| Notes |
- Joanna Blessing was born about 1595 to William Blessing/Blyssyne, according to her age given in a lawsuit in 1670. She was probably born near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, but neither the record of her birth nor her baptism has been found. On April 25, 1620, Joanna married William Towne at the Church of St. Nicholas in Yarmouth. William and Joanna's first six children were also baptized at St. Nicholas.
William brought his family to New England before 1636, and they settled in Salem, where he was granted land in 1640. William and Joanna had two more children, Sarah and Joseph, born in Salem around that time. In 1651, William bought some land in the neighboring town of Topsfield. He sold his Salem land the next year and soon bought more land in Topsfield. On the occasion of his son Joseph's marriage in 1663, William deeded two thirds of his land to Joseph. William and Joanna probably lived with Joseph for the remainder of their days. William died in Topsfield on June 24, 1673, and his widow Joanna was named administrator. His estate wasn't probated until April, 1683, soon after the death of Joanna, when the estate was distributed among his children.
Three of William and Joanna's daughters were accused in the Salem Witch Trials. Two of them, Rebecca Nurse and Mary Esty, were hung. Sarah Cloyes escaped from the Ipswich jail before she could be executed.
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
Name: Jone Blessing
Residence Place: Caistor-next-Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 22 Jun 1595
Christening Date (Original): 22 Jun 1595
Christening Place: Caistor-next-Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
Father's Name: John
Mother's Name: Jane
|
1595 - 1682 (86 years)
