My Family Tree

Author: David Crandall Schafer

Joseph Blish was born July 20, 1731, at Barnstable, Massachusetts, the eldest child of Deacon Joseph Blish and Mercy Crocker. His siblings of Joseph were Hannah, William, Samuel, Seth, Mercy, Benjamin, Ebenezer and Timothy.1

Blish married Sarah Crocker, a daughter of Thomas Crocker and Mehitable Dimmick, May 19, 1757, at Barnstable. They were the parents of eight children: Mercy, Olive, Chloe, Elizabeth, Joseph, Eunice, Sarah and Timothy.2

In 1761, Joseph Blish served in various examples of Civil Service in town positions such as Hog Reeve, Constable, Juryman, Warden, Agent for the Church, School Agent, Tithingman, Wood Dorder and Surveyor of Highways. At the Town Meeting of October 8, 1776, Blish was chosen one of five school agents “…to procure and settle [a] Grammar schoolmaster.” He was chosen, March 24, 1778, to serve on a Grand Jury. He was chosen, March 31, 1779, as a School Agent for the westward part of the town. He was chosen in October 1779 as a member of the committee “…to regulate the prices of Labour Innholders, Teaming, etc.,” and also as Fence Viewer.3

Blish also provided Patriotic Service. He was chosen, April 15, 1777, to a committee “…to wait upon the Committee of the General Court.” He was voted to a committee, May 20, 1777, “…to give the town's representatives instructions to proceed to the settlement of the constitution, agreeable to the resolve of the General Court of May 5, 1777.” Blish was voted to a committee, March 24, 1778, “…that were to supply continental soldier’s families with necessaries agreeable to the resolve of the General Court.” He was chosen to supply Nathan Fuller’s family. Blish was chosen to a committee, May 20, 1780, of 15 members “…to take the new constitution into consideration.”4

After the War, Blish served Barnstable as Town Meeting Moderator, School Agent and a member of the committee “…to examine the state of the Herring River at Marstons Mills.”5 Blish was chosen as a representative for the Town of Barnstable to the General Court from 1808 through 1810.6

Joseph Blish wrote his Last Will and Testament, March 1, 1813. He named his wife, and children: Joseph, Olive, Elizabeth, Mercy and Eunice.

Joseph Blish died May 18, 1815, at Barnstable, aged 83 years. He was buried at the cemetery of West Barnstable beside his wife, who predeceased him November 25, 1802.

References:

1. Genealogy of the Blish Family in America, 1637-1905, Pg. 40.

2. Ibid, Pg. 71.

3. Barnstable Town Records, Vol. 3, 1765-1785, Pg. 376, 388, 398, 402, 403.

4. Ibid, Pg. 379, 380, 387, 408.

5. Ibid, Pg. 473, 475, 481.

6. Genealogy of the Blish Family in America, 1637-1905, Pg. 76, 77.