In June and July 1635, a group of passengers embarked on the ship Blessing from England to New England. The lists from Hotten and Banks detail their ages, origins, and intended settlements, with many settling in Scituate and Salem, Massachusetts. The final consolidated account includes corrections and real name spellings, facilitating genealogical research for descendants. Noteworthy points include uncertainty about the fate of some passengers and the connections between families aboard the ship, reflecting the genealogical FAN theory that when your ancestors migrated, they usually did it with others that they knew, not alone.
Final List
The following consolidated list of known passengers aboard the Blessing comes from two separate lists, one written in June 1635 and one in July 1635, and is organized alphabetically under the real name of the passenger with ages, including all corrections, from the three sourced lists below. The following list has been adapted from the two lists and provides the real spelling for the individuals listed based on my own research in collaboration with Anderson’s Great Migration. I have also listed each passenger alphabetically for easier finding.
If a town settled is not given, then that means I can find no record of this individual in New England. It is quite possible that they never sailed as can be positively verified with the Saywell family and John Fitch. See the notes below this table as John Fitch does arrive via a different boat.
Some of these passengers’ names were difficult to decipher from the crude spelling on the record. It is possible I have not located them in New England because of the spelling issue.
I would also caution on the female passengers who are listed with no town settled, that they may have married soon after their arrival in New England, have no extant record of that marriage, and only appear in records as a wife of a settler without a maiden name given. We all have those in our family trees. Susan Davis, Elizabeth Holly, Mary Hubbard, Thomasin Munson, and Mary Sprall/Spratt are all possible candidates to have married in the years after their arrival if they sailed.
| Real Name | Age in 1635 | Towns Settled | Origin | Great Migration Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Beck | 17 | Dover, New Hampshire | Poss. Warwickshire | Great Migration, Vol 1, A-B, p. 228-230 |
| Thomas Biggs | 13 | Great Migration, Vol 1, A-B, p. 289. | ||
| John Briggs | 20 | Great Migration, Vol 1, A-B, p. 400-401. | ||
| Gilbert Brooks | 14 | Marshfield; Scituate; Rehoboth | Great Migration, Vol 1, A-B, p. 407-401. | |
| William Brooks | 20 | Marshfield; Scituate; | Great Migration, Vol 1, A-B, p. 412-401. | |
| Christian Buck | 26 | Great Migration, Vol 1, A-B, p. 448. | ||
| John Burrill | 26 | Roxbury; Boston | Great Migration, Vol 1, A-B, p. 499-500. | |
| Nathaniel Byam | 14 | Scituate | Great Migration, Vol 1, A-B, p. 526-527. | |
| Richard Cope | 24 | Great Migration, Vol 2, C-F, p. 212. | ||
| William Cope | 26 | Great Migration, Vol 2, C-F, p. 212. | ||
| Barnabas Davis | 36 | Connecticut; Charlestown | Tetbury, Gloucestershire | Great Migration, Vol 2, C-F, p. 286. |
| Susan Davis | 16 | Great Migration, Vol 2, C-F, p. 309. | ||
| John Fitch | 14 | Great Migration, Vol 2, C-F, p. 533. | ||
| John Hathaway | 18 | Massachusetts Bay | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 245-246. | |
| Elizabeth Hollingsworth | 3 mos | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 380-384. | |
| Richard Hollingsworth | 40 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 380-384. | |
| Richard Hollingsworth | 4 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 380-384. | |
| Susan Hollingsworth | 40 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 380-384. | |
| Susan Hollingsworth | 2 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 380-384. | |
| William Hollingsworth | 7 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 380-384. | |
| Elizabeth Holly | 20-30 | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 387. | ||
| Mary Hubbard | 24 | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 436. | ||
| Christian Hunter | 20 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 472-473. | |
| Elizabeth Hunter | 18 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 473-474. | |
| Thomas Hunter | 14 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 474. | |
| William Hunter | 11 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 3, G-H, p. 475-477. | |
| Edward Ingram | 18 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 4, I-L, p. 4. | |
| John Jackson | 40 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 4, I-L, p. 23-25. | |
| John Jackson | 2 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 4, I-L, p. 23-25. | |
| Margaret Jackson | 36 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 4, I-L, p. 23-25. | |
| Susan King | 30 | Great Migration, Vol 4, I-L, p. 173. | ||
| Thomas King | 21 | Scituate | Cold Norton, Essex | Great Migration, Vol 4, I-L, p. 171-173. |
| Elizabeth Lewis | 22 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 4, I-L, p. 292-293. | |
| Robert Lewis | 28 | Salem | Great Migration, Vol 4, I-L, p. 292-293. | |
| Nicolas Long | 19 | Great Migration, Vol 4, I-L, p. 315. | ||
| John Manifold | 17 | Great Migration, Vol 5, M-P, p. 8. | ||
| Richard More | 20 | Salem | Shipton, Shropshire | Great Migration Begins, Vol 2, G-O, p. 1283-1287. |
| John More | 19 | Great Migration, Vol 5, M-P, p. 180-181. | ||
| Thomasin Munson | 14 | Great Migration, Vol 5, M-P, p. 201. | ||
| Robert Onion | 26 | Roxbury; Dedham | Great Migration, Vol 5, M-P, p. 309. | |
| Elizabeth Robbins | 32 | Cambridge | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 65-67. | |
| John Robbins | 5 | Cambridge | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 65-67. | |
| Kathrine Robbins | 12 | Cambridge | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 65-67. | |
| Mary Robbins | 7 | Cambridge | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 65-67. | |
| Nicolas Robbins | 30 | Cambridge | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 65-67. | |
| Sarah Robbins | 1 ½ | Cambridge | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 65-67. | |
| James Saywell | 1 ½ | Rayleigh, Essex | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 193-194. | |
| Robert Saywell | 27 | Rayleigh, Essex | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 193-194. | |
| Susan Saywell | 25 | Rayleigh, Essex | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 193-194. | |
| Richard Sexton | 14 | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 250. | ||
| Mary Sprall/Spratt | 20 | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 193-194. | ||
| Ann Stockbridge | 21 | Scituate; Boston | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 534-540. | |
| John Stockbridge | 27 | Scituate; Boston | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 534-540. | |
| Charles Stockbridge | 1 | Scituate; Boston | Great Migration, Vol 6, R-S, p. 534-540. | |
| Thomas Trentum | 14 | Great Migration, Vol 7, T-Y, p. 98. | ||
| Robert Turner | 24 | Boston ? | ||
| Sarah Tinker | 15 | Scituate | Great Migration, Vol 7, T-Y, p. 145. | |
| Ann Vassall | 42 | Scituate | Great Migration, Vol 7, T-Y, p. 318. | |
| Ann Vassall | 6 | Scituate | Great Migration, Vol 7, T-Y, p. 318. | |
| Francis Vassall | 12 | Scituate | Great Migration, Vol 7, T-Y, p. 318. | |
| John Vassall | 10 | Scituate | Great Migration, Vol 7, T-Y, p. 318. | |
| Judith Vassall | 16 | Scituate | Great Migration, Vol 7, T-Y, p. 318. | |
| Margaret Vassall | 2 | Scituate | Great Migration, Vol 7, T-Y, p. 318. | |
| Mary Vassall | 1 | Scituate | Great Migration, Vol 7, T-Y, p. 318. | |
| William Vassall | 42 | Scituate | Great Migration, Vol 7, T-Y, p. 318. |
Hotten’s List
June 1635
Theis under written names are to be transported to New England, imbarqued in the Blessing, Jo. Lecester Mr the pties having brought cert. from the Minister and Justices of their conformitie, being no subsidy men, took the oaths of allegeance and supremacie.
| Years | |
|---|---|
| William Cope | 26 |
| Richard Cope | 24 |
| Thomas King | 21 |
| Jo. Stockbridge | 27 |
| Robert Saiewell | 30 |
| Wm. Brookes | 20 |
| Gilbert Brooks | 14 |
| Nathaniel Byham | 14 |
| Jo. Wassell | 10 |
| Wm. Vassell | 42 |
| Richd. More | 20 |
| Robert Turner | 24 |
| Eliza Holly | 20 |
| Ann Vassall | 6 |
| Margaret Vassall | 2 |
| Mary Vassall | 1 |
| Elizabeth Robinson | 32 |
| Sarra Robinson | 1 ½ |
| Nico Robertson | 30 |
| Jo. Mory | 19 |
| Charles Stucbridge | 1 |
| James Saidwell | 1 ½ |
| Jo. Robinson | 5 |
| Ann Stocbridge | 21 |
| Susan Saiewell | 25 |
| Ann Vassall | 42 |
| Suzan King | 30 |
| Judith Vassall | 16 |
| Sara Tynkler | 15 |
| Fra. Vassall | 12 |
| Thomazin Manson | 14 |
| Kat. Robinson | 12 |
| Mary Robinson | 7 |
| Robt. Onyon | 26 |
Hotton, John Camden, The Original lists of persons of quality, emigrants, religious exiles, political rebels, serving men sold for a term of years, apprentices, children stolen, maidens pressed, and others who went from Great Britain to the American plantations, 1600-1700 : with their ages, the localities where they formerly lived in the mother country, the names of the ships in which they embarked, and other interesting particulars, from mss. preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty’s Public Record Office, England, p. 93-94, London : Chatto and Windus, 1874.
July 1635
Theis under written names are to be transported to N. England imbarqued in the Blessing John Lester Mr The pties have brought cert. from the Minister and Justices of their conformitie in Religion and that they are no subsidy men.
| Years | |
|---|---|
| Jo. Jackson, fisherman | 40 |
| Margaret Jackson | 36 |
| John Jackson | 2 |
| Jo. Manifold | 17 |
| John Burles | 26 |
| Jo. Fitch | 14 |
| Nico Long | 19 |
| Christian Buck | 26 |
| Darnabie Davies | 36 |
| Suzan Danes | 16 |
| Robert Lewes | 28 |
| Eliz. Lewes | 22 |
| Edward Ingram | 18 |
| Henry Beck | 18 |
| Jo. Hathoway | 18 |
| Richard Sexton | 14 |
| Mary Hubbard | 24 |
| Mary Syratt | 20 |
| Richard Hallingworth | 40 |
| Suzan Hallingworth | 30 |
| Christian Hunter | 20 |
| Elizabeth Hunter | 18 |
| Tho. Hunter | 14 |
| Wm. Hunter | 11 |
| Wm. Hollingworth | 7 |
| Richd. Hollingworth | 4 |
| Suzan Hollingworth | 2 |
| Eliz. Hollingworth | 3 |
| Tho. Trentum | 14 |
| Tho. Biggs | 13 |
| Jo. Bruggs | 20 |
| Robt. Lewes | 28 |
| Eliz. Lewes | 22 |
Hotton, John Camden, The Original lists of persons of quality, emigrants, religious exiles, political rebels, serving men sold for a term of years, apprentices, children stolen, maidens pressed, and others who went from Great Britain to the American plantations, 1600-1700 : with their ages, the localities where they formerly lived in the mother country, the names of the ships in which they embarked, and other interesting particulars, from mss. preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty’s Public Record Office, England, p. 108, London : Chatto and Windus, 1874.
Bank’s List
When Bank listed the passengers, he did so as family groups based upon their surname. While this helped understand the passenger’s family grouping it also separated out other relations in the list.
BLESSING, John Leicester, Master. She sailed in June with the following passengers ‘to be transported to New England’ and arrived at Boston in August.1
| William Vassall | 42 | of Stepney, county Middlesex, merchant | Scituate |
| Mrs. Anne Vassall | 42 | ||
| Judith Vassall | 16 | ||
| Frances Vassall | 12 | ||
| John Vassall | 10 | ||
| Anne Vassall | 6 | ||
| Margaret Vassall | 2 | ||
| Mary Vassall | 1 | ||
| William Brooke | 20 | servant | Marshfield |
| Gilbert Brooke | 14 | servant | Marshfield |
| Thomas King | 31 | of Cold Norton, Essex | Scituate |
| Susan King | 32 | ||
| Thomasine Munson | 14 | servant | Scituate |
| John Stockbridge | 27 | Scituate | |
| Mrs. Anne Stockbridge | 21 | ||
| Nicholas Robinson | 30 | Cambridge | |
| Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson | 32 | ||
| Katherine Robinson | 12 | ||
| Mary Robinson | 7 | ||
| John Robinson | 5 | ||
| Sarah Robinson | 1 ½ | ||
| Robert Saywell | 30 | Boston | |
| Mrs. Susan Saywell | 25 | ||
| James Saywell | 1 | ||
| Nathaniel Byham | 14 | Marshfield | |
| Richard More | 20 | ||
| John Morey | 19 | ||
| John Briggs | 20 | Watertown | |
| Nicholas Long | 19 | ||
| John Hathaway | 18 | Yarmouth | |
| Henry Beck | 18 | Dover, New Hampshire | |
| Edward Ingraham | 18 | Salem | |
| John Manifold | 17 | ||
| John Fitch | 14 | ||
| Richard Sexton | 14 | Windsor, Connecticut | |
| Elizabeth Holley | 30 | ||
| Sarah Tinkler | 15 | ||
| Mary Hubbard | 24 | ||
| Mary Sprall | 20 | ||
| Christian Buck | 26 | ||
| William Cope | 26 | ||
| Richard Cope | 24 | ||
| Robert Turner | 24 | Boston | |
| Robert Onion | 26 | Roxbury | |
| Richard Hollingsworth | 40 | Salem | |
| Mrs. Susan Hollingsworth | 30 | ||
| William Hollingsworth | 7 | ||
| Richard Hollingsworth | 4 | ||
| Elizabeth Hollingsworth | 3 | ||
| Susan Hollingsworth | 2 | ||
| Christian Hunter | 20 | ||
| Elizabeth Hunter | 18 | ||
| Thomas Hunter | 14 | ||
| William Hunter | 11 | ||
| Thomas Trentum | 14 | ||
| Thomas Biggs | 13 | ||
| John Jackson | 40 | fisherman | Cambridge |
| Mrs. Margaret Jackson | 36 | ||
| John Jackson | 2 | ||
| Barnaby Davis | 36 | Charlestown | |
| Mrs. Susan Davis | 16 | ||
| Robert Lewis | 28 | Salem | |
| Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis | 22 | ||
| John Burules | 26 | (probably Burrell) | |
Banks, Charles Edward, The planters of the commonwealth; a study of the emigrants and emigration in colonial times: to which are added lists of passengers to Boston and to the Bay Colony; the ships which brought them; their English homes, and the places of their settlement in Massachusetts. 1620-1640, p. 176-178, Boston : Houghton Mifflin Co., 1930.
William Hollingsworth testified that his father came with twelve persons in 1635, and the last six named in his family are probably those who are found in Salem afterward.
Charles Stockbridge, aged 1, is left out of Banks list and is certainly the child of John and Ann Stockbridge.
Fitch, John. It is doubtful that John sailed on the Blessing, and more likely that he set sail aboard the Defence, that sailing having occurred after the Blessing had arrived in New England, and he being listed as enrolled for passage, age 14. Said to be related to James Fitch who sailed aboard the Defence with him, but not his son.
Holly, Elizabeth. Hotten and Banks disagree on the age of Elizabeth in the record, Hotten having her as age 20, Banks, as age 30. Anderson does not broach the issue and fails to state any age or birth for her. On the passenger list she is listed just above the three youngest Vassall children and I wonder if she was a hired servant for those girls.
King Family. Totten and Banks differ on the age of Thomas, Totten has him as age 21, Banks as age 31. Totten is correct, and Banks was likely confused by the similar names and assumed they were married. Susan King does not appear in any known records in New England, while Thomas appears prominently in the records of Scituate. I expect that Susan is related in some manner to Thomas. Ann Vassall was Anna King of Cold Norton, daughter of George King.
More, Richard. Richard had originally arrived on the Mayflower in 1620, settling in Plymouth, but returned to England in 1627. He then sets sail aboard the Blessing and settled in Salem upon his arrival.
Saywell Family. Susan (Kendall) Saywell was sister of Anne (Kendall) Stockbridge, wife of John Stockbridge2. You will notice in Hotten’s list that the two men, Robert Saywell and John Stockbridge are listed next to each other, the two wives, Sarah Saywell and Ann Stockbridge are next to each other, and the two youngest, James Saywell and Charles Stockbridge appear next to each other; but none of the family members appear together.
Sexton, Richard. Some genealogists have attributed Richard as the Richard Sexton who would settle in Windsor, Connecticut by 1644. Anderson thinks the nine-year difference between his arrival in Boston, and his appearance in Windsor Connecticut is too great, absent any corroborating records. However, if Richard Sexton arrived as a 14-year-old in 1635, making him only twenty-three in 1644. There is not much time as an adult to have appeared on records. It is also possible he arrived as an indentured servant and spent most of those years paying off the debts of his passage over.
Tinker, Sarah. By 1639, Sarah Tinkler married as his first wife, Thomas King of Scituate.3 If you look at the above list, you will see both Thomas (age 20) and Sarah (age 15) on the list. Sarah in Hotten’s list comes in the group of Vassall girls, all of whom are related to Thomas King, and all who settle in Scituate. She died in Scituate on 6 Jun 1652.4