Almost all of the name of Blish, besides a few who spell the name Bliss and Blush, are descended from Abraham Blish, who was in Duxbury, a part of the Plymouth colony, in 1637. He is mentioned in Winsor's History of Duxbury, on page 228. The first authentic record we find, is a deed from Richard Moore to Abraham Blish of a tract of land in Duxbury, at the "Eagle's Nest", which is found in Plymouth's great Book of Deeds, volume I, page 22, and is as follows:

"Memorand: The 29^th of September 1657 That whereas John WIllis purchased of Abraham Blush halfe the twenty acree lott lying on Duxborrow syde which lott the said Blush purchased of Richard More as may appear by an instrument vpon Record bearing the date Nouember 27 1638 Now the said John Willis doth acknowlidg that for and in consideration of Eaight pounds to him in hand payed by William Paybody of Duxborrow, haue freely and absolutely sold vnto said William Paybody That one halfe lott That hee bought of the aforesaid Blush being the easterly end of the twenty acre Lott Towards the place called Easgles Nest point with all and singulare the premises therevnto belonging Together with all his right and Interest of and in the same To haue and to hold the said halfe Lott of land with all and singulare the Appurtenances therevnto belonging for the only proper vse and behoofe of him the said William Paybody his heires and Assignes for euer.    by mee JOHN WILLIS
Signed sealed and deliuered in the p^rsence of

Nathanial Moore.
Josiah Standish.

The exact date of his coming to Duxbury is unknown, the earliest records of that town having supposedly been burned with the house of Miles Standish, who was the town clerk.

Abraham Blish early removed to Barnstable and is known to have been there in 1640, and may be considered to be one of the early settlers of that Town. His first residence was in what was afterward known as West Barnstable, "Great Marshes" - and his homestead there was owned by him and his descendents for nearly two hundred years. On July 17th, 1658, he purchased of Dolar Doavis, for £75, a farm in the easterly part of Town, near the present site of the Town of barnstable, a portion of which land was in the old common-field. His house was on the south side of the mill-pond and a short distance south-east of the old tide-mill, and the causeway that formed the mill-dam was known as "Blishes Bridge" or "Blushes Bridge". It is spelled both ways in the old records. The western extremety of the old common-field was, until a very recent date, known as Blish's Point. The inventory of the estate of Jeremiah Bacon mentions "one piece of meadow by Blish's Bridge," Mar 29, 1706. In the will of John Bacon, proven 20 Oct. 1738, occurs the following- "Item-I give free liberty to all my sons and grandsons to use and improve my two landing places one at the mill and one at the bank by Blush's point, as they may have occasion". The inventory of John Davis, 28 Feb. 1739, mentions meadow at Blish's point, bought of John Sturges, and land at Blish's point is also mentioned in the partition of the estate of John Lewus, 4 Apr. 1789. Portions of the old causeway are still standing and the remains of an old tide-mill are now on the site though doubtless of later construction. Abraham Blish was a large land owner for those days, as is evidenced by the frequency with which his name occurs in the records. Among the earlier records is found the following, pertaining to the lands of the first settlers:

    "1651, Jany. 8. Whereas the Inhabitants of this Town took into serious consideration the great trouble and confusion that may hereafter ensue for want of recording sundry parcel or parcels of land given and granted to sundry particular men within the township, for the prevention of which trouble and confusion the s^d inhabitants have therefore, at full town meeting, y^e day and year above written, with full consent, ordered and agreed as followeth, viz: - that whatsoever parcel or parcels of land or lands any man hath and is at present possessed with within this Township, the bounds of said lands being publicly declared in Town Meeting, and proved, shall be recorded in the Town book to be the lands of each possessor thereof, and do by these Presents order and declare that the record thereof as aforesaid be sufficient security to claim, hold and retain full and lawful right, title and interest to them, their heirs forever of all and every such parcel and parcels of land possessed by them and recorded as aforesaid.

Three other tracts of land are described as belonging to Abraham Blush. 1658, July 21. Another list of the lands and land owners of the Town was spread upon the Town records, among which are elevel tracts of Abraham Blish.

    "To All Persons to Whom These Presents Shall Come, Abraham Blish of Barnstable in y^e Government of New Plymouth, in New England, yeoman, sendeth Greeting, and Know Ye that I, the said Abraham Blish, for and in consideration of a parcel of high fence belonging to y^e field commonly called y^e common-field, in Barnstable aforesaid, containing twenty acres and two rodd lying on y^e Kings highway between y^e fence of Nathaniel Bacon of Barnstable aforesaid and a gate which I was to make and maintain that stands at y^e head of y^e lane or way which leads down to y^e creek and to my now dwelling house, now to be repaired and ever be maintained by y^e s^d Nathaniel Bacon and Jeremy Bacon, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever, the security for making and repairing y^e s^d fence fence and gate by y^e s^d Nathaniel Bacon and Jeremy Bacon, to me in hand given, y^e receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and declare myself fully satisfied, contented and paid, and for divers other good causes and conderations to me the s^d Abraham Blish, at this time especially moving, have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, enfoeffed and confirmed and by these presents do freely and absolutely give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfoeffe and confirm unto them y^e s^d Nathaniel Bacon and Jeremy Bacon, there heirs and assigns forever, all that parcel of my meddow march and creek stuff, containing about one acre and one-half, be it more or less, lying and being in Barnstable aforesaid, on y^e northerly side of y^e creek commonly called y^e old mill creek, and is bounded southerly by y^e s^d creek and easterly by y^e causeway over y^e marsh from y^e bridge where y^e old mill stood, and is bounded westerly by y^e west side of a rock standing by y^e upland side and thence ranging easterly to y^e main creek aforesaid by the point where y^e bank of y^e s^d creek is steep down; together with all y^e proffits, privileges and appurtenances to y^e s^d bargained premises belonging or in any wise appertaining: To Have and To Hold y^e s^d pacel of meddow and creek stuff and appuntenances unto y^e s^d Nathaniel Bacon and Jeremy Bacon, their and each of their heirs and assigns forever. And I, the s^d Abraham Blish, do for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators covenant and grant to and with y^e s^d Nathaniel Bacon and Jeremy Bacon and their heirs and y^e heirs and assigns of each of them, that at the time of ensealing and delivering of these presents, I have full power and just right and lawful authority to grant, bargain, and confirm all y^e s^d premises, in and by these presents mentioned or intended to be bargained and confirmed in manner and form as aforesaid, according to y^e true intent and meaning of these presents, and that y^e s^d bargained premises are to be and shall continue to be clearly exhonorated, acquitted and discharged or otherwise upon request and sufficiently saved and kept harmless by me y^e s^d Abraham Blish, mine heirs, executors and administrators, of and from all other former gifts, grants, bargains, sales, titles, dowers, charges and imcumbrances w^tsoever had, made, conducted or done, or to be made, had conducted or done by me, y^e s^d Abraham Blish mine heirs or assigns or by any other person or persons from, by or under me, us or any of us, or by mine, our or any of our means, consent or procurement.

    "In witness whereof I, the s^d Abraham Blish have hereunto sett my hand and seal this 10th day of January, Anno Domini One Thousand Six Hundred Seventy and Nine.
    ABRAHAM BLISH & a SEAL.
"Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of

Mary Hinkley,
Jedediah Lumbert

The above s^d Abraham Blish appeared the 20 of January, 1679 and acknowledged these presents to be his act and deed before me.
    Thomas Hinkley, Assistant

Vera Copia. Compared with the original deed. Jta:
Attest predict. Thomas Hinkley."

---Barnstable Deed Records

The following items have been gathered from various sources and show the public acts of this pioneer.

"At the court of his Ma^tie holden att Plymouth for the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth the fift of March, 1677.

"John Barker, of Barnstable, complaineth against Captaine John Williams of Scituate, as Guardian and receiur of the rents and profitts of the land of the said John Barker during his minoritie, in an action of accompt, to the damage of 200 pounds; for that the said John Williams, as guardian in soccage, took into his custody the said Barker in the month of March in the yeer 1657, and from said time receiued the rents and profitts of said Barker his lands in the township of Marshfield, and had severall yeerly tenants of the same vntil the said Barker did arriue att the age of twenty one yeers, which was in the yeer 1672, being fourteen yeers compleat, and thereof hath not rendered an accompte to the plaintiffe to this day, notwithstanding the said guardian hath not improued the estate in educating and well bringing vp the said here, but contraiwise did improue the said heire as his servant, about the said Williams his owne servill imployments."

"The jury find for the plaintiffe an hundred and seauenteen pounds damages, vnless the defendant render to him a faire accompte between this and the last of May next, and the costs of suit which comes to 4^£ 06^s 06^d to be payed in siluer money."

"In reference to the verdict of the jury in the case of John Barker, plaintiffe and Capt. John Williams, defendant, in an action of accompte as guardian in soccage, which is as followeth, viz: ---the jury find for the plaintiffe one hundred and seuenteen pounds damage, vnless the defendant doe render to him a faire accompt this and the last day of May next, and the cost of suit: This court doth appoint the honorable the Gou., Major Cudworth and the Treasurer, and for the default of either, Mr. Thomas Hinkley, auditors, to meet together att Marshfield the 15th day of May next att tenn of the clocke, to auditt, heare and determine the said accompte, together with the cost of said auditt and to issue forth executions for the arrearages of the same; and case the said auditors shall not agree in any matter touching the said accompte, that then any two of them agreeing shall haue full power to determine the same."

John Barker succeeded so well in this suit, that he was encouraged to try again, and on the 16th of July, 1678, he filed the following declaration:

"John Barker, or Barnstable, complains against John Williams of Sciutate, in an action on the case, to the damage of one hundred pounds,--- for that whereas, after the said Barker did arriue at the age of fourteen yeers, he choose the said Williams as his guardian and who expected to continue his guardianshipp to the said Barker and was allowed and appointed by the Court of New Plymouth to be guardian to said Barker and required by said Court to bring him vp in the way of education and learning soe as might be to his advantage and health when hee should come to be of age and put him forth to a trade, as may appear by record of this Court, bearing date October, 1665: and the said Williams owne servill imployments, from said time vntill the said Barker did arriue att mans estate, and did not put him forth to a trade: wherefore the complainant brings his action to the honorable Court for relieffe and prase that he may haue wages for his seruice done for said Williams and damage for not putting the said Barker forth to a trade."

The young man was non-suited in this case, and then the old man, evidently wishing to get even, filed the following complaint:

"John Williams of Situate complaineth of John Barker of Barnstable, in an action on the case, to the damage of one thousand pounds, siluer mony, for that the aforesaid John Barker at some time since March last, slanderously reported and defamed the aboue said Williams, by saying, that hee, the said Williams, "is the wickedest man that ever was vpon the face of the earth."

The Court evidently thought that the quarrel had proceeded far enough, and Williams was also non-suited.

The following curious receipts probably have reference to the Barker property:

"Nouember the 11^th 1654. Recceiiued by mee, John Williams, for the vse of Abraham Blush, of Peregrine White, the sume of thirty shillings for rent. I say receiued by mee, John WIlliams, which is the one-halfe.

"Receiued of George Vaughan, in and by the appointment of M^r Perigine White, the sume of fiue pounds and ten shillings, which is the rent due to Anne Barker. I say recieued by mee this 26 of March, 1662.

May 9^th 1656. Recieued by mee Dolar Dauis, by the order of Abraham Blush of Barnstable, the full and just sume of fiue pounds fiue shillings of Perigine White of Marshfield, in a cow and a calf. I say recieued by mee the day and yeer aboue written, for which the said John William of Scituate. the said Blushes agent is to giue the said White and Bassett a discharge.

1668. "Recieued of my father-in-law Abraham Blush the full and just sum of ten pounds in full satisfaction of my wifes portion ordered by the Court of New Plymouth to be by him payed.

Abraham Blish also settled with John Pratt, husband of Ann Barker, 27 Oct. 1666. Samuel Pratt was the husband of Mary Barker.

1660. Mar 12. William Burden, heretofore of Concord, Mass., now resident in Duxbury, testifies that he received in right of his wife Deborah, daughter of John Barker, late deed, money from Abraham Blush.

"I, Abraham Blush being weak in body but through the Mercy of God of sound and disposing mind and memory, calling to mind the uncertainty of this life on earth and being desirous to settle things in order, doe make this my last will and testament in manner and form following---that is to say:

Imps.---I commend my soul to God in Jesus Christ my blessed Savior and my body to decent buriall as to my executor heerafter named shall seeme meet and convenient, and as touching such worldly estate as the Lord in Mercy hath sent mee, my will is that the same shall be Imployed, and bestowed as heerafter by this My Will is expressed; amd first I doe Revoke, frusterate and make void all wills by mee heertofore made and doe declare and appoint this to be my last will and testament.

"Imp.---I give and bequeath unto Alice my loving wife the use of that east end of my now dwelling house which I have reserved for myself and and doe now dwell in, during her Naturall life, and the one moiety of half part of the Yeerly rent of the lands belonging to the said dwelling house which I have letten out to my son Joseph Blish during the said tearme, if she live so long; alsoe one Cow to be att her owne dispose and the keeping thereof, together with the keeping of a mare of horse for her use to goe to mill and meeting during that tearme of the sad lease, and one third of my household stuffe to bee at ger free dispose.

".Item.---I will and beqeath to my son Joseph Blish the liberty to take in way of exchange that house and land belonging thereto which I now dwell on and hee hath the use of by virtue of a lease for two years made thereof unto him, if he shall see cause to Chose it rather that that house and land which I heerrtofore gave unto him and his heirs forever by a deed of Gift, together with the parcell of Marsh lying at the northerly end of that Marsh at the bridge, which hee leased out to John Barker and John Allin as by theer lease appeareth, provided always that he give Legall sufficient deeds unto his brother my son Abraham Blish, of all the rest of the said lands att the bridge, which the houses and edfifices therunto belonging now letten out to the said John Barker and John Allin, with the Reversion thereof to him my said son Abraham Blish, his heirs and assigns forever; but if otherwise my will is that my said son Abraham Blish shall have and enjoy my now dwelling house and all the lands thereunto belonging, to him and his heirs or assigns forever and other half of Rent of said lands after my decease.

"Item.---I will and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Orchyard five pounds to be paid her within one yeer after my decease, and five shillings apeece to her five children which she now hath to be payed by my executors when they have attained the age of twenty-one yeer.

"Item.---I will and bequeath unto Joseph the eldest son of my said son Joseph Blish five pounds, and five shillings apeece to his other three children.

"Item.---I will and bequeath to my son Joseph Blish all the Rest of my Goods and estate whatsoever to pay my debts and Legacyes by me before given.

"And I do thereby make and appoint him my son Joseph to bee my sole executor of this my last will and testament.

"In witness wherof I have herunto set my hand and seale this 17th day of Aprill, 1683.

Mary Hinkley
Thomas Hinkley, Gov.

"Mr. Thomas Hinkley, Gov^r made oath to this will att the Court of his Ma^tie holden att Plymouth the fift of March 1683-4 " Recognitt. this 28th day of February, 1681, beofer me pdict.

"This Court doth order M^r Lathrop and M^r Thatcher to adminester an oath to M^rs Mary Hinckley in reference to the will of Abraham Blush, deceased."

"Mistris Mary Hinckley made oath to this will 29th of February, 1683.

The widow and the executor filed the following

Joseph Blish and Alice Blish tooke theire oathes that so farr as they know this inventory of the estate of Abraham Blish, deceased, is a true Inventory.
Before me,