John PARISH (PARRISH)

                   Branford Vital Records
dd., c.r. (at Hartford)
Will of J.4. at Guilford
History of Durham, Connecticut
New England Parish Families, by Roswell Parish, 1840-1932

       Hannah was christened at the First Church of Durham.
                  

                   Branford Vital Records
dd., c.r. (at Hartford)
Will of J.4. at Guilford
History of Durham, Connecticut
New England Parish Families, by Roswell Parish, 1840-1932

       Lucy was christened at the First church.
                  

                   Branford Vital Recordsand c.r.; g.r. 4; p. r. 47, 48, 50, 52 (all partly from p.r. 49)
Will of J.4. at Guilford
History of Durham, Connecticut
New England Parish Families, by Roswell Parish, 1840-1932

       Josiah Parrish was probably born in Stonington or Branford, Connecticut of English heritage.  According to records handed down, he was a shipmaster during the first of the 18th century, but abandoned the sea and engaged in farming in Conn.
       His sea chest has been handed down and was, in 1956 in the possession of a descendant living in Argyle, New York (Mrs. Rachel McKernon.)
       Some years prior to the Revolutionary War, he migrated with his family from Branford, Conn. to what is now the Town of Hebron, Washington County, New York.  On May 28,1772 he purchased a large tract of land in Hebron from Bernard Lintott, lying in the E.M. Perry Patent on the south line of Hebron.  At his death the land was divided between his two sons.  Bernard Lintott, from whom he bought the land, was also of Branford as were his close neighbors, the Whedons.
       He served in the Revolutionary War and according to NY Rev. Rolls was a private in Capt. Hamilton's Co., Col. Webster's Regt.
       A letter from Alice Norton, Bristol, Conn. (date not known) states, "When my father's father Parish Norton was a boy he used to talk to his grandfather (Josiah Parrish, Sr.) wtih whom he lived in Hebron and it is still remembered that "Gran'ther Parrish" used to talk to his grandson about coming home just in time to rescue his beans from the Tories."
       Family tradition that Josiah Jr. was a musician is indication that there were two two Josiahs, both from the Hebron Company.  This is further borne out by p. 239 "NY in the Revolution," Roberts, 1898, Vo. 2:
       Charlotte county Militia - Land Bounty Rights
                   John Parrish
                   Josiah Parrish
                   Josiah Parrish, Jr.
       Thus the evidence is that Josiah Parrish, Sr. and his two sons, John and Josiah were members of the Charlotte Co., NY Militia and served from the Hebron Company in the Revolution.
       Josiah, Sr. died in 1806 and is buried in the Parrish Cemetery, located on the old Homestead in Hebron.  Son-in-law Judge David Hopkins administered the estate and in a letter to daughter Sybil Parrish Norton in 1809, it appears that he was having some difficulty; that though the sons, John and Josiah, Jr. had received the real property, John also wanted to share in what little personal property there was.
       The inventory of the estate amounted to 'a little more than five hundred dollars, and a part of that I expect I will not be able collect - indeed, the most of the debts that were due were in the hands of poor people and the times have been difficult.'
       Also indicating that Josiah had re-married after the death of Elizabeth, "I am threatened with suit by the old woman which your father had the misfortune to marry, for her thirds". . .asking that the heirs give a bond to protect him as administrator, as required by law.  "If John relinguishes his share and all the debts can be collected there will be nearly $100 to be divided to each of the sisters."
                  

                   Branford Vital Records
dd., c.r. (at Hartford)
Will of J.4. at Guilford
History of Durham, Connecticut
New England Parish Families, by Roswell Parish, 1840-1932
                  

                   Branford Vital Records
dd., c.r. (at Hartford)
Will of J.4. at Guilford
History of Durham, Connecticut
New England Parish Families, by Roswell Parish, 1840-1932

       Gideon is named as under age in his father's will dated 1748.
                  

                   Branford Vital Records
dd., c.r. (at Hartford)
Will of J.4. at Guilford
History of Durham, Connecticut
New England Parish Families, by Roswell Parish, 1840-1932