1. Josiah Parker was an American politician, Revolutionary War officer and Virginia planter who served in the United States House of Representatives from Virginia in the First through Sixth United States Congresses as well as represented Isle of Wight County in three of the five Virginia Revolutionary Conventions and in the Virginia House of Delegates for several terms before his federal service.
Josiah Parker's regiment served in Virginia under General Charles Lee until the autumn of 1776, when the 5th Virginia Regiment was transferred to George Washington's army.
Josiah Parker recovered 25 cannons the British had thrown into the sea to prevent their capture.
In 1786, Josiah Parker accepted an officer's commission in the US Navy officer at Portsmouth, Virginia.
Josiah Parker ran to become a delegate to the 1788 Virginia Convention, since he opposed surrendering Virginia's hard won independence by ratifying the United States Constitution.
Josiah Parker won reelection to the Second and Third Congresses.
Josiah Parker successfully ran as a Federalist and won election to the Fourth through Sixth United States Congress.
Josiah Parker then returned home and farmed on his plantation back in Isle of Wight county.
Josiah Parker died in 1810, and was buried in the family cemetery on his plantation, "Macclesfield", in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
Josiah Parker's grandson, Leopold Copeland Parker Cowper, born to his daughter the year after Col Parker died, served two terms representing Isle of Wight County in the Virginia House of Delegates, and became as lieutenant Governor in the Restored Government of Virginia after the American Civil War.