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Collection Number: 04464

Collection Title: Thomas Parks Collection of Parks and McElrath Family Papers, 1777-1981

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.


expand/collapse Expand/collapse Collection Overview

Size 2.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 1400 items)
Abstract The Parks family, like many other Scotch-Irish dissenters, made their way to the North Carolina Piedmont, settling in Rowan County. There, William Parks (1770-1842) was born. He married Mary Beaty (1778-1846) in 1795, and the two had ten children, among them a son, John L. Parks (1822-1906). John Parks married his first wife, Margaret McDowell, in 1848. Following two other marriages and service as a Confederate private, Parks moved to the Hopewell area, near Huntersville in Mecklenburg County, NC, in 1868. There he owned a substantial farm and cotton gin. One of his sons, William Beaty Parks (1851-1929), also became a farmer and was the owner of a general store. W. B. Parks married Nancy Alice Gluyas in 1873. They had three sons, one of whom was the Thomas Parks (1889-1980) who collected this material. The McElraths were related to the Parks by marriage. David McElrath left Scotland for America in 1730, and a son, also David, moved to Burke County, NC. Two of his sons, Robert (1770-1814) and John, married into the McDowell family. The collection includes correspondence, financial and legal items, photographs, and other material relating to ancestors and other relatives of Thomas Parks (1889-1980). Parks collected the material in an effort to document his genealogy, and much of the material concerns the Parks family of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The bulk of the other material concerns the McElrath family of Burke County, North Carolina.
Creator Parks, Thomas, 1889-1980, collector.
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Language English
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Information For Users

Restrictions to Access
No restrictions. Open for research.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Thomas Parks Collection of Parks and McElrath Family Papers #4464, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Florence P. Johnston, Edisto Beach, SC, in August 1986, through J. Andrew Johnston, Research Triangle Park, NC, and William P. Johnston, Rocky Mount, NC.
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Processing Information

Processed by: John Beam, October 1986

Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008

Updated by: Dawne Howard Lucas, January 2022

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Biographical Information

The Parks family, like many other Scotch-Irish dissenters, made their way to the North Carolina Piedmont, settling in Rowan County. There, William Parks (1770-1842) was born. He married Mary Beaty (1778-1846) in 1795, and the two had ten children, among them a son, John L. Parks (1822-1906).

John Parks married his first wife, Margaret McDowell McElrath, in 1848. Following two other marriages and service as a Confederate private, Parks moved to the Hopewell area, near Huntersville in Mecklenburg County, NC, in 1868. There he owned a substantial farm and cotton gin. One of his sons, William Beaty Parks (1851-1929), also became a farmer and was the owner of a general store. W. B. Parks married Nancy Alice Gluyas in 1873. They had three sons, one of whom was the Thomas Parks (1889-1980) who collected this material.

The McElraths were related to the Parks by marriage. David McElrath left Scotland for America in 1730, and a son, also David, moved to Burke County, NC. Two of his sons, Robert (1780-1814) and John, married into the McDowell family.

Robert McElrath and his wife Margaret McDowell (1819-1854) had at least four daughters and a son. One daughter, Margaret (1819-1854), married John Lindsay Parks (1822-1906). The son, Robert Jackson (1832-1898), married F. Emily Dobson (1832-1907), and owned a large farm in Silver Creek Valley, Burke County, NC.

A notable episode in Robert J. McElrath's life was his participation in the California gold rush. In 1851, McElrath sent several slaves to Tuolumne County, California, under the supervision of a son-in-law, G. D. Dodson, to work in placer mines there. Most of the gold was to go towards substantial debts incurred by McElrath, but the slaves were allowed to keep the earnings from their sixth day of labor each week (see sub-collection 2, folders 2 and 22).

Robert and Emily McElrath had a daughter, Lillie (1868-1897), and a son, John, who worked as a railroad foreman.

The family charts that follow provide additional information.

Parks Family

William Parks (1770-1824) + Mary Beaty (1778-1846)

William B. Parks (1814-1868) + Harriet F. Gibbs

John L. Parks (1822-1906) + (1) Margaret McElrath (1819-1854)

(2) Sarah Alexander (1823-1858)

(3) Sarah Butler (d. 1876)

(4) Elizabeth Williams (1827-1904)

Mary Ann Parks (1849-1950)

William B. Parks (1851-1929) + Nancy Alice Gluyas (1853-1925)

John L. II (1874-1956)

Walter Beaty (1896-1971)

Thomas (1889-1980) + Minnie Brice Ranson (1886-1969)

McElrath Family

David McElrath (fl. 1730)

David + Catherine Averharte

Robert (1780-1854) + Margaret McDowell (1787-1874)

Robert Jackson (1832-1898) + F. Emily Dobson (1832-1907)

Lillie (1868-1897)

John McDowell (1863-1939)

Elisa

Mira

Margaret (1819-1854) + John L. Parks (1822-1906)

Mary Ann (1849-1950)

William Beaty (1851-1929) + Nancy Alice Guyas (1853-1925)

Thomas (1889-1980) + Minnie Brice Ranson (1886-1969)

Florence Vivian (b. 1916) + Philip L. Johnston (b. 1914)

Matilda + G. D. Dodson

John + Elizabeth McDowell

McDowell Family

Joseph McDowell (b. 1715) + Margaret O'Neale

Joseph

Charles

John

Margaret (1787-1874) + Robert McElrath (1780-1854)

Robert Jackson (1832-1898) + F. Emily Dobson (d. 1906)

Elisa

Margaret (1819-1854) + John L. Parks (1822-1906)

Mary Ann (1849-1850)

William Beaty (1851-1929) + Nancy Alice Gluyas (1853-1925)

Thomas (1889-1980) + Minnie Brice Ranson (1886-1969)

Florence Vivian (b. 1916) + Phillip L. Johnston (b. 1914)

Elizabeth + John McElrath (1810-1842)

Hugh

Elizabeth

Hannah

This chart includes only those individuals featured in or important for understanding these papers. Thus, only selected children and marriages are noted. For more detailed genealogical information, see subcollection 1, folder 51.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The bulk of these papers consists of correspondence and financial and legal documents relating to the Parks and McElraths. The collection reflects the genealogical interests of Thomas Parks, as indicated by many notes on family history included in the correspondence. There is also some specifically genealogical material in the collection, including printed and typescript materials relating to Parks genealogy. Various writings, photographs, and account books round out the collection.

In order to facilitate the use of this collection, it has been divided into two subcollections, one containing items related largely to the Parks family and the other related largely to the McElraths.

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

expand/collapse Expand/collapse 1. PARKS FAMILY.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. Parks Family: Correspondence, 1852-1981.

About 73 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Correspondence of the Parks family, most with various relatives and friends (including correspondence from the McElraths-folder 7), and some letters to business and legal contacts. Notable items include letters from John L. Parks to his wife and brother during an 1852 trip to Texas (folder 1) and two letters of the Civil War era (folder 3). Matters discussed consist almost entirely of genealogy, farming, and routine business and family affairs.

Folder 1

1852

Folder 2

1854-1855

Folder 3

1862

Folder 4

1875

Folder 5

1877

Folder 6

1878-1879

Folder 7

1880-1900

Folder 8

1902-1904

Folder 9

1904-1907

Folder 10

1912-1921

Folder 11

1938-1981

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2. Parks Family: Financial and Legal Items, 1777-1940.

About 648 items.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.1. Deeds and Indentures, 1777-1929.

About 21 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Deeds and indentures tracing land dealings of the Parks family and the history of their tract of land in Mecklenburg County.

Folder 12

1777-1821

Folder 13

1860-1863

Folder 14

1870-1872

Extra Oversize Paper Folder XOPF-4464/1a

Indenture between R. M. White and Elam King, Mecklenburg County, N.C., 5 November 1870

Folder 15

1876-1885

Folder 16

1920-1929

Oversize Paper Folder OPF-4464/1b

Oversize deeds and indentures

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.2. Wills and Related Items, 1846-1905.

About 18 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Wills and various related items (such as property inventories) relating to the Parks family.

Folder 17

1846-1869

Extra Oversize Paper Folder XOPF-4464/1a

Division of the estate of David McElrath, 1869

Folder 18

1872-1896

Folder 19

1905

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.3. Slave Documents, 1853-1857.

3 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Two bills of sale for slaves and a physician's bill for treatment of slaves of John L. Parks.

Folder 20

Slave documents, 1853-1857

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.4. Receipts and Other Financial and Legal Items, 1825-1940, and Undated.

About 606 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Receipts, promissory notes, and account sheets tracing Parks family agricultural and business activities. Many of the receipts are for state, local, and national taxes, and insurance payments.

Folder 21

1825-1849

Folder 22

1850-1859

Folder 23

1860-1865

Folder 24

1866-1869

Folder 25

1870-1873

Folder 26

1874-1875

Folder 27

1876-1879

Folder 28

1880

Folder 29

1881

Folder 30

1882-1883

Folder 31

1884-1885

Folder 32

1886

Folder 33

1887-1889

Folder 34

1890-1899

Folder 35

1900-1904

Folder 36

1905-1907

Folder 37

1908-1909

Folder 38

1910-1919

Folder 39

1920-1929

Folder 40

1938-1940, Undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 3. Parks Family: Ballads and Poems, 1829, 1834, 1886.

19 items.

A manuscript copy of a poem by John L. Parks as a child, a hand-written shape-note tune-book, and a collection of ballads.

Folder 41

Ballads and poems, 1829

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 4. Parks Family: Printed Materials, 1840-1917.

43 items.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 4.1. Matrimonial Advertisements, 1909, 1917, and undated.

4 items.

Two "matrimonial catalogs" and two advertisement sheets for matrimonial agencies of the early 1900s, apparently utilized by one of the Parks or McElrath's in his search for a wife.

Folder 42

Matrimonial advertisements, 1909, 1917, and undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 4.2. Other Printed Material, 1840-1979, and undated.

39 items.

Various advertisements, newspapers and newspaper articles, obituaries, church publications, and other printed materials that reflect the daily life and interests of the Parks family.

Folder 43

1840-1898

Folder 44

1906-1907

Folder 45

1910-1913

Folder 46

1916-1963

Folder 47

1964-1979, undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 5. Parks Family: Other Papers, 1781-1950s.

29 items.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 5.1. Military Documents, 1781-1864.

8 items.

A substitute's certificate from the Revolutionary War, some records (mostly photocopies) documenting John L. Parks's service in the Confederate Army, and other items.

Folder 48

Military documents, 1781-1864

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 5.2. Blueprints, 1905, 1920, undated.

5 items.

A diagram of a fluid pump and storage device, two blueprints of proposed additions to the Hopewell Presbyterian Church graveyard (where many of the Parks family are buried), and two surveyor's drawings of Parks property.

Folder 49

1905, 1920, undated

Extra Oversize Paper Folder XOPF-4464/1a

Proposed additions to the Hopewell Presbyterian Church graveyard

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 5.3. Genealogical/Historical Material, 1950s-1960s.

16 items.

Typescript, manuscript, and photocopied material related to the history and genealogy of the Parks family.

Folder 50-51

Folder 50

Folder 51

Genealogical/historical material, 1950s-1960s

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 6. Parks Family: Volumes, 1836-1915.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 7. Parks Family: Pictures, circa 1860, 1955.

4 items.

Black and white photographs relating to the Parks family.

Image P-4464/1

Roxanna Parks Bradford, circa 1860.

Image P-4464/2

Peacock at "Uncle Gluyas," 1955.

Image P-4464/3-4a

Home of John L. Parks, 1955.

Image P-4464/4b

Cotton press owned by John L. Parks, circa 1900.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse 2. MCELRATH FAMILY.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. McElrath Family: Correspondence, 1820-1969.

About 141 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Correspondence of the McElrath family, with relatives, friends, and business and legal contacts, including some letters from members of the Parks family (folders 2, 4-6). Many of the letters discuss religious activities, genealogy, and agriculture, but most deal with routine family matters.

Notable items include correspondence from James McElrath, G. P. Dodson, and W. P. Robinson, all three of whom oversaw the working of a claim during the California gold rush from 1851 to 1852. The three North Carolinians sent letters to friends and family back home, describing the daily life of those working the claims and mentioning the use of slaves in the mines (see folders 2 and 13 and related financial items in folder 22). Another notable letter, received by the McElraths from a relative in Tennessee, mentions action taken to avert a slave insurrection in 1860 (folder 5).

Folder 62

1820-1849

Folder 63

1850-1852

Folder 64

1853

Folder 65

1854-1859

Folder 66

1860-1869

Folder 67

1870-1879

Folder 68

1883-1887

Folder 69

1888-1889

Folder 70

1890-1894

Folder 71

1895-1899

Folder 72

1900-1905

Folder 73

1905-1909

Folder 74

1910-1969

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2. McElrath Family: Financial and Legal Items, 1777-1937.

About 373 items.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.1. Deeds and Indentures, 1779-1907.

24 items.

Deeds and indentures recording land transactions of various members of the McElrath and related families.

Folder 75

1779-1816

Folder 76

1825-1907

Oversize Paper Folder OPF-4464/1b

Oversize deeds and indentures

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.2. Slave Documents, 1827-1857.

4 items.

Two bills of sale, a deed granting a slave to a physician (probably in consideration of services), and a physician's bill for a visit to one of the McElrath slaves.

Folder 77

Slave documents, 1827-1857

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.3. Receipts and Other Financial and Legal Items, 1777-1937.

345 items.

Receipts, promissory notes, and other items tracing the business and farming activities of the McElraths and their relatives. Notable items are a receipt for gold dust from the Brindletown mine, Burke County, North Carolina, dated 24 April 1835, and items related to the McElraths gold prospecting activities in California, including a record of the slaves' share of the gold (folder 22).

Folder 78

1777-1809

Folder 79

1810-1819

Folder 80

1820-1829

Folder 81

1830-1839

Folder 82

1840-1849

Folder 83

1850-1859

Folder 84

1860-1869

Folder 85

1870-1879

Folder 86

1880-1889

Folder 87

1890-1899

Folder 88

1900-1909

Folder 89

1910-1937

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 3. McElrath Family: Writings, 1870, undated.

7 items.

A cure, notes, and songs for a July 4 celebration; a penmanship sample; and three articles by F. Emily Dobson, wife of Robert Jackson McElrath.

Folder 90

Writings, 1870 and undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 4. McElrath Family: Printed Material, 1890-1969.

9 items.

Advertisements and other printed material, some of which relates to the history of the McElrath and McDowell families.

Folder 91

Printed material, 1890-1969

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 5. McElrath Family: Genealogical/Historical Items, 1859-1984.

23 items.

Largely typescript and manuscript materials (some copies of newspaper articles) tracing the history of the McElraths and McDowells

Folder 92

1859-1893

Folder 93

1894-1984

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 6. McElrath Family: Volumes, 1909.

1 item.

Account book recording work done by John McElrath and including some genealogical information.

Folder 94

Volume, 1909

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 7. McElrath Family: Pictures, circa 1860, 1955.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Items Separated

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