Brown/Sanford/Parsons Line
By Don Taylor
One of my processes is to tentatively accept conflicting data regarding an individual. As I continue my research, I look for info to help corroborate either fact. When I finally do my ancestor sketch, I analyze the conflicting facts and make a decision as to what I think is correct and provide my analysis bout what I think is incorrect and why. In the case of John Parsons, Junior, I have conflicting facts regarding both John’s birth and his death. But, more about that in a bit.
Roberts/Brown – Ancestor #204
List of Grandparents
- 6 – Grandfather: Clifford Brown| aka Richard Earl Durand | aka Richard Earl Brown (1903-1990)
- 12 – 1st Great-grandfather: Arthur Durwood Brown(1869-1928)
- 25 – 2nd Great-grandmother: Marion Sanford(1846- c. 1895)
- 51 – 3rd Great-grandmother: Mary E Parsons(1828-1888)
- 102 – 4th Great-grandfather: Chester Parsons (1799-1887)
- 204 – 5th Great-grandfather: John Parsons, Jr. (1764-1813)
- 408 – 6th Great-grandfather: John Parsons, Sr.
- 816 – 7th Great-grandfather: Timothy Parsons*[i]
- 1632 – 8th Great-grandfather: Samuel Parsons*
- 3264 – 9th Great-grandfather: Joseph Parsons*
- 6528 – 10th Great-grandfather: William Parsons*
John Parsons (1764-1813)
Birth
John Parsons, Jr., was born on 18 November 1764, the third child of John and Hannah (Wadsworth) Parsons. Some researchers have suggested he was born in Windham, Greene County, New York[ii]; however, I’m sure he was born in Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Five of John’s siblings were all born in Sandisfield, including siblings both older and younger.  John moved to Windham in 1802, so it is easy to understand how someone could have make a mistake and entered the wrong place.
It must have been exciting times that John grew up in. His father was a lieutenant in the Massachusetts Militia during the Revolution. Samuel Wolcott’s. Living in far western Massachusetts, I suspect that young John was eager for the latest in news of the Revolution.
Sadness did strike in 1777, when John was 12 years old, and his mother died.
There is probably a romantic story to find about John’s courting of Mary Wolcott, the daughter of his father’s Captain during the Revolution. In any event, although it is not clear when John and Mary married. The birth of their first child, Samuel, in April 1789 suggests John and Mary likely married in 1788. John and Mary had seven children:
Children of John & Mary (Wolcott) Parsons, Jr.
| Child | Born |
| Samuel | 1789 – Sandisfield, MA |
| Polly | 1792 – Sandisfield, MA |
| Orrin | 1794 – Sandisfield, MA |
| John | 1796 – Sandisfield, MA |
| Chester | 1799 – Sandisfield, MA |
| Parmelia | 1805 – Windham, NY |
| Prudence | 1808  – Windham, NY |
1790 Census
John and his father were both enumerated as heads of households next to each other in the 1790 Census.
Parsons, John, Jr. 1 1 1
The John Parsons, Jr. household consisted of:
- One male 16 & older, who has to be the head of the household, John Jr.
- One male under age 16, who apears to be Samuel who was born in born 1789.
- One female who appears to be John’s wife, Mary.
1800 Census
By 1800, the John Parsons, Jr. household had grown.
John Parsons, Jr.  3 1 – 1 – | 1 – – 1 –
Three males under 10:Â Â Likely Orrin (Age 5), John (Age 4), & Chester (Age 0)
One male, age 10-16:Â Â Â Likely Samuel (Age 13)
One male, age 26-45:Â Â Â Â Obviously, John Jr. (Age 36) who is the head of the household.
One female under 10:Â Â Â Likely Mary/Polly (Age 8)
One female 26-45:Â Â Â Â Clearly Mary (age 33) his wife.
In 1802 John and his family moved from Sandisfield to Windham, Greene County, New York.
1810 Census
I have searched at length for John in the 1810 Census. I have not been successful in discovering John Parsons (Jr.) in the 1810 Census. I believe he is probably living with one of his children in Greene County, New York. As such, if I research each of his wife and all of his children, I may well find John living in someone else’s household.
Death
John Parsons died on 7 April 1813 in Windham, Greene County, New York. He was buried in section 1 at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery (also known as the Ashland Cemetery), about 2 and a half miles west of Windham. He was survived by hie wife, Mary, all seven of his children, and his father.
Events by Location
Massachusetts, Berkshire County, Sandisfield Town – 1764 thru 1801 – Birth, childhood, marriage, and birth of his first five children.
New York, Greene County, Windham – 1802-1813 – births of his two youngest children and his death.
New York, Green County, Ashland – 1813 – Burial at Pleasant Valley (aka Ashland) Cemetery.
Further Actions / Follow-up
- Research each of John’s children and both his and his wife’s siblings for their location during the 1810 Census. Were John and Mary with them.
even New Acts at the Stratton
