Frederick Noble Blatchley, actively identified with farming at Guilford, where he was born February 7, 1873, is a son of Joel Hall and Mary Hall (Davis) Blatchley. The ancestral line is traced back to Thomas Blatchley, who is supposed to have come from Wales and who landed at Boston in 1635. He removed to Hartford in 1640, became a resident of New Haven in 1643, of Branford in 1645 and of Guilford in 1666. Subsequently he established his home in Boston, where he followed merchantile pursuits until his death in 1674. He married Susanna Ball and their second child was Moses Blatchley, who was born March 29, 1650, in Branford, and removed to East Guilford, now Madison, where he died October 15, 1693. He married Susannah Bishop, who was born in 1657 and died in October, 1729. They had eight children, including Joshua Blatchley, who was born April 14, 1692, in East Guilford, and there engaged in farming until his death on the 31st of March, 1742. He was married November 22, 1721, to Mary Field, who was born November 15, 1699, and died February 9, 1793. The younger of their two children was Joshua Blatchley, who was born February 15, 1724, in East Guilford, now North Madison, where he devoted his life to farming, passing away September 2. 1816. He was married October 11, 1752, to Abigail Dudley, who was born December 22, 1735, and died April 18, 1820. They had seven children, including Joel Blatchley, who was born July 12, 1770, in the town of East Guilford, now North Madison, where he carried on farming and was also proprietor of a hotel for many years. His last days were spent in Durham, Middlesex county, where he died July 11, 1853. He was married four times, his first wife being Ruth Loper, born September 20, 1774, in North Guilford, who died April 7, 1823. They were married March 9, 1794, and had ten children, including William Blatchley, who was born April 21, 1795, in North Madison. He engaged in teaching school through thirteen winter terms and in the summer followed farm work. He also engaged to some extent in the lumber business. He was a prominent democrat and twice represented his district in the state legislature. In 1817 he married Minerva Hall, who was born in Wallingford in 1800 and died October 16, 1863, while his death occurred in North Madison, July 10, 1868. They became parents of nine children, including Joel Hall Blatchley, who was born May 7, 1837, and became the father of Frederick Noble Blatchley of this review. Joel H. Blatch-ley spent his youthful days on the old homestead and began his education in the district schools of North Madison, while later he attended a select school. On reaching man's estate he went west and purchased a tract of land in Illinois but after a short time returned to North Madison, where he began farming. He also operated a sawmill, getting out railroad timber, and continued in that business for thirteen years. He then again sold out and went west, settling in McPherson county, Kansas, where he secured a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres. His title to that claim bears the signature of President Grant. On again returning to Connecticut he settled in Guilford, where he carried on general farming, stock raising and the lumber business, making for himself a creditable position in agricultural and commercial circles. He also took an active and helpful part in public affairs and gave his political support in early life to the democratic party but afterward became a stanch republican. He was married in Guilford, December 27, 1866, to Mary Hall Davis, who was born March 13, 1839, and they became the parents of three children: William Hall, Samuel Davis and Frederick Noble.

The last named acquired his education in the Nut Plains district of Guilford and took up the occupation of farming and road contracting in the borough of Guilford. He also engaged with his brother, William Hall Blatchley, in the timber business and in 1909 he bought a farm on the Boston post road, one mile east of Guilford, which comprises fifty-five acres. In 1910 he removed to the farm and erected a new dwelling and substantial barns, also built a silo and is now successfully operating his land, being numbered among the active, enterprising and representative agriculturists of that section of the county. He makes a specialty of raising registered pure bred Hereford cattle, in which he has been very successful, and today he is the owner of one of the best herds of Hereford cattle in Connecticut. He also engages in teaming and contract work in the town of Guilford and adds materially to his income in that connection.

On the 19th of June, 1898, Mr. Blatchley was united in marriage to Miss Grace Eloise Morse, of Guilford, Connecticut, who was born in the old historic Comfort Star house at Guilford, a daughter of Augustus and Clara (Smith) Morse. Her father was born in Durham, Connecticut, and was a carpenter and builder of Guilford, where he now lives. His wife was born in Madison and is also living. Augustus Morse was a son of Joseph Morse and he in turn a son of Alpha Morse, all of whom were natives of Durham, Connecticut. The wife of Joseph Morse was Elizabeth Hill, a descendant of John Hill, one of the original planters of Guilford. Augustus William Morse, the father of Mrs. Blatchley, is a veteran of the Civil war. He enlisted October 5, 1861, at Hartford, Connecticut, joining the boys in blue of Company K, Eighth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, with which he did duty as wagon master. He was honorably discharged December 23, 1863, and reenlisted as a member of Company E, Eighth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, from which he was discharged December 12, 1865, at City Point, Virginia, the war having several months before been brought to a successful termination. He participated in various important engagements, including the battles at Roanoke Island, South Mountain, Antietam, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Fort Huger, where he was wounded.

In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Blatchley are Congregationalists, holding member-ship in the First church at Guilford. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has served as burgess of the borough of Guilford. He cooperates in all those activities which promise benefit to the community and his aid and influence are always on the side of those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. As a business man he is very progressive and he may well be proud of what he has accomplished in the way of raising Hereford cattle. He has done much to improve the grade of stock handled in this section of the county and is today the owner of one of the finest Hereford herds to be found in this section of Connecticut. It is characteristic of him that whatever he undertakes he accomplishes, never stopping short of the successful fulfilment of his purpose.