1634. About this year Thomas Parsons was knighted by Charles I. The foregoing engraving represents his arms, still retained in the family in the United States, and by his descendants in London, among whom were Sir John and Sir Humphrey; the former, Lord Mayor of that city in 1704, the latter, in 1731 and 1740. The same coat of arms is also retained by the branch of the Parsons family now long resident in Barbadoes.
Langley in Buckinghamshire was long a seat of a family of the name, but they seem to have abandoned it about the end of the 17th century for a residence in Nottinghamshire. The first of this family whose descendants we can trace appears to have been
Ralph, of Northampton, who had a son
John, who lived at Boveney, Co. Bucks, who had by his wife, dau. of —— Cutler, Esq.,
John of Boveney and Langley, who m. Elisabeth, the sole heiress of Sir John Kidderminster, and had,
1. Charles, b. 1625, d. without issue.
2. William, and three daughters.
This William, the only surviving son, m. Elisabeth, dau. and heiress of Sir Lawrence Parsons, by whom he had two sons; one a Colonel, d. without issue, and John, his successor. William Parsons (the father) was made a baronet by Charles II. for his adherence to the cause of his father, Charles I. He was somewhat conspicuous during the interregnum, as may be inferred from his granting a pass to one of the gentlemen of the privy chamber, to proceed to Ireland. The gentleman, however, having been taken by the parliament officers, was, Carte says, put to the rack, "to make him confess." This circumstance is supposed to have given Butler the ground he has taken in these lines in his Hudibras:
"Rack 'em until they do confess,
Impeach of treason whom they please,
And most perfidiously condemn,