Silas Parsons of Swanzey, New Hampshire.

Silas Parsons (1773-1859) of Swanzey, New Hampshire. Silas is the son of Aaron Parsons and Damaris (Whitcomb) Parsons. He was born in Swanzey on May 29, 1773, and died there on March 15, 1859. Silas married Patience Haskins (Hoskins), the daughter of Silas Haskins of New Salem, Massachusetts, on March 25, 1806. She died on February 1, 1865. Together, they had four children. Silas jr. was born in 1809, Damaris was born in 1812 and died in 1815 at the age of three, a second Damaris was born in 1817, and Patience was born in 1820. It appears that Silas prospered financially. He is credited with donating approximately $20,000 to home and foreign missionaries.

Silas is a celebrated clockmaker. A small number of New England case styles have been found and documented. They include tall case clocks, Massachusetts shelf clocks, and a dwarf clock. A Massachusetts Shelf clock is now in possession of the Henry Ford museum. It is reported that he made three musical tall clocks as wedding gifts for his three daughters. These played waits on weekdays and hymns on Sunday. One of these clocks is signed on the inside of the case by the cabinetmaker. This inscription reads, "Made by Samuel (?) Sweeny 1811." So far, all of the tall clock cases I have seen are very similar in design and form. It is logical to assume that Sweeny was Parsons's go-to cabinetmaker.

The town of Swanzey is composed of a group of hamlets just South of Keene: Swanzey Center, North Swanzey, West Swanzey, and East Swanzey. Parsons lived in West Swanzey. His home still stands. The date of 1775 is cut into the chimney. Unfortunately, his workshop is now gone.