John Bliss

John Bliss was a blacksmith associated with Little Preston and Preston Capes, Northamptonshire. He was the son of William Bliss, was baptized at Daventry on 2 February 1562, married Alice Smith at Preston Capes in 1614, and made his will in September 1617.

John Bliss was the son of William Bliss. His supplied life dates are 2 February 1560 to September 1617, although the Preston Capes material states that he was baptized at Daventry on 2 February 1562. He became a blacksmith.

John lived at Little Preston in some years and was resident at Preston Capes from 1614 to 1617. The Preston Capes material says that his first marriage was not recorded. It records his marriage to Alice Smith at Preston Capes on 6 August 1614. Family-tree notes identify Alice as his second wife and suggest that the mother of most of his children was an earlier, unrecorded wife; other unnamed sources reportedly give that wife’s name as Anne or Agnes Olds. This identification is uncertain.

The children named in John’s will were Thomas, George, Agnes, Joan, Constance, Elizabeth, and John. The youngest, John Bliss, was baptized at St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church, Preston Capes, on 17 March 1615 and is identified in the supplied material as the son of John Bliss and Alice Smith. The supplied material attributes the other children to John and an earlier wife, rather than to Alice, but this conclusion is based on the timing of the 1614 marriage and has not been documented here by a record of the first marriage.

On 8 September 1617, John made his will. He left 6 pence to each of his seven named children: Thomas, George, Agnes, Joan, Constance, Elizabeth, and John. He appointed his brother-in-law, Peter Smith, and his son Thomas as overseers, and left the residue of his estate to his wife, Alice, whom he named sole executrix. Probate was granted to Alice Bliss on 11 October 1617. The Preston Capes material states that John was buried in the churchyard of St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church, Preston Capes.

Historical context

John’s recorded occupation was blacksmith. His surviving will provides a brief view of his household at Preston Capes in 1617, naming his wife, seven children, a brother-in-law, and a son who acted as overseer.

Sources & research

Preston Capes, Northampton, England records, Preston Capes website: http:www.prestoncapes.org.uk
Original Family Tree Maker notes supplied for John Bliss.