Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 11

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1008

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 11

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While he was in Washington, he was asked to a dinner to meet the well known Southron, Mr. Randall, who prided himself upon his descent from Pocahontas. Mr. Randall came in late, as was somewhat his wont, and upon being presented to Mr. Parsons, said, "So you are Theophilus Parsons, descended from Par- sons the criminal, hey?" "Sir," retorted Mr. Parsons, "I am descended from neither a criminal nor a savage." The Senator took a great liking to Mr. Parsons at once. There was no terrific outburst, which the company feared might occur, and the two men were always excellent friends. Professor Parsons

Theophiem Parsons

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delivered the Phi Beta Kappa oration at Har- vard in 1835; subject: "The Duties of the Educated Man in a Republic." In 1861 he · delivered the Fourth of July oration in the Boston Music Hall.

Many noted legal practitioners of the present day owe much of their professional success to his valuable instruction, and his contributions to the literature of his profession rank high in the list of modern legal reference works. These include "Elements of Mercantile Law," "Laws of Business for Business Men," "Maritime Laws," "Notes on Bills of Exchange," "Ship- ping and Admiralty," "The Political, Personal and Property Rights of a Citizen of the United States," etc. Prior to his removal to Cam- bridge, Professor Parsons served upon the Boston school board. In politics he was in his later years a Republican, having joined that party at its formation, and his patriotism was of that lofty and sincere quality which belongs to the highest type of American citizenship. His high position both as lawyer and professor naturally brought him into close contact with many noted men of his day, and his friend- ship was especially courted by numerous distin- guished foreigners while visiting this country. Among the latter were Mr. Kopnitz, a learned Russian diplomatist, and the celebrated Polish exile and author, Count Gurowski. He affili- ated with a prominent club, which was doubt- less of a literary as well as a social character, and among its members were the names of many Boston and Cambridge celebrities, such as Eliot, Sparks, Palfrey, Folsom, Gardiner, Pickering, Dexter, Gray, Mason, Loring, War- ren, Prescott and others. He was brought up a Congregationalist, but many years prior to his death he became a Swedenborgian, or New Churchman, and all of his family united with that denomination.

On May 7, 1823, Professor Parsons was married, in Petersham, Massachusetts, to Cath- erine Amory Chandler, who was born in that town April 18, 1805, daughter of Nathaniel and Polly (Greene) Chandler. Her father · was a prosperous country merchant, who served in the Massachusetts house of repre- sentatives for several years subsequent to 18II, and was related to the Boston Amorys and Codmans. Her death occurred April 8, 1886. Professor and Mrs. Parsons were the parents of seven children : I. Emily Elizabeth, born March 8, 1824; is again mentioned. 2. William John, born August 16, 1831 ; married Isabella Webb, and their children are: Cath- erine Amory, Theophilus (who died young),

Mary Anne, Arthur Webb, Isabella, Emily Elizabeth and Sabra Atkey. 3. Katharine, born March 22, 1835. 4. Theophilus, born October 13, 1838. 5. Charles Chauncy, born June 18, 1840; see forward. 6. Mary Sabra, born August 5, 1842. 7. Caroline Louisa, born August 27, 1845. They attended private schools, the Boston Latin and the Cambridge high schools.

Catherine Amory Chandler was of the eighth generation in descent from William Chandler (I), who came from England about the year 1637, accompanied by his family, and settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts; where he died November 26, 1641. The given name of his wife was Annis, and her maiden name was I. probably Alcock. Their children were : Hannah. 2. Thomas. 3. William. 4. John. 5. Sarah. Four of these were born in Eng- land. From William (I) and Annis Chandler the line of descent is: John (2), who married Elizabeth Douglas. John (3), who married (first ) Mary Raymond; (second) Mrs. Sarah (Clark) Piane. John (5), who married (first) Dorothy Paine; (second) Mary Church. John (6), who married Lydia Ward, of Petersham. Nathaniel (7), who married Dolly Greene, of Lancaster, Massachusetts. Their children were: Ward, Catherine Amory (who married Professor Parsons as previously stated), Charles, John, Mary Greene and George Fred- erick. Dolly Greene, born in Stafford, Con- necticut, February 25, 1783, was a daughter of John Greene, and a granddaughter of Nathan- iel Grecne. John Greene, whose birth took place in Surinam, South America, December IO or II, 1736, was married, December 26, 1758, to Azubah Ward, of Worcester, Massa- chusetts. He settled first in Woodbury, Con- necticut, and later resided in Stafford, that state. Azubah Ward was a daughter of Major Daniel Ward, who was a son of Obediah Ward, grandson of Richard Ward, and a great-grandson of William Ward, the immi- grant, who settled at Sudbury, Massachusetts, in 1639.

(VI) Emily Elizabeth Parsons, eldest child of Professor Theophilus Parsons, was in many respects one of the most remarkable women of her day, possessing a full share of the indomi- table energy, persistent activity and intellectual capacity characteristic of her family. A series of accidents caused her to suffer forever after- ward from physical defects, including deaf- ness, lameness and impaired vision, yet, in spite of these handicaps she mapped out, for herself a noble mission in life, and successfully

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accomplished it. From early childhood she manifested a profound sympathy for the sick and injured within her reach, and the break- ing-out of the civil war in 1861 furnished her with the long desired opportunity in which to inaugurate her life work. Having prepared for her intended work by pursuing a course of training at the Massachusetts General Hos- pital, she volunteered her services to the federal government as nurse, and in October, 1862, began her duties in that capacity at Fort Schuy- ler, in New York. She was subsequently order- ed to the Lawson Hospital in St. Louis; was shortly afterward detailed to take charge of the nursing department on a large hospital steamer, which in February, 1863, went down the Mississippi as far as Vicksburg and brought back sick and wounded soldiers to the military hospitals in St. Louis, and the boat was fired upon by the enemy. Her courage was unfail- ing, and she passed through all the dangers of her arduous duty with equanimity and resolu- tion. She was finally appointed superintend- ent of the nursing department of the Benton Barracks Hospital in St. Louis. Although forced to combat the dread malaria of that section, which on more than one occasion con- fined her to her bed, she not only brought her department to a high state of perfection, but shared with her assistants in the regular routine work and also rendered valuable aid to the nursing department of the Refugee and Freed- man's hospitals. In August, 1864, she return- ed to her home in Cambridge for the purpose of recovering from a severe attack of malaria. It was her intention to resume her duties when able, but the close of the war brought her army service to an end, and she consequently turned her efforts to other philanthropic work. The remaining years of her life were full of inesti- mable usefulness, and culminated in what may be truthfully regarded as her greatest achieve- ment, the establishment of a hospital in Cam- bridge. After much strenuous exertion, which was attended with many trials and setbacks, she at length convinced the citizens of the actual necessity of a well endowed and fully equipped institution of that character, and she lived to see its establishment assured, though she was not permitted to witness the begin- ning of its career as a permanent institution. Emily Elizabeth Parsons died in Cambridge, May 19. 1880.

(VI) Charles Chauncy Parsons, son of Pro- fessor Theophilus Parsons, was born June 18, 1840. lle graduated from Harvard College in the class of 1860. Shortly after graduation he

entered the army as second lieutenant in the First Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment, and later transferred into the Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment. He participated in numer-' ous engagements, including the battle of the Wilderness, Antietam, and many others, alto- gether a long list. A classmate and friend of Colonel Robert Shaw, he was one of the five surviving officers who rode escort duty to the hand full of colored soldiers who had served in the war. at the unveiling of the Shaw Monu- ment in Boston. He was acting major at the close of the war. He eventually settled in Hempstead, Long Island, and became greatly interested in the affairs of that town, especially the schools. His kind heart and quick sym- pathy made him beloved by young and old. and it was considered a red letter day by all the children when he visited the schools. He died January 16, 1901. At his death the flags were half-masted, and every mark of respect and affection was shown him. He was a brave soldier. a good citizen, a true friend. He mar- ried Julia Worth Michael, of Virginia, and their children are: Theophilus and Geoffrey.

PARSONS

William Parsons, the only sur- viving son of John of Beveney and Langsley, married Eliza-

beth, sole heiress of Sir John Kidderminster, and was knighted by Charles Il. in 1634 for his adherence to the cause of the King's father, Charles 1. Sir Thomas, son of Sir William and Elizabeth, lived in Great Milton, Oxford- shire, and he married. in 1614. Catherine, daughter of Edward Radcliff, alderman of London, and they had four sons : Robert, Thomas, Richard and Anthony, and six daugh- ters. Benjamin and Joseph Parsons were grandsons of Sir Thomas Parsons. They lived in Great Torrington, Devonshire. Sir Thomas died in 1697. William Parsons, third Earl of Rosse ( 1800-1867). the great English astrono- mer, was born in York, educated at Trinity Col- lege, Dublin, and at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated first class in mathematics in 1882. He constructed the great telescope which he mounted in his park in Parsonstown. Ireland, at a cost of thirty thousand pounds. and with it he resolved certain nebulae which had defied Herschel's instrument into groups of stars and discovered numerous triple stars, but the metal reflectors soon tarnished and the telescope was dismounted. This astronomer's coat-of-arms is very similar to the one of Sir William Parsons, of which the American Parsons are claimants, and there seems to be no doubt

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of the relationship of the Irish-English and American families bearing the name, although the relationship through Cornet Joseph Par- sons, the protege and successor of William Pynchon, of Springfield, in the fur trade in the Connecticut Valley, and the first settler and proprietor of Northampton, may not be definitely fixed. Among the English descend- ants of Sir Thomas Parsons were Sir John, Lord Mayor of London, in 1704, and Sir Humphrey, Lord Mayor of London, in 1731 and 1740. 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. The family coat-of-arms is also re- tained by the branch resident in the Bar- badoes.

(I) Cornet Joseph Parsons was born in England about 1613, and with his brother Benjamin is said to have been a passenger on the ship "Transport," sailing from Gravesend, England, early in July, 1635. It is also said that he was a fellow-passenger with William Pynchon, in 1630, and was with him in the neighborhood of Boston and went with that leader to the Connecticut Valley and was a protege of Pynchon. As he was only seven- teen years of age when Pynchon founded Aga- wam, his name does not appear on the records of the early colony, except as a witness to the Indian deed given to William Pynchon and others of the lands adjacent to the fork of the Agawam and Connecticut rivers. This was only sixteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth and only six years after the first settlement of Boston. The date of his arrival in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay and the location of his home in England are neither definitely known. He witnessed the deed transferring vast tracts of land to the white settlers bearing date July 15, 1638, and the consideration received by the Indians was eighteen fathoms of wampum, eighteen hatchets, eighteen knives, eighteen coats, eighteen hoes, and the land extended on both sides of the Connecticut and Agawam rivers to the falls. No other record or part in the formation and conduct of the business of the colony appears until 1642, when he left Spring- field and viewed the plantation "Noltwog" as a site for a new town above the Falls, which in 1662 became the town of Northampton. He did not settle there permanently at this time, as he was surveyor of lands in Springfield in 1646-47, and was one of the fifty-two land owners of the town of Springfield. He also held the office of overseer of fences in 1650, and

was selectman of the town in 1651. In 1662 he with others purchased the plantation at Noltwog which included a large tract of valu- able land, and commanded an extensive trade in furs of the beaver and other fur-bearing animals. He became proprietor of the place by right of purchase and was made the first selectman of the town ; he was very prominent in town and church affairs. That these cares were onerous is evidenced by the fact that he asked in 1656 to be released from the cares of office for one year in consideration of pay- ing into the town treasury the sum of twenty shillings. In 1655 he purchased from William Pynchon for twelve pounds sterling, to be paid annually, the sole right to trade in beaver and other furs in the Connecticut Valley and the trade was large. The Pynchon estate realized four hundred pounds and five hundred pounds for the privilege. In 1668 he successively maintained a saw mill after other holders of the privilege had made a failure of the enter- prise. In 1664 he was a member of the com- mittee to fix the conduct of the Indians so they should not work on the Sabbath day and shall not powwow on the settlement or get drunk. He was a member of Captain John Pynchon's Hampshire county troop in the King Philip war, 1672-78, and he was made cornet of troop, October 7, 1678. In 1679 he was made a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artil- lery Company of Boston, and he served in the early French and Indian wars in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. He married, Novem- ber 26, 1646, Mary, daughter of Thomas Bliss, of Hartford Colony, and granddaughter of Thomas Bliss, of Bilstone parish, Devonshire, England. She was born in England in 1620, and died in Springfield, January 29, 1712, after having reached the ninety-second year of her age. Cornet Joseph Parsons died in Spring- field, October 9, 1683, to which place he had removed from Northampton on account of Indian troubles, and the years of widowhood of Mary Bliss Parsons were twenty-nine years. The children of Cornet Joseph and Mary ( Bliss) Parsons were: I. Joseph, born in Springfield, November 1, 1647 (q. v.). 2. John, 1649; married Sarah, daughter of Lieu- tenant Clarke, of Northampton, December 23, 1675. 3. Samuel, 1652; settled at Durham, Connecticut, 1706. 4. Ebenezer, 1655 ; the first white child born in Northampton; was killed by the Indians in King Philip's war at North- field, September 8, 1675. 5. Jonathan, June 6, 1657; died October 16, 1684. 6. David, April 30, 1659. 7. Mary, June 27, 1661 ; mar-

ii-10

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ried (first) October 15, 1685, Joseph Ashley, of Springfield, and (second) March 2, 1699, Joseph Williston. 8. Hannah, 1663; married, January 6, 1687, Rev. Pelatiah Glover, of Springfield. 9. Abigail, September 3, 1666; married, February 19, 1689, John Colton ; she died soon after, leaving one child, who mar- ried Francis Griswold, of Windsor, Connecti- cut. 10. Hester, 1672 ; married Joseph Smith, of Greenwich, Connecticut Colony.

(II) Joseph (2), eldest son of Cornet Joseph (I) and Mary ( Bliss) Parsons, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, November 1, 1647. He was one of the earliest lawyers of western Massachusetts, was justice of the peace at Northampton for several years, judge of the Hampton county court for twenty-three years, from October 16, 1696. He was deputy to the general court twelve years, from Northamp- ton, and two years from Springfield, beginning 1693. He inherited valuable lands in Boston and in Northampton, and was a man of un- usual prominence. He married, March 17, 1669, Elizabeth, daughter of Elder John and Abigail (Ford) Strong. She was born in Windsor, Connecticut, February 24, 1648, died in Northampton, Massachusetts, May 12, 1736. They celebrated their golden wedding. The children of Joseph and Elizabeth (Strong) Parsons: I. Joseph (q. v.), born June 26, 1671. 2. John, January 1I, 1674. 3. Eben- ezer, December II, 1675; married, December 15, 1703, Mary Stebbins, and died in 1744. 4. Elizabeth, February 3, 1678. 5. David, Febru- ary 1, 1680; was graduated at Harvard Col- lege, A. B., 1705; A. M., 1715, A. B., Yale, 1705, A. M., 1708; was ordained to the Con- gregational ministry and was minister at Mal- den, Massachusetts, 1708-21, and at Leicester, Massachusetts, 1721-35, and died at Leicester in 1743. He married Eunice Wells, of Wethers- field, Connecticut, and they had nine children. Their son David was graduated at Harvard College, A. B., 1729, A. M., 1732; was first minister of the First church, Amherst, Massa- chusetts, from November 6, 1739, until he died in 1781. His son David born in Amherst, January 28, 1749; was graduated at Harvard, A. B., 1771, A. M., 1774, and received the honorary degree of D. D. from Brown Uni- versity, Providence, Rhode Island, in 1800. He was minister at Amherst as successor to his father from October 21, 1782; he died in Am- herst, Massachusetts, in 1823. His children were: Dr. Ezekiel William, of Colchester ; David, an artisan, of Amherst ; Prudence Stod- dard, who married Rev. Marcus Smith, of

Rensselaerville, New York; Thomas, a mer- chant in New York City; Harriet, married Rev. Royal Washburn and as her second hus- band, Hon. David Mack, of Amherst ; Francis, attorney at law, Hartford, Connecticut ; Mary, married Rev. William Williams, who was first a clergyman and then a physician at Salem; Caroline ; Sophia, married Rev. Silas Aiken, of Boston; William, a physician at Canaan, Connecticut ; James, Amherst, A. B., 1830, instructor in Savannah, Georgia, where he died in 1833 at the age of twenty-eight years. 6. Josiah, January 2, 1682; married, June 22, 1710, Sarah Sheldon, and died April 12, 1768 .. 7. Daniel, August, 1685 ; married Abigail Cor- ley, of Springfield, Massachusetts, June 17, 1709. 8. Moses, January 15, 1687 ; married, January 20, 1710, Abigail Ball, and lived in Durham, Connecticut. 9. Abigail, January I, 1690. 10. Noah, August 15, 1692.

(III) Joseph (3), eldest child of Joseph (2) and Elizabeth (Strong) Parson's, was born in Northampton, June 26, 1671. He was grad- uated at Harvard College, A. B., 1697; A. M., 1700, the first of the name of Parsons to grad- uate at Harvard, his example being followed by forty of the name up to 1899. He was married, in 1701, to Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Thompson, of Roxbury, Massachu- setts, and granddaughter of Rev. William Thompson, of Braintree, Massachusetts. He was ordained to the Congregational ministry and his first church was at Lebanon, Connecti- cut, second at Salisbury, Massachusetts, of which church he took charge in 1718, and he died there March 13, 1738. Joseph and Eliza- beth (Thompson) Parsons had five children, including Joseph (4), mentioned below.

(IV) Joseph (4), son of Joseph (3) and Elizabeth (Thompson) Parsons, was born in Salisbury, Massachusetts, in 1702. He was graduated at Harvard College, A. B., 1720; A. M., 1723; was ordained to the Congrega- tional ministry at Bradford, Massachusetts, June 8, 1716, was minister of the church there all his ministerial life and died there May 4, 1765. He was married in 1729 to Frances, daughter of Hon. John Usher, lieutenant-gov- ernor of New Hampshire, who was a son of Hezekiah and Elizabeth (Symmes) Usher. He published an election, ordination and an artil- lery election sermon in 1744. The children of Rev. Joseph and Frances (Usher) Parsons were: I. Frances, born in 1730; died in Epp- ing, New Hampshire, October 7, 1808; a spinster. 2. Elizabeth, 1731; died 1733. 3. Joseph, October 5, 1733 ; Harvard A. B., 1752;

William He Parsons

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A. M., 1755 ; was a Congregational minister at Bradford, Massachusetts; married Sarah, daughter of Rev. W. and Abigail (Leonard) Williams, of Walton, Massachusetts; grand- daughter of Rev. John Williams, of Deerfield, Massachusetts, the "Redeemed Captain;" great-granddaughter of Deacon Samuel Will- iams, of Roxbury, and of Rev. Eleazer Mather, of Northampton, Massachusetts, and great- great-granddaughter of Robert Williams and of Deacon William Park, of Roxbury, Massa- chusetts. 4. Thomas (q. v.), 1735. 5. Sam- uel, 1737 ; died in Cornville, Maine, 1807. 6. Dr. John, 1740; died in South Berwick, Maine, 1775. 7. William, 1741 ; died 1742. 8. Will- iam, 1743; died in Alfred, Maine, August 4, 1826. 9. Sarah, 1745; died in Parsonsfield, Maine, 1800. 10. Edward, 1747 ; was adjutant in the American revolution, and died in 1776. (V) Thomas, fourth son of Rev. Joseph (4) and Frances (Usher) Parsons, was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, September 18, 1735. He married (first) Anna Poor, of An- dover, Massachusetts, in 1757, and by her he had nine children born in Southampton, Mass- achusetts, and Leavittstown, New Hampshire. She died in Leavittstown, New Hampshire, May 24, 1783, aged forty-four years. He married (second) Lucy Bradbury, of Saco, Maine, and by her had ten children. She died in 18II. On August 5, 1771, he was granted a township of land in York county, Maine, by the proprietors, claiming it under the will of Mrs. Bridget Phillips, and under his direction it was surveyed by Joseph Cram, of Exeter, New Hampshire, in the autumn of the same year. He did not, however, settle on the land until 1784, when he removed his family from Leavittstown (now Effingham), New Hamp- shire, near the northwestern border of his Maine tract which became Parsonsfield. He was moderator of the town of Leavittstown, New Hampshire, at the town meeting held in March, 1784. He had erected a dwelling house, the first pretentious dwelling in the town of Parsonsfield, the same year, and be- came a resident of the town of which he was the leading proprietor before August, 1785, as he was on August 19, 1785, moderator and chairman of the first board of selectmen of the newly incorporated town of Parsonsfield, the town meeting being held in his house. The children of Thomas and Anna ( Poor) Par- sons were: I. Thomas, Jr., born 1759. 2. Stephen, 1760; died 1764. 3. Joseph, 1762; married Lydia Lord, 1785, and (second) Abi- gail Adams, 1800. 4. Enoch, 1764; died 1782.

5. Stephen, 1766; married Abigail Moore, of Stratham, New Hampshire, 1787, and died September 6, 1836. 6. Nancy, 1769; married (first) Josiah Pearse ; (second ) a Mr. Holmes. 7. John Usher, 1771 ; married Mrs. Susan Sav- ory, of Kennebunk, in 1802; died October 13, 1825. 8. Sarah, 1773; married (first) Asa Pease, of Newmarket, and (second) John Leavitt. 9. Mary, 1775; married Major John Leavitt, of Effingham, New Hampshire; died December 20, 1856. The children of Thomas and Lucy ( Bradbury) Parsons were: I. Eliz- abeth Usher, born 1787; married Luther Em- merson ; died October 11, 1857. 2. Susan, 1788 ; married Richard F. Dow, of Wakefield, in 1808, and died August 2, 1837. 3. Thomas Bradbury, February 11, 1789; officer United States navy, 1808; sailing master of the pri- vateer brig "General Armstrong," Captain Samuel Chester Reid, in Fayal Harbor, Azores, 1812, when he shared with Captain Reid the honors of the victory over the boats of the British squadron, and which exploit has gone into history as the most daring sea fight of a vessel under the American flag in the war of 1812. 4. Abigail, 1790; married Isaac M. Parker, in 1807, and died November 20, 1848. 5. William, 1791 (q. v.). 6. Lucy, 1792 ; mar- ried Isaac B. Chesley, and died in March, 1884. 7. Lucinda, 1795; died January 27, 1796. 8. Sylvester, 1796; married Abigail Pickering, of Greenland, and died August 7, 1860. 9. Lucinda, 1798; married David T. Levy, M. D., of Wolfsboro, and died August 31, 1877. 10. Samuel, 1801 ; married Mary B. Allen, in 1828, and died December 22, 1869.

(VI) William, son of Thomas and Lucy (Bradbury) Parsons, was born in Parsonsfield, Maine, in 1791. After his marriage to Sarah S. Dearborn, in 1813, he removed to Concord, New Hampshire, and in 1836 to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he carried on the grocery business, and where he died, April 15, 1876.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 11

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 1008

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1008