Our John Blessington (Sr.) was born Jan. 6, l785 at Aughakillmore, County Longford, Ireland. About 1814 he married Margaretta Riley. Their children were Ann, Charles, Mary, Bridget, Margaret, James R. , John, Jr., Margaret Louise, Phillip and Thomas all born in Ireland. Some of the children were married in Vermont, some in Mass, some in Iowa. John and Margaretta are buried in Clinton County, Iowa.