Thomas Bliss, of Rehoboth

Thomas Bliss emigrated to America on the death of his father in 1636. He landed at Boston, moved to Braintree and then Rehoboth.

Disambiguation

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bliss-709

NOTE: The several Thomas Bliss' of New England have had their vital records, family relationships and biographical facts mixed and matched in a Gordian knot by those who were less than attentive to details as they imported unevaluated and unsourced data including fanciful pedigrees into their family trees. In brief, we are dealing with three or possibly four individuals of the name Thomas Bliss:

• Thomas Bliss (called Sr) b. before 1595 a founder of Hartford, wives Margaret Snowe and Margaret Hullings
• Thomas Bliss b. about 1618 of Saybrook and Norwich, son of #1, wife Elizabeth Birchard who may or may not be the Thomas Bliss, called Jr. in early Hartford records and counted as a founder.
• Thomas Bliss of Rehoboth, Mass. Wife Dorothy Wheatlie, father: John. (The subject of this profile)

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Biography

From Miner Descent

Thomas Bliss was the son of John Blisse of Preston Parva, Northamptonshire, England. He was born ca. 1588, most likely in that location as well.

Thomas married Dorothy Wheatlie or Wheatley on Nov. 22, 1614 at Holy Cross Church in Daventry, England. We believe they had seven children together. It was about 1638 when Thomas, Dorothy (????) and most likely three of the children came, first to Boston and then Braintree, Massachusetts. Thomas was a Blacksmith, Farmer and Surveyor.

Thomas received a land grant of 36 acres in Braintree. He took the Freeman's Oath on May 18, 1642 at Cambridge. Then in 1643 the family moved to Rehoboth in Bristol County, where Thomas received "a home lot of eight acres in the northwest end of town. By the time of his death in 1647, he owned 45 acres."

Thomas wrote his will on October 7, 1647 and his estate was appraised on October 21, 1647.

more

Thomas Bliss, brother of George and cousin of Thomas, was born about 1588 probably in Preston Parva, Northamptonshire. He married Dorothy Wheatlie on November 22, 1614 at Holy Cross Church in Daventry by Thomas Mariott, minister. Thomas Bliss, blacksmith, and his wife, emigrated to Massachusetts about 1638. They landed first in Boston, settling ten miles south of Boston at Braintree. According to the first book of the Boston Town Records, Thomas Bliss was granted 36 acres of land in Braintree in 1639. He took the freeman's oath May 18, 1642 at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He relocated to Rehoboth in 1643. [See Hurd's chapter on Rehoboth - contains errors]

One of the original proprietors of Rehoboth, Thomas received a home lot of eight acres in the northwest end of town. By the time of his death in 1647, he owned 45 acres. Of seven children born to Dorothy Wheatlie and Thomas Bliss, "fouer" are referred to in his will:

• Elizabeth was baptized Sept. 19, 1615 in England. She married Sept. 18, 1640 in Rehoboth and died in 1676. Her husband, Thomas Wilmarth, is referred to as Willmore in the will.
• Mary was baptized March 16, 1616 in England. She married Nathaniel Harmon of Braintree about 1638, and died ?
• Martha was baptized Dec. 8, 1622 in England. She married Nicholas Ide May 16, 1647 and died Nov. 3, 1676 in Rehoboth.
• Jonathan was baptized April 2, 1626 at Daventry, England. He married Miriam Harmon in 1648 and died June 11, 1687 at Rehoboth.

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Other children:

• Mary Bliss 1616 – 1690
• Jane Bliss 1618 – 1621
• John Bliss 1620 – 1635
• Thomas Bliss 1624 – 1628 (so the Sr. suffix is justified)

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The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Bliss of Rehoboth

The last Will and Testament of Thomas Blise being sick in body but in perfect memory made the seventh Day of the eighth month; 1647 the said will allso Exhibbited unto the Court holden at new Plymouth the eighth of June 1649, upon the oathes of Steven Payne Edward Smith

Imprimus I give in the name of the father sonn and holy Goste my soule into the hands of god yt gave it and my body to the earth

It I give unto my soon Jonathan my house and home lot Conditionally yt hee shall give unto my sonninlaw Thomas Willmore his lot wh hee now hath and allso the one half of my broken up ground for two yeares and shall healp him to build him an house and let him peacably and quietly live in the house with him untell they shall bee able to set up a house for him

It I give unto Jonathan two of my oxen Called Spark and Swad and my heifer wh is Called traveler and my heifer Calfe at the Iland and all my beding and all my tooles Conditionly yt hee shall use them in my trade or els they shalbee Devided to my fouer Children

It I give unto my eldest Daughter and her husband Thomas Willmore my other two oxen Called quick and benbo an my broad headed heifer and my Cow Called Damson and all my wearing aparrell

It I give to my Daughter Mary and her husband Nathaneill harmon my three two yeare ould steers and ten bushells of wheat

It I give unto Nathaneell the sonn of my sonninlaw Nicolas Ide my browne heifer and my two steere Calves wh are at the Iland

It I give unto Nicolas Ide ten bushells of Rye

It I give unto my sonn Jonathan and my sonninlaw Thomas Willmore the Resedew of my Corn and allso the Rye now sowne on the ground and my Coult and all my tackling and Implements as plowes Cart and Chaines all these to be equally Devided between them allso my pot and ketell; and I Doe make them exequters Joyntly of this my will and Testament; and I Doe Intreat my trusty and wellbeloved frends Richard Wright and Steven Payne to bee overseers of this my Will yt it bee Dewly and Justly performed in Wittness heerof I have set to my hand the Day and yeare first above written; I give unto my fouer Children my hide of leather which is in William ffeilds hand to be equalli Devided between them; and if any of my Children shall seeck to Defraude the others of any pt of theire Right or shall bee any wayes troublesom and it bee Justly proved hee shall forfeite all his part heer menssioned to be equally Devided between the Rest

In the prsence of Thomas Blise Steven Payne Edward Smithe

An Inventary of the goods and chattells of the late deseassed Thomas blise takein The 21 of the eight month [October] 1647.

Item £ s d Impri his wearing aparell 3 0 0 It one fether bede 2 bolsters one blanked and one coverlid and 2 sheets 4 0 0 It one Iron pot one brasse kittle 0 10 0 It 3 payls one tube 0 6 0 It in bookes 0 5 0 It 3 axsses one throw one hatchet one adds one wimble 0 12 0 It 2 sithes one how 0 6 0 It one ould muskate one pistoll one pistollbarell and one barell of a peece and 2 ould swords 1 10 0 It 3 pitchforks one mukeforke . 0 5 0 It Iron and Steelle 0 9 0 It 2 beetleRings one wedge one mortising axe 0 6 0 It one warming pan one pot crooke one paire of pot hooks one frying pan 0 10 0 It one payer of stillyards 0 3 0 It one horse harnesse one Sadle tree 0 7 0 It 2 meale troughs tow old hoggsheads 0 6 0 It one ould bagg 0 10 It in oattes pilcorn and peasen 0 12 0 It all the tooles belonging unto the Smiths trade 22 0 0 It one hyde of soallether 1 4 0 It 2 sives 0 1 It 2 oxen 12 0 0 It one Cow 5 5 0 It 2 oxen 22 0 0 It one Cow 5 0 0 It one heaifer 4 15 0 It 3 young Steers 8 0 0 It one Cow 5 5 0 It one court 7 0 0 It 3 calves 4 0 0 It 2 swyne 2 10 0 It haye 8 0 0 It wheat 6 15 0 It Rye 1 0 0 It in chaynes 0 12 0 It 2 plows and plow Irons 1 0 0 It one cartrope 0 4 0 It 2 yookes 0 5 0 It one cart 1 0 0 It Indian corn 1 6 0 It hempe 0 1 0 It one ould Sawe and other ould lumber 0 10 0 Som

117 16 4 

Aprised by Steven payne and Richard Bowin at a generall court holden at neu plimouth the 7th of March 1647 Johnathan Blise and Thomas willmore testified Upon oath before the said court yt this is a true Inventory of the goods and chattels of thomas Blise above written

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via daughter Martha Ide (born Bliss) by SmartCopy: Mar 11 2015, 2:42:21 UTC
• Torrey's New England Marriages has Thomas Bliss (-1647) 1st wife Dorothy Wheatly m. Nov. 22, 1614 Daventry, Eng., m. 2nd unknown 1st name Ide about 1645 Rehoboth, Ma.
• Anderson's The Great Migration Directory lists also two Thomas Bliss's. 1st Thomas origin unknown, arrived here 1639 settled Braintree and Rehoboth. Sources: NEHGR 151:31-37, Aaron Tyler Bliss's Genealogy of the Family in America but see TAG 59:25-27.
• From Pope's Pioneers of Ma., Rehoboth, Thomas Bliss "Boston, proper. at Mt. Wollaston 1639. Freeman May 18, 1642, moved to Rehoboth. His will June 21, 1647, names son Jonatan; eldest daughter wife of Thomas Williams; Mary, wife of Nathaniel Harmon, son-in-law Nicholas Ide, son Nathaniel.
• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via father John Bliss by SmartCopy: Oct 16 2015, 23:20:00 UTC
• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via daughter Martha Ide (born Bliss) by SmartCopy: Mar 11 2015, 2:42:21 UTC
• Torrey's New England Marriages has Thomas Bliss (-1647) 1st wife Dorothy Wheatly m. Nov. 22, 1614 Daventry, Eng., m. 2nd unknown 1st name Ide about 1645 Rehoboth, Ma.
• Anderson's The Great Migration Directory lists also two Thomas Bliss's. 1st Thomas origin unknown, arrived here 1639 settled Braintree and Rehoboth. Sources: NEHGR 151:31-37, Aaron Tyler Bliss's Genealogy of the Family in America but see TAG 59:25-27.
• From Pope's Pioneers of Ma., Rehoboth, Thomas Bliss "Boston, proper. at Mt. Wollaston 1639. Freeman May 18, 1642, moved to Rehoboth. His will June 21, 1647, names son Jonatan; eldest daughter wife of Thomas Williams; Mary, wife of Nathaniel Harmon, son-in-law Nicholas Ide, son Nathaniel.
• http://www.usgennet.org/family/bliss/rehoboth/rehoboth.htm
• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via father John Bliss by SmartCopy: Oct 16 2015, 23:20:00 UTC