"Cornet" Joseph Parsons

A principal founder of Northampton, Mass. Arrived in MA in 1635 or possibly earlier from Devonshire, England.

Bliss Genealogy: Of Springfield. Mr. Parsons, associated with Mr. Pynchon, one of the most prominent men in the public business of the place, and quite wealthy. He was a witness to the deed given by the Indians to Pynchon on 15 July 1636. Joseph and Mary Parsons had five children before their removal to Northampton, Mass., in 1654. Their son Ebenezer, born in this place, May 1 1655, was the first white child born in the town, and he was killed by the Indians at Northfield, 2 Sept 1675. Here in Northampton they had seven more children, making twelve in all, but three, named Benjamin, John, and David died young. 25 June 1657: A Northampton town meeting was held, a grant of land was made to Joseph Parsons. He settled in Northampton between 1654 and 1658, being the first four years of that town's existence. Northern New York Genealogy: Cornet Joseph Parsons, by his own statement born in England in 1618, was the first of the name to be found in New England. He appeared in 1636 in Springfield, Mass., as a witness of a deed from the Indians of the lands of that place and vicinity to William Pyncheon and others. According to tradition, and also some of the best authorities. Joseph was a brother of Benjamin Parsons, born in Great Torrington, Devonshire, England; the two are supposed to have accompanied their father to New England about 1630. It is thought they came the same time as William Pyncheon, and Joseph Parsons was closely associated with William Pyncheon and his son John. Cornet Joseph Parsons became the chief founder of Northampton, Mass., where he removed in November 1655. His name was found on the list of land owners of Springfield in 1647, of whom there were forty-two; he served in that town as surveyor and also as selectman. In 1655 Mr. Parsons purchased a monopoly of the fur and beaver trade of the Connecticut River, and from this trade became quite wealthy for the times, becoming the second, probably, in the colony, to the point of worldly possessions. He also owned two valuable lots in Boston, a residence and a storehouse on the harbor, which his family sold for a large sum after his death. In 1668 Joseph Parsons purchased and conducted a sawmill, and in 1671 he went on an exploring tour with others and was instrumental in concluding a bargain with the Indians for a tract of land to the amount of ten thousand five hundred and sixty acres. He was several times sent on surveying expeditions, and had considerable influence with the Indians, as shown by the frequent bargains he was able to conclude with them for the purchase of land and closing of treaties. Cornet Joseph Parsons was a member of Captain John Pyncheon's Hampshire county troop, 7 October 1678, also a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston in 1679, and serving in the early Indian wars. Savage says he was the "most enterprising man in the Connecticut Valley, for a quarter of a century".

From Coe-Ward Memorial and Immigrant Ancestors: In 1664 he was one of the committee to "deliver the mind of the town to the Indians". The conditions were "That the Indians do not work, game, or carry burdens within the town on the Sabbath, nor powow here or anywhere else; nor get liquor, nor cider, nor get drunk; nor admit Indians from without the town; nor break down the fences, but go over a stile at one place; nor admit among them the murderers: Calawam, Wuttowham, and Pacquablant, nor hunt, nor kill cattle, sheep, or swine with their dogs." In 1671 and 1673 he was the agent of the settlers of Hatfield, Hadley, and Northampton to purchase from the Indians a large tract of land at Squokeug, afterwards Northfield, where he was given possession of the first portion so obtained. From 1672 to 1678 he was Cornet of the Hampshire Troop, commanded by Capt. John Pynchon, the first troop formed in western Massachusetts, and in 1679 was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, the first regularly organized military company in America. In 1674 he purchased from John Bliss the Parsons Homestead" at South Farms. Built in Indian times its walls were pillars of strength and defied time for 200 years. It served as defense in time of attack, was regarded as one of the safest fortifications, and bore evidence that it had been used as barracks for soldiers. Cornet Parsons was a merchant and engaged extensively in the fur trade, and at the time of his death was one of the richest men in the colony.

• _____________
• 'Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the ..., Volume 2 edited by William Richard Cutter, William Frederick Adams
• http://books.google.com/books?id=l84UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA705&lpg=PA705&dq...
• Pg. 705
• 'The coat-of-arms of Sir Thomas, the father of "Cornet" Joseph, is still retained in the family, both in the United States and England.
• ______________
• 'Parsons family: descendants of Cornet Joseph Parsons, Springfield, 1636 ... By Henry Parsons
• http://books.google.com/books?id=8dZGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=J...
• Pg. 39
• '1. JOSEPH PARSONS is believed to have been the first of the name in America. He was known as Cornet Joseph, from the military title which he, in later years, bore; the Cornet being the color-bearer and third in command in a British troop or regiment of cavalry. The best attainable evidence is that he was born at or near Great Torrington, Devonshire, England, about 1618, and came to America about 1635, possibly earlier. On July 15, ....
• 'On Nov. 2, 1646 (O. S.), Joseph Parsons married Mary Bliss, the daughter of Thomas Bliss, of Belstone Parish, Devonshire, England, from whom is descended the Bliss family of this country. ....
• 'Cornet Joseph Parsons spent the last years of his life in Springfield, Mass., where he died, Oct. 9, 1683. His wife, Mary Bliss, was born in England in 1620, and died at Springfield, Jan. 29, 1712.
• Pg. 49
• 'CHILDREN OF CORNET JOSEPH AND MARY (BLISS) PARSONS:
  • 2 i Joseph, or "Esquare,"b. Nov. 1, 1647, at Springfield; d. at Northampton, Mass., Nov., 1729; m. Elizabeth Strong, Mar. 17, 1669.
  • ii Benjamin, b. Jan. 22, 1649; d. June 22, 1649.
  • 3 iii John, b. Aug. 14, 1650; d. at Northampton, Apr. 15, 1728; m. Sarah Clark, Dec. 3, 1675.
  • 4 iv Samuel (Lieut.), b. Jan. 23, 1652; removed to Durham, Conn., in 1709; died there Nov. 12, 1734; m. (1) Elizabeth Cook, 1677, who died Sept. 2, 1690; m. (2) Rhoda Taylor, 1691; m. (3) Mary Wheeler, Dec. 15, 1711.
  • v Ebenezer, b. 1655; first white child born in Northampton. He was killed in a battle with Indians at Northfield, Sept. 8, 1675.
  • 5 vi Jonathan, b. June 6, 1657; d. Dec., 1694; m. Mary Clark, Apr. 5, 1682.
  • vii David, b. Apr. 30, 1659; died young.
  • 6 viii Mary, b. June 27, 1661; d. Aug. 23, 1711; m. (1) Joseph Ashley, Oct. 16, 1685, who died May 19, 1698; m. (2) Joseph Williston.
  • ix. Hannah, b. Aug. 1, 1663; d. Apr. 1, 1739; m. Pelatiah Glover, Jan. 7, 1687, who died Aug. 22, 1737. Eight children.
  • x Abigail, b. Sept. 3, 1666; d. June 27, 1689; m. John Colton, Feb. 19, 1685. Had two children.
  • xi xii Esther and Benjamin, b. and d. Sept. 11.
  • xiii Hester, b. Dec. 24, 1672; d. 1760; m. Sept. 15, 1689, Joseph Smith, of Springfield, Mass. Had one child.
• __________________
• 'Cornet Joseph Parsons one of the founders of Springfield and Northampton ... By Henry Martyn Burt, Albert Ross Parsons
• http://books.google.com/books?id=nnL2aPQJcmMC&pg=PA91&lpg=PA91&dq=J...
• _____________________
• 'Genealogy of the Bliss family in America, from about the year 1550 to 1880 (1881, [1880])
• http://www.archive.org/details/genealogyofbliss00blisuoft
• http://www.archive.org/stream/genealogyofbliss00blisuoft#page/28/mo...
• THOMAS, of England, of Braintree, Mass., and afterwards of Hartford, Conn., was a son of the first Thomas Bliss, of England, and was born about the year 1580 or 1585. He married in England about 1612-15, to Margaret __,* and had ten children, of whom six were born previous to their removal to this country; these were name respectively, Ann, 'Mary', Thomas, Nathaniel, Lawrence, and Samuel; and in this country were probably born Sarah, Elizabeth, Hannah and John. Owing to religious persecutions, Thomas Bliss was compelled to leave England, and in the autumn of 1635, he with his younger brother George embarked at Plymouth with their families for the then wilderness of America. Upon their arrival at Boston, as before stated, Thomas located temporarily at Braintree, Mass., whence he afterwards removed to Hartford, Conn., where he died in 1640. We have been unable to ascertain the dates of birth of all the children in this family, but is is evident that Thomas was the oldest son, and that he must have been of age at the time of the distribution of the lots in Hartford, which would place his birth at about the year 1615-16. The births of the other children must have occurred between that of Thomas, jr. (unless Ann and Mary were older), and the death of Thomas sen., in 1640, which would allow two years at least between them. Probably there were no other sons of age at the time of their arrival in Hartford, as otherwise they would have had lots assigned them -- and there is nothing more discoverable respecting any of the children in Hartford.
• *It is thought her maiden name was Margaret Lawrence, and that she was born about the year 1594, and married to Thomas Bliss about 1612-15. She was a good looking woman, with a square ablong face that betokened great capability and force of character. She had a broad open brow, fair hair, and blue eyes. After the death of her husband, which took place about the close of the year 1639, she managed the affairs of the family with great prudence and judgment. He eldest daughter, Ann, was married to Robert Chapman, of Saybrook, Conn., April 29, 1642, choosing April for their marriage month instead of May, for the old English adage ran - "To wed in May, you'll rue the day." She removed with her husband to Saybrook, where her eldest brother, Thomas, came soon after to live with them, and where he married in 1644, and in 1659 removed to Norwich, Conn., with thirty-four or thirty-five others and effected the settlement of that town. The other children of the widow Margaret Bliss, of Hartford, concluded not to settle there permanently, chills and fever prevailing in some localities near the town; she and her children, therefore in the year 1643, removed to the settlement of Springfield, Mass., thirty miles or more up the Conecticut River. Margaret sold her property in Hartford, and gathering her household goods and cattle together, prepared with her eight children to make the journey through the forest to Springfield, which she accomplished in about five days. Nathaniel and Samuel, her second and fourth sons, had been there previously, and a dwelling had been prepared for the family on their arrival. A journey like this was thought a great thing in those days. They camped out in the forest three nights with their teams, so sparsely was the country settled at that time; and the forests, infested with savage beasts and scarcely less savage Indians, were broken only by the single roads to the seaboard, on the east and on the south, and these were by no means of the best. Mrs. Margaret had acquaintances in Springfield whom she had known in England, and here she settled down for the remainder of her days. It is said she purchased a tract of land in Springfield one mile square, situated in the south part of the town, on what is now Main Street, and bordering on Connecticut River. One of the streets laid out on the manor tract has been named "Margaret Street," and another "Bliss Street," on which has been built a Congregational Church. She lived to see all her children brought up, married and established in homes of their own, except Hannah, who died at about twenty-three years of age. Mrs. Margaret died in Springfield, August 28, 1684, after a residence in America of nearly fifty years, and over forty since her husband's death. She was an energetic, efficient woman, capable of transacting most kinds of business, and was long remembered in Springfield as a woman of great intellectual ability. A mother with these characteristics seldom fails to transmit them to posterity. Her will, dated in September (1683?) mentions her son John, son Lawrence, deceased, son Samuel, daughter Elizabeth (Morgan), deceased, 'daughter Mary Parsons (widow of Joseph)', and daughter Sarah (Scott). As no reference is made to Thomas or Ann, it has been questioned whether they were her children. But neither is there any reference in it to the children of her son Nathaniel, deceased, to which in their younger years she had been guardian and guide; so that it cannot be inferred from such omission that Thomas, jr., and Ann were not her children. As she survived her husband forty-four years, it may have been that she was a second wife, and that these were children of a former marriage. He must have died comparatively young, or there may have been a great disparity in their ages. She lived more than ninety years, in spite of the hardships and anxieties she had passed through, and her grandchildren were generally very strong of consitution and long-lived, as where also her children. She was a woman of superior abilities, great resolution, and uncommon enterprise, and is entitled to the respect of her descendants, both for her vigor of mind and consitution.
• http://www.archive.org/stream/genealogyofbliss00blisuoft#page/30/mo...
• The following are the names of the children of Thomas and Margaret Bliss, with their chronology as far as we have been able to ascertain:
  • '10. MARY, b. in England, __, m. November 26, 1646, Joseph Parsons, Springfield, Mass., who d. October 9, 1683. She d. January 29, 1712. Mr Parsons, associated with Mr. Pynchon, was one of the most prominent men in the public business of the place, and quite wealthy. He was a witness to the deed given by the Indians to Pynchon,* July 15, 1636. Joseph and Mary Parsons had five children before their removal to Northampton, Mass., in 1654. (Their son Ebenezer, born in this place, May 1, 1655, was the first white child born in the town, and he was killed by the Indians at Northfield, September 2, 1675.) Here in Northampton they had seven more children, making twelve in all, but three, named Benjamin, John and David, died young. Mary Bliss, the mother of this family, two years after the birth of her youngest child, was charged with witchcraft by some of her neighbors who were envious of their prosperity and endeavored in this way to disgrace them. She was sent to Boston for trail where the jury gave her a full acquittal of the crime, and she returned home to Northampton, from whence they removed back to Springfield in 1679. Just after he acquittal in Boston, her son Ebenezer was killed by the Indians, and those who had been instrumental in bringing her to trial said: "Behold, though human judges may be bought off, God's vengeance neither turns aside nor slumbers." It is said that she possessed great beauty and talents, but was not very amiable.
• ______________
• 'PARSONS FAMILY ASSOCIATION
• http://members.frys.com/~parsons/d0006/g0000018.html#I313
• 'Joseph (Cornet) PARSONS (Sr.)
• ABT 1620 - 9 Oct 1683
• TITLE: Sr.
• BIRTH: ABT 1620, Beaminster,Dorset,Canterbury Prov.,England
• CHRISTENING: 25 Jun 1620, St. Mary's,Beaminster,Dorset,England
• DEATH: 9 Oct 1683, Springfield,Hampden Co.,MA,USA
• BURIAL: ABT 1683, Elm Street Cem.,Springfield,MA,USA
• REFERENCE: 2048
• Father: William PARSONS
• Mother: Margaret (Margret) HOSKINS
• 'Family 1 : Mary BLISS
• MARRIAGE: 26 Nov 1646, Hartford,Hartford Co.,CT,USA
  • 1.+Joseph (Hon.) (Esq.) PARSONS
  • 2. Benjamin (A) PARSONS
  • 3.+John (Capt.) PARSONS
  • 4.+Samuel (Lt.) PARSONS
  • 5.+Ebenezer PARSONS
  • 6.+Jonathan PARSONS
  • 7. David PARSONS
  • 8.+Mary PARSONS
  • 9.+Hannah PARSONS
  • 10. Abagail PARSONS
  • 11.+Esther PARSONS
  • 12. Benjamin (B) PARSONS
• _______________________
• http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p4266.htm#...
• 'Joseph Parsons1
• M, b. 25 June 1620, d. 9 October 1683
• Father Hugh Parsons1 b. 27 Nov 1563, d. 20 May 1642
• Mother Elizabeth Bagshawe1 b. c 1585
• ' Joseph Parsons was born on 25 June 1620 at Great Torrington, Devonshire, England.1 He married Mary Bliss, daughter of Thomas Bliss and Margaret Hulings, on 26 November 1646 at Springfield, Hampden, MA.1 Joseph Parsons died on 9 October 1683 at Springfield, Hampden, MA, at age 63.1
• 'Family Mary Bliss b. 1628, d. 29 Jan 1712
• Children
• ◦Joseph Parsons1 b. 1 Nov 1647, d. 29 Nov 1729
• ◦Esther Parsons+1 b. 24 Dec 1672, d. 30 May 1760
• Citations
• 1.[S61] Unknown author, Family Group Sheets, SLC Archives.
• __________________
• 'Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal ..., Volume 1 By Ellery Bicknell Crane
• http://books.google.com/books?id=nfhSZxL8bTEC&pg=PA379&lpg=PA379&dq...
• Pg. 379
• ___________________
• 'Full text of "Parsons family; descendants of Cornet Joseph Parsons, Springfield, 1636--Northampton, 1655"
• http://www.archive.org/stream/parsonsfamilyde00parsgoog/parsonsfami...
• __________________

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A principal founder of Northampton, Mass.

Arrived in MA in 1635 or possibly earlier from Devonshire, England. Bliss Genealogy: Of Springfield. Mr. Parsons, associated with Mr. Pynchon, one of the most prominent men in the public business of the place, and quite wealthy. He was a witness to the deed given by the Indians to Pynchon on 15 July 1636. Joseph and Mary Parsons had five children before their removal to Northampton, Mass., in 1654. Their son Ebenezer, born in this place, May 1 1655, was the first white child born in the town, and he was killed by the Indians at Northfield, 2 Sept 1675. Here in Northampton they had seven more children, making twelve in all, but three, named Benjamin, John, and David died young. 25 June 1657: A Northampton town meeting was held, a grant of land was made to Joseph Parsons. He settled in Northampton between 1654 and 1658, being the first four years of that town's existence. Northern New York Genealogy: Cornet Joseph Parsons, by his own statement born in England in 1618, was the first of the name to be found in New England. He appeared in 1636 in Springfield, Mass., as a witness of a deed from the Indians of the lands of that place and vicinity to William Pyncheon and others. According to tradition, and also some of the best authorities. Joseph was a brother of Benjamin Parsons, born in Great Torrington, Devonshire, England; the two are supposed to have accompanied their father to New England about 1630. It is thought they came the same time as William Pynclheon, and Joseph Parsons was closely associated with William Pyncheon and his son John. Cornet Joseph Parsons became the chief founder of Northampton, Mass., where he removed in November 1655. His name was found on the list of land owners of Springfield in 1647, of whom there were forty-two; he served in that town as surveyor and also as selectman. In 1655 Mr. Parsons purchased a monopoly of the fur and beaver trade of the Connecticut River, and from this trade became quite wealthy for the times, becoming the second, probably, in the colony, to the point of worldly possessions. He also owned two valuable lots in Boston, a residence and a storehouse on the harbor, which his family sold for a large sum after his death. In 1668 Joseph Parsons purchased and conducted a sawmill, and in 1671 he went on an exploring tour with others and was instrumental in concluding a bargain with the Indians for a tract of land to the amount of ten thousand five hundred and sixty acres. He was several times sent on surveying expeditions, and had considerable influence with the Indians, as shown by the frequent bargains he was able to conclude with them for the purchase of land and closing of treaties. Cornet Joseph Parsons was a member of Captain John Pyncheon's Hampshire county troop, 7 October 1678, also a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston in 1679, and serving in the early Indian wars. Savage says he was the "most enterprising man in the Connecticut Valley, for a quarter of a century".

From Coe-Ward Memorial and Immigrant Ancestors: In 1664 he was one of the committee to "deliver the mind of the town to the Indians". The conditions were "That the Indians do not work, game, or carry burdens within the town on the Sabbath, nor powow here or anywhere else; nor get liquor, nor cider, nor get drunk; nor admit Indians from without the town; nor break down the fences, but go over a stile at one place; nor admit among them the murderers: Calawam, Wuttowham, and Pacquablant, nor hunt, nor kill cattle, sheep, or swine with their dogs." In 1671 and 1673 he was the agent of the settlers of Hatfield, Hadley, and Northampton to purchase from the Indians a large tract of land at Squokeug, afterwards Northfield, where he was given possession of the first portion so obtained. From 1672 to 1678 he was Cornet of the Hampshire Troop, commanded by Capt. John Pynchon, the first troop formed in western Massachusetts, and in 1679 was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, the first regularly organized military company in America. In 1674 he purchased from John Bliss the Parsons Homestead" at South Farms. Built in Indian times its walls were pillars of strength and defied time for 200 years. It served as defense in time of attack, was regarded as one of the safest fortifications, and bore evidence that it had been used as barracks for soldiers. Cornet Parsons was a merchant and engaged extensively in the fur trade, and at the time of his death was one of the richest men in the colony.

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A principal founder of Northampton, Mass. -------------------- Arrived in MA in 1635 or possibly earlier from Devonshire, England. Bliss Genealogy: Of Springfield. Mr. Parsons, associated with Mr. Pynchon, one of the most prominent men in the public business of the place, and quite wealthy. He was a witness to the deed given by the Indians to Pynchon on 15 July 1636. Joseph and Mary Parsons had five children before their removal to Northampton, Mass., in 1654. Their son Ebenezer, born in this place, May 1 1655, was the first white child born in the town, and he was killed by the Indians at Northfield, 2 Sept 1675. Here in Northampton they had seven more children, making twelve in all, but three, named Benjamin, John, and David died young. 25 June 1657: A Northampton town meeting was held, a grant of land was made to Joseph Parsons. He settled in Northampton between 1654 and 1658, being the first four years of that town's existence. Northern New York Genealogy: Cornet Joseph Parsons, by his own statement born in England in 1618, was the first of the name to be found in New England. He appeared in 1636 in Springfield, Mass., as a witness of a deed from the Indians of the lands of that place and vicinity to William Pyncheon and others. According to tradition, and also some of the best authorities. Joseph was a brother of Benjamin Parsons, born in Great Torrington, Devonshire, England; the two are supposed to have accompanied their father to New England about 1630. It is thought they came the same time as William Pynclheon, and Joseph Parsons was closely associated with William Pyncheon and his son John. Cornet Joseph Parsons became the chief founder of Northampton, Mass., where he removed in November 1655. His name was found on the list of land owners of Springfield in 1647, of whom there were forty-two; he served in that town as surveyor and also as selectman. In 1655 Mr. Parsons purchased a monopoly of the fur and beaver trade of the Connecticut River, and from this trade became quite wealthy for the times, becoming the second, probably, in the colony, to the point of worldly possessions. He also owned two valuable lots in Boston, a residence and a storehouse on the harbor, which his family sold for a large sum after his death. In 1668 Joseph Parsons purchased and conducted a sawmill, and in 1671 he went on an exploring tour with others and was instrumental in concluding a bargain with the Indians for a tract of land to the amount of ten thousand five hundred and sixty acres. He was several times sent on surveying expeditions, and had considerable influence with the Indians, as shown by the frequent bargains he was able to conclude with them for the purchase of land and closing of treaties. Cornet Joseph Parsons was a member of Captain John Pyncheon's Hampshire county troop, 7 October 1678, also a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston in 1679, and serving in the early Indian wars. Savage says he was the "most enterprising man in the Connecticut Valley, for a quarter of a century".

From Coe-Ward Memorial and Immigrant Ancestors: In 1664 he was one of the committee to "deliver the mind of the town to the Indians". The conditions were "That the Indians do not work, game, or carry burdens within the town on the Sabbath, nor powow here or anywhere else; nor get liquor, nor cider, nor get drunk; nor admit Indians from without the town; nor break down the fences, but go over a stile at one place; nor admit among them the murderers: Calawam, Wuttowham, and Pacquablant, nor hunt, nor kill cattle, sheep, or swine with their dogs." In 1671 and 1673 he was the agent of the settlers of Hatfield, Hadley, and Northampton to purchase from the Indians a large tract of land at Squokeug, afterwards Northfield, where he was given possession of the first portion so obtained. From 1672 to 1678 he was Cornet of the Hampshire Troop, commanded by Capt. John Pynchon, the first troop formed in western Massachusetts, and in 1679 was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, the first regularly organized military company in America. In 1674 he purchased from John Bliss the Parsons Homestead" at South Farms. Built in Indian times its walls were pillars of strength and defied time for 200 years. It served as defense in time of attack, was regarded as one of the safest fortifications, and bore evidence that it had been used as barracks for soldiers. Cornet Parsons was a merchant and engaged extensively in the fur trade, and at the time of his death was one of the richest men in the colony.

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Jane was twice widowed when she married John Stith in 1656. Her first husband had the surname of Gregory. Jane and Mr. Gregory had no children. However, when she married John Stith she was Jane Parsons the recent

widow of Joseph Parsons and was pregnant with his child. When the child was born she was given the name of Agnes Jane Stith. Although she was in fact a Parsons by blood, she was raised as one of John’s children, and shared in the estate and his will with his other children. Although no birth record has been found, it is believed that John and Jane Stith

had another daughter who married Thomas Hardaway, since a deed (patent) is recorded in 1686 which transfers land from John and Jane Stith to Thomas Hardaway. Also the name “Stith Hardaway” was used by the decendants of the Hardaway family. The decendants of John and Jane

(Mosby) Stith were very prominent not only in Virginia, but in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Kentucky. One of the most prominent branches settling in North Carolina were te decendants of Dr. Buckner Stith, who settled in Rockingham County in 1820. He married Lucinda

Blackwell, daughter of Capt. Thomas Blackwell, who was for many years a member of the Senate. John Stith acquired much land (around 5000 acres) in Charles City County, VA.

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Devon, England, Extracted Parish Records about Joseph Parsons

Text: 23 Aug 1617 Joseph Parsons

Book: 1617

Collection:

Devon, Somerset: (A-H Parishes), Wells - Parish Registers and Some Bishop's Transcripts At Wells

Source Information:

Ancestry.com. Devon, England, Extracted Parish Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001.

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Joseph Parsons was the Cornet (Flag bearer) of the Horse Regiment of the Colonial British Army.

He supported his wife Mary (Bliss) Parsons in her final trial for a spurious charge of witchcraft and was acquitted in Boston.

Joseph Parsons is the 4th Great Grandfather of Vice President Levi Parsons Morton in President Benjamin Harrison's administration.

Joseph Parsons is 7th Great Grandfather of Clint Eastwood, Actor, Director and Producer, as well as the winner of 3 Academy Oscars.

Joseph Parsons is 7th Great Grandfather of John Wayne, Actor, Director and Producer, as well as the winner of 1 Academy Oscar.

He is also the 7th Great Granduncle of Floyd Bliss Hanson.

(Clint Eastward, John Wayne and Floyd Bliss Hanson are 8th Cousins.)

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CORNET JOSEPH PARSONS, one of the founders of Springfield and Northampton, Massachusetts, was baptized in St. Mary's Church at Beaminster, Dorset, England, 25 June 1620, son of William and Margaret (Hoskins) Parsons. He came to New England about 1635, and died at Springfield 9 October 1683. He married at Hartford, Connecticut, 26 November 1646, MARY BLISS, who was born in England about 1628 and died at Springfield 29 January 1711/12, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Hulins) Bliss of Gloucestershire, England, and later Hartford, Connecticut.

Children of Joseph Parsons and Mary Bliss: Joseph, perhaps in Conn., Ca. 1647 - 21 or 29 Nov. 1729 Benjamin, ? - 22 June 1649 John, 14 Aug. 1650 - 19 April 1728 Samuel, 23 Jan. 1652/3 - 19 Nov. 1734 Ebenezer, 1 May 1655 - 2 Sept. 1675. Jonathon, 6 June 1657 - fall of 1694 David, 30 April 1659, d. young Mary, 27 June 1661 - 23 Aug 1711 Hannah, 1 Aug. 1663 - 1 April 1739 Abigail, 3 Sept. 1666 - 27 June I689 Esther (recorded as Hester), 4 Dec. 1672 - 30 May 1760

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Joseph “Cornet Joseph” Parsons BIRTH 1620 Beaminster, West Dorset District, Dorset, England DEATH 9 Oct 1683 (aged 62–63) Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA BURIAL Springfield Cemetery Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36038380/joseph-parsons

Children Photo Joseph Parsons 1647–1729

Photo John Parsons 1650–1728

Photo Samuel Parsons 1653–1734

Ebenezer Parsons 1655–1675

Photo Jonathan Parsons 1657–1694

Mary Parsons Williston 1661–1711

Hannah Parsons Glover 1663–1729

Abigail Parsons Colton 1666–1689

Photo Esther Parsons Smith 1672–1760

https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Hampden/Springfield/DeathsP.shtml "(Parsons) Cornet Joseph, Oct. 9, 1683."

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 He became the owner of large tracts of land, was a gentleman farmer, merchant, fur trader and at one time had the monopoly on all beaver pelts traded and sold in the State of Connecticut.    “Joseph Parsons, Esq., held the commission from Gov. Dudly of Captain of the Northampton Company of Militia and was an active and enterprising man in business.   He built a grist mill and a saw mill in Northampton and owned one in Deerfield, which he sold for meadow land.   He dealt largely in tar and turpentine made in Northampton.   He also dealt in boards and plank lumber which he sent down the river and bartered for goods.   In 1697, he and Col. John Pynchon erected iron works at Suffield where they for some time made large quantities of iron.  The estimated cost of the iron works was 300 Pounds which was a great undertaking for that day.  He was interested in mills in Springfield and owned land and mill ponds there.   He represented that town in the General Court.   He also represented Northampton in 1693-1696 and from 1702-1724.   He was at times a Judge of the County Court.  He was elected townsman or selectman in Northampton in the early part of his life and served nine years. After his return from Springfield to Northampton, he relinquished much of his business management to his sons and attended chiefly to his lands and duties as a Magistrate.  He left a large estate to his widow and children.”