Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

BLOSSOM.
Deacon Thomas Blossom, one of the Pilgrims, and the
ancestor of the Blossom family of Barnstal)le, came from
Leyden to Plymouth, England ; hut being on board the
Speedwell, did not obtain a [)assage in the Mayflower from
England in 1620. He returned to Leyden to encourage the
emigration of the residue of Mr. liobinson's Church. He
came over in 1629, with Mr. Higginson and others, who
were bound to Salem. Judge Mitchell says he was first
deacon of the Church in Plymouth, and his letter to Gov.
Bradford gives evidence that he was a well educated and a
pious man. He died in Plymouth in the year 1632.* Of
bis family no record has been preserved. He had a son in
1620, who went to England with him and returned to Leyden
; but was not living Dec. 1625. At the latter date he
had two other children, but their names are not recorded.
Circumstantial evidence proves, beyond a reasonable doubt,
that he had two sons who survived him ; Thomas, who was
sixteen or over in 1643, and Peter who was younger.
Anna, the widow of Dea. Thomas Blossom, married
Henry Rowley, Oct. 17, 1633. They were members of
Mr. Lothrop's Church at its organization, Jan'ry 8, 1634-5,
and removed with him to Barnstable in 1639. Thomas and
Peter came to Barnstable with their mother, and were probably
members of the family of their father-in-law. Thomas
*The date of the death of Deacon Blossom is uncertain. Gov. Bradford,
who was his contemporary, says he died of tiie malignant fever
which pervaded in the summer of 1633. The accurate Prince copies
Gov. Bradford's statementj and the caro-tul Mr. Savage refers to Prince
as his authority. Judge Mitchel says "about 1633." Notwitlistanding
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 1632-3,
and proves conclusively that Dea. Blossom was dead when that record
was made.