Josiah Parsons

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Edwards. Elizabeth died in 1776. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Josiah married Sarah Sheldon on 22 Jun 1710. Sarah (daughter of Isaac Sheldon and Sarah Warner) was born on 12 Jul 1688 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 14 Dec 1738. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alt. Birth: 1647, Springfield, Hampden, MA; Alt. Birth
• Alt. Death: 1729, Northampton, Hampshire, MA; Alt. Death

Notes:

A fur trader, lawyer, first judge of Hampshire County Court, and a founder of Narthampton, MA.

Joseph married Elizabeth Strong on 17 Mar 1669 in Northampton, Hampshire, MA. Elizabeth (daughter of John Strong and Abigail Ford) was born on 24 Feb 1647 in Windsor, Hartford, CT; died on 12 May 1736 in Northampton, Hampshire, MA; was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alt. Birth: 1647; Alt. Birth
• Alt. Death: 1736, Northampton, Hampshire, MA; Alt. Death

Notes:

A SHORT CHRONOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY
of
CORNET JOSEPH PARSONS

ENGLAND
JOSEPH'S PARENTS:

According the Beaminster Town Historian (Marie Eedle), nothing is known of Joseph's father (William Parsons) before he showed up in town about the same time a woolen mill was opened nearby. Family tradition indicates that William came from Great Torrington or Tiverton, Devon, about 63 miles to the east. However, there are no records to support this assumption. In those days, people did not generally travel long distances.

Joseph's mother (Margret Hoskins) was born in Beaminster, about 1584, her parents were Robert and Margret Hoskins. Unfortunately, there were two Robert Hoskins families Undisclosed in Beaminster at the time. Both families had daughters named Margret, both men were married to a Margret, and both men had similar professions, one a Glover and the other a Tanner. Most of the Hoskins Families in Beaminster were generally well off, being owners of pubs, ranches, and other properties.

Joseph's parents (William & Margret) apparently meet sometime after William's relocation to Beaminster and were later married in St. Mary's Church on the 15th of November 1602. The Parsons family must have been well off also because they lived in town on East Street, not a poor area. Joseph's parents both died in Beaminster and are presumably buried in St. Mary's Cemetery (no records exist to support this). It was the custom of the day to have multiple burials within the same grave, one on top of another, and no grave markers (headstones).

According to the Bishop of Salisbury Transcripts (1585-1638), Joseph was baptized at St. Mary's Church in Beaminster on the 25th of June 1620. It is assumed that Joseph must have been born either in 1620 or a few years earlier. All of Joseph's siblings, that we know of, were also baptized at St. Mary's.

Unfortunately, nothing is known of Joseph's childhood or early life after this point such as schools, profession, and residence.

According to Henry Parsons (PARSONS FAMILY, Vol. 1, 1912, page 30, paragraph 3, line 6), at the apparent age of about 15 or 17, Joseph and his younger brother (Benjamin) immigrated to the America from England in July of 1635, aboard the Barque Transport (Edward Walker, Master) out of Gravesend, Co. Kent, England.

NOTE: Without additional information concerning Joseph's later teenage life, the Gravesend departure does not seem plausible. The question keeps coming up: Why would two brothers travel all the way across England, just to catch a ship to America? If they still lived with their parents, it would have been more plausible for them to leave from one of the nearby ports of Plymouth or Waymouth. In those days, it was not common for people to travel long distances. Other publications indicate that his brother (Deacon Benjamin Parsons) may have gone back to England and returned to the America at a later date.

AMERICA

1635 Joseph Parsons and his brother Benjamin arrived in America aboard the Barque Transport (Edward Walker, Master) out of Gravesend, Co. Kent, England.

NOTE 1: Various publications disagree as to whether or not Joseph and his brother Benjamin Parsons immigrated to the US together or separately. According to PARSONS FAMILY, by Henry Parsons, they arrived in America aboard the Barque Transport (Edward Walker, Master) out of Gravesend, Co. Kent, England.

NOTE 2: According to Gerald J. Parsons, Comet Joseph Parsons and his brother, Deacon Benjamin Parsons, did NOT immigrate together in 1635. Their names have not been found on any existing ship lists. Joseph probably did come in 1635 as the first record of him is on 15 July 1636 when he witnessed the Springfield Indian deed. It has been stated that he came on the "Transport" of London in 1635, but that listing is for one "Jo: [hn] Parson]" not Joseph Parsons (see John Camden Hotten, ed., THE ORIGINAL LISTS OF PARSONS OF QUALITY...,1600-1700 (London, 1874; reprint Baltimore, 1983), p. 102; and SPeter William Coldham, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF EMIGRANTS 1607-1660 (Baltimore, 1987), p. 154).

Benjamin Parsons was still a resident of Beaminster in March 1649/50, when he surrendered his cottage there. He apparently left soon after, for he first appeared in Springfield, MA, on 4 November 1651, when he was appointed a fence viewer (see THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, 148 (1994):222-223.

NOTE 3: It has been suggested that both versions could have been somewhat correct. Initially, Joseph and his brother Banjamin Parsons could have come over together in 1635, as Henry suggests. However, Benjamin could have returned to England to take care of family business and then returned to Springfield in 1651.

1636: The first record of Joseph Parsons being in the America was on the 15th of July 1636. In New England, he was a witness to a land deal between the local Indians and William Pynchon. There is a nine year gap in Joseph Parsons life, where no records exist between 1636 and 1646. Also, there is no record as to the exact date Joseph moved to Springfield.

1646: Joseph Parsons was appointed, at a Springfield Town Meeting, to his first official public office on the 8th of January 1646, that of highway surveyor of Springfield, MA. Joseph met and married Mary Bliss on the 26th of November 1646, in Hartford, Connecticut. Through the years, they had 13 children that we know of, 8 boys and 5 girls.

1647: According to the Springfield Town Tax Records in 1647, Joseph Parsons owned 42-1/2 acres of land and was taxed 11s 9d (1, 7).

1650: Springfield Town Records indicate that on the 5th of November 1650, Joseph Parsons and John Clarke were appointed Overseers of the Fences from the meeting house, downward.

1652: The Springfield Clerk's Office states that in 1652, Joseph Parsons owned a parcel of land that his house was on. The parcel was 10 rods wide and 28 rods long, located between the Mill lot on the South and the George Colton property on the North. According to the Springfield Town Records, at the annual town meeting on the 10th of February 1652, Joseph Parsons was elected to the office of Selectman. This was an office of great honor and trust, he held the office for five terms from 1653 to 1657. Joseph Parsons was a successful businessman, records of his business accounts exist from the 1st of September 1652 to the 28th of June 1671, on file at the Springfield City Library.

1653: According to the Springfield Town Records, at a town meeting on the 1st of November 1653, Joseph Parsons and Miles Morgan were appointed highway surveyors of Springfield, MA, This was Joseph's last public office in Springfield before moving to Northampton.

1654: The Northampton City Clerk's Office states that in 1654, Joseph Parsons and four others were given a contract to build the Northampton Town House.

1655: There is no record as to the exact date that Joseph moved to Northampton from Springfield, only that it was in 1655. One of the earliest known records concerning Cornet Joseph Parsons and his brother Deacon Benjamin Parsons was in Maj. John Pynchon's account books, dated 12 March 1655/56. In a statement to Joseph Parsons, discussing a 10d payment for a half bushel over-shipment from your brother Benjamin.

1656: Also, in 1656, a slander suit was filed by Joseph Parsons against Sarah Bridgman, wife of James Bridgman. The accusation was that Sarah called Joseph's Wife (Mary Bliss) a witch. During the trial, Joseph's brother Benjamin offered testimony in Mary's defense. At a Northampton Town Meeting, in February of 1656, it was agreed for 20s to free Joseph Parsons from any public office for this year. In December of 1656 in Northampton, Joseph Parsons was elected to the second Board of Selectmen. He also served in the years 1659, 1664, 1667, and 1670.

1657: On or about the 12th of May 1657, shortly after Joseph moved to Northampton, the court recorder states that all of Joseph Parsons land holdings in Southampton were sold to John Stebbins. On the 24th of August 1657, Joseph Parsons made a trade agreement with John Webb concerning trade at Nolwotog and required supplies for one year, to be paid for in beaver pelts, ranging from £2 5s to £3 10s. Northampton Town Records indicate that Joseph Parsons received several grants of land, dating from the 1st of December 1657 to the 19th of February 1660.

1658: On the 28th of September of 1658, at the First Court held in Northampton, Joseph Parsons filed a complaint against John Webb for not delivering a cow and a calf. Joseph was demanding £4 owed him.

1659: In Northampton, Joseph Parsons was elected again to the Board of Selectmen, on the 11th of March 1659.

1660: The Northampton City Clerk's Office states that on the 19th of February 1660/61, Joseph Parsons owned 81 acres of land in addition to the 4 acres that his house was on.

1661: In March of 1661/62 Joseph Parsons testified in a Northampton court that he had been a witness to the Indian-Pynchon deed back in 1636. Court records show that in 1661, 1662, and 1664 a license was issued to Joseph Parsons of Northampton to keep an Ordinary or house of entertainment (tavern) in the town of Northampton. The license authorized him to sell wines, strong liquors, and to keep good rule and order in the tavern.

1662: On the 30th of September 1662, the County Court in Springfield ordered Joseph Parsons and two others to conduct a study for a new highway and required bridges between the town of Hadley and Springfield.

1664: In Northampton, Joseph Parsons was elected again to the Board of Selectmen in 1664. In 1664, a Springfield court charged Joseph Parsons of Northampton with opposing and resisting the Constable of Northampton in the execution of his office. The charge was not denied and the fine was 20s. On the 26th of March of 1664, at a Northampton Town Meeting, Joseph Parsons and three others were appointed to run a boundary line between the town of Hadley and Northampton.

1665: In 1665 at a Northampton court, Joseph Parsons filed suit against Prayserver Turner for non payment of a debt plus damage, £30. The action was withdrawn and both paid equal amounts for court costs. In a Northampton court, a suit was brought against Joseph Parsons by Peter Hendricks for the sum of £10 14s 6d. On the 26th of September of 1665, the County Treasurer reported that Joseph Parsons fine was paid by the sale of an acre and a half of his land.

1666: On the 12th of May 1666, at a Northampton Legal Town Meeting, Joseph Parsons petitioned to build a fence from the great Connecticut River to the mountain at Pascomuck.

1667: In Northampton, Joseph Parsons was elected again to the Board of Selectmen in 1667. Joseph Parsons served quite often as a juror in Springfield during the years 1667, 1668, and 1677.

1668: On the 7th of October 1678, the General Court appointed Joseph Parsons, Sr. to be Cornet of the Troop of Hoarse, Hampshire Co., under the command of Maj. John Pynchon. This appointment made Joseph the color-bearer of the Hampshire Cavalry, third officer in command. On the 14th of December 1668, a Northampton Town Meeting appointed Joseph Parsons and two others to a committee to study alternative plans concerning the proposed Connecticut duty on grain being shipped down the Connecticut River.

1670: In Northampton, Joseph Parsons was again elected to the Board of Selectmen in 1670. On the 30th of June 1670, Joseph Parsons, Sr. and six others were chosen for a committee to order the settlement of all highways to rectify errors in the meadow. On the 27th of September of 1670, Joseph Parsons filed suit against John Ingersoll of Westfield. However, the case was settled out of court.

1671: Joseph Parsons was a successful businessman, records of his business accounts exist from the 1st of September 1652 to the 28th of June 1671, on file at the Springfield City Library. on the 28th of September at the Springfield Court, Joseph Parsons brought action against Edward Blake for withholding a debt of £13 for a hogshead of flax.

1672: In 1672, the County Court appointed Joseph Parsons and four others to lay out a highway from the town of Hadley, over the Fort River, and part way to the bay.

1673: On the 25th of March 1673 in a Northampton court, Joseph Parsons brought action against John Abbott for fraudulent dealing concerning the delay, withholding, and not delivering a written lease or agreement.

1677: Joseph Parsons served quite often as a juror in Springfield during the years 1667, 1668, and 1677.

1682: The last case Joseph Parsons filed in any Northampton court was on the 26th of September 1682. This was a suit against Benoni Stebbins of Northampton for a debt of about 50s. Joseph Parsons served quite often as a juror in Northampton during the years 1682 and 1683. The pay for a juryman was 2s a day.

1683: Cornet Joseph Parsons died in Springfield, Massachusetts, on the 9th of October 1683. His exact place of burial is not known, but is most likely in the Elm Street Cemetery in Springfield. When the land on the west side of the cemetery was needed for the railroad, most of the remains were removed and reburied in a single mass grave near the Pine Street entrance.

REFERENCES:

CORNET JOSEPH PARSONS: One of the Founders of Springfield and Northamptom, Massachusetts, by Henry M. Burt, 1898. Published by Albert Ross Parsons, Garden City, Long Island, NY

GENEALOGICAL GUIDE TO THE EARLY SETTLERS OF AMERICA, by Henry Whittemore, 1967. Published by the Genealogical Publishing Co., pp404

IMMIGRANT ANCESTORS, Edited by Frederick Adams Virkus, 1986, pp52

PARSONS FAMILY, Descendants of Cornet Joseph Parsons, Volume 1, by Henry Parsons, 1912

PARSONS FAMILY, Descendants of Cornet Joseph Parsons, Volume 2, by Henry Parsons, 1920

SEARCH FOR THE PASSENGERS OF THE MARY & JOHN, 1630, by Burton W. Spear, Volume 9, Terry thru Wolcott, 1987, pp10

SEARCH FOR THE PASSENGERS OF THE MARY & JOHN, 1630, by Burton W. Spear, Volume 14, West Country Planters to New England, 1620-1643, 1987, pp49

THE PARSONS FAMILY: Descendants of Cornet Joseph Parsons (c.1618-1683), Through His Grandson Jonathan Parsons (1693-1782), by Gerald James Parsons. Gateway Press Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1984

THE PARSONS HERITAGE, Part 2, by Charlette Olive Parsons, 1989. Unpublished manuscript is in the possession of Mr. Gary A. Parsons.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------

Please send your comments and suggestions concerning the Parsons web page to:
Mr. Gary A. Parsons, Web Page Administrator, at: parsons@best.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------

Joseph married Mary Bliss on 26 Nov 1646 in Spingfield, Hampden, MA. Mary (daughter of Thomas Bliss and Margaret Hulings) was born about 1628 in , Devon, England; died on 29 Jan 1712 in Springfield, Hampden, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact 1: Tanner; Fact 1
• Emigration: 30 May 1630, On Mary And John
• Fact 2: 8 May 1635, Returned To America On Hopewell; Fact 2

Notes:

MARY AND JOHN - 1630

Master Thomas Squeb.

Sailed from Plymouth, 20 March 1630.

The day of the sailing was the Saturday before Palm Sunday.

Landed Nantasket, Massachusetts, 30 May, 1630.

400 tons.

140 passengers

40 - 50 crewmen

Ship owned by Roger Ludlow

The ship was suppose to land at the Charles river but Capt. Squeb refused to navigate the Boston Harbor, probably because of it's islands, sandbars and shoals. He had the passengers disembark at Nantasket Point.

June 1630 - John Winthrop sent for Capt. Squeb at Nantasket, where the "Mary and John" lay. He did not record what was said. "[John] Winthrop seemed to think he had 'ended [the] difference between him [Capt. Squeb] and the passengers', in token of which Captain Squeb gave the order for a salute of five guns in the govenor's honour and it was said that Squeb later paid compensation to [Roger] Ludlow." [Dorset Pilgrims, Frank Thistlethwaite, p.76]

There is no official passenger list of the Mary & John.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------

HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS:

Land granted, 18 September, 1635, for five acres of land on North Street near Ship Street, Hingham, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts.

Freeman on 9 March 1636/37

TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS:

House lot on Dean Street west of John Dean house.

Freeman of Plymouth Colony 4 December 1638

First Constable, 1638 and 1639, juror 1645.

WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT:

4 February 1647 - "Thomas Thorton al his land formerly recorded in figures is sold to Thomas Ford and John Strong where the particulars fully apperarÖ."

This included a house, out house, yards, orchards and gardens containing about two acres, more or less, bounded north and west by the land of Walter Fyler, south by the rivulet, on the east by the highways, and adjoining at the foot of the hill, in the great meadow, one acre and three quarters more or less bounded north by the land of John Mason and east by the land of William Hill [Windsor Register of Deeds]

Freeman 15 May 1654 of Connecticut.

NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS:

John Strong was ordained and Elder of the church in 1663.

Lands -

14 October 1660 - John Strong bought from John Webb, a parcel of land lying in the Third square and bounded by land of Richard Lyman on the north and the highway on the south and on the sides bordering the land of David Wilton on the east by Samuel Allyn on the west - Seven acres .

John Strong bought another parcel from John Webb, a home lot bounded on the highway east and north and the mill trench on the west containing two acres. Part of this was given to his son Samuel.

John Strong bought another parcel from John Webb, which lies on the south side of Mill River and bounded by the highway east and west, the sides bordering the highway south and Mill River north containing - two acres.

15 October 1660 - Northampton granted to him several parcels of land including a tan yard which was bounded on the east and west by the highway, north by Ralph Hutchinson's land and the common land, and the meeting house hill on the south. John gave this to his son Ebenezer, on 15 December 1688.

The original tan yard contained one quarter acre. It was on King Street Brook a little north of Hampshire Marble Works. The town by vote directed all hides be taken to him to be tanned at his own price because of his reputation for honesty.

15 October 1660 - Northampton granted to him his home lot which was bounded on the highway north and Mill River on the south and bounded on the sides by the land of Capt. Aaron Cooke on the east and Alexander Edwards on the west. John Strong conveyed these parcels to John Webb 18 October 1660.

The home lot granted to him by Northampton on West Street was nearly opposite the Parson's Homestead. He sold it to John Webb, and purchased John Webb's home lot at the corner of Main and South Streets. The property remained in the family for 103 years.

Northampton granted John Strong another parcel of land in Manham Meadow which butts up on the Great River on the east and Mill River on the west containing four Six acres plus. John gave half of this lot to Ebenezer, 15 December 1688.

[Land records from "Strong Men and Strong Women" by Jeanne Waters Strong]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
John STRONG - b. about 1609, probably at Chard, Somerset, England; d. Apr. 14, 1699, Northampton, MA; bur. Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, MA. Son of John STRONG of Chard, Somerset, England. Probably embarked Plymouth, England Mar. 20, 1630 in 'Mary & John', and arrived at Nantasket, May 30, 1630. John apparently returned to England, married, and had two children, before sailing again for New England on May 8, 1635 from Weymouth aboard the 'Hopewell.' Settled first at Dorchester, MA, removed to Windsor, CT about 1636, to Taunton by 1638, and to Northampton in 1659 where he was the first Ruling Elder. He had 17 children and 145 grandchildren. Married first about 1632 in England, Margery DEANE (d. about 1635, Dorchester, MA), the mother of son John and a child who died in infancy, and daughter of William DEANE. Elder John STRONG married second about 1635, Dorchester, MA.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England

STRONG, JOHN, Hingham 1635, removed to Taunton, and from thence to Northampton as early as 1659. [Lincoln, Hist. Hingham.] He had 17 children. His son Thomas had 15, son Jedidiah 12, son Samuel 12, and his grandson Jonathan 17. Sixty-one of the name, 17 of them clergymen, had grad. at the N. E. colleges in 1828. RETURN, Windsor 1640. 1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. v. 168.

John married Abigail Ford in 1635 in Dorchester, Suffolk, MA. Abigail (daughter of Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Charde) was born about 8 Oct 1619 in Bridport, Dorset, England; died on 16 Jul 1688 in Northampton, Hampshire, MA; was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact 1: 8 Oct 1619, Baptized Bridport, Dorset, England; Fact 1
• Emigration: May 1630, On Mary And John

Notes:

WFT-Vol. 18, No. 1312 says d. Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Notes:

JOSEPH'S PARENTS:

According the Beaminster Town Historian (Marie Eedle), nothing is known of Joseph's father (William Parsons) before he showed up in town about the same time a woolen mill was opened nearby. Family tradition indicates that William came from Great Torrington or Tiverton, Devon, about 63 miles to the east. However, there are no records to support this assumption. In those days, people did not generally travel long distances.

Joseph's mother (Margret Hoskins) was born in Beaminster, about 1584, her parents were Robert and Margret Hoskins. Unfortunately, there were two Robert Hoskins families Undisclosed in Beaminster at the time. Both families had daughters named Margret, both men were married to a Margret, and both men had similar professions, one a Glover and the other a Tanner. Most of the Hoskins Families in Beaminster were generally well off, being owners of pubs, ranches, and other properties.

Joseph's parents (William & Margret) apparently meet sometime after William's relocation to Beaminster and were later married in St. Mary's Church on the 15th of November 1602. The Parsons family must have been well off also because they lived in town on East Street, not a poor area. Joseph's parents both died in Beaminster and are presumably buried in St. Mary's Cemetery (no records exist to support this). It was the custom of the day to have multiple burials within the same grave, one on top of another, and no grave markers (headstones).

William married Margaret Hoskins on 15 Nov 1602 in Beaminster, Devon, England. Margaret was born in 1580 in Canterbury, England; died in 1655 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Margaret Hulings. Margaret (daughter of John Hulings and Margaret Lawrence) was born on 15 Jul 1595 in Rodborough, Gloucestershire, England; died on 28 Aug 1684 in Springfield, Hampden, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

JOHN STRONGE - D. 1612, bur. 13 July 1612, Chard, Somerset, Eng.. M. Uknown, 1609, Chard, Somerset, England. She pos. m. 2) William Cogan, father of Eleanor Cogan, wife of Walter Deane.

Will of John Stronge of Chard, Proved 22 Sept. 1612

Where as the said John Stronge lieth sick of body but of good and perfect memory....to the poor of Chardland 4 shillings ....to the Church 2 shillings.... to MY SON JOHN STRONGE, 10 pounds...to MY CHILD THAT MY WIFE GOETH WITH all 10 pounds....If either of them die it shall remain to the other, until they be of lawful year....To MY BROTHER THOMAS STRONG'S DAUGHTER, my godaughter, 2 shillings. I give THE OTHER TWO, 1 shilling each....I make my wife whole executor of such goods as I have....I make my overseers My FATHER GEORGE STRONGE, JOHN BOWRIDGE, WALTER STRONGE, JOHN WARRY.... Witnesess:HENRY WARRY

Children

a. ELDER JOHN STRONGE

b. Uknown - B. abt. 1613, Chard, Somerset, Eng.

John married Unknown in 1609 in Chard, Somerset, England. was born in England; died in England; was buried on 6 Jul 1628 in Broadwindsor, Dorset, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alt. Birth: 1588, South Chard, Somerset, England; Alt. Birth
• Alt. Death: Abt 6 Jul 1628, Chard, Somerset, England; Alt. Death

Notes:

1597 May 17

Elenor wife of Silvester Balston holds by copy dated 10 Oct. 1593 one tenement and one cottage heriotable with 16 acres on the lives of herself and Johane Deane daughter of Johane Deane, rent 14s.

1625 Survey of Tatworth Manor (123 M/E 38)

Elionra Balston and Johanna Deane [mort inserted above] daughter of Johanna Deane, deceased, hold for their lives by copy dated 10 Oct. 1593 one heriotable tenement and one cottage with 17 acres of land [listed as in above survey of c. 1566] rent 13s and heriot.

'The premisses beingein hande are graunted to Thomas Deane and his assigness yf hee, Mary Warey dau. of John Wary, and Isaac Deane son of William Deane live by indent. 31 Oct. 1628, fine 130 pounds".

1628 - L 1468,

lease of land in Tatworth (South Chard) Manor from records of Petre family at the Deane Record Office ref. 123 M abstracted by Robin Bush for H. Clark Dean. This lease is dated 31 Oct, 1628 to SYLVESTER BALSTONE his Executors and Assignes Untill the Eleventh daye of October which shalbe in the year of our Lorde one Thousand six hundred fortie and three yf THOMAS DEANE OF CHARDE aforesaid Clothier, MARY WARREY, DAUGHTER OF JOHN WARREY, and ISAACK DEANE SONNE OF WILLIAM DEANE OF CHARDE aforesaid or any of them doe so long live.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alt. Birth: 6 Jan 1590, Bridport, Dorset, England; Alt. Birth
• Emigration: 1630, On Mary And John

Notes:

A. THOMAS FORD - D. 28 Nov. 1676, Northampton, Massachusetts. M. 1) 13 Dec. 1610, Powerstock, Dorset, England, Joan Way, bur. 10 May 1615, dau. of Stephen Way and Ursula Gill. 2) 19 Jun. 1616, Bridport, Dorset, England, ELIZABETH CHARD COOKE, d. 18 Apr. 1643, Windsor, Connecticut. widow of Aaron Cooke. 3) 7 Nov. 1644, Hartford, Connecticut, Ann Scott, widow of Thomas Scott.

In 1623 Thomas Ford and his family were Undisclosed in Dorchester, Dorset, England and were members of Holy Trinity Church, whose rector was Rev. John White. John White has been called the "Founder of Massachusetts"

Rev. John White wrote to Gov. John Endicott, 'to appoint places of habitation for sixty families out of Dorset which were to arrive the following spring." A meeting was held on 15 Oct. 1629, "at the Deputyes House". Twenty five members of the council which financed the planters were there and "MR. FORDE, wth divers others of the genalitie."

This meeting was arranged so that the finance company would benefit for seven years by the shipping of furs. The government of the colony was to be placed into the hands of Gov. John Winthrop. In New England.

Thomas Ford and his family came on the MARY AND JOHN, 1630. The passage costs were 5 pounds per adult, 10 pounds per horse, 3 pounds per ton of freight.

Thomas requested admission as a freeman 19 Oct. 1630 and took the oath 18 May 1631 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. To become a freeman at that time you had to be a member of the Church.

3 Apr. 1633 - "It is agreed that a doble rayle with morteses in the posts, of 10 foote distance one from the other, shall be set up on the marish.....by the owners of the Cowes vnder named, p'portionally. 20 foote to everye cowe." Thomas Forde owed two cows.

The last record of Thomas Ford in Dorchester, Massachusetts was 5 Jul. 1636.

1637 - Thomas was one of four men who purchased a large tract from Sachem Tehano, which now includes Windsor Locks, the northern third of Windsor and the southern part of Suffield.

1637 - Granted fifty acres - Simsbury, Connecticut.

Feb. 1639/40 - George Hull, "moved the court in behalf of Thomas Ford of Windsor, that in regard the workmen are much taken up and emplyed in making a bridge and meetinghouse with them, and his work hindered of impaling in the ground which was granted him by the court for a hog-park, that there may be granted him a year longer time for the fencing it in; which was upon the reasons aforesaid, condescended to."

1644 - Thomas removed to Hartford, Connecticut. He ran an "Ordinary", as an accomodation for strangers passing through. It was located in the Scott house located on the southwest corner of State and Front Streets.

Diary of John Winthrop, Jr. - "reached the Inn of Thomas Ford at Hartford", 17 Nov. 1645. The Inn was sold to Thomas Cadwell in 1652.

1656 - Thomsa bought the homelot of William Hosford.

1658/59 - Thomas bought th Arthur Williams house and lot.

1667 Thomas helped settle the estate of Nicholas Denslow.

1669 - Thomas helped settle the estate of Elizabeth Denslow's.

1670 Apr. - Thomas Inventoried the estate of Rev. John Warham.

Thomas removed to Northampton, Massachusetts bef. 1672 where he spent the rest of his life.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
Thomas FORD - b. about 1589, Dorset, England; d. Nov. 28, 1676, Northampton, MA. It is possible he was the son of John FORD III and Joan BECK (m. Feb. 3, 1583, Piddlehinton, Dorset, England), and nephew of Thomas FORD, merchant of Dorchester who died Jan. 20, 1610/11. The latter's will, proved May 8, 1611 names, among others, his brother John, and "Thomas, son of my brother, John FORDE." Thomas FORD arrived at Dorchester, MA in the 'Mary & John' 1630 with wife, four daughters and step-son Aaron COOKE, settled at Windsor, CT, where he was granted a lot in 1637, and moved to Northampton, MA 1659. Freeman 1631; deputy to General Court 1637-1640; juror 1643 and 1644. In 1645 Thomas moved to Hartford, CT and established a tavern in the house of Thomas SCOTT. In 1652 he sold the tavern, and in 1655 was Constable at Windsor, CT. Married probably first Dec. 13, 1610, Powerstock, Dorset, England, Joan WAYE (bur. there May 10, 1615); second Jun. 19, 1616, Bridport, Dorset, England; and third Nov. 7, 1644 Ann (-?-) SCOTT (d. May 5, 1676, Northampton, MA), widow of Thomas SCOTT (d. Nov. 6, 1643).

Thomas married Elizabeth Charde on 19 Jun 1616 in Bridport, Dorset, England. Elizabeth (daughter of Thomas Charde and Elizabeth Bunckom) was born in 1582 in Bridport, Dorset, England; died on 18 Apr 1643 in Windsor, Hartford, CT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alt. Birth: 1587, Thorncombe, Dorset, England; Alt. Birth
• Emigration: 30 May 1630, On Mary & John
• Alt. Death: 18 Apr 1643, Windsor, Hartford, CT; Alt. Death

Notes:

WFT-Vol. 18, No. 1312 says m. Aaron Cook 25 Sep 1610 in Bridport, Dorset, England.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth CHARDE - b. 1587, England; d. Apr. 18, 1643, Windsor, CT. Married first Sep. 2, 1610, Thornecombe, Dorset, England, Aaron COOKE (bur. Dec. 28, 1615, Bridport, Dorset, England). Their son Aaron COOKE (1610-1690) arrived in America with his mother and step-father, and lived at Windsor 1636, Northampton, 1661, and Westfield, MA 1661. Her son Aaron married first his step sister Mary FORD /COOKE (see following note); second Joan DENSLOW; third Elizabeth NASH; and fourth Rebecca FOOTE, widow of Philip SMITH