Biography of DR. WILLIAM MOODY PARSONS of Manchester NH ----------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com/Manchester On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== SOURCE: History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1885 ------------------- page 138 WILLIAM MOODY PARSONS, M.D. An early ancestor of Dr. Parsons was Joseph, who was born in England, married Mary Bliss and came to this county in July 1626, settling in Northampton, Mass., and died March 26, 1684. Their children were *Joseph Jr., John, Samuel, Ebenezer, Jonathan, David, Mary, Hannah, Abigail and Hester. Joseph Jr. was born in 1647, married ELizabeth Strong, and died in 1729. Their children were *Joseph John, Ebenezer, Elizabeth, David, Josiah, David, Moses, Abigail and Noah. Joseph was born in 1671, graduated at Harvard College in 1697, entered the ministry, settled in Lebanon, Conn., and moved to Salisbury, Mass. He married Elizabeth Thompson, and died in 1739. Their children were Joseph, Samuel, *William, Elizabeth and John, the three elder of whom became clergymen, John died while a sophomore in Harvard College. Rev. William was born April 21, 1716, married Sarah Burnham, and moved to Gilmanton, NH in 1763, and died January 31, 1796. His wife died February 28, 1797. Their children were Sarah, *William, Elizabeth, John, Joseph and Ebenezer. William was born April 1, 1745, married Hannah Meserve, and had William, *John, Joseph and Sarah. John was born November 10, 1751, married Lydie Folsom, October 16, 1783, and died May 31, 1838. His wife died March 17, 1828. Their chidlren were William, Judith, John, Sarah, Hannah, Lydie, Eliza and *Joseph. Joseph Parsons, Esq. was born August 29, 1753, married Ruth Pearson, and died August 10, 1806. Their children were Ruth, Joseph, Sarah, Hannah, THomas and Mary. Ebenezer Parsons was born January 21, 1756, and married Eunice Potter, November 18, 184, and had Ebenezer, EUnice, William, Samuel, Sally and Lucy. Abraham Parsons, son of Abraham of Newmarket, and grandson of Josiah of Cape Ann, was born November 2, 1754, married Abigail Burleigh, May 30, 1780 and had four children,--*Josiah, Sarah, Abraham, and James. Josiah Parsons Esq. was born September 26, 1781, married Judith Badger, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Weeks) Badger. He died December 9, 1842. Their children were Joseph B., Emily P., Sarah B., Mary E., Lewis n., Dr. Joseph Badger, Daniel Jacobs, Esq., Jane Rogers, *William Moody, and Hannah Cogswell. Among the ancestors of Dr. parsons were those who were very prominent in the religious, educational, military and civil history of the town wherein they lived; notably is this true of Rev. William Parsons, son of Rev. Joseph Parsons, both of whom were graduates of Harvard College. Rev. William became one of the proprietors of Gilmanton, and was employed by the corporation to preach to the settlers, which he did for ten years. He was also the first schoolmaster in the town, and continued his teaching even after he had closed his ministry. He was a very useful citizen, an exemplary minister of the gospel and did much to give a right direction to the early movements in regiard to religious institutions in the town. The mother of Dr. William M. Parsons was Judith Badger, a superior woman, and a descendant of that family so illustrious in the early history of New Hampshire, of whom were General Joseph Badger of Revolutionary fame; his son, Hon. Joseph Badger; and his grandson, Hon. William Badger, ex-Governor of New Hampshire. OF the brothers of Dr. Parsons, Dr. Joseph Badger became a successful physician and Daniel J., who read law in the office of Hon. Ira A. Eastman, is a succesful practitioner. Each of the children of this family, except the youngest, Hannah C., were noted teachers in their time, and two of the daughters became the wives of clergymen. DR. WILLIAM MOODY PARSONS was born in Gilmanton NH December 30, 1826; his boyhoold was passed with his brothers and sisters at the old home. His educational advantages were those of the district schools of the time, supplemented by a classical course at the celebrated Gilmanton Academy. At the close of the academic course having a taste for the study of medicine, he commenced under the tuition of Dr. Nahum Wright, a celebrated practitioner of GIlmanton, where he remained three years, during which time Dr. Parsons attended a course of lectures at the Dartmouth Medical College, and then went into the office with his brother, Dr. Joseph B., at Bennington, NH, where he commenced the practice of his profession, remaining about one year; he then attending his final course of lectures at the Vermont Medical College, where he graduated in June 1851, and returned to Bennington, practicing in company with brother until 1855, when his brother sold his interest to Dr. William M., and moved to Haverhill, Mass. Dr. Parsons, with a large practice, desiring a more favorable location, moved to Antrim NH and there, for a period of fifteen years, attended faithfully to the increasing demands made upon him until 1870, when he returned to Bennington. The practice of Dr. Parsons had become so extensive and the rides so long and laborious that he found it necessary in the interest of his health to make some change, that his duties might not be so exacting, and to this end, in April 1873, he moved to Manchester NH wher ehe at once established himself in his profesison, and where he has since resided. During his long practice in the country Dr. Parsons had many calls for consultation with his brother physicians in the adjoining towns, which, together with his own practice, made the change to an easier field imperative. As a surgeon, Dr. Parsons early took prominent place, and he has performed in these years many capital operations with notable success. In 1861 Dr. Parsons was appointed by the Governor as chairman of a commission for the extirpation of pleuro-pneumonia among cattle, which was prevalent at that time, which disease was thoroughly eradicated in a comparative short time, and with small expense to the State in comparison with that of some neighboring States in which this disease prevailed. In 1883 Dr. Parsons was commissioned assistant surgeon First Regiment New Hampshire National Guard, and in 1884 was promoted to the office of surgeon of the same regiment, with the rank of major. Dr. Parsons is a member of the Masonic fraternity, an Odd-Fellow and Knight of Honor. In religion Dr. Parsons is Quaker. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1871-72 represented the town of Bennington in the General Court. Dr. Parsons, has, by his lively interest in public schools and educational matters in general, maintained the family trait, which, from his first ancestor, has stood out prominently in each of the generations, having been superitending school committee several years. In November 1882, Dr. Parsons married Marion J., only daughter of Hon. John and Dorothy (Jones) Hosley, of Manchester. From this union there was born Martha S., April 30, 1884. For a period of about thirty-five years Dr. Parsons has been in active practice, ever ready to respond to the calls of suffering humanity, to afford relief, prompt in his appointments for consultations, courteous and liberal while maintaining professional etiquette, he has attained a prominent position in the community where he lives. Dr. Parsons has taken a warm interest in the welfare and progress of young men who had entered upon the study of medicine, and his office has ever been a place where all such could find counsel and advice, and many have begun their study under his direction. A good citizen, a genial friend, a kind husband and father, a faithful and trusted family physician, Dr. Parsons enjoys the confidence and respect of those who served so many years, and is a credit to his native State. (end)