where they were reinterred. Also removed after his mother was his little sister Prairie Flower, supposedly buried in Van Zandt Co. There have also various stories where she died and was buried. Texas Rangers removed her body and sent it to Okla. This is the story of the Parker's and the Fort Parker Massacre.

Elder John we now know had a brother named Daniel Parker b. Baltimore County, Md. later lived and died in Dickson County, Tenn. in 1818.  Sister; Susannah Parker b. 1764  Baltimore Co, Md.  married John Daughhetee and moved to
 Estill Co, Ky. and died there 1816.

Brother James Parker, no dates and no idea where he settled.****************

I now have an update on James Parker, through his descendant John David Parker. James Mercer Parker b. 1752 (the place was Conn, but he does not believe that story). Married; Anna Doty, direct descendant of Edward Doty, who came on the Mayflower. Anna was from N.J. The family ended up in Kentucky for a while. but later went  to Coles Co, Ill. Where they are buried. James Mercer died 1835. Buried; Parker  Cemetery #2 Hutton Township, Coles Co, Ill. Anna Doty Parker buried there as well. John David Parker's DNA matches Elder John Parker, Group 5. Terry Barton sent him  an email stating he believed James Mercer was a brother of Elder John.

Possible brothers and sisters, Abigail, 
 	1. Mary PARKER,   d. Yes, date unknown
  	2. Moses PARKER,   b. 26 Aug 1744, Virginia   d. 12 Nov 1830, McColl, Marlboro, South Carolina   	3. Elizabeth "Sally" PARKER,   b. Abt 1745,   d. Yes, date unknown  	4. Daniel PARKER,   b. 15 Mar 1750, Baltimore, Hartford County, Maryland  d. Bef 6 Apr 1818, Dickson County, Tennessee 
  	5. Issac PARKER,   b. Abt 1755, Baltimore County, Maryland   d. 1803, Sumner County, Tennessee   	6. Thomas PARKER,   b. 8 Jan 1757, Baltimore County, Maryland   d. 18 Dec 1819  	7. John "Elder" PARKER,   b. 6 Sep 1758, Baltimore County,    d. 19 May 1836, Limestone County, Texas   	8. Richard PARKER,   b. 1762,   d. Yes, date unknown
  	9. Nathaniel PARKER, Jr.,   b. 1763,   d. Yes, date unknown        10. Susannah PARKER,   b. 9 Aug 1764,   d. 1816 Estill Co, Ky.        11. James Parker   David Parker's research has led him to believe he is a descendant of James Parker, the brother of Elder John Parker. While his brother John left Illinois via ox-drawn wagons in 1833 for a new life in Texas, James Parker remained home, his destiny apparently lost to history.

In fact, David Parker brought with him to Texas a printout from a website detailing Elder John Parker's life. At the bottom, it reads, "Brother, James Parker. No data and no idea where he settled."

"We're still waiting for the results of (David Parker's) DNA test, but if it turns out he's related to us, it will fill in a big gap in the family history," said Nicholson. "The more people we find that are descendants of Elder John or his siblings, the better."