Parsons House Press

Engaging Historical Narratives

Joseph's mother (Margaret Hoskins) was born in Beaminster, about 1584, her parents were Robert and Margaret Hoskins. Joseph's parents both died in Beaminster. According to Henry Parsons[3] 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, Kent, England [NOTE: That ship went to Virginia; nothing connects that Jo. Parsons with Cornet Joseph Parsons of Springfield and Northampton (see NEHGR 3:389)]. 1636 The first record of Joseph Parsons being in 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. 1646 first official public office on the 8th of January 1646 was Highway surveyor of Springfield Massachusetts. Married Mary Bliss on the 26th of Nov 1646 through the years they had 13 children, that we know of, 8 boys, and 5 girls. Official records of note occur in the following years in Springfield 1647,1650,1652,1653 moved to Northampton 1654,and each year to,1660 Joseph owned 81 acres of land in addition to the 4 acres that his house was on.1661 thru,1670-71-72-73-77-1682-1683 Joseph died in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts on the 9th of October 1683. An abstract from the register of the New Hampshire Society of Colonial Wars states. "Parsons, Cornet Joseph,1618-1683 Member of Capt. John Pynchon's Hampshire county troop, King Philip's War,1672-1678,appointed Cornet Hampshire troop Oct 7,1678,member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston,1679,served in the French and Indian Wars, Colony of Massachusetts Bay"