John Smith Bland was born 1595 in Colchester, Essex, England, United Kingdom and died 6 January 1668 Nantucket, Nantucket County, Massachusetts, United States of unspecified causes. He married Isabel Drake (c1595-1639) 1612 in England, United Kingdom.
Research Notes
Born John Smith in England - an extremely common name and difficult to research. There are several other notable immigrants of the same name. This John Smith changed his name to John Bland and moved to Martha's Vineyard (Dukes County, Massachusetts).
John Smith alias Bland was born by about 1590 (based on estimated date of 1sgt marriage). He came from Colchester, Essex to Massachusetts Bay in 1635 (based on admission to freemanship on 25 May 1636). First settled in Watertown; moved to Martha's Vineyard in 1646 & began going by the surname Bland. Died after 2 Nov 1663 (date of John Bland's will).
Watertown Founders Monument
Watertown Founders Monument
He is listed on Watertown Founders Monument, commemorating the first settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts. The town was first known as Saltonstall Plantation, one of the earliest of the Massachusetts Bay Colony settlements. Founded in early 1630 by a group of settlers led by Richard Saltonstall and George Phillips, it was officially incorporated that same year. The alternate spelling "Waterton" is seen in some early documents.
Marriage and Family
Married (1) by about 1615 Isabel Drake, daughter of William Drake of Halsted, Essex. "Isabell Smith the wife of John Smith buried the 12th -8th [12 Oct 1639] aged 60 [sec] years" at Watertown. (This age was probably inflated by a decade.)
Married (2) by an unknown date Joanna ____. Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| John Smith (1626-1687) | |||
Siblings