John BLAND/SMITH

Abt 1572 - 1668  (~ 96 years)

• Name	John BLAND/SMITH
  Born	Abt 1572	Colchester, Essex, England
  Gender	Male
  _UID	58695BF9A7BF47E19A5401CB649BF54D9EAF
  Died	6 Jan 1667/68	Worcester Co. MA
  Buried	Old Common Burial Ground Lancaster Worcester Co. MA
  	Grave location and cemetery photo: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=82166404
  Notes	John Bland was one of the earliest settlers of Martha's Vineyard, owning land here as early as 1646. He and his second wife Joanna (his first wife, Isabella, died before he came to the island) were prominent citizens of Edgartown back in the day. It is even believed that John Bland was with Thomas Mayhew in the shallop that first pulled into what is now Edgartown Great Harbor. He frequently called himself John Smith, this even prior to arrival in New England. Probate records include the John Smith name. Source: Genealogical Dict. of ME & NH "John Bland,alias John Smith was living at Edgartown, on Martha's Vineyard, in 1646, undoubtedly the John Smith [in] association with the Mayhews in the first movement from Watertown to the Island, where he was always 'Bland'. In Watertown, lived his mother Adrian, 2nd wife of Jeremiah Norcross and there is a recorded "Isabel" wife of John Smith, born 12 July 1639, age 60. The Hampton Drakes testified that they knew his daughter Isabel Bland from childhood, that her father John Bland lived in Colchester, and that his ancestory was Bland, not Smith. Apparently his step-father was Smith. His will made 2 Nov. 1663 names wife, Joanna and "all the children that are alive that I owne" Source: History of Martha's Vineyard FIRST TOWNSHIP GRANT. "The basis of all land titles in Edgartown rests upon the original grant of the two patentees to certain individuals named in the following grant of township rights:- ..... unto John Doggett, Danish Pierce and Rich'd Beeres and John Smith and Francis Smith with ourselves to make choice for the Present of a large Towne upon the same Terms that we have it: And also equall Power in Governm't with us, and equall Power in admission of all that shall present themselves to come to live upon any part of the whole grant of all the Islands; and wee grant also to them and their Associates with us to receive another Townshipp for Posterity upon the same Terms wee have from the Grantees. [New York Col. Doc. Deeds, I, 72.]" [1]
  Person ID	I6865	Master File
  Last Modified	21 Jun 2016

  
  

  Family 1	Isabella DRAKE,   b. Abt 1579, England ,   d. Oct 1639, Watertown, Middlesex, MA  (Age ~ 60 years)
  Married	1597	Colchester, Essex, England
  Children	+ 1. Isabella BLAND,   b. Abt 1612, England ,   d. 19 Feb 1699, Hampton, Rockingham Co., NH  (Age ~ 87 years)
  Family ID	F4866	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Joanna
  Last Modified	26 Dec 2013
  Family ID	F11038	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S40] Every Witch Way, (Martha’sVineyard: Vineyard Today), 10/24/2009.