First a note to those reseachers reading this
Most of the information presented here is NOT DOCUMENTED by me, so please be careful. I have found a lot of this on the net, in books and in other parts in my grandmother's research. I present it for information only. I wish it were documented so that I knew it was all correct. If you have proof of any of it, or if you can help fill in some of the blanks, please contact me. If any of it is documented by me, it will be noted. In the meantime, enjoy. Thanks, Jef
The First Blinn Family in America
Peter Blinn immigrated to America in the early 1670's and settled in Wethersfield CT. By backdating his will, I found a copy on the web (see below), he was born abt 1640. A website I found once (click here) said he was a bilingual attorney, part of the French Huguenot colony in London, and was born in Stepney Parish, London England. This same site listed his father as William Blinn, born abt 1615 and married abt 1639/41, and his grandfather as Peter, born abt 1580 and married abt 1606 or abt 1614. There might be some truth here as it the naming follows common East Anglian naming customs (from the book, Albion's Seed) and, Peter used the French spelling, Blin, rather than a more anglicized version (see Blinn A Study...). What is common knowledge is that once in America, he was a reknowned joiner with some pieces attributed to him still in existance. Some examples of his cabinetry still exist in the Wethersfield museum, also supposedly the Metropolitan Museum in New York City and the Edison Institute in Dearborn Michigan. Jan thinks that The Historical Society in Hartford and the Wadsworth Atheneum as well as the State Library all have Blinn chests. An interesting aside: in the novel, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, a main character builds a house and furnishes it with all the finest things available including furniture from "the great Wethersfield joiner, Peter Blin".
It is difficult to find records of the early Blinn family, if you know of something different or if you have more information than presented here, please contact me so this becomes more accurate and complete. I am searching for an inexpensive copy of A History of Ancient Wethersfield by Stiles which is supposed to have a lot of information in it. It costs about $160 so I haven't gotten it yet, but it can be special ordered. A fellow Blinn researcher emailed me saying that the book First Puritan Settlers by Hinman also contains early information, also some information in the Nutmegger.
Peter Blin's Will
A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.
1723 to 1729.
Page 263-4-281 Name: Peter Blinn Location: Wethersfield
Invt. �79-00-01. Taken 18 March, 1724-5, by David Goodrich, William Warner and Richard Montague. Will dated 2 March, 1724-5.
I, Peter Blinn of Wethersfield, having arrived at the age of 84 years, do make this my last will and testament: Item. I give to my beloved wife 1-3 part of all my moveable estate, except my wearing apparrell, my silver-headed cane and joyner tooles. Item. I give to my beloved son Peter all my wearing apparrell and all my joyners tooles, besides �18 he hath already received of me, as may appear in the 71st page of my Book of Accompt. Item. I give to my son James Blin 5 shillings. I give to my son William Blinn 1 shilling. I give to my daughter Mary Hurlbut 5 shillings. I give to Daniel Blinn, my grandson, son to my son Daniel Blinn, 5 shillings. I give to my son Jonathan Blinn 1 shilling. I give to my son Deliverance Blinn 1 shilling. Item. I give to my daughter Margaret Belding, after all my just debts are paid and the severall legacies before mentioned, 2-3 of my moveable estate, except my silver-headed cane, which I give to my grandson George Blinn, son of Deliverance Blinn. And I make my son Deliverance Blinn sole executor.
Witness: David Goodrich, David Williams, Christopher Graham.
Peter Blinn, ls.
Court Record, Page 82--4 May, 1725: Will now exhibited and proven.
Page 88-89--6 July, 1725: Mary Blynn, widow, her 1-3 part set out by Joshua Robbins, John Russell and Richard Montague (per order of Court).
Notes on Peter
Database: Genealogical Dictionary of New England Settlers, Volume 1
Hide, blushing glory, hide Pultova's day. page 199
Blin, Peter, Wethersfield, had four ch. b. 1675-81; but the names are not seen.
Book: Public Records of Connecticut, by Charles Hoedley, Hartford 1st 1859, 1968
vol.3 1678-1689 pg99. " Upon Petition of sundry inhabitants of Weathersfeild [sic] that they might have liberty to errect a plantation in the Wabaquassit country, the Court refers it to the Gov and Councill to make answer thereto... The petition... by ... Peter Blin..."
Peter died 7 Mar 1725 in Wethersfield CT. His headstone at the cemetery (Congregational Meeting House, Wethersfield) declares: "Here lies the body of Peter Blin, who departed this life March 7 in the 85 year of his age." The gravestone is obviously a bit weathered.
Peter's Wives
The information out there is a bit confusing and contradictary. The only thing that everyone seems to agree upon is that Peter was married to Mary and the names of his children, possibly this is because of his will.
1. Unnamed - " Peter Blin, of a family of French Huguenots, who came to England early in the 17th century, b. in London, and probably in the Parish of Stepney 1640; settled at Wethersfield Conn., ca. 1680; married 1st, in England, a lady whose name has not been handed down, and by her, had issue, 1. Peter 2. James ", Burke's American Families with British Ancestry, Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc, 1977, p2566. This is the only reference I have seen as to a wife before Johanna.
2. Johanna ?, born abt 1645/53 in Wethersfield CT and died abt 1681 in Wethersfield CT; married 1669 . I have not been able to find anything on her lineage or family. She died shortly after Margaret's birth. Their children were: William, Mary, Daniel & Margaret. (possibly also Peter and James if the above is incorrect)
3. Mary ?, born abt 1644. Some online sources say her last name was Harris, others say that she was previously married to a man named Harris (maybe Walter Harris) One even says her maiden name was Hollister, the daughter of Thomas Hollister & Elizabeth Latimer, but the birth and death dates are very wrong for that). She married Peter in 1682 and had Jonathan & Deliverence. I do not have her death date, but I believe she outlived Peter.
Peter's Children
1. Peter Blinn; born abt 1667/70 in Wethersfield CT, died ? in Guilford CT; married on 7 Mar 1696/97 in ? to Hannah Crampton, born abt 1674 in Guilford CT died ? in ? (parentage unknown); children: Hannah, John, Jerusha, Elizabeth & Margaret.
2. James Blinn, a seaman; born abt 1673 in Wethersfield CT, died 1729 in Boston MA; married by Mr. James Allen (BOSTON BIRTHS, BAPTISMS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS, 1630-1699,1697 page 243) on 6 Dec 1698 in Boston MA to Margaret Dennison, born 21 Jul 1677 in Milton MA died 19 Jul 1736 in ? (dob & dod from ancestry.com) (daughter of William Dennison of Milton MA); children: William, James & Peter. (James' ancestor tree).
3. William Blinn; born 1 Jul 1675 in Wethersfield CT, died 28 Mar 1739 in Wethersfield CT; married first on 13 Nov 1701 in Wethersfield CT to Anna Coltman (possibly Cole or Coulton), born 11 Mar 1680 in Wethersfield CT died 17 Oct 1724 in Wethersfield CT, photo of her grave on William's page, (daughter of John Coltman & Mary ?); children: Daniel, Peter, Anna, Ephraim, Mary, William, Thankful, & William. married second on 22 Dec 1725 in ? to Thankful Nott, born 6 Feb 1694 in ? died ? in ? (daughter of John Nott & Patience Miller); children: Gershom, Thankful, Patience, Samuel, Abraham, & Elizabeth.
4. Mary Blinn; born 2 Dec 1677 in Wethersfield CT, died 1752 in ?; married on 9 Jul 1699 in Wethersfield CT to Nathan Hurlbut, born 4 Oct 1670 in ? died ? in ? (son of Samuel Hurlbut & Mary Goode); children: Gideon, Nathaniel, Anna, Peter, John, Mary, Samuel, Elizabeth, Thankful, & Hezekiah.
5. Daniel Blinn; born 2 Mar 1679 in Wethersfield CT, died 5 Dec 1720 in Wethersfield CT; married on 18 Nov 1707 in Wethersfield CT to Mercy East, born abt 1680 in ? died ? in ? (parentage unknown); children: Daniel.
6. Margaret Blinn; born 10 Mar 1681 in Wethersfield CT, died ? in ?; married first bef 1706 in ? to William Clark, born 29 Jan 1673 in Wethersfield CT died 8 Apr 1708 in Glastonbury CT (son of William Clark & Susannah ?); children: none known. Married second on 23 Nov 1714 (possibly the 28th) in CT to Daniel Beldin (or Belding), born abt 1682 in ? died ? in ? (2nd son of Samuel Jr. Beldin); children: Margaret, Lois, Prudence, Eunice, & Thankful.
8. Jonathan Blinn; born abt 1683/86 in Wethersfield CT, died 1741/42 in ?;. information on Jonathan's wives is found on his page.
9. Deliverence Blinn; born 12 Jul 1688 in Wethersfield CT, died 3 Nov 1736 in Wethersfield CT; married on 5 Feb 1713 in ? to Mary Stillman, born 12 Jul 1689 in ? died 30 Jun 1735 in ? (daughter of George Stillman & Rebecca Smith); children: Martha, Mary, Rebecca & George. Was executor of Peter's will.
Visit the individual children's pages for much more information:
Peter Jr., James, William, Mary, Daniel, Margaret, Jonathan, & Deliverance.
A Brief History of Early Connecticut:
First explored by the Dutch, but except for trading posts, Connecticut wasn't settled by Europeans until 1633 when Puritans from Massachusetts began to come to the area. The name, originally Quinnehtukqut, comes from Mohegan for "Long River Place" or "Beside the Long Tidal River". The early economy centered on agriculture and trade, but because of limited land, manufacturing began early here. It grew more or less steadily and its settlers spread out over the area and even moved into neighboring areas. Long Island was settled mostly by settlers from Connecticut and New Haven.
1638 saw the establishment of the New Haven colony, an unofficial colony in the area (It was not a colony that was
supported by a Royal charter or legal title from the English government). In 1665, the areas claimed by the colony of New Haven were officially made part of the Connecticut Colony.
In 1639 Connecticut became the first colony to adopt a constitution establishing a representative government.
In 1634 a group form Massachusetts founded the town of Wethersfield on the "Great River", the Connecticut river, directly downstream from Hartford and a year before that city. Many towns were founded in the colony in the following years, but only Windsor was established before it (1633).
Important dates in Connecticut before and during Peter's lifetime
taken from the Connecticut Historical Commission (click here for their complete list)
1614--Adriaen Block, representing the Dutch, sails up the Connecticut River.
1633--The Dutch erect a fort, the House of (Good) Hope, on the future site of Hartford.
1633--John Oldham and others explore and trade along the Connecticut River.
Plymouth Colony sends William Holmes to found a trading post at Windsor.
1634--Wethersfield founded by people from Massachusetts.
1634--First English settlers in Windsor arrive in summer.
1635--Fort erected at Saybrook by Lion Gardiner.
1635--Group from Dorchester, Massachusetts join Windsor settlement.
1636--Thomas Hooker and company journey from Newtown (Cambridge),
Massachusetts to found Hartford.
1637--Pequot War. Captain John Mason leads colonists to decisive victory.
1638--New Haven Colony established by John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton.
1639--Fundamental Orders of Connecticut adopted by Freemen of Hartford,
Wethersfield and Windsor; John Haynes chosen first Governor.
1643--Connecticut joins in forming the New England Confederation.
1646--New London founded by John Winthrop, Jr.
1650--Code of laws drawn up by Roger Ludlow and adopted by legislature.
1662--John Winthrop, Jr. obtains a charter for Connecticut.
1665--Union of New Haven and Connecticut Colonies completed.
1665--The first division of any Connecticut town--Lyme's separation from
Saybrook.
1675-76--Connecticut participates in King Philip's War which was fought in
Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
1687--Andros assumes rule over Connecticut; Charter Oak episode occurs.
1689--Connecticut resumes government under charter.
1701--Collegiate School authorized by General Assembly.
1708--Saybrook Platform permits churches to join regional consociations.
1717--New Haven State House erected on the Green.
1717--Collegiate School moves to New Haven; called Yale the next year.
- The Great Plague of London in Jul 1665, hist of the plague,
- The Great London Fire in Sep 1666
news articles, hist of the fire,
Links I have found to Colonial History:
- Early America.com.
- Heritage Studios, this site has some modern paintings of old costumes among other things.
- Colonial American Gazette, lots of information here.
- Colonial Maps. Univ.of GA, Hargrett Rare Map Collection
- 17th Century Colonial New England, lots of info and links.
- New Haven Colony, a brief history of this venture frpm Yale University.
- Connecticut, official state site.
- Connecticut State Library, great site to the history of CT.
- History & Genealogy, from the CT state library
- Wethersfield CT, town website
