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Thomas Parsons (1630 - 1684)

Thomas Parsons
Born in Englandmap
Brother of
Husband of — married about 1660 in Anne Arundel County, Marylandmap
Husband of — married before 1675 in Anne Arundel, Province of Marylandmap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 54 in Anne Arundel, Marylandmap
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Profile last modified | Created 19 May 2010
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Contents

Biography

Origin

U.S. Southern Colonies Project logo
Thomas Parsons was a Maryland colonist.

Thomas Parsons was likely born in England, and was living in the Maryland colony by 1649. There are several patent records with the name, Thomas Parsons listed. He is listed in Skordas as being transported in 1649 and immigrated in 1664. [1] The most interesting patent record lists Thomas Parsons of Anne Arundel County, mate of William Andrews late deceased, in 1676. This seems to indicate that he arrived in the colony serving as the mate on board the ship of Capt. William Andrews, and since there are many patent records for him showing several claims for immigration, he likely made many trips with Capt. Andrews. [2]

The will of William Andrews, written in 1674, gives the care of his daughter to Elizabeth Parsons, the wife of Thomas Parsons, in case his wife should remarry. This will also mentions a tract of land owned by William Andrews called "Greenwood". This land was located in the swamp of Herring Creek and was left to his daughter, Elizabeth. [3] The little girl, Elizabeth Andrews, was dead by 1676 when Thomas Parsons petitioned the court to manage the estate.[4] In 1719, Stephen Price recorded a deed in the land records of Anne Arundel Co. that gives much valuable information. The tract "Greenwood," originally belonging to Thomas Parsons of Anne Arundel Co. and the grandfather of Stephen Price, was sold to William Ford. The deed also mentions part of the tract had previously been sold to Benjamin Cappell by Thomas Parsons and 50 acres had been given to Isabel Holland, daughter of Thomas Parsons. [5] During the time he lived in the Herring Creek area of Anne Arundel Co. Thomas Parsons claimed about 450 acres of land by patent from the provincial government. This land all passed down to his six daughters.

Marriage

There is evidence that Thomas Parsons had at least two wives. His wife Elizabeth, mentioned above in the will of William Andrews in 1674, was likely the sister of William Andrews. This profile assumes Elizabeth was the mother of the first daughter named in his will:

Elizabeth born before 1674

His second wife was named Isabell. They were married before 12 JUN 1677 when Isabel released her dower rights in the sale of a tract to Benjamin Capell. This land later belonged to Capell Holland and belonged to William Andrews before 1674 [6]Some have speculated that Isabell was a Holland, but there is no marriage record. Isabell was the mother of the 5 daughters born between 1675 and the death of Thomas in 1684:

Isabell
Mary
Susannah
Sarah
Hannah

Land Records

According to the Rent Rolls of Lord Baltimore for Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties, Thomas Parsons owed rent on the following properties:

The Friendship - 50 acres surveyed 20 June 1673 for William Andres and Thomas Parsons at a bounded tree of Armiger Greenwood and patented in the name of the said Parsons he being the survivor. Rent --..2..-- Possessor: Benjamin Capell.[7]
Bipartite - 100 acres surveyed 12 Nov. 1659 for John Shaw and Thomas Parsons on the East side of West River, Rent --..2..-- Possessors: Benjamin Capell for Matthew Selbys Orphan.[8]
Parsons Hill or the Peak - 150 acres surveyed 11 July 1663 for Thomas Parsons on the West side of West River -- Parsons sold this Land to Peter Allumby he to Nathaniel Heathcoat who resided 1 Sept 1676 for 152 acres: Rent --..3..1 Possessor: Gerrard Hopkins[9]
St. Thomas's Neck - 50 acres surveyed 10 July 1663 for Thomas Parsons in the great Swamp near the 3 Islands, Possessor John Norris.[10]

Abstract of Will

Thomas Parsons signed his will with his initials "TP" on 10 OCT 1683. A shortened version reads as follows:

  • To my daughter Elizabeth Parsons one shilling.
  • To my daughter Isabel Parsons 50 acs. of land which is joining upon Anthony Hollands & Benjamin Capells lands for her to have at her day of marriage. If she dies without heirs, the land to the two youngest.
  • To my daughters, Mary Parsons & Susanna Parsons my plantation which I now live upon and all things belonging thereto. I give to them to be equally divided after their mother's decease and if they die without heirs to my youngest daughters.
  • To my daughters Sarah and Hannah Parsons a two year-old heifer named Mealy and her increase to be equally divided and the first two colts of my mare.
  • I appoint my loving friend Anthony Holland and Benjamin Capell to be my executors.
  • Presented to the court 31 MAY 1684. [11]

Sources

  1. Skordas, Gust, and Morris Leon Radoff. The Early Settlers of Maryland: An Index to Names of Immigrants Compiled from Records of Land Patents, 1633-1680, in the Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub., 1968.
  2. Maryland.gov
  3. MD Prerogative Court Wills Liber 2/71
  4. MD Testamentary Proceedings Liber 6/500
  5. AA Land Records CW 1/47
  6. Anne Arundel Land Records WH 4/194
  7. Maryland Rent Rolls pg. 129
  8. Maryland Rent Rolls pg. 141
  9. ibid, pg. 144
  10. ibid, pg. 145
  11. Maryland Colonial Wills Liber 4/28

© Seely Kenny Foley Kenny-549 18:07, 4 April 2015 (EDT)

  • NOTE - The parents previously given for Thomas Parsons, Thomas Parsons Jr. & Lydia Brown Pomeroy, were removed until a primary source could be provided to prove the relationship.




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Thomas by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Thomas:

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Comments: 8

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Parsons-2312 and Parsons-30 appear to represent the same person because: clear duplicate, same name
posted by Seely (Kenny) Foley
I am removing the unsourced Parsons-32 as the father again in line with Seely's previous comment.

If this is disputed this may need Project: US Southern Colonies intervention. There needs to be at least SOME source or documented research to make this link to England. Parsons-32 is an entirely sourceless GEDcom import at present.

This Thomas Parsons may be my 8th ggrandfather if he is in fact father of Elizabeth Norris which seems to be a speculative inference.

posted by Nathan Kennedy
I have a book that lists available vital records for Anne Arundel Co. of 17th & 18th centuries and there are no entries for any of the Parsons daughters, neither births or marriages. People should understand that many of the marriages listed here are speculative.
posted by Seely (Kenny) Foley
There is no proof given of the parents of Thomas Parsons. No primary source has been found in Maryland specifically stating the names of his parents or where they were from. Thomas Parsons Jr. and Lydia Brown Pomeroy have been removed as his parents. They can be added back in when a source is found to prove this relationship.
posted by Seely (Kenny) Foley
Parsons-2626 and Parsons-30 appear to represent the same person because: same person
posted by [Living McQueen]
Parsons-1589 and Parsons-30 appear to represent the same person because:

Same name, wife, daughter, death year.

posted by Fred Remus III
Parsons-887 and Parsons-30 appear to represent the same person because: both men born and died at the same time and in the same place
posted by Seely (Kenny) Foley
Parsons-2962 and Parsons-887 appear to represent the same person because: Both men born & died in the same place at the same time
posted by Seely (Kenny) Foley

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Categories: Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland | Maryland Colonists