GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON ELDER DANIEL PARKER

Elder Daniel Parker (April 6, 1781 – December 3, 1844) was a significant figure in early American religious history, particularly within the Primitive Baptist movement. His life was marked by religious leadership, theological innovation, and political involvement.

Early Life and Family

Born in Culpeper County, Virginia, to Reverend John Parker and Sarah (White) Parker, Daniel was the eldest of their children. Around 1785, the Parker family relocated to Georgia. On March 11, 1802, Daniel married Patsy Dickerson, and they eventually had eleven children. In 1803, the family moved to Dickson County, Tennessee, where Daniel began his journey in ministry.

Religious Leadership and Two-Seed Theology

In 1806, Parker was ordained by the Turnbull Baptist Church in Tennessee. He became a vocal opponent of the emerging missionary movement within the Baptist church, articulating his views in the 1820 publication "A Public Address to the Baptist Society, and Friends of Religion in General, on the Principle and Practice of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions for the United States of America." Parker's primary contention was that missionary societies operated outside the governance of local churches, which he believed violated Baptist ecclesiology.

Parker is perhaps best known for developing the "Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit" doctrine. This theology posited that humanity carries two spiritual seeds: one divine and one diabolical. According to Parker, individuals are predestined from conception to be bearers of either God's seed or Satan's seed, determining their ultimate salvation or damnation. This belief led to the formation of the Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarian Baptists, a distinct group within the broader Baptist tradition. 

Migration to Illinois and Texas

In December 1817, Parker moved his family to Crawford County, Illinois. During his time there, he continued his ministry and was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1826, representing Clark and Crawford counties. However, his tenure was marked by controversy due to his clerical status, which led to his seat being declared vacant. 

Anticipating restrictions on organizing Protestant churches in Mexican-controlled Texas, Parker organized the Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church in Illinois on July 26, 1833. The following year, he led this congregation to Texas, establishing the church near present-day Elkhart. This church holds the distinction of being one of the earliest Baptist congregations in Texas. 

Later Years and Legacy

In Texas, Parker continued his religious activities, organizing approximately nine churches in the eastern part of the state. On October 17, 1840, he played a pivotal role in forming the Union Primitive Baptist Association at Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church near Douglas, Texas.

Daniel Parker passed away on December 3, 1844, at his home in Anderson County, Texas. He was buried in the Pilgrim Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. His wife, Patsy, survived him by less than two years and was buried alongside him.

Further Reading

For those interested in a more in-depth exploration of Parker's life and theology, the following works are recommended:

• "Frontier Religion: Elder Daniel Parker, His Religious and Political Life" by Dan D. Wimberly offers a comprehensive examination of Parker's influence on frontier religion and his political endeavors. 

• "Daniel Parker's Doctrine of the Two Seeds" by O. Max Lee provides an analytical study of Parker's theological contributions and the development of his Two-Seed doctrine.