1634. About this year Thomas Parsons was knighted by Charles I. The foregoing engraving represents his arms, still retained in the family in the United States, and by his descendants in London, among whom were Sir John and Sir Humphrey; the former, Lord Mayor of that city in 1704, the latter, in 1731 and 1740. The same coat of arms is also retained by the branch of the Parsons family now long resident in Barbadoes.

Langley in Buckinghamshire was long a scat of a family of the name, but they seem to have abandoned it about the end of the 17th century for a residence in Nottinghamshire. The first of this family whose descendants we can trace appears to have been

RALPH, of Northampton, who had a son

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,' 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, (after-
wards 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,
Joseph, b. 1647, m. Elisabeth, dau. of Elder John Strong,
whose father was ancestor of the late Caleb Strong,
Governor of Massachusetts. He d. Nov. 29, 1729.
was b. at Windsor, Ct., Feb. 24, 1648, d. at Northampton,
May 11, 1736, a. 88.

John, b. 1649, m. Sarah, dau. of Lieut.
Northampton, Dec. 23, 1675.

Samuel, b. 1652, settled at Durham, Ct., 1706.

She

Clarke, at

Ebenezer, b. 1655, served against the Indians in Philip's
war, and was killed fighting under Capt. Beers at North-
field, Sept. 8, 1675, with his commander and many more.
He was the first white child born in Northampton.
Jonathan, b. June 6, 1657, d. Oct. 19, 1684.
David, b. April 30, 1659.

Mary, b. June 27, 1661, m. 1. Joseph Ashley of Springfield,
Oct. 15, 1685; 2. Joseph Williston, March 2, 1699.
Hannah, b. 1663, m. Rev. Pelatiah Glover of Springfield,
Jan. 6, 1687.

2

Abigail, 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, b. 1672, m. Joseph Smith of Greenwich, Ct. Joseph,' (2) who m. Elisabeth Strong, had,

(12) I. (26)

(13) II. (14) III.

(15) IV. (16) V.

(17) VI.

(18) VII.

(19) VIII.

(20) IX. (21) X.

Joseph, b. June 28, 1671, graduated at H. C. 1697, being 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. John, b. Jan. 11, 1674.

Ebenezer, b. Dec. 11, 1675, m. Mercy Stebbins, Dec. 15, 1703, d. 1744.

Elisabeth, b. Feb. 3, 1678.

David, 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 graduated at Harvard College in 1729, and
was ordained as the first pastor of the church in Am-
herst, Nov. 6, 1739. He m. Eunice Wells of Wethers-
field, Ct., had 9 children, and d. 1781, a. 69. He was the
father of the Rev. David 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, a physician in Colchester,
Ct.; David of Amherst, an artisan; Prudence Stod-
dard, m. Rev. Marcus Smith, Rensselaerville, N. Y.;
Thomas, a merchant, New York city, d. a. 41; Harriet,
m. 1. Rev. Royal Washburn, and 2. Hon. David Mack of
Amherst; Francis, an attorney at Hartford, Ct., and
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas; Mary, m. Rev.
William Williams, formerly a clergyman, but now a
practising physician at Salem; Caroline, d. a. 22; So-
phia, m. Rev. Silas Aiken of Boston; William, a physi-
cian of Canaan, Ct., d. a. 27; and James, a graduate and
an instructor of youth at Savannah, Ga., d. a. 29.
Josiah, b. Jan. 2, 1682, m. Sarah Sheldon, June 22, 1710, d.
April 12, 1768, a. 86.

6

Daniel, b. Ang., 1685, at Northampton, m. Abigail Cooley of Springfield, June 17, 1709, resided in Springfield. Moses, b. Jan. 15, 1687, at Northampton, m. Abigail Ball of Springfield, Jan. 20, 1710, about which time he removed to Durham, Ct.

Abigail,3 b. Jan. 1, 1690.

Noah, b. Aug. 15, 1692, left descendants.

Samuel, (4) who settled in Durham, Ct., had,

(22) I.

(23) II.

(24) III.

(25) IV.

(26) V.

Timothy, b. 1694, d. Jan. 28, 1772.

Simeon, b. 1701, d. Jan. 6, 1784.
Phinehas, b. 1703, d. May 6, 1724.
Aaron.

Ithamar, b. 1707, d. Jan. 21, 1786. He and probably all his
brothers left male posterity. David' and Nathan, sons
of Ithamar, removed to Granville, Ms., about 1760.
David of Granville, Ms., had a son Joel, who was father
to the Hon. Judge Anson V. Parsons of Philadelphia.

Joseph,3 (12) who m. Elisabeth Thompson, had, (27) I.

(28) II.

Joseph, 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, b. 1730, d. at Epping, N. H., Oct. 7, 1808, unmarried, a. 78. 2. Elisabeth, 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, b. 1735, who went to Parsonsfield, Me. 5. Samuel,5 b. 1737, of Cornville, Me., d. 1807. 6. Dr. John, b. 1740, of S. Berwick, Me., d. 1775. 7. William, b. 1741, d. 1742. 8. William, of Alfred, Me., b. 1743. d. Aug. 4, 1826, a. 83. 9. Sarah,5 b. 1745, d. at Parsonsfield, 1800. 10. Edward, b. 1747, went in the Revolutionary army, as Adjutant in Col. Poor's regiment, and d. 1776.

5

Rev. Joseph Parsons of Brookfield left an only dau., who m. Samuel Pitkin, Esq., of E. Hartford, Ct. William," who d. at Alfred, Me., had nine children, among whom was Usher, 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 was the proprietor of Parsonsfield, Me., and left a numerous posterity-19 children, by two wives. His first wife was Mary Poor.

Samuel, 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 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.

(30) IV.

(31) V.

William, 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.* Mr. Parsons was em-
ployed 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,X
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.
Elisabeth, 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.

John, b. Oct. 15, 1725, d. Sophomore in H. C., Oct. 28, 1740.

(1) BENJAMIN PARSONS,' 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 ap pears 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.

(2) I.

(3) II. (10)

Mr. Parsons m. 1st, Sarah, dau. of Richard Vore of
Windsor, who was a member of the Rev. John War-
ham'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. Dea-
con Parsons d. August 24, 1689, and his wife in 1690.
His children by his first marriage were,
Sarah, b. at Springfield, (as were probably all his children,)
Aug. 18, 1656, m. James Dorchester.

Benjamin, b. Sept. 15, 1658, m. Sarah, dau. of John Keep
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

For minute and interesting particulars of this now important town, the reader is referred to the history of it by REV. DANIEL LANCASTER. In that work the author has given pedi-grees of many of the early settlers.