Mary Bliss1

F, b. circa 1626, d. 29 January 1712
FatherThomas Bliss b. c 1593, d. c 1639
MotherMargaret Hulins b. c 1605, d. 28 Aug 1684
     Mary was born circa 1626 in Rodborough Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, England. Mary married Joseph Parsons on 26 November 1646 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. He was of Springfield, Massachusetts. They first settled in Springfield where they had their first 5 children. In 1654, the family moved to Northampton, their remaining children were born there. About 1670, neighbors, envious of the family's prosperity, accused Mary of witchcraft. She was sent to Boston where she was fully acquitted. On 2 September 1675, their son, Ebnezer was killed by the Indians. Those who had accused Mary, then publicly announced that Ebenezer's death was God's retribution; also accusing the judges of having been bribed. The family returned to Springfield by 1679. Mary's husband, Joseph, died on 9 October 1683 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, leaving her a widow. Mary departed this life on Friday, 29 January 1712 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.

Family

Joseph Parsons d. 9 Oct 1683

Citations

  1. [S1715] John Homer Bliss, Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America from about the year 1550 to 1880, pages 30-31 - Mary Bliss, b. in England, m. Nov. 26, 1646, Joseph Parsons, Springfield, Mass., who d. Oct. 9, 1683. She d, Jan. 29 1712. Mr. Parsons, associated with Mr. Pynchon, was one of the most prominent men in the public business of the place, and quite wealthy. ... Joseph & Mary Parsons had five children before their removal to Northampton, Mass., in 1654. [Their son Ebenezer, born in this place, May 1, 1665, was the first white child born in the town, and he was killed by the Indians at Northfield, Sept. 2, 1675.] Here in Northampton, they had seven more children, making twelve in all, but three, named Benjamin, John & David died young. Mary Bliss, the mother of this family, two years after the birth of her youngest child was charged with witchcraft by some of her neighbors who were envious of their prosperity and endeavored in this way to disgrace them. She was sent to Boston for trial, where the jury gave her a full acquittal of the crime, and she returned home to Northampton, from whence they removed back to Springfield in 1679. Just after her acquittal in Boston, her son Ebenezer was killed by the Indians, and those who had been instrumental in bringing her to trial said: "Behold, though human judges may be bought off, God's vengeance neither turns aside nor slumbers." It is said that she possessed great beauty and talents, but was not bery amiable.