This family appears in an unpublished 1850 census for Holmes Co, OH
Thomas Parsons, a prominent citizen who lived near Moorefield, listened to Howell's tales of a beautiful valley he had passed through and decided to see it for himself. In about 1773, he traveled over the mountains and visited the present site of Tucker County. After claiming the land, his two sons, Thomas, Jr. (1730-1804) and James (1740-1813), moved to the present county in 1774. In March 1774, John Minear (1732-1781) and about a dozen families also moved into the present county, near St. George. However, that summer Lord Dunmore's War broke out and, fearing for their lives, all of the settlers abandoned the county for nearly two years, returning in even larger numbers in 1776.
From Early History of Tucker County
In 1762, James Parsons, son of Thomas, was captured by Indians in Hardy County and taken captive to Ohio. He escaped and made his way across present-day Tucker County to reach his home. Seven years later, in 1769, he returned to the county with his older brother Thomas and built a temporary cabin just north of present-day St. George. They used the cabin as a second home, frequently traveling back-and-forth across the mountains. The next Englishmen to set foot in the county were probably Samuel and John Pringle, deserters from Fort Pitt, and a trapper named John Simpson. They passed through the county in 1764 or 1765.
WILL
Thomas Parsons died between 27 May 1771 and 10 Mar 1772 His will was dated 27 May 1771 and recorded 10 Mar 1772. He devises to his sons Isaac and Baldwin, the land near Romney, bought of Luke Collins, and directs that Nathaniel Kuxandall, John Foreman and William Foreman shall divide it between the two, said Baldwin not being 21 years of age. Then he gives one hundred pounds in money to Elizabeth Heinsman, widow of Dr. Heinsman, then he directs a tract of land of 200 acres on Mill Creek, another tract on Michael Sees Run (they were in what is now Hardy and Grant Counties) another tract on Lear Coat Creek (is now Hampshire County) to be sold, and the proceeds of such sale, to be divided between his sons Thomas, James, Isaac and Baldwin, and his daughters Prudence and Arness. He also directs his personal property, including negroes, to be sold and the proceeds of such sale, and of all moneys, bonds, notes and accounts to be divided between his said children. He then devises to his sons-in-law William Welton and Robert Cunningham, 290 acres of land on North Mill Creek, adjoining the upper tract, now in Pendleton County.The signature to his will indicates that at its date (May 27, 1771) he must have been a very old man, as it is written in very large tremulous letters.
Will names the following children:
Thomas Parsons married Mary Rennick, Miss Thomas, and Alsia Miles.
James Parsons married Elizabeth --- and Rebecca Simps.
Isaac Parsons, b. 1752, m. Mary E. Gregg.
Baldwn Parsons married Rachel.
Prudence Parsons m. Robert Cunningham.
Arness (Ann) Parsons m. William WeltonPARSONS Family of the South Branch of the Potomac and Cheat River VA/WV. Thomas and Parthenia (BALDWIN/BOYLDWIN) PARSONS. Earliest proven land record is dated 1753 when Thomas was named executor of the will for one Daniel Richardson. Thomas owned land which later was separated by the division of Hardy and Hampshire County WV. Known children: Isaac PARSONS who married Mary Ellender GREGG, Baldwin PARSONS who married Rachel PARK/PARKS, Arness PARSONS who married William WELTON, Prudence PARSONS who married Robert CUNNINGHAM, Thomas Jr. who married Mary Ann RENNICK-Hannah THOMAS-Alsia MILES, an alleged daughter that has not been proven is Elizabeth who was the widow of Dr. Henry HEINZMAN/HINDSMAN.
Baldwin and Isaac are both shown to be born in 1752. Parthenia Baldwin Parsons was 55 years old in 1752, if her birthdate of 1697 is correct. If Baldwin and Isaac are sons of Thomas Parsons, Sr. perhaps they are from a second marriage?
Thomas Parsons will leaves property to sons Isaac and Baldwin.Records concerning Thomas Parsons
"Chronicles of the Scoth Irish Settlement in Virginia" Extracted from the original court records of Augusta County Virginia 1745-1800 By Lyman Chalkley:
Goff vs Fisher: Isaac Booth deposes March 1803 in West Augusta, that John and Saliel Goff were the first to imporve the land of Thomas Parsons on Cheat River, now generally known as Sim's Bottom and formerly called Cearl's bottom. James Goff, son of John Goff. John improved the land in 1773 and John and Saliel improved it in 1774.21 Aug 1760 James Trimble and Sarah to Thomas Parsons of Hampshire County Virginia 15 pounds, 200 acres of South Branch Potomac.
Is father William Parson from England?from JoAnn Smith (1982): ". . . . there is a book called "Parsons Family History" by Virginia Parsons McCabe--that starts with Thomas Parsons Sr. He was in Hampshire County Virginia as early as 1761 at least. He was son of William Parsons who settled on the eastern shore of Maryland in 1725. William was of English descent and was a descendant of the Parsons brothers who came from England to America in 1635. There is a 3 volume set of Parsons History which I have seen but it does not indicate for certain William's ancestors."
Captain William Parsons enlisted in 6th Maryland regiment of the Continental army who was reported missing in action on April 20, 1777. He died 1778 as shown in "Daughters of American Colonists Lineage Book." His brother, John Parsons, was kiled in action, Aug 16, 1780.
The Jackson county family, it is claimed, are the direct descendants of Captain William Parsons, listed above, who was a resident of Queen Anne's, later Baltimore County, Maryland. He had at least 3 sons who later made their homes in what is now West Virginia..Charles, Thomas, and Joseph.
Captain William Parsons came to the eastern shore of Maryland from Prussia about 1725. He was major lst battalion of Pa. regiment in French and Indian wars 1756-1760. His service record is in Division of Archives and Manuscripts, Pa. Historical Commission Museum Harrisburg. Wm. Parsons shown in book "Early Colonist of Maryland" as coming to Maryland in 1723.
Or is father Thomas Parson from PA?
Following history on the Parsons family from http://home.mindspring.com/~cannicello/_wsn/page2.html
Thomas Parsons, son of Thomas and Jane (Culling) Parsons, born in Philadelphia about 1688, resided in the vicinity of Philadelphia until after the death of his father, and then removed to Virginia. He was named Executor of his father's will but was absent at the time of proof, June 17, 1721. He was devised by the will, the mill property in Oxford Township, but his father conveyed the estate after the date of the will. His three children were baptized at Abington Presbyterian Church, the last one on September 8, 1722.Other clues to ancestry
He and his brother Captain James were the first explorers of Randolph County W. VA. where they pre-empted the Horse Shoe lands in 1770.
Family Reunions
Katherine Ray is the Parsons Family Association Historian, for the Parsons Family of the South Branch of the Potomac and Cheat River VA/WV. The 90th family reunion was held 16-AUG-1997 at the Horse Shoe Run Park, Tucker Co WV.
I suspect Thomas was married twice. His first wife probably died shortly after 1740. Thomas then married Parthenia Parsons who had children Isaac and Baldwin. The name Parthenia shows up time and again in the offspring of Issac and Baldwin and for no other children of Thomas. On the other hand, the name of Jemima shows up several times in the offspring of Prudence. As such, the first wife may have been Jemima. A name as good as any...
Unidentified first wife named "Jemima" for now.
Thomas Parsons, son of John and Florence Parsons, of Middlezoy, Somersetshire, was born about 1663. Like his father he was a member of the Society of Friends, and in 1685 suffered imprisonment with others at Ilchester County, Somerset for being present at a Conventicle held at Gregory-Stoke, where the Quarterly Meeting of Friends of Somersethire was usually held. He was married in 1685 to Jeane or Jane Culling, daughter of John Culling of Babcary Parish Somersetshire, the consent to their marriage being given by Ilchester Meeting of Friends July 29, 1685, He seems to have made immediate preparations to go with other members of his family to Pennsylvania, and was in Philadelphia April 8, 1686, when he and his wife witness a marriage at the Friends Meeting House.
His family was one of those who lived in a cave on the bank of the Delaware near the foot of Arch Street. He and his brother John were both carpenters and joiners. They owned one of the first wind mills upon the Bank before the front Lott of Joseph Growden which they sold to Richard Townsend, who February 22, 1689-90, obtained a grant of one hundred foot of bank before the Proprietor's son's lott that lies on the south side of said Growden's Lott to sitt the mill upon. Thomas Parsons lived for a time on lots he owned at Third and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia, but subsequently removed to Bucks County, where both he and his brother John had land grants with allotments of Liberty Lots in Philadelphia.
His wife Jane died in Bucks County and he married second in June 1704, Mary Hinds at Falls Monthly Meeting. Soon after his second marriage he settled in Oxford Township, near Frankfort, Philadelphia, where he owned and operated a mill for a number of years, selling it to Jacob and Isaac Leech in January 1720. He also owned 500 acres of land in Salem County, New Jersey, and 800 acres on Duck Creeks in Kent County, Delaware. He died in Oxford Township, June 1721.