Chapter VI: Crowns, Coronets, &c (3)

(36) V. Benjamin Prescott, Esq., of Salem, who gr. H. C., 1736, m. Rebecca Minot, [81--2] Nov. 26, 1741. He d. Aug. 18, 1778, a. 61. She d. Oct. 8, 1761, a. 41. They had the following children;

212--1 Rebecca, b. May 20, 1742, m. Hon. Roger Sherman, May 12, 1763.
213--2 Martha, b. Nov. 23, 1744, m. Stephen Goodhue, Esq., of New
Haven.
214--3 Benjamin, b. March 14, 1747, d. May 15, 1751.
215--4 James, b. March 16, 1749, m. Rebecca Barrett, Oct. 28, 1783,
daughter of James Barrett, Jr.
[181--1]
216--5 Elisabeth, b. Dec. 1, 1752, m. Henry Daggett, Esq., Nov. 26,
1771.
217--6 Mercy, b. Feb. 5, 1755, m. Henry Gibbs, Oct. 29, 1781.
218--7 Benjamin, b. Oct. 22, 1757, m. Hannah Blakely of New Haven.
219--8 Mary, b. May 9, 1760, m. Peter Barrett, July 8, 1779.
[188--8]

(37) V. Capt. James Minot [82--3] m. for his 1st wife Rebecca Stow of Merrimac, and for his 2nd wife, a daughter of Col. Blanchard of Tyngsborough. He d. Aug. 2, 1773, a. 47. She d. Feb. 9, 1767, a. 37. They had the following children, of whom I have not been able to obtain many particulars.

220--1 Rebecca, m. Isaac Newton;
221--2 Rachel, m. ---- Anger and d. without issue;
222--3 Joseph, d. about 1776, a. 20;
223--4 James, d. about 1776, a. 18;
224--5 Sarah, m. ---- Upton;
225--6 Hannah, m. Darly;
226--7 Elisabeth, m. Smith;
227--8 Martha, m. ---- Squiers.

(38) V. Rev. Josiah Sherman, minister of Woburn, m. Martha Minot, [83--4] Jan. 24, 1757. A biographical notice of Mr. Sherman is in the American Quarterly Register, Vol. XI., p. 188. They had the following children, born in Woburn, and perhaps others.

228--1 Roger Minot Sherman, b. Dec. 9, 1757, settled in Fairfield, Ct.
229--2 Martha, b. Dec. 8, 1758.
230--3 Elisabeth, b. March 26, 1761.
231--4 Mary, b. Feb. 3, 1763.
232--5 Susanna, b. April 7, 1765.

(39) V. Lt. Ephraim Minot, [84--5] d. in Concord, Sept. 30, 1794, a. 53. He was an officer, and was wounded in the battle of Princeton. He m. Abigail Prescott, who d. Feb. 27, 1825, a. 78. Their children were

233--1 Abel, b. July 10, 1765, m. Lydia Shed. He d. in Lincoln,
Aug. 6, 1809, having had 6
children.
234--2 Abigail, b. Jan. 30, 1778, m. William Bowers, May 12, 1797.
235--3 Mary, b. Jan. 10, 1781.
236--4 George, b. Jan. 31, 1783.
237--5 Louisa, b. Feb. 10, 1787.

(40) V. Capt. Daniel Adams [85--1] removed from Lincoln, the place of his birth, to Townsend, where he d. Oct. 10, 1795, in his 75th year. He represented the town in General Court, and held many important civil and military offices. He was thrice married. 1. To Kesia Brooks, daughter of Benjamin Brooks of Townsend, previously of Concord, March 1, 1744. She d. in childbirth, Aug. 21, 1754, having had 6 children, 5 of whom survived her. 2. To Mehitable Crosby of Townsend, by whom he had 10 children. She d. April 4, 1783, a. 49. 3. Widow Sarah Phelps of Lancaster, Jan. 30, 1784. His children were as follows;

238--1 d. in infancy.
239--2 Daniel, b. July 29, 1746, m. Lucy Taylor. May 21, 1772. He
d. June 10, 1827, a. 80. She d.
Sept. 12, 1836. He was father to
Dr. Daniel Adams of Mont Vernon,
author of several valuable
school books.
240--3 Abner, b. Oct. 22, 1748, m. 1. Mary Sawtell. 2. Sarah
Sawtell.
241--4 Rebecca, b. July 6, 1750, m. James Campbell, Dec. 21, 1769.
He lived in Brookline, N. H. She
d. at an advanced age, leaving
several children.
242--5 Benjamin, b. Oct. 15, 1752, m. Mary Stone of Ashly, July 16,
1778. He d. in Cavendish, Vt.;
had 7 children, 4 sons and 3
daughters.
243--6 Ephraim, b. Aug. 14, 1754, m. Lydia Knowlton, lived in
Jaffrey, N. H. Had one child,
who died without issue.
244--7 Kesia, b. m. John Sherwin. She d. May 25,
1782, a. 23, a few days after
her marriage.
245--8 Elisabeth, b. d. unmarried, Jan. 9, 1782, a. 19.
246--9 Mehetabel, b. m. John Smith; lived in Brookline
and had 4 sons and 2 daughters.
247--10 Mary, b. m. Dea. John Giles, May 6, 1789. He
had been previously m.; and his
first wife d. Oct. 17, 1788, a.
24, by whom he had 5 children.
By his 2nd wife he had also 5
children. He d. Aug. 14, 1825,
a. 62.
248--11 James, d. young.
249--12 Phebe, b. Dec. 18, 1770, m. Solomon Jewett, lived in
Townsend and had 4 children:
Solomon, Phebe, Kesia, and
Rozella.
250--13 James, b. April 15, 1773, m. Sybel Gasset, lived in Townsend,
and had 3 daughters.
251--14 Joseph, b. m. Polly Brooks.
Two other children d. in infancy.

(41) V. Capt. Joseph Adams [87--3] d. in Lincoln, March 28, 1807, a. 83. He m. 1. Mary Eveleth of Stow, 1746. She d. July 10, 1791, a. 66, having had 11 children. He m. 2. Mrs. Priscilla Reed Martin, July 23, 1795. Children,

252--1 Mary, b. April 29, 1747, d. Jun. 4, 1748, a. 1 y., 1 m., 6 d.
253--2 Joseph, b. Jan. 4, 1749, m. Love Lawrence, Sept. 4. 1770. He
was a physician; d. in England,
Feb. 2, 1807, a. 58. He had 12
children. [303--2]
254--3 Charles, b. Nov. 8, 1750, was a physician, and loyalist, d. at
Annapolis in Nova Scotia.
255--4 Nathan, b. Nov. 11, 1752, d. Aug. 11, 1756, a. 3 y., 9 m.
256--5 Mary, b. Oct. 11, 1754, d. Aug. 17, 1756, a. 1 y., 10 m.,
6 d.
257--6 Sarah, b. Sept. 13, 1756, m. Robert Eames, Sudbury, Aug. 14,
1783.
258--7 Mary, b. July 14, 1758, m. Elisha Wheeler, Sudbury, May 4,
1779.
259--8 Nathan, b, March 1, 1760, m. Hannah McCarty, d. in Charlestown
without issue, Sept. 25, 1830, a.
70.
260--9 Martha, b. July 15, 1763, m. Dea. David Lawrence of Littleton,
Dec. 23, 1790.
261--10 Daniel, b. April 14, 1766, m. Sarah Goldthwait of Boston.
262--11 Love, b. March 21, 1749, m. Henry Willard of Keene.

(42) V. Capt. Nathan Brown m. Rebecca Adams, [88--1] March 10, 1749. He d. in Lincoln, Oct. 13, 1781. She afterwards m. Solomon Foster, Nov. 15, 1790. She d. Dec. 24, 1811, a. 84. Children,

263--1 Mary, b. m. Benjamin Allen.
264--2 Rebecca, b. April 8, 1751, d. unmarried, April 27, 1773.
265--3 Elisabeth, b. Oct. 1, 1752, m. Dr. Richard Russell, Jan. 28,
1777.
266--4 Nathan, b. April 16, 1755, m. Lucy Garfield, 1775. He was
killed in Concord, by a load of
wood passing over him, Dec. 12,
1814, a. 60.
267--5 Daniel, b. Sept. 13, 1757, d. in the West Indies.
268--6 Eunice, b. Feb. 13, 1761, m. William Lawrence of Lincoln,
Nov., 1780.
269--7 Lydia, b. Nov. 12, 1763, m. Daniel Weston of Lincoln, 1793.
270--8 Kezia, b. Feb. 28, 1769, m. Solomon Foster of Lincoln.

(43) V. James Adams [89--5] m. 1. Kezia Conant, Jan. 15, 1756, by whom he had 3 children. She d. Aug. 22, 1765, in her 37th year. He m. 2. Delia Adams, daughter of Edward Adams of Sudbury, June 5, 1766, by whom he had 12 children. She d. in Boston, Dec. 9, 1813, a. 70, and was buried in Lincoln. He d. in Lincoln, March 10, 1805, a. 71. His children were

271--1 Betsey, b. Jan. 22, 1757, m. Benjamin Adams of Sudbury, Nov.
20, 1777.
272--2 James, b. Jan. 14, 1759, m. Nancy Tarbell of Lincoln, Nov.
15, 1796.
273--3 Kezia, b. Nov. 6, 1762, d. March 30, 1769, a. 6 y., 4 m.,
24 d.
274--4 Delia, b. May 26, 1767, m. Ebenezer Woodward of Hanover,
N. H., Feb. 26, 1795.
275--5 Andrew, b. Oct. 9, 1768, m. Polly Hartwell of Lincoln, Sept.
10, 1795.
276--6 Eli, b. March 14, 1770, m. Sarah Swift of Boston.
277--7 Samuel, b. June 7, 1771, m. Margaret Austin of Charlestown,
Sept. 15, 1797.
278--8 Kezia, b. Feb. 19, 1773, m. Ephraim Jones of Boston, Dec. 6,
1827.
279--9 Joseph, b. Nov. 7, 1774, d. July 7, 1775, a. 8 m.
280--10 Rebecca, b. April 4, 1776, d. Sept. 23, 1780, a. 4 y., 3 m.,
19 d.
281--11 Joseph, b. June 17, 1778, d. Sept. 13, 1780, a. 2 y, 2 m.,
26 d.
282--12 John, b. Nov. 13, 1780, d. in Havana, Oct. 15, 1809, a. 29.
283--13 Mary, b. July 9, 1782, m. Silas P. Tarbell of Boston,
March 10, 1808.
284--14 Joseph, b. May 6, 1784, m. 1. Betsey Archibald of Maine.
285--15 Daniel, b. Feb. 20, 1789, d. Nov. 20, 1789.

(44) V. Abel Miles m. Lydia Adams, [90--6] Feb. 26, 1756. He removed from Concord to New Ipswich, N. H., where he d. Dec. 6, 1814, a. 81. She d. March 20, 1804, a. 68. He had the following children, all born in Concord;

286--1 Lydia, bapt. Feb. 20, 1757, m. David Rumrell, Feb. 20, 1800.
287--2 Elisabeth, b. Dec. 4, 1758, m. John Shattuck, Dec. 11, 1783.
288--3 Polly, b. July 8, 1760, d. unmarried in N. Ipswich, Nov.
14, 1804.
289--4 Rebecca, b. Jan. 3, 1762, m. Levi Mansfield, Jan. 21, 1781.
290--5 Abel, b. Oct. 17, 1768, m. Betsey Shipley, Nov. 10, 1794.

(45) V. John Adams [91--1] lived in Lincoln. He m. 1. Lucy Hubbard, Dec. 12, 1749, who d. Dec. 24, 1791, and 2. Beulah Baker, Feb. 20, 1794. He had the following children,

291--1 John, b. April 15, 1751;
292--2 Edward, b. March 27, 1753;
293--3 Abel, b. March 8, 1755, d. July 9, 1756;
294--4 Abel, b. Feb. 20, 1757;
295--5 Thomas, b. March 22, 1761;
296--6 Bulkeley, b. March 14, 1759, m. Persis Stone of Framingham,
1785;
297--7 Lucy, b. June 2, 1763;
298--8 Ephraim, b. Feb. 24, 1765, d. Dec. 24, 1765;
299--9 Rebecca, b. Feb. 28, 1767;
300--10 Ephraim, b. Aug. 16, 1769, m. Susanna Flagg, 1789;
301--11 James, b. June 8, 1772.

(46) Rev. William Lawrence, minister of Lincoln, m. Love Adams, [94--2.] He d. April 11, 1780, a. 56. She d. Jan. 3, 1820, a. 95. (See Hist. Concord, p. 304.) They had children,

302--1 William, b. April 10, 1752, m. Eunice Brown, Nov., 1780.
303--2 Love, b. April 18, 1754, m. Dr. Joseph Adams, Sept. 4,
1770. [253--2]
304--3 John Prescott, b. Dec. 24, 1755, m. Abby Kaine, d. Jan. 28,
1808.
305--4 Susanna, b. Jan. 4, 1758, d. March 12, 1836, unmarried.
306--5 Sarah, b. May 12, 1760, m. Samuel Bass, Esq., of
Randolph, Oct. 29, 1783. She
d. Oct. 12, 1822. He gr.
H. C. 1782, d. Feb. 1, 1842.
307--6 Phebe, b. Jan. 2, 1762, m. Rev. Edmund Foster of
Littleton, Oct. 29, 1783.
308--7 Anna, b. March 15, 1764, m. James De Wolf, d. Dec. 8, 1807.
Mary, b. Nov. 1, 1767, m. Asa Brooks, d. Sept., 1812.
309--8 Abel, b. Aug. 23, 1771, m. Mary Hodge, d. Sept. 1, 1800.

(47) Capt. Jonas Minot [108--2] m. 1. Mary Hall, daughter of Rev. Willard Hall of Westford. She was b. July 30, 1738, and d. Nov. 3, 1792, in her 49th year. He m. 2. Mrs. Mary Dunbar, widow of Rev. Asa Dunbar of Salem. She d. in Boston, Aug. 2, 1830, a. 82. He d. in Concord, March 20, 1813, a. 78. A great part of Wilmot, N. H., was granted to him.

310--1 Mary, b. Feb. 21, 1761, m. Rev. Laban Ainsworth of Jaffrey,
Dec. 4, 1787.
311--2 Sarah, b. Jan. 14, 1763, m. Josiah Melvin, Jan. 28, 1790.
312--3 Jonas, b. Feb. 13, 1765, m. Miriam Barrett, Nov. 18, 1790.
She was the dau. of Col. Nathan
Barrett. [182--2]
313--4 Elisabeth, b. Aug. 22, 1767, m. Daniel Page, Jan. 25, 1791.
314--5 Abigail, b. Sept. 3, 1769, m. John Stanyan, Oct., 1818.
315--6 Martha, b. Oct. 17, 1771, m. Charles Barrett, Jr., of New
Ipswich, Oct. 15, 1799. He was
the son of Charles Barrett.
[176--3]
316--7 Samuel, b. April 1, 1774, m. Hannah Stow of Concord.
317--8 Stephen, b. Sept. 28, 1776, m. Rebecca Trask, Nov. 9, 1809.
318--9 James, b. July 4, 1779, m. Sally Wilson of Nelson, Feb. 8,
1809.

(48) Dea. George Minot [111--5] settled in the eastern part of Concord. He commanded a company in the Revolution, at Saratoga, (the taking of Burgoyne,) and in several other places; and was a highly meritorious officer. He was chosen deacon of the church, Aug. 3, 1779, and continued in office until his death, which took place April 13, 1808, a. 65. He m. 3 wives, all by the name of Barrett. His 1st wife was Rebecca, daughter of Col. James Barrett, [184--4] whom he m. Jan. 17, 1765, and who d. March 3, 1775, a. 33. His 2nd wife was Elisabeth, daughter of Humphrey Barrett, [151--1] whom he m. Dec. 12, 1776, and who d. April 10, 1789, a. 45; and his 3d wife was Lydia, daughter of John Barrett and widow of Silas Mann. [169--3] He had the following children all by his first wife;

319--1 Rebecca, b. Feb. 4, 1768, m. William Heywood.
320--2 Dorcas, b. April 19, 1769, m. James Barrett, a grandson of
Col. James B. [181--1]
321--3 Lucy, b. April 27, 1770, m. Abel Barrett [159--9].

(49) V. Stephen Minot [115--1] m. Sarah Clark, only daughter of Jonas Clark, Esq., of Boston, June 10, 1736. He d. Sunday, Jan. 14, 1787, a. 75. He graduated H. C. 1730, and was a merchant of Boston. His wife d. June 10, 1783, in her 64th year. They had the following children;

322--1 Jonas Clark, b. Aug. 20, 1738, m. Hannah Speakman.
323--2 Stephen, b. Feb. 14, 1740, merchant in Jamaica, d. single.
324--3 William, b. Feb. 7, 1743, m. Mary Collson, July 1, 1773,
one of the first settlers in
Camden, Me., d. in Boston,
Nov., 1773.
325--4 John, b. Oct. 21, 1744, m. Mary De Rue of Boston; was
master of a vessel in the West
India and Surinam trade, d. of
fever at sea, leaving one child,
Stephen.
326--5 Francis, b. Aug. 9, 1746, d. single in Marlborough, where he
had been for his health. He was
a merchant in Boston.
327--6 Sarah, b. Nov. 7, 1749, m. Gilbert Warner Speakman, by whom
she had 6 children. She d. Aug.
29, 1786.
328--7 James, b. Dec. 5, 1751, m. Mary Deming of Boston.
329--8 Christopher, b. March 8, 1754, m. Elisabeth Mayhew of
Plymouth.
330--9 George, b. Sept. 6, 1756, d. March 2, 1758.
331--10 George Richards, b. Dec. 22, 1758, He grad. H. C. 1778, and was
the historian of
Massachusetts. He d. Jan.
2, 1802. He m. Mary
Speakman.

(50) V. Jonathan Minot [130--4] lived in Westford, where he d. Feb. 7, 1806, a. 83. He married Esther Proctor of Chelmsford, who d. March 30, 1808, a. 83. They had

332--1 Esther, b. May 23, 1747, m. Samuel Wright of Westford.
333--2 Jonathan, b. Aug. 23, 1749, m. Hannah Eastman, Sept. 3, 1771.
He d. in Westminster, Ms.
334--3 Joseph, b. Jan. 13, 1751. He was killed in the battle of
Bunker Hill.
335--4 Olive, b. Jan. 14, 1753, m. William Reed of Westford.
336--5 Elisabeth, b. Jan. 13, 1755.
337--6 John Marston, grad. H. C. 1767, lived in
Castine, Me.
338--7 Jesse, b. Nov. 5, 1759, m. Betsey Adams.
339--8 Joash, b. m. ---- Hildreth of Westford.
340--9 Patty, b. m. John Clark.

THE PARSONS FAMILY.[21]

As it respects the _origin_ of the name of Parsons, some have supposed that it was derived from the word _parson_, a clerical title, given from the fact that a clergyman is the principal person in the church. Hence in law he is termed _ecclesiæ persona_, and has full possession of all the rights of a parochial church. The _s_ is added for euphony's sake, or from the fact that the individual was the parson's son.

Others have derived it from the word _parish_, as parish-son, meaning the son of some parish, one supported or educated by the parish.

And others again have supposed that the name is the same with _Person_, _Peerson_, _Pierson_, and _Pearson_, modified in the spelling.

_Peirson_ or _Peerson_ is derived, according to Camden, from _son of Peter_ or _Peterson_, the former coming originally from the French word, _Pierre_.

It does not appear that there has ever been any attempt to collect even the materials for a history of the English family of Parsons, so far as has come to our knowledge, notwithstanding there have been many individuals among them of great distinction; as knights, baronets, and noblemen. Those of the name are, and have been for a long period, found in several counties; as Devonshire, Buckinghamshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, &c.

Prior to 1672, Andrew Parsons, gent., was of Somersetshire, and Philip Parsons, gent., of Worcestershire. But the earliest record we have noticed is in

1290. WALTER was then a resident of Mulso in Ireland. How long before this he or his ancestors went there we know not. The name is still extant there, and something above one hundred years ago, Bishop Gibson remarked, (in his edition of Camden's Britannia,) "The honorable family of Parsons have been advanced to the dignity of Viscounts, and more lately, Earls of Ross."

1481. SIR JOHN was Mayor of Hereford, who had for his armorial bearings, _Gules, a leopard's head between three crosses patee, fitched in the foot ar._--Crest, _a halberd headed az. embued gules_.

1546. ROBERT, afterwards the noted Jesuit, was born this year, and died April 18, 1610, a. 64. He appears to have been the first of note of his family. His father lived near Bridgewater, Eng., at a place called Netherstoway. Robert was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, and was early distinguished for his abilities, but being accused of some irregularities he forsook his country and resided for a time at Antwerp, Louvain, Padua, Rome, Paris and Valladolid. Becoming a convert to the Romish faith, he propagated that doctrine with all his ability, and was no small instrument in stirring up the benighted vassals of Philip II. to attempt the conquest of his native country. The event of that attempt will always be viewed with an intensity of interest.

How much Father Parsons had to do in circulating the Pope's bulls and inflammatory tracts in England at the period of the Armada can never be known, but from his knowledge of the country, the people, and their language, it is not unlikely that his agency was by no means inconsiderable. Fuller, in speaking of the fierceness of the battle between the fleets observes, that "bullets did not fly about so much at sea, as bastardly libels did by land; so fitly called, because none durst father them."

He established an English college at Rome and another at Valladolid, for such of his countrymen as might follow him, or come otherwise into exile. He published several works, but that by which he is best known is entitled "Leicester's Commonwealth," which, though abounding with misstatements, vague rumors, and base insinuations, was nevertheless a work of great ability. And although the pen of Sir Philip Sidney was exercised in its refutation, he is not considered to have completely effected his object. This most singular book of Father Robert was first printed in 1641, and in less than 70 years had become so rare that an edition of it was published, purporting to have been printed from a _newly discovered manuscript_, and passed current as such without detection, it is believed. To the original edition is appended a poem, entitled "Leycester's Ghost," a great literary curiosity. An extract from the poem is as follows:

Let no man think I exercis'd the Ghost
Of this great Peere that sleepeth in the dust,--
Or conjur'd up his spirit to his cost
To presse with dispraise or praise unjust,
I am not partiall but give him his due,
And to his soule I wish eternall health,
Ne do I thinke all written tales are true,
That are inserted in his Common-wealth;
What others wrot before I do survive,
But am not like to them incenst with hate,
And as I plainely write, so do I strive
To write the truth, not wronging his estate.
Of whom it may bee said and censur'd well,
Hee both in vice and vertue did excell.

1556. FRANCIS was vicar of Rothwell in Nottinghamshire. There is a wood called Parsons' wood, in the hundred of Nassaburgh, in the same county.

1618. BARTHOLOMEW appears as the author of three sermons--"First Fruits of the Gentiles," 4to. In 1616, "Assize Sermon," 4to. 1631, "Dorcas, or a Perfect Patterne of a True Disciple," Sermon, 4to. Oxford.

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 seat 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,^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,