Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/253

 VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY

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July, 1914. at the age of seventy-six years. His wife died in January of the same year. Dr. and Mrs. McGill have a daughter, Evelyn Page, born October 7, 191 1.

William Henry Parker, M. D. The name Parker, according to Burke, "is one of the oldest and best known in England." He further states that the name was originally De Parkire, from a Norman knight. The English family is one of universal promi- nence and includes men of title and high rank. The army and navy of Great Britain numbers countless Parkers of high station, from the earliest period of the naval his- tory of that nation down to the present day.

The Mrginia family herein written de- scends from the Earl of Macclesfield, Eng- lish branch, and was founded in this state in 1650. One of the brothers settled in Isle of Wight county, the other brother, George Parker, in Accomac county. From this George Parker springs Dr. William H. Parker, of Richmond, Virginia.

In America the name is no less illustrious than in England. Men high in every pro- fession, in naval and military life as well as business, have ever made the name a prominent one in American life. Eighteen officers of the continental army, descendants of these brothers, led Virginia troops dur- ing the revolution, and in each war there- after, the name is an oft recurring one in the records. Bishop Meade, in alluding to an old graveyard, wrote: "It was honored by the remains of the Washingtons, Lees and Parkers." The Parker coat-of-arms granted in 1697 is thus described: Arms — Sable, a buck's head cabossed, between two flanches argent. Crest — A dexter arm erect, vested azure, slashed and cufifed argent, holding in the hand proper an attire of a stag (or piece of coral) gules.

From the Accomac county settler. George Parker, came Robert Parker, of Watts Island, X'irginia, to whom and his wife, Leah, was born a son George, July 26, 1770. This George Parker married, February 24, 1803, Peggy Floyd, of Norfolk, Virginia. To them was born, October 16, 1806, a son, George Gilbert.

George Gilbert Parker, early left an or- phan, was reared under the guardianship of his future wife's father. He later became a wealthy planter of \\"arwick county, Vir- ginia, a high-minded man of charming per-

sonality and intellectual acquirements. He married, January 31, 1828, Margaret Taylor Savage, of Hampton, V^irginia, the great- granddaughter of Major Kirby of the British army, and his wife. Lady Margaret (How- ard) Kirby, daughter of Sir Harry Howard of York, of the famous English house of Howard. To George Gilbert Parker and his wife, Margaret, were born sons and daugh- ters, all of whom died young, save William. Henry.

William Henry Parker was born August 18, 1835. at Hampton, Virginia, died in the city of Richmond, Virginia, July 14, 1906. He served contiruously through the war be- tween the states, under various command- ers, being identified with the First Com- pany Virginia Howitzers. He married, after the war, Anne Rebecca Clarke, of Charles City county, Virginia, also of distinguished ancestry. Like his father, George Gilbert Parker, he was a man of distinguished bear- ing and fascinating manner, chivalrous and generous to a fault, a Christian, soldier, and gentleman, beloved by an army of friends, with whom he labored in his closing years for the cause of Christianity. His children were : Gilbert Floyd, of Richmond ; William Henry, of whom further ; Margaret, married Oliver Frances Blankingship. M. D.. of Richmond ; John Archer, died young ; Anne Wilcox, died young.

Dr. William Henry (2) Parker, of Rich- mond, son of William Henry (i) and Anne Rebecca (Clarke) Parker, was born in Rich- mond, Virginia, September 16. 1873. He is a graduate of the Richmond High School, class of 1890, and after two years at Rich- mond College, entered the University Col- lege of Medicine, whence he was graduated M. D.. class of 1895. He spent the follow- ing year as surgeon at the City Hospital of Richmond, then began private practice in that city, where he has risen to a distin- guished position in his profession, and as a citizen. He is a member of the board of police commissioners of Richmond, supreme medical examiner for the Order of the Gold- en Seal, director of the McGraw-Yarbrough Company, (Inc.) ; a member of the lodge, chapter., commandery and shrine of the Masonic order ; Abou Ben Adhem Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Heptasophs, and others ; also belongs to the Elks Club. He is a Democrat in politics. His church af^filiations are wnth Trinity