Individual Details

Joseph[2] Parkhurst (George[1]). Christened, 21 Dec 1629, in Ipswich, Co.
Suffolk, England (50 Colonists p. 259 at parish of St. Margaret). Died, 30 Nov
1709, in Chelmsford, Middlesex Co., MA (Chelmsford VRs p. 424). Reference: 19.

Joseph probably came to Watertown, MA before 1640 with his father
and siblings. Joseph was a proprietor (original settler) of the New Field
(a new district or "town") in Chelmsford, MA and was allotted 12 acres on
12 March 1666/7. His house lot was located "west by town highway to the
mill, north by land of Thomas Sewell, east by town common, south by land
of John Wright". This location is now on Stedman Street, Lowell, MA.

On the ministerial tax list of 1672, Joseph was listed with eight
acres (tillable?), three cows, two oxen (1 - 2 years old), two yearlings,
five swine, and one horse. Sometime later Joseph moved to the Stoney
Brook district, which is now in Westford, where he died.


He married Rebecca Reade, daughter of Esdras Reade and Elizabeth Watson, 26 Jun 1656, in Concord, Middlesex Co., MA (Chelmsford VRs p. 289). Marriage(2): 24 Jun 1656, in Chelmsford, Middlesex Co., MA (MA Marriages, EarlyThird Book, p. 33). Christened, 27 Sep 1627, in Southwark, Co. Surrey, England (50 Colonists p. 310 at parish of Saint Mary Overies). Died, before 1703, in Chelmsford, Middlesex Co., MA (TAG Vol. 28 (1952) p. 151 "before 25 Dec 1702").
Reference: 19W.

Rebecca was said to be "of Chelmsford", as was her husband, when
they were married in Concord. Her family was located in various towns in
Massachusetts before 1656. The Salem Quarterly Court record of 17
September 1650 says: "Joshua Ray was admonished for abusing the body of
Rebecca Reade in an uncomely manner with a stick".

Rebecca died before her husband, as shown by a deed dated 25
December 1702, when Joseph, Sr., and their son, Joseph, Jr., sold to John
Snow "a certain parcell of land & medowe in Chelmsford at a place called
Little Tadnock and also 3 acres of medowe at great Tadnuck". Only one
wife signed the deed, Eunice Parkhurst, the wife of Joseph, Jr.

Children:

i. Mary[3]. Born, 10 Aug 1657, in Chelmsford, Middlesex Co., MA
(Chelmsford VRs p. 115). Died, 6 Sep 1694, in Chelmsford,
Middlesex Co., MA (Chelmsford VRs p. 367 (birth of son recorded
as 22 Oct 1694)). She married Thomas Blodgett, son of Daniel
Blodgett and Mary Butterfield, 29 Jun 1683, in Chelmsford,
Middlesex Co., MA (Chelmsford VRs p. 294). Reference: 191.

The Chelmsford Vital Records list Mary's death as 6
September 1694 and list her son Benoni's birth as
occurring on 22 October 1694. It is possible that Mary
died on 6 September 1695, not 1694. Benoni's birth then
could have been 22 October 1694 (as the records show) or
it is possible he was born in 1693.

Christen

21 Dec 1629

Saint Margaret, Ipswich, Suffolk, England

Father	GEORGE PARKHURST (1589 - 1675)
Mother	PHEBE LEETE ( - 1642)
Sibling	PHEBE PARKHURST ( - 1688)
Sibling	Mary Parkhurst ( - )
Sibling	Samuel Parkhurst ( - )
Sibling	Deborah Parkhurst ( - )
Sibling	George Parkhurst ( - 1699)
Sibling	John Parkhurst ( - )
Sibling	Abigail Parkhurst ( - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Parkhurst ( - 1727)