The papers of John Parsons, Solicitor, of Kemerton including his family papers.

This collection relates in the main to the family and solicitor's practice of John Parsons of Kemerton. The family were related to the Hoptons of Canon Frome (Herefordshire) by the marriage of John's father to Deborah Hopton in 1730. Richard Cope Hopton, who died without heirs in 1810, devised Canon Frome Court to his cousin the. Rev. William Parsons of Kemerton, who assumed the name and arms of Hopton in 1817.

Deeds of four other families appear here:-

(1) D214/T21-31: TWYSELL OF King's Stanley, 1222/8-1635. Property in King's Stanley, Standish and Framilode. There are three possible explanations for their presence.

(a) John Parsons clerkship with King's Stanley solicitors,

(b) A connection with the Earl of Hardwicke's estate.

(c) Acquired by the Surman family (cf. D214/T71).

(2) D214/T38-50: BARSTON of Redmarley d'Abitot, c. 1300-1730. Property in Redmarley and Bromsberrow (Worcs.) The estate was divided among heiresses in 1720. No explanation for its presence here, except in connection with the solicitor's practice.

(3) D214/T13, F4: BAUGH of Twining, 1669-1695. Manor of Coles Farm, property in Ashchurch and Tredington. Due to the marriage of John Parsons (c. 1651-1722) and Elizabeth Baugh in 1682.

(4) D214/T1-12, 14, 18, 71, 86; F1/1, F7.

Deeds and Papers deposited by Miss Hopton of Clyro, Radnorshire

Deeds and papers deposited by Mrs. Hopton of Clyro, Radnorshire, (part of a group of family records deposited at Hereford City Library).

Deeds and papers deposited by Mrs. Hopton of Clyro, Radnorshire, (part of a group of family records deposited at Hereford City Library).

John Parsons had bought the manor of Lower Court, Kemerton by 1616, and in the course of the 17th century other lands in the parish were bought from the Fermor family. [D214/T32-37]. The most interesting part of this collection is the family and professional correspondence of John Parsons, attorney of Kemerton and Tewkesbury, c. 1760-1805. [D214/F1, B1]. In 1749 he was articled to John Turner and Thomas Jones, solicitors of King's Stanley, for 5 years. Both were dead by 1753 and he served the remainder of his clerkship with William Lane also of King's Stanley [D214/B6] J.P.'s sacrement certificate is dated 10 Apr. 1748 [Q/ROS 4]. A file of draft deeds, 1708 [D214/B9] and deeds and papers relating to a forgery case at Avening, 1724 [D214/B7] were presumably taken over by Parsons from his predecessors. The series of estate accounts of the Earl of Hardwicke's estate at Hardwicke and Haresfield, 1726-1750 [D214/E9-20, 22] may also have originated from the solicitor's office, but are more likely to have come to the Hopton family direct, since the wife of the Rev. Cope Hopton was administratix of William Andrews, Lord Hardwicke's steward, who died in 1749 [D214/E14].