. THOMAS BLISS, b. 1580-5; d. 1650; m. Margaret Lawrence
1612-15; was an early, though not original settler of Hartford, of
whose coming from England nothing is known. His first residence
was in that part of Boston called the mount, afterwards Braintree,
now Quincy. In 1639 or 40 he is first mentioned in Connecticut
at the same time with his son II. Thomas, Jr., who may be the freeman
of May 18, 1642 in Massachusetts, there left by his father, whose death
is early heard of, though the exact date is not given. Both Thomas Bliss
Senior and Junior had houses, 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,
removed with all her children, except Thomas, Jr. and Ann, to
Springfield.

One Branch of the Booth Family, page 95 & 96

BLISS.

Thomas Bliss came from Northamptonshire1, Eng., in 1635.
After a short stay at Mount Wollaston (Braintree), he was
one of the original proprietors at Hartford in 1636.
He was b. 1580 to 1585. d. 1640 in Hartford2.
m. Margaret Lawrence, 1612 to 1615.
b. 1594. d. Aug. 28, 1684, in Springfield.
Children:
I. ANN, b. in Eng.
II. THOMAS2, b. in Eng.
III. Mary, b. in Eng. d. Jany. 29, 1712.
m. Cornet Joseph Parsons, Nov. 26, 1646, in Hartford.
b. about 1619. d. Oct. 9, 1683, in Springfield.
Cornet Joseph Parsons was one of the earliest settlers in Springfield, his name appearing in the deed dated July 15, 1636, when the land was purchased from the Indians. Nothing is known of his place of residence for the next nine years, for he is not mentioned again until 1645. After his marriage in Hartford the following year, he had three children born, which are not recorded in Springfield, and he probably did not return there until 1650. He went to Northampton about 1655, but came back to Springfield in 1679. He was Selectman 1652 and 1682. His military title dates from 1678, following the Indian disturbances in the Connecticut Valley. Philip Smith was appointed "Lieutenant to the troop of horse of Hampshire County under the command of Major John Pynchon, and Joseph Parsons to be Cornet of said troop."

In connection with Pynchon he was an extensive fur trader with the Indians, and his estate of ?2,088 was the largest that had been probated up to that time in Hampshire County. Benjamin Parsons, who married Sarah Vore, was his brother.

IV. Nathaniel, b. in Eng. d. Nov. 18, 1654.
m. Catherine Chapin, Nov. 20, 1646.
b. d. Feby. 4, 1712.
she m. second, Thomas Gilbert, June 30, 1655.
b. d. June 5, 1662.
she m. third, Samuel Marshfield, Dec. 28, 1664.
b. in Eng. about 1626. d. May 8, 1692.
Nathaniel Bliss's daughter Margaret, born Nov. 12, 1649, married Quartermaster Nathaniel3 Foote, May 2, 1672.

V. Lawrence, b. in Eng3. d. 1676.
m. Lydia Wright (Dea. Samuel), Oct. 25, 1654.
b. d. Feby. 13, 1699.
she m. second, John Norton, Oct. 31, 1678.
b. d. Aug. 24, 1687.
she m. third, John Lamb, Jany. 27, 1688.
she m. fourth, Quartermaster George Colton, March 1, 1692.

VI. Samuel, b. in Eng. 1624. d. March 23, 1720.
m. Mary Leonard (John1), Nov. 10, 1665.
b. Sept. 14, 1647. d. Jany. 1, 1724.
He was Selectman 1685, 1692, 1699.
VII. Sarah, b. in Mt. Wollaston, about 1636. d. Sept. 27, 1705.
m. John Scott, July 20, 1659.
b. d. Jany. 2, 1690, in Suffield.
she m. second, Samuel Terry, Nov. 19, 1690.
b. d. 1731, in Enfield.
she was Samuel Terry's second wife.
VIII. Elizabeth, b. about 1637. d.
m. Miles Morgan, Feby. 15, 1670.
b. 1615 in Wales. d. May 28, 1699.
He m. first, Prudence Gilbert, of Beverly, at Salem, in 1643; she died Jany. 14, 1660.

Miles Morgan was Selectman 1655, 1657, 1660, 1662 and 1668. Constable 1663.

IX. Hannah, b. about 1639, in Hartford.
d. unmarried, Jany. 25, 1660.
X. John, b. 1640, in Hartford4. d. Sept. 10, 1702.
m. Patience Burt (Henry1), Oct. 7, 1667.
b. Aug. 18, 1645. d. Oct. 25, 1732.
He lived several years in Northampton, but returned to Springfield and resided in that part of the town now within the limits of Longmeadow.
_________________________________________

2 Although Thomas Bliss is supposed to have died in Hartford, in 1640, his Will was not probated until Feby. 20, 1651((NOT DEATH< BUT PROBATE DATE)), and the inventory of his personal estate which was presented to the Court at the same time was made only six days before. As the Will was a nuncupative one, his daughter Sarah being the only witness,
there is some reason for belief that he did not die until 1651. His wife, Margaret, whether she was a widow at the time or not, certainly came to Springfield with her family in 1646. See Manwaring's Digest of Hartford Probate Records, Vol. 1, page
98; Centennial Celebration of Longmeadow, page 186; Burt's First Century of Springfield,
Vol. 1, page 43; Vol. 2, page 531. Her home lot was on what is now generally
termed South Main Street, between the present Fremont and Margaret Streets. It
is evident that she was a woman of superior abilities, unusual capacity for business
affairs, and more than ordinary force of character. _____________________________________________________________________

Seven Hundred Ancestors, page 15 & 16
Chapter VI

BLISS

The Bliss immigrant in our family was Thomas Bliss of Belstone parish, Devonshire, England. He was born between 1580 and Margaret Lawrence was born in 1594 and baptized July 15, 1595. Her father was Anthony Lawrence of Olveshirk, England and her mother, Margaret Eng, was born about 1557 and burial was April 6, 1621.

The father of Thomas Bliss, the immigrant, was named Thomas and he was born about 1562 in Belstone. We have unsupported evidence that the grandfather was named William, born about 1530, and that the greatgrandfather and great great grandfather were both named Richard.

Thomas Bliss the elder was a wealthy land owner but he belonged to the class who were stigmatized as Puritans. He was persecuted, impoverished, imprisoned and finally ruined in health by the many hardships forced upon him by the intolerant church party in power. The date of his death was about 1617. His children were:

1. Jonathan, b. 1575 to 1580; d. 1635/6.
2. Thomas, b. 1580 to 1585.
3. Elizabeth, m. Sir John Calcliffe.
4. George, b. 1591, d. Aug.31, 1667.
5. Mary (or Polly).

Thomas and Margaret Bliss, the immigrants, because of religious persecutions, were compelled to leave England in the fall of 1635. With his brother George and their families they arrived at Boston and Thomas located temporarily at Braintree, Mass. Later he moved to Hartford, Conn. and was one of the founders of Hartford. Thomas died there in 1640 and Margaret died at Springfield, Mass. on Aug.28, 1684. Their children were:

1. Ann, b. England; d. Nov.29, 1685.
2. Mary, b. England; d. Jan.29, 1712.
3. Thomas, b. England; d. Apr.15, 1688.
4. Nathaniel, b. England; d. Nov.8, 1654.
5. Lawrence, b. England; d. 1676.
6. Samuel, b. England in 1624; d. Mar.23, 1720.
7. Sarah, b. Boston, 1635; d. Sept.27, 1705.
8. Elizabeth, b. Boston about 1637.
9. Hannah, b. Hartford, Conn. 1639.
10.John, b . Hartford 1640; d. Sept.10, 1702.


Mary Bliss was born in 1620 at Belstone, Devonshire, England and she died at Springfield, Mass. on Jan.29, 1712. She was married to Joseph Parsons on Nov.26, 1646. See the Parsons Lineage.

Bibliography
The Bliss Genealogy by Col.John H. Bliss.
Bingham and Phelph Family Ancestors - Arizona Capitol Library

• Married: 18 OCT 1621 in St. Nicholas, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, Canterbury, England ¹

1. Ann BLISS b: ABT 1620 in Belstone, Devonshire, England
2. Nathaniel BLISS b: ABT 1623 in Rodborough, Gloucestershire, England
3. Lawrence BLISS b: ABT 1623 in Belstone, Devonshire, England
4. Samuel BLISS b: ABT 1624 in Belstone, Devonshire, England
5. Hester BLISS b: ABT 1627 in Belstone, Devonshire, England
6. Mary BLISS b: ABT 1628 in Gloucestershire, Canterbury Province, England
7. Thomas III BLISS b: ABT 1628 in Belstone, Devonshire, England
8. Sarah BLISS b: ABT 1635 in Braintree, Norfolk, MA
9. Elizabeth BLISS b: ABT 1637 in Braintree, Norfolk, MA
10. Hannah BLISS b: ABT 1639 in Braintree, Norfolk, MA
11. John BLISS b: 1640 in Hartford, Hartford, CT

1. Title: GEDCOM File : prettykitty.ged
   Abbrev: GEDCOM File : prettykitty.ged
   Text: Cooley tree, Azariah, b 1798 back to Benj Cooley, 1614. From Jackie Drybread tree,
   Date: 12 AUG 2002