FAMILY FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

ENGLAND TO PENNSYLVANIA: The First Generations

From the earliest records found in County Durham, it appears that a Parmley family of at least five children lived near Middleton-in-Teesdale in the early 17th Century. From these beginnings come the children of Joseph and Lavina Parmley who immigrated to America in the 1830s and '40s.

I. --- (unknown)

+	i.	John	(See next generation.)
	ii.	Cuthbert	married Isabel Pattison on June 22, 1623 at Chester-le-Street.
	iii.	Elizabeth	married Robert Marshall on Jan. 21, 1633/34 at Chester-le-Street.
	iv.	Eleanor	married William Newby on Oct. 12, 1634 at Chester-le-Street.
	v.	Jane	married Cuthbert Clerke on Nov. 19, 1637.

 

II. John (bef 1618-after 1672)

John was probably born before 1618 and was of Hanging Shaw, County Durham, when his will was drawn up on May 30, 1672. He married Jeanette ---, who was buried Nov. 26, 1671, at Middleton.
Their children include:

	i.	John	married widow Ann Atkinson on May 26, 1673.
	ii.	Elizabeth	baptized June 20, 1638, at St. Mary's, married Henry Shaw in 1661.
+	iii.	Edmund	(See next generation.)
	iv.	Margaret	married --- Robinson.
	v.	Mary	married --- Jacobson.

III. Edmund (1644- ? )

He was baptized Jan. 12, 1644, at Middleton-in-Teesdale and married Marie ---. She was born ---- and was buried March 22, 1721, at St. Mary's at Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Their children, all baptized at St. Mary's:

+	i.	John	(See next generation.)
	ii.	Nicholas	baptized March 5, 1764, buried Dec. 27, 1736, at St. Mary's.
	iii.	Mary	baptized Jan. 6, 1675.
	iv.	Rachael	baptized Dec. 4, 1677.
	v.	Edmond	baptized Feb. 19, 1680, buried Aug. 2, 1694, at St. Mary's.
	vi.	Hannah	baptized May 4, 1681.
	vii.	Joseph	baptized Oct. 29, 1689, married Ada Tinkler on May 17, 1716.

---

IV. John (1672- ? )

He was baptized May 24, 1672, and lived at Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Among his probable children:

+	i.	Henry	(See next generation.)
	ii.	Jonathan	married Ann ---.

V. Henry (bef. 1700-1749)

Born before 1700, buried Aug. 12, 1749, at St. Mary's at Middleton-in-Teesdale. He was married to Jeanette ---, who was buried at St. Mary's on April 12, 1754.
Among their children, who were baptized at St. Mary's:

	i.	John	baptized Oct. 29, 1719.
	ii.	Mary	baptized Feb. 11, 1720.
	iii.	Jeanette	baptized June 5, 1725.
	iv.	Ada	baptized Jan. 13, 1727.
	v.	Henry	baptized Dec. 31, 1731, buried Nov. 1, 1788, married Margaret ---.
+	vi.	Joseph	baptized Nov. 23, 1734. (See next generation.)

VI. Joseph (1734-aft. 1773)

Baptized Nov. 23, 1734, at St. Mary's at Middleton-in-Teesdale, and died ---. He was living at the Hood section of Middleton as late as 1773. He married Sarah Elliott on May 14, 1762.
Among their children, all baptized at St. Mary's:

+	i.	Joseph	baptized Aug. 26, 1764. (See next generation.)
	ii.	Mary	baptized July 10, 1768.
	iii.	Sarah	baptized on or after May 1, 1773.

VII. Joseph (1764-1816)

Baptized Aug. 24, 1764, at St. Mary's at Middleton-in-Teesdale, and died March 23, 1816, at Spring Hill at Middleton-in-Teesdale. He was buried two days later at St. Mary's.

He established the Parmely homestead at Spring Hill, just north of the center of Middleton. All of his children were said to have had musical talent. "The legend is that the neighbors and friends would congregate on the banks of the river in the evenings to hear the Parmleys sing and play," wrote his great-granddaughter Lizzie Van Horn in 1889. "Each one would play a different instrument."

Joseph married Lydia Redfern, daughter of Samuel and Dolly "Dorothy" Redfern of County Derbyshire, on April 18, 1789, at St. Mary's. She was born Feb. 3, 1770, at Middleton and died Oct. 10, 1831. She was buried two days later at St. Mary's.

At least five of his children immigrated to the United States in the late 1830s and '40s, spending some time at Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, Pa., before moving west.
Their children, born at Spring Hill:

	i.	Lydia	born in 1789/80.
	ii.	Joseph	born March 16, 1791, died Aug. 20, 1837, married Elizabeth Pearson. He built Snaisgill Cottage.
	iii.	Samuel	born Jan. 25, 1793, died Dec. 17, 1852, married Elizabeth Allison on March 14, 1819. To Pennsylvania.
	iv.	John	born Feb. 8, 1795, died Jan. 28, 1860, married Mary Longmire on June 22, 1824. To Stanhope, County Durham.
	v.	Henry	born April 15, 1797, died in 1878, married Mary Watson on March 15, 1827. To Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
	vi.	Thomas	born Feb. 11, 1799, died June 30, 1809.
	vii.	Sarah "Sally"	born April 9, 1801, married J. Robinson.
	viii.	Maria	born May 21, 1803, died July 15,1846, married John Warwick on Dec. 27, 1836. She had a son by Thomas Dawson, Joseph Dawson Parmley, whom her parents adopted. To Pennsylvania.
	ix.	George	born Dec. 15, 1804, married Ann Watson on Nov. 19, 1826/27, and Bridget ---. To Pennsylvania.
	x.	Dorothy	born and baptized Nov. 30, 1806, died July 30, 1892. Unmarried.
	xi.	James	born Feb. 10, 1809/10, died Jan. 29, 1880, married Mary Hardy on Nov. 26, 1840. He was a minister.
	xii.	Thomas	born Feb. 23, 1811, buried April 11, 1877, married Mary Race on March 24, 1834.
	xiii.	William	born July 10, 1813, died Oct. 10, 1862, married Bathsheba Beadle on June 4, 1843, and Jane Beadle on Dec. 25, 1848. To Pennsylvania and Virginia.