Person:Jeffrey Parsons (3)

There has been considerable discussion about Jeffrey’s parentage, particularly about whether or not Bridget Varney was his mother. Jeffry’s parentage as reported in Willis Parson’s 1988 article in NEHGR accords with the letter rec’d by Jeffrey from his cousin/niece in England, and eliminates Bridget Varney as Jeffrey’s mother.

This leaves in question Jeffrey’s relationship to Bridget Varney, who names Jeffrey “son” in her will. She names her daughter Rachel’s husband “son-in-law”, indicating that she distinquished the two relationships. At the same time, she leaves bequests for her three Varney children, and the balance of her estate to her son-in-law William Vinson. Her relationship with Jeffrey, in other words, is not sufficient to warrant his receiving any part of her estate, which suggests the relationship is not that of a mother.

Jeffrey is said to have gone to Barbados at a young age with an uncle. In 1638 there were both a Thomas Parsons and a “Milchard” Parsons in Barbados who owned 10 or more acres of land. Milchard or Milihard d. 1652 in St. Peters Parish, signed his will with a mark. Other Parsons who died in Barbados in the right time frame include a Robert in St. James Parish in 1679, an Edward, Gentleman, in St. Michaels Parish in 1688 and a Richard in Christ Church Parish in 1696. (St. Michaels and Christ Church are in the vicinity of Bridgetown.)

What, if any, relation they are to Jeffrey is unknown. Parsons families continued to live in St. Michaels and Christ Church, but based on naming patterns they are unlikely to be related to Jeffrey. (See IGI -- all existing early Barbados births and marriages have been transcribed.)

There is also a Crossings family, the father Richard died 1681 in St. Johns Parish, leaving sons William and Richard, dau Mary (wife of Capt. Thomas Downes), wife Margery. (See Barbados Records Wills and Administrations, LDS Book #972.981 P2s)

Given the scarcity of early records in Barbados, documentation of Jeffrey’s time there and possible relations may not exist. Nevertheless, within the context of existing records it is possible that he was there for a time, as he is supposed to have said.,

1.   Babson, John J. Babson, John J. Cloucester, 1860. (Cloucester, 1860).
2.   Early Inhabitants of Barbadoes.