Thomas Blatchley (abt. 1621 - bef. 1674)

Born about 1621 in England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Ball) Bristol — married 5 Jun 1643 in New Haven, Connecticut

Descendants

Died before 30 Jan 1674 before about age 53 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Thomas Blatchley migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 33) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

As a likely merchant, Thomas Blatchley moved repeatedly. Born in England, he was one of the Founders of Hartford, Connecticut and then a founder of Branford, New Haven in the 17th century. He later considered joining the New-Ark Settlement. Records suggest that he resided mostly in Branford for the last 30 years of his life, although he may have sought residency in neighboring Guilford and he died in Boston.

There is an extensive but unsourced (and with at least one inaccuracy) biography for Thomas on the Founders of Hartford website.^[1] The website notes that he was "evidently a merchant" and explains his death in Boston saying that he was "evidently on a trading trip".

Birth and origins

Thomas Blatchley of the Connecticut Colony and of the New Haven Colony was the son of Thomas Blatchley of Colerne, Wiltshire, England. His English origins are proven by the 1668 nuncupative (verbal) will of his father which left a bequest of £5 50s to his son Thomas Blatchley living then in New England should he return to England to claim it.^[2] He is roughly estimated to have been born about 1620 based on birth of his first child in 1644 and presumed marriage date of about 1643. His father was likely born in Box, Wiltshire, and lived in the adjacent parish of Colerne, Wiltshire making these locations the most likely birthplace of this Thomas Blatchley.

Immigration to New England

He immigrated to New England by 25 March 1640 when he first appears in the records of Connecticut, receiving a grant of land in Hartford.^{[3] [4]} His name is on the list of founders of the town of Hartford, Connecticut.^[5]

Marriage and Children

Thomas married Susannah (Ball)^[6] by about 1643, assuming Aaron was their first child. The children of Thomas and Susannah were:

1. Aaron b 1644, bapt New Haven July 1, 1651
2. Moses b March 25, 1650^[7], bapt at New Haven July 1, 1651; died Oct 15, 1693.
3. Miriam, b. in Branford 1652 (or January to March 1653)^[8]; m. Jan 5, 1669/70, Samuel Pond of Branford.^[9]
4. Abigail m. Edward Ball of Branford

Life in New England

1. 1640 (Hartford, Connecticut Colony) -- Thomas's name is on the Hartford founders’ stone.^[10] See lot # 129 on the map of ancient Hartford.
2. 1643-44 (New Haven Colony) -- Thomas took the Oath of Fidelity in 1644^[11], and was fined in 1646 for "neglecting the image of God in the civil magistrates." [source?]
3. 1645 - 46 (Branford, New Haven Colony) -- Thomas "of Totocutte" (Branford) was named in a will of 1 Dec 1645 as owing 10 s to Edward Veir at Totocutte.^[12] Thomas's name appears on a 1646 list of proprietors of Branford.^[13]
4. 1666-67 -- There are records showing that Thomas first decided to join those emigrating from Branford to found Newark, NJ, but then changed his mind. On 30 October 1666, Thomas was among 23 Branford residents who intended to migrate to Newark and who would require "That none shall be admitted Freemen ... but such Planters as are members of some or others of the Congregational Churches ...."^[14] On an uncertain date in 1667, Thomas signed a Plantation Covenant, along with others planning to migrate to Newark.^[15] Then, on 20 June, 1667, Thomas signed the New Plantation and Church Covenant, along with those who planned to stay in Branford.^{[16][17][18][19]} "... we, that yet remain here, can say that we have found much peace and quietness, to our great comfort, for the which we desire to bless God; and that it may so remain to such as do continue their abode in this place, and to such as shall come in to fill up the rooms of those that are removed, and that do intend to remove from this place of Branford."
5. 1669 -- An inventory was taken of "Thomas Blachly's Alotments within ye bounds of ye Towne of Branford ..."^[20][21] Although this inventory was itself undated, it was included with inventories dated March 1668 to February 1670 of the allotments of other proprietors remaining in Branford. Thomas's inventory shows that in the core part of "ancient Branford", he then owned a 2-acre home lot as well as a 4 1/2-acre adjoining lot of "Rock Land" (see lots #37 on the Branford land map compiled by Delphina Hammer Clark). In addition, Thomas owned other parcels in the Muliner's Neck, Great Plaine, Indian Neck, South Side of the River, Cannoe Brook, Mill Quarter, the Point, Harbour Mouth ("Scotch Cap") sections of Branford.
6. 1667-72 -- Once Branford had been absorbed into the Connecticut Colony, Thomas was elected as a Deputy, representing Branford, to the General Court of Connecticut for May 1667^[22], Oct 1668 (absent from the court)^[23], Oct 1669 (absent)^[24], May 1670^[25] (at which session the court granted him "60 acres of land where he can find it"^[26]), Oct 1670^[27], May 1671 ("The court granted Thomas Blachly liberty to depart the court.)"^[28] and May 1672.^[29]
7. 1668 - One secondary source stated that, on April 23, Thomas was admitted as an inhabitant of Guilford, on the assumption that he could find a place to live. The search continues for a source for this statement. It is included in Thomas' biography on the Hartford town website.^[30][31] If confirmed, this would suggest that Thomas went to considerable lengths to keep his options open. Note that at least one child (Aaron) settled in Guilford and, according to his Guilford probate record, Thomas owned property there by the time he died (see Guilford probate record below). However, this probate record is the only primary source for Thomas so far located in the Guilford land records.^[32]
8. 1671 -- On 13 March, Thomas was one of 4 persons chosen at a Branford town meeting to "meet Guilford committee at the seaside ..." to define the boundary between the two towns.^[33]
9. 1673 -- On 16 April, "Thomas Blachly of Branford" sold most, if not all of his land and "commonage" (rights to future land divisions) in Branford to William Maltbie for £100. ^[34] From this sale, it appears that Thomas was moving way from Branford. A few months later he would die in Boston.

Death

Thomas died at the end of 1673 or in January 1674 at Boston. His wife Susannah first appeared in probate court in Boston on 30 January 1674^[35] before again appearing in probate court in New Haven on 9 June 1674.^[36] His estate in Connecticut was £79 and in Boston £128. His burial record has not been found, and his final resting place is unknown.

A probate record for "Thomas Blachly late deceased in Boston" was also included in the Guilford town records.^[37] The record refers to "mother Susannah Blachly", "Aron Blachly", "Moses Blachly", "Abigail Ball" and "Samuel Ponn the husband of Meriam the daughter". Interestingly, the record also referred to "... dividing the housing and lands at Gilford ...", even though the inventory did not appear to list any such property.

Research Notes

Disambiguation

The Thomas Blatchley/Blachley/Blachly of this profile should not be confused with Thomas Blackly, 20, who sailed on the Hopewell in 1635.^[38] Even when some genealogies do not mention the Hopewell, they sometimes repeat the 1635 arrival claim, such as in Ralph D. Smyth's unsourced piece, "Thomas Blatchley, or Blachley, and His Descendants."^[39] and Frederick Virkus' works.^[40][41] There is no evidence that the 1635 passenger ever arrived in New England, nor is there evidence tying this Thomas Blackly (i.e. “Tho: Blackly [aged] 20” in 1635, per the original) to the Thomas Blatchley of this profile.^[42]

Disproven Parents

Thomas Blakesley and Jane Walleys, who married 30 Dec 1587 in Great Chesterfield, Essex, England, and were previously attached as parents have been disproven given the new evidence tracing Thomas to Wiltshire (see above). (April 2023)

Disputed Place of Origin

It has been claimed that Thomas Blatchley was born in Wales (for example, see "The Ball Family History"^[43]), but there is no evidence to support such a claim.

Sources

1. ↑ "Thomas Blatchley, Hartford Founder", Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford website. Retrieved 4.3.2023. The biography says that Thomas "sold his land at Branford on 16 April 1653", implying that he probably did not live there subsequently. The actual date of sale was 16 April 1673 (see https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LT-R?i=152&cat=157834).
2. ↑ Original Wills and related estate papers, Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre. Thomas Blachly, Colerne, Wilts., 1669, WSFH ref. P3/B/548; available on Ancestry.com, "Wiltshire, England, Wills and Probate, 1530-1858," (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/86687:61333 : accessed 30 Apr 2023) (subscription); Ancestry Sharing Link.
3. ↑ "Hartford Town Votes, Volume I. 1635-­1716" in Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society, Volume 6 (Hartford 1897), p 32.Internet Archive.
4. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Directory; Immigrants to New England, 1620–1640, A Concise Compendium, Ebook (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015); text: "Blatchley, Thomas: Unknown; 1640; Hartford, New Haven, Branford, Boston..."
5. ↑ "Thomas Blatchley, Hartford Founder", Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford website. Retrieved 4.3.2023.
6. ↑ Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, 1:161 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011), image of vol. 1, p. 161 by subscription AmericanAncestors.org.
7. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4VPK-41T2 : 7 January 2020), Thom Blachly in entry for Moses Blachly, 1650. Name: Moses Blachly; Event Type: Birth; Event Date: 25 Mar 1650; Event Place: New Haven, New Haven, CT; Father: Thom Blachly
8. ↑ "1652 ... Miriam Blatsly daugther of Thomas Blatsly borne [illegible]". Branford land records. Volume 1. Page 171 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LY-Q?i=93&cat=157834)
9. ↑ Branford Vital Records 1644-1850. Ancestry.com. Connecticut, U.S., Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data:White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002. Images 36 and 187 of 251. (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/34988:1034?_phsrc=nFx1108&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Miriam&gsln=Blachly&ssrc=pt_t179939841_p192341586967&ml_rpos=1&queryId=02fec15d45e91994e19fe39e9aa451ac) "Blachly, Blatsly (see also Blakeslee], Mirriam, d. Thomas, [b. Mar 1, 1652] - vol. 1, page 171; Merriam m. Samuel Pond, Jan 5, 1669 - vol. 1, page 174"
10. ↑ "Thomas Blatchley, Hartford Founder", Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford website. Retrieved 4.3.2023.
11. ↑ A genealogical dictionary of the first settlers of New England : showing three generations of those who came before May 1692, on the basis of Farmer's Register; by James Savage, 1860; Vol. 1. Page 198. (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/443432/?offset=0#page=211&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
12. ↑ James Hammond Trumbull, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, Prior to the Union with New Haven Colony, May, 1665 (Hartford: Brown & Parsons, 1850); image 492 of 638, p. 464 at HathiTrust.org.
13. ↑ Branford town recorlds. Volume 1. Page 1. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LJ-D?i=5&cat=157834)
14. ↑ Proceedings commemorative of the settlement of Newark, New Jersey, on its two hundredth anniversary. Collections of the New Jersey Historical Society. Volume VI. Supplement. 1866.. Page 40 and 41. (https://www.westfieldnjhistory.com/files/books.online/CongarGenealogies.pdf)
15. ↑ A Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut. Royal R. Hinman. 1852. Press of Case, Tiffany, & Co., Hartford (online at GenealogyLibrary.com). The covenant was printed in the form of a footnote.(http://dgmweb.net/Resources/History/Hist-1667PlantationCovenant.html)
16. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Page 319. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LP-R?cat=157834)
17. ↑ Genealogy. Volume 1. Number 2. Issue of 13 Jan 1912. Pages 11 to 12 (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/112590/?offset=0#page=3&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
18. ↑ History of New Haven County, Connecticut, by Rockey, J. L. (John L.) 1892. Volume 2. Page 8 (https://archive.org/details/historyofnewhave01rock/page/8/mode/2up) “In any case on June 20th, 1667, they met and took vigorous measures to rally the planters to hope and courage. They voted and put on record this agreement: ' Forasmuch as that it appears that the under-taking and the settlement of this place of Branford was procured by and for men of Congregational principles, as to church order, according to the platform of discipline agreed on by the synod of 48, or thereabouts, drawn from the word of God in the main; we, that yet remain here, can say that we have found much peace and quietness, to our great comfort, for the which we desire to bless God; and that it may so remain to such as do continue their abode in this place, and to such as shall come in to fill up the rooms of those that are removed, and that do intend to remove from this place of Branford. We all do see cause now for to agree that an orthodox minister of that judgment shall be called to it and among us. The gathering of such a church shall be encouraged. The upholdment of such church officers shall not want our proportional supply of maintenance, according to rule. We will not in any wise encroach upon or disturb their liberties in so walking from time to time, and at all times: nor will we be in any ways injurious to them in civil or ecclesiastical respects. And this we freely and voluntarily engage ourselves unto, jointly and severally, so long as we remain inhabitants of this place, and this we bind ourselves unto by our subscription to this agreement. It is also agreed that whoever shall come for purchase or to be admitted or planted here, shall so subscribe before admittance or his bargain be valid in law among us.' ... Thomas Blatchly, ... John Linsley, ... Edward Frisbie, ... Samuel Pond, ... Moses Blachly, John Frisbie, William Maltbie, Bartholomew Goodrich, ... John Linsley, Jr., ... Francis Linsley — 48.
19. ↑ (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/112590/?offset=#page=3&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
20. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Page 287. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3L5-L?i=150&cat=157834)
21. ↑ Also see the undated account (probably from the early 1660's) comparing the values of the estates of about 30 landholders in Branford. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LD-L?i=19&cat=157834) Thomas appears to have had a roughly average amount of property.
22. ↑ The public records of the Colony of Connecticut. Volume 2. Page 59.(https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/690892/?offset=0#page=63&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
23. ↑ The public records of the Colony of Connecticut. Volume 2. Page 94.(https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/690892/?offset=0#page=98&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
24. ↑ The public records of the Colony of Connecticut. Volume 2. Page 116.(https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/690892/?offset=0#page=120&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
25. ↑ The public records of the Colony of Connecticut. Volume 2. Page 127 (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/690892/?offset=#page=131&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
26. ↑ The public records of the Colony of Connecticut. Volume 2. Page 133.(https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/690892/?offset=0#page=137&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=) The record does not elaborate here on the reason for this grant. However, several pages earlier the record of this says that "This court, being often moved for grants of land by those who were Pequot soldiers (during the war of 1636-1637) do now see cause to resolve that the next court they will finish that matter and afterward give no further audience to such motions." Another source is needed to provide more robust documentation that Thomas was in Connecticut by 1637 and fought in the Pequot War.
27. ↑ The public records of the Colony of Connecticut. Volume 2. Page 136 (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/690892/?offset=#page=140&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
28. ↑ The public records of the Colony of Connecticut. Volume 2. Page 147. (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/690892/?offset=#page=151&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=) "The court granted Thomas Blachly liberty to depart the court".
29. ↑ The public records of the Colony of Connecticut. Volume 2. Page 169 (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/690892/?offset=#page=173&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
30. ↑ "Thomas Blatchley, Hartford Founder", Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford website. Retrieved 4.3.2023.
31. ↑ See also the unsourced biography at https://josfamilyhistory.com/htm/hopkins/woodruff/wood-blachly.htm
32. ↑ The index for the Guilford land records which can be accessed through FamilySearch (see https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3N-79B4-N?i=37&cat=358853) shows records for Thomas Blachley in volume 3 (page 103) of the Terriers records, however, these Terriers records do not appear to be accessible on FamilySearch. In any case, as it is in volume 3 rather than volume 1, this may be a record for Thomas the grandson of the Thomas of this profile who was deeded property in Guilford in 1692 by his father Aaron (see https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJD-V9XB-2?cat=358853)
33. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Page 332. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LG-B?i=173&cat=157834)
34. ↑ Branford land records. Volume 1. Page 290. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LT-R?i=152&cat=157834) This included multiple parcels in various parts of the township: Mulliner's neck, the south side of the river, Scotch Cap, mill quarter, Norton's meadow, Indian neck. Although the deed refers to sale of "my dwelling house", it is not clear whether Blatchly was selling all of his land or even his principal home lot. Note, however, that the inventory of his estate valued his remaining property in Connecticut at only £79, including land in Hartford, but not any other land worth more than £10 in Connecticut.
35. ↑ Suffolk County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, 1636-1899; Probate Records, Vol 5-7, 1666-1674. Page 342. Image 903 of 922.(https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9069/images/007703071_00903?pId=413619)
36. ↑ “New Haven Probate Records, Vol. 1-2, 1647-1703”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9NF-1 : 9 March 2021), New Haven, Connecticut, FHL microfilm 007626739, image 171. New Haven Probate Record, 1647-1687, Vol. 1, Part 2, page 57.
37. ↑ Guilford town records. Volume B. Page 251. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3F-N3KZ-L?i=239&cat=358853)
38. ↑ Hotten, John Camden (editor). The Original Lists of Persons of Quality: Emigrants, Religious Exiles, Political Rebels, Serving Men Sold for a Term of Years, Apprentices, Children Stolen, Maidens Pressed, and Others, who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700. (London: John Camden Hotten, 1874.) p. 110 at InternetArchive.org.
39. ↑ Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters, ed., The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 58 (1904):357 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1904), image 381 of 666, p. 357 at HathiTrust.org.
40. ↑ VIRKUS, FREDERICK A., editor. Immigrant Ancestors: A List of 2,500 Immigrants to America before 1750. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1964. 75p. Repr. 1986.
41. ↑ Frederick A. Virkus, Abridged Compendium of genealogy; first families of America; a genealogical encyclopedia of the United States, published 1925. Reference page 381
42. ↑ Great Migration 1634-1635, A-B (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume 1, A-B, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999); Thomas Blackly pp. 318-9.
43. ↑ "The Ball Family History," The Family Histories of Allen and Andrea (Hood) Miles image of unnumbered p. 3 of PDF file; no sources given for the claim.

See also:

• Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Directory; Immigrants to New England, 1620–1640, A Concise Compendium, Ebook (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015), entry for "Blatchley, Thomas": Unknown; 1640; Hartford, New Haven, Branford, Boston [HaTR 32; TAG 12:102; NEHGR 58:357, 59:105; Seversmith 1:326-32; Shirley Hathaway Stebbings, Blatchley Physicians and Pioneers: A Family History of the Descendants of Thomas Blatchley, 1635-1929 (Baltimore 1983)].
• White, Andrew Curtis. Memorials of Roderick White and His Wife, Lucy Blakeslee of Paris Hill, N.Y (1892) Page 9
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195693403/thomas-blakesley NOTE: Unsourced, no gravestone image
• Probate picture: Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9049/images/007626739_00171 : accessed 19 Jul 2021), New Haven, Connecticut, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Suffolk County, MA: Probate File Papers.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017-2019. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org) Case 673: Nuncupative will
• A genealogical dictionary of the first settlers of New England : showing three generations of those who came before May 1692, on the basis of Farmer's Register; by James Savage, 1860; Vol. 1. Page 198. (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/443432/?offset=0#page=211&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to Upton Criddington Esq. for bringing forward the nuncupative will, thereby providing evidence to link Thomas to his English origins.