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Robert Blood (abt. 1626 - aft. 1701)

Robert Blood aka Blod, Bloud
Born about in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, Englandmap [uncertain]
Ancestors ancestors
Son of [uncertain] and [uncertain]
Brother of and
Husband of — married 8 Apr 1653 (to 29 Aug 1690) in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, New Englandmap
Husband of — married 8 Jan 1691 (to 22 Oct 1701) in Chelmsford, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, New Englandmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , , , and
Died after after about age 75 in Hough's Farm, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay, New Englandmap
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Profile last modified | Created 4 Oct 2010
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The Puritan Great Migration.
Robert Blood migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).
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Contents

Disputed Origins

A previous version of this profile listed James Blood and Ellen Harrison as Robert’s parents. This is an error that was propagated by various genealogical works of dubious quality in the mid-1800s, (namely Shattuck; see Authored Sources), and has since been copied and repeated many times without being questioned or challenged. See Research Notes below for a discussion of why this is not a credible hypothesis.

Biography

Flag of Nottinghamshire (adopted 2011)
Robert Blood was born in Nottinghamshire, England.

Circumstantial evidence indicates that Robert Blood was probably the son of Richard Blood, Sr. and Unknown Lakin. He was almost certainly born in the village of Ruddington in the Rushcliffe Wapentake of Nottinghamshire in either 1625[1] or 1626.[2][3] He was the youngest of three brothers, with Richard, Jr. about nine years older and John probably two to three years older.

His father Richard, Sr. died sometime between 1637 and 1639,[4] and by Apr 1639 brother Richard, Jr. and new wife Isabell were on the move to New England via the Pool of London.[5] Given that Robert and John were minor children, and that there were no adult male Bloods residing in Ruddington only three years later in 1642,[6] it is unlikely they would have been left behind in England. The most reasonable explanation is that older brother Richard brought them along with him and Isabell on their migration to New England. This conjectured timing of their movement fits well with the overall form and history of the Puritan Great Migration, which scholars agree effectively ended with the seating of the Long Parliament in Nov 1640.[7][8][9] In other words, it is highly likely that any English colonists found in New England in the 1640s had either been born there or had arrived by the end of 1640, whether records of their emigration survive or not.

Assuming an early May departure from London, Robert and company probably arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in mid-Jul. Lynn, a common port of debarkation at the time, was the Bloods' probable place of arrival based on evidence from later records.

Further evidence that Robert was in the colony prior to his first appearance in the contemporary record in 1647 (see next paragraph) comes from the 3 Jun 1684 legal confirmation by Native American John Thomas, son of the sagamore Natahattawans, of deeds held by Robert Blood. In the confirmation, John Thomas refers to "an Instrument of Sale in the hands of Robert Blood the 20th of the 4[th] moneth in 1642 which was obtained by Simon Willard Esq[uire] of Old Natahattawans Sagamore by purchase."[10] While somewhat ambiguous, it appears John Thomas was confirming that Robert Blood was in possession of this deed in Jun 1642, which means he had to be present in the colony. This interpretation is strengthened by Robert's own petition to the General Court of 29 May 1700 in which he referred to "som[e] tracts of land purchased by the petition[er] of the Indian Sagamore Natahatawance, in the yeare 1642..."[11] Therefore, both John Thomas and Robert Blood confirmed in writing that Robert was in the colony in Jun 1642 at the latest.

In Jul 1647 we find the first contemporary evidence of Robert in the colony when he is presented for an altercation in which he and John were accused of disturbing the peace, assault, battery, and other charges.[12] This case provides useful evidence concerning Robert since, according to colonial law, the accused had to be presented in the court having jurisdiction over their place of residence, not the place of the crime.[13] Because Robert was arraigned in the section of the Essex County Court's docket reserved for defendants from Lynn, this provides indirect but nonetheless valid evidence that Robert resided in Lynn in 1647, and had probably done so from his arrival in the colony in 1639.[14] His presumed brother Richard and wife Isabell definitely resided in Lynn and it would be ahistorical to accept that a minor child lived on his own (or with his minor brother) in the 17th century Massachusetts Bay Colony. Therefore, Robert almost certainly resided with Richard and Isabell. Upon reaching adulthood[15] in 1646 or 1647, the colonial law forbidding single males from living outside a male-headed household (i.e., a family unit)[16][17][18] would have ensured that Robert continued to reside with brother Richard in Lynn.

Robert and John left Lynn for Concord sometime between the court case in Jul 1647 and May 1649. On 1 May 1649 the brothers, both now "of Concord," sold their interests in some properties in Ruddington to fellow colonist William Crafts or Crofts.[19] While this is the sole item of primary evidence directly connecting Robert to Ruddington, other circumstantial evidence does as well.[20]

Once in Concord, their place of residence would still have to take into account the colonial law banning unmarried males from living outside a family unit. If they had to reside with a family once in the town, then a reasonable explanation is that they took up residence with James Blood and his wife Helen/Eleanor. While entirely circumstantial, no other plausible explanation has revealed itself for how they were able to abide by colonial law while being unmarried men. This would imply that they knew James Blood and had probably been in at least occasional contact with him over the intervening ten years since 1639.

In 1650, Robert and John jointly purchased three farms totalling 1,530 acres from the Reverends Increase Nowell and Thomas Allen, both of Charlestown, and Thomas Weld of Roxbury.[21] Robert would eventually take control of the Weld Farm as well as the Hough’s Farm, purchased later in 1650 by John Blood.[22] The Allen's, Nowell's, and Hough's farms would come to be known collectively as "The Bloods' Farms" or "Blood's Farms" for the next century.[23]

On 8 Apr 1653, Robert married Elizabeth Willard,[24][25] second daughter of Simon Willard, one of the most eminent men in the colony. The connection between Robert and the Willards is unclear, but may be related to the fact that James Blood (in whose house we have to assume Robert was residing) was sergeant of the Concord militia company, formerly commanded by then-Captain Simon Willard. As part of his daughter’s dowry Simon gave Robert control of the 1,000 acre Virginia Farm, situated in Concord Village (now Acton),[26][27] legally deeding it to him 23 Feb 1658 or 1659 (the date is unclear).[28]

Sometime before 25 May 1655, Robert, John, and Richard Blood, along with seven other colonists including probable first cousins William and John Lakin, submitted a petition to the General Court to establish a new town. This petition was granted on 25 May, and Robert, his two brothers, and their probable cousins became proprietors of the new town of Groton.[29] Robert was a proprietor and landowner in Groton for the next several decades (possibly until the end of his life), but it does not appear he ever moved there on a permanent basis. He most likely rented his properties in Groton to tenant farmers. Nonetheless, he continued to be involved in major decisions of the town as well as the personal dealings of townspeople.[30][31][32]

Robert’s holdings around Concord, while mainly outside the bounds of the town, also included land within its borders as well. An entry in the town book of 26 Dec 1666 details that Robert owned 169 acres of first and second division land within the 36 square mile diamond-shaped area that made up the town's original grant (the "Old Bounds"), distributed in four parcels. One of these was 100 acres of second division land, probably situated in the northwest of the town’s North Quarter.[33]

On 20 Jun 1675, an alliance of six Native American tribes led by Metacom, Sachem of the Wampanoags, declared war on the English colonies, setting off King Phillip’s War. Robert and his family, along with brother John, withdrew from their exposed and indefensible homesteads to the safety of heavily-garrisoned Concord. We know this because on 9 May 1678 the General Court ruled in John's favour in a petition protesting the fact that he and Robert had been taxed by both Concord and Billerica for an emergency war levy to raise funds for the defense of the colony. The wording of the response refers to "John & Robert Blood, late of Billerica, in the time of war removing & sheltering themselves at Concord."[34] Curiously, while both John and Robert were of military age at this time (which was up to 60 years old), there is no record of them as part of any of the Middlesex militia companies, even with the full emergency mobilization during King Philip's War. By contrast, probable brother Richard, also sheltering in Concord after the destruction of Groton, definitely served in the Concord militia.[35]

On 16 May 1683, Robert and Elizabeth petitioned the General Court to have their ownership of the 1,000-acre Virginia Farm, located in what's now Acton, confirmed.[36] This appears to have been a reaction to the on-going tensions between Robert and the towns of Concord and Billerica concerning the exact bounds of the Bloods’ many large properties, as well as the contentious issue of which town, if any, could tax the Bloods’ Farms. This fight went on for decades, both before and after this point.

In Jun 1686, Robert and Elizabeth filed a memorandum with the General Court in reference to the 1683 petition, due to the bounds of the Virginia Farm being disputed by the town of Concord.[37] That this memorandum comes after the Mar 1686 legal accord between Robert Blood and the town of Concord concerning payment of taxes (see Legal History below) shows that the accord did not end the squabbling between the two sides. This document is unique in that it contains autograph signatures by both Robert and Elizabeth.

On 3 Mar 1690, Robert, sons Robert, Simon, and Josiah, and 31 other men were listed by the selectmen of Concord as freeholders who were not freemen of the colony, but whose houses and lands were valued at £5 rent per year. This appears to have been an application to the General Court for freeman status on behalf of these 35 men. An endorsement at the bottom of the document on 21 Mar 1690 has been interpreted by various derivative sources as being the grant of freeman status by the General Court.[38][39][40]

Robert’s wife Elizabeth died on 29 Aug 1690, and Robert was remarried to the twice-widowed Hannah Parker early the next year (see Research Notes).

On 6 Sep 1699, Robert prepared a deed of gift to his youngest son Jonathan.[41] In it, he decreed that upon his death half of the Hough’s Farm and half of the Virginia Farm would go to Jonathan, the other half of each being for the upkeep of his wife Hannah in her final years. Upon her death, her halves of each farm would also go to Jonathan. In this deed Robert explicitly states that his place of residence was his house on Hough's Farm. This dwelling was very likely on the site of the current main house at The Gardens at Clock Barn on the Bedford Road in modern-day Carlisle, Massachusetts.

On 18 Oct 1701, Robert executed a second deed of gift, this time to Elizabeth and Margaret Parker, daughter of his wife Hannah by her previous husband Joseph Parker. In this deed Robert gifted the two girls all his lands and meadows in the town of Groton, which he had obtained in 1655 and later as one of the original founders of the town.[42]

Robert died shortly after the date of this second deed of gift, but his exact date of death is a subject of much confusion. He is usually recorded as having died on 22 Oct 1701[43] and in his probate documents his date of death is consistently listed as 22 Oct 1701.[44] However, in an addendum on the deed of gift to Elizabeth and Margaret Parker, Justice James Minot states that Robert appeared before him in person on 23 Oct 1701 and swore that the deed was voluntary. So, unless there is good reason that Justice Minot should not be believed, this constitutes first-person eyewitness evidence from a senior official of the Middlesex Court that Robert was still alive as of that date and in good enough health to appear in person. The 22 Oct 1701 date of death cannot be taken as credible in light of Justice Minot's written statement to the contrary.

Therefore, it appears Robert died sometime after 23 Oct 1701, the date of his appearance before Justice Minot, but before 10 Nov 1701, the date of the earliest probate document.[45] That he was able to appear in person before Justice Minot so soon prior to his death, and that he did not complete a last will and testament, both indicate Robert was not in debilitated by sickness or seriously injured at the very end.

Robert likely passed away at his house on Hough’s Farm. According to a deed of sale executed by his son Jonathan in 1734, Robert and his first wife Elizabeth were buried together near the main house on Hough’s Farm.[46] In the 1734 deed, Jonathan sold 240 acres of the farm to Ephraim Jones, less a plot “about 20 feet square of the northwest corner of the orchard, the place where my father and mother are buried…behind or on the north side of the dwelling.”[47]

Legal History

Robert was no stranger to litigation. Over his long life he either initiated or was the subject of civil proceedings numerous times, in addition to the criminal charges against him in 1647. This sub-heading was created to detail only his most important post-1647 court cases.

1654 – Samuel Hunt vs. Robert Blood. The case commenced on or about 4 Apr 1654 with Hunt suing Robert for slander stemming from a heated argument concerning some property of Robert’s. The three main documents that have survived are the depositions by witnesses James Hosmer and Thomas Wheeler[48] and a summary of the county court session on 4 Apr 1654.[49] Wheeler's and Hosmer's depositions reflect an enraged Robert verging on physical violence, and threatening such on Samuel Hunt several times during the exchange. These depositions are unique in offering the closest we will ever come to hearing Robert's own voice. At the 4 Apr session the court found for Hunt against Robert, ordering him to pay damages of £10 to Hunt and £1, 16s, 2d as court costs. Samuel Hunt, clearly still concerned about Robert, testified that “…he went bodily in fear of Robert Bloud of the same Towne, and desired that the s[aid] Robert Bloud might be bound to the peace.” The court concurred, and required not only Robert but also his brother John to post a bond of £20 to ensure their good behaviour, especially towards Samuel Hunt.[50]

1677 – Robert Blood vs. Abraham Shepard. The case, from March-April, involved Robert suing Shephard for breach of contract.[51] Three documents in this case contain references directly identifying Robert Blood and John Blood as brothers; the earliest surviving evidence to do so.

1678 – Constable Samuel Frost vs. Robert & John Blood. On 2 Apr, Frost brought charges against Robert and John for refusing to pay their taxes to Billerica, testifying that he attempted to execute a warrant to compel the Bloods to pay their taxes but the brothers refused. This was part of the decades-long dispute as to which town had the right to tax the Bloods’ Farms.

1682 – Constable of Concord vs. Robert Blood. After the General Court ruled on 11 Oct 1682 that the Bloods should pay the Middlesex County treasury a rate of two shillings per two hundred acres of land, the constables of Concord went to the Bloods’ Farms with a tax warrant to collect the money. There, “They were roughly received by Robert and his son. The consequence was that Robert Blood Sr. was fined ten pounds for ill treatment of the officers and “vilifying his Majesty’s authority.””[52]

1685 - Constable Samuel Hunt vs. Robert Blood & sons & Thomas Read, 13 Jun - 6 Oct 1685. On 9 Jun 1685 the constable of Concord (this time Samuel Hunt was constable) once again went with his men to try to serve a tax warrant on Robert Blood at his farm. Robert responded that since the warrant had not come from King James himself, it was of no legal validity. A fight then broke out between Robert, his sons Robert, Jr., Simon, and Josiah, and Thomas Read on one side and Constable Samuel Hunt and his ten men on the other. The battle ended with the constables in retreat; Constable Eleazer Flagg nearly strangled to death and Constable John Hayward/Howard punched in the face and bloodied. Both sides agreed that the constables had started the fight by "laying violent hands" on Robert, Sr. under orders from Samuel Hunt that Robert be arrested for refusing the tax warrant.[53]

1686 – The tax issue was finally resolved on 17 Mar when Robert Blood, along with his two eldest sons Robert and Simon, reached a settlement with Concord in which they agreed to pay all civil and religious taxes to Concord.[54][55] This agreement put the Bloods' Farms under the jurisdiction of Concord for tax purposes, although it otherwise remained a quasi-independent entity until 1753 when it was annexed by Carlisle.

1694 – On 14 Feb, Concord and Chelmsford filed a petition requesting the General Court decide the ownership of land claimed by both Robert Blood and the town of Billerica.[56] On 11 Sep, the court responded by appointing a commission to survey the boundaries between the Bloods' Farms and the town of Billerica.[57]

1698 – On 17 Nov, Billerica requested the General Court require Robert to show his boundaries to the town’s officials. The petition was approved by the House on 22 Nov, but was not approved by the Council.[58]

1700 – On 6 May, Billerica petitioned the General Court for a general effort to once and for all settle all the bounds between Billerica, Chelmsford, Concord, and “the farms of John and Robert Blood,” indicating they still held a quasi-independent status. The petition was approved by the House on 8 Jun and by the Council on 20 Jun.[59][60][61][62] On 29 May, Robert submitted his own petition to the General Court more or less supporting Billerica’s desire to reach a final settlement.[63]This document is particularly valuable in that it gives a second reference to Robert’s age (“…that [the petitioner Robert Blood] is now about seventy five years of age…”) and it contains the last of nine known authentic autograph signatures by Robert.

1701 – Responding to Billerica’s petition of 1700, the General Court finally issued a resolution fixing the bounds of Billerica relative to Robert Blood’s estates, Chelmsford, and Concord.[64] In laying out the bounds, the order of the General Court mentions “a great white oake marked R:B” on the western boundary of Robert’s Hough’s Farm.

Children

Robert's only children were those he had with Elizabeth Willard,

  1. Mary Blood, born 4 March 1655, married John Buttrick 8 Apr 1679, died 14 February 1724.
  2. Elizabeth Blood, born 14 June 1656, married Samuel Buttrick 21 June 1677, died 7 March 1734.
  3. Sarah Blood, born 1 August 1658, married Daniel Colburn 18 June 1685, died 1 June 1741.
  4. Robert Blood, born 20 February 1660, married Dorcas Wheeler 12 May 1690, died before 10 Jun 1701. Robert Jr. left the Province of Massachusetts Bay sometime after 1694 and relocated to the Province of Carolina, in the part that would later become the Province of South Carolina. It is assumed he died there.
  5. Simon Blood, born 5 July 1662, no known marriage, died 4 April 1692.
  6. Josiah Blood, born 6 April 1664, married 1st Mary Barrett 21 March 1688, married 2nd Mary Torry 3 February 1691, died 2 July 1731.
  7. John Blood, born 29 October 1666, no known marriage, died 20 October 1689.
  8. Elener/Elen Blood, born 14 April 1669, no known marriage, died 19 June 1690.
  9. Samuel Blood, born 16 October 1671, married Hannah Davis 1 April 1701, died before 12 April 1740.
  10. James Blood, born 3 November 1673, married Abigail Wheeler 26 December 1701, died 16 May 1738.
  11. Ebenezer Blood, born 15 February 1676, died before 1680.
  12. Jonathan Blood, born 1 September 1679, married 1st Sarah Ball about 1711, married 2nd Abigail Maynard about 1720, married 3rd Rebecca Wood 20 April 1733, died 5 January 1759.

Research Notes

Paternity: James Blood was not Robert's father. Despite its persistence over the years this conjecture fails on a number of important points:

  • Robert was born in either 1625 or 1626, either four or five years prior to James' marriage to Ellen/Eleanor Harrison in 1631.[65] Given that the average age of first marriage for men in early 17th century England was about 27,[66][67] this was almost certainly James' first marriage.
  • Robert's proven brother John was probably born a few years earlier than Robert. Therefore, if James was their father we have to accept that he had not just one but two illegitimate children in very Puritan 17th century Nottingham, and then refused to marry their mother until nearly five years afterwards. This is highly unlikely.
  • The parish records for the three early 17th century Nottingham parishes (St Peter's, St Nicholas', St Mary's) are complete for the period covering the births of both John and Robert (i.e., the 1620s), yet there is no record of them. By contrast, James' marriage to Helen in St Peter's parish in 1631 and his son James, Jr.'s baptism in St Mary's parish in 1632 are recorded.
  • A tradition among the Ruddington and Nottingham Bloods was to name the first son after the father; this tradition is demonstrated in the generations both before and after that of James and Robert and both in Nottinghamshire and New England. Therefore, James' son James, Jr., born in 1632 (within a year of his proven marriage), is more likely to have been James' first son than Richard, Robert, or John.
  • When James emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1639 he quickly moved to and settled in Concord with his wife and proven son James, Jr. By contrast, Robert and brother John (also children in 1639) settled in Lynn where probable older brother Richard lived -- a curious state of affairs if Robert and John were also the minor sons of James, Sr.
  • James Blood's last will and testament, drafted on 18 Jun 1680, makes no mention of either Robert or Robert's brother John, both of whom were older than James' known son James, Jr. While this is not a smoking gun, it is nonetheless extraordinary and far outside the 17th century norm to accept that James, Sr.'s two (alleged) eldest sons would have not only not been bequeathed anything by their "father," but wouldn't even have been mentioned in his will at all.
  • In a deed of 4 Feb 1690, James, Jr. refers to Robert's brother John as "my uncle John Blood."[68] As today, in the 17th century 'uncle' could mean a number of things other than merely "the brother of one of my parents." But then, as now, one thing it couldn't mean was brother. Why then would James, Jr. use this term to describe John if John was indeed his brother?

Residence: Robert is often listed as living in Concord and as having had most of his key life events occur there (e.g., birth of children, death of first wife, his own death). While Robert almost certainly lived in Concord immediately after moving from Lynn in about 1649, by the mid-1650s (sometime after Apr 1654) he took up residence on Hough's Farm,[69] one of the three farms collectively known as "the Bloods' Farms." These farms were north of Concord's bounds and so were not part of the town (see map at Images for this profile). In fact, this was the great legal conflict that raged around Robert for much of his life: since these farms were outside the bounds of any town, which town had the right to tax them? Robert and his brother John were careful never to refer to themselves as being of Concord. After their purchase of the farms in 1650, they always described themselves as being "from neer Concord," or living generally "in Middlesex County."[70] Records that reflect life events occurring in Concord do so because Robert and Elizabeth attended church there[71] and, as events had to be recorded in some town book, they were recorded in the one in Concord. Robert's homestead was most likely situated on what is now The Gardens at Clock Barn in Carlisle, Massachusetts. In fact, it is possible the current main house there (built by son Jonathan) sits on the site of Robert's original house.

Marriage to Hannah: Both the date and place of this event have been sources of considerable confusion. Dates of 8 Jan 1690, 8 Aug 1690, and 8 Jun 1696 have all been cited. Places vary between Chelmsford and Concord. Both 8 Jan 1690 and 8 Aug 1690 can be ruled out as Robert's first wife Elizabeth was still alive on those dates. The entry in the copied version of the Concord town book, while unclear, certainly ends in "1690," so 1696 appears eliminated.[72] The most likely solution is that there has been a confusion between the pre-1753 Old Style calendar, which started on 25 Mar, and the modern New Style calendar, which starts on 1 Jan. The entry reads “---ary 8th 1690"; the first few letters were not scanned, but others have asserted that the first letter is a J. If the month is taken to be January, which seems most likely, then Jan 1690 on the Julian (OS) calendar equates to Jan 1691 on the modern (NS) calendar, explaining the “1690” year while definitively placing the marriage after Elizabeth’s death. Therefore, 8 Jan 1691 appears to be the most parsimonious date. As for location, the copied version of the Concord town book specifies that the entry for Robert and Hannah's marriage is part of a group of marriages that occurred in Chelmsford, but involving people from Concord.

Note on Surname/Family Name: Given that documents of the era were usually drafted by clerks or scribes employed for the purpose, and the idea that there is only one way to spell a name or word is a relatively recent development, spelling of the Blood surname varied heavily, even within the same document and referring to the same person. Variants seen in documents from 16th and 17th centuries Nottinghamshire and the early 17th century Massachusetts Bay Colony include: Blod, Blood, Bloode, Bloud, Bloude, Bloudde, Blud, Blude, Bludd, and Bludde. Note that this refers to all Bloods of the period, and not specifically to Robert Blood.

Blood-1690 07:41, 28 May 2022 (UTC)Garry M. Blood

Sources

  1. ↑ Stated that he was “now about seventy five years of age” in 1700; Petition by Robert Blood to the General Court, 29 May 1700.
  2. ↑ "Ages from Court Records, 1636-1700," Ancestry.com.
  3. ↑ Case of Robert Blood, Jr. vs. Thomas Brown, 16 Jun 1684.
  4. ↑ See discussion in Biography of father Richard Blood.
  5. ↑ See discussion in Biography of brother Richard Blood.
  6. ↑ The Protestation Return for Ruddington, 9 Mar 1642.
  7. ↑ Anderson, “A Note on the Changing Pace of the Great Migration,” p.407.
  8. ↑ Anderson, Sanborn, and Sanborn, Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Vol. 1, A-B, p.xvii.
  9. ↑ Lewis and Newhall, The History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, 1629-1864, p.183
  10. ↑ Confirmation of Deeds Held by Robert Blood, 3 Jun 1684.
  11. ↑ Petition by Robert Blood, Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 243, Ancient Plans & Grants, 1649-1774, pp.5-6.
  12. ↑ Dow & Tapley, Vol. I, entry for 9:5:1647, pp.132-133.
  13. ↑ "All actions shall be tried at that Court to which the defendant belongs." Dow & Tapley, Records and Files of the Quarterly Court of Essex County, Vol. I, p.iv.
  14. ↑ In the 1694 case of Robert Blood vs. Josiah Blood, (see Original Sources) William and John Lakin described Robert and John Blood as being "late [formerly] of Linn" in their testimony.
  15. ↑ Adulthood under English law in the 17th century was 21 years of age. See James, “The Age of Majority.”
  16. ↑ Weisberg, ""Under Greet Temptations Heer" Women and Divorce in Puritan Massachusetts,” p.187.
  17. ↑ Schwartz & Wolf, “Singlehood and the American Experience: Prospects for a Changing Status,” p.18.
  18. ↑ McKay & McKay, “A History of the American Bachelor.”
  19. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZZ-BZG8?cc=2106411&wc=MCBG-MNG%3A361613201%2C361847101 : 22 May 2014), Essex > Deeds 1639-1658 vol 1-3 > image 72 of 763; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Essex County Deeds, Volume 1 - 1639-1658, p.24/59 (Image 72).
  20. ↑ See Research Notes for Richard Blood for further discussion.
  21. ↑ Harris, The Story of the Bloods, pp.2-3.
  22. ↑ Shurtleff, Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Vol. III, p.384.
  23. ↑ See map, "Key Properties of Robert and John Blood," in Images for this profile.
  24. ↑ ”U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700.”
  25. ↑ Tolman, Concord, Massachusetts Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850, p.20.
  26. ↑ Petition by Robert & Elizabeth Blood (ownership of the Virginia Farm), 16 May 1683.
  27. ↑ Harris, The Story of the Bloods, p.3.
  28. ↑ "Great Migration 1634-1635, T-Y," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org, Entry for Simon Willard, p.417 (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB496/i/13260/417/24793151 : accessed 21 Jan 2022). Source: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VII, T-Y, by Robert Charles Anderson, George Freeman Sanborn, and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.
  29. ↑ Response by the General Court, 25 May 1655.
  30. ↑ Green, Groton During the Indian Wars, pp.179-181.
  31. ↑ Green, An Historical Sketch of Groton, Massachusetts 1655-1890, p.15.
  32. ↑ Petition by the proprietors of Groton to the General Court, 22 May 1661, which includes Robert as one of the “old planters,” Shurtleff, Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Vol. III, p.10.
  33. ↑ Pulsifer, Records of the Town of Concord: Ancient Records of Concord, Vol 1, pp.175-177, 182-184, 187-188, 285-287.
  34. ↑ Shurtleff, Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Vol. V, p.188.
  35. ↑ See Biography for Richard Blood.
  36. ↑ Petition by Robert & Elizabeth Blood (ownership of the Virginia Farm), 16 May 1683.
  37. ↑ Memorandum by Robert and Elizabeth Blood concerning petition of 1683.
  38. ↑ An Account of the Non-Freemen Which are Free Holders, 3 Mar 1690.
  39. ↑ Andrews, List of Freemen of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, From 1630 to 1691, p.5.
  40. ↑ ”Massachusetts Applications of Freemen, 1630-1691,” Ancestry.com
  41. ↑ Deed of Gift, Robert Blood to Jonathan Blood, 6 Sep 1699.
  42. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9Z7-P4WL?i=442&wc=MC1M-ZN5%3A361613501%2C364521301&cc=2106411 : 22 May 2022); taken from Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, Middlesex County, Deeds 1696-1716 vol 12-13, Image 443 of 832.
  43. ↑ ”Massachusetts, Town Vital Collections, 1620-1988,” Ancestry.com.
  44. ↑ "Probate records 1648--1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts)," database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99D5-BDXC?i=640&cat=263304 : 23 May 2022); Probate inventory of Robert Blood, Senior of Concord, dated 14 Nov 1701, Vol. 10, pp.175-176, Images 641 & 642.
  45. ↑ "Probate records 1648--1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts)," database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9D5-B63F?i=641&cat=263304 : 24 May 2022); Agreement Between the Heirs of Robert Blood, Senior of Concord, dated 10 Nov 1701, Vol. 10, pp.176-178, Images 642 & 643.
  46. ↑ Harris, The Story of the Bloods, pp.120-121.
  47. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99Z7-LC22?i=577&cc=2106411 : 23 May 2022); Deed of Sale from Jonathan Blood to Ephraim Jones, 21 Jun 1734; Middlesex Deeds, Vol. 35, pp.570-571 (Images 578 & 579).
  48. ↑ Case of Hunt vs. Blood, 4 Apr 1654.
  49. ↑ Pulsifer, Records of the Town of Concord: Ancient Records of Concord, Vol. 1, 1655-1784, pp.49-54.
  50. ↑ Pulsifer, Records of the Town of Concord: Ancient Records of Concord, Vol. 1, 1655-1784, p.54.
  51. ↑ Case of Blood vs. Shephard, 3 & 27 Apr 1677.
  52. ↑ Hudson, The History of Concord, Massachusetts Volume I, p.487.
  53. ↑ Case of Constable Samuel Hunt vs. Robert Blood & sons & Thomas Read.
  54. ↑ Hudson, The History of Concord, Massachusetts Volume I, p.488.
  55. ↑ Pulsifer, Records of the Town of Concord: Ancient Records of Concord, Vol. 1, 1655-1784, pp.136-138.
  56. ↑ The Massachusetts Archives, Archives Collection (1629-1799), Vol. 113, Series 228, p.24.
  57. ↑ The Massachusetts Archives, Archives Collection (1629-1799), Vol. 113, Series 228, p.24A.
  58. ↑ The Massachusetts Archives, Archives Collection (1629-1799), Vol. 113, Series 230, p.198.
  59. ↑ The Massachusetts Archives, Archives Collection (1629-1799), Vol. 113, Series 228, p.217.
  60. ↑ Petition by Billerica, Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 113, Towns, 1693-1729, pp.217-218.
  61. ↑ Petition by Billerica (map accompanying petition), Massachusetts Archives Collection, Maps and Plans, 1638-1986, 3rd Series, Vol. 3, p.31.
  62. ↑ Headlam, Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series, Vol. 18, American and West Indies, 1700, pp.16-20.
  63. ↑ Petition by Robert Blood, Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 243, Ancient Plans & Grants, 1649-1774, pp.5-6.
  64. ↑ Order of the General Court re: setting the boundaries between Billerica and the Bloods' Farms, Chelmsford, and Concord, Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 243, Ancient Plans and Grants, p.97.
  65. ↑ See profile for James Blood
  66. ↑ ISE, "The age of marriage."
  67. ↑ Brabcová, "Marriage in Seventeenth-Century England: The Woman's Story," p.21.
  68. ↑ Harris, The Story of the Bloods, p.143.
  69. ↑ Deed of Gift, Robert Blood to Jonathan Blood, 6 Sep 1699.
  70. ↑ Harris, The Story of the Bloods, p.3.
  71. ↑ Case of John Wheeler vs. Robert Blood, 17 Jun 1684.
  72. ↑ ”Massachusetts, Town Vital Collections, 1620-1988,” Ancestry.com.

Original Sources:

  • An Account of the Non-Freemen Which are Free Holders, 3 Mar 1690 (digital image of original document), Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 35, Inter-Charter, 1689-1690, p.352 (GSU 00500-105-2322510), Massachusetts State Archives, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
  • Case of Samuel Hunt vs. Robert Blood, 4 Apr 1654 (digital images of 8 original documents), Middlesex County Court Folio Collection, Folio 9, entry 1654-9-2b, images 188-189, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Online at: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/210946
  • Case of Robert Blood vs. James Kibby/Kebby, 13 Jun 1667 (digital images of 3 original documents), Middlesex County Court Folio Collection, Folio 43, entry 1667-43-4, image 683, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Online at: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/210946
  • Case of Constable Samuel Frost vs. Robert & John Blood, 2 Apr 1678 (digital images of 23 original documents), Middlesex County Court Folio Collection, Folio 35, entry 1678-79-2, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Online at: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/210946
  • Case of Robert Blood vs. Abraham Shephard, 3 & 27 Apr 1677 (digital images of 57 original documents), Middlesex County Court Folio Collection, Folio 79, entry 1678-79-2, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Online at: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/210946
  • Case of Robert Blood, Jr. vs. Thomas Brown, 16 Jun 1684 (digital images of 6 original documents), Middlesex County Court Folio Collection, Folio 107, entry 1684-107-2b, image 901, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Online at: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/210946
  • Case of John Wheeler vs. Robert Blood, 17 Jun 1684 (digital image of 13 original documents), Middlesex County Court Folio Collection, Folio 108, entry 1684-108-2, image 939, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Online at: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/210946
  • Case of Constable Samuel Hunt vs. Robert Blood & sons & Thomas Read, 13 Jun - 6 Oct 1685 (digital images of 28 original documents) Middlesex County Court Folio Collection, Folio 116, entry 1685-116-1a, images 79 through 85, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Online at: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/210946
  • Case of Robert Blood vs. Josiah Blood, 4 Sep 1694 (digital images of 9 original documents), Middlesex County Court Folio Collection, Folio 182, entry 1694-182-3, image 561, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Online at: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/210946
  • Memorandum by Robert and Elizabeth Blood concerning petition of 1683 (digital image of the original document), Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 39, Ancient Plans & Grants, 1649-1774, pp.858-866, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
  • Order of the General Court to the Freemen, 21 Mar 1690 (digital image of the original document), Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 35, Inter-Charter, 1689-1690, p.352 (GSU 00500-105-2322510), Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
  • Order of the General Court re: setting the boundaries between Billerica and Blood’s Farms, Chelmsford, and Concord (digital image of the original document), Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 243, Ancient Plans and Grants, 1649-1774, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. https://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arccol/colvol3.htm
  • Petition by Billerica to compel Robert Blood to show the boundaries of his lands, 17 Nov 1698 (digital image of the original document), Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1629-1799, Vol. 113, Series 230: House Unpassed Legislation: Office of the Secretary of State (digital image of original document), Microfilm Reel A-87 (GSU 00500-166-1838215), Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ArchivesSearch/RevolutionaryDetail.aspx?VolNbr=113&Page=024
  • Petition by Robert and Elizabeth Blood (ownership of the Virginia Farm), 16 May 1683 (digital image of the original document), Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 39, Ancient Plans & Grants, 1649-1774, pp.858-866, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
  • Petition by Billerica for a general settlement of the bounds between Billerica, Concord, Chelmsford, and the farms of John and Robert Blood, 6 May 1700 (digital image of the original document), Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 113, Towns, 1693-1729, Microfilm Reel A-87 (GSU 00500-166-1838215), Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. https://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arccol/colvol2.htm
  • Petition by Billerica for a general settlement of the bounds between Billerica, Concord, Chelmsford, and the farms of John and Robert Blood, 6 Nov 1700 (digital image of the original map that accompanied the petition), Massachusetts Archives Collection, Maps and Plans, 1638-1986, 3rd Series, Vol. 3, p.31, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. https://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arccol/colvol1.htm
  • Petition by Robert Blood for a general settlement of the bounds between his farms and the surrounding towns, 29 May 1700 (digital image of the original document), Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, Vol. 243, Ancient Plans and Grants, 1649-1774, Microfilm Reel A-87 (GSU 00500-002-2318835), pp.5-6, Published by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts, United States. https://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arccol/colvol3.htm
  • Protestation Return for Ruddington, 9 Mar 1642 (digital image of the original document), Ref. HL/PO/JO/10/1/101/64, Library of the House of Lords, Parliamentary Archives, Houses of Parliament, Palace of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. https://digitalarchive.parliament.uk/HL/PO/JO/10/1/101/64
  • Response to a Petition to the General Court for the Establishment of the Town of Groton, 25 May 1655 (digital image of the original document), Groton Historical Papers, Ms. N-1340, Box 1, Groton Town Papers, 1646-1849, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
  • Will of William Lakin of Ruddington, 7 Feb 1633 (digital image of the original document), Wills of the Deaconry of Bingham, Diocese of Nottingham, Archive Ref No. PR/NW, Accession No. 7245, Nottinghamshire County Archives, Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham, United Kingdom. Nottinghamshire Archives Worldwide Catalogue, http://nawcat.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqServer=AP266-0029&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=%28%28text%29%3D%27William%20Lakin%27%29

Derivative Sources:

Authored Sources:

Background/Contextual Sources:





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Images: 6
Key Properties of Robert & John Blood with 17th Century Landmarks
Key Properties of Robert & John Blood with 17th Century Landmarks
Probate - Agreement between the Heirs of Robert Blood, 10 Nov 1701
Probate - Agreement between the Heirs of Robert Blood, 10 Nov 1701
Probate - Inventory of Robert Blood, 14 Nov 1701
Probate - Inventory of Robert Blood, 14 Nov 1701
Probate - Letter of Administration of the Estate of Robert Blood, 18 Nov 1701
Probate - Letter of Administration of the Estate of Robert Blood, 18 Nov 1701
Deed of Gift from Robert Blood to Elizabeth & Margaret Parker, 18 Oct 1701
Deed of Gift from Robert Blood to Elizabeth & Margaret Parker, 18 Oct 1701
view all


Comments: 9

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Aldrich-908 Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
Parents added, and new sibling.
posted by Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
Chris Hoyt
The bio would need correction to reflect the new parent.
posted by Chris Hoyt
Blood-1690 Garry Blood
Hi there -- give me some time on that I'm new to Wikitree but I've been researching Robert Blood and both his ascending and descending lines for over 20 years now, and I have a huge amount of new sourcing and a lot more biographic information to add. But this won't be quick.
posted by Garry Blood
edited by Garry Blood
Aldrich-908 Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
Thanks for your work here, Gary. No need to rush, you’re doing fine. The project requests, though, that you collaborate here before making relationship changes. Other more minor changes do not require collaboration. Thanks.

Cheryl, PGM Co-Leader

posted by Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
Blood-1690 Garry Blood
Ah, ok, well, that's embarrassing because I did specifically ask my mentor if that was something I should do. Clearly I got the wrong advice.

So, collaboration wise, the reason I wanted to detach Robert from James is because there is no way on Earth James can be his father. No one has every produced one shred of primary evidence that it's true, and there's a good deal of circumstantial evidence saying it's not. This red herring has been around for a couple of centuries and it just won't die.

I added sibling John because John has been an accepted brother of Robert at least since Shattuck, if not well before. Also, I now have primary evidence (a court case of 1676-1678) in which John is repeatedly referred to as Robert's brother, so I can finally prove it.

As for the Richard I've attached Robert and John to (Blood-224), if you have a look at the Research Notes you'll see the argument I make for why he's a solid contender for the father of emigrants Richard, Robert, and John.

Happy to discuss this all day long. And my wife is delighted she doesn't have to hear about it anymore.

posted by Garry Blood
edited by Garry Blood
Aldrich-908 Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
Garry, nice to have your information, and I know you are aware that it all needs to be confirmed with reliable sources.

Usually newer members don't tackle PGM profiles so soon, but if you're knowledgeable about PGM editing guidelines, you should do fine. Here are the guidelines and reliable sources: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Puritan_Great_Migration#Editing_Pre-1700_and_Project_Protected_Profiles Please follow the links found on that page for more details on edits.

An explanation for the mentors: The projects on WikiTree all operate a bit different from each other, so that makes it difficult for WikiTree mentors to keep it all straight.

Chris Hoyt, a Profile Manager here, is also a PGM badged member so I'm sure that she (as well as the other PMs) will be following along as you contribute to this profile.

Enjoy! Cheryl, PGM Co-Leader

posted by Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
[deleted]
Not the case that Robert is the son of James, who may have been an uncle. Garry Blood has Robert and his brother John as the sons of Richard (the elder who remained in Ruddington). I have always suspected they were actually from Rempstone , despite inheriting land in Ruddington
posted by [deleted]
Blood-1690 Garry Blood
Just following up on this because I just got here, and despite the age of this comment the Rempstone angle needs to be addressed. I've pursued the Rempstone line, which did appear promising at first as a Robert and John Blood were born there at about the right time (1625 and 1627). However, the parish record that shows their births also lists their burials -- John as a boy of about 4 and Robert in the 1690s. Naming brothers Robert and John was common among the Ruddington and Rempstone Bloods. Besides these two Rempstone Bloods and the emigrants Robert and John, there was at least one and possibly two other sets of brothers Robert and John in the generation before, in the late 1500s, also from Ruddington.
posted by Garry Blood
edited by Garry Blood
Kenny-549 Seely (Kenny) Foley
Blood-304 and Blood-229 appear to represent the same person because: Both Robert Blood m. to Elizabeth Willard. One with very little info
posted by Seely (Kenny) Foley

Rejected matches › Robert Blood (1660-bef.1701) › Mike M. Blood

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Categories: Massachusetts Bay Colonists | English Immigrants to America | Massachusetts Bay Colony | Middlesex County, Massachusetts | Lynn, Massachusetts | Concord, Massachusetts | Carlisle, Massachusetts | Puritan Great Migration Other Head of Household | Puritan Great Migration