Bradford

THE BLISS FAMILY.

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A Genealogical Chart prepared by Neziah Bliss, Esq. of Missouri, traces the descent of this family from Thomas Bliss of England, who emigrated to America and settled at Hartford, Ct., about the year 1638-or-9; and who, of course, must have been one of its very early inhabitants, as its settlement was not commenced till 1635. He died there in 1640; leaving four sons and six daughters.

Thomas Bliss, Jr., son of the last named, had two sons and six daughters, all natives of Saybrook, Ct., with. the exception of the two youngest, who were. born at Norwich, near by.

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Samuel Bliss, son of Thomas, had three Sons and one daughter.

John Bliss, a son of Samuel, graduated at Yale College in 1710. He had but one classmate, Benjamin Colton They both became ministers, of the gospel.. Rev. John Bliss was the first minister ordained in the town of Hebron, Ct. This was in October, 1717. He was then a Congrégationalist. "He declared for Episcopacy in 1734, and having laid the foundation of a society, a house of worship was erected the next year, for that denomination; and Mr. Bliss preached and read service for them for a number of years afterwards." (See History of Connecticut.) ‘ He died in 1741, at the age of 51 years. Rev. John Bliss had been twice married and had a family of seven sons and four daughters, all of whom, but two, lived to marry. One of the sons, Constant, was shot in ‘the Old French war, at Deerfield, Mass., Aug., 1746.

Ellis ‘Bliss, son of Rev. John Bliss, and his second wife, Hannah Post, was twice married and had eight sons and seven daughters. One of his sons, Flavel, was drowned 1778, off the ship Trumbull at New London, while guarding British prisoners there. Another son, John, was drowned at Bradford, Vt., while engaged in building a bridge across Waits River, in 1803. A daughter, Lydia, married Andrew B. Peters, of Bradford. The youngest son; John Flável, born June 28, 1788, was a minister of the gospel in Western New York. The. father of this large family remained and died at Hebron, Ct.

Ellis Bliss, Jr., son of the Ellis last named, and his first wife, Tamar Dewey, was born at Hebron, April 9, 1761. He’ served for 9 months in the war of the Revolution; married Abigail Taylor; emigrated to Bradford, Vt., and made, as a farmer, a permanent settlement here, in the south part of the town, somewhat back from the river. They had two daughters and six sons. Four of the sons died in childhood. Their eldest daughter, Abigail, born

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at Hebron, Ct., June 7, 1787, married Dr. Lockhart Wright; of Bradford, Feb., 1798, and had two sons, Neziah and Hubbard, and one daughter, Abigail. Mrs. Dr. Wright died at the house of her son, Hubbard Wright, in Bradford, July 3, 1855. Lydia Bliss, born at Bradford, August 31, 1783, married Absalom Baldwin, May 25, 1801, and died Feb. 4, 1860. See Baldwin Family. Flavel Bliss, born Dec. 11, 1791, married Hannah Corliss, Dec. 15, 1812; had several children, and died Dec. 7, 1864.

Capt. Ellis Bliss, son of the above named Ellis Bliss, Jr., born July 25, 1787, married Mary Worthen, Dec. 4, 1807, owned and cultivated a good farm near Bradford village. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss had thirteen children, two of whom died in their infancy; all the rest lived to be men and women, of activity and usefulness in the world. The father died May 8, 1851, in the 54th year of his age; and their mother March 2, 1873, at the age of 83 years. Of this family we give the following brief notices:

1. Ellis Bliss, born May 10, 1810, married Lucy Richards, of Piermont, N. H., kept, for several years a hotel in Bradford village; was a man of activity; engaged in various business; and died Nov. 21, 1870, in the 61st year of his age. He left one daughter, Lucy, the wife of Charles H. Harding.

2. George, born Oct. 17, 1811. He studied for the medical profession with Dr. John Poole, of Bradford, and became established in business in Ohio, where he married, and at this date has two sons, Newton and .Edmund, and two daughters, Priscilla and Lovie Jane.

3. Edmund P., born October 14, 1813, remained with his parents till their decease, and was left in possession of the old homestead.

4. Mary A., born August 6, 1817, married Jesse Johnson, of Bradford; by occupation a farmer, who died at Fairlee.

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