Part 11

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.