362. Thomas1 Bliss;245 born circa 1585 at Belstone, Devonshire, Eng;69 married Margaret Lawrence circa 1615 at Eng;103 died circa 1650 at Springfield?, MA.245
He "When the parliament of 1628 assembled, Puritans or Roundheads, as the Cavaliers called them, accompanied the members to London. Two of the sons of Thomas Bliss, Jonathan and Thomas, rode from Devonshire on iron grey horses, and remained for some time in the city--long enough at least for the king's officers and spies to learn their names and condition, and whence they came; and from that time forth with others who had gone to London on the same errand, they were marked for destruction. They were soon fined a thousand pounds for non-conformity and thrown into prison, where they remained many weeks. Even old Mr. Thomas Bliss, their father, was dragged through the streets with the greatest indignity. On another occasion the officers of the high commission seized all their horses and sheep, except one poor ewe that in its fright ran into the house and took refuge under a bed. At another time the three brothers, with twelve other Puritans, were led through the marketplace in Okehampton with ropes around their necks, and fined heavily, and Jonathan and his father were thrown into prison, where the sufferings of the son eventually caused his death. At another time the king's officers seized the cattle of the Bliss family and most of their household goods, some of the articles of furniture being highly valued for their beauty and age, since they had been in the family for centuries. In fact, the family was so reduced in circumstances that it was unable to secure the release of both Jonathan and his father, so the younger man had to remain in prison and at Exeter he suffered thirty-five lashes with a three-corded whip, which tore his back in a cruel manner. Before Jonathan was released the estate had to be sold. The father and mother went to live with their daughter who had married a man of the Established Church, Sir John Calcliffe. The remnant of the estate was divided among the three sons who were advised to go to America where they might escape persecution. Thomas and George feared to wait for Jonathan who was still very ill and they left England in the fall of 1635 with their families. Thomas, son of Jonathan and grandson of Thomas (1), remained with his father who finally died, and the son then came to join his uncles and settled near Thomas. At various times their sister sent from England boxes of shoes, clothing and articles that could not be procured in the colonies and it is through her letters long preserved, but now lost, that knowledge of the Devonshire family was preserved. Children: Jonathan, mentioned below; Thomas, born in England, about 1585, at Belstone; Elizabeth, married Sir John Calcliffe, of Belstone; George, born 1591, settled at Lynn and Sandwich, Massachusetts, and Newport, Rhode Island; Mary or Polly."69 He "THOMAS, Hartford, was an early, but not orig. sett.
of whose com. from Eng. nothing is kn. but his first resid. was in that pt.
of Boston call. the mount, afterwards Braintree, now Quincy. In 1639
or 40 he is first ment. in Conn. at the same time with Thomas, jr. wh.
may be the freem. of 18 May 1642 in Mass., there left by his f. whose
d. is early heard of, tho. exact date is not gain. His wid. Margaret was
very resolute and capable, and after two or three yrs. rem. with all her
ch. exc. Thomas, and Ann, to Springfield, there d. 28 Aug. 1684. She
had nine ch. and it has been absurd. said, that all were brot. from Eng.
Of most, this is true. Ann, wh. m. 29 Apr. 1642, Robert Chapman of
Saybrook; Mary m. 20 Nov. 1646, Joseph Parsons; Thomas; Nathan-
iel; Lawrence; and perhaps Samuel; were b. in Eng. but our side of
the water may claim, prob. Sarah, m. 20 July 1659, John Scott; Eliz.
m. 15 Feb. 1670, as his sec. w. Miles Morgan; possib. Hannah, wh. d.
25 Jan. 1662, unm. and certain. John."61
Children of Thomas1 Bliss and Margaret Lawrence were:
363. Nathaniel2 Bliss (Thomas1) Rem. from Hartford soon after death of father;246 born circa 1625 at Eng;246 married Catharine Chapin, daughter of Deacon Samuel Chapin and Cicely Penny, 20 Nov 1646 at Springfield, Hampden, MA;246 died Nov 1654; based on burial date; buried 18 Nov 1654.246
He "NATHANIEL, Springfield 1645, br. of
the preced. b. in Eng. rem. from Hartford soon after d. of his f. and m.
20 Nov. 1646, Catharine, d. of deac. Samuel Chapin, had Samuel, b. 7
Nov. 1617, wh. liv. to 19 June 1749; Margaret, 12 Nov. 1649, wh.
m. 2 May 1672, Nathaniel Foote, and d. Apr. 1745; Mary, 23 Sept.
1651; and Nathaniel, 27 Mar. 1653, wh. d. 23 Dec. 1736. Notwith-
stand. this tendency to long life in the ch. the f. was bur. 18 Nov. 1654.
His wid. m. 31 July foll. Thomas Gilbert, by him had four ch. and m.
28 Dec. 1664, Samuel Marshfield, and had four more, so as to count one
doz. ch. On 31 Dec. 1678, or the next day, Samuel, sen. Samuel, jr.
and Samuel tert. took o. of alleg. being over 16 yrs. old, and enrol. in
the milit. at S. They were a s. of Nathaniel, a s. of Lawrence, and their
uncle."61
Children of Nathaniel2 Bliss and Catharine Chapin were:
364. Margaret3 Bliss (Nathaniel2, Thomas1);238 born 12 Nov 1649 at Springfield, MA;246 married Nathaniel Foote, son of Nathaniel Foote and Elizabeth Smith, 2 May 1672;238 died 3 Apr 1745 at Colchester, CT, at age 95.238
Children of Margaret3 Bliss and Nathaniel Foote were as follows: