Peter Blinn, I

Probably Not Born in Stepney, England.

• There's no sourced certainty for his birthplace, though records seem to indicate birth in Wethersfield. A search of Stepney records on FamilySearch for Blinn or Blynn in Stepney, Middlesex, England brings up one record—a Cheshire (not county Middlesex) marriage—clearly not a known surname in the county in the 17th century.
• The parish for Wethersfield was Stepney Parish, which church was then located in what's now Rocky Hill, a south-bordering town to Wethersfield.
  • Source: Adams, Sherman W. 1886. “Chapter XXVI. Rocky Hill.” In The Memorial History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, edited by J. Hammond Trumbull, 2:267–76. Boston: Edward L. Osgood. Available at: Ancestry.com:—
    • “At its May session, 1722, the General Assembly incorporated the parish, and fixed its bounds substantially as follows: Connecticut River and Beaver Brook on the east; a line due east and west from Samuel Dix’s (now Russell Adams’s) corner to the rear of PETER BLINN’S home-lot, north; the rear of the lots on the west side of the main road to Middletown, west, in part; and partly by the west ends of the three southernmost east-and-west tiers of lots; south by Middletown. Upon the application of Joseph Grimes, Jonathan Curtis, and Benjamin Wright, a committee to select a site for a meetinghouse was chosen at the same session. In May, 1723, the new parish was christened Lexington, in honor, as the writer believes, of Joseph Grimes, who was probably a native of Lexington, Mass. However, this name was, at the very same session, dropped: (Grimes himself being one of those who requested the change), and that of Stepney substituted therefor. The reason assigned was, that another Lexington existed in Massachusetts.
    • "Why Stepney, the name of a borough now in the Tower Hamlets in the east suburb of London, was the name finally chosen, the writer has never heard suggested. It was anciently written Stibenhede, or Steben-hythe, and meant, as is conjectured, a stowage-haven.
    • "Stepney parish was enlarged in 1759 by the extension of its east line to the river and its north line to the New Haven road. On the west it was made to include a part of Kensington parish. In 1794 Stepney contributed some of its territory to Worthington parish, which had been created in 1772. Minor changes were effected in 1823,1829, and 1847, which we cannot detail here. In 1826 the legislature substituted the name Rocky Hill for Stepney.

Book

• Stiles, Henry R. 2009. Families of Ancient Wethersfield Connecticut; Consisting of the History of Ancient Withersfield, Comprising the Present Towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington; and of Glastonbury Prior to Its Incorporation in 1693, from Date of Earliest Settlement Until the Present Time, with Extensive Genealogies and Genealogical Notes on Their Families. Westminster, Maryland, USA: Heritage Books. Available at: Google Books.
  • BLINN, (Blin, Blen, Blynn), of French (prob. Huguenot) origin; largely a Stepney parish family.
  • PETER, first of the name in Weth., m, Johanna ———; he is said to have been a joiner. See Chapter VII, Vol. I, this Hist.
    • His will (Htfd. Co. Prob. Rec.) here given, gives his wid. name as Mary, prob. a second wife, and that he had (prob. by her) four other sons, whose names are not given in Weth. Rec., viz.: Peter, James, Jonathan and Deliverance. PETER BLYNN.
    • Invt. £79-00-01, taken 18 Mch., 1724-5, by David William Warner, Richard Montague. Will dated 2 March, 1724-5, “age 84 years being in health of Body,” I give to my wife (Mary Blynn) to my son Peter Blynn, to James, to Williams, to my daughter Mary Hurlbut, to my gr. son Daniel son on my son Daniel Blynn, to my son Jonathan to Deliverance Blynn, to my dau. Margaret Belding. I give my silver headed cane to my gr. son George Blynn, son of my son Deliverence Blynn. My son Deliverence to be Executor. — PETER BLYNN, O
    • Witness: David Goodrich David Williams Christopher Graham.
    • Proven: 4 May, 1725.
  • CHILDREN (Weth. Rec.): — [Note: Invalid Birth Order. Author mentions no second wife above, though Peter may've married again after Johanna Mary died in 1716.]
    • 1. William, b. 1 July, 1675. FAM. 2
    • 2. Mary, b. 2 Dec., 1677; m. —— Hurlbut.
    • 3. Daniel, b. 2 Mch., 1679.
    • 4. Margaret, b. 10 Mch., 1681; m. —— Belden.
  • (By second marriage): [ <— Untrue to Children's Birth Order & Dates. ]
    • 5. Peter.
    • 6. James
    • 7. Jonathan. FAM 3.
    • 8. Deliverance. FAM 4.
• FAM. 2.
  • WILLIAM, (Peter,), b. 1675—see Chapter VII, Vol. I, this Hist.; m. Anna (dau. John) Coltman (dec’d), 13 Nov., 1701, she d. 17 Oct., 1724, in 45th yr.—Weth. Rec.; he m. (2) Thankful (dau. John) Nott, 22 Dec., 1725.
  • Children (Weth. Rec.; bp Mia MS.):
    • 1. Daniel: b. 27 Dec., 1703; bp. Jan., 1703-4. FAM. 5
    • 2. Mary, b. 18 Mch., 1705-6.
    • 3. William, b. 29, bp. 31 July, 1709. FAM. 6.
    • 4. Anna, b. 4 Feb., 1712-3.
    • 5. Peter, b. 4 Feb., 1712-3. FAM. 7.
      • (Twins. bp. 8 Feb., 1712-3.)
    • 6. Ephraim, b. 21, bp, 29 Jan., 1715-16. Ephraim Blinn, of Farmington, May 13, 1768, and Lenox, Sept. 23, 1781; also records lands in Berkshire Co. records.—Conn. Mag., Vol. II, p. 289.
    • 7. Thankful, b. 9 Aug., 1720 ; d. 25 Oct., 1724. Weth. Ins.
    • 8. Gershom, b. 18 Sept., 1726. FAM. 8.
    • 9. Thankful, b. 24, bp. 30 Nov., 1729.
    • 10. Patience, b. 16, bp. 20 May, 1732.
    • 11. Samuel, b. 12 Apl., 1735. FAM. 9.
    • 12, Abraham, b. 2 Feb., 1788; d. 28 Mch., 1735.
    • 13. Blizabeth, b. 7 Apl., 1741.
• FAM. 3.
  • JONATHAN? (Peter), b, ———————; m. 9 Dec., 1708, Hannah (dau. Wm.) Clark; she d. 11 Sept., 1713; he m. (2) Abigail Nott, 26 June, 1740.—See, also, Chapter VII, Vol. I.
  • CHILDREN (Weth. Rec.):
    • 1. Jonathan, b. L (bp. 7, Mix.) Oct. 1711. FAM 10.
    • 2. Lucy, b. 2 (bp. 6, Mix.) Sept., 1713.
• FAM 4.
  • Mr. DELIVERANCE,2 (Peter), b. ——————; m. 5 Feb., 1713, Mary Stillman, who d. 30 June, 1735, ae, 46— Weth. Insr.; he d. 3 Nov., 1736, in 48th yr. Est. £600; invent. taken 1 Dec., 1736; Ct. Rec. 4 Jan., 1736-7; adm. gr. to Benj. Stillman. Ree. £800, with John Stillman.—Htfd. Co. Prob. Rec. He was licensed as a taverner, Nov., 1725; Feb., 1727; and in Nov., 1722, sold liquor; also, again in Feb., 1734.—Co. Ct. Rec.
  • CHILDREN
    • 1. Martha, b. 17 (bp. 19, Mix.) Feb., 1715-16; poss. the M., wife of Philip Mortimer, rope maker, of Boston, 1743.—S. W. A.
    • 2. Mary, b. 28 Sept., 1718.
    • 3. Rebecca, b. 10 Sept., 1721.
    • 4. George, b. Nov., 1724; in Apl., 1739, he chose his uncle, Nathan'l Stillman, as his guardian, See, also, his father’s will.

Book

• American Historical Company Advisory Board. 1923. American Biography: A New Cyclopedia, Vol. 4. New York: The American Historical Society. Available at: Ancestry.com:—
  • “(I) Peter Blinn, first of the name in Wethersfield, married Johanna ——; he is said to have been a joiner; he was chosen collector in 1692, drew land in the allotment of 1694, was fence-viewer in 1708-09, and later an attorney of considerable prominence. In 1682, he signed a petition with others asking to be allowed to establish a plantation in the Indian county. He married (second) Mary, born 1640 in London, England, (see Stepney Parish, London and Wethersfield) and died March 7, 1724/25 aged eighty-five, at Wethersfield. To this marriage were born four sons: Peter, James, Jonathan, Deliverance, born 1688. He married Mary Still man, February 5, 1713, and died November 3, 1736.”

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Wikitree: Peter Blinn (abt. 1641–1724)

• Peter Blinn was born about 1641 and died at Wethersfield March 7, 1724/5 in his 85th year.[1]
• Peter was born about 1649.[2]
• He was first recorded in W. in April 1679, but the record he had purchased land earlier. He probably came to W. between 1673 and 1675 with his first wife and two older sons.
• He married first Johanna ____, mother of four of his children recorded at Wethersfield btw 1675-1681.
• He married second after 19 Apr 1716 Mary Hollister, widow of Walter Harris. She was born about 1678, daughter of Lt. Thomas2 Hollister, son of John1 Hollister, and John's first wife, Elizabeth Lattimer. She had married first, before 1701, as his second wife, Walter Harris, who died in 1715, after which she married Peter Blinn who was 30 years or more her senior.[3]
• With the exception of immigrants after 1800, all people with the last name Blin or Blinn are descendants of Peter Blin. His original spelling of it was Blin; sometimes documents give his first name at Petter.
• He was a cabinetmaker, as revealed in an account book kept by Gershom Bulkeley, and apparently "responsible for the uniique Connecticut or Sunflower chests made in the Wethersfield area ca. 1670-1715."[4]
• In 1682 Peter was one of several people who signed a petition to establish a plantation in Indian country. Peter was a collector for Wethersfield. He drew land in an allotment in 1694. From 1708 to 109 he was a fence viewer.
• His will was dated 2 March 1724/5; named four children recorded at Wethersfield and four more -- Peter, James, (born before the others), and Jonathan and Deliverance. His wife Mary received one third of his movable estate; his son Peter received his "wareing aperal" and joiner tools; some children one shilling and others 5 shillings; Margaret two thirds of his moveable estate except his silver headed cane which went to his grandson George Blin, son of Deliverance. His list of belongings is quite long.
• Peter acted as an attorney in several situations for Abraham Tourtellat, a recent immigrant from France, and Nicholas Ayrault, a physician to some Huguenots in Rhode Island. This would indicate that Peter also spoke French. Peter took John and Lazarus Hollister to court several times for the people he was helping to be paid money owed to them. In one case, Lazarus didn't show up in court 3 times.

Children

• First two by his first wife possibly Johanna who was Peter's known wife in 1675; Johanna was recorded mother of children 3-6, possibly mother of 7-8:[5]

1. Peter, b abt 1670; m Hannah (Crampton?)
2. James, by abt 1673; m Margaret Dennison
3. William, b Wethersfield 1 Jul 1675; m1 Anna Coultman; m2 Thankful Nott
4. Mary, b W. 2 Dec 1677; m there 9 Jul 1699 Nathan Hurlbut, b there 4 Oct 1670, son of Samuel. 10 children btw 1700-1720
5. Daniel b W. 2 Mar 1679; d bef 5 Dec 1720; m at Boston 18 Nov 1707 Mercy (also Mary) East, dau of Samuel East and Mercy Woodward of Boston; neither of these two have profiles on wikitree (as of 16 Nov 2014); so their details are included here:[6] Daniel was a mariner. He died intestate; admin given to his widow 5 Dec 1720. One child Daneil, b 9 Oct 1709; mentioned as grandson in Peter1 Blinn's will at Westhersfield in 1724/5; probably the Daniel Blin whose will dated 23 Sep 1742, Bath Town, Beaufot County, North Carolina; named wife Mourning Blin.
6. Margaret b W 10 Mar 1681; living in 1724/5; she m1 by 1706 probably as his second wife, William Clark, b 29 Jan 1673, drowd 8 Apr 1708, age 33, son of William and Susannah (_____) Clark of Wethersfield.
7. Jonathan, named in his father's will next before Deliverance; m1 Hannah Clark, m2 Mary Waddams; m3 Abigail (Gibbs) (Dix) Nott
8. Deliverance, b abt 1689; m Mary Stillman

Sources

1. Gale Ion Harris, “Walter Harris’s widow and the Blinns of Wethersfield, Connecticut,” in ‘’NEHGR,’’ 143(1989):304, citing Edward S. Tillotson, Wethersfield Inscriptions, Hartford (1899), pp 22-23
2. Unsourced family tree handed down to MaryAnn (Dorn) Benson.
3. Harris (1989), p 305, citing NEHGR 143(1988):325, 327
4. Harris (1989), p 304, citing Houghton Bulkeley, "A Discovery on the Connecticut Chest," in Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin, 23, no. 1 [Jan. 1958], 17-19
5. Harris (1989), pp 307-308
6. Harris (1989), p 316-617
7. The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) Enigmas #26 - Early Harrises of Wethersfield, Connecticut: Analysis of a Tradition, by Gale Ion Harris, TAG Vol 83 (2008-9), pages 255-256
8. Tillotson, Edward Sweetser. Wethersfield Inscriptions (William F.J. Boardman, Hartford, Conn., 1899). – Page 22-3: "Here lieth the body of Mr. Peter Blin, who departed this life March ye 7th in the 85 year of his age." This appears twice, on Page 22 and again on page 23.
9. A Short Genealogy of One Line of the Blin Family, Descended from Peter Blin, The Settler of Wethersfield, CT. by James W. Hill, 1914. As found at [1]
10. Find a Grave as found at [2]

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Peter Blin (c.1640-1725), a French-speaking emigre, has long been associated with the production of "Sunflower" furniture as he arrived in Wethersfield in 1675, just prior to the production of the Rowlandson cupboard and his inventory included both joiner's and turner's tools, indicating he was able to make both the chests and their applied turned ornaments. A chest attributed to him or his shop recently sold for $482,500 at Christie's, NY

(Sale 2343 Important American Furniture, Folk Art and Prints 29 September 2010 New York, Rockefeller Plaza)

Source: http://www.mailchristies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID...

Peter Blin, of a family of French Huguenots, who came to England early in the 17th century, b. in London, and probably in the Parish of Stepney 1640; settled at Wethersfield Conn., ca. 1680; married 1st, in England, a lady whose name has not been handed down, and by her, had issue, 1. Peter 2. James ",

Burke's American Families with British Ancestry, Genealogical Publishing, 1977,

• p. 2566: Peter died 7 Mar 1725 in Wethersfield CT. His headstone at the cemetery (Congregational Meeting House, Wethersfield) declares: "Here lies the body of Peter Blin, who departed this life March 7 in the 85 year of his age." The gravestone is obviously a bit weathered.
• In Wethersfield, CT, he married Johannah.

Peter's Children

1. Peter Blinn; born abt 1667/70 in Wethersfield CT, died ? in Guilford CT; married on 7 Mar 1696/97 in ? to Hannah Crampton, born abt 1674 in Guilford CT died ? in ? (parentage unknown); children: Hannah, John, Jerusha, Elizabeth & Margaret.
2. James Blinn, a seaman; born abt 1673 in Wethersfield CT, died 1729 in Boston MA; married by Mr. James Allen (BOSTON BIRTHS, BAPTISMS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS, 1630-1699,1697 page 243) on 6 Dec 1698 in Boston MA to Margaret Dennison, born 21 Jul 1677 in Milton MA died 19 Jul 1736 in ? (dob & dod from ancestry.com) (daughter of William Dennison of Milton MA); children: William, James & Peter. (James' ancestor tree).
3. William Blinn; born 1 Jul 1675 in Wethersfield CT, died 28 Mar 1739 in Wethersfield CT; married first on 13 Nov 1701 in Wethersfield CT to Anna Coltman (possibly Cole or Coulton), born 11 Mar 1680 in Wethersfield CT died 17 Oct 1724 in Wethersfield CT, photo of her grave on William's page, (daughter of John Coltman & Mary ?); children: Daniel, Peter, Anna, Ephraim, Mary, William, Thankful, & William. married second on 22 Dec 1725 in ? to Thankful Nott, born 6 Feb 1694 in ? died ? in ? (daughter of John Nott & Patience Miller); children: Gershom, Thankful, Patience, Samuel, Abraham, & Elizabeth.
4. Mary Blinn; born 2 Dec 1677 in Wethersfield CT, died 1752 in ?; married on 9 Jul 1699 in Wethersfield CT to Nathan Hurlbut, born 4 Oct 1670 in ? died ? in ? (son of Samuel Hurlbut & Mary Goode); children: Gideon, Nathaniel, Anna, Peter, John, Mary, Samuel, Elizabeth, Thankful, & Hezekiah.
5. Daniel Blinn; born 2 Mar 1679 in Wethersfield CT, died 5 Dec 1720 in Wethersfield CT; married on 18 Nov 1707 in Wethersfield CT to Mercy East, born abt 1680 in ? died ? in ? (parentage unknown); children: Daniel.
6. Margaret Blinn; born 10 Mar 1681 in Wethersfield CT, died ? in ?; married first bef 1706 in ? to William Clark, born 29 Jan 1673 in Wethersfield CT died 8 Apr 1708 in Glastonbury CT (son of William Clark & Susannah ?); children: none known. Married second on 23 Nov 1714 (possibly the 28th) in CT to Daniel Beldin (or Belding), born abt 1682 in ? died ? in ? (2nd son of Samuel Jr. Beldin); children: Margaret, Lois, Prudence, Eunice, & Thankful.
7. Jonathan Blinn; born abt 1683/86 in Wethersfield CT, died 1741/42 in ?;. information on Jonathan's wives is found on his page.
8. Deliverence Blinn; born 12 Jul 1688 in Wethersfield CT, died 3 Nov 1736 in Wethersfield CT; married on 5 Feb 1713 in ? to Mary Stillman, born 12 Jul 1689 in ? died 30 Jun 1735 in ? (daughter of George Stillman & Rebecca Smith); children: Martha, Mary, Rebecca & George. Was executor of Peter's will.

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Source: Blinn Family Genealogy http://webspace.webring.com/people/kk/kasblinn/PeterBlinn.html <— Defunct kasblinn@yahoo.com

Peter Blin (c.1640-1725), a French-speaking emigre, has long been associated with the production of "Sunflower" furniture as he arrived in Wethersfield in 1675, just prior to the production of the Rowlandson cupboard and his inventory included both joiner's and turner's tools, indicating he was able to make both the chests and their applied turned ornaments. Furthermore, Trent argues that the flowers are marigolds, which had symbolic references in seventeenth-century France, and thus likely part of the decorative vocabulary of a craftsman of French heritage. The Blin attribution remains conjectural as the large number of surviving chests, though remarkably consistent in ornament and construction, were undoubtedly made in several shops-perhaps concurrently or by apprentices emulating the practices of a master.

http://www.mailchristies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID...

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jul 24 2016, 21:07:51 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

• First wife and mother of William Blinn said to be Joanna (or Johanna) Unknown, but no primary sources name her.
• Father said to be William Blinn, born about 1615 in Stepney, London, England, but I found no primary sources.

GEDCOM Sources

• @R1503248714@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0 1,60525::107378121
• @R1503248714@ Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9049::0 Author: Manwaring, Charles William, 1829-1905; Probate Place: Connecticut 1,9049::282391

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38-page, 2015 Paperback Book

• Stucky, Duane. 2015. The Ancestry of the Blinn Family of Crawford County, Ohio.
• Available at Amazon.com for $5.50.
• Claim: "The Ancestry of the Blinn Family of Crawford County, Ohio is traced to 1702 in Bavaria." — Probably does not intersect with Peter Blinn's descendents.
• Review? None – i.e., unknown quality of research
• Libraries? Only one library, in Caldwell, OH, has a copy listed on World.Cat.org.