A short break as I return to work on the Routledge documents for my cousin Tom Routledge. The documents are quite ancient and tell a great deal about the life of this family in the 1500s and 1600s in Cumberland.
Because Tom is working on the Routledge family (and my line Oakshaw at Bewcastle, Cumberland end up being quite dominant) I have more or less stepped back from doing any research on this family. However, it is handy sometimes for me to transcribe some of the documents.
I shall spend the next week doing that so will not likely post any wills for that period of time.
If I see anything interesting in the documents that Tom is not going to use for his book on the Routledge Clan then I will post it otherwise my site will be somewhat quiet.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Will of George Blake, mariner, Bristol - The National Archives PROB 11/759/220, probated 19 Jan 1747/48
The Testator is George Blake, Mariner, of the City of Bristol. This will was written in 1720 possibly at the beginning of their marriage and not probated until 27 years later.
I could not find a marriage for George Blake that fitted particularly well. He doesn’t mention children but the probate is 27 years later.
Is this George descendant of the Calne Wiltshire Blake family or is his being in Bristol a result of his being a mariner? There are a number of Blake families in London in the mariner occupation. His will doesn't give anything away in that regard for sure.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 14 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/759/220
Testator: George Blake, Mariner
Place: Bristol, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 12 Oct 1720, probated 19 Jan 1747/48
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: George Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I George Blake of the City of Bristol Mariner being in perfect
3 health mind memory and understanding (thanks to Almighty
4 God for the same) but knowing the certainty of death and the
5 uncertainty of the time thereof do make and ordain this my
6 last Will and Testament I give unto Mary my well beloved
7 Wife all my Real and personal Estate whatsoever and
8 wheresoever whom I make Sol Executrix of this my Will
9 In Witness whereof I have set my hand and Seal this Twelfth
10 day of October Annoq d[omi]ni 1720 Geo: Blake Sealed Signed
11 published and declared by the Testator to be his last Will and
12 Testament in the presence of us Al: Pittendreigh Jno Becher Jun[io]r
13 This Will was proved at London before the Right
14 Worshipfull John Bettesworth doctor of Laws Master Keeper
15 Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
16 constituted the Nineteenth day of January in the Year of our Lord
17 one Thousand Seven hundred and Forty Seven by the Oath of Mary
18 Blake Widow the Sole Executrix named in the said Will To whom
19 Administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits
20 of the said deceased was granted being first Sworn by Commission
21 duly to administer
I could not find a marriage for George Blake that fitted particularly well. He doesn’t mention children but the probate is 27 years later.
Is this George descendant of the Calne Wiltshire Blake family or is his being in Bristol a result of his being a mariner? There are a number of Blake families in London in the mariner occupation. His will doesn't give anything away in that regard for sure.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 14 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/759/220
Testator: George Blake, Mariner
Place: Bristol, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 12 Oct 1720, probated 19 Jan 1747/48
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: George Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I George Blake of the City of Bristol Mariner being in perfect
3 health mind memory and understanding (thanks to Almighty
4 God for the same) but knowing the certainty of death and the
5 uncertainty of the time thereof do make and ordain this my
6 last Will and Testament I give unto Mary my well beloved
7 Wife all my Real and personal Estate whatsoever and
8 wheresoever whom I make Sol Executrix of this my Will
9 In Witness whereof I have set my hand and Seal this Twelfth
10 day of October Annoq d[omi]ni 1720 Geo: Blake Sealed Signed
11 published and declared by the Testator to be his last Will and
12 Testament in the presence of us Al: Pittendreigh Jno Becher Jun[io]r
13 This Will was proved at London before the Right
14 Worshipfull John Bettesworth doctor of Laws Master Keeper
15 Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
16 constituted the Nineteenth day of January in the Year of our Lord
17 one Thousand Seven hundred and Forty Seven by the Oath of Mary
18 Blake Widow the Sole Executrix named in the said Will To whom
19 Administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits
20 of the said deceased was granted being first Sworn by Commission
21 duly to administer
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Will of Clementia Blake, spinster, Bristol - The National Archives PROB 11/1574/256, probated 16 Nov 1815
Another Blake family will that mentions Walcot Bath. Clementia is the daughter of William Blake who left his will in 1792 and will be transcribed later.
Clementia Blake was buried 29 Sep 1815 at St Stephen, Bristol. She was 70 years of age giving her an estimated birth year of 1745. This is a transcription by Family Search (digital folder number 004242565, image number 15).
The marriage of Mary Blake to John Marsh took place in 1778 at St James Bristol (Family Search M17286-5).
Rebecca, the sister of the testatrix, could be the Rebecca Blake christened at Bristol 21 Apr 1759 (Family Search) and the daughter of William and Rebecca Blake). More will be learned from William’s will plus this is likely a descendant line of Ambrose Blake of Pinhills.
The last couple of days I am coming to realize that many of these Gloucestershire Wills belong to the Blake family of Calne descendants. When I do the will of William Blake probated in 1792 I will attempt to bring all of these wills together and create a family tree for the descendants of Ambrose as shown by the wills. Finding more information on Ambrose would be interesting but this is a difficult period in England during the Civil War and then the Commonwealth under Cromwell when parish registers were forbidden and many items unrecorded.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 13 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1574/256
Testator: Clementia Blake, Spinster
Place: Bristol, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 18 Apr 1814, probated 16 Nov 1815
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Clementia
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 12
1 By the Permission of God
2 I Clementia Blake of the City of Bristol spinster being of sound and
3 disposing mind memory and understanding do this eighteenth day of
4 April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen
5 make publish declare this my last will and Testament in manner
6 following that is to say I give and devise unto Daniel Taylor
7 Haythorne of the parish of Stapleton in the County of Gloucester Esq[uie]r
8 and Mr Richard Jones of the Parish of Saint Paul in the City of Bristol
9 Taylor their heirs all that my freehold messuage or Tenements situate
10 on the East side of Saint James’s Church now in the parish of Saint
11 James in the said City now or late in the occupation of William
12 Hammings patten maker to hold the same unto the said Daniel Taylor
13 Haythorne and the said Richard Jones and their heirs for ever to the
14 use and upon the trust herein after expressed and declared of concerning
15 the same that is to say to the use of my Friend Edward Cartor of the
16 City of Bristol Carpenter with whom I now reside in trust for the said
17 Edward Carter and for his sole use benefit and for the use benefit of
18 his heirs assigns for ever and to for or upon no other use trust
19 intent or purpose whatsoever which said messuage or Tenement I
20 give to the said Edward Carter in manner aforesaid from the great
21 regard I have form for him and for his late Wife Mary Carter for
22 the many kindnesses they hath shown me Whereas the sum of two
23 hundred seventy pounds or thereabout was placed out at interest in
24 the name of Mr Jeremiah Osborne a Trustee on that occasion
25 on security of a messuage being no 17 in Kingsmead street in the
26 parish of Walcot Bath in the County of Somerset now in the occupation
27 of Adam Hevor I give the said messuage or Tenement as far as I have
28 any power or control respecting the same unto the said Daniel Taylor
29 Haythorne and the said Richard Jones upon trust for the use and
30 benefit of the said Edward Carter during his life I also give him all rent
31 that shall at my decease be due to me for the said two messuages
32 or Tenements and from and after his decease I give devise the said
33 messuage or Tenement in Kingsmead street unto and to the use of the
34 three children of my late Brother William Blake equally between
35 them and their respective heirs and assigns for ever as tenants in
36 common also I give bequeath unto the said Edward Carter all and
37 every debt and debts sum sums of money if any that may at the time
38 of my decease be due or owing from him to me on any account
39 whatsoever or it being my will and intention that he shall never be
40 sued disquieted or questioned by any person whomsoever respecting any
41 receipts payments or other transactions relative to me or my concerns
42 now in my life time and whereas my late Father William Blake
43 by his Will gave to trustees therein named the sum of three hundred
44 pounds upon trust to invest the same in an annuity for my life and
45 for my use to be secured as therein mentioned but which annuity
46 hath not been purchased and I have hitherto received only commission
47 interest on the said Sum of three hundred pounds which sum
48 and other monies due belonging to me and now in the hands
49 or power of John Marsh now or late of Bath Esq[uire] as one of the
50 Trustees of my said late Fathers Will now I give the said sum
51 of three hundred pounds unto my nephew Henry Marsh son of
52 the said John March subject nevertheless to the payment thereout
53 of all my just debts funeral Expences and the cost of proving this
54 my will upon condition that lawful interest for the said Sum
55 be duly paid to me up to the time of my decease also I give the
56 sum of one hundred pounds to each of my two sisters Rebecca
57 Mogg and Mary Marsh out of the monies due to me as my share of
58 my late Fathers residuary Estate and now in the hands of said John
60 Marsh and as to all the residue remainder of my monies and Estate no herein
61 before disposed of I give the same to the three daughters of the said Mary
62 Marsh equally between them and I do hereby constitute and appoint my
63 said Friend Edward Carter sole Exor of this my will and revoke all former wills
64 by me made and declare this only to be my last In Witness whereof I
65 have hereunto set my hand and seal the day year first above written
66 Clementia Blake Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testatrix
67 Clementia Blake as and for her last will and Testament in the presence of u
68 who in her presence at her request in the presence of each other have
69 subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto P Penton Jno Brady
70 Rd Jones
71 Proved at London 16 Novr 1815 before the Judge by the oath of
72 Edward Carter the sole Exor to whom admon was granted being sworn by
73 Comon to admr
Clementia Blake was buried 29 Sep 1815 at St Stephen, Bristol. She was 70 years of age giving her an estimated birth year of 1745. This is a transcription by Family Search (digital folder number 004242565, image number 15).
The marriage of Mary Blake to John Marsh took place in 1778 at St James Bristol (Family Search M17286-5).
Rebecca, the sister of the testatrix, could be the Rebecca Blake christened at Bristol 21 Apr 1759 (Family Search) and the daughter of William and Rebecca Blake). More will be learned from William’s will plus this is likely a descendant line of Ambrose Blake of Pinhills.
The last couple of days I am coming to realize that many of these Gloucestershire Wills belong to the Blake family of Calne descendants. When I do the will of William Blake probated in 1792 I will attempt to bring all of these wills together and create a family tree for the descendants of Ambrose as shown by the wills. Finding more information on Ambrose would be interesting but this is a difficult period in England during the Civil War and then the Commonwealth under Cromwell when parish registers were forbidden and many items unrecorded.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 13 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1574/256
Testator: Clementia Blake, Spinster
Place: Bristol, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 18 Apr 1814, probated 16 Nov 1815
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Clementia
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 12
1 By the Permission of God
2 I Clementia Blake of the City of Bristol spinster being of sound and
3 disposing mind memory and understanding do this eighteenth day of
4 April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen
5 make publish declare this my last will and Testament in manner
6 following that is to say I give and devise unto Daniel Taylor
7 Haythorne of the parish of Stapleton in the County of Gloucester Esq[uie]r
8 and Mr Richard Jones of the Parish of Saint Paul in the City of Bristol
9 Taylor their heirs all that my freehold messuage or Tenements situate
10 on the East side of Saint James’s Church now in the parish of Saint
11 James in the said City now or late in the occupation of William
12 Hammings patten maker to hold the same unto the said Daniel Taylor
13 Haythorne and the said Richard Jones and their heirs for ever to the
14 use and upon the trust herein after expressed and declared of concerning
15 the same that is to say to the use of my Friend Edward Cartor of the
16 City of Bristol Carpenter with whom I now reside in trust for the said
17 Edward Carter and for his sole use benefit and for the use benefit of
18 his heirs assigns for ever and to for or upon no other use trust
19 intent or purpose whatsoever which said messuage or Tenement I
20 give to the said Edward Carter in manner aforesaid from the great
21 regard I have form for him and for his late Wife Mary Carter for
22 the many kindnesses they hath shown me Whereas the sum of two
23 hundred seventy pounds or thereabout was placed out at interest in
24 the name of Mr Jeremiah Osborne a Trustee on that occasion
25 on security of a messuage being no 17 in Kingsmead street in the
26 parish of Walcot Bath in the County of Somerset now in the occupation
27 of Adam Hevor I give the said messuage or Tenement as far as I have
28 any power or control respecting the same unto the said Daniel Taylor
29 Haythorne and the said Richard Jones upon trust for the use and
30 benefit of the said Edward Carter during his life I also give him all rent
31 that shall at my decease be due to me for the said two messuages
32 or Tenements and from and after his decease I give devise the said
33 messuage or Tenement in Kingsmead street unto and to the use of the
34 three children of my late Brother William Blake equally between
35 them and their respective heirs and assigns for ever as tenants in
36 common also I give bequeath unto the said Edward Carter all and
37 every debt and debts sum sums of money if any that may at the time
38 of my decease be due or owing from him to me on any account
39 whatsoever or it being my will and intention that he shall never be
40 sued disquieted or questioned by any person whomsoever respecting any
41 receipts payments or other transactions relative to me or my concerns
42 now in my life time and whereas my late Father William Blake
43 by his Will gave to trustees therein named the sum of three hundred
44 pounds upon trust to invest the same in an annuity for my life and
45 for my use to be secured as therein mentioned but which annuity
46 hath not been purchased and I have hitherto received only commission
47 interest on the said Sum of three hundred pounds which sum
48 and other monies due belonging to me and now in the hands
49 or power of John Marsh now or late of Bath Esq[uire] as one of the
50 Trustees of my said late Fathers Will now I give the said sum
51 of three hundred pounds unto my nephew Henry Marsh son of
52 the said John March subject nevertheless to the payment thereout
53 of all my just debts funeral Expences and the cost of proving this
54 my will upon condition that lawful interest for the said Sum
55 be duly paid to me up to the time of my decease also I give the
56 sum of one hundred pounds to each of my two sisters Rebecca
57 Mogg and Mary Marsh out of the monies due to me as my share of
58 my late Fathers residuary Estate and now in the hands of said John
60 Marsh and as to all the residue remainder of my monies and Estate no herein
61 before disposed of I give the same to the three daughters of the said Mary
62 Marsh equally between them and I do hereby constitute and appoint my
63 said Friend Edward Carter sole Exor of this my will and revoke all former wills
64 by me made and declare this only to be my last In Witness whereof I
65 have hereunto set my hand and seal the day year first above written
66 Clementia Blake Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testatrix
67 Clementia Blake as and for her last will and Testament in the presence of u
68 who in her presence at her request in the presence of each other have
69 subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto P Penton Jno Brady
70 Rd Jones
71 Proved at London 16 Novr 1815 before the Judge by the oath of
72 Edward Carter the sole Exor to whom admon was granted being sworn by
73 Comon to admr
Monday, April 21, 2014
Will of Christopher Blake, Yeoman, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire - The National Archives PROB 11/593/333, probated 12 Oct 1723
The Will of Christopher Blake of Shipton Moyne, present testator, is an absolute gem in terms of family associations. Christopher has either never been married or his wife is deceased. He does not mention a wife or children.
Names mentioned in the will:
Christopher Blake, testator, Shipton Moyne
Richard Blake, cousin, Chipping Sodbury, Innholder
John Blake, cousin, Tetbury
William Blake, cousin, Tetbury, deceased
Joseph Blake, cousin, Tetbury
Hester Humphris, cousin, Horsley
Hannah Hide, cousin, Horsley, deceased
Edward Blake, cousin, London
Henry Blake, cousin, London
Arthur Orchard, husband of cousin (sister of John Blake, deceased), deceased
Hester Orchard, daughter of Arthur
Thomas Lydiard, husband of sister
Susannah Lydiard, sister, deceased
William Pritchard, cousin, Tetbury, carryer
Anthony Sharpe, tenant
William Pritchard the elder
Mary Nicholas, servant
Dorothy Battin, Tetbury
Eliz Phillipps, mother of Dorothy Battin
John Woodward, witness
Harry Witts, witness
Elizabeth Browneing, witness
The Richard Blake at Chipping Sodbury is rather interesting and perhaps pertains to the blog post of the memorials for the Blake family in Gloucestershire:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/04/1248-blake-family-gloucestershire-notes.html
There is a Richard Blake at Chipping Sodbury with brothers Joseph and Samuel. The memorial refers to the father of Richard Blake lived in Bristol (died there in 1771). In 1723 he would have been about 22 years of age. He would be a cousin to the testator Christopher Blake. Knowing that Richard had uncles Joseph and Samuel then Christopher would be the son of one of these men possibly. The Joseph Blake is still living according to the will and the uncle of Richard Blake, Joseph, was buried at Chipping Sodbury in 1715 at 23 years of age.
The Portbury Hundred pages http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/admiralreport.htm
mention this family and Richard Blake (father of Joseph, Samuel and Richard) married Mary (unknown). The Portbury Hundred website gives Richard who died in Chipping Sodbury 9 Apr 1724 a birth year of 1668 (he was 56 when he died). Neither Joseph nor Samuel are traced down in this site. They both died in 1715 (Joseph 18 May 1715) and Samuel at 23 years of age giving him a year of birth circa 1692. Richard is mentioned as being born in 1700 and died in 1771 and his will is to come).
Richard Blake (1668-1724) was said to be the son of Ambrose Blake and Elizabeth Ruddick. He had brothers Henry (1669 - 1731) and Ambrose. I actually left this part of the website out of the Legacy chart that I produced because I did not agree with the material. However, I did not actually do any research on it so will now see what I can find.
"Margaret Parrott for Wiltshire Buildings Record"
The children of Henry Blake and Abigail Stringer are named on the Portbury site as Henry, Roger, Ambrose, Abigail and Lettice. The Blake Pedigree Chart held by the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office only mentions Henry, Roger and Abigail as children of this couple with Henry being 6 years of age in 1623, Roger 5 years of age in 1623 and Abigail being 1 year of age in 1623. No descendants of these three children are on the chart. This information is taken from the Visitation of Wiltshire 1623. Perhaps Ambrose was born after 1623 and would then have been 20 years or less in age in 1644 when the house was said to be demolished or in 1690 it was simply not advantageous to mention Ambrose.
Another interesting piece of information from the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Volumes 23-24 edited by Edward Hungerford Goddard on page 223 No X mentions a Sundry Memoranda relating to the coronation of King Charles ( 2 Feb 1626; reigned from 27 Mar 1625 to 30 Jan 1649) and his offer of a knighthood to gentlemen of estate; the Blake family did refuse the knighthood and were fined for doing so. Henry Blake, of Pinhills, was fined 10 pounds. In a list of gentry in the Hundred of Calne in Wiltshire on this same page living during the times of Charles I and Charles II can be found the name of Ambrose Blake, Esquire of Pinnels. Interestingly enough Blake and Chivers are the only surnames that appear in both lists and only one Blake in the first list and one in the second list.
I feel this is probably sufficient to show that Ambrose was the heir of Henry Blake and that he was likely his son rather than say a grandson. Henry (son of Henry) is said to have died in 1660 and no date of death is given for Roger on the Portbury website and no children of either of these two men. Ambrose is given a date of birth of 1620 which would have made him three years of age at the time of the Visitation of Wiltshire. His being left off may simply be a political omission (not advantageous at this time to mention the connection of the London family (which requested the College of Arms to create the chart) to the Wiltshire family which had opposed the Stuart line).
Ambrose is said to have married Elizabeth Ruddick and that they had three sons Richard (1668-1724), Henry (1669-1731) and Ambrose. Working down through the chart on the Portbury site Richard married Mary (unknown) and they have three children Joseph, Samuel and Richard (1700-1771). Henry married Catherine Hungerford and they had the following children Robert (married to Joanna Coombs (this information is on the memorial at Chipping Sodbury), Henry, Abigail, Katherine and Frances. Ambrose is said to have married Mary Ivie and they had one child Elizabeth.
In this will Christopher in 1723 talks about his cousins Richard Blake in Chipping Sodbury, John Blake, William Blake (deceased) and Joseph Blake in Tetbury and Edward Blake, Henry Blake his cousins in London. This accounts for Blake cousins but he also mentions a Humphris and a Hide cousin in Horsley, Arthur Orchard who married the sister of John Blake, Susanna Lydiard, Christopher's sister (deceased), and William Pritchard a cousin in Tetbury.
The Richard Blake he mentions is likely the son of Richard (1668-1724) and this Richard was married to Mary Greenway 1723 according to Boyd's Marriage Index of Marriage Licences. No place was recorded in that index. This does match up with the Portbury Hundred accounting of Admiral Blake's collateral lines but only one son is mentioned William and not the two daughters Susanna and Hannah mentioned in their parent's wills. William is traced down however and more about that when I transcribe his will.
This is still not helping me determine who Christopher Blake is. Henry Blake (1669-1731) brother to Richard (1668-1724) is a possibility. Henry married Catherine Hungerford and their son Robert was born in 1708 (he died in 1790 at 82 years of age). He was married to Joanna Coombs. A second son Henry and there are no further details for either of these two sons (there were also three daughters Abigail, Katherine, and Frances) as mentioned earlier. Looking for a John Blake, William Blake (deceased) and Joseph Blake in Tetbury as cousins. One would think that they would be sons of Henry or Ambrose since they are Richard's (1668-1724) brothers. The interesting part about this line is that they are direct descendants of the Blake family at Calne. Whether or not they are collateral to the Admiral Blake line remains to be proven.
I am thus far unable to determine exactly how this family is associated with the Blake family at Bristol but I now know how Richard Blake married to Anne Augusta Harwood fits into a family and more on that with the will of William Blake (1791) since Richard is his son.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 12 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/593/333
Testator: Christopher Blake, Yeoman
Place: Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Aug 1723, probated 12 Oct 1723
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: T[esta]m[ent]
[Margin]: Christopher Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Christopher Blake of Shipton Moyne in the County of Gloucester
3 yeoman being aged but of Sound Mind and good disposing understanding
4 (praised be God) therefore do make this my last Will and Testament
5 in manner and form following Imprimis I commend my Soul into the
6 hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body to the Earth to be
7 buried in Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executors herein after
8 named And as for my Worldly Estate It hath pleased God to give me
9 I dispose thereof as followeth Item I give and bequeath unto my
10 Cousin Richard Blake of Chipping Sodbury in the County of Gloucester
11 Innholder the Sum[m]e of Forty pounds and unto my Cousin John Blake of
12 Tetbury in the said County of Gloucester the like Sum[m]e of Forty pounds
13 and unto my Cousin William Blakes Children of Tetbury aforesaid the
14 Sum[m]e of Thirty pounds to be equally divided between the said Children
15 Share and Share alike and also unto my Cousin Joseph Blake of
16 Tetbury aforesaid the Sum[m]e of Thirty pounds of lawfull Money of Great
17 Britain to be paid unto them within Six Months next after my decease
18 by my Executors herein after named It[em] I give and bequeath unto
19 my Cousin Hester Humphris of Horsley in the said County of Glouc[este]r
20 Widow and to her Children now living the Sum[m]e of Twenty pounds to be
21 equally divided between them Share and Share alike and to be also paid
22 them by my Executors within Six Months next after my decease Item I
23 give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters now living of my Cousin
24 Hannah Hide late of Horsley aforesaid deceased the Sum[m]e of Thirty
25 pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain and to be equally divided
26 between them Share and Share alike and to be paid within Six Months
27 next after my decease by my Executors herein after named Item I give
28 and bequeath unto my Cousin Edward Blake of London and to his
29 brother Henry Blake the Sum[m]e of Ten pounds of lawfull Money of Great
30 Britain to be equally divided between them and to be paid them
31 within Six Months next after my decease by my Executors hereinafter
32 men[t]ioned in case either of them shall happen to be dead Then my
33 Will is that his Share Shall goe to the Survivor of them and provided
[Page 2]
34 both of them are dec[eas]ed then the said Legacy of Ten pounds to be
35 equally divided between my said Cousins Richard Blake John
36 Blake William Blake and Joseph Blake or as many of them as Shall
37 be then living Item I give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters
38 of Arthur Orchard late of Tetbury aforesaid dec[eas]ed which are now
39 living and lawfully begotten by the said Arthur Orchard on the
40 Body of his first Wife who was Sister to the said John Blake the
41 Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds of Lawfull Money of Great Britain to be
42 equally divided between them and paid them within Six Months
43 next after my decease by my Executors herein after named I likewise
44 give and bequeath unto the said Arthur Orchards daughter Hester
45 begotten as aforesaid one large Brass pan as also one Flock Bed
46 and Bedstead two Sheets Rugg Boulster and Blancketts with the
47 App[ur]tences the rents belonging which said Bed and app[ur]tences is in the
48 Room or Chamber where my Brother John Blake dec[eas]ed used to lay
49 Item I give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters of Thomas
50 Lydiard lawfully begotten on the Body of my Sister Susannah his Wife
51 dec[eas]ed the Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain
52 to be equally divided between them (that are now living) Share and
53 Share alike and to be paid unto them by my Executors herein named
54 within Six Months next after my decease But in Case no such Sons or
55 daughters of the said Tho: Lydiards begotten as aforesaid be now living
56 then my Will is that the said Legacy or Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds shall
57 be equally divided between my said four Cousins Richard John Wm
58 and Joseph Blake or the Survivors of them Item I give and bequeath
60 unto my Cousin William Pritchard of Tetbury aforesaid Carryer and to
61 his assignes all that my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement with the
62 Garden Backside and outhouses Rights Members and app[ur]tences thereonto
63 belonging and adjoining situate lying and being in Tetbury in the said County
64 of Glouc[este]r aforesaid in a certain Street there called the Ginnstoole Street and
65 now in the pos[es]sion of Anthony Sharpe from and imediately after my decease
66 To hold unto the said Wm Pritchard and his assignes for and during all the
67 rest residue and remainder of a certain terme of years or longer determina[t]ion
68 thereof which shall be then to come and unexpired men[t]ioned in a certain
69 Lease by virtue of which I now hold and enjoy the Same I likewise give
70 and bequeath unto the said Wm Pritchard the Elder the Sum[m]e of Forty
71 pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him within
72 Six Months next after my decease by my Executors herein afternamed
73 Item I give and bequeath unto my Maid Servant Mary Nicholas and
74 her assignes All that my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement Barn Stable
75 outhouses Gardens Orchards Backsides and Closes Lands of Meadow
76 arable or pasture with their and every of their rights Members and
77 app[ur]tences Scituate lying and being in the parish of Shipton Moyne afores[ai]d
78 To hold unto the said Mary Nicholas and her assignes imediately after
79 my decease for and dureing all the rest residue and remainder of a certain
80 term of years or Sooner determina[t]ion thereof which shall be then to come
81 and unexpired men[t]ioned in a certain Lease by virtue of which I now hold
82 and enjoy the same Together with the said Lease and all benefit and
83 advantage thereof I likewise give and bequeath unto the said Mary Nicholas
84 and her assigns all my household Goods both Linnen and Woollen and all
85 other Implements of household of what nature or kind soever and all things
86 to them or any of them belonging which are now or Shall be at the time of
[Page 3]
87 my decease In the Messuage or Tenement and outhouses where I now
88 dwell (Except what Goods is given by me before to Hester Orchard) as also
89 one other brass pan) which said Goods together with the pos[es]sion of the
90 Messuages or Tenements Lands of Meadow arable or pasture lying and
91 being in the parish of Shipton Moyne aforesaid Shall be deliverd within
92 two days after my decease unto the said Mary Nicholas and her assigns
93 by my Executors herein after named according to the true intent and
94 meaning of this my last Will and Testament It[em] I give and bequeath the
95 Brass pan above Excepted into Dorothy Battin of Tetbury aforesaid
96 Spinster as also to her Mother Eliz Phillips Five pounds to be paid her by my
97 Executors within Six Months after my decease Item all the rest residue and
98 remainder of my Goods and Chattells read and personal Estate of what
99 nature and kind soever and not herein before by me given or disposed off
100 and my debts Legacys herein before given first paid and Funerall Expences
101 discharged I give and bequeath unto my said three Cousins Richard Blake
102 John Blake and Joseph Blake whom I make Joint and Sole Executors of
103 this my last Will and Testament and desire them to See the same performed
104 revokeing all former Wills by me made and this to be taken only as my
105 last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will
106 and Testament Sett my hand and Seal this three and twentieth day of Aug[us]t
107 Anno d[omi]ni 1723 Ch: Blake Signed Sealed published and declared
108 by the said Christopher Blake as his last Will and Testament in the
109 presence of us who Sett our Names in the presence of the Testator John
110 Woodward Harry Witts the mark of Elizabeth Browneing
111 Probatum fuit hujusmodi Testamentum apud London
112 coram venerabili et egregio viro Johanne Bettesworth Legum doctore
113 Curie Prerogative Cantuariensis Magistro Custode sive Commissorio
114 legitime constituto duodecimo die Mensis Octobris anno domini
115 Millesimo Septingentesimo Vicesimo tertio Juramentis Richardi Blake
116 Johannis Blake et Josephi Blake Executorum in dicto Testamento nominat
117 Cuibus commissa fuit administration ominium et singulorum bonorum
118 Jurium et creditorium dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter administrando eadem
119 ad Sancta dei Evangelia (vigore Commissionis) Jurat
Names mentioned in the will:
Christopher Blake, testator, Shipton Moyne
Richard Blake, cousin, Chipping Sodbury, Innholder
John Blake, cousin, Tetbury
William Blake, cousin, Tetbury, deceased
Joseph Blake, cousin, Tetbury
Hester Humphris, cousin, Horsley
Hannah Hide, cousin, Horsley, deceased
Edward Blake, cousin, London
Henry Blake, cousin, London
Arthur Orchard, husband of cousin (sister of John Blake, deceased), deceased
Hester Orchard, daughter of Arthur
Thomas Lydiard, husband of sister
Susannah Lydiard, sister, deceased
William Pritchard, cousin, Tetbury, carryer
Anthony Sharpe, tenant
William Pritchard the elder
Mary Nicholas, servant
Dorothy Battin, Tetbury
Eliz Phillipps, mother of Dorothy Battin
John Woodward, witness
Harry Witts, witness
Elizabeth Browneing, witness
The Richard Blake at Chipping Sodbury is rather interesting and perhaps pertains to the blog post of the memorials for the Blake family in Gloucestershire:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/04/1248-blake-family-gloucestershire-notes.html
There is a Richard Blake at Chipping Sodbury with brothers Joseph and Samuel. The memorial refers to the father of Richard Blake lived in Bristol (died there in 1771). In 1723 he would have been about 22 years of age. He would be a cousin to the testator Christopher Blake. Knowing that Richard had uncles Joseph and Samuel then Christopher would be the son of one of these men possibly. The Joseph Blake is still living according to the will and the uncle of Richard Blake, Joseph, was buried at Chipping Sodbury in 1715 at 23 years of age.
The Portbury Hundred pages http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/admiralreport.htm
mention this family and Richard Blake (father of Joseph, Samuel and Richard) married Mary (unknown). The Portbury Hundred website gives Richard who died in Chipping Sodbury 9 Apr 1724 a birth year of 1668 (he was 56 when he died). Neither Joseph nor Samuel are traced down in this site. They both died in 1715 (Joseph 18 May 1715) and Samuel at 23 years of age giving him a year of birth circa 1692. Richard is mentioned as being born in 1700 and died in 1771 and his will is to come).
Richard Blake (1668-1724) was said to be the son of Ambrose Blake and Elizabeth Ruddick. He had brothers Henry (1669 - 1731) and Ambrose. I actually left this part of the website out of the Legacy chart that I produced because I did not agree with the material. However, I did not actually do any research on it so will now see what I can find.
I came across a
website that was archived with the Wiltshire Council Record Office
namely:
I
will extract a few excerpts from this website to help illustrate the
ancestry of the Richard Blake family at Chipping Sodbury.
The
Blake family at Calne Wiltshire acquired Pinhills and several
generations of the Blake family lived there prior to Henry Blake who
lived there during the Civil War (I will trace the line down to Henry
shortly and from Henry down to Christopher the testator hopefully). Henry was married to Abigail Stringer (daughter of one of the
footmen to Queen Elizabeth I).
"during the
reign of the Stuarts many of the gentry of north Wiltshire became
disaffected with the monarchy, largely because of the high-handed way in
which taxes were collected.
"When
the war finally began between Royalists and Parliamentarians, of the
thirty-four Wiltshire M.P.s, twenty-two sided with Parliament, including
Colonel Edward Bayntun and Sergeant Robert Nicholas for Devizes and Sir
Edward Bayntun and Sir Edward Hungerford for Chippenham. The Blakes,
Ernles, Bayntuns and Hungerfords took up commissions in the North Wilts.
Militia. Ambrose Blake, who succeeded his father Henry at Pinhills
during the war, fortified the family seat against the Royalists by
garrisoning the manor house with a body of musketeers."
"On January 4th
1644, Sir Charles Lloyd wrote to Colonel Bennett that on the orders of
Prince Rupert he would demolish Blagg’s (Blake’s) house, and on Jan.8th
he told Prince Rupert he had ‘made Blake’s house uninhabitable and
drained the moat.’ However, from our study it is evident that the house
was restored and continued in use based on evidence from map 19 in
Bowood archives which apparently shows a large house still standing on
the moated site in 1728. The present L-shaped house is said to have been
built incorporating some of the materials from the dilapidations of the
old manor-house and it is superior to the average farmhouse. Pinhills
remained the seat of the Blakes in the years immediately following the
Civil War and were finally succeeded by the Bull family probably in the
early 18th century. "
"Margaret Parrott for Wiltshire Buildings Record"
The children of Henry Blake and Abigail Stringer are named on the Portbury site as Henry, Roger, Ambrose, Abigail and Lettice. The Blake Pedigree Chart held by the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office only mentions Henry, Roger and Abigail as children of this couple with Henry being 6 years of age in 1623, Roger 5 years of age in 1623 and Abigail being 1 year of age in 1623. No descendants of these three children are on the chart. This information is taken from the Visitation of Wiltshire 1623. Perhaps Ambrose was born after 1623 and would then have been 20 years or less in age in 1644 when the house was said to be demolished or in 1690 it was simply not advantageous to mention Ambrose.
Another interesting piece of information from the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Volumes 23-24 edited by Edward Hungerford Goddard on page 223 No X mentions a Sundry Memoranda relating to the coronation of King Charles ( 2 Feb 1626; reigned from 27 Mar 1625 to 30 Jan 1649) and his offer of a knighthood to gentlemen of estate; the Blake family did refuse the knighthood and were fined for doing so. Henry Blake, of Pinhills, was fined 10 pounds. In a list of gentry in the Hundred of Calne in Wiltshire on this same page living during the times of Charles I and Charles II can be found the name of Ambrose Blake, Esquire of Pinnels. Interestingly enough Blake and Chivers are the only surnames that appear in both lists and only one Blake in the first list and one in the second list.
I feel this is probably sufficient to show that Ambrose was the heir of Henry Blake and that he was likely his son rather than say a grandson. Henry (son of Henry) is said to have died in 1660 and no date of death is given for Roger on the Portbury website and no children of either of these two men. Ambrose is given a date of birth of 1620 which would have made him three years of age at the time of the Visitation of Wiltshire. His being left off may simply be a political omission (not advantageous at this time to mention the connection of the London family (which requested the College of Arms to create the chart) to the Wiltshire family which had opposed the Stuart line).
Ambrose is said to have married Elizabeth Ruddick and that they had three sons Richard (1668-1724), Henry (1669-1731) and Ambrose. Working down through the chart on the Portbury site Richard married Mary (unknown) and they have three children Joseph, Samuel and Richard (1700-1771). Henry married Catherine Hungerford and they had the following children Robert (married to Joanna Coombs (this information is on the memorial at Chipping Sodbury), Henry, Abigail, Katherine and Frances. Ambrose is said to have married Mary Ivie and they had one child Elizabeth.
In this will Christopher in 1723 talks about his cousins Richard Blake in Chipping Sodbury, John Blake, William Blake (deceased) and Joseph Blake in Tetbury and Edward Blake, Henry Blake his cousins in London. This accounts for Blake cousins but he also mentions a Humphris and a Hide cousin in Horsley, Arthur Orchard who married the sister of John Blake, Susanna Lydiard, Christopher's sister (deceased), and William Pritchard a cousin in Tetbury.
The Richard Blake he mentions is likely the son of Richard (1668-1724) and this Richard was married to Mary Greenway 1723 according to Boyd's Marriage Index of Marriage Licences. No place was recorded in that index. This does match up with the Portbury Hundred accounting of Admiral Blake's collateral lines but only one son is mentioned William and not the two daughters Susanna and Hannah mentioned in their parent's wills. William is traced down however and more about that when I transcribe his will.
This is still not helping me determine who Christopher Blake is. Henry Blake (1669-1731) brother to Richard (1668-1724) is a possibility. Henry married Catherine Hungerford and their son Robert was born in 1708 (he died in 1790 at 82 years of age). He was married to Joanna Coombs. A second son Henry and there are no further details for either of these two sons (there were also three daughters Abigail, Katherine, and Frances) as mentioned earlier. Looking for a John Blake, William Blake (deceased) and Joseph Blake in Tetbury as cousins. One would think that they would be sons of Henry or Ambrose since they are Richard's (1668-1724) brothers. The interesting part about this line is that they are direct descendants of the Blake family at Calne. Whether or not they are collateral to the Admiral Blake line remains to be proven.
I am thus far unable to determine exactly how this family is associated with the Blake family at Bristol but I now know how Richard Blake married to Anne Augusta Harwood fits into a family and more on that with the will of William Blake (1791) since Richard is his son.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 12 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/593/333
Testator: Christopher Blake, Yeoman
Place: Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Aug 1723, probated 12 Oct 1723
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: T[esta]m[ent]
[Margin]: Christopher Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Christopher Blake of Shipton Moyne in the County of Gloucester
3 yeoman being aged but of Sound Mind and good disposing understanding
4 (praised be God) therefore do make this my last Will and Testament
5 in manner and form following Imprimis I commend my Soul into the
6 hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body to the Earth to be
7 buried in Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executors herein after
8 named And as for my Worldly Estate It hath pleased God to give me
9 I dispose thereof as followeth Item I give and bequeath unto my
10 Cousin Richard Blake of Chipping Sodbury in the County of Gloucester
11 Innholder the Sum[m]e of Forty pounds and unto my Cousin John Blake of
12 Tetbury in the said County of Gloucester the like Sum[m]e of Forty pounds
13 and unto my Cousin William Blakes Children of Tetbury aforesaid the
14 Sum[m]e of Thirty pounds to be equally divided between the said Children
15 Share and Share alike and also unto my Cousin Joseph Blake of
16 Tetbury aforesaid the Sum[m]e of Thirty pounds of lawfull Money of Great
17 Britain to be paid unto them within Six Months next after my decease
18 by my Executors herein after named It[em] I give and bequeath unto
19 my Cousin Hester Humphris of Horsley in the said County of Glouc[este]r
20 Widow and to her Children now living the Sum[m]e of Twenty pounds to be
21 equally divided between them Share and Share alike and to be also paid
22 them by my Executors within Six Months next after my decease Item I
23 give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters now living of my Cousin
24 Hannah Hide late of Horsley aforesaid deceased the Sum[m]e of Thirty
25 pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain and to be equally divided
26 between them Share and Share alike and to be paid within Six Months
27 next after my decease by my Executors herein after named Item I give
28 and bequeath unto my Cousin Edward Blake of London and to his
29 brother Henry Blake the Sum[m]e of Ten pounds of lawfull Money of Great
30 Britain to be equally divided between them and to be paid them
31 within Six Months next after my decease by my Executors hereinafter
32 men[t]ioned in case either of them shall happen to be dead Then my
33 Will is that his Share Shall goe to the Survivor of them and provided
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34 both of them are dec[eas]ed then the said Legacy of Ten pounds to be
35 equally divided between my said Cousins Richard Blake John
36 Blake William Blake and Joseph Blake or as many of them as Shall
37 be then living Item I give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters
38 of Arthur Orchard late of Tetbury aforesaid dec[eas]ed which are now
39 living and lawfully begotten by the said Arthur Orchard on the
40 Body of his first Wife who was Sister to the said John Blake the
41 Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds of Lawfull Money of Great Britain to be
42 equally divided between them and paid them within Six Months
43 next after my decease by my Executors herein after named I likewise
44 give and bequeath unto the said Arthur Orchards daughter Hester
45 begotten as aforesaid one large Brass pan as also one Flock Bed
46 and Bedstead two Sheets Rugg Boulster and Blancketts with the
47 App[ur]tences the rents belonging which said Bed and app[ur]tences is in the
48 Room or Chamber where my Brother John Blake dec[eas]ed used to lay
49 Item I give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters of Thomas
50 Lydiard lawfully begotten on the Body of my Sister Susannah his Wife
51 dec[eas]ed the Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain
52 to be equally divided between them (that are now living) Share and
53 Share alike and to be paid unto them by my Executors herein named
54 within Six Months next after my decease But in Case no such Sons or
55 daughters of the said Tho: Lydiards begotten as aforesaid be now living
56 then my Will is that the said Legacy or Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds shall
57 be equally divided between my said four Cousins Richard John Wm
58 and Joseph Blake or the Survivors of them Item I give and bequeath
60 unto my Cousin William Pritchard of Tetbury aforesaid Carryer and to
61 his assignes all that my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement with the
62 Garden Backside and outhouses Rights Members and app[ur]tences thereonto
63 belonging and adjoining situate lying and being in Tetbury in the said County
64 of Glouc[este]r aforesaid in a certain Street there called the Ginnstoole Street and
65 now in the pos[es]sion of Anthony Sharpe from and imediately after my decease
66 To hold unto the said Wm Pritchard and his assignes for and during all the
67 rest residue and remainder of a certain terme of years or longer determina[t]ion
68 thereof which shall be then to come and unexpired men[t]ioned in a certain
69 Lease by virtue of which I now hold and enjoy the Same I likewise give
70 and bequeath unto the said Wm Pritchard the Elder the Sum[m]e of Forty
71 pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him within
72 Six Months next after my decease by my Executors herein afternamed
73 Item I give and bequeath unto my Maid Servant Mary Nicholas and
74 her assignes All that my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement Barn Stable
75 outhouses Gardens Orchards Backsides and Closes Lands of Meadow
76 arable or pasture with their and every of their rights Members and
77 app[ur]tences Scituate lying and being in the parish of Shipton Moyne afores[ai]d
78 To hold unto the said Mary Nicholas and her assignes imediately after
79 my decease for and dureing all the rest residue and remainder of a certain
80 term of years or Sooner determina[t]ion thereof which shall be then to come
81 and unexpired men[t]ioned in a certain Lease by virtue of which I now hold
82 and enjoy the same Together with the said Lease and all benefit and
83 advantage thereof I likewise give and bequeath unto the said Mary Nicholas
84 and her assigns all my household Goods both Linnen and Woollen and all
85 other Implements of household of what nature or kind soever and all things
86 to them or any of them belonging which are now or Shall be at the time of
[Page 3]
87 my decease In the Messuage or Tenement and outhouses where I now
88 dwell (Except what Goods is given by me before to Hester Orchard) as also
89 one other brass pan) which said Goods together with the pos[es]sion of the
90 Messuages or Tenements Lands of Meadow arable or pasture lying and
91 being in the parish of Shipton Moyne aforesaid Shall be deliverd within
92 two days after my decease unto the said Mary Nicholas and her assigns
93 by my Executors herein after named according to the true intent and
94 meaning of this my last Will and Testament It[em] I give and bequeath the
95 Brass pan above Excepted into Dorothy Battin of Tetbury aforesaid
96 Spinster as also to her Mother Eliz Phillips Five pounds to be paid her by my
97 Executors within Six Months after my decease Item all the rest residue and
98 remainder of my Goods and Chattells read and personal Estate of what
99 nature and kind soever and not herein before by me given or disposed off
100 and my debts Legacys herein before given first paid and Funerall Expences
101 discharged I give and bequeath unto my said three Cousins Richard Blake
102 John Blake and Joseph Blake whom I make Joint and Sole Executors of
103 this my last Will and Testament and desire them to See the same performed
104 revokeing all former Wills by me made and this to be taken only as my
105 last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will
106 and Testament Sett my hand and Seal this three and twentieth day of Aug[us]t
107 Anno d[omi]ni 1723 Ch: Blake Signed Sealed published and declared
108 by the said Christopher Blake as his last Will and Testament in the
109 presence of us who Sett our Names in the presence of the Testator John
110 Woodward Harry Witts the mark of Elizabeth Browneing
111 Probatum fuit hujusmodi Testamentum apud London
112 coram venerabili et egregio viro Johanne Bettesworth Legum doctore
113 Curie Prerogative Cantuariensis Magistro Custode sive Commissorio
114 legitime constituto duodecimo die Mensis Octobris anno domini
115 Millesimo Septingentesimo Vicesimo tertio Juramentis Richardi Blake
116 Johannis Blake et Josephi Blake Executorum in dicto Testamento nominat
117 Cuibus commissa fuit administration ominium et singulorum bonorum
118 Jurium et creditorium dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter administrando eadem
119 ad Sancta dei Evangelia (vigore Commissionis) Jurat
Saturday, April 19, 2014
#1248 The Blake Family - Gloucestershire Notes and Queries Volume 3
1248. The Blake Family (Discussion inserted)
1. In St. Stephen's Church, Bristol, there is a marble tablet with the following inscription: "Near this place, in the same vault with his father and mother, William and Rebecca Blake, lie the remains of Richard Blake, Esquire, who died August 6th, 1829, aged 69." And above, on a small tablet, is an inscription to his widow, Anne Augusta, described as the daughter of the Very Reverend Charles Harward, of Hayne, County Devon, Dean of Chichester, etc. She died November 4th, 1847, aged 84. Arms - Ar. a chev. between 3 garbs sa. empaling gu. a crosse crosslet or. Creet - On a cap of maintenance gu. turned up erm. a martlet sa.
The will of Anne Augusta Blake was blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/04/will-of-anne-augusta-blake-widow.html
Richard Blake, husband of Anne Augusta Blake, was the son of William and Rebecca Blake according to the memorial in St Stephen's Church, Bristol. Now, the question is, can I discover the parents of William Blake. Richard would have been born circa 1760. The coat of arms mentioned on the memorial tablet do not appear to be the registered arm of the Harward family. The first mentioned coat of arms does belong to the Blake family. An Alphabetical Dictionary of Coats of Arms Belonging to Families ....., volume 2 has "Gu. on a cross croslet arg. betw. four gouttes d'eau five annulets az. Harward, Hayne, Co. Devon; a heiress m. Blake." I have little knowledge of heraldry although I am starting to look at a little because of the Blake coats of arms. I did find on Family Search the baptism of Richard Blake 1 Dec 1760 at Bristol with parents William and Rebecca Blake. They also baptized a son William 3 Dec 1757 and a daughter Rebecca 21 Apr 1759 both at Bristol. Interestingly there is a marriage of a William Blake to Rebecca Milles 12 Jun 1754 at Duloe, Cornwall. Since this is a known Blake area it is possible that this line is from Cornwall. There is a will for William Blake (1792) at Bristol to come.
2. In St. Werburgh's Church, Bristol, there was this inscription: "To the memory of Mr Richard Blake, many years an inhabitant of this parish, who died the 3rd day of January, 1771, aged 70. In the same vault where his remains are deposited, also are interred Mary Blake, his mother, Samuel and Mary Greenway, whose ony daughter he married, and five of his children, who died in their infancy. Likewise the remains of Mary, his wife, who died the 21st October, 1781, aged 82."
I found this reference most interesting as I am in the midst of transcribing the will of Mary, the widow of this Richard Blake who was the father of Susanna Woodward and Hannah Deverell. The mother of this Richard was Mary Greenway and in the will of Mary there is mention of a Joseph Greenway. Put together with the reference at Chipping Sodbury, is this the same family? That Richard would have been born circa 1646, died 1724 (aged 78). Chipping Sodbury is nine miles ENE of Bristol. Still to come is the will of Richard Blake who died in 1771 and another Richard Blake will from 1642 which may help to fill this family line in.
3. In Chipping Sodbury Church there are (or were) the following inscriptions: " To the memory of his father, Richard Blake, late of this town, and of his brothers Joseph and Samuel, whose remains are interred near this place. This monument is erected by Richard Blake, of the city of Bristol." "In memory of Richard Blake, Senior, who was buried April 19th, A.D. 1724, aged 78." "In memory of Joseph Blake, son of Richard and Mary Blake, of this borough, who deceased the 18th day of May, A.D. 1715, in the 23rd year of his age." "Thomas Coombe died September 26th, 1724, aged 42. Joanna Coombe, his wife, died February 27, 1748/49, aged 63. Joanna Blake, relict of Robert Blake, and daughter of Thomas and Joanna Coombe, died April 20th, 1790, aged 82."
From Aubrey's Collections for North Wilts I find that Robert Hungerford, of Studley, near Calne, by his will (1754) bequeated his parsonage of Avon (between Chippenham and Christian Malford) to his nephew George, after of Studley, for his life - in tail to Robert Blake, of Sodbury, who had married one of his nieces.
4. In St. John's Church, Glastonbury, there was an inscription to Elizabeth, the wife of Francis Blake, of Clifton, Gent.; she died January 1st, 1736, aged 50. This Francis Blake died at Glastonbury in 1768, having been ten times mayor of that borough, from 1717 to 1768. He had a son William, who predeceased him, having resided in the parish of Clifton.
For Francis Blake buried at Glastonbury this is a known Blake line which is collateral to the Admiral Robert Blake line according to the Potbury Blake website: http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/admiralreport.htm . This Francis Blake who was married to Elizabeth Porch 14 Feb 1708 at Wells. He was the son of Roger Blake and Susannah Taylor with Roger's father being Humphry the elder who married Elizabeth Upton. This Humphry was the son of Humphry Blake who married Elizabeth Giles. Continuing back this Humphrey was the son of Humphrey Blake and Agnus/Ann James. Then John Blake the elder and his wife Johan were the parents of Humphrey and this John Blake was a brother to Admiral Robert Blake. I have blogged on this line several times and I am confident that indeed this Francis Blake is related to Admiral Robert Blake.
I shall be glad to be supplied with any information relative to any of these Blakes, and particularly as to the parentage of Francis and Elizabeth Blake, and whether they were connected with the Bristol and Gloucestershire family. Francis was, I know, related to the Blakes of Spaxton, Somerset, and bore for arms, Ar. a chev. between 3 garbs, sa.
Edward Fry Wade, Axbridge, Somerset.
1. In St. Stephen's Church, Bristol, there is a marble tablet with the following inscription: "Near this place, in the same vault with his father and mother, William and Rebecca Blake, lie the remains of Richard Blake, Esquire, who died August 6th, 1829, aged 69." And above, on a small tablet, is an inscription to his widow, Anne Augusta, described as the daughter of the Very Reverend Charles Harward, of Hayne, County Devon, Dean of Chichester, etc. She died November 4th, 1847, aged 84. Arms - Ar. a chev. between 3 garbs sa. empaling gu. a crosse crosslet or. Creet - On a cap of maintenance gu. turned up erm. a martlet sa.
The will of Anne Augusta Blake was blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/04/will-of-anne-augusta-blake-widow.html
Richard Blake, husband of Anne Augusta Blake, was the son of William and Rebecca Blake according to the memorial in St Stephen's Church, Bristol. Now, the question is, can I discover the parents of William Blake. Richard would have been born circa 1760. The coat of arms mentioned on the memorial tablet do not appear to be the registered arm of the Harward family. The first mentioned coat of arms does belong to the Blake family. An Alphabetical Dictionary of Coats of Arms Belonging to Families ....., volume 2 has "Gu. on a cross croslet arg. betw. four gouttes d'eau five annulets az. Harward, Hayne, Co. Devon; a heiress m. Blake." I have little knowledge of heraldry although I am starting to look at a little because of the Blake coats of arms. I did find on Family Search the baptism of Richard Blake 1 Dec 1760 at Bristol with parents William and Rebecca Blake. They also baptized a son William 3 Dec 1757 and a daughter Rebecca 21 Apr 1759 both at Bristol. Interestingly there is a marriage of a William Blake to Rebecca Milles 12 Jun 1754 at Duloe, Cornwall. Since this is a known Blake area it is possible that this line is from Cornwall. There is a will for William Blake (1792) at Bristol to come.
2. In St. Werburgh's Church, Bristol, there was this inscription: "To the memory of Mr Richard Blake, many years an inhabitant of this parish, who died the 3rd day of January, 1771, aged 70. In the same vault where his remains are deposited, also are interred Mary Blake, his mother, Samuel and Mary Greenway, whose ony daughter he married, and five of his children, who died in their infancy. Likewise the remains of Mary, his wife, who died the 21st October, 1781, aged 82."
I found this reference most interesting as I am in the midst of transcribing the will of Mary, the widow of this Richard Blake who was the father of Susanna Woodward and Hannah Deverell. The mother of this Richard was Mary Greenway and in the will of Mary there is mention of a Joseph Greenway. Put together with the reference at Chipping Sodbury, is this the same family? That Richard would have been born circa 1646, died 1724 (aged 78). Chipping Sodbury is nine miles ENE of Bristol. Still to come is the will of Richard Blake who died in 1771 and another Richard Blake will from 1642 which may help to fill this family line in.
3. In Chipping Sodbury Church there are (or were) the following inscriptions: " To the memory of his father, Richard Blake, late of this town, and of his brothers Joseph and Samuel, whose remains are interred near this place. This monument is erected by Richard Blake, of the city of Bristol." "In memory of Richard Blake, Senior, who was buried April 19th, A.D. 1724, aged 78." "In memory of Joseph Blake, son of Richard and Mary Blake, of this borough, who deceased the 18th day of May, A.D. 1715, in the 23rd year of his age." "Thomas Coombe died September 26th, 1724, aged 42. Joanna Coombe, his wife, died February 27, 1748/49, aged 63. Joanna Blake, relict of Robert Blake, and daughter of Thomas and Joanna Coombe, died April 20th, 1790, aged 82."
From Aubrey's Collections for North Wilts I find that Robert Hungerford, of Studley, near Calne, by his will (1754) bequeated his parsonage of Avon (between Chippenham and Christian Malford) to his nephew George, after of Studley, for his life - in tail to Robert Blake, of Sodbury, who had married one of his nieces.
4. In St. John's Church, Glastonbury, there was an inscription to Elizabeth, the wife of Francis Blake, of Clifton, Gent.; she died January 1st, 1736, aged 50. This Francis Blake died at Glastonbury in 1768, having been ten times mayor of that borough, from 1717 to 1768. He had a son William, who predeceased him, having resided in the parish of Clifton.
For Francis Blake buried at Glastonbury this is a known Blake line which is collateral to the Admiral Robert Blake line according to the Potbury Blake website: http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/admiralreport.htm . This Francis Blake who was married to Elizabeth Porch 14 Feb 1708 at Wells. He was the son of Roger Blake and Susannah Taylor with Roger's father being Humphry the elder who married Elizabeth Upton. This Humphry was the son of Humphry Blake who married Elizabeth Giles. Continuing back this Humphrey was the son of Humphrey Blake and Agnus/Ann James. Then John Blake the elder and his wife Johan were the parents of Humphrey and this John Blake was a brother to Admiral Robert Blake. I have blogged on this line several times and I am confident that indeed this Francis Blake is related to Admiral Robert Blake.
I shall be glad to be supplied with any information relative to any of these Blakes, and particularly as to the parentage of Francis and Elizabeth Blake, and whether they were connected with the Bristol and Gloucestershire family. Francis was, I know, related to the Blakes of Spaxton, Somerset, and bore for arms, Ar. a chev. between 3 garbs, sa.
Edward Fry Wade, Axbridge, Somerset.
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