Thomas Bliss b. 1583 England d. Feb 1650 Hartford County, Connecticut, USA: Discovering My Ancestors

Our Family's Journey Through Time

1583 - 1650 (67 years)

Name	Thomas Bliss
Birth	1583	England [1]
Immigration	1635	Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 52 years) [2]
Arrives	1638	Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 55 years) [3]
Arrives	Thomas was one of the founders of Hartford. The first English settlers arrived in 1635. Pastor Thomas Hooker and Governor John Haynes led 100 settlers with 130 head of cattle in a trek from Newtown (now Cambridge, Massachusetts) in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and started their settlement just north of the Dutch fort. The settlement was originally called Newtown, but was changed to Hartford in 1637 to honor the English town of Hertford. The explorer also created the town of Windsor (created in 1633). The fledgling colony along the Connecticut River had issues with the authority by which it was to be governed because it was outside of the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Bay Colony's charter. Therefore, Thomas Hooker wrote the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, a document investing the authority to govern with the people, instead of with a higher power. Hooker stated May 31, 1638: "The foundation of authority is laid, firstly, in the free consent of the people" Some historians believe Hooker's concepts of self-rule were the forerunners of the United States Constitution.
Death	Feb 1650	Hartford County, Connecticut, USA [1]
Burial	Ancient Burying Ground [1]
Person ID	I401	Discovering My Ancestors
Last Modified	26 Feb 2023

Spouse Margaret Lawrence Hulings
b. 15 Jul 1595, Rodborough, Gloucestershire, England
d. 28 Aug 1684, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA (Age 89 years)

Marriage 18 Oct 1621 Gloucestershire, England [4, 5]

Age at Marriage He was ~ 38 years old - She was 26 years old. (Were Married 28 years).

Children 7 children

	1. Ann Bliss b. Abt 1622, England d. 20 Nov 1685 (Age 63 years)
	2. Thomas Bliss, Jr. b. Abt 1622, England d. 15 Apr 1688, Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA (Age 66 years)
	3. Nathaniel Bliss b. 8 Dec 1622, England d. 9 Nov 1654, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA (Age 31 years)
+	4. Samuel Bliss b. Abt 1624, England d. 23 Mar 1720, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA (Age 96 years)
	5. Lawrence Bliss b. Abt 1628, England d. Abt 1676, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA (Age 48 years)
	6. Mary Bliss b. Abt 1628, England d. 29 Jan 1712, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA (Age 84 years)
+	7. Sarah Bliss b. 1636, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA d. 27 Sep 1705, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA (Age 69 years)

Last Modified 11 May 2017

Family ID F130 Group Sheet | Family Chart

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