General Notes

*Lydia Wright m. (1) Lt. Lawrence Bliss on Oct. 25, 1654 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA. Lydia was b. 1635? in England and D. Dec. 17, 1699  (or Feb. 13, 1699) in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA. Lawrence was b. Abt. 1628 in Rodborough, Gloustershire, England  and D. Nov. 8, 1676 in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA. Lawrence, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was born in England, removed to America with his father in 1635. Thomas Bliss, the progenitor of the family in England, Belstone, Devonshire, wealthy landowner, belonged to the class stigmatized as Puritans. The home of his son, Thomas Bliss Jr., who came to New England in 1635, has been inherited by seven generations, who have resided in the original habitation at Norwich, Conn., which was still standing in 1880. Lawrence's parents were Thomas Bliss Jr. and Margaret Hulins (or Lawrence). (*Note-Margaret Lawrence Bliss was a woman of more than ordinary force of character. After the death of her husband, with the younger children, she went to Springfield, Mass., and became a landed proprietor of that place. Her home lot was on what is now termed South Main Street.)  Lydia and Lawrence had at least 9 children.  They were Lydia (died in infancy)), Sarah (died in infancy)), Sarah (died in infancy)), Samuel (died in infancy)), Samuel (m. #1 Hannah Stiles, had at least 4 children, Hannah (lived in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA, m. Joseph Warriner Jr?, Mayflower Descendant), Sarah (died a child), Lydia (m.#1 Daniel Ingersoll; m. #2 Nathan Collins) and Samuel Jr. (m. #1 Elizabeth Chapin; m. #2 Silence Hitchcock); Samuel m. #2 Elizabeth Brace)), Hannah (m. Capt. Thomas Colton, was a man of prominence in all public affairs, both civil and military. He was much feared by the Indians for his daring and invulnerability, had at least 8 children, Hepzibah (m. Capt. Samuel Chandler, Assessor in Enfield, 1740; moderator and selectman 1744-5; selectman 1752), William (m. #1 Mary Merrick; m. #2 Mercy Stebbins), Ebenezer (Capt.?, m. Deborah Chandler), Joseph (died in infancy), Issac (Capt. was in French and Indian Wars, and had charge of a company at Louisburg in 1745, m. Esther Marshfield), Hannah (m. Nathaniel Munn Jr.), Dinah (died in infancy) and Abner (died in infancy))), Sarah (moved to Hatfield, Franklin Co., MA, m. Samuel Smith, a shoemaker, had at least 10 children, Samuel (died in infancy), Sarah (moved to Hadley, Hampden Co., MA, m. #1 Elisha Perkins; m. #2 Benjamin Church), Samuel Jr. (Deacon, m. #1 Esther Warner; m. #2 Sarah Billings), Peletiah (m. Abigail Wait/Waite), William (m. Elizabeth ?), Lydia (moved to South Hadley, Hampshire Co., MA, m. Samuel Smith, owned a Gristmill & Sawmill), Hannah (did not marry), Elizabeth (died a child), Esther (moved to Hadley, Hampshire Co., MA, #1? Samuel Church? m. #2? Daniel Belden/Belding) and Margaret (m. Samuel Church III)), William (m. Margaret Lombard, and had at least 6 children, William Jr.(a weaver, m. Experience White), Margaret (died in infancy), Margaret (m. James Burt), Abigail (m. Moses Wright), Lydia and David (m. Miriam Sexton)) and Pelatiah (moved to Longmeadow, Hampden Co., MA, Lt. Col., m. Elizabeth Hitchcock, had at least 9 children, Pelatiah Jr. (moved to Norwich, New London Co., CT, m. Ann Stoughton), Jonathan (Physician, m. Rebecca Stoughton), Elizabeth (m. Josiah Day), Thankful (died in infancy), William (died young), Luke (Capt., m. #1 Mercy Ely; m. #2 Rebecca Stoughton), Sarah (m. William Pynchon), Caleb (Deacon, m. Editha Day) and Moses (m. Rachel Colton)) (*Note-Lydia also would marry 3 more times after Lawrence Bliss died in 1676. She married #2 John Norton in 1678, #3 John Lamb in 1688 and #4 George Colton in 1692. She did not have any children in these later marriages.)