John Bland "the Grocer"

John Bland was the son of Adam Bland, Skinner to the Queen, and wife Joane Atkyns. He was born in 1572 in London, England, and died there in 1632. He married Susan Deblere. They had seventeen children. Three of his children - Susan, Edward and Theodorick - emigrated to Virginia.

John Bland was a large-scale merchant and a backer of the Virginia Company. John was quite wealthy from his merchant activities. He was known as John Bland the Grosser, or in Modern English, John the Grocer.

John's father Adam Bland was highly placed in the Skinners' Company, the medieval guild that prepared pelts brought in by hunters and trappers. In 1560 Adam was chosen Skinner to Queen Elizabeth I, a post he held until his death. He was succeeded by his son Peter, who held the position until 1618 when he was named Master Warden. Peter became insane soon after and died. The position of Skinner to the Queen was passed to a son-in-law.

When Peter died, Peter's estate was contested by members of the family. John inherited and immediately wrote his own will, leaving Gregory out. This is evidence of how acrimonious the fight over the estate became.

Children of John Bland the Grocer and wife Susan Deblere:

• Mary Bland (1607 – died after 1652) who married Emmanuel Proby.
• Susan,or Susannah, Bland(1609 – died in Stafford County, VA after 1664) who married Thomas Pearson.
• Thomas Bland (1610-1678), who married: (1) Elizabeth Witham, (2) Anne Jegon, and (3) Katherine Sandys.
• John Bland (1612-1680) who married Sarah Greene.
• Edward Bland (1613-1652) who married Jane Bland, daughter of Edward’s Uncle Gregory Bland. He settled in VA ca 1647.
• Adam Bland (1616-1647) who did not marry.
• Robert Bland (1617-1669) who married Mary Hinton.
• Anne Bland (1619 - ?) who married Stephen Jackson.
• Elizabeth Bland (1620 – died after 1673) who married William Beard.
• William Bland (1622 – died after 1658) who did not marry.
• Hester Bland (1623-1624), who died as a child.
• Richard Bland (1624-1692) who married Jane Lane Pott.
• Rachel Bland (1626-1633), who died as a child.
• Arnold Bland (1627-1634), who died as a child.
• Theodorick Bland(1629-1671), who married Anna Bennett.He was a Speaker in the House of Burgesses. His VA estate was called Westover.