The Parkhurst ancestor from whom the family in Gloversville, New York, descend, was of English birth. It is assumed, there being no proof to the contrary, that he was a son or grandson of John Parkhurst, bishop of Norwich, born 1511, died 1574. In Burke's "General Armory" it is stated that in the second year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth the family had a coat-of-arms granted them, and from the same source it appears that the family were seated in Norfolk county, England (London), where in 1635 a Sir Robert Parkhurst was lord mayor, and in Guilford county, Surrey, the name means "Wooded Park," and indicates that the family were "caretakers." The Parkhurst arms are: Shield, silver, cross ermine in each quarter; a brick trippant (walking). Crest: A demi griffin with wings addorsed in black holding in the dexter paw a cutlass in silver with hilt and pommel of gold; ground of shield of all the above purple. Motto: "The Cross our Stay."
(I) George Parkhurst, born in England about 1590, came to America about 1638 or 1640, and settled at Watertown, Massachusetts, where he was living in 1642. He removed to Boston, and is supposed to have died there as there is a record of the administration of his estate. He married (first) in England, Rebecca ————; (second) Susanna Simpson, widow of John Simpson, of Watertown. Children:
- George J., born 1618;
- Joseph, (see forward);
- Benjamin, living in 1698;
- Phebe, married Thomas Arnold;
- Deborah, married John Smith;
- Elizabeth, married (first) Emanuel Hilliard, (second) Joseph Merry;
- Mary, married Joseph Merry.
(II) Joseph, second son of George and Rebecca Parkhurst, was born in England, died in Massachusetts in 1709. He settled in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He married Mary Reed at Concord, Massachusetts, June 26, 1656, and his name appears as one of the proprietors of Chelmsford. Children:
- Mary, born August 10, 1657, married, April 29, 1682, Thomas Blodgett;
- Rebecca, August 14, 1659.
- Joseph (2), (see forward);
- Abigail, March 14, 1664, married, April 14, 1697, Nathaniel Cuming;
- Ebenezer, December 2, 1701, died November 9, 1745.
(III) Joseph (2), eldest son of Joseph (1) and Mary (Reed) Parkhurst, was born at Chelmsford, Massachusetts, January 12, 1661, died at Plainfield, Connecticut, December 11, 1720. He was one of the twenty-four original incorporators of the town of Plainfield, Connecticut, about 1690-95. He married Eunice, born July 27, 1661, died January 19, 1743-44, daughter of John Spalding. Children:
- Timothy, born January 14, 1689, died March 3, 1770, married, January 15, 1717, Elizabeth Cady;
- John, (see forward);
- Eunice, born June 4, 1693, married Thomas Marsh, of Windham;
- Joseph, born August 5, 1695, married (first) Sarah Lawrence, January 1, 1730, (second) August, 1740, Judith Johnson;
- Hannah, died in infancy;
- Hannah (2), born August 25, 1698;
- Samuel, April 25, 1701, died May 22, 1778, married (first) January 21, 1731, Esther Spalding, (second) February 24, 1742, Mary Hutchins;
- Mary, November 18, 1702, married Thomas Pierce.
(IV) John, son of Joseph (2) and Eunice (Spalding) Parkhurst, was born in 1690, died January 10, 1771. He married and had issue:
- Phineas, born April 28, 1716;
- Joseph, June 21, 1721, died November 11, 1815, married, August 12, 1741, Mary Johnson;
- Hannah, July 25, 1724;
- John (2), see forward.
(V) John (2), youngest son of John (1) Parkhurst, was born in Massachusetts, May 13, 1730, died in Montgomery county, New York. He settled in the Mohawk Valley prior to the revolution, and secured a tract of land which he improved and made his permanent home. He married prior to his settlement in the valley, and had children born in Massachusetts. His wife was Phoebe Pierce, whom he married December 18, 1749. Children:
- Simeon, born September 15, 1751, married Polly Briggs;
- Hannah, October 24, 1753, died September 15, 1758;
- Sarah, November 19, 1756, died in 1758;
- Jabez, April 13, 1759, died December 25, 1776, he was a soldier of the revolution, and died at Morristown, New Jersey;
- George William Frederick, December 17, 1761, died unmarried June 9, 1842; Josiah, see forward; Daniel, January 29, 1766, married (first) Anna Bachelder, (second) Mary Woods; Phebe, born June 21, 1768, married Solomon Mann of Vermont;
- Stephen, October 3, 1770.
(VI) Josiah, son of John (2) and Phoebe (Pierce) Parkhurst, was born December 19, 1763, in Massachusetts, died in Montgomery county, New York, 1853, at the great age of ninety years. He came to the Mohawk valley with his parents prior to the revolution, and as a boy witnessed many of the stirring scenes of that period. The battle of Oriskany, where Herkimer fell, was partly fought on his father's farm, and the monument which commemorates that event also marks the location of their home. It stands within sight of the New York Central Railroad, near the village of Oriskany, between Rome and Utica. He married Hannah, daughter of Dr. Asa Tyler, of Rome, New York. The Tylers were from Roxboro, Massachusetts, which was also the home of the Parkhursts. Hannah was about six years old when the revolutionary war commenced, and she saw the famous gathering on Roxboro Hill, before the troops started to go to Bunker Hill. Dr. Tyler moved west at the close of the war. The Parkhursts came to the valley about 1770. Children of Josiah and Hannah (Tyler) Parkhurst:
- Josiah (2), born June 6, 1788, died 1861, married Eunice Henderson;
- Betsey;
- Eliza;
- Rosina, born 1794, died May 29, 1861, married Dexter Howard;
- Asa P., 1796, died October 15, 1872, married, November 1, 1818, Mary Austin;
- Hannah;
- Ralph;
- John;
- Simeon, December 20, 1808, in Oriskany, New York, married, October 9, 1833, Mary Ann Henry;
- Chester, see forward.
(VII) Chester, youngest son of Josiah and Hannah (Tyler) Parkhurst, was born on the homestead farm near Oriskany, Oneida county, New York, in 1812, died 1843. He was educated in the public schools, and reared on the farm where he remained during his minority. His early death occurred in Oneida county. He married, at Oriskany, New York, Eliza Richards, born in Seneca county, 1816, died 1892. Children:
- Albert M., born 1835, died 1854.
- John, born 1837, died 1895.
- Thomas C., born 1839; educated at Mexico and Canandaigua academies and Oberlin College. He enlisted in the Fourth Regiment New York Heavy Artillery as private, was promoted second and first lieutenant, captain and acting assistant adjutant general, staff of General John C. Tidball; received a letter of thanks from Reuben E. Fenton, then governor of New York state, also received the thanks of Congress; was brevetted for gallantry at Five Forks, Virginia, April 2, 1865, and for conspicuous bravery in every engagement in which his regiment participated; after the war he settled in Canandaigua, New York, where he was engaged in the produce business thirty-three years; he served eight years as police judge, now justice of the peace and engaged in the insurance business.
- Maria A., born April 4, 1841.
- Hiram S., of whom further.
(VIII) Hiram S., son of Chester and Eliza (Richards) Parkhurst, was born in 1842, died November 13, 1898. He was an infant when his father died and was reared in the family of Deacon Samuel Smith, of Mexico, New York. He was well educated at the Mexico Academy and Oberlin College, graduating from the latter institution. While yet a minor he enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Regiment New York Cavalry as commissary sergeant, under the name of H. S. Smith. He later enlisted in Company B, Third Regiment New York Cavalry, having been promoted first lieutenant. On his return from the army he settled in Oswego, New York, where he read and studied law under the direction of Judge Whitney. He was admitted to the bar and for several years was a law partner of Judge Churchill, of Oswego. He later settled in Gloversville, New York, where he entered into a law partnership with A. D. L. Baker, continuing with him in successful practice until 1884, when he removed to Chicago, Illinois. In that city he became a member of the law firm of Byam, Parkhurst & Weinschenk, with whom he continued in active practice until his death in 1898. He married, in Gloversville, Amanda C. Smith, born 1848. Children:
- Carroll C., born January 31, 1868;
- Edward, of whom further.
(IX) Edward S., youngest son of Hiram S. and Amanda C. (Smith) Parkhurst, was born in Gloversville, New York, July 7, 1871. He was educated in the public schools, continuing his studies until August 20, 1885, the date of the death of his Grandfather Smith. He succeeded to the business which was conducted for several years under the firm name of D. M. Smith Company. He remained at the head of that firm until 1904, when some changes were made and business continued under the title of E. S. Parkhurst & Company; factory and mill at Gloversville with a New York office in the Wool Exchange building. The company manufacture a line of wool substitutes and are rated one of the prosperous concerns of their city, employing about seventy-five people. Mr. Parkhurst is a director of the City National Bank, vice-president and director of the Gloversville Knitting Company and secretary of the Glen Telephone Company. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and a Republican in politics. He served as alderman of Gloversville and in 1898 was elected mayor of the city. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, belonging to Gloversville Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Johnstown Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Johnstown Council, Royal and Select Masters, Holy Cross Commandery, Knights Templar, and Cyprus Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His club is the Eccentric of Gloversville. He married (first) Lucinda Stanton Berry, born February 4, 1874, died October 4, 1898. He married (second) Marion, born April 18, 1882, only child of Alfred and Lillian Barnard, of New York City. Children of first marriage:
- John R., born September, 1895, died September, 1906;
- Edward S. (2), July 14, 1898.
Child of second marriage:
- Richard Barnard, born February 17, 1907.