Thomas Blisse

Notes:

Thomas Bliss, Senior and Junior, had house-lots and divisions of land in Hartford Plantation as early as 1640. The senior died in Hartford, leaving nine children, and his widow, Margaret, apparently a woman of resolute, independent character, removed with the younger part of the family to Springfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Thomas Bliss, Junior, is afterwards found at Saybrook, Connecticut Colony where his marriage and the births of six children are recorded. The list is repeated with some variation of date and the addition of two more children, at Norwich, Connecticut Colony. The wife's family name is not given in either place. "Thomas and Elizabeth Bliss were married the latter end of October, 1644." The allotments of Thomas Bliss in Saybrook were eastward of the river in what is now Lyme, Conn. His house-lot of thirty acres lay between John Ompsted (Olmstead) on the north, and John Lay south. He sold it 23 Jul 1662 to John Comstock. His house-lot in Norwich was also near to that of John Olmstead extending originally at the north-west to the pent highway. That part where the house stands has never been alienated. Seven generations have dwelt on the same spot and the house is supposed not to have been entirely rebuilt since it was erected by the first proprietor. Thomas Bliss died 15 Apr 1688. His will, executed two days before his death, was proved at New London, before Edward Palmes, June 13, and allowed by Sir Edmund Andross at Boston ; this being the period when that delegated despot arrogated to himself supreme authority over the courts of New England. The will recognizes wife Elizabeth, son Samuel, and his daughters. His oldest son, Thomas, had died without issue 29 Jan 1681. Ehzabeth, the relict, died 28 Feb 1699/1700.

Thomas married Elizabeth Birchard on 30 Oct 1644 in Saybrook, Fairfield Co, Connecticut Colony. Elizabeth was born about 1622 in England; died on 28 Feb 1699/00 in Norwich, New London Co, Connecticut Colony. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

There is substantial evidence that Thomas Bliss Sr was born in Gloucestershire, South West England and was married twice: firstly to Margaret Snowe and secondly to Margaret Hulings (Hulins, Hulinge). There are entries for these names in the records of the St Nicholas Church of Gloucestershire a church that was not affiliated with the Church of England. Due to religious persecution Thomas (hereafter Thomas Bliss Sr) and his younger brother George and their families embarked about 1635 at Plymouth England for the New World. Upon their arrival at Boston Thomas Sr resided temporarily at Braintree MBC (Massachusetts Bay Colony) whence he removed to Hartford Plantation[*] before 1639. George settled first in the MBC town of Lynn in 1637, then Sandwich in 1638, and finally Newport. Both Thomas Blisse Sr and Thomas Blisse Jr had house-lots and divisions of land in Hartford as early as 1640. The senior died in Hartford leaving nine children and his widow Margaret. Apparently a woman of resolute independent character, she removed with the younger part of her family to Springfield. - History of Norwich. The Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford lists Thomas Bliss (Sr) as a founder of Hartford settling there before February 1640. Other lists of Hartford founders also list Thomas Jr along with his father. [*]The first English settlers arrived in 1635. Pastor Thomas Hooker and Governor John Haynes led 100 settlers with 130 head of cattle in a trek from Newtown (now Cambridge, Massachusetts) in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and started their settlement just north of a Dutch fort (set up as early as 1623; abandoned 1654). The settlement was originally called Newtown, but was changed to Hartford in 1637 to honor the English town of Hertford. - Wikipedia
From: NEXUS, Vol viii, No 6, New England Historic Genealogical Society, pub Dec 1991: Thomas Blisse Sr d. apparently so suddenly, Hartford, Conn., late 1650 or early 1651, that he had no chance to leave a written will, merely telling Margaret and dau Mary that he left all his estate to her and nothing to his ch. (testimony of dau. Mary (BLISS) PARSONS, Hartford. (Probate Rec., Vol. 11:28, 14 Feb. 1650/1; nuncupative will of Thomas Bliss Hartford - Court Records, 20 Feb. 1650/1).
Thomas Bliss and Margaret Hulings have a Mormon posterity of approximately 270,000 and an American posterity of approximately 18 million placing them in the top seven largest families in America. (Mormon Pioneer Genealogy Library Acquired by NEHGS; Michel L. Call and Gary Boyd Roberts; Published Date: June 1985)

Thomas married Margaret Snowe on 14 Apr 1616 in Gloucestershire, England. Margaret was buried on 4 Jun 1621 in St Nicholas Church, Gloucestershire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]