Themes

A series about items in the BGDB which are linked by a common theme.

These database excerpts will be updated on a regular basis so it is worth bookmarking this site for future reference.

Passengers and Arrivals Overseas

William Bliss immigrant arrival 1748- 1749 Canada
William Bliss arrived Jan 1768 transportation sentence 00 12 1767 from
London to Virginia
John Bliss Loyalist/trooper disbanded 1802 Hampton Canada
John Bliss convict arrival Jul1808 Colus NSW on Admiral Gambier Australia
William Bliss 2 death 1834 Grosse Isle Immigrant Hospital, Quebec Canada
/ Andrew? Bliss captain arrival 27 09 1847 Aukland vessel Deborah NZ
/ Andrew? Bliss captain arrival 07 06 1848 Aukland vessel Swallow NZ
Catherine Bliss lab 24 arrival 16 11 1848 from Belfast on Arethusa steerage
NY USA
Helen Bliss lab 32 arrival 16 11 1848 from Belfast on Arethusa steerage NY
USA
George Bliss 5 emigrant 1848 from Passenham? on Fairlie NSW Australia
John Bliss brick/tilem'ker 28 emigrant 1848 from Passenham? on Fairlie NSW
Australia
John Bliss 2 emigrant 1848 Yardley Gobion? on Fairlie NSW Australia
Louisa Bliss wife lacem'ker 30 emigrant 1848 Yardley Gobion on Fairlie NSW
Australia Sarah Bliss wife dressmaker 28 emigrant 1848 Passenham? on Fairlie
NSW Australia Thomas Bliss brick/tilem'ker 26 1848 from Passenham? on
Fairlie NSW Australia
Benjamin Bliss lab 28 arrival 12 03 1849 from Liverpool on Ivanhoe steerage
NY USA
Edward Bliss child 2 arrival 12 03 1849 from Liverpool on Ivanhoe steerage
NY USA
Mary Bliss lab 24 F arrival 12 03 1849 from Liverpool on Ivanhoe steerage NY
USA
Richard Bliss born at sea 0 12 03 1849 from Liverpool on Ivanhoe steerage NY
USA
John Bliss 17 arrival 20 04 1850 from London on board Mississippi NY USA
Henry Bliss stonemason 27 emigrant 1852 Hoxton? Midx. on Hydasfies NSW
Australia
Hydasfies Bliss Eliza immigrant 1852 born on voyage on Hydasfies NSW
Australia Mary Ann Bliss wife 27 emigrant 1852 London on Hydasfies NSW
Australia
/Mr. Bliss aboard 'Formosa' immigrant Oct 1852 Victoria Australia
James Bliss ship'Revenue' 21 immigrant Oct 1852 Victoria Australia
A. Bliss ship 'Texas' 25 immigrant Aug 1853 Victoria Australia
Edward Bliss ship 'Theoxina' immigrant Aug 1853 Victoria Australia
John Bliss ship 'Lady McNaghten' 31 immigrant Aug 1853 Victoria Australia
William Bliss ship 'Sea Ranger' 27 immigrant Nov 1853 Victoria Australia
Theodore Bliss 'Royal George' 20 immigrant Nov 1855 Victoria Australia
Alfred Bliss ship 'Mermaid' 17 immigrant Aug 1857 Victoria Australia
Charles Bliss ship 'Formosa' 26 immigrant Sept 1857 Victoria Australia
John Bliss ship 'Kent' 34 immigrant Oct 1857 Victoria Australia
Job Bliss 20 emigrant 1857 Queensland Australia
A. Bliss ship 'Alexander' 33 immigrant Jan1859 Victoria Australia
Joseph Bliss ship 'Empire of Peace' immigrant 29 Oct 1861 Victoria Australia
Sarah Bliss 20 emigrant Jun 1863 arrival Victoria on board 'Maori'
Australia
C.H. Bliss 43 emigrant Oct 1869 arrival Victoria on board 'Holmsdale'
Australia
John Bliss orphan/institution child 16 arrival 05 07 1875 Quebec aboard
Sarmatian Canada
Isaac Bliss 24 M emigrant 05 12 1877 on board Pericles NSW Australia
Harry? Bliss passenger arrival 25 06 1878 Aukland Vessel Zealandia NZ
George Bliss clothier 29 M emigrant 13 05 1878 on board Erato NSW Australia
Sophia Bliss 29 F emigrant 13 05 1878 on board Erato NSW Australia
A. Bliss mr. passenger/emigrant Jan 1883 arrival Victoria on board 'Indus'
Australia
Jesse Bliss18 passenger Mar 1883 arrival Victoria on board 'Cephalonia'
Australia
Thomas B. Bliss 20 passenger list / 1883 Halifax Nova Scotia Canada
Eliza E. Bliss 25 passenger Jun 1884 arrival Victoria on board 'Kepler'
Australia
John Bliss 21 passenger May 1884 arrival Victoria on board 'Iberia'
Australia
Charles H. Bliss 28 passenger list / 1885 Halifax Nova Scotia Canada
Arthur Bliss 18 passenger Jun 1886 arrival Victoria on board 'Sorata'
Australia
Frederick Bliss 22 passenger Jan 1886 arrival Victoria on board 'Garonne'
Australia
F.E. Bliss miss 0 passenger Nov 1887 arrival Victoria on board 'Garonne'
Australia
F.G. Bliss miss 28 passenger Nov 1887 arrival Victoria on board 'Garonne'
Australia
Henry Bliss orphan/institution child 19 arrival 27 03 1892 Halifax NS aboard
Carthaginian Canada
Agnes Louise Bliss orphan/institution child 16 F arrival 24 07 1908 Quebec
aboard SS Canada Canada
George A. J. Bliss orphan/institution child 7 M arrival 09 06 1909 Halifax
NS aboard Carthaginian Canada
Henry Bliss orphan/institution child 10 arrival 28 05 1909 Quebec aboard
Corsican Canada
Robert Bliss orphan/institution child 16 M arrival 15 04 1910 St John,
Newfoundland?, aboard Empress of Ireland Canada
Frederick Bliss orphan/institution child 10 M arrival 30 09 1912 Quebec
aboard SS Sicilian Canada

March 2001

Blisses in the English Courts of Justice 1700-1725
Descriptions of the various courts and their systems may be found in the March 2000
selection.

1703 Blisse v Smith, Surrey C/5/327/17 Court of Chancery 6 Clerks Office: Bridges Div
1703 Elizabeth Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 1 suit 152
1706 Edes v Blisse, Middlesex C/5/604/15 Chancery 6 Clerks Office: Bridges Div.
1706 Michaelmas Nathaniel Bliss, Gloucestershire, deposition Court of Exchequer Bernau 4 no 38 vol 3 gp 6
1706 William Bliss Chancery Proceedings: Bridges Div. Bernau 8 vol 2 p 91
1707 Robertson v Bliss C/9/463/14 Chancery 6 Clerks Office: Reynardson Div
1708 'Loyal Blisse' merchant ship- inventory of Richard Lelly seaman PROB 4/6019 PCC
miscellaneous inventories, etc.
1710 Bliss v Post C/9/472/55 Chancery 6 Clerks Office: Reynardson Div.
1711 Bliss v Post C/9/478/38 Chancery 6 Clerks Office: Reynardson Div.
1711 Salmon v Bliss C/9/220/20 Chancery 6 Clerks Office: Reynardson Div.
1711 Sladen v Bliss & Callant C/9/220/12 Chancery 6 Clerks Office: Reynardson Div.
1711 Michael Bliss Town Depositions Bernau 5 bundle 1317 C?
1712 Richard Bliss deposition Court of Exchequer by Commission Bernau 12
41st DK report page 402
1713 Sladdin v Blisse C/22/186/37 Chancery 6 Clerks Office. Country depositions series II
1713 Trinity John Blisse, Leicestershire, deposition Court of Exchequer Bernau 4 no 6 vol 3 gp 3
1713 Easter Richard Bliss, Norfolk, deposition Court of Exchequer Bernau 4
no 8 vol 3 gp 4
1713 Thomas Bliss gent. deceased, Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 204
suit 13
1714 Trinity John Bliss, Buckinghamshire, deposition Court of Exchequer
Bernau 4 no 18 vol 3 gp 6
1714 Aug 10th 'Loyal Bliss' merchant ship. Letters of administration for
estate of Edward Douglas (seaman?) of St Pauls, Shadwell, Middlesex PROB 32/68/3 PCC file of exhibits pre 1722
1714 Nov 4th 'Loyal Bliss' merchant ship. Dolmer con Dougless. affidavit
regarding Edward Douglas.
PROB 32/68/92 PCC file of exhibits pre 1722
1714 Sept 4th 'Royal Bliss' merchant ship. Letters of administration for
estate of David Plumbe bachelor, (seaman?) PROB 32/71/49 PCC file of exhibits pre 1722
1714 Thomas Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 1918 suit 13
1716 Stationers Company v Blisse C/11/2163/53 Chancery 6 Clerks Office: Mitford Div.
1716 Humphrey Bliss Town Depositions. Bernau 5 bundle 1358 A
1716 Joseph Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 1594? suit 65
1716 Joseph Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 2168? suit 53?
1717 Elizabeth Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 629 suit 11
1717 Thomas Bliss esq Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 629 suit 11
1718 Joseph Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 1409 suit 59
1719 Elizabeth Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 2365 suit 37
1719 Michael Bliss Town Depositions Bernau 5 bundle 1382 P
1719 Thomas Bliss esq Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 2365 suit 37
1720 Bliss v Chandler Court of Exchequer, E133/23/434 King's Remembrancer.
Baron's depositions
1720 Thomas Bliss Bernau 13 Apprenticeships inl 1/46 folio 95
1720 Thomas Bliss esq of Maidstone v Matthew Chandler regarding rectory of
Maidstone. Court of Exchequer E134/6Geo1/East 4 King's Remembrancer, depositions by Commission
1720 Thomas Bliss Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 279 suit 8
dated 1719 administered 1722 Beeckman v Bliss C 12/1442/28 Chancery 6 Clerks
Office Zincke & Fonde Div.
1723 John Bliss (parents named) Bernau 13 Apprenticeships inl 1/48 folio 5
1723 John Bliss (parents named) Bernau 13 Apprenticeships inl 1/9 folio 110
1723 John Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau 14 bundle 1783? suit 23
1724 Richarde Blisse of Whilton Northants PROB 3/23/149 PCC engrossed
inventories bundle 323 pt 2
1725 Bliss v Bliss C 12/1212/44 Chancery 6 Clerks Office. Woodford & Kipling div.
1725 Abigail Bliss Chancery Proceedings 1714-58 Bernau 14 bundle 1137 suit 24
1725 Edward Bliss Chancery Proceedings 1714-58 Bernau 14 1714-58 bundle 57
suit 2
1725 James Bliss Chancery Proceedings 1714-58 14 Bernau 14 bundle 766 suit 7
1725 Hilary term John Bliss deponent Court of Exchequer proceedings Bernau
Index 4 no 14 vol 3 gp 6 GLS
1725 John Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau Index 14 1714-58 bundle 1137 suit 24
1725 John Bliss Chancery Proceedings Bernau Index 14 1714-58 bundle 780 suit 44

April 2000

Blisses in the English Courts of Justice 1661 to 1700.
Descriptions of the various courts and their systems may be found in the March selection.

1661 William Bliss bachelor died at sea on board The Griffin PCC engrossed inventories exhibited from 1660
1667 Blisse v Saunders Northamton C 5/80/83 & 85
1667 Bliss Dorothy Bernau Index 14 Chancery Proceedings 1714-58 bundle 1
suit 99
1667 Bliss Robert Bernau Index 14 Chancery Proceedings 1714-58 bundle 1
suit 99
1668 Townsend v Bliss Gloucester C 5/433/59
1668 Bliss Elizabeth Bernau Index 8 Chancery Proceedings: Bridges div. vol 4 page 231
1668 Blisse John of Benet's Gracechurch, London PROB 4/20854 PCC engrossed inventories exhibited from 1660
1668 Bliss Thomas Bernau Index 8 Chancery Proceedings: Bridges div. vol 4 page 231
1671 Bowings v Coles, Blisse Middlesex C 10/164/11 & 17
1671 Entwistle v Blisse,Cleere, Browne etc Norfolk C 10/160/33
1671 Blisse v Courthorpe C 9/55/9
Also Blist (sic) v Courthope C 9/404/239
1672 Entwistle v Blisse Norfolk C 5/477/36
1672 Entwistle v Blisse,Cleere, Browne etc Norfolk C 10/163/36
1672 Bliss Thomas Bernau Index 8 Chancery Proceedings: Bridges div. vol 2 page 87
1674 Bliss George Town Depositions Bernau Index 5 bundle 990 H
1675 Blisse v Course, Whites Surrey C 10/493/29
1677 Wickes v Blisse Leicester C 5/578/54
1677 Bliss Philip Bernau Index 8 Chancery Proceedings: Bridges div. vol 4 page 358
1677 Michaelmas Bliss Richard Court of Exchequer depositions Bernau Index 4 no 11 vol 3 gp 6 p 15
1684 Bliss Richard Town Depositions Bernau Index 5 bundle 1087 L
1687 Michaelmas Blisse John Willoughby & Grandborough, Warwicks E 134/2/Jas2/Mic
Exchequer, king's remembrancer: depositions by commission re tythes,metes & bounds
1690 Bliss Miriam Town Depositions Bernau Index 5 bundle 1690 C?
1691 Bliss con Jesson PROB 36/5 probate and admon court: misc exhibits pre 1722
1691 Savadge (Savage) v Blisse Kent C 5/282/107
1691 Bliss Thomas Bernau Index 8 Chancery Proccedings: Bridges div. vol 4 page 110
1693 Charleton v Blisse C 9/447/24
1694 Bliss v Drewett C 9/433/30 Chancery 6 Clerks Office. Reynardson
1695 Bliss v Amhurst/Amherst C 9/274/30 Chancery 6 Clerks Office. Reynardson
1695 Blysse v Ward C 9/253/49 Chancery: Six Clerks' Office: Reynardson
1695 Bliss Jane Town Depositions Bernau Index 5 bundle 1179 H
1698 Bliss Joseph Town Depositions Bernau Index 5 bundle 1208 B
1699 Savidge (Savage) v Blisse C 9/438/181 Chancery 6 Clerks Office. Reynardson
1699 Bliss Nathaniel Town Depositions Bernau index 5 bundle 1222 B?
1700 Talboys v Bliss & Pavey C 9/162/54 Chancery 6 Clerks Office. Reynardson

March 2000
Blisses in the English Courts of Justice Elizabeth I to the Restoration 1558-1660.

Administration and purpose of various courts, other than Chancery which was mentioned in February.
No Blisses appear in the on-line catalogue index of the Public Records Office for two of the most important courts- King's Bench and Common Pleas. King's Bench was one of 3 courts which evolved from the Curia Regis before 1272. Most of the important civil and criminal cases came before the court which used Common Law procedures, by which the plaintiff secured a writ against the defendant(s) and evidence was heard by a jury. It was only less senior than Parliament as the highest court in the land. Common Pleas, again using Common Law procedure, was mainly concerned with disputes over property and debt and was easily the busiest of the courts. The great body of Common Law cases and statutes, restated and amplified by Sir Edward Coke in his Reports and Institutes, is the bulwark of our personal liberties and defends the supremacy of the Law against the prerogatives of monarch, church and magnate.

The Court of Exchequer originally collected royal revenues and had fiscal responsibilities. In the 1550s it developed into an Equity court of Justice, using English bill procedure, by which the plaintiff petitioned for justice to be determined by the judge. Exchequer became part of the High Court of Justice in 1880.

The Court of Star Chamber met from 1487 in the Privy Council Chamber at the royal palace of Westminster. The ceiling was adorned with painted stars which gave the court its name. The court dispensed quick and inexpensive justice but became tainted in early Stuart times as a tool of the royal prerogative and thus it came into conflict with the Common Law courts.
It was abolished in 1642, on the eve of the Civil War.

Court of Wards and Liveries established 1541 abolished 1660 administered receipts paid to the monarch by guardians as stewards of the wardship, marriage and liveries of heirs/heiresses.

Court of the Duchy of Lancaster had wide-ranging jurisdiction in the huge estates held by the monarch's own duchy from 1399 to 1873 (Criminal & Common Law) and 1971 (Chancery).

1331/2 Hugh Blese was a witness in Chancery at an Inquisition ad Quod Damnum 5 Ed III C 143/218/2

1585/6 Hardinge v Blisse, North Standen, Wiltshire depositions in the Court of Duchy of Lancaster Chamber 27th Elizabeth I.

The following were involved in Chancery proceedings in the first half of Elizabeth I's reign 1558-79.

Agnes widow of Thomas Blisse deceased Henry Blisse son or kin of the above?

1564/5 Walter Blisse of Co Gloucester Chancery Inquisition Post Mortem C 142/274/113. Also in the Court of Wards and Liveries WARD 7/10/83 & 96

Pleadings heard before the 6 Clerks' Office in Chancery: 1649 Bennett v Blisse and Sampson, Devon. C 10/1/6 Whittington dvision.
1651 Blesse v Bennett, Devon C 10/467/46 Whittington division
1651/2 Wheatley v Blisse. C 9/7/205 & C 9/8/139 & 142 Reynardson division.
1652 Blisse v Wheatley and others, Middlesex. C 10/14/10 Whittington division
1656 Langley v Blisse, Shropshire. C 5/25/52 Bridges division (probably Edward Blisse - deponent Bernau index)

The following persons made depositions (sworn statements) in Chancery as recorded in the Bernau Index. Ages are probably only approximate.
1620 Blisse Giles gent 46 of Frampton Mansell GLS
1626 Blisse Giles barber/surgeon 40 of Newport MNM
1630 Blisse John carpenter 50 of Prestbury GLS
1632 Blisse Edward miller 50 of Cranham GLS
1632 Blisse John husbandman 45 of Chudleigh DEV
1632 Blisse Thomas husbandman 37 of Chudleigh DEV
1634 Blisse Edward miller 50 of Cranham GLS
1637 Blisse Ann 40 wife of John Bliss of Spratton Highgate in Northants NTH
1637 Blisse John blacksmith 33 of Little Creaton NTH
1637 Blisse John blacksmith 30 of Little Creaton NTH
1647 Blisse Thomas husbandman 60 of Chudleigh DEV

Also in 1647 an Inquiry Post Mortem was conducted in Chancery into the possessions of Thomas Blisse deceased of London, C 142/725/65 11th Charles I

In Elizabeth's reign, John Blisse or Bliste of Midhurst Sussex was a defendant with others in the Court of Star Chamber in a case of assaults, perjury in a Chancery suit and forgery. STAC 7/12/26

Other Star Chamber suits:
1509-47 Rich Inkepen and Ann his wife v James Baskerville & William Noke concerning lands and messuage at Standon upon Wye, Hereford, known as Blesse's. STAC 2/19/192 Henry VIII bundle XIX. This confirms that Bliss hall and manor at Staunton on Wye (discussed Bliss magazine 1 and 4) was the same as the property at Staundon, held by knights service of Edmund Mortimer by William de Blees (or Blez), which was subject to an inquisition post mortem on William's death in 1388.

1562/3 Salkeld v Lowther, Blisse and others STAC 5/S84/23 5 Elizth I
1579/80 Brodhurst v Blees, Leigh and others STAC 5/B73/14
1595/6 Kemble v Kemble, Bliss, Clerke and others STAC 5/K10/23 & K11/39 38 Elizabeth I
1595/6 Curteys v Blisse and others STAC 5/C3/9 38 Elizabeth I

Blisse's appearing before the Court of Exchequer:

1594 Michaelmas Richard Bliss deponent. Bernau Index
1594/5 Michaelmas Ambrose Bliss v Richard Barton depositions to King's Remembrancer regarding 2 tenements in Darlescot and Patteshall, Northants. E 134/37&38 Elz/Mic9
1595 Clement Bliss deponent. Bernau Index
1595 Michaelmas William Bliss 2 depositions. Bernau Index
1614 Michaelmas Oliver Blisse & others of Barsham, Suffolk depositions to King's Remembrancer regarding fishing, ferry etc on the river Waveney. E 134/12Jas1/Mic
1639 Geoffry Blisse of Glenfield Leicester, depositions to King's Remembrancer E 134/14Chas1/Mic
1639 Hilary Giles Bliss deposition. Bernau Index.
1640 Hilary William Bliss deposition. Bernau Index
1655 Michaelmas Thomas Bliss deposition. Bernau Index
1558-1602 Catherine Bliss was involved in proceedings before the Court of Requests. Bernau Index. This was a court for the recovery of minor debts, abolished 1642.
1648 Robert Bliss Assize recognizance and deposition North & North East Circuit.

February 2000

Blisses involved in cases in the Court of Chancery

The Chancery, or Chancellor's Office, became a court of Law in about 1348.
It was an Equity Court providing remedy for complaints not covered by Common Law. It is now popularly remembered for the protracted and expensive processes mentioned in the novels of Charles Dickens and other Victorian writers. The Public Records Office at Kew has published a catalogue of Chancery records from which much of the following information has been gleaned.

This month we begin with undated Early Proceedings in the Six Clerks' Office which extend from the reign of Richard II to Philip & Mary (1558)

# Blisse Thomas mercer of Daventry co-defendant in the case of Richard & Ann Johnson v Blisse & Wm. Devytt, butcher, concerning waste of wood in Norton near Daventry NTH. C 1/1238/52

# Blees William tiler, plaintiff in the case of Wm. Bliss v Steward of the Marshalsea Prison, London, concerning an action of trespass by Robt Mannyng. C 1/48/44

William Blees yeoman of London, son/heir of Makyn Blees was plaintiff in the case of W. Blees v Catherine Bless his stepmother concerning possession of messuage & barn at Beaumaris, Anglesey. C 1/1194/32-38. This case continued in the series II Pleadings (1558-79) as Bleys v Bleyse. C 3/15/4

Thomas Blys vicar of Uttoxeter Staffordshire was defendant in the case of John Mastur gent v Thos Blys vicar Uttoxeter. C 1/11/440

John Blysse was plaintiff in the case of John Blysse v John Water concerning the detention of deeds to property at Bradwell, Suffolk C 1/120/19

Thomas Blysse of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, & his wife Margery, late the wife of Harry Borne, were plaintiffs in the case of T.& Marg. Blysse v Thomas Borne, son of the aforesaid Harry & Margery. C 1/288/78

Unnamed Blisses were litigants between 1558-1579 in the case of Blisse v Blisse Northamptonshire. C 3/19/74