"Cornet" Joseph Parsons

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Abt 1618, England
• Alternate birth: 1617-1618

Notes:

The date of his emigration is unknown. Often claimed to have come in 1635 on the Transport of London, but the "Jo: Parson" on its passenger manifest is alphabetized under John rather than Joseph. He first appears in New England records witnessing a deed on 15 Jul 1636.

One of the founders of both Springfield and Northampton, Massachusetts, according to Cornet Joseph Parsons, One of the Founders of Springfield and Northampton, Massachusetts, Springfield, 1636; Northampton, 1655, An Historical Sketch from Original Sources, Viz., Town, County, Court, and Private Records, by Albert Ross Parsons. Garden City, New York, 1898.

A memorial plaque to him and his wife can be found on Bridge Street in Northampton, between Market Street and Pomeroy Terrace. It reads:

In Memory of
Cornet Joseph Parsons
c. 1618-1683
A founder of Northampton
and his wife
Mary (Bliss) Parsons
c. 1628-1711/12

From the Find a Grave entry for "Cornet" Joseph Parsons:

Joseph Parsons received many notations in colonial town records. Young Joseph is mentioned as a witness to a deed on July 15, 1636 in Springfield, MA. The deed was between Joseph Pyncheon and local Indians. The wealthy Pyncheon may have sponsored his young friend (or relative?) in establishing himself in Springfield as well as in Northampton.

In 1646, Joseph was appointed highway surveyor of Springfield, holding this position in 1653. In 1652, Joseph was elected a Springfield selectman but was living in Northampton, MA by 1655. In December of 1656 in Northampton, Joseph Parsons was elected to the Board of Selectmen. He served as a selectman in 1659, 1664, 1667, and 1670. Joseph served frequently as a juror.

In 1834, an examination of Northampton records by Dr. Usher Parsons revealed that Joseph Parsons' house lot covered four acres. He bought an adjoining lot and in 1661, was licensed to keep "an ordinary," or house of entertainment in Northampton. Also in 1661, Joseph Parsons was made a member of a committee to lay out the plans of the Meeting House and residence for the Rev. Eleazer Mather, first minister of Northampton. In this same year, Joseph was on a committee to meet with counterparts of Newtown, MA to see to the establishment of a road between Newtown and Northampton; in 1670, Joseph Parsons was made a member of the committee to construct a "Cart bridge" over the Munhan River.

Joseph Parsons was one of two persons of Northampton licensed to trade with Native Americans. It is supposed that this trade was primarily in furs. A common practice was for a trader to offer money or articles of value in exchange for the promised delivery of furs, which would then be sold at a great mark-up. If the fur delivery was defaulted, land would be exchanged for the debt. Joseph Parsons seems to have obtained much land by this means, including land upon which was established the town of Hadley, MA.

The 1834 Usher Parsons study reported that Joseph Parsons owned 100 acres at the foot of Mount Tom, at a place called Pascommuck. Joseph Parsons "for half a century remained the richest man in the Connecticut Valley" (manuscript of Dr Holton, family genealogist, quoted in Burt's CORNET JOSEPH PARSONS, 1898, page 93).

On Nov 26, 1646, Joseph Parsons married Mary Bliss (?-?) in Hartford, CT. They became the parents of 13 children, 5 girls and 8 boys. It seems probable their first three children (Joseph Jr, Benjamin, John) were born in Hartford, as their births were not recorded in Springfield.

Joseph Jr. was the father of four sons, Ebenezer, Daniel, Moses and David, through whom Joseph Jr and Sr are ancestors of this contributor.

[...]

1664, Joseph Parsons was charged with resisting a constable in his lawful duties. Court records indicate that the constable had meant to appropriate oxen belonging to Joseph Parsons for use on a public project, as decreed by county authorities. There followed "Scuffling in the busyness whereby blood was drawn between them." The charge was not denied and Joseph sold an acre and a half to the town in payment of the fine, part of which was abated owing to Joseph's apology.

Joseph was the plaintiff or defendant in several suits over money owed. Some of these were settled out of court; in some cases, payment was made through the court or a parcel of land would be sold to satisfy the debt.

Joseph Parson's business records are deposited in the Springfield, MA, library.

On the 7th of October 1678, the General Court appointed Joseph Parsons, Sr. to be "Cornet of the Troop of Hoarse," Hampshire Co. (Maj. John Pynchon, commander). With this appointment, Joseph was third in command and the color-bearer of the Hampshire Cavalry.

Joseph Parsons died on October 9, 1683. He was probably buried in the Elm Street cemetery, in Springfield, and in 1848, reburied in a mass grave near the Pine Street entrance to the present Springfield Cemetery, when land within the cemetery was needed for the Hartford-Springfield railroad.

"Cornet" married Mary Bliss on 26 Nov 1646 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of Thomas Bliss and Margaret Hulins) was born about 1628 in Gloucestershire, England; died on 29 Jan 1712 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Joseph Parsons was born about 1647 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died on 21 Nov 1729 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts.
2. Mary Parsons was born on 27 Jun 1661 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 23 Aug 1711 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.

William married Margaret Hoskins on 15 Nov 1602 in Beaminster, Dorset, England. Margaret (daughter of Robert Hoskins and Margaret) was born in 1580 in Beaminster, Dorset, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"The last payment made to [William Parsons] was on 19 February 1653/4, after which payments were made to the widow Parsons from 19 March 1653/4 through 15 April 1655. On the last date the widow Parsons was marked 'in siknes,' so she probably died soon after. Whether this widow was Margaret Parsons cannot be determined." ["Were Joseph and Benjamin Parsons and David Wilton of Beaminster, Dorset, England, the New England colonists?" by Gerald James Parsons. New England Historical and Genealogical Register, April 1989, v. 143, pp. 101-119.]

Notes:

Glover.

Robert married Margaret. Margaret was born about 1550 in Beaminster, Dorset, England; died on 7 Jan 1588 in Beaminster, Dorset, England; was buried in St. Mary of the Annunciation Churchyard, Beaminster, Dorset, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Husbandman.

William married Edith. Edith was born about 1520 in Beaminster, Dorset, England; died in Beaminster, Dorset, England; was buried in St. Mary of the Annunciation Churchyard, Beaminster, Dorset, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]