With the departure
of Sir William Napier in 1841 to Bath, there is little information as to who was
renting Freshford Manor from Maria Joyce. The 1851 Census shows Anne Parsons and
her family living there and Good rich in his History of Freshford shows Rev. Henry
Parsons writing from this house in 1850. He goes on to talk about him having a
son who was a Curate at St. Mary`s, Limpley Stoke. The records show Henry Parsons
as Curate at this church in 1846. It would seem that Henry resided from this year
until 1850 when he became Rector of Sandhurst until his death in 1878. Henry was
born in 1798 to Rev. Joseph Parsons of Peterborough, Northamptonshire He went
to Balliol College, Oxford where he matriculated in 1816 at the age of 18.he went
on to take his B.A. in 1820 and M.A. in 1823. From 1833 until 1846 he is a Curate
at Upton St. Leonards near Gloucester. He no doubt went on to be curate at St.
Mary`s Church whilst living at Freshford Manor(House). His son John Tournay Parsons
is also recorded as Curate in this Parish in 1849. But the following year he is
vicar of Much Dewchurch in Hereford, which he remains until his death in 1878.
After his time in Freshford Henry Parsons went on to become Rector of Sandhurst,
near Gloucester in 1850. This would explain the letter he wrote to the co-trustees
of the village school in the same year about his imminent departure. For a while
his wife and 4 daughters remain in the village, for they are shown in the 1851
Census at Freshford House (Manor) with their Servant, Housemaid, Cook and Butler.
1851 Census for Freshford: Anne Parsons (aged 55), Louise Catherine Parsons (aged
29), Caroline Parsons (aged 28)Jane Parsons(aged 22), Laura Parsons (aged 21).
Matilda Green (servant), Elizabeth Marshman (Housemaid), Sarah Stukey (Cook),
Henry Green (Butler). Goodrich records Henry as being a pioneer in building the
village school during his occupancy of Freshford House. This would normally have
been initiated by the village rector who at the time would have been William Boyle,
but there was a group of villagers who were unhappy with this gentleman and went
to the neighbouring Church of St. Mary's in Limpley Stoke where Henry's son was
Curate. No doubt Henry and his son were instrumental in combining the Chapelry
of Limpley Stoke with that of nearby Winsley and separating it from Bradford-on-Avon
in 1847. Henry was related to John Parsons who was a contemporary of his father
(his sister Elizabeth may have married her cousin in 1798). John Parsons (1761-1819)
was Master of Balliol College from 1798 until his death, and was vice Chancellor
of Oxford University from 1807 to 1810. He was very successful at his work and
was instrumental in reviving the fortunes of the University with improvements
to its examining system. In 1810 he was appointed Dean of Bristol, and in 1813
was raised to the Bishopric of Peterborough. It is interesting to see our Henry
Parson's father becoming Prependary of Peterborough three years later after leaving
Oxford. Henry's short time in Freshford appears to have been productive both to
the churches and school and he obviously had his own income to be able to rent
Freshford House (Manor) and employ a servant, housemaid, cook and butler