From: http://home.mindspring.com/~cannicello/_wsn/page2.html

PARSONS, William (Captain)
“He was born in Hardy County September 25, 1760 the first son of Thomas and Mary Rennick Parsons; died  September 10, 1829 and his will is filed in Randolph County. Settled in Randolph (now Tucker) County in pioneer days and built a home on Horseshoe Run. He is buried in Bethel Cemetery, Tucker County.

Cadet. Sixth Virginia, March 25, 1776; coronet, Third Continental Dragoons, February 6, 1777; taken prisoner at Tappan, September 27, 1778; lieutenant January 1, 1778, captain, November 1779; retained in Baylor’s Consolidated Regiment of Dragoons November 9, 1782, and served to end of war. Land bounty was received by Parsons for his military service

From: http://www.cfhg.org/allied/parsons/

William Parsons, first son of Thomas and Mary Rennick Parsons, was born in Hardy County, Virginia. He enlisted in the Revolutionary Army on the 6th day of February, 1777, in the 3rd Regiment, Light Dragoons, Continental troops; he was commissioned Lieutenant Nov. 1, 1777; then commissioned Captain, after the battle of Eutaw, South Carolina, by order of the War Department, and served under this commission for the balance of the war.

In recognition of his services he was allotted three hundred acres of land and six hundred dollars.  When he returned from the army, he was married and settled on the upper portion of his fathers plantation, later he moved with his wife and five children to Randolph County, Virginia, upon the land pre-empted by his father, Thomas Parsons Jr. At this time there was only a trail across the Alleghany Mountains to Fairfax Stone down Horse Shoe Run to where he expected to locate. Imagine what an undertaking it must have been to reach this land in the wilderness with all their household goods in a two wheeled cart. The women and children were on horseback with babies in their laps. He built a log cabin and made a comfortable home for his family. Later he built a brick house, perhaps the first brick house in the County at that time. In those days it was considered a mansion, and today it stands as one of the old landmarks.

He was a firm believer in education and together with his three brothers he employed a private tutor and gave his children a practical education. He was appointed County Judge and every one who came under his jurisdiction were satisfied with the verdict. He would often bring the disputing parties together, and settle the matter out of court.

He and all of his family were Episcopalians, but in the absence of his denomination at his new home, he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and was one of the most prominent members of the Bethel Church, and he was one of the first to donate toward the building of the first church.

He was noted for his generosity and his hospitality, the early circuit rider was sure of a hearty welcome whenever he made his way to this home. He gave two orphan children a home and a father's care until they arrived at years of maturity.

His faithful wife lived many years after he passed away and the negroes cared for her tenderly. She died at the home of her daughter, near Beverly, Virginia, loved and respected by all who knew her.

WILLIAM PARSONS' WILL.

In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, January 11th, I, William Parsons of Randolph County, and State of Virginia, in the presence of Almighty God and in my proper senses, do hereby make my last will and testament, after bequeathing my body to the dust and my soul to God that gave it, I bequeath my property in the following manner, namely: to Job Parsons, my eldest son, I bequeath this tract of land he now lives on; to Solomon, my second son, I bequeath my home place, that is the tract of land I now live on, except one third of said place which I bequeath to Catherine Parsons, my wife, so long as she lives, to be surveyed off the lower end so as to embrace the house.

To my daughters Elizabeth Taggart, Mary Taggart, Hannah Parsons, Nancy Daniels, Anis Milly and Malinda Parsons I bequeath one thousand dollars each with what I have paid and I may pay against my death to each, to be taken out of said sums, and the balance to be paid after my death. To my three eldest daughters above named I also bequeath a bed and reasonable clothing for said beds apiece, the rest of the household estate to be divided equally amongst the six daughters above named, except my desk I bequeath to Malinda at the appraisement as a part of her thousand, said bequeath not to take place until after the death of my wife. As to the rest of my movable property, I bequeath it in the following manner to be appraised by three disinterested appraisers to be given to my six daughters, (except the wagon Solomon is to have at the appraisement if he desires it) above named as a part of the thousand dollars I have bequeathed them; provided, nevertheless, if my daughters refuse to take the said property at the appraisement, then the property shall be put up for sale and any of my children may bid it off, and the property of said sale may be applied to paying said daughters their bequeath; provided, nevertheless, that said moveable property shall amount to more than the thousand dollars bequeathed to each of my six daughters, the said remaining property shall be divided equally amongst said six daughters above named.

N. B. I reserve one horse and three cows out of my movable property for Catherine my wife during her lifetime, and then to be disposed of at her death as above directed.

I further direct my administrators to prepare said property and appoint the time for division as soon as convenient.

6th--I bequeath the Island place or tract of land lying a little below my home place to Solomon Parsons, my second son. I also bequeath him a small tract of land against his place on the west side of Shavers Fork, or on the lower end of the place he now lives on.

7th--I further direct that Job Parsons and Solomon Parsons, my sons be appointed as administrators.

8th--I further bequeath my blacks, Titus to live with Catherine my wife and Solomon my son as long as he lives, and that he may be supported, as he is old. Buck, a negro man, and Emily, a negro woman, to live and labor for Catherine Parsons my wife as long as she lives, and at her death if Job and Solomon Parsons, my administrators, think they have not by their labor paid for what I gave for them they are to hire them out until they have paid for what I gave for them. If said Buck and Emily should have children they are to go free with them, and the profits of said hire to be equally divided and paid over to my six daughters above named, over and above the thousand dollars I bequeathed to each of them, and if after said Buck and Emily have paid for their price I paid, they and their children are to go free. I further direct that Solomon, my son, keep them and pay the hire if they have to be hired, and if he does not want to do so to hire them in the family if possible.

N. B. Nevertheless, if there should be on hand at my decease a stock of drove cattle, they are to be fatted and sold to the best advantage by the executors. I further bequeath that Solomon and Job Parsons shall have, or my administrators, one year from the time of entering as administrators to commence the payment bequeathed to my daughters, they shall then pay $500.00 per year until all be paid. In witness whereof, I have set my hand and seal this 17th day of January, 1828.

William Parsons, (SEAL.)
Isaac Reynolds, Idonigah Ward, William R. Parsons, Witnesses.