The family removed to Northbury, later renamed Plymouth, about 1730, and it was here that their remaining children were born. They came on horseback, the husband with two of the children on one horse, and the wife with the other two on another. His daughter Experience was the third white child born there. Capt. Blakeslee was by occupation a farmer, owning land on both sides of the Naugatuck river, as appears from his will. He was the first captain of the Northbury "trainband" (local militia), an organization essential for protection on the frontier. There is a tradition that his home was surrounded by palisades, as a refuge for settlers in case of an Indian attack.
Capt. Thomas and Mary had nine children: David, Rheuben, Moses, Mary, Submit "Mitty", Experience, Lydia, Esther and Abigail.
NOTE: The original headstone was engraved as "Blakslee." The modern spelling of this name is "Blakeslee." The original spelling has been retained here, per Find A Grave, to prevent creation of duplicate memorials based on the engraving and/or cemetery records. Requests to change the name to the modern spelling will be declined as inaccurate.
The family removed to Northbury, later renamed Plymouth, about 1730, and it was here that their remaining children were born. They came on horseback, the husband with two of the children on one horse, and the wife with the other two on another. His daughter Experience was the third white child born there. Capt. Blakeslee was by occupation a farmer, owning land on both sides of the Naugatuck river, as appears from his will. He was the first captain of the Northbury "trainband" (local militia), an organization essential for protection on the frontier. There is a tradition that his home was surrounded by palisades, as a refuge for settlers in case of an Indian attack.
Capt. Thomas and Mary had nine children: David, Rheuben, Moses, Mary, Submit "Mitty", Experience, Lydia, Esther and Abigail.
NOTE: The original headstone was engraved as "Blakslee." The modern spelling of this name is "Blakeslee." The original spelling has been retained here, per Find A Grave, to prevent creation of duplicate memorials based on the engraving and/or cemetery records. Requests to change the name to the modern spelling will be declined as inaccurate.
Inscription
In memory of Mr. Thomas Blakslee, the first captain in Northbury who died with the gravil June ye 5 A.D. 1778 in the 78th year of his age.
Those days which to the dead were lent,
To serve God and man he freely spent.
But when his judge for him did call
With patience bid farewell to all.
Gravesite Details
The headstone is broken and badly damaged; the inscription above is quoted from The History of Plymouth, published in 1895. Thomas was originally interred in the Northbury Burial Grounds, a cemetery that was moved to Hillside in 1888.
Family Members
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