A FATHER AND SON BLESSED WITH THIRTY-NINE CHILDREN—PARNEY FAMILY
If all our old pioneers had multiplied themselves as rapidly as Ezra Parney and his son William did, the sons of “Glorious Old Norfolk” would have a cinch, to-day, on every inhabitable portion of the civilized globe. The great American Republic would be peopled with our own kindred, and the fertile regions of our own great North-West would not be beckoning to over-crowded Europe for people to come in and occupy the land, as it is now doing. But it is better for future generations yet unborn that all of our old pioneers were not so blessed.
The Parney family is one of the old families of Townsend. Ezra Parney was one of the few pioneers who had established a home in that township when the present century dawned upon the world. The Parneys are of Irish descent, and when Ezra was born into the world, in 1780, the family name was “Penny,” but through some caprice, the reason of which does not appear, the name was changed to Parney.
The original Job Slaght lived in the Niagara District several years before he came up to Norfolk with his family, and it was while living there that Mr. Parney became acquainted with them; and when they moved up in 1797, Ezra Parney, who was seventeen years old, came with them. Subsequently he married Elizabeth, daughter of Job Slaght, and settled on land donated to her by her father, located on the Waterford road, in the 5th concession of Townsend.[1]
It is just a hundred years since Ezra Parney came into the woods of Townsend, a seventeen-year-old boy, kinless and moneyless, to chop out a way for himself. He was brave, industrious, patient and persevering; and the record of his busy life’s work shows how well he succeeded. He it was who cleared off the ground whereon was built the first Waterford mill, and as he had learned the blacksmithing business in his younger days, he was one of the first, if, indeed, not the first, to ply that trade in old Townsend. His home, north of Waterford, was a well-known place in the early times. It was located on the main line of settlement, and in addition to his blacksmithing work he kept a house of entertainment for travellers. He was a quiet, industrious man, and had no craving for public positions. The old count journal shows that he was appointed constable for Townsend and Windham in 1802.
Ezra Parney had seventeen children all by one mother, fourteen of whom grew up and, with one exception, married. There were seven sons—William, John, Henry, Cornelius, Aaron, Vincent and David; and seven daughters—Abigail, Elizabeth, Nancy, Mahala, Amanda, Emily and Charity. The old pioneer died in 1865, in his 86th year, having survived his wife nine years, she having died in 1856, in her 72nd year.
William, eldest son of Ezra, was born in 1802. He learned the blacksmithing trade in his father’s shop, and married Mary McMichael, and settled near the old homestead. He was the father of twenty-two children, which, added to those of his father, make a grand total of thirty-nine. No other family in Norfolk can show a record like this; indeed, it is doubtful whether any family in Ontario can beat this record. There were two mothers in William’s family; by the first wife he had seven sons—Ezra, James, Richard, William, Eli, Freeman and Leamon; and three daughters—Mary, Jane and Rosamond.[2] William and Mary were twins. By his second wife, Mary Buck, he had seven sons—John, Louis, Elias, Warren, Lyman, Charles and Walter; and three daughters—Caroline, Amanda and Abigail. Two, whose names are not given, died young. The father of this large family died in 1872, in his 71st year.
John, second son of Ezra, was born in 1805. He married Ellen Lane, and settled in Townsend. He had one son, Wesley, and one daughter, Rhoda. He died in 1888, in his 84th year.
Henry, third son of Ezra, was born in 1809, married Ann Armstead, and settled in Townsend. He had one son, David, who succeeded to the homestead. Henry died in 1873, in his 65th year.
Cornelius, fourth son of Ezra, met with a tragical death. He went hunting, and failing to return, a search was instituted, which resulted in the finding of his dead body in the woods, with his rifle lying beside it. A bullet wound was discovered in the back of the head, and his rifle had not been discharged; and as it was known that he had a bitter enemy, it was supposed that he met foul play. He died single.[3]
Aaron, fifth son of Ezra, was born in 1817, married Nancy Messacar, settled in Townsend, and had one daughter, Adelaide. He died in 1887, in his 71st year.
Vincent, sixth son of Ezra, was born in 1819, married Esther Forest, settled in Walsingham, and had one daughter, Amanda. He was a pioneer school teacher, and died in 1881, in his 63rd year.
David, youngest son of Ezra, married Elinor Wymer, and settled on the old homestead. He had one son, Dufferin, and two daughters—Sarah and Roxey.
Abigail, eldest daughter of Ezra, married Philip Beemer. Her children are enumerated in the Beemer genealogy. She died in 1890, in her 84th year.[4]
Elizabeth, second daughter of Ezra, married William Slaght. Her children are enumerated in the Slaght genealogy.
Nancy, third daughter of Ezra, married Squire Corliss. Her children are enumerated in the Corliss genealogy.
Mahala, fourth daughter of Ezra, married Richard McMichael. Her children are enumerated in the McMichael genealogy. She died in 1893, in her 83rd year.
Amanda, fifth daughter of Ezra, married William Lutes, the old carriage-builder of Lutesville. She had two sons—Charles and David; and one daughter, Emily. Mrs. Lutes died in 1876, in her 57th year.
Emily, sixth daughter of Ezra, married Levi Messacar, and settled in Townsend. She had one son, Louis, and one daughter, Elizabeth.
Charity, youngest daughter of Ezra, married William Cole, and settled in Oxford.[5]
[1] The homestead of Ezra and Elizabeth Parney on Lot 6, Concession 5, Townsend Twp. was actually a government grant. Ezra was first recommended for this grant in the 1797 report of Paul Averill. His patent was dated on September 3, 1803. The gravestone of Ezra Parney in Greenwood Cemetery, Waterford, states that he died on August 19 1865 aged 85y 6m 24ds suggesting a birth year of 1780. Owen’s statement that he was seventeen years old confirms a 1797 arrival in Townsend Twp.
[2] No record has been found of Freeman Parney. However, there was a Richard Parney, born c. 1830 living with Ezra Parney in the 1852 Census.
[3] There were two articles in the Norfolk Observer concerning the death of Cornelius Parney. The first dated July 17, 1841, suggested that he was intoxicated and fell in the mud. The second dated July 17, 1841, concluded from new reports that he died in a sudden fit.
[4] If the census records of the daughters are correct, Charity and Elizabeth Parney, both born c. 1803 would be older than Abigail, born c. 1805.
[5] Charity and her husband William Cole lived in Windham Township at the time of the 1852 Census.