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   One of the oldest and most respected residents of the Township of North Fredericksburgh today is our venerable friend, Milo Parks, Esq., who has now for over eighty-four years resided on the same farm on the pleasant shores of Hay Bay.  He was born there on the 2nd of October, 1812--the first year of our last terrible war with the United States, and he has resided there ever since.  He was the youngest of no less than twenty children, nearly all of whom grew up to maturity, married and became industrious and valuable citizens.

 

   Cyrenus Parks, his father, was one of the sturdy U.E. Loyalists who settled in Upper Canada, who resolved to hew homes for themselves out of the unbroken wilderness, resolved to live and die under the British Flag.

 

   He was born at Queensbury, Charlotte county, New York, Dec. 22nd, 1754.  There he married and became a large and prosperous farmer, near the banks of the Hudson river.  He had just married and begun to raise a young family when the great American rebellion broke out, in 1775.  As the war advanced, he felt it his loyal duty to stand true to the British cause.  He became a member of the King's Rangers, a regiment that had a memorable record during the war, and later on became a Captain in that regiment.  His brother James also took up arms in the same loyal cause and became a Sergeant in the same regiment.  By the fortunes of war, they were both captured, along with the others of the same regiment.  They were released on giving their parole not to serve again against Congress during the continuance of the war.  The regiment was disbanded in 1781 and most of the men finally settled in Fredericksburgh, or at other points along the Bay of Quinte.  It is said that they were offered their homes and their farms if they would swear loyalty to the United States and forswear their allegiance to Great Britain.  This Captain Parks determindedly refused to do, and all his men stood equally firm.  Their homes were then confiscated and they were ordered to leave the country.

 

   They appear to have been mustered out in December, 1783 at St. John, Quebec, and for a year or two remained with their families in that locality, after which they came to Upper Canada and settled on the banks of Hay Bay, side by side, where both lived and died.  These grand old heroes lie buried in the same burying ground, on the Parks farm, between their two former residences, where several of their own children and many of their neighbours among the first settlers also found their last resting place.  There are few prettier locations on Hay Bay than in that immediate vicinity, now a beautiful thriving farming centre, noted for one of the largest fruit orchards in the country.  Nearby stands the brick Methodist church, erected two years ago.  Just there the Bay is narrowest of any point, and for years an important ferry was kept which was a matter of much greater convenience then than now.

 

   Their settlement seems to have been made there in 1786, and each man was granted 400 acres of land, in a block, several farms of which remain in the hands of their descendants to this day.  In the Crown Lands Department at Toronto is preserved an old U.E.L. list and on it are the names of Capt. Cyrenus Parks, Sergeant James Parks, and Nathaniel Parks, Drummer, all of the King's Rangers.  All were on the Provision list for the time, the Government very considerately granting necessary supplies of pork and flour until such times as the pioneers could clear and cultivate their own lands.

 

   Nathaniel, before named, was the oldest son of Cyrenus, and entered the King's service as a fifer, at the tender age of 13 years.  He was the father of the late Jason Parks, so well known to all the old residents of Fredericksburgh, who died in California two years ago, at the residence of his grand-son Herbert Parks, formerly a resident of Piety Hill, in this town.

 

   Irvine Parks, Esq., our County Treasurer, has now in his possession the certificate of his grandfather, Nathaniel, signed at St. John, Dec. 24th, 1783, certifying to his faithful service in the King's Rangers Provincial Regiment and to his honourable discharge at the disbanding of the regiment.

 

   Dr. Nelson Parks, of the Beaver office, has in his possession the family bible of his grandfather, Cyrenus.  It is now over a hundred years old, and according to a statement on the fly sheet, it was bought in Kingston "January ye 10, a.d. 1793."  The book has been in family use ever since and is still in a good state of preservation.  In it is the record of the births of the parents and their twenty children, written in a very plain bold hand, no doubt of Cyrenus himself, the head of that numerous family.

 

   Among those who settled at about the same time and became permanent residents were the Huffmans, Shumans, McCabes, Wagars, Posts, Petersons, Woodcocks, Outwaters, and some others.  Nearly all these well known families have still descendants residing in that locality, who are well known and much respected citizens.

 

   The family consisted of twelve sons and eight daughters.  We have not a record of all, but from among these daughters were the wives of Baltus Shuman, the mother of the late Mrs. F. Dupree; Peter McCabe, the mother of Elias McCabe; Wm. Parks, of Richmond; Peter Huffman, of Camden; Alexander Forshee, of Richmond; John Watson, of Richmond, late of Dresden.  The Parks families of Thurlow, Prince Edward and Durham counties, are also descendants of this same family.

 

   Cyrenus Parks' first wife died about 1790, leaving eight children.  He afterwards married Elizabeth Huffman, an aunt of the late John Huffman of that locality.  The Huffmans were also among the U.E. Loyalists, their father having been a member of the celebrated Butler's Rangers, a regiment of great note during the American Revolution.  The last twelve children were by her.  It is somewhat singular that, politically, the family seemed divided according to their mother's proclivities.  Those of the first wife and their descendants were well known Liberals, while, it has been explained to us, those with the Huffman blood in their veins were all staunch Conservatives.  One is almost inclined to deem it fortunate that some such division took place, for a family so numerous, so energetic and influential, would if all on one side, all but turn the scale in any contest in this county.

 

   Mr. Milo Parks has never taken a very prominent part in election contests in this county, being a man of quiet and somewhat reserved habits, much attached to his home and business affairs.  He has always been a consistent supporter of the Conservative party, however.  Years ago, before Fredericksburgh was divided into two municipalities, he was a member of the Township Council and also represented the township in the United Counties Council (Frontenac, Lennox and Addington).  His sons loyally follow their father's footsteps in political affairs.  His children are:

 

   Rosetta, who married Nathaniel Lucas and died in Kansas some years ago.

 

   John F., now a resident of Fredericksburgh, married Miss Annie Outwaters, and has a grown up family.

 

   James C., married Miss Mary Gibson, was for many years in business in Napanee, and now resides in Kansas City.

 

   Albert C. married Miss Jennie Tyce, of Prince Edward, has one son, Leonard, now resides in Napanee during the winter and on the homestead during the summer.  He is probably the largest fruit grower in this county.

 

   Charles Benjamin Seymore, married Miss Annie Dorland of Adolphustown.  His children are all successful business men.

 

   Mr. Parks married Miss Bathsheba Lazier, of Prince Edward over sixty years ago, also a member of a large and well known U.E.L. family.  The grand old pair though now octogenarians, who have both spent very industrious and hard working lives, and reared a large family, are in excellent health, with clear minds and excellent memories, calmly enjoying the evening of their days.

 

   We have only space to add that both Mr. and Mrs. Parks have been life long and active members of the Methodist church, always ready to promote its interests and to build up its cause.  The Beaver joins with hundreds of its readers in wishing them a Happy New year and many returns of the same.

 

 

 

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