First Generation 1. Thomas BLISS was born about 1590 in , , England. Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America, Volume I, Compiled by Aaron Tyler Bliss, Published by the Author, 1982, Midland, Michigan. p. 27 Thomas Bliss, farmer, of Hartford, Connecticut, was born most probably in County Gloucester, England in the approximate year of 1590. The particular location of his birth with Gloucestershire is not known, It was not the place of his birth nor the place of his ancestors. The reason for his presence was one Margaret Hulins (or Hulings) of Rodborough. She was born in about 1595, and they were married in about 1617. He died about 1650 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. Inventory of estate was completed on 14 Feb 1651 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. Martin Genealogy, Descendants of Lieut. Samuel Martin of Wethersfield, Conn., Compiled by Thomas Arthur Hay, Private Printing, 1911, D.P.I., Volume I. p. 23 - 24. Came to America in 1635. Whether or not the Blises accompanied the party headed by Rev. Thomas Hooker, consisting of Gov. John Webster, Mr. Samuel Stone and others, is not certain; they were however, among the original land proprietors of that place. In the settlement of Hartford, the land was laid out in "lots" and "tiers" and apportioned to the settlers; "lot No. 58 was assigned to Thomas Blis, Sr., and lot No. 59 to Thomas Bliss, Jr., both on 'tier' 10, south side of the little river." The present Trinity street, was one of the original streets of Hartford, and was known as Bliss street, from the first settlement until 1855. Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America, Volume I, Compiled by Aaron Tyler Bliss, Published by the Author, 1982, Midland, Michigan. p. 28. As evidence of Mr. Bliss' presence at Hartford prior to 1640, the following excerpt from the Hartford Book of Distributions is offered (the date being in Old Style Calendar): Febr: Anno Dom: 1639 Severall Parcells of land in Hertfor vpon the River of Connecticott belonging to Thomas Blisse sen & to his heires forever. One parcell on which his dwellinge house now standeth with yards or gardens therein being Contaynige by Estimation two rood (more or lesse) Abuttinge on the highway leading from John Barnard 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. Thomas and his son, Thomas, Jr., were mentioned in a few other land records. At the division of the lands of the east side of the Great River in 1641, "Thomas Blysse Senior" was given six acres and "Thomas Blysse Junior" was given four acres. In 1647 (new style calendar) we find the elder man fined for being absent from military training: "March the 4th, 1646. Tho: Blisse for not trayneing, is fyned 2 shillings, 6 pence." From this account we note that he was probably then under 60 years old, but from the apparent ages of his older children, we must assume that he was over 50. Thomas died eighty very late in 1650 or early in 1651 at Hartford. He was possessed of 58 acres of land and the house lot was on a highway west of the present Lafayette Street in Harford. His estate was inventoried at a meager 86 pounds, 12 shillings and 8 pence on February 14, 1650/51, but since four older children were already married, it is likely that their portions of the estate had already been distributed. 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 invenotry, his will was as follows: feb: 14th 1650/51 mary parson of Springfield the daughter of Thomas Bliss late of Harford 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 haue 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 be ready to testifie if Called therevnto. wittness John Pincheon Hen: Smith [Vol. II, p. 28, Probate Records of Hartford Co., Conn.] Page 28 - 29 lists the inventory of the estate of Mr. Bliss, as found in the records of the Particular Court of Connecticut. The inventory was witnessed by Natha: warde and Joseph mygatt. Value: 86 pounds, 12 shillings, 8 pence. On Februay 20, 1650/51, the Particular Court gave Margaret 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. Thomas BLISS and Margaret HULINS were married in 1617 in Rodborough, Gloucestershire, England. Margaret HULINS (daughter of John HULINS and Margaret) signed a will on 25 Jun 1684 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America, Volume I, Compiled by Aaron Tyler Bliss, Published by the Author, 1982, Midland, Michigan. p. 29 - 30. Her will read as follows: At the Countie Corte in Springfield, September 30: 1684 A copy of Margaret Bliss her will given into the Countie Corte Sept: 30, 1684. 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 ow a debt to Nature, I though 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 with 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 hat purchased for his People. I beleive the Resurrection both of the Just & the Unjust, & That we must al stand before the Judgment Seat 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 gracously given me in manner & forme followinge First. I haveing given Something Considerably formerly to my son John Blisse, & under the consideration thereof, I do in this my Last wil & Testamt give to him the said John Bliss no more but this wch followeth (being sufiecent wth what he has had alreadie) That is to say twenty pounds to be paid him, with in Two yeeres after my decease, & that shalbe paid him in Cattle or Corne, as is passeth betweene man & man, & also that four acres of land he bought of me in the Long Meadow wch I was never paid for, I do now give that to him. Item. I give to my son Lawrence's Son, Samll. Bilisse my seven acres of Land in the necke over the River, onely he the said Samuel shal pay to Eac of his sisters Two pounds. Item. I give to my grandson Nathaneel Morgan Three pounds wn he comes to the age of Twentie yeares. Item. I give to my daughter Parsons, And my daughter Scot my wearing clothes, bedding & household Stuffe, onely by Bason, I give to my son Samuel's daughter Hannah. Item. I give to my Daughter Scot five pounds, & if my Cowes doe live, & I be not foreced 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 Catell whatsoever I have in Springfield 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 be good to bestow in on ym. And him the said Samuel Blisse, I do make full & Sole Executor of this my last Wil & Testament, & I do reovke 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 Seal affixt. Widow Margaret Bliss declared this Writing her Last wil & Testamt & being of Good & Sound understanding, Subscribed her hand & seale theretoe, all being fully & 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. Marshfield. She died on 28 Aug 1684 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. Inventory of estate was completed on 30 Sep 1684 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America, Volume I, Compiled by Aaron Tyler Bliss, Published by the Author, 1982, Midland, Michigan. p. 29. 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. Margaret proved to be an able manager of her husband's estate. The estate was inventoried at 278 pounds, more than three times the amount left to her by her husband. Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America, Volume I, Compiled by Aaron Tyler Bliss, Published by the Author, 1982, Midland, Michigan. p. 27. The surname of Margaret is confirmed by her father's will dated January 24, 1638 [1639 new style calendar], which recited the following: "Item. I giue to Margaret Blisse my daughter to be payde to her by my sonne Henry the sume of five punds upon the fourth day of Mrch next ensuing the date heereof ...." The will was proved September 28, 1639. There is some improbability to John Hulin's naming his daughter in his will if she had at that time removed to New England, or it would have at least been typical to have mentioned her new residence. But there is evidence that Thomas Blisse was in America at the time of his father-in-law's death. February of 1640 he had his land entered into the Hartford records and on one parcel "his dwelling house now standeth." This would Indicate that he had been a resident at Hartford for some time, and for lack of any earlier evidence of his presence in America, we shall set his arrival in New England at 1638, being early enough for the construction of a dwelling house and late enough to not tempt the reality of John Hulins' will, which makes no reference to his daughter residing anywhere but Rodborough. There is, of course, the possibility that Margaret Bliss joined her husband after her father's will had been written. Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America, Volume I, Compiled by Aaron Tyler Bliss, Published by the Author, 1982, Midland, Michigan. p. 29. At the Particular Court of Connecticut "Goody Bliss of Hartfor" (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 wrongul selling of her cown on March 7, 1650/51. She no doubt relocated after that time for under the date of "Jan ye 22th 1651/2" she appeared as a grantee of three acres "on Pascowsick begning 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 are, five acres in the second division over Agawarm River and three acres on Pacowsick Brook. The estate is bounded today by Main Stree on the east, the Connecticut River on the west, Margaret Street on the north and Fremont Street on the south.