The Semiquicentennial, the 5th of the Series
When I was told by our PPHS Vice-President, Lynda Sudlow, that she had read somewhere that Thomas Parsons had fought in the Revolutionary War, I thought that she must have been mistaken. The History of the First Century of Parsonsfield (1785 – 1885) by Jeremiah Dearborn tells us this about him:
Thomas Parsons was born in Bradford, Massachusetts on September 18, 1735, son of Rev. Joseph Parsons and Frances (Usher) Parsons. On September 7, 1758, when he was 22 years he married Anna Poor of Andover, Massachusetts.
They had 9 children together:
Thomas Parsons (1759–1788)
Stephen Parsons (1760–1764)
Joseph Parsons (1762–1839)
Enoch Parsons (1764–1782)
Stephen Parsons (1766–1836)
Nancy Parsons (1769–)
John Usher Parsons (1771–1825)
Mary Parsons (1773–1856)
Sarah Parsons (1775–
The founding of what came to be called Parsonsfield was set into motion when, according to the The History of the First Century of Parsonsfield, written in 1885,
I’m sure that you can see why I was skeptical about Thomas’ participation in the Revolution. He was 40 years old, married with 8 living children and was in \the midst of founding a town. He was a very busy man. But then I discovered this wonderful resource book which PPHS recently acquired when Ancient Landmarks disbanded and some of their books were added to our research materials.
True to the book’s fourth objective as listed above, his entry gives the following source codes:
CL-2 is a Compiled List from the Index of Maine Men in the Rolls of Honor of the Lineage Books of National Society of the D.A.R., Vol 115, Page 249
MOCA is the Index of Revolutionary Veterans Buried in Maine compiled by the Maine Old Cemetery Association.
But what does PS after his name mean? The book defines it as Patriotic Service rendered in a different way as opposed to active service. Someone obviously needs to keep things going on the homefront.
During the American Revolutionary War, local militias played a crucial role, distinct from the longer-term service of the Continental Army. These units comprised citizen-soldiers who typically responded to immediate, localized threats, often referred to as “alarms.” Their service was usually brief, reflecting the need for community defense rather than extended military campaigns.
At the time of the Revolution, Thomas and family were living in Leavittstown, NH (now Effingham) and he was serving in the militia. Thomas’ service in the New Hampshire Militia in July 1777 exemplifies this pattern. He served for just 12 days, from July 1st to July 12th, a short duration characteristic of militia call-ups. His involvement was in response to an alarm concerning Fort Ticonderoga, a strategic point during the Saratoga Campaign. Such alarms prompted local residents to temporarily leave their farms and trades to join the fighting effort, demonstrating a community-based defense model. This brief period of service contrasts with the Continental Army, which required more sustained enlistments for national campaigns.
The British advance on Fort Ticonderoga in 1777 generated significant apprehension in the northern colonies, leading to calls for local militias to mobilize. Parsons’ record, detailing his entry and discharge dates, highlights how quickly these citizen-soldiers could be called to arms and released once the immediate threat subsided or their specific mission was completed. His participation, though brief, places him within the broader context of the Saratoga Campaign, a pivotal moment in the Revolution. The reliance on such short-term, alarm-based service underscores the decentralized nature of early American military efforts and the direct involvement of local communities in their own defense.
Whether or not, Thomas was again called up with the militia we have not determined. What we do know of the rest of his story is that his wife Anna died on May 24, 1783 at the age of 44. Then after serving as Moderator for the town meeting in Leavittstown, NH in March 1784, he moved to Parsonsfield where in August 1785 he was chosen Moderator and Chairman of the first Board of Selectmen of the newly-incorporated
town.
Also in 1785 Thomas married Lucy Bradbury (b. 1757) of Saco.
They had 10 children together:
Elizabeth Usher Parsons (1787–1857)
Susan Parsons (1788–1837)
Thomas Bradbury Parsons ( – )
Abigail Parsons (1790–1848)
William Parsons (1791–1876)
Lucy Parsons (1792– 1884)
Lucinda Parsons (1795–1796)
Sylvester Parsons (1796–1860)
Lucinda Parsons (1798–1877)
Samuel B. Parsons (1801–1869)
Thomas Parsons departed this life on August 10, 1811 and his wife Lucy succeeded him by only 3 months, dying November 10, 1811. Their homestead passed to their son-in-law, Capt. Luther Emerson (married to Thomas and Lucy’s daughter Elizabeth Usher Parsons) and became known as Emerson Homestead.
The house was owned by descendants of Thomas Parsons until 1907 when it was destroyed by fire.
Although the cellar hole was still there in 1960 there is no sign of the former buildings now.
It is completely overgrown with trees.
The Emerson-Parsons Cemetery remains in good condition on the opposite side of the road.
Thomas’ simple stone reads:
In memory of Thomas Parsons, who departed this life August 10, 1811, aged 76 years.
“Behold fond man, see here thy pictured life,
Thy flowery spring, thy summer’s ardent strength;
The sober autumn fading into age,
And pale concluding winter comes at last,
And shuts the scene.”