Northampton in Hampshire County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Cornet Joseph Parsons
A Founder of Northampton, Massachusetts
Cornet Joseph Parsons
c. 1618-1683
A founder of Northampton
and his wife
Mary (Bliss) Parsons
c. 1628-1711/12
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Landmarks • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 42° 19.331′ N, 72° 37.592′ W. Marker is in Northampton, Massachusetts, in Hampshire County. Marker can be reached from Bridge Street (Massachusetts Route 9). Building is part of the Historic Northampton complex on Bridge Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 46 Bridge Street, Northampton MA 01060, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pomeroy Terrace (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); BPOE Veterans Monument (about 600 feet away); Liberty Tree Memorial (about 600 feet away); Pomeroy (approx. 0.2 miles away); Masonic Block (approx. 0.2 miles away); Smith Charities (approx. ¼ mile away); Northampton Gulf War Monument (approx. ¼ mile away); First Meeting House (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northampton.
Regarding Cornet Joseph Parsons. Mary and Joseph Parsons had a total of eleven children. They were granted the first license to run an ordinary (tavern) in Northampton and eventually became one of the wealthiest families in the early colonies. They left Northampton in 1679 or 1680, amidst lingering questions, gossip and rumors that Mary was a witch. The links below provide a rich history of one of Northampton's first families.
Also see . . .
1. Cornet Joseph Parsons one of the founders of Springfield and Northampton, Massachusetts. An 1898 biography by Henry M. Burt, published by A. R. Parsons (Garden City, Long Island, N.Y). (Submitted on November 24, 2009.)
2. Historic Northampton. Museum website homepage:
Historic Northampton is a museum of local history in the heart of the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts. Its collection of approximately 50,000 objects and three historic buildings is the repository of Northampton and Connecticut Valley history from the Pre-Contact era to the present. The museum maintains a permanent exhibit chronicling the rich history of Northampton in its main gallery and features changing exhibitions in its rotating exhibit space. (Submitted on November 21, 2009, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts.)
3. Mary Bliss Parsons, the Witch of Northampton. New England Historical Society website entry (Submitted on March 16, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional keywords. Pioneer Valley Western Massachusetts Connecticut River Valley Witchcraft Witch Trials
Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2009, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 3,057 times since then and 5 times this year. Last updated on November 26, 2009, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 21, 2009, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.