JOHN, who lived at Boveney, Co. Bucks, who had by his wife, dau. of
---- Cutler, Esq.,
JOHN of Boveney and Langley, who m. Elisabeth, the sole heiress of
Sir John Kidderminster, and had,
1. Charles, b. 1625, d. without issue.
2. William, and three daughters.
This WILLIAM, the only surviving son, m. Elisabeth, dau. and heiress
of Sir Lawrence Parsons, by whom he had two sons; one a Colonel, d.
without issue, and John, his successor. WILLIAM PARSONS (the father)
was made a baronet by Charles II. for his adherence to the cause
of his father, Charles I. He was somewhat conspicuous during the
_interregnum_, as may be inferred from his granting a pass to one
of the gentlemen of the privy chamber, to proceed to Ireland. The
gentleman, however, having been taken by the parliament officers,
was, Carte says, put to the rack, "to make him confess." This
circumstance is supposed to have given Butler the ground he has taken
in these lines in his _Hudibras_:
"Rack 'em until they do confess,
Impeach of treason whom they please,
And most perfidiously condemn,
Those that engaged their lives for them."
SIR THOMAS PARSONS of Great Milton in Oxfordshire, (before
mentioned,) m. in 1614, Catharine, a dau. of Edward Radcliff of
London, son of Alderman Radcliff, by whom he had ROBERT, THOMAS,
RICHARD, ANTHONY, and six daughters. He was the son of THOMAS of the
same place, by his first wife, Judith Garbrand of the city of Oxford,
who also had a daughter Amy, m. to Richard Alworth of Turford,
Buckinghamshire. His second wife was Sarah, dau. of Edmund Waller of
Costell, by whom he had three sons, JOHN, EDMUND, FRANCIS, and two
daughters, Elisabeth, m. Anthony Radcliff of Chalford, Co. Bucks, and
Ann, wife of Richard Baldwin of Beaconsfield, in the same county.
The grandfather of SIR THOMAS was THOMAS of Great Milton, who m.
Catharine, dau. of Hester Sydenham, by whom he had THOMAS, HUGH, and
RICHARD.
RICHARD m. Miss ---- Pierpont, and had a son JOHN of London, who m.
1. a dau. of Joshua Whistler, by whom he had a daughter Catharine;
he m. 2. Mary Gualter of London. Some of this family were among the
early emigrants to America.
The first of the name we find in New England is JOSEPH, Springfield,
1636, where he appears as a witness to the deed from the Indians
of the lands of that place and vicinity to William Pynchon and
others, on the fifteenth of July. There appear, however, soon after,
at the same place, HUGH and BENJAMIN. And family tradition relates
that JOSEPH and BENJAMIN were brothers, that they were born in
Great Torrington, near Exeter, Devonshire, England, who, with other
children, accompanied their father to New England, about the year
1630. It is probable that they came over with Mr. Pynchon.
(1) JOSEPH PARSONS,^1 as has been mentioned, was at Springfield in
1636, where he probably remained until 1655, in which
year he removed to Northampton. On the records of the
latter town is this entry: "Joseph Parsons did at a Court
in Northampton, holden March, 1662, testifie that he was
a witness to a deed of the lands at Springfield, and a
bargain betweene the Indians and Mr. Pynchon, dated
July 15, 1636, for 18 fathoms of wampom, 18 coates, 18
hatchets, 18 hoes, 18 knives."
As soon as the town was incorporated he was elected
"Townsman," (or selectman,) though he subsequently
paid the town 20 shillings not to elect him to any office
during the second year of its incorporation. After that
we find him serving the town as "Townsman" for seven
years. He was a principal founder of Northampton, was
extensively engaged in the fur trade, and acquired a large
estate.
He m. Mary, dau. of Thomas Bliss of Hartford, (afterwards
of Northampton,) Nov. 26, 1646. They resided in
Northampton till 1679, in which year they returned to
Springfield, where they both died. Among the records
of deaths of that town we find, "Cornet Joseph Parsons
was sick and died, Oct. 9, 1683." She outlived him
near 19 years, dying Jan. 29, 1712. Their children were,
(2) I. Joseph,^2 b. 1647, m. Elisabeth, dau. of Elder John Strong,
(11) whose father was ancestor of the late Caleb Strong,
Governor of Massachusetts. He d. Nov. 29, 1729. She
was b. at Windsor, Ct., Feb. 24, 1648, d. at Northampton,
May 11, 1736, a. 88.
(3) II. John,^2 b. 1649, m. Sarah, dau. of Lieut. ---- Clarke, at
Northampton, Dec. 23, 1675.
(4) III. Samuel,^2 b. 1652, settled at Durham, Ct., 1706.
(21)
(5) IV. Ebenezer,^2 b. 1655, served against the Indians in Philip's
war, and was killed fighting under Capt. Beers at
Northfield, Sept. 8, 1675, with his commander and many
more. He was the first white child born in Northampton.
(6) V. Jonathan,^2 b. June 6, 1657, d. Oct. 19, 1684.
(7) VI. David,^2 b. April 30, 1659.
(8) VII. Mary,^2 b. June 27, 1661, m. 1. Joseph Ashley of
Springfield, Oct. 15, 1685; 2. Joseph Williston, March 2,
1699.
(9) VIII. Hannah,^2 b. 1663, m. Rev. Pelatiah Glover of Springfield,
Jan. 6, 1687.
(10) IX. Abigail,^2 b. Sept. 3, 1666, m. John Colton, Feb. 19, 1689,
d. soon after, leaving a dau. who m. Francis Griswold of
Windsor, Ct.
(11) X. Hester,^2 b. 1672, m. Joseph Smith of Greenwich, Ct.
Joseph,^3 (2) who m. Elisabeth Strong, had,
(12) I. Joseph,^3 b. June 28, 1671, graduated at H. C. 1697, being
(26) the first of the name who had graduated there. He m.
Elisabeth, dau. of Dr. Benjamin Thompson of Roxbury,
Ms., (who was son of Rev. William Thompson of Braintree,
Ms.,) in 1701. He settled in the ministry, 1st, at
Lebanon, Ct., 2nd, at Salisbury, Ms., in 1718, where he
d. March 13, 1739, a. 69. His wife d. at Kensington, N. H.
(13) II. John,^3 b. Jan. 11, 1674.
(14) III. Ebenezer,^3 b. Dec. 11, 1675, m. Mercy Stebbins, Dec. 15,
1703, d. 1744.
(15) IV. Elisabeth,^3 b. Feb. 3, 1678.
(16) V. David,^3 b. Feb. 1, 1680, at Northampton, grad. H. C. 1705,
minister of Malden, 1708, of Leicester, 1721, where he
d. 1737, having been dismissed two years before. His
son David^4 graduated at Harvard College in 1729, and
was ordained as the first pastor of the church in Amherst,
Nov. 6, 1739. He m. Eunice Wells of Wethersfield,
Ct., had 9 children, and d. 1781, a. 69. He was the
father of the Rev. David^5 Parsons, D. D., of Amherst,
who was b. Jan. 28, 1749, H. C. 1771, settled Oct. 2,
1782, d. 1823, a. 74. Dr. Parsons had eleven children;
namely, Ezekiel Williams,^6 a physician in Colchester,
Ct.; David^6 of Amherst, an artisan; Prudence Stoddard,^6
m. Rev. Marcus Smith,^6 Rensselaerville, N. Y.;
Thomas,^6 a merchant, New York city, d. a. 41; Harriet,^6
m. 1. Rev. Royal Washburn, and 2. Hon. David Mack of
Amherst; Francis,^6 an attorney at Hartford, Ct., and
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas; Mary,^6 m. Rev.
William Williams, formerly a clergyman, but now a
practising physician at Salem; Caroline,^6 d. a. 22;
Sophia,^6 m. Rev. Silas Aiken of Boston; William,^6 a
physician of Canaan, Ct., d. a. 27; and James,^6 a
graduate and an instructor of youth at Savannah, Ga.,
d. a. 29.
(17) VI. Josiah,^3 b. Jan. 2, 1682, m. Sarah Sheldon, June 22, 1710,
d. April 12, 1768, a. 86.
(18) VII. Daniel,^3 b. Aug., 1685, at Northampton, m. Abigail Cooley
of Springfield, June 17, 1709, resided in Springfield.
(19) VIII. Moses,^3 b. Jan. 15, 1687, at Northampton, m. Abigail Ball
of Springfield, Jan. 20, 1710, about which time he removed
to Durham, Ct.
(20) IX. Abigail,^3 b. Jan. 1, 1690.
(21) X. Noah,^3 b. Aug. 15, 1692, left descendants.
Samuel,^2 (4) who settled in Durham, Ct, had,
(22) I. Timothy,^3 b. 1694, d. Jan. 28, 1772.
(23) II. Simeon,^3 b. 1701, d. Jan. 6, 1784.
(24) III. Phinehas,^3 b. 1703, d. May 6, 1724.
(25) IV. Aaron.^3
(26) V. Ithamar,^3 b. 1707, d. Jan. 21, 1786. He and probably all
his brothers left male posterity. David^4 and Nathan,^4
sons of Ithamar, removed to Granville, Ms., about 1760.
David^4 of Granville, Ms., had a son Joel,^5 who was
father to the Hon. Judge Anson V.^6 Parsons of
Philadelphia.
Joseph,^3 (12) who m. Elisabeth Thompson, had,
(27) I. Joseph,^4 b. in Salisbury, 1702, grad. H. C. 1720, ordained
at Bradford, Ms., June 8, 1726, d. there May 4, 1765, a.
63. His wife was Frances, dau. of John Usher, Lieut. Gov.
of New Hampshire, who was son of Hezekiah Usher,
by Elisabeth, dau. of the Rev. Zachariah Symmes of
Charlestown, Ms. His publications were an Election
Sermon, an Ordination, and an Artillery Election Sermon,
1744. Their children were, 1. Frances,^5 b. 1730, d. at
Epping, N. H., Oct. 7, 1808, unmarried, a. 78. 2.
Elisabeth,^5 b. 1731, d. 1733. 3. Joseph,^5 b. Oct. 5,
1733, minister of Brookfield, Ms., d. Jan. 17, 1771, a.
38. His wife was Sarah, dau. of Rev. Warham Williams of
Waltham, Ms., by Abigail, dau. of Col. George Leonard of
Norton. Rev. Warham Williams was son of Rev. John Williams
of Deerfield, the "Redeemed Captive," and grandson of
Deacon Samuel Williams of Roxbury and Rev. Eleazer
Mather of Northampton, great-grandson of Robert Williams
and Deacon William Park of Roxbury. 4. Thomas,^5
b. 1735, who went to Parsonsfield, Me. 5. Samuel,^5 b.
1737, of Cornville, Me., d. 1807. 6. Dr. John,^5 b. 1740,
of S. Berwick, Me., d. 1775. 7. William,^5 b. 1741, d.
1742. 8. William,^5 of Alfred, Me., b. 1743, d. Aug. 4,
1826, a. 83. 9. Sarah,^5 b. 1745, d. at Parsonsfield,
1800. 10. Edward,^5 b. 1747, went in the Revolutionary
army, as Adjutant in Col. Poor's regiment, and d. 1776.
Rev. Joseph Parsons^5 of Brookfield left an only dau.,
who m. Samuel Pitkin, Esq., of E. Hartford, Ct. William,^5
who d. at Alfred, Me., had nine children, among whom
was Usher,^6 M. D., of Providence, R. I., a professor in
Brown University, a surgeon in the war of 1812, and in
Perry's fleet at the battle of Lake Erie. He m. Mary,
dau. of Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D., author of "American
Annals." Dr. Parsons is himself author of several medical
treatises of great merit.
Thomas^5 was the proprietor of Parsonsfield, Me., and
left a numerous posterity--19 children, by two wives.
His first wife was Mary Poor.
(28) II. Samuel,^4 b. at Salisbury, Ms., 1707, grad. H. C. 1730,
ordained at Rye, N. H., Nov. 3, 1736, m. Mary, only child
of Samuel Jones, Esq., of Boston, Oct. 9, 1739, d. Jan. 4,
1789, a. 82, in the 53rd year of his ministry.
The grandfather of Mary Jones was Capt. John Adams of
Boston, grandson of Henry of Braintree, who was among the
first settlers of Massachusetts, and from whom a numerous
race of the name are descended, including two Presidents
of the United States. Gov. Samuel Adams (the patriot)
was cousin to Mary who m. Samuel Jones.
Rev. Samuel Parsons^5 had four children; namely, 1.
Mary, m. Rev. John Tucke of Epsom, whose dau. Love
M. m. Simeon Drake, late of Concord, N. H. 2. Joseph,
M. D., a captain in the Revolutionary army, who d. in
Rye, N. H., in 1832, a. 86. 3. Hannah, d. unmarried. 4.
Betsey, m. Lieut. Samuel Wallace of Rye, whose dau.
m. the late Isaac Waldron, Esq., of Portsmouth, N. H.
(29) III. William,^4 b. at Salisbury, April 21, 1716, grad. H. C.
1735, settled over the church in South Hampton, N. H.,
1743, from which he was dismissed after a ministry of
about twenty years. He m. Sarah Burnham of Durham, N. H.,
May 16, 1743. In 1763, he removed to Gilmanton with
his family, that town being then a wilderness, though by
the end of the year about twenty families had arrived
and commenced settlements.[22] Mr. Parsons was
employed by the proprietors to preach to the inhabitants.
He also instructed the youth of the place, and continued
these services after his labors as a minister ceased. He
d. Jan. 31, 1796, and his wife followed him to the grave,
Feb. 28, 1797. His children were Sarah, William,
Elisabeth, John, Joseph, and Ebenezer. Elisabeth m. Gen.
Joseph Badger, Jr., who was the father of Hon. William
Badger of Gilmanton, late Governor of New Hampshire.
(30) IV. Elisabeth,^4 b. 1718, m. Rev Jeremiah Fogg of Kensington,
N. H. She d. March 5, 1779, a. 61. He d. Dec. 1, 1789, in
the 78th year of his age, and the 52nd of his ministry. A
descendant of Rev. Mr. Fogg is the consort of Rev. James
Farnsworth of Boxboro', Ms.
(31) V. John,^4 b. Oct. 15, 1725, d. Sophomore in H. C., Oct. 28,
1740.
* * * * *
(1) BENJAMIN PARSONS,^1 younger brother of Cornet Joseph, whose
descendants are above traced, was like him among the
first settlers of Springfield, and a prominent citizen, a
gentleman of exemplary moral character, of great worth
and respectability. He was Deacon of the church, and a
chief instrument in its formation in Springfield, as
appears from his correspondence with the Rev. Dr. Increase
Mather. In the civil affairs of the town, no one held
more responsible offices, or discharged them with greater
fidelity.
Mr. Parsons m. 1st, Sarah, dau. of Richard Vore of
Windsor, who was a member of the Rev. John Warham's
church in Dorchester, and accompanied him to
Windsor in 1635. She d. at Springfield, Jan. 1, 1676.
He m. 2nd, Sarah, relict of John Leonard, Feb. 21, 1677.
Her father having settled in Springfield in 1639. Deacon
Parsons d. August 24, 1689, and his wife in 1690.
His children by his first marriage were,
(2) I. Sarah,^2 b. at Springfield, (as were probably all his
children,) Aug. 18, 1656, m. James Dorchester.
(3) II. Benjamin,^2 b. Sept. 15, 1658, m. Sarah, dau. of John Keep
(10) of Springfield, Jan. 17, 1683. He d. at Enfield, Ct., Dec.
28, 1728, a. 60. She d. July 8, 1729. Her mother was
Sarah, dau. of John Leonard of Springfield, and her
father was killed by the Indians at Long Meadow, 1676;
probably on the 26th of March; as on that day, six men
were killed at Springfield, three of them near Pecowsick
brook, as they were passing from Long Meadow to the
town, with an escort under Capt. Nixon. The circumstance
was long perpetuated by the following distich,
but with how much truth we pretend not to say. It is
this:
"Seven Indians, and one without a gun,
Caused Captain Nixon and forty men to run."
(4) III. Mary,^2 b. Dec. 10, 1660, at Springfield, Jan. 27, 1662.
(5) IV. Abigail,^2 b. Jan. 6, 1662, m. 1. John Mun, Dec. 23, 1680;
2. John Richards, Oct. 7, 1686.
(6) V. Samuel,^2 b. Oct. 10, 1666, m. Hannah Hitchcock, March 18,
(14) 1683, d. in Enfield, Feb., 1736, a. 70.
(7) VI. Ebenezer,^2 b. Nov. 17, 1668, m. Margaret, dau. of Samuel
(24) and Katherine Marshfield of Springfield, and
granddaughter of Thomas Marshfield, who came from
Exeter, England, with Rev. Mr. Warham, and settled in
Windsor, Ct. Mr. Parsons d. at Springfield, Sept. 23,
1752, a. 84. His wife d. June 12, 1758, a. 87, as is to be
seen on her tombstone in West Springfield, together with
these lines:
The hope of life immortal
bloom, Dispel y^e grave's
most hideous gloom
Christ on y^e Resurection
day his Saints with glory shall array.
Mr. Parsons was highly respected, was Deacon of the
Congregational church in West Springfield _fifty-two_
years, which terminated at his decease.
(8) VII. Mary,^2 b. Dec. 17, 1670, m. Thomas Richards, Oct. 21, 1691.
(9) VIII. Hezekiah,^2 b. Nov. 24, 1673, m. Hannah, dau. of Eliakim
Cooley of Springfield, Feb. 20, 1701. [There is a curious
entry on the Springfield records concerning this
match.] They resided in Enfield and Suffield, Ct. He
d. July 11, 1748.
(10) IX. Joseph,^2 b. Dec., 1675, m. Abigail Phelps, Sept. 15, 1697.
He resided in West Springfield.
Benjamin,^2 (3) of Enfield, who m. Sarah Keep, had,
(11) I. John,^3 b. in Enfield, Nov. 19, 1684, d. there May 9, 1717,
a. 33.
(12) II. Benjamin,^3 b. March 1, 1688, was of Enfield, Ct., where
he d. unmarried, July 4, 1734, a. 46.
(13) III. Christopher,^3 b. Jan. 28, 1691, m. Mary Pease of Enfield,
April 22, 1714, d. Sept. 10, 1747, a. 56. They had twelve
children, born between March 1, 1715, and Dec. 23, 1740;
eight sons and four daughters. The sons were John,^4
Christopher,^4 Benjamin,^4 Joseph,^4 Ebenezer,^4
Benjamin,^4 Jabez,^4 Noah,^4 John,^4 m. Ann Colton at
Enfield and had John,^5 Ebenezer,^5 Jabez,^5 and Oliver,^5
who d. at Peekskill in 1777, in the Revolutionary war.
Christopher,^4 m. Mary, dau. of Samuel Pease, and had
among other children, Asahel^5 and Christopher.^5
Benjamin,^4 m. Sophia Pease, and had Simeon,^5 Mary,^5
and John.^5 He lived at Enfield.
Joseph,^4 m. Rebecca Allen of Enfield, Ct., and had
Joseph,^5 and Jabez,^5 and three daughters. Joseph^5 had
a large family in Enfield.
(14) V. Sarah,^3 of whom we have no account but of her death, July
8, 1729.
Samuel,^2 (6) of Enfield, who m. Hannah, dau. of Luke Hitchcock of
Springfield, had,
(15) I. John,^3 b. July 23, 1693, m. Thankful Root of Enfield, June
20, 1716. They had seven children, among whom were
John,^4 Moses,^4 and Thomas.^4
(16) II. Luke,^3 b. Jan. 4, 1696, m. Sarah Osborn, Sept. 13, 1716, at
Enfield. They had seven children, one of whom was
a son, Luke,^4 b. April 17, 1724.
(17) III. Hezekiah,^3 b. April 13, 1698, m. Rebecca Burt, Nov. 15,
1723, d. 1751. He had, besides other children, Hezekiah,^4
David,^4 Eldad,^4 and Charles.^4
(18) IV. Hannah,^3 b. Aug. 2, 1700, m. Nath'l Horton, March 3, 1720.
(19) V. Nathaniel,^3 b. Dec. 28, 1702, m. Mary Pease, Dec. 18, 1725.
He had Nathaniel,^4 Chadwell,^4 who m. Ruth, dau. of
Josiah Ward of Enfield, and Stephen.^4
(20) VI. Moses,^3 b. June 10, 1707, m. Hannah, dau. of Samuel
Stebbins of Springfield, Jan. 13, 1736, d. at Enfield,
1786. He had 8 children, 4 sons and 4 daughters. Warham^4
m. Mary Pease, and had, besides other children, Martin,^5
Warham,^5 and Moses.^5
(21) VII. Miriam,^3 b. April 9, 1710, m. Caleb Jones, Nov. 10, 1730.
(22) VIII. Samuel,^3 b. Nov. 23, 1690, (at Springfield) m. Abigail
Randall, Dec. 4, 1713, and had sons, Samuel^4 and
Aaron.^4
(23) IX. Sarah,^3 b. Nov. 10, 1704, m. Thomas Jones, June 10, 1742.
(24) X. Daniel, of whom, as yet, nothing appears.
Ebenezer,^2 (7) of West Springfield, who m. Margaret Marshfield, had,
(25) I. Ebenezer,^3 b. at Springfield, Jan. 12, 1691, m. Martha Ely,
1714, d. 1742, leaving 10 children; namely, Martha,^4 m.
John Taylor; Eunice,^4 m. Daniel H. Phelps of Upper
Housatonick; Margaret,^4 m. Daniel Foot of Colchester;
Mary,^4 m. William Clark of Colchester; Diana^4;
Ebenezer^4; Naomi,^4 m. Asaph Leonard; Stephen^4;
Abigail^4; and Seth.^4
(26) II. Margaret,^3 b. Sept. 19, 1693, m. Rev. Daniel Elmer of
Newark, N. J.
(27) III. Jonathan,^3 b. July 15, 1695. Drowned, July 1, 1703.
(28) IV. Benjamin,^3 b. Dec. 15, 1696, m. Martha Bliss, Aug. 15,
1723; went to Kingston, thence to Palmer, Ms., d. at
Swansey, in the house of his son, Aaron.^4 His wife d. at
Palmer, Ms., July 17, 1760, a. 56. They had 12 children.
Eleanor,^4 m. Elizur Fitch of Monson; David^4 of Palmer,
Ms.; Tabitha,^4 m. Robert McMaster of Palmer, 1766;
Moses,^4 d. at the Havanna in the French war; Israel,^4 d.
in the same war, at Fort Harmer; Aaron^4 of Swansey;
Jonathan,^4 m. Mary, dau. Deacon Joseph Merrick of
Springfield, d. at W. Springfield, May 2, 1810, a. 75. She
d. March 15, 1817, a. 84. Joshua,^4 m. Eleanor Allen,
lived in Palmer, Ms. Abigail,^4 m. Ebenezer Bliss of
Belchertown. Martha,^4 m. Daniel Worthington, Vt.;
Benjamin,^4 d. in the French war.
(29) V. Caleb,^3 b. Dec. 27, 1699, m. Miriam Williston, Oct. 4,
1749. She d. at W. Springfield, July 24, 1760, a. 53,
leaving one son, Caleb,^4 b. 1755, d. 1760.
(30) VI. Sarah,^3 b. Feb. 4, 1703, m. Pelatiah Hitchcock of
Brookfield, Ms.
(31) VII. Jonathan,^3 b. at Springfield, Nov. 30, 1705, grad. at Y. C.
(33) 1729, studied theology with Rev. Elisha Williams,
President of Y. C., and Rev. Jonathan Edwards of
Northampton, ordained at Lyme, March 17, 1730, m. Phebe,
dau. of John Griswold of Lyme, and sister of Gov. Matthew
Griswold.
In March, 1746, Rev. Mr. Parsons removed to Newburyport,
Ms., where he preached until his decease. He
d. July 19, 1776, a. 71, and was interred in a tomb under
his pulpit, by the side of Rev. George Whitefield, who
had died at his house not long before. His wife d. at
Newburyport also, Dec. 26, 1770. He m. 2. Mrs. Lydia
Clarkson, widow of Andrew Clarkson, Esq., of Portsmonth,
N. H. She survived him, and d. April 30, 1778.
Mr. Parsons was author of several occasional and other
sermons in pamphlet form, and two volumes of sixty
sermons in 8vo., advertised as in press at Newburyport,
in 1781, by J. Mycall. As extended memoirs have been
published of him in several works, it is unnecessary to
be more particular at this time.
(32) VIII. Abigail,^3 b. Oct. 21, 1708, m. Thomas Day of Springfield,
March 19, 1735.
(33) IX. Katherine,^3 b. Oct. 16, 1715, m. Aaron Taylor of Upper
Housatonick.
Rev. Jonathan Parsons^3 (31) of Newburyport had 13 children, 6 of
whom d. in infancy. Those who married were,
(34) I. Marshfield,^4 b. Feb. 7, 1733, lived at Lyme, Ct., d. there
Jan. 13, 1813, a. 80. He m. 1. Lois, dau. of Richard Wait,
Sen., of Lyme. He m. 2. Abigail Marvin, Nov. 20, 1766.
She d. Aug. 22, 1782, a. 35. He m. 3. Abigail Waterman
of Norwich, Jan. 15, 1783. She d. March 14, 1793, a.
53. He m. 4. Phebe Griffin, Oct. 10, 1793, widow, and
dau. of Pardon Taber of Lyme. He had children only
by his first wife. His son John^5 m. Joanna, dau. of
Joseph Mather of Lyme. By a second wife, Lois, dau. of
Richard Wait, Jr., he had 12 children.
(35) II. Jonathan,^4 b. April 25, 1735, m. Hannah, dau. of Samuel
Gyles of Salisbury, Aug. 26, 1756. They had 10 children,
4 of whom were sons, and all d. unmarried. Elisabeth^5
m. 1. Samuel Chandler. 2. John Mycall. Hannah^5
m. Abraham Jackson, and had Ellen^6 and Isaac Rand^6;
the latter d. July 27, 1842, at Copenhagen, while U. S.
Chargé d'Affaires, a. 37. He m. Louisa C. Carroll of
Philadelphia, granddaughter of Charles Carroll of
Carrolton, Md., one of the signers of the Declaration of
Independence.
(36) III. Samuel Holden,^4 b. May 14, 1737, at Lyme, Ct., grad.
H. C. 1756; in 1781 he received an honorary degree from
Y. C., studied law at Lyme in the office of his uncle,
Gov. Matthew Griswold, admitted to the bar in New
London county, 1759, settled at Lyme, was elected
Representative to the General Assembly in 1762, and
successively for eighteen sessions, which brought him
to the year 1774, when he received the appointment of
King's Attorney, and removed to New London. In 1775
he was appointed Colonel of the sixth Connecticut
regiment, and a Brigadier-General by Congress in 1776,
Major-General in 1780. In 1779 he succeeded Gen.
Putnam in the command of the Connecticut line of the
Continental army, and served in the Revolutionary army
as Major-General until the close of the war. He was
an active member of the Convention of Connecticut in
January, 1788, which ratified the Constitution of the
United States, and was elected President of the "Society
of Cincinnati" of Connecticut. In 1785 he was appointed
by Congress a Commissioner to treat with the Indians
at Miami. In 1788 he was appointed and commissioned
by President Washington, first Judge of the North West
Territory, which included the present States of Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan; and while holding that
office, was, in 1789, appointed by the State of
Connecticut a Commissioner to hold a treaty with the
Wyandots and other tribes of Indians on Lake Erie, for
extinguishing the aboriginal title to the "Connecticut
Western Reserve." While returning to his residence at
Marietta from this service, he was drowned by the
overturning of his boat in descending the rapids of the
Big Beaver river, Nov. 17, 1789, a. 52.
Gen. Parsons m. Mehetabel, dau. of Richard Mather
of Lyme, (a lineal descendant of Rev. Richard Mather of
Dorchester,) Sept. 10, 1761. She was b. in Lyme, March
7, 1743, d. Aug. 7, 1802, and was buried at Middletown,
Ct. The children of Gen. Parsons were, 1. William
Walter,^5 b. July 5, 1762, m. Esther, dau. of Thompson
Phillips of Middletown, d. Jan. 24, 1801, leaving
children, Esther Phillips,^6 m. to William Hammet of
Bangor, and Thomas,^6 who d. young. 2. Lucia,^5 b. Nov. 8,
1761, m. Hon. Stephen Titus Hosmer, Chief-Justice of
Connecticut. They had 4 sons and 6 daughters. All the sons
d. young, except Oliver Ellsworth,^6 who m. Ann P. Hawes
of N. York. 3. Thomas,^5 who d. young. 4. ENOCH,^5
whose biography was given in the April number of this
work. He was b. Nov. 5, 1769, m. 1. Mary Wyley
Sullivan, May 19, 1795. She was dau. of John Sullivan
of London, and b. in Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 1772, d.
at Middletown, July 2, 1807. He m. 2. Mrs. Sarah
Rosecrants, dau. of Nehemiah Hubbard of Middletown, by
whom he had one son, Henry Ethelbert,^6 who m. Abby
C, dau. of John Welles of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and a
dau., Mary Sullivan,^6 m. James, son of Robert Dickson
of London, Eng., d. at Philadelphia, Dec. 15, 1841. The
next of the children of Gen. Parsons was, 5. Mehetabel,^5
b. Dec. 21, 1772. m. William B. Hall, M. D., of
Middletown, d. Nov. 1, 1823, a. 51, leaving, 1. William
Brenton^6; 2. Samuel Holden Parsons^6 of Binghampton,
N. Y. 6. Phebe,^5 b. Jan. 25, 1775. at N. London, m.
Samuel Tiffen, had a dau.,^6 m. to L. T. Clark of
Philadelphia. 7. Samuel Holden,^5 b. Dec. 31, 1777, m.
Esther, dau. of Giles Page of Middletown, d. in the West
Indies, leaving a dau., Mary Ann,^6 m. to William C.
Hammet of Howland, Me. 8. Margaret Ann.^5 9. Margaret,^5
b. 1785, m. 1. Stephen Hubbard of Middletown, who settled
at Champion, N. Y., where he d. 1812. 2. Alfred Lathrop^6
of Champion and W. Carthage, N. Y.
(37) IV. Thomas,^4 b. April 28, 1739, m. 1. Mary Gibson, and had one
son, Jonathan G.,^5 who d. without issue. He m. 2. Sarah
Sawyer of Newbury, and had, 1. Sarah,^5 m. to Gorham
Parsons, late a merchant of Boston, whose father was
brother to the late JUDGE THEOPHILUS PARSONS of Boston,
descended from that branch of the family settled at
Gloucester, Ms., the ancestor of which was Jeffrey
Parsons, whose pedigree we propose to trace hereafter; 2.
Ann,^5 m. Fitz-William Sargent of Gloucester, Ms.; 3.
Mary,^5 m. Ignatins Sargent; 4. ----,^5 m. Samuel Torrey
of Boston.
(38) V. Phebe,^4 b. at Newburyport, March 6, 1748, m. Capt. Ebenezer
Lane of Boston, had no children, d. 1781.
(39) VI. Lucia,^4 b. at Newburyport, Dec. 23, 1752, m. Capt. Joseph
Tappan of that place, d. there in 1815, a. 63, leaving 7
children; 1. Thomas P.^5; 2. Phebe Griswold^5; 3. Sarah^5;
4, John Pike^5; 5. Richard^5; 6. Joseph^5; and 7. Thomas
Parsons.^5
(40) VII. Lydia, 4 b. April 3, 1755, m. Moses, son of Hon. Jonathan
Greenleaf of Newburyport, Sept. 17, 1776, and had
children. 1. Moses,^5 2. Clarina Parsons,^5 3. Ebenezer,^5
4. Simon,^5 b. Dec. 5, 1783, the distinguished attorney
and professor of law in II. C., 5. Jonathan,^5 a clergyman
of Brooklyn, N. Y, and author of a memoir of Rev. Jonathan
Parsons in the American Quarterly Register, also
of Ecclesiastical Sketches of Maine.
* * * * *
HUGH PARSONS appears on the town records of Springfield, 27. 8,
(27 Oct.) 1645. How long before that he was resident there does
not appear, though it is quite probable he was among the first
inhabitants. Whether HUGH were a brother of Benjamin and Joseph, or
what relationship he may have borne to them, nothing has yet come
to our knowledge to enable us to determine; yet he was probably the
older brother of those, and so we shall consider him until we are
otherwise assured. Mr. Parsons married _Mary Lewis_ on the date above
mentioned, by whom he had,
I. SAMUEL, b. Oct. 4, 1648, d. Oct. 4, 1649.
II. JOSHUA, b. Oct. 26, 1650, d. June 4, 1651.
About this point of time began the troubles and trials of this
devoted family, and here, on the Springfield town records stands the
following sad entry:
"_Joshua Parsons_, son of Hugh was killed by Mary Parsons his wife,
4. 1. 1651."
Singular as it may now seem, and notwithstanding the above entry,
fair and legible at this day upon the records, an attempt was soon
after made to throw the cause of the death of the son upon the
father, and that he had effected it by witchcraft! We will not now
enlarge on this subject, as we propose to publish at some future time
an article on witchcraft in our country, and its unhappy effects.
P. S. We originally intended to have given in this number the
genealogy of the branch of the family of Parsons settled at
Gloucester, but for want of room, and some materials, are obliged
to defer it to a future one; meanwhile we hope the descendants of
JEFFREY PARSONS, (the progenitor of this branch,) will forward us
all the facts they possess concerning it, that it may be rendered as
complete as possible. For the information of those concerned, it may
be proper to state, that we have a copy of the pedigree which was in
the possession of the late William Parsons, Esq., of Boston, which,
though extensive as it respects the names of the descendants, is
very defective in dates and names of places. In these particulars we
especially want information.