Richard Parsons 1641/2-1711

Richard PARSONS 1641/2-1711

Biographical Note

Born at Birchanger, Essex, son of William Parsons, rector there. Fellow of New College, Oxford 1659, BCL 1665, DCL 1687. Vicar of Driffield, Gloucestershire 1674, Chancellor of the diocese of Gloucester 1677. He acquired a reputation both for corruption, and for the ruthless (and sometimes violent) suppression of religious dissent.

Books

Parsons is listed in Edward Bernard's Catalogi manuscriptorum, 1697, as owning 7 manuscripts. He was an active antiquary and his extensive collections of notes on the history of the cathedral and county of Gloucester were used by other writers. The extent of his library is not known. Examples: Fisher Library, Toronto E10/224.

Characteristic Markings

The book in the Fisher Library is inscribed on the flyleaf with his name, "Gloucester", and the date of acquisition (1670).

Sources

• Eward, Suzanne. "Parsons, Richard (1641/2–1711), ecclesiastical judge and antiquary." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.