Rev Thomas Francis Blossom, Sr

From the Log of the Mayflower: "Deacon Thomas Blossom and his son were well known as of Pastor Robinson's flock at Leyden. They returned moreover to Holland from Plymouth, England (when they gave up the voyage) via London.

The father went to New Plymouth ten years later, the son dying before that time. Letter dated at Leyden, Dec. 15, 1625, he says: --"God hath taken away my son who was with us in the ship (Mayflower) when I went back again."

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Thomas & his wife, Ann, also resided in Pieterskerkhof, Leyden, Holland before Plymouth, MA. He, his wife & family set said for New England in July of 1620 on the ship 'Speedwell' which sailed from Leyden to Southampton to redezvous with the larger ship the 'Mayflower'. Both ships sailed from Southampton on August 4, 1620 with the Blossoms still aboard the Speedwell. They sailed down the channel, but Speedwell proved unseaworthy. Both ships put into Dartmouth for repairs & departed again on August 23. After sailing for 100 leagues, Speedwell was discovered to be leaking so badly that they were forced to return to England where most of the passengers were crowded onto the Mayflower to continue the voyage. The Blossoms, with other Pilgrims, returned to Leyden. Thomas was a passenger on the 2nd 'Mayflower' which arrived at Plymouth Colony on May 15, 1629. Pilgrim Church ~ Letters of his, which still survive, indicate he was a deacon & an educated man.

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Thomas and Anne Blossom were among the first Puritan settlers in New England.

also see:

Elder Thomas BLOSSOM

http://www.illian.org/places/FamilySheets/d0363/F81260.html#I218380

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On this Thanksgiving Day we may reflect back to our Pilgrim ancestors Thomas Blossom and family. His daughter, Elizabeth Blossom, married Edward FitzRandolph. Did you know that there were two ships that set sail for the new world in 1620 - The Mayflower and The Speedwell? The Speedwell proved to be un-seaworthy and returned to Leyden, Holland where Deacon Thomas Blossom and his family remained until 1629 when they made the journey across the Atlantic Ocean to join the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony. He was a respected member of the community. A flu epidemic hit the Colony in 1632. Thomas Blossom took ill and died. (He did not die in England as indicated in his family tree on this web site.) There are many books with information about Thomas Blossom, Edward FitzRandolph, and our families including the book "Saints and Strangers". You may search Google for "Speedwell Thomas Blossom" and find many interesting articles such as the following:

___________________________________________________________________________

The Life of Edward (FitzRandolph), the Pilgrim (Born about 1615)

The Pilgrim, Edward, was a man of substance as well as of character. He built a house in Scituate, Mass. during 1636; and it appears that he sold his property there in 1639 and moved to Barnstable with his minister and 25 townsmen. Here, he built another home on an 8-acre lot and lived in it till 1649, when he sold it and three other town lots, and removed to his farm in West Barnstable(a tract of 143 acres.; this he occupied for 20 years)...when he sold out and moved with his family to Piscataway, N.J. This important change seems to have been brought about by a desire for ampler religious freedom. The restrictions of Puritan rule in New England seemed oppressive to many men and women who longed for a large liberty of thought. Religious freedom, complete and unstinted, was promised to new settlers by the New Jersey Proprietors, and this constituted the chief lure to the pious pilgrims.

Young Edward, in May 1637, at Scituate Mass., married Elizabeth, the daughter of Thomas and Anne Blossom.

Elizabeth Blossom was born in Leyden, Holland, of pious Pilgrim parentage about the year 1620. Her father, Thomas Blossom, was a prominent member of Rev. John Robinson's church from the time its members left Scrooby in Nottinghamshire, England. In 1620, the *Mayflower* and the *Speedwell* were to sail as companion ships to America. The Speedwell was a little ship of 60 tons, which had been purchased and fitted out in Holland for the Pilgrim congregation. She sailed July 26, 1620, from the port of Delfthaven, about 24 miles from Leyden, for Southampton, England, where the Mayflower for a week had been waiting with a partial list of passengers from London. It was found that the little Speedwell needed repairs before putting out to sea. Repairs were made at a considerable expense and delay. The two vessels then set sail for their long voyage, but the Speedwell proved leaky and both vessels put into Dartmouth for further repairs. Then, once more, they sailed together and progressed some 300 miles westward from Land's End, when the captain of the Speedwell complained further of his boat's unseaworthiness. Again, the two vessels turned back, this time putting into Plymouth Harbor, and here it was decided to dismiss the Speedwell after a redistribution of passengers and cargo.

On September 6, 1620, eighteen persons returned in the Speedwell to Leyden by way of London, where the leaky boat was sold. Among those returning was Thomas Blossom with his little family. There, he remained until the congregation of Rev. Robinson was able to send over to America those who were left behind.

On May 1, 1629, six vessels left the shores of England with a passenger list which included the bulk of the Leyden congregation, all bound for New England. One of these ships was the famous Mayflower. Thomas Blossom and his family were on this same vessel.

The Mayflower and Her Log; July 15, 1620-May 6, 1621 — Volume 4

by Ames, Azel, 1845-1908

___________________________________________________________

We have a very interesting and varied family. I am so thankful that you belong to our family. I started searching our family history over 30 years ago. It has became a life-long passion. I started with about 50 names and now have branches of our family back to 250 BC. Shirley (Brown) Wilcoxon

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http://www.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/ifa_image.cgi?IN=006855&PN=28&SEC=...

http://www.genealogy.com/ifa/data/506/images/Seventeenth-20Century-...

http://www.genealogy.com/ifa/data/504/images/English-20Ancestry-20-...

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Thomas Blossom was born about 1580, probably one of at least seven children born to Peter Blossom (who listed his occupation as "husbandman"/"laborer") and his second wife Annabel Blossom of Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire. The Blossoms moved to Stapleford around 1582. Thomas Blossom's letters suggest he had some education, but there is no mention of his name in Cambridge University records.

Thomas lived in Leiden, Netherlands for some time, arriving before October 27, 1609. He attempted to emigrate to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 as a passenger of the Speedwell, companion ship of the Mayflower, however the Speedwell turned back.

Blossom returned to Leiden until 1629, when he and his family emigrated to Massachusetts in a ship named the Mayflower (probably a different ship from the original Mayflower). He died in the "infectious feaver" of 1632-1633.

Thomas married Anne Elsdon on 11/10/1605 at St. Clement, Cambridge and had 6 children. After Thomas Blossom's death, Anne subsequently married Henry Rowley at Plymouth on 10/17/1633.

Thomas and Anne Blossom had six children. Three died in childhood, buried in Leiden, Netherlands between 1617 and 1625. Thomas Blossom, born about 1623, married Sarah Ewer on 6/18/1645 in Barnstable, Massachusetts and had one daughter. He died of drowning of Nauset Beach on 4/22/1650.

Elizabeth Blossom was born about 1620 in Leiden. She married Edward Fitzrandolph in Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts on 5/10/1637 and had nine children. After Edward died in Piscataway, New Jersey about 1675, Elizabeth married John Pike in Piscataway (no known children).

Source: "A genealogical profile of Thomas Blossom", www.PlymouthAncestors.org

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Arrived on Mayflower 1629

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Came to Plymouth in 1629. His correspondance indicates substantial education. Probably the son of Peter and Annabel Blossom of Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire Thomas and Anne Blossom came to America with their children, arriving in Plymouth 15 May 1629

Thomas Blossom was born in 1580 Little Shelford, Cambridge, England. His parents were Peter BLOSSOM (1535- 1597) and Annabel [__?__] (1549 – 1617). He married Ann HEILSON 10 Nov 1605 in St Clements Church, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. He began the journey in the Speedwell, sister ship of the famous Mayflower, but the Speedwell had to turn back due to being unseaworthy. Thomas later arrived in Plymouth Colony on the 2nd voyage of the Mayflower in 1629. Thomas died in 1632 Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The date of the death of Deacon Blossom is uncertain. Gov. Bradford, who was his contemporary, says he died of the malignant fever which pervaded in the summer of 1633. The accurate Prince copies Gov. Bradford’s statement and the careful Mr. Savage refers to Prince as his authority. Judge Mitchel says “about 1633.” Notwithstanding this array of authorities it can perhaps be demonstrated that Dea. Blossom died in 1632. In the tax lists for the town of Plymouth, dated Jan’y 12, 1633, N. S., (1632 O. S.), Dea. Thomas Blossom is not taxed ; but the Wid. Blossom is. The record now existing was made in March 1632/33, and proves conclusively that Dea. Blossom was dead when that record was made.

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GEDCOM Note

Records not imported into INDI (individual) Gramps ID P1748:

Line ignored as not understood Line 35405: 3 _APID 1,7486::1456284 Line ignored as not understood Line 35412: 3 _APID 1,7486::1456284 Line ignored as not understood Line 35417: 3 _APID 1,7249::10739668 Line ignored as not understood Line 35425: 3 _APID 1,7249::10739668 Line ignored as not understood Line 35433: 3 _APID 1,7249::10739668

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GEDCOM Note

Deacon Thomas Blossom From the Log of the Mayflower: "Deacon Thomas Blossom and hisson were well known as of Pastor Robinson's flock at Leyden. Theyreturned moreover to Holland from Plymouth, England (when they gaveup the voyage) via London. The father went to New Plymouth ten years later, the son dyingbefore that time. Letter dated at Leyden, Dec. 15, 1625, he says:--"God hath taken away my son who was with us in the ship(Mayflower) when I went back again." Thomas & his wife, Ann, also resided in Pieterskerkhof,Leyden, Holland before Plymouth, MA. He, his wife & family setsaid for New England in July of 1620 on the ship 'Speedwell' whichsailed from Leyden to Southampton to redezvous with the larger shipthe 'Mayflower'. Both ships sailed from Southampton on August 4, 1620with the Blossoms still aboard the Speedwell. They sailed down thechannel, but Speedwell proved unseaworthy. Both ships put intoDartmouth for repairs & departed again on August 23. Aftersailing for 100 leagues, Speedwell was discovered to be leaking sobadly that they were forced to return to England where most of thepassengers were crowded onto the Mayflower to continue the voyage.The Blossoms, with other Pilgrims, returned to Leyden. Thomas was apassenger on the 2nd 'Mayflower' which arrived at Plymouth Colony onMay 15, 1629. Pilgrim Church ~ Letters of his, which still survive,indicate he was a deacon & an educated man. Thomas and Anne Blossom were among the first Puritan settlers inNew England. also see: Elder Thomas BLOSSOM http://www.illian.org/places/FamilySheets/d0363/F81260.html#I218380 On this Thanksgiving Day we may reflect back to our Pilgrimancestors Thomas Blossom and family. His daughter, Elizabeth Blossom,married Edward FitzRandolph. Did you know that there were two shipsthat set sail for the new world in 1620 - The Mayflower and TheSpeedwell? The Speedwell proved to be un-seaworthy and returned toLeyden, Holland where Deacon Thomas Blossom and his family remaineduntil 1629 when they made the journey across the Atlantic Ocean tojoin the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony. He was a respected member ofthe community. A flu epidemic hit the Colony in 1632. Thomas Blossomtook ill and died. (He did not die in England as indicated in hisfamily tree on this web site.) There are many books with informationabout Thomas Blossom, Edward FitzRandolph, and our families includingthe book "Saints and Strangers". You may search Google for"Speedwell Thomas Blossom" and find many interestingarticles such as the following: ___________________________________________________________________________ The Life of Edward (FitzRandolph), the Pilgrim (Born about 1615) The Pilgrim, Edward, was a man of substance as well as ofcharacter. He built a house in Scituate, Mass. during 1636; and itappears that he sold his property there in 1639 and moved toBarnstable with his minister and 25 townsmen. Here, he built anotherhome on an 8-acre lot and lived in it till 1649, when he sold it andthree other town lots, and removed to his farm in West Barnstable(atract of 143 acres.; this he occupied for 20 years)...when he soldout and moved with his family to Piscataway, N.J. This importantchange seems to have been brought about by a desire for amplerreligious freedom. The restrictions of Puritan rule in New Englandseemed oppressive to many men and women who longed for a largeliberty of thought. Religious freedom, complete and unstinted, waspromised to new settlers by the New Jersey Proprietors, and thisconstituted the chief lure to the pious pilgrims. Young Edward, in May 1637, at Scituate Mass., married Elizabeth,the daughter of Thomas and Anne Blossom. Elizabeth Blossom was born in Leyden, Holland, of pious Pilgrimparentage about the year 1620. Her father, Thomas Blossom, was aprominent member of Rev. John Robinson's church from the time itsmembers left Scrooby in Nottinghamshire, England. In 1620, the*Mayflower* and the *Speedwell* were to sail as companion ships toAmerica. The Speedwell was a little ship of 60 tons, which had beenpurchased and fitted out in Holland for the Pilgrim congregation. Shesailed July 26, 1620, from the port of Delfthaven, about 24 milesfrom Leyden, for Southampton, England, where the Mayflower for a weekhad been waiting with a partial list of passengers from London. Itwas found that the little Speedwell needed repairs before putting outto sea. Repairs were made at a considerable expense and delay. Thetwo vessels then set sail for their long voyage, but the Speedwellproved leaky and both vessels put into Dartmouth for further repairs.Then, once more, they sailed together and progressed some 300 mileswestward from Land's End, when the captain of the Speedwellcomplained further of his boat's unseaworthiness. Again, the twovessels turned back, this time putting into Plymouth Harbor, and hereit was decided to dismiss the Speedwell after a redistribution ofpassengers and cargo. On September 6, 1620, eighteen persons returned in the Speedwellto Leyden by way of London, where the leaky boat was sold. Amongthose returning was Thomas Blossom with his little family. There, heremained until the congregation of Rev. Robinson was able to sendover to America those who were left behind. On May 1, 1629, six vessels left the shores of England with apassenger list which included the bulk of the Leyden congregation,all bound for New England. One of these ships was the famousMayflower. Thomas Blossom and his family were on this same vessel. The Mayflower and Her Log; July 15, 1620-May 6, 1621 — Volume 4 by Ames, Azel, 1845-1908 ___________________________________________________________ We have a very interesting and varied family. I am so thankfulthat you belong to our family. I started searching our family historyover 30 years ago. It has became a life-long passion. I started withabout 50 names and now have branches of our family back to 250 BC.Shirley (Brown) Wilcoxon http://www.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/ifa_image.cgi?IN=006855&PN=28&SEC=... http://www.genealogy.com/ifa/data/506/images/Seventeenth-20Century-... http://www.genealogy.com/ifa/data/504/images/English-20Ancestry-20-... Thomas Blossom was born about 1580, probably one of at least sevenchildren born to Peter Blossom (who listed his occupation as"husbandman"/"laborer") and his second wifeAnnabel Blossom of Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire. The Blossoms movedto Stapleford around 1582. Thomas Blossom's letters suggest he hadsome education, but there is no mention of his name in CambridgeUniversity records. Thomas lived in Leiden, Netherlands for some time, arriving beforeOctober 27, 1609. He attempted to emigrate to Plymouth, Massachusettsin 1620 as a passenger of the Speedwell, companion ship of theMayflower, however the Speedwell turned back. Blossom returned to Leiden until 1629, when he and his familyemigrated to Massachusetts in a ship named the Mayflower (probably adifferent ship from the original Mayflower). He died in the"infectious feaver" of 1632-1633. Thomas married Anne Elsdon on 11/10/1605 at St. Clement, Cambridgeand had 6 children. After Thomas Blossom's death, Anne subsequentlymarried Henry Rowley at Plymouth on 10/17/1633. Thomas and Anne Blossom had six children. Three died in childhood,buried in Leiden, Netherlands between 1617 and 1625. Thomas Blossom,born about 1623, married Sarah Ewer on 6/18/1645 in Barnstable,Massachusetts and had one daughter. He died of drowning of NausetBeach on 4/22/1650. Elizabeth Blossom was born about 1620 in Leiden. She marriedEdward Fitzrandolph in Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts on 5/10/1637and had nine children. After Edward died in Piscataway, New Jerseyabout 1675, Elizabeth married John Pike in Piscataway (no knownchildren). Source: "A genealogical profile of Thomas Blossom",www.PlymouthAncestors.org Arrived on Mayflower 1629 Came to Plymouth in 1629. His correspondance indicates substantialeducation. Probably the son of Peter and Annabel Blossom of GreatShelford, Cambridgeshire Thomas and Anne Blossom came to America withtheir children, arriving in Plymouth 15 May 1629 Thomas Blossom was born in 1580 Little Shelford, Cambridge,England. His parents were Peter BLOSSOM (1535- 1597) and Annabel[__?__] (1549 – 1617). He married Ann HEILSON 10 Nov 1605 in StClements Church, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. He began thejourney in the Speedwell, sister ship of the famous Mayflower, butthe Speedwell had to turn back due to being unseaworthy. Thomas laterarrived in Plymouth Colony on the 2nd voyage of the Mayflower in1629. Thomas died in 1632 Plymouth, Massachusetts. The date of the death of Deacon Blossom is uncertain. Gov.Bradford, who was his contemporary, says he died of the malignantfever which pervaded in the summer of 1633. The accurate Princecopies Gov. Bradford’s statement and the careful Mr. Savage refersto Prince as his authority. Judge Mitchel says “about 1633.”Notwithstanding this array of authorities it can perhaps bedemonstrated that Dea. Blossom died in 1632. In the tax lists for thetown of Plymouth, dated Jan’y 12, 1633, N. S., (1632 O. S.), Dea.Thomas Blossom is not taxed ; but the Wid. Blossom is. The record nowexisting was made in March 1632/33, and proves conclusively that Dea.Blossom was dead when that record was made.

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34754607/thomas-blossom

According to Robert Charles Anderson in "The Great Migration Begins" series by the NEHGS, Thomas Blossom, the immigrant English ancestor of the Blossom family in America, was b. circa 1580. "He was prob. the son of Peter and Annabel Blossom of Great Shelford in Cambridgeshire, England."

In addition, Thomas Blossom was not a Deacon of either John Robinson's remnant Leiden church after the sailing of the Mayflower or of the Plymouth, Mass. church. Robinson'[s brother-in-law, Roger White, was the deacon of the remnant church until Roger returned to England. Regarding being a deacon of the Plymouth Church, Anderson writes, which the maintainer of this memorial is in agreement:

• The claim that Thomas Blossom was deacon at Plymouth derives from Savage, but this appears to be a misreading of Prince, who was supposedly quoting Morton, but was in fact misquoting Bradford. In his history of Plymouth Bradford included an account of the infectious epidemic of 1633, and mentioned specifically Thomas Blossom, Richard Masterson and Samuel Fuller as dying in that year. He refers to Samuel Fuller's services as deacon, and this was apparently transferred by Savage to Blossom [Bradford 260]. Prince quoted most of this same section, but altered the sequence, although not enough to confuse the attribution of the office of deacon, and claimed Morton as his source; he mentioned Blossom and Fuller, but not Masterson [Prince 437]. Morton also paraphrased this same passage, but noted by name only Fuller, so he cannot have been the sole source for Prince [Morton 108]. To this confusing mix we must add Morton's account of the early history of the Plymouth church, in which he explicitly states that Richard Masterson and Thomas Blossom were named deacons after the death of Samuel Fuller [PChR 1:83]. But Bradford's language (on which Morton must have been relying here as well) carries the clear implication that Fuller died after Masterson and Blossom, and Samuel Fuller was still alive on 1 July 1633 to receive an allocation of mowing ground [PCR 1:14] whereas Thomas Blossom was already dead by that date. In this instance Morton seems to have misinterpreted Bradford in a different way, and his claim that Masterson and Blossom were briefly deacons at Plymouth should not be accepted. [Great Migration Study Project, the NEHGS: Sketch of Thomas Blossom.]

Thomas m. Nov. 10, 1605 at St. Clement's Chh. in Cambridge, England, Ann, dau. of Cutbert and Margaret Elsden (q.v. Heilsdon, Elsdon), bapt. June 23, 1583 as "Ann Elsden" at Soham Parish in Cambridge, England. It is unknown whether in February 1609 Thomas and Ann were residing in Amsterdam and became one of the 100 or so persons granted permission to relocate with Rev. John Robinson from Amsterdam to Leiden by May 1609. Thomas and Ann were living at the Pieterskerkof section of Leiden on Oct. 27, 1609 when George Rogers was admitted to Leiden University while living with the Thomas Blossom family.

On Mar. 12, 1610 (Dutch calendar, Mar. 12, 1609/10 English Julian calendar) Thomas gave wife Ann a power of attorney to sell her inherited property in Cambridge, England. On Apr. 18, 1618, in the only other notary document of record at Leiden that evidences Thomas was then residing in Leiden, he along with Jonathan Brewster (Elder William Brewster's son) and Robert Cooper witnessed the apprenticeship agreement between Edward Tilley and Robert Hagges. Unfortunately, Thomas' occupation is not stated in the document.

On Nov. 30, 1625 at Leiden, Thomas along with Frances Jessop, Richard Masterson, Thomas Nash and Roger Wilson of Rev. John Robinson's remnant Leiden church, wrote a letter to Gov. William Bradford at Plymouth, Mass. Thomas then wrote a personal letter to Bradford on Dec. 15, 1625 stating in part, "God hath taken away my son, that was with me in the ship, when I went back again; I have only two children which were born since I left you."

Thomas and wife Ann are believed to have arrived at Plymouth, Mass. with three children by 1629. Thomas d. at Plymouth before Mar. 25, 1633, the date the "Widdow Blossome" is listed in the 1633 tax list assessed 9 shillings in corn for the ensuing year. Thomas may have died considerably earlier as the preamble to the 1633 tax list (Mar. 25, 1633-Mar. 24, 1633/4) states:

"March 25, 1633. According to an order in Court held the 2d of January, in the seaventh yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne lord, Charles..." (PCR 1:9-11)

Charles the 1st became King of England on Mar. 27, 1625, and on Jan. 2, 1632/3 was then in the 7th year of his reign. Thomas Blossom was certainly deceased by July 1, 1633 when in a letter of that date, from Rev. Ralph Smith at Plymouth to Rev. Hugh Goodyear at Leiden, Smith included reference to Thomas as "our brother who now sleepeth." The widow Ann subsequently m. at Plymouth Oct. 17, 1633 as his second wife, Henry Rowley. She survived Henry and d. circa 1691.

Thomas Blossom and wife Ann Elsden had five known children b. either in England or Holland:

• i. An unnamed child who was bur. at St. Peters Church (the Pieterskerk) in Leiden Apr. 12, 1617.

• ii. An unnamed son who had accompanied the family from Leiden to England aboard the Speedwell in 1620 intending to sail to America, but due to the failure of the Speedwell and subsequent overcrowding of the Mayflower, the family returned to Leiden and this son died prior to Dec. 15, 1625.

• iii. Elizabeth Blossom, b. after May 1620 undoubtedly in Leiden, Holland, and d. in 1713 in America at present-day New Jersey; m. 1) May 10, 1637 in Scituate, Mass., Edward Fitzrandolph, who d. at Piscataway, NJ circa 1685. They had twelve children, three dying young. Elizabeth m. 2) Jan. 30, 1684/5 at New Jersey, Capt. John Pike, who d. Jan. 20, 1687/8 in Woodbridge, NJ. Edward and Elizabeth (Blossom) Fitzrandolph are the maternal ancestors of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.

• iv. Thomas Blossom, Jr., b. circa 1623 in Leiden, Holland, d. Apr. 22, 1650 by drowning off the coast of Cape Cod at Eastham, Mass.; m. June 18, 1645 in Barnstable, Mass., Sarah Ewer, dau. of Thomas Ewer and Sarah Learned, bapt. May 10, 1629 at Stood in Kent, England. They had one child, dau. Sarah.

• v. Peter Blossom, b. after August 1627 likely in Leiden, Holland and d. intestate in July 1706 in Barnstable, Mass.; m. June 21, 1663 at Barnstable, Sarah Bodfish, dau. of Robert and Bridget Bodfish, b. circa 1638. She d. after Dec. 3, 1704. Seven children of the family, two dying in infancy.

Revised/edited 7/13/2019