Thomas Bissell, [John¹] was born in England, the son of John Bissell.. He married Abigail Moore 11 October 1655.

Thomas "settled on the east side of Great River..." in Ancient Windsor, Connecticut. According to historian Henry Stiles all "nine" of his children were born in Windsor. However records collected by this compiler show the family with a total of twelve children born between 1656 to 1682.

During the 1670's and 80's he was appointed along with others to help with the inventories of several deceased members of the community. In 1675 he appears on a tax list supporting a rivulet ferry and in 1676 the tax shows him owning a horse and two oxen.

Thomas wrote his will 24 August 1688 when his youngest twin sons, Luke and Isaac, were only six years old. In his will he clearly states that his wife and his "children under age" were to have the dwelling house and homestead. Several other lots were to have improvements until the children came of age. Among the many properties he detailed in the will was land on the south side of Scantic which is east of Windsor, a house and lands on the west side of the Great River, land at Simsbury, a lot by Plymouth Meadow, and an equal share of land received from his father-in-law. Thomas added a codicil dated 26 July 1689 nominating Henry Wolcott , Return Strong, his brother Nathaniel and John Mason as overseers of his estate. Thomas Bissell died 31 July 1689. The inventory was taken 1 October 1689 by Samuel Grant Sr. and Return Strong.