Readding Parkers Gold - Lake Marian,Florida

[Gypsy Heart]

Readding Parker's Gold - Lake Marian,Florida

After the great hurricane of 1878, Readding Parker found that most of his cattle were located east of the river, near Lake Marian. There in 1879 he constructed a log house which became known as the "Parker Place." Until his death February 18, 1891, Readding lived at the Parker Place. His last three children were born there. Ellen (Willingham) Parker, widow of Readding, moved with her children to Basinger in 1898 and later moved to Fort Pierce where she died, March 8,1933.

Legend surrounds the old "Parker Place," located near Lake Marian, several miles west of Whittier, now Kenansville. It is said that Readding Parker buried gold there and his spirit haunted the place guarding the treasure. Cowhunters camping near the area would run in fear at any unusual sound.

 

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[Gypsy Heart]

Re: Readding Parker's Gold - Lake Marian,Florida

Children of STREATY PARKER and MARY BLOUNT are:

14. i. READDING BLOUNT7 PARKER, b. February 28, 1849, Columbia County, Florida; d. February 18, 1891, Osceola County, Florida.

14. READDING BLOUNT7 PARKER (STREATY6, LUKE5, RACHEL4 SESSUMS, NICHOLAS3, THOMAS2, NICHOLAS1) was born February 28, 1849 in Columbia County, Florida, and died February 18, 1891 in Osceola County, Florida. He married ELLEN WILLINGHAM August 6, 1868 in Polk County, Florida, daughter of WILLIAM WILLINGHAM and ANNIE HILLIARD.

Notes for READDING BLOUNT PARKER:

Readding Blount Parker, born Feb. 28, 1849 in Columbia County, Florida died Feb. 18, 1891, Osceola County, Florida, son of Streaty Parker and Mary Eve Blount. He married August 6, 1868, in Polk County, Florida, Ellen Wilingham, daughter of William Henry and Annie Hilliard Willingham. She was born Mary 14, 1851 in Hillsborough County Florida and died March 8, 1933 at Ft. Pierce, Florida. Readding B Parker came to Hillsborough (now Polk Co.) Fla in October 1851 with his parents. He attended the original log schoolhouse at Ft. Blount in 1858. He lived in Polk County until 1879. During the 1870's he raised cattle in the Kissimmee River Valley. In 1878, after the great hurricane he found most of his cattle were located east of the Kissimmee River. In 1879 he build a permanent residence on the Norwest corner of Lake Marian. He employed several workmen and raised cattle and sheep and grain crops. He had about 700 head of cattle at his death, which his brother Louis Parker as administrator of the Estate of Streaty Parker sold to Ellen Parker for $3500. On Sept 16, 1887, Readding and Ellen Parker sold for $3,968.68 their one-ninth share in 340 acres of land in Polk Co. which had belonged to Streaty Parker. The sale was made to Readding's mother and seven brothers and sisters. Readding B. Parker died Feb 18, 1891, Osceola Co., after suffering from Bright's disease for several years. Ellen Parker and her children moved to Basinger in 1898 and were living in the household of her daughter Bertha, and son-in-law James Walker on the 1900 census. She lived in Basinger until 1907 when she and her sons moved to Ft. Pierce , Fla. She died March 8, 1933 in Ft. Pierce, Fla. and is buried in the cemetery there. Reading B. Parker's remains were moved beside his wife some years after her death.

James E Morgan, Jr., NICHOLAS SESSOMS AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDATNS, (Published by James E Morgan Jr., 2462 Whites Mill Rd., Sumter, SC 29153), Page 20,21.

Will of Nicholas Sessums, Surry Co. Virginia Book 7 Page 33.

James E Morgan, Jr., NICHOLAS SESSOMS AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDATNS, (Published by James E Morgan Jr., 2462 Whites Mill Rd., Sumter, SC 29153), Page 18,20,21.

 

[Gritsgal]

Readding Parker gold

I read several threads from back in 2004 and 2007 discussing the subject of old man Parker’s Gold.There is conflicting information on Readdings date of death and spouse from that thread and other information I have. Here they stated he died late 1800’s. In the small book “Pioneer families of the Kissimmee River Valley” under the Parker genealogy it says he died in Dec. 12, 1940 and marriage to Kate Hurt. That’s over 50 years difference in death. I’m from Kissimmee and grew up pre Rat World when we were a small one stop light cow town. Sure was nice. Anyway, the Parker Legend has been around for generations now. As the story goes old man Parker stole a chest of gold from pirates. Everyone thinks of swashbuckling one eyed pirates on the open seas but I think it was just rum runners or something like that. Everyone was called pirates if they were on a boat I suppose. Lots of contraband shipped back and forth from Cuba and other areas. Anyway, supposedly they caught him. Old timers over the years talk about old man Parker’s ghost protecting his stash. Even my father in law says back when he was younger and out in the woods cow hunting he came across old man Parker’s head on a fence post warning him away. He swears on a Bible it happened and he never went back into there. Back in the 70’s they drew down lake Kissimmee. Some friends who lived over on sr60 came through the woods and along the lake instead of the long way around to another friend’s house we were all meeting at. He showed up after dark and was white as a ghost. Said he saw old man Parker’s body at one of the gates he had to go through. So, figure out for yourselves. Do you believe in ghost? 👻👻💀☠️