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     John Blessing married first Margaret (?).² He married second Jone (?).^1,2
     The listing of John Blessing as a son of John Blyssynge and Joane Preaste is based on circumstantial evidence, as is the listing of Julian and Alice Blessing as daughters of John Blessing.
     Walter Goodwin Davis noted that three Blessing women, Margaret, Joan, and Julian, were married in the parish of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England - Margaret to Robert Buffam in 1613, Joan to William Towne in 1620, and Julian to Thomas Goose in 1622. Great Yarmouth is just seven miles from Somerleyton, where John Blyssynge and Joane Preaste were married, and Blessing is an uncommon name in England. Davis concluded that Margaret, Joan, and Julian were sisters, and "most likely" granddaughters of John Blyssynge and Joane Preaste. In addition, Alice Firmage, who married into the Firmage family of Great Yarmouth abt 1615, mentions her sister Joan (Blessing) Towne in her will made in 1656. Thus, Alice must have been a fourth Blessing sister.³
     John Blyssynge and Joane Preaste have just two children listed in the baptismal records in Somerleyton where they were married - Julian in 1571 and William in 1575. Until very recently, no birth or baptismal records had been found for the four Blessing sisters, but they are often listed as children of William Blessing, perhaps based on an unsourced article in the March 1996 issue of "About Towne," the newsletter of the Towne Family Association.^3,4
     However, the December 2001 issue of "About Towne" reported that the baptism records for Margaret and Jone Blessing were found earlier that year by the English genealogist Charles W. Farrow, in the records of Caister Parish in Norfolk, about five miles north of Great Yarmouth. Margaret Blessing is listed as the daughter of John and Margaret, and Jone Blessing as the daughter of John and Jone. Thus, Julian and Alice must have also been daughters of John Blessing, although it's not clear which of his two wives was their mother, and John must have been a son of John Blyssynge and Joane Preaste.²

     Margaret Blessing was baptized on 9 August 1590 at Holy Trinity Church in Caister on-Sea, Suffolk, England.¹ She married Robert Buffam, son of James Bougham and Margery Raylton, on 23 August 1613 at the Church of St. Nicholas in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.² She died before 11 August 1634, when her husband was remarried.²

     Robert Buffam married first Margaret Blessing, daughter of John Blessing and Margaret (?), on 23 August 1613 at the Church of St. Nicholas in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.¹ He married second Thomasine Ward, daughter of George Ward and Dionis Barrow, on 11 August 1634 in South Walsham, co. Norfolk, England.¹ He died on 6 August 1669 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     Soon after the birth of their daughter Mary, Robert Buffam and his second wife Thomasine emigrated to New England, along with Margaret Thompson, Thomasine's daughter from her first marriage.¹ At a town meeting in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, on 29 October 1638, he asked for a grant of land, which he received.¹

     Julian Blessing married Thomas Goose on 31 July 1622 at the Church of St. Nicholas in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.¹

     Thomas Goose married Julian Blessing, daughter of John Blessing, on 31 July 1622 at the Church of St. Nicholas in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.¹

     Alice Blessing married (?) Firmage about 1615.¹
     She and her six children must have emigrated to New England about 1638.¹ On 29 October 1638, as the "widow Alice Vermais," she attended a town meeting in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, with her son Mark and with Robert Buffam, where she asked for "accomodation" (i.e., land on which to settle). On 4 February 1638/39 she was granted 50 acres.¹
     She was a member of the church in Salem in 1639.¹ After a few years she moved to Boston, possibly with her daughter Abigail Button's family, who were living there by December 1645.¹ On 3 August 1655 Alice Vermaz, described as a widow and "sometimes of Salem," sold ten acres in the North Field in Salem, on the North River, and five acres of meadow in Wenham, to Henry Skerry for £10.¹
     The will of Alice Fermace of Boston was proved on 24 April 1656 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. Her estate was very modest, and her legacies generally consisted of small personal items. She left items of clothing to her sister Joan Towne, her daughters Ester Estick and Sary Langdon, and her grandchild Susan Goose. Her three "negro servants," named Pilgrim, Edee, and Ellizabeth, were left to her son [in-law] Edward Hutchinson, who was named executor, but their services were also to be divided with her daughters Susan Goose and Abigail Hutchinson. Whatever was left was to be divided equally among her children. Her property was appraised at £18:3:0 on 20 February 1655/56, and a separate appraisal on 11 March 1656 valued her Boston property at £11:10:0.¹

     (?) Firmage married Alice Blessing, daughter of John Blessing, about 1615.¹ He died either in England, or at sea on the way to New England.¹
     "Firmage" is one of many spellings in the records. Others include Fermace, Formais, Fearmayes, Feiremayde, Vermage, Vermaes, Vermaz, Vermayes, Vermasse, and Vermages.¹

     John Blyssynge married Joane Preaste on 12 October 1569 in Somerleyton, Suffolk, England.²

     Joane Preaste married John Blyssynge on 12 October 1569 in Somerleyton, Suffolk, England.²

     Philip Sickafoose was born on 23 March 1852.¹ He died on 14 January 1853.¹ He was buried at Cleveland Cemetery in Whitley Co., Indiana.¹

     Joseph Cummings was baptized on 26 January 1689/90 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Abigail Estie, daughter of Isaac Estie and Abigail Kimball, on 22 May 1712 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He died on 24 December 1729 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 39 of smallpox.²
     In his father's will, dated 8 May 1722 and proved 16 July the same year, he and his brother John were left their grandfather's 100-acre homestead, which they divided equally on 26 October 1722.^4,5
     On 13 January 1729/30, after he and his wife Abigail had both died of smallpox, his brother-in-law Capt. Joseph Cummings, husband of his wife's sister Sarah, was appointed administrator of his estate.⁶
     He and Abigail had the following known children, all born in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts: Joseph (b 27 July 1713), Jacob (b 12 May 1717, d 13 October 1814), Abigail (b 16 December 1721), Daniel (b 4 December 1724), Moses (b 9 October 1726).⁶

     John Cummings was baptized on 17 July 1692 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Marcy Larrabee, daughter of Isaac Larrabee and Eleanor (?), intentions published on 18 February 1715/16 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 9 February 1756 in Southborough, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, at age 63.²
     He was a cordwainer.³ He and his brother David "gave the 'South Side Burying Ground'" in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³
     In his father's will, dated 8 May 1722 and proved 16 July the same year, he and his brother Joseph were left their grandfather's 100-acre homestead, which they divided equally on 26 October 1722.^4,3
     In 1727 he and his brother Stebbins exchanged property. John received a farm in Middleton, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and in return he gave Stebbins the share of their grandfather's homestead that had been left to John in their father's will, containing 52 acres and a barn.³ On 23 November 1733 his brother Samuel transferred to him all rights and title to the farm in Middleton, where they both were living.³ In 1748 he sold the farm in Middleton and moved to Southborough, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, where he bought a farm from John How.³
     His will was dated 19 December 1755 proved on 22 May 1756. It names his wife Mary, sons John ("if he shall ever return from his Majesty's service"), Reuben, and Joseph, and daughters Hannah Goodel, Mary Lewis, and Sarah. Sarah, who was single but the mother of a daughter Isabel "Cummings (alias Nichols)," was left a small amount of money, two acres of woodland, and a cow for the rest of her single life.^2,3

     Isaac Cummings was born on 25 December 1695 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married first Hannah Easty, daughter of Isaac Estie and Abigail Kimball, on 5 January 1720/21 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He married second Susanna Hall, daughter of Percival Hall and Jane Willis, on 13 March 1743/44 in Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.²
     He and his first wife Hannah moved from Stoughton, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts, to Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, about May 1743.⁴ They had the following known children, all born in Stoughton: Hannah (b 26 October 1721), Isaac (b 12 February 1723/24, d 19 December 1745), Mary (b 30 September 1726), Mehitable (b 8 August 1730), Rebecca (b 7 August 1735), Ebenezer (b 17 June 1738), Sarah (b 17 July 1740), Noah (b 14 September 1742).²
     He and his second wife Susanna had one known child, Susanna (b 14 April 1746), born in Sutton.²

     David Cummings was born on 15 April 1698 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married first Anna (?) about 1728 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married second Sarah Goodhue, daughter of John Goodhue and Sarah Sherwin, intentions published on 30 October 1741 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died on 2 April 1765 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 66.² He was buried at South Side Cemetery in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²
     He and his brother John "gave the 'South Side Burying Ground'" in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ In his will, he left his "well beloved wife Sarah" a yearly allowance for necessities, including "five barrels of cider yearly." He also left his father's homestead, where he was then living, to his son Samuel.³
     He and his first wife Anna had the following known children, all born in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts: David (b 26 March 1729, d 7 October 1799), Jonathan (b 19 March 1730/31, d 5 April 1731), Samuel (b 28 February 1731/32, d 29 March 1796), Anna (b 20 October 1734, d 9 February 1825), Susanna (b 8 May 1737), Elizabeth (b 19 September 1739, d 13 February 1740/41).²
     He and his second wife Sarah had the following known children, all born in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts: Jonathan (b 14 October 1743, d abt 6 May 1805), Stephen (b 27 January 1744/45, d 27 May 1765), Elizabeth (b 19 January 1746/47, d 14 February 1746/47), Daniel (b 30 August 1749), Archelaus (b 1 June 1752, d 4 July 1814).²

     Mary Cummings was born on 15 May 1700 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married Nathaniel Hutchinson, son of Benjamin Hutchinson and Jane Phillips, on 24 January 1722/23 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She died before 1732.²
     After their marriage she and her husband Nathaniel moved to Sutton, Suffolk Co. (now Worcester Co.), Massachusetts.³

     Susannah Cummings was born on 3 January 1701/2 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married John Whipple, son of Joseph Whipple and Sarah Hutchinson, on 14 February 1721/22 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹

     Stebbins Cummings was born on 3 August 1706 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Ruth Giles, daughter of John Giles and Abigail Raymond, intentions published on 26 February 1730/31 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He died between 9 May 1760, when he made his will, and 22 September 1760, when it was proved, in Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.²
     He was a cooper.³
     In 1727 he and his brother John exchanged property. John received a farm in Middleton, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and in return he gave Stebbins the share of their grandfather's homestead that had been left to John in their father's will, containing 52 acres and a barn.³ In 1732 he sold this property and moved to Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.³
     His will was dated 9 May 1760, and proved on 22 September 1760. His daughter Ruth Haws was left 9s. His grandsons David and Eli Putnam, sons of his deceased daughter Mary Putnam, were left all of his real estate, to be divided equally.²