Second Generation

2. Mary HARRIS was born in Aug 1822 in England. She died on 30 Jul 1908 in Richland County, Wisconsin.¹⁶ She was buried in English Ridge Cemetery, Richland County, Wisconsin. She is reference number 2974. Mary Harris is the oldest child of John and Mary Harris. In the 1841 Devon England census she is working as a family servant in the household of William Tandon, who was a yeoman. Mary and the rest of the family left Black Torrington, Devon, England, in 1842 for Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada. There was no christening record for Mary in Black Torrington. Her parents were married in nearby Sheepwash, Devon, so it is possible that John and Mary lived in another nearby community immediately after their marriage. Christenings are recorded in the local church and a search of church records in surrounding communities might turn up a christening record for Mary.

Mary married Thomas Parsons around 1843, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Thomas and Mary later made the move to Onondaga, New York with the rest of the Harris family in 1844. They remained in New York until 1856, when they moved to Marshall, Richland County, Wisconsin. Thomas and Mary Parsons had 8 children; the first 6 were born in New York, the last 2 were born in Wisconsin.

Mary never learned to read and write, since she was apprenticed out at an early age. There is a legal document from 1881 in the probate record of Thomas Parsons, where Mary Ward signs her mark as an X (her mark). In addition, the 1900 census lists that neither she nor her second husband, James Ward, could read or write.

Thomas passed away in January of 1876 and Mary remarried in December of 1876 to James Ward. Mary died at the age of 85 in 1908.

Mary HARRIS and Thomas PARSONS were married in 1843. They appeared in the census on 24 Aug 1850 in Clay, Onondaga Co., New York.¹⁷ They appeared in the census on 30 Jul 1860 in Fancy Creek, Marshall, Richland County, Wisconsin.¹⁸ They appeared in the census on 25 Jul 1870 in Marshall, Richland County, Wisconsin.¹⁹ Thomas PARSONS was born on 12 May 1812 in London, England. He had his estate probated in Jan 1876 in Richland County, Wisconsin.²⁰ He died on 25 Jan 1876 in Richland County, Wisconsin.²¹ He was buried in English Ridge Cemetery, Richland County, Wisconsin.²² He is reference number 2973. Taken from History of Crawford and Richland Counties, Wisconsin - Union Publishing Company - Springfield, IL - 1884, pg. 1125 Thomas Parsons, the subject of this sketch, was born in London, England, May 12, 1812. His father died when he was but eight years old, and he was sent into the country to live, where he grew to man's estate. He came to America in 1841 and located in Canada, where he made the acquaintance of Mary Harris, who was the daughter of John and Mary Harris, and to whom he was married in the year 1843. In 1844 they moved to the State of New York and purchased a home in Onondaga town, Onondaga county. There he was employed on public works, remaining there until 1856, and then coming to Richland county. Here he purchased a tract of timber land on section 28, built a house and continued to reside there until the time of his death, which occurred Jan. 25, 1876. He was a very industrious man, and had the satisfaction of leaving his family provided with a good home. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have had nine children born to them, five of whom are now living --- William, David, George, Jane and John. Mrs. Parsons was again married in 1876 to James Ward, who is also a native of England, born in Cambridgeshire in 1820. He had come to America in 1851 and located in Wisconsin, living in Walworth and Rock counties until the fall of 1854, when he came to Richland county and settled on section 35, town 11, range 1 west, in the present town of Marshall, where he still resides. He has been three times married. The first time, in 1841, to Maria Graham who died a few years after his settlement in Richland county. Three of her children are living --- Edward, Alfred and Angeline. His second wife was Annie Dunford. She died in 1871, leaving five children --- Alice, Rose, Carrie, Annie M and Ellie.

Taken from History of Crawford and Richland Counties, Wisconsin - Union Publishing Company - Springfield, IL - 1884

Chapter 27 - Town of Marshall.

Thomas Parsons, an Englishman, came here in 1856 and purchased land on section 28, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1876 Mary HARRIS and Thomas PARSONS had the following children:

+15	i.	William PARSONS.
+16	ii.	David D. PARSONS.
17	iii.	Charity E. PARSONS was born on 30 Apr 1848 in New York. She died on 22 Oct 1865. She was buried in English Ridge, Richland County, Wisconsin.23 She is reference number 4775.
+18	iv.	Albert H. PARSONS.
+19	v.	George J. PARSONS.
+20	vi.	John J. PARSONS.
+21	vii.	Mary Jane (Jennie) PARSONS.
22	viii.	Alfred M. PARSONS was buried in 1862 in English Ridge Cemetery, Richland County, Wisconsin.24 He was born on 30 Jul 1862 in Richland County, Wisconsin. He died on 2 Oct 1862 in Richland County, Wisconsin. He is reference number 4811.

Mary HARRIS and James WARD were married on 25 Dec 1876 in Richland County, Wisconsin. They appeared in the census in 1880 in Marshall, Richland County, Wisconsin.²⁵ They appeared in the census on 6 Jun 1900 in Marshall, Richland County, Wisconsin.²⁶ James WARD was born in 1820 in Cambridgeshire, England. He is reference number 2975.