John Parsons was born in 1639 and baptised on 28 August at St Botolph without Aldgate, London. He was the son of John Parsons, a brewer, of East Smithfield, London and his wife, Jane.[1] He married, by 1667, Elizabeth Beane, daughter of Humphrey Beane, a cordwainer of Epsom, Surrey.[2] She was born in 1645 (baptised on 18 December 1645 in St Olave, Southwark). Elizabeth died before 1677, when Parsons married as his second wife, Jane Milward, on 7 February.[3]
Commercial career
Parsons was the owner of the Red Lion Brewery in East Smithfield, a business he inherited from his father. This brewing business in London was popular for its strong stout, known as "Parson's Black Champagne". The brewery exported beer as well as supplying it locally and had the principal export trade in beer to France.[4] Parsons was a joint farmer of excise for Cumberland, county Durham, Northumberland and Westmorland from 1671 to 1674. He was appointed victualler to the navy in 1677 and advanced to Commissioner for victualling the navy in 1683, holding the post until 1689.[1]
In early 1695, Sir John Parsons was listed as a trustee for a scheme to launch "the Royal Academies" using lotteries for admission.[5] Parsons and the other trustees (gentlemen and merchants) were acting as fiduciaries rather than "underwriters" of the project. The project was not successfully launched.
Reigate Place
Parsons purchased the Priory estate in Reigate in 1681 as a home for his large family. He commissioned an impressive staircase with fine parquetry for the house.[6] In 1700, a gallery was erected in the south aisle of St Mary's church, Reigate, especially for Sir John Parsons of Reigate Priory to house his wife, children and very large family. This remained for 150 years and was used by subsequent owners of the Priory until it was removed in about 1845.[citation needed]
Parsons stood again for Reigate and the City of London at the 1705 English general election, but was only returned for Reigate where he was unopposed. He was Prime Warden Fishmongers Company from 1706 to 1708.[8] At the 1708 British general election, he was again returned for Reigate. He was returned again at the 1710 British general election. From 1710 to 1714, he was Colonel of the Red regiment in the City militia.[8] He was returned again in 1713 and 1715.[9]
Death and legacy
Parsons died on 25 January 1717 and was buried in Aldgate. His sons Humphrey by his first wife and Henry by his second wife were both MPs. His son, Humphrey, inherited Reigate Priory, and held the estate until 1741.[12] His daughter Anne (by his second wife) married the barrister John Wainwright, who became a much-loved judge in Ireland, where he died of Famine fever while on assize in 1741.[13]
^Stephen, Sir Leslie, ed.; London, England: Oxford University Press; Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-20, 22; Volume: Vol 15; Page: 402)
^Tilmouth, Michael (1957), "The Royal Academies of 1695", Music and Letters, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 4, October 1957, Pages 327–334, https://doi.org/10.1093/ml/XXXVIII.4.327
^The Buildings of England Surrey by Pevsner Nikolaus 1971
^Guildhall RO, St. Botolph Aldgate par. reg.; PCC 131 Rivers, 112 Penn, 42 Whitfield; Le Neve's Knights (Harl. Soc. viii), 413; Soc. of Genealogists, Boyd's London Units, 5150, 15796; Mar. Lic. (Harl. Soc. xxiv), 170.
