Genealogy Report - Frances Louise Hagen
1808. THOMAS11 PACKER III (Edward, #3616);
Thomas Packer III was born in 1563 at Alston, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, the son of Edward Packer and Jone Drinkewater. Thomas married Thomazine Westwood (see #1809) in 1591. She was born in 1564 at Alston, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. Her father was Robert Westwood, but the name of her mother is unknown. Thomas Packer III and Thomazine Westwood had one known child.
Thomas Packer III died 23 May 1608 at London, Middlesex, England.
Thomazine Westwood died 1643.
Note from author: "All of the information on this set of Grandparents came from Mark Wooten. I had corresponded with Mark while he was living in England in 1997/1998. We exchanged genealogical data on the Darrows. Later I downloaded a ahnentafel file on Elizabeth Packer from GenServ that was from a file he had submitted to that site. GenServ is a genealogical data search site of which we were both members. Mark returned to the United States in late 1998 but at the present is back in England teaching school. He has a web page at http://www.btinternet.com/~mark.wooten/Mark1.htm
1812. JOHN11 FRIEND I (Christopher Friend/Frynd, #3624);
There is very little known about John Friend I other than he was the son of Christopher Friend (AKA Frynd) amd Margaret (Unknown), and that he married Elizabeth Kitchen (see #1813) about 1600.
The only known child is listed below.
Thomas Dexter was born 1594 in Bristol, England. He married Elizabeth/Mary (Unknown) (see #1815) about 1619 at England;
Thomas Dexter died about 1677 at Boston, Suffolk, MA.
1816. LEE ARTHUR11 LATHAM (Chilton, #3632); b. 12 Dec 1533 at London, England;
Lee Arthur Latham was born on 12 Dec 1533 in London, England. He was the son of Chilton Lee Latham and Bertha Bascombe, 30 Jun 1555 at London, England. He died before 1633 in Elstow, Bedfordshire/Aldenham, Herdfordshire, England. He was a Banker.
Lee Arthur Latham was married to Betty Susanne Hogue (see #1817) on 30 Jun 1555 in London, England. She was born on 23 May 1535 in London, England. She died before 1635 in Elstow, Bedfordshire/Aldenham, Herdfordshire, England. She was a housewife/mother.
49. Roots Research Bureau LTD. The Latham Name and Family, 1982. 39th St, NY,
NY 10001, page 3.
64. Gregson 1869. The Antiquities of Lancaster, LDS Family History Library.
98. Daniel G. Wymann. Wymann/Latham/Hogue Gedcom, 1995
Note by author: "In December of 1998 while researching members of the Latham family I came in contact with a Don R. Latham. He is a longtime researcher of the Latham Family and has worked with the webpage producers of the The Latham Family Home Page. He sent me a file that includes all of his Latham families that also fit into our Latham ancestors. These are his sources quoted above, numbered as he numbered them. I have not researched them to determine whether they are credible. Until I have the opportunity to do so I will assume that Don's information is correct until proven otherwise. This disclaimer will be a part of the remainder of the Latham ancestors."
William Newman was born about 1546 at Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England. He married Alice Wrench (see #1819) 18 Jun 1571 at Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England.
William Newman died 10 Jun 1602.
All of the children were born at Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England.
Alice Newman was baptized 19 Apr 1573.
Jane Newman was born, baptized and died 1 Mar 1574.
Henry Newman was baptized 4 Jul 1585.
John Masters was born about 1555 and died between 1585 and 1646. No information has been found as to whom or if he married.
Thomas Bliss was born about 1590 somewhere in England. He was the son of William Bliss. He was also known as "Thomas Blisse". The spelling of the family name was often Blisse and in some of the early New England records the name was also written as "Blysse." There is considerable dispute concerning the parentage and place of birth of Thomas Bliss, Senior. It may have been Painswick, Gloucestershire since the area around this location is termed "Bliss Country" because of the numerous persons in the area with the Bliss name.
He married Margaret Hulins (see #1837), , 18 Oct 1621 at St. Nicholas P, Gloucester, Cloucester, England. A Bliss Family source gives the date of marriage as about 1617.
1837. MARGARET11 HULINS/HULINGS (John, #3674). She was born in 1595 at Rodborough, Gloucestershire, England.and was the daughter of John Hulins and Margaret (--?--). The surname Hulins is also written in some places as HulingsThe following excerpt is from the Hartford Book of Distributions pertains to the first property obtained by Thomas in New England. It is presented as written.
"Febr: Anno dom: 1639/40
Severall Parcells of land in Hertford vpon the River of conecticott belonging to
Thomas Blisse sen & to his heires forever.
One parcell on which his dwellinge house now standeth with yards or gardens
therein being Contayninge by Estimation two roods (more or less) Abuttinge on
the highway leading from John Barnards land toward the North on the west & on
Thom Richards land on the North & on Thom Blisse jun: land on the South & on
Paul Pecks land on the East."
In 1641 another entry states he acquired "Six acres East side of the Great River."
In 1646 Thomas Blisse was fined for being absent from military training: "March the 4th, 1646. Tho: Blisse for not trayneing, is fyned 2s. 6d."
Ann Bliss married Robert Chapman 29 Apr 1642 at Saybrook, Middlesex, CT. She died 20 Nov 1685 at Saybrook, Middlesex, CT.
Nathaniel Bliss was born before 1622 at Rodborough, Gloucestershire, England and was presented for baptism 28 Dec 1622 at Rodborough, Gloucestershire, England. In 1638 he emigrated to Hartford, CT and in 1643 was living in Springfield, Hampden, MA.
He married Catherine Chapin Oct 1646. They had four children, two daughters and two sons.
Nathaniel Bliss died 18 Nov 1654 at Springfield, Hampden, MA, at age 31.
Mary Bliss was born in 1625. She married Joseph Parsons 2 Nov 1646 and together they led a very interesting life. Joseph and Mary had 13 children, 8 sons and 5 daughters. One would wonder where the found time time for the other things that took place in their lives.
In 1656 Mary was accused of witchcraft by some of her neighbors who were envious of their prosperity and endeavored in this way to disgrace them. She was vigorously defended by her mother, Margaret. This accusation apparently came to naught. However later another formal charge of witchcraft was made against Mary and she was sent to Boston for trial. The jury gave her a full acquittal of the crime, and she returned home to Northampton. (A more complete description of the witchcraft case can be found in Trumbull's "History of Northampton, Vol. 1, PP. 43-50).
Soon after her acquittal in Boston, her son Ebenezer, was killed by the Indians at Northfield. Those who had been instrumental in bringing her to trial said, "Behold, though human judges may be bought off, God's vengeance neither turns aside nor slumbers."
Mary Bliss died 29 Jan 1712. It is said that she possessed great beauty and talents, but was not very amiable.
Lawrence Bliss was born in 1628 in England. He married an Lydia Wright 25 Oct 1654 at Springfield, Hampden, MA. They had 8 children, 5 daughters and 3 sons. One daughter and one son died before they were a year old.
Lawrence Bliss died 1676 at Springfield, Hampden, MA.
Hannah Bliss was born about 1633 in England and died 25 Jan 1660/61 in Springfield, Hampden, MA. There is no information about a marriage.
John Bliss was born about 1635 in England and died 10 Sep 1702 at Longmeadow, MA. There is no information as to marriage.
Sarah Bliss was born about 1638. Ahe may have been the first child of this family to be born in America. On 20 July 1659 at Springfield, Hampden, MA she married John Scott and they had one daughter and one son. John Scott died 2 June 1690. Sarah married Samuel Terry on 19 Nov 1690 in Springfield.
Sarah Bliss died Sep 27 1705 at Springfield, Hampden, MA.
Hester and Elizabeth were twins. They were born in 1640 at Hartford, CT;
Hester Bliss married Edward Foster 26 Dec 1661 at Springfield, Hampden, MA;
Elizabeth Bliss married Miles Morgan 15 Feb 1669 at Springfield, Hampden, MA. Morgan had eight children by a previous marriage. Elizabeth had been engaged to another man prior to her marriage to Sgt. Morgan, but her intended husband was killed by Indians.
Hester Bliss died 12 Jun 1683.
Elizabeth Bliss died before 1684.
Samuel Bliss born about 1642 at Hartford, CT and married Mary Leonard on 10 Nov 1665. they had eleven children, three sons and eight daughters.
Samuel Bliss died 23 Mar 1720 at Springfield, Hampden, MA.
Thomas Bliss died 1650 at Hartford, Hartford, CT.
He left a will on 14 Feb 1650/51 at Hartford, CT; Thomas had not written a will, but instead recited it orally to his wife, with his daughter, Mary Parsons, as a witness. As recorded and witnessed by John Pynchon and Henry Smith at the time of his estate's inventory, his will was as follows:
"feb: 14th 1650 [1651 N.S.] mary parsons of Springfeild the daughter of Thomas Bliss late of Hartford deceased, doth testifie, that when her father lay on his death bed Shee heard her mother Aske him, how hee would dispose of his estate, hee Answered hee would giue it to her, who should have it elce, her mother asked him if hee would not dispose of it to his Children, her father Answered againe no, her mother Should haue it, this shee Shall bee ready to testifie if Called therevnto. wittness John Pincheon Hen: Smith [Vol. II, p. 28, Probate Records of Hartford Co., Conn.]"
The following is the inventory of the estate of Thomas Bliss, as found in the records of the Particular Court of Connecticut:
"The inventory of the goods Chattells and Cattles of Thomas Bliss of Hartford deceased taken by Joseph mygatt and Nathaniell warde this 14th febr. 1650 [1651]
It: his wearing Apparrell 02:00:00 Author Note:
"It: is probably an abbreveation for 'Item'.
It: one bedstead with 2 featherbeds vppon it with sheets and Blankitts 08:00:00
It: a trundle bed, a flock bed vppon it with sheets and Blankitts 1 pr of each
03:00:00
It: for sheets and table Cloths & yarne in ye howse 03:00:00
It: 2 brass potts, 1 Iron pott, 2 kettles, 1 skillet & a morter 03:10:00
It: in milk vessells & other small dishes 00:10:00
It: in pewter as much as Comes to 01:15:00
It: 1 Spitt, 1 frying pann, 1 tramell, 1 fier pan & tongs 00:08:00
It: one beetle, foure wedges 00:06:00
It: one ould trunck, 2 chests, & one boxe, old ones 00:10:00
It: 2 paire of scales & wights to ym 00:06:08
It: 2 old bibles 00:05:00
It: one powdering tubb & a Cowle 00:07:00
lt: one beare vessell and old tubbs 00:12:00
It: 2 wheeles & e old seiues 00:08:00
It: 1 Chaire and 2 old stooles 00:02:00
It: 1 charne, 1 buckett & e payles 00:06:00
It: one Loome with barrs & Slayes, & 1 wheele 02:16:00
It: 2 Axes & 4 old howes 00:09:00
It: 2 Sawes & one Spade 00:12:00
It: 2 Cowes & 2 yeare old Calues 16:00:00
It: due to him in a debt 02:00:00
It: his howse and Lott belonging to it 02:00:00
It: of meadow and vpland 35:00:00
It: another howse Lott 02:10:00
(total is listed as : 86:12:08
Natha: warde
Joseph mygatt
On February 20, 1650 [1651 N.S.], the Particular Court gave Margaret (wife of Thomas) full power to administer the estate "if Shee So long Continue a widdow."
Some of the children had already settled at Springfield at the time of Thomas' death and Margaret wasted no time taking over the management of her husband's estate, and removing with her younger children to Springfield. At the Particular Court of Connecticut "Goody Bliss of Hartford" (this was Margaret, called ''Goody" because she was the wife of a "Goodman," which was roughly one step below the class of "Gentleman"), having received her administration powers, commenced suit against William Ayers for the unlawful detaining and wrongful selling of her cow on March 7, 1650 [1651 N.S.]. She no doubt relocated shortly after that time for under the date of "Jan ye 22th 1651" [1652 N.S.] she appeared as a grantee of three acres "on Pacowsick beginning at ye lower end " in the Springfield Town Votes. She also acquired seven acres on the west side of the Great River opposite her house lot, nineteen and one half acres in Long Meadow, four acres in the same general area, five acres in the second division over Agawam River and three acres on Pacowsick Brook. This estate is bounded today by Main Street on the east, the Connecticut River on the west, Margaret Street on the north and Fremont Street on the south.
Margaret proved to be an able manager of her husbands estate. The estate was inventoried at 278 pounds, more than three times the amount left to her by her husband.
Margaret died August 28, 1684. On September 30, 1684, her son Samuel. of Springfield, presented her last will and an inventory of her estate to the Hampshire County Court.
She left a will on 25 Jun 1684 at Springfield, Hampden, MA:
"I, Margaret Blisse of Springfield, being by Gods Good hand of Providence kept alive to this present day, & being aged, & not Knowing how soone the Lord may call me out of this world, I Knowing that I owe a debt to Nature, I thought It my duty to Settle my Estate that soe I may the freelyer Leave this World, when God shal cal me home.
And first I shal declare my faith & Leave it wth my surviveing children, wch is this.
That I doe beleive in the free mrcy of God the father, in & through the merites of God the Son my blessed Redeemr, & In Gd the Holy Ghost the Applyer of al that Good Jesus Christ hath purchased for his people:
I beleive the Resurrection both of the Just & the Unjust, & That we must aI stand before the Judgment Seate of Christ, My Body I comitt to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor (hereafter Named), And now being of sound and pfect mind & memory doe bestow my estate, wch God hath graciously given me in manner & forme followinge
First, I hveing given Something Considerable formerly to my son John Blisse, & under the consideration thereof, I do in this my Last wil & Testamnt give to him the said John Bliss no more but this wch followeth (being sufficient wth what he has had alreadie) That is to say Twenty pounds to be paid to him, wth in Two yeeres after my decease, & that to be paid to him in Cattle or Come, as it passeth betweene man & man, & also that four acres of land he bought of mee in the Long Medow wch I was never paid for, I do now give that to him.
ltem, I give to my son Lawrence's Son, Samll. Blisse my seven acres of land in the necke over the River, onely he the said Samuel shal pay to Each of his sisters Two pounds:
Item, I give to my grandson Nathaneel Morgan Three pounds wn he becomes to the age of Twentie yeares.
ltem, I give to my daughter Parsons, And my daughter Scot my weareing clothes, bedding & household Stuffe, onely my Bason, I give to my son Samuel's daughter Hannah:
Item, I give to my Daughter Scot five poundes, & if my Cowes doe live, & I be not forced to sel them for my necessity, I then give one of them to my Grandson John Scot:
Item, All the Rest & Residue of my Personal Estate goods Lands housing Cattell whatsoever I have in Springfeild or else where, I do give and bequeath to my Loveing son Samuel Blisse & his heeres for ever, & if his wife Mary Blisse shal survive my son, then she shall have a Third part of my Land during the time of her Widowhood, & then to Return it to my sons children as He shall see good to bestow it on ym. And him the said Samuel Blisse, I do make full & Sole Executor of this my last Wil & Testament, & I do revoke disannul & make voide al formr Wills & Testaments, by me heretofore made. In witnes whereof, I Margaret Bliss do to this my Last Wil & Testament Set my hand & Seale
June: 25th 1684: the marke of M. B.
Widow Margaret Bliss, with her Scale affixt.
Widow Margaret BLisse declared this Writing her Last wil & Testamt & being of Good & Sound understanding, Subscribed her hand, & seale theretoe, all being fully a distinctly Read to her, she declareing her satisfaction & Resting in this her last Disposure of her Estate: in Testimony whereof we here unto set or hands: this 25th of June: 1684:
Benjamin Parsons John Pynchon Samll. Marshfeild."
Note by author: The resource for the information on the Thomas Bliss family was found in a hard bound book entitled "Genealogy of the Bliss Family, Volume I". The above data is from pages 27 through 31. The required pages are in a repository of my personal records.