Parker Family Tree

Ely S. Parker was the fourth child of William and Elizabeth Johnson Parker, respected members of the Tonawanda (Seneca) community and themselves descendants of people well known in Seneca history. The Rochester Museum & Science Center web site provides short biographies of 18 relatives, including Ely's brothers and sisters, his parents, and ancestors who served as diplomats, chiefs, and war leaders during the 1700s. (See "Additional Resources" for a link.)

In his biography of Ely Parker, Arthur C. Parker notes that Ely's mother, Elizabeth Johnson (c. 1787 - 1862), was a descendant of a Neutral Nation captive. Parker family tradition also states that she was in direct line of the Wolf Clan family that carried the title Ye-go-wa-neh, or "Mother of Nations." One of the Neutral women who also held that title, Ji-gon-sa-se, advised the Peacemaker and Hiawatha in the formation of the Great Law.

Elizabeth inherited both names and the responsibilities associated with them. Some of those duties included naming chiefs and headmen who would represent the Wolf Clan in domestic and external matters. Elizabeth was also related to Jimmy Johnson (1774 - 1856), Red Jacket (c. 1758 - 1830), Blacksnake (c. 1749 - 1859), Handsome Lake (1735 - 1815), Cornplanter (1742 - 1836) and Guyasutha (c. 1700 - c. 1798), all of whom were active participants in Seneca diplomatic, political, and military affairs.

William Parker (c. 1793 - 1864), Ely's father, was a member of the Seneca's Turtle Clan. Born at the Allegany Reservation in the community of Cold Spring, he moved to Tonawanda with his parents and brothers in 1809. His mother selected land near the falls of Tonawanda Creek; there the family built a one-story cabin and a sawmill. Later, the Parker family lost this part of their land to the Ogden Land Company. At the onset of the War of 1812, William Parker was the first Seneca warrior to enlist and fight for the United States, under the leadership of Little Billy and Farmer's Brother. Though he was wounded severely in the shoulder, he continued to fight for the remainder of the war. Parker was the nephew of Young King (1760 - 1835), a Christian who supported the sale of Seneca lands to the Ogden Land Company. His grandfather, Old King or Disappearing Smoke (c. 1699 - c. 1800) was one of the most influential Seneca chiefs of the 18th century.

William and Elizabeth Johnson Parker had seven children, six of whom grew to adulthood. All were active participants in Lewis Henry Morgan's work to document Seneca traditions and collect materials that reflected those traditions. Morgan published that research in his book, League of the Iroquois, in 1851. Colored lithographs of their children Caroline and Levi, who are dressed in traditional outfits, illustrate the book.

This information about William and Elizabeth Parker was made available by generous permission of the Rochester Museum & Science Center.