John Blish was born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 6, 1686. A mariner and merchant, Blish involved himself in trade between New England and North Carolina. While in North Carolina, Blish enslaved several American Indians of unknown tribal origin. In 1713, three enslaved American Indians, namely John Coneway, Ann, and her daughter escaped from Blish, but it was not long before Richard Sanderson, another maritime merchant reenslaved them and sold them to enslavers in New England. In response, Blish sued Sanderson in the North Carolina court system. Later a resident of Pasquotank Precinct, Blish died in about 1718.