Spotsylvania County Records
Feby. 26, 1728. The Honble. Alexander Spotswood, Esqr., by John Grame, Gent., his attorney, to Thomas Parks of St. Geo. Par., Spts. Co., in consideration of so much tobacco, etc. 100 a. of land in fork of Rappa. River. Witnesses: Elliott Benger, And. Stevenson. Rec. April 2, 1729.
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The first known deed transaction of Thomas Parks was a purchase from Alexander Spottswood of a plantation in the forks of the Rappahannock River against the mouth of Hunting Creek. (Deed Bk A, page 377, Spotsylvania County, Va)

July 7 1741- There was a transaction between Thomas Parks "to my beloved son Samuel Parks, land on the Rappahannock". (Deed Bk 4, page 352, 5 Mar 1741, Orange County, Va).

There was a transfer of land from Thomas Parks to Christopher HUTCHINS (son in law) for land in St. Marks Parish in the forks of the Rappahannock River. (Deed Bk 6, page 183, Orange County, Va).

From a Parks Society publication:
Thomas Parks was in Spotsylvania Co, VA 1728.
He bought land in Orange Co, Va in 1736
He bought land in Albemarle Co, Va in 1751.

According to researchers Joan Sellers, Martha Smart, and Patricia Smith. Thomas is the first of the Parks that can be documented. He is found in the Spotsylvania County, Virginia deeds in the late 1720's. This Thomas left a Will which was probated in Albermarle County, Virgina (Will Book 2, page 101). The will names his 7 children; 3 sons-Thomas, John and Samuel are found in Albemarle co, Va, in the 1750's and 1760's. These same three sons are then found in Wilkes County, NC and it is from these 3 that most of the NC Parks descend.

August 14 1686 Old Rappahannock (Order Book 1683-1685 page 3A) Stafford County Records Wills and Deeds, Deed of John Rowley to son Richard 1/2 of land witness, Thomas Parke

Sept. 2, 1691 Virginia Colonial Abstracts Richmond Co, Va 1692-1704 page 5
(Deed Book 1, page 16) Thomas Parke, witness to deed of William Griffin to Edward Price.

1670-1761
1692 Old Rappahannock Co, Va divided into Essex and Richmond Counties.
1720 King George County formed from Essex County, VA.
1720/1 Spotsylvania was taken from Essex.
1727 Goochland was taken from Henrico.
1734 Orange was taken from Spotsylvania.
1748 Culpepper was formed from Orange.
1744 Albemarle was formed from Goochland and Louisa .
Most of these Counties are mentioned in one or another of these early Parks family members. Amherst was the last county these Parks were located before moving to North Carolina which was formed from Albemarle in 1761.

From Parks Society Volume 34 #2 1997 Patricia M. Hull Fulton has an article "New Information of Thomas Parks VA 1724-1728?" She is actually dealing with this Thomas and when He came to America, not when he was born. The sources used in earliest land records was Nell Marion Nugent's book "Cavaliers and Pioneers of Virginia" and also from "Virginia Settlers and English Adventurers"by Noel Currier-Briggs.

It is mentioned that when persons are used as head rights for paying their passage to bring them to America, it is not also that the land they are entitled to for this is applied for right away. It could be a good while even years before this occurs.

Phyllis Kumler and Joe Parks have compiled 2 Volumes on Thomas and his descendants. Thomas I and Thomas Jr. Earl Arnett did much research into this line and used these sources: "The Diary of Rev. Robert Rose" by R.E. Hall, "The Rucker Family Genealogy" by Sudie Rucker Wood, and records of Albemarle and Amhearst County. (Parks Society has a copy of the "Parks Family Collection of Documents VA, NC, IN and TX" compiled by
Mr. Arnett. Many of the items below came from this source, or were found here and in other published sources. See article for full scope of it's sources and material.

February 26 1728 Spotsylvania Co Va (Deed Book A, page 377), Alexander Spottswood to Thomas Parks, a plantation in the forks of the Rappahannock River against the mouth of the Hunting Creek.

March 5 1741 Orange Co., VA, (Deed Book 4 page 352), Thomas Parks to my beloved son Samuel Parks, land on the Rappahannock River.

June 4 1741 Orange Co Va, (Order Book 2, page 402), Court held Thomas Parks having taken the oath, appointed by act of parliament and met the subscribed test and was sworn in as Constable accordingly.

July 7 1741 Orange Co Va, (Deed Book 6, page 138), Thomas Parks of Orange to Christopher Hutchins (son in law) land in St Marks Parish in the forks of the Rappahannock River.

January 1723/24 Thomas Park witnessed the will of Robert Bond, Spotsylvania Co., VA. and proved 6 July 1725. (Will Book A page 14) The will names son John Bond who was executor and a daughter Mary or it could refer to Mary Parks who married John Bond.

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WILL OF THOMAS PARKS OF

Albermarle County, Charlottesville, Virginia 1752
Will Book 2, page 101
In the Name of God Amen, I, Thomas Parks of Ballengers Mountain in Albermarle County being very Weak in Bodily constitution but perfect sence and memory considering the Perils and dangers of this transitory life and to avoid future strife and controversy I do make and constitute this my last will and testament First I do commit my Body to the grave and my soul unto God who gave it and for many causes and due consideration I do bequeath all my worldly stock and substance unto my best beloved son THOMAS Parks likewise I do make and constitute him to be my sole heir & executor Secondly I doth leave unto my son JOHN Parks an English Shilling Thirdly I doth leave unto my son SAM’L Parks an English Shil l. Fourthly I doth leave unto my son CHARLES Parks an English Shill. Fifthly I doth leave unto my Daughter MARTHA RUSSELL otherwise Parks an English Shill . Sixthly I doth leave my Daughter MARY BOND an English Shill. Seventhly I doth leave unto my daughter ELIZABETH HUTCHINS an English shill. As witness my hand this Twenty Fourth of February and in the year of our lord God One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Two.

Thomas Parks

Being Present
Daniel Burford
his
Ellex x Duggins
mark

At a Court held for Albermarle County the twelfth day of March 1761 This will was presented in Court proved by the oaths of Daniel Burford & Alexander Duggins the witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded & on the motion of Thomas Park the Executor therein named who made oath according to law certificate was granted him for obtaining a probate the reof giving security on which he with Thomas Josling & Thomas Cottrell his securities entered into & acknowledged their bond accordingly.

Teste
John Nicholas, Clk.

W. B. 2 p. 101