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Cynthia Ann Parker: The Story of Her Capture
"Exceedingly interesting." - A History of Texas Baptists, 1923
"She grew up an Indian, forgot her own race and tongue, married a chief and became the mother of another chief, Quanah." - Pearson's Magazine, 1909
The stories of those who have escaped from captivity among the Indians in the Wild West are full of harrowing interest. However, of equal interest are the rare stories of those captives who did not wish to escape but were forcibly rescued. One such story is that of Cynthia Ann Parker, mother of famous Comanche Chief Quanah Parker.
In 1860, Comanches led by Chief Peta Nocona conducted numerous raids on various Texas settlements, culminating in the brutal violence. Texas Ranger Captain and future governor Lawrence S. Ross responded to these raids by attacking a Comanche camp on Pease River.
Caught fleeing the destroyed Comanche camp was a woman with blue eyes who could not speak English and did not remember her birth name or details of her life prior to joining the Comanche.
She proved to be Cynthia Ann Parker, taken prisoner by Comanches at the fall of Parker's Fort 24 years before. She had married a young Comanche chief named Peta Nocona, and had two boys and a baby girl.
One of her sons, Quanah Parker, became one of the greatest Comanche chiefs of all time.
In 1886, James T. DeShields published the book "Cynthia Ann Parker: The Story of Her Capture," which recounts events he had masterfully pieced together from narratives furnished Ross, various Parker relatives, together with most of the numerous partial accounts of the fall of Parker’s Fort and subsequent relative events.
In describing Parker's return to her family, DeShields writes:
"But as savage-like and dark of complexion as she was, Cynthia Ann was still dear to her overjoyed uncle, and was welcomed home by relatives with all the joyous transports with which the prodigal son was hailed upon his miserable return to the parental roof. As thorough an Indian in manner and looks as if she had been so born, she sought every opportunity to escape, and had to be closely watched...."
About the author
James Thomas DeShields (1861-1948), was a Texas historian and author of historical works including:
• Border Wars of Texas
• Two months in the camp of Big Bear
• They Sat in High Places: The Presidents and Governors of Texas
• The Fall of Parker's Fort
• The Fergusons, "Jim and Ma"
"She grew up an Indian, forgot her own race and tongue, married a chief and became the mother of another chief, Quanah." - Pearson's Magazine, 1909
The stories of those who have escaped from captivity among the Indians in the Wild West are full of harrowing interest. However, of equal interest are the rare stories of those captives who did not wish to escape but were forcibly rescued. One such story is that of Cynthia Ann Parker, mother of famous Comanche Chief Quanah Parker.
In 1860, Comanches led by Chief Peta Nocona conducted numerous raids on various Texas settlements, culminating in the brutal violence. Texas Ranger Captain and future governor Lawrence S. Ross responded to these raids by attacking a Comanche camp on Pease River.
Caught fleeing the destroyed Comanche camp was a woman with blue eyes who could not speak English and did not remember her birth name or details of her life prior to joining the Comanche.
She proved to be Cynthia Ann Parker, taken prisoner by Comanches at the fall of Parker's Fort 24 years before. She had married a young Comanche chief named Peta Nocona, and had two boys and a baby girl.
One of her sons, Quanah Parker, became one of the greatest Comanche chiefs of all time.
In 1886, James T. DeShields published the book "Cynthia Ann Parker: The Story of Her Capture," which recounts events he had masterfully pieced together from narratives furnished Ross, various Parker relatives, together with most of the numerous partial accounts of the fall of Parker’s Fort and subsequent relative events.
In describing Parker's return to her family, DeShields writes:
"But as savage-like and dark of complexion as she was, Cynthia Ann was still dear to her overjoyed uncle, and was welcomed home by relatives with all the joyous transports with which the prodigal son was hailed upon his miserable return to the parental roof. As thorough an Indian in manner and looks as if she had been so born, she sought every opportunity to escape, and had to be closely watched...."
About the author
James Thomas DeShields (1861-1948), was a Texas historian and author of historical works including:
• Border Wars of Texas
• Two months in the camp of Big Bear
• They Sat in High Places: The Presidents and Governors of Texas
• The Fall of Parker's Fort
• The Fergusons, "Jim and Ma"
52 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1886
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86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 25, 2013
Cynthia Ann Parker of legendary Ft. Worth, Texas fame was a young girl that was captured when her family was massacred by Comanche Indians. She lived with the Comanche, was adopted by them, eventually getting married and having children. She was recaptured by whites during an Indian invasion years later and taken back to white society with her youngest child. Though she tried many times to escape back to her Comanche family, she finally gave up. This story was based more on the "heroic" tales of Capt. Ross than that of Cynthia Ann, as the title would have you believe. I like it for the history but wow, it is a very biased book although for the time it was written it was more acceptable, very white society. Political gain was more important than facts in the writing of this story.
September 26, 2020
Hard read
This was written so long ago and very choppy but it gives a perspective from the people who lived it and very first hand. I did enjoy it but it ended so about I was not ready.
This was written so long ago and very choppy but it gives a perspective from the people who lived it and very first hand. I did enjoy it but it ended so about I was not ready.
March 24, 2018
Very biased. Ended up skimming to the end.
February 27, 2021
Fascinating in part because it’s such a dated account with prejudiced language toward the Comanches and Native Americans in general, and the overblown style in which it was written. Still, that actually makes it more fascinating. And the author had nothing but great things to say about Quannah Parker and the Comanche people in general, once they had been defeated. Funny how they become more sympathetic figures once they are no longer marauding “savages.” I wish with all my heart I could have ridden with the Comanches back in the day.
June 17, 2020
Cynthia Ann Parker
I was a bit disappointed in that the book seemed to be more about the Texas Rangers and not as much about Cynthia Ann Parker. I do realize that she was a captive for a long time but devoting more time to her would've made the book better.
I was a bit disappointed in that the book seemed to be more about the Texas Rangers and not as much about Cynthia Ann Parker. I do realize that she was a captive for a long time but devoting more time to her would've made the book better.
December 24, 2020
New interest
The new Tom Hanks movie " New of the World" to be released today. And it is sort of based on the movie " the Searchers ". John WAyne movie. Both are based on this true story of Cynthia. Ann Parker.
The new Tom Hanks movie " New of the World" to be released today. And it is sort of based on the movie " the Searchers ". John WAyne movie. Both are based on this true story of Cynthia. Ann Parker.
September 7, 2022
Found this e-book on Barnes & Noble instead:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cynt...
(The Amazon link went to a blank page with a picture of a dog.)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cynt...
(The Amazon link went to a blank page with a picture of a dog.)
July 28, 2019
Very little about CAP at all during or after
Nothing about how she lived in captivity and nothing about how she lived after she was rescued. More about the soldiers
Nothing about how she lived in captivity and nothing about how she lived after she was rescued. More about the soldiers
February 3, 2020
Cynthia Parker
I really enjoyed this historical novel. Learning her history gave insight to her plight and life with her captors. Good book.
I really enjoyed this historical novel. Learning her history gave insight to her plight and life with her captors. Good book.
July 26, 2020
Inspiring
The archaic language gives this story a ring of authenticity. Among death and destruction on both sides emerges a true leader of the comanche people
The archaic language gives this story a ring of authenticity. Among death and destruction on both sides emerges a true leader of the comanche people
August 23, 2020
Short story
This is a quick update of other books about the Indian raids in Texas and the story of Cynthia who spent many years with them.
This is a quick update of other books about the Indian raids in Texas and the story of Cynthia who spent many years with them.
April 11, 2025
Very Interesting!!
May 19, 2012
This is one of the books mentioned in Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History, and being out of copyright I thought I'd read it.
I had felt the Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History was a bit racist and biased but it was nothing compared to this book. It's quite natural given the time it was written. Another thing about this book is that it doesn't have that much information to offer. Although it is supposed to be about Cynthia Ann, it gives very little about her. After mentioning her death, it talked a bit about her son Quanah. However, not much was said. This is probably for lack of information.
The book showed some respect for the "friendly" Native Americans who were used as scouts to find the Comanches. But still used stereotypical and derogatory words when describing them. In contrast, the whites are ever so brave and courageous in facing the "savages".
Nonetheless, reading these books is still interesting to see how people viewed Native Americans in the past.
I had felt the Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History was a bit racist and biased but it was nothing compared to this book. It's quite natural given the time it was written. Another thing about this book is that it doesn't have that much information to offer. Although it is supposed to be about Cynthia Ann, it gives very little about her. After mentioning her death, it talked a bit about her son Quanah. However, not much was said. This is probably for lack of information.
The book showed some respect for the "friendly" Native Americans who were used as scouts to find the Comanches. But still used stereotypical and derogatory words when describing them. In contrast, the whites are ever so brave and courageous in facing the "savages".
Nonetheless, reading these books is still interesting to see how people viewed Native Americans in the past.
October 3, 2016
The saga of Cynthia AnnParker
Taken captive by the Comanche Indians at a young age, Cynthia Ann Parker grew up among them and married one of the Chiefs.
The writer of this particular book is very biased in his views of the Indians and thus makes the story of her captivity and life less readable. The redeeming feature of the book is that the author states the facts of her case from reliable sources. With her husband's death on the battle field, Cynthia Ann is recaptured and taken to live with an uncle. Two of her young children find a home with other members of the tribe. The older child grows up to become the famous Chief, Quana Parker.
Taken captive by the Comanche Indians at a young age, Cynthia Ann Parker grew up among them and married one of the Chiefs.
The writer of this particular book is very biased in his views of the Indians and thus makes the story of her captivity and life less readable. The redeeming feature of the book is that the author states the facts of her case from reliable sources. With her husband's death on the battle field, Cynthia Ann is recaptured and taken to live with an uncle. Two of her young children find a home with other members of the tribe. The older child grows up to become the famous Chief, Quana Parker.
June 23, 2015
The book is advertised as a story about a captured white woman, but there is very little about her. Her life story could have been put into 4 pages. Didn't like the writing - very raciest, mixed up. Acceptable for the time it was written.
June 15, 2015
Definitely an "old world" book with the verbiage of capture being 'fate worse than death' and the heroic Texian Rangers pursuing the savages...still interesting and worth reading.
June 16, 2015
Interesting
Very little-known about Cynthia more much more about battles and Texas heroes. Interesting read still. Would like to read more Texas history
Very little-known about Cynthia more much more about battles and Texas heroes. Interesting read still. Would like to read more Texas history
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews