Monday, April 30, 2012

Kirk Linton - Eskdale Ward Protestation Returns (Cumberland, England)

A few years ago I photographed and transcribed all the Protestation Returns for Eskdale Ward in Cumberland and these records were taken in 1641-42. The history behind these particular statistics follows (http://www.tackbear.co.uk/Protestation%20Returns.htm):

The Protestation Returns relate to the years 1641/42, around the start of the Civil War. The Protestation was an Oath of loyalty to the King, and was originally drawn up and taken by the members of the House of Commons on May 3rd 1641. The following day the Protestant Peers in the House of Lords also swore it.
On July 30th the House of Commons passed a resolution that all who refused the Protestation were unfit to hold office in Church or Commonwealth. The scope was widened so that it should be sworn by all adults over the age of 18.  In practice this meant all men; women were not usually asked to sign.

A letter was sent by the Speaker of the House of Commons to the sheriffs instructing them to take the protestation with the justices of the peace in their county, and then the incumbent of each parish was to read the protestation to his parishioners and they were all to sign. This took place in February and March 1641/2. The Protestation Returns were then sent back to Parliament.

The Oath:
I, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ do, in the presence of Almighty God, promise, vow, and protest to maintain, and defend as farr as lawfully I maye, with my Life, Power and Estate, the true Reformed Protestant religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations, within this Realme, contrary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my Allegiance, His Majesties Royal Person, Honour and Estate, as alsoe the Power and Privileges of Parliament, the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and any person that maketh this Protestation, in whatsoever he shall do in the lawful Pursuance of the same: and to my power, and as farr as lawfully I may, I will appose and by all good Ways and Means endeavour to bring to condign Punishment all such as shall, either by Force, Practice, Councels, Plots, Conspiracies, or otherwise, doe any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained: and further, that I shall, in all just and honourable ways, endeavour to preserve the Union and Peace betwixt the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland: and neither for Hope, Feare, nor other Respect, shell relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation.

In total I transcribed eighteen parishes in Eskdale Ward which included: Arthuret, Bewcastle, Brampton, Castle Carrock, Crosby Eden, Cumrew, Cumwhitton, Denton, Farlam, Hayton, Irthington, Kirk Andrews, Kirk Linton, Lanercost, Scaleby, Stanwix, Stapleton, and Walton. I have proofread only Lanercost and it was published in 2010 in The Cumbria Journal. I will post a blog every day for the next eighteen days with the names of the individuals who signed the Protestation Returns in each of the eighteen parishes (there will occasionally be a suffix or an occupation and sometimes there will be the name of a particular property within the parish. If this is helpful to anyone that is great. If you have a query then please leave a comment and I will try to answer. I am only researching the Routledge, Tweddle, Robson  and Bushby families (and primarily Routledge because most of my Routledges married other Routledges. Remember I have only proofread Lanercost and I have adhered to the spelling as shown on the original document. If you think that I have a letter wrong in a name feel free to query it and I will answer as soon as possible.

Surname    Forename    Suffix    Standing    Queries
Rea_e    William    the elder       
Foster    Arthur        Stangarth_id   
Foster    Andrew        of Rutterfoord   
Foster    Jo:        of Hauthw__   
Foster    Jo:        of Rowe   
Foster    William        overmosse   
Grahame    George        Birktimberhill   
Foster    Richard        wamfra_e   
Grahame    Jo:        Baxstongill   
Grahame    Walter        _adam   
Grahame    Jo:        _adam   
Foster    Jo:        la _t etlowdye   
Wane    William    younger       
Foster    Arthur        Hollings   
Foster    William        la _t etlowdye   
Foster    Josphreye           
Foster    William        Long Cl__hsed   
Foster    Edward        Stangarth_id   
Watson    Abrahame           
Foster    Cutbert        Stangarth_id   
Foster    Lawrence        Inner nook   
Yong    Jo:        Readgate_eas   
Foster    Arthur        Knafeeld   
Foster    Tho:        Knafeeld   
Armestrong    Tho:           
Armestrong    Jo:           
Litle    Andrew        coluteknow   
Litle    Andrew        Catlodge   
Ellett    Wm:        Carsopfoot   
Armestrong    Jo:        minstrell   
Foster    Tho:        Snnywhat   
Foster    Edward        als foorde   
Foster    Lawrence    senior    nook   
Foster    William        nook   
Tompson    Arche:        Rutterfoord   
Tompson    William        Rutterfoord   
Foster    George        Raeburne   
Ellett    Mathew        Arstbarne   
Barratt    Christopher        parson there    
Jackson    Richard        Churchwarden   
Heatherington    James        Churchwarden   
Irwen    Edward        Churchwarden   
Tinling    Richard        Constable   
Lattimoore    David        Constable   
Grame    George        Constable   
Jackson    Edmond        Constable   
Atkinson    Andrew           
Q_ahad    Geo:           
Brown    William           
Foster    William           
Blenechaff    Xopher:           
Grame    William           
Heatherington    Geo:           
Lattimoore    Robert           
Bell    Jo:           
Grame    Jo:           
Bell    Andrew           
Bell    Jo:           
Little    Geo:           
Maxwell    Jo:           
Bla_ter    Tho:           
Bla_ter    Geo:           
Atkinson    Raynold           
Pearson    Ma_en           
Hetherington    Geo:           
Scott    Hobb           
Grame    Jo:           
Story    Rinyon           
Carrudders    James           
Blackler    Jo:    elder       
Hetherington    Will:           
Mulcaster    Will:           
Taylor    Geo:           
Irwen    Edward           
Tayte    Jo:           
Musgrave    Jo:           
Grame    Will:           
Jackson    Simond           
Milborne    Tho:           
Waughe    Geo:           
Grame    And:           
W__dume    Jo:           
Grame    Walter           
Armestrong    Jo:           
Heatherington    Jo:           
Waughe    Jo:           
Grame    Richard           
Paul    Jo:           
Hollyday    Jo:           
Grame    Jo:           
Grame    Will:           
Pirsone    Fergus           
Rea_    Will:           
Jonson    Jo:           
Ellett    Will:           
Bell    Geo:           
Bell    Francis           
Iveson    Hen:           
Phillipy    Will:           
Bell    George           
Grame    Will:           
Grame    Geo:           
Irwen    Jo:           
Buney    Jo:           
Carruders    Jo:           
Jackson    Obvis           
Story    Francis           
Carruders    Sim:           
Irwen    Robt:           
Grame    Rick:           
Carruders    Will:           
Taylor    Hobb           
Nickell    Tho:           
Jackson    Jo:           
Holme    Tho:           
Tinlin    Will:           
Grame    David           
Hetherington    Humphrey           
__owy    Andrew           
Bushby    Jo:           
Hoope    Geo:           
Tweddall    Nede:           
Blacklock    Will:           
Arnestrong    Hobb           
Irvwen    Mathew           
Grame    Will:           
Marton    Jo:           
Bleacklock    Duke           
Grame    Will:           
Wilkin    Jo:           
Story    Jo:           
Pearson    Jo:           
Grame    Francis           
Grame    Ric:           
Little    Will:           
Hutcheson    Jo:           
Armestrong    Jo:           
Jackson    Christopher           
Bell    Jo:           
Maeblayer    Jo:           
Litlesmith    Jo:           
Armestrong    Jo:           
Blacketer    Jo:    younger       
Tinlin    Tho:           
Irven    Ric:           
Hetherington    Ric:           
Reay    Humphrey           
Hetherington    Hutchin           
Chambers    Ed:           
Irwen    Geo:           
Holyday    James           
Reay    Sin           
Irwen    Ric:           
Story    Chris:           
Lathmoore    Ed:           
Hoope    Ric:           
Grame    Geo:           
Foster    Jo:           
Eame    Jo:           
Grame    Jo:           
Atkinson    Gilbert           
Grame    Tho:           
Story    Rich:           
Heatherington    Francis           
Lattimoore    Will:           
Grame    Arthur           
Grame    Robt:           
Grame    Geo:           
Story    Jo:           
Grame    Francis           
Hesloppe    Jo:           
Sewell    Robt:           
Tompson    Lancelote           
Bell    Daniel           
Hemolt    Jo:           
Bell    Arthur           
Jackson    Jo:           
Hewett    Jo:           
Littile    Robt:           
Taylor    Jo:           
Lattimore    Edward           
Bell    Jo:           
Morrow    Jo:           
Jeffery    Jo:           
Little    Tho:           
Hemolt    Tho:           
Tompson    Jo:           
Nixson    James           
Kirkpatrick    Cutbert           
Grame    Geo:           
Hetherington    James           
Hetherington    Richard           
Bell    Matthew           
Tinley    Jo:           
James    Tho:           
Bell    Jo:           
Jackson    Robt:           
Hewet    Will:           
Jackson    Jo:           
Jackson    Tho:           
Armestrong    James           
Story    Jo:           
Parke    Jo:           
Olaty    Tho:           
Gibson    Jo:           
Story    Will:           
Story    Geo:           
Bell    Geo:           
Grame    Geo:           
Houpe    Simond           
Irven    Francis           
Lowry    Will:           
Grame    Charles           
Lambe    Rich:           
Chinngham    Jo:           
Scott    Rich:           
Corbatt    Jo:           
Lambe    Tho:           
Byers    Will:           
Tayte    Tho:           
Lattimoore    Jo:           
Kight    Anthony           
Richardson    Hutchin:           
Pearson    Rich:           
Hetherington    Rich:           
Grame    Geo:           
Grame    Jo:           
Foster    Sanders           
Foster    Jo:           
Lowry    Tho:           
Story    Tho:           
Cooke    Tho:           
Law    Robt:           
Turner    Tho:           
Taylor    Hector           
Bell    Rich:           
Hetherington    Tho:           
Pearson    Hector           
Grame    Will:           
Hoope    Geo:           
Cunngham    Robt:           
Cuningham    Will:           
Armestrong    Jo:           
Bell    David           
Holyday    Jo:           
Hetherington    Rinyon           
Story    Thomas           
Grame    Francis           
Grame    Edward        Miltowne   
Jackson    Richard        Churchwardens and Counstables   
Hetherington    James        Churchwardens and Counstables   
Irwen    Edward        Churchwardens and Counstables   
Tinlin    Richard        Churchwardens and Counstables   
Lattimoore    David        Churchwardens and Counstables   
Grame    Geo:        Churchwardens and Counstables   
Jackson    Simond        Churchwardens and Counstables   

Will of Robert Blake, Wharfinger of Reading, National Archives PROB 11/615, Image Reference 131/125, probated 5 May 1727

Robert's will was written in 1705 (he was born circa 1662 by his gravestone and so married by 1705 according to his will) before the birth of his two daughters but he does mention the forenames of his sisters which is most helpful. The daughter were 24 years of age when they died in 1732 and so born circa 1708. His sisters are identified as Mary Blake married to a Mr. Burd and Jane Blake married to a Mr. Peach. Only two nephews are mentioned in this will whereas Mary mentions a few more that have been born since 1705 (William and Mary Bird).

The next will to transcribe in Berkshire is for John Blake and his will was written in 1616 and probated 16 Sep 1618. His executor is his son John and possibly is this the John Blake that was mayor of Reading in 1671 and 1683? He was a clothier and burgess at Reading. Was this John the father of Robert? I have not yet been able to discover that as the John who was the mayor of Reading in 1671 and 1683 and clothier/burgess at Reading did not have a will that was probated by the PCC.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Apr 2012
Source:  The National Archives PROB11/615, Image Reference 131/125  (images by me)
Name of testator: Robert Blake (husband of Mary Blake), Wharfinger (owner of a wharf)
Place: Reading, Berkshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated:, 14 Jun 1705, probated 5 May 1727
Read: Electronic file
Condition: well formed letters, 18th century, bold copy
[In margin] T  Roberti
[In margin] Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Robert Blake of Reading in the County of Berks Wharfinger
3    being in perfect health and of sound minde and memory praised be
4    Almighty God therefore but considering the certainty of death and the
5    uncertainity of the time thereof do make and declare my last Will and
6    Testament in manner following (that is to say) My soule I commend to
7    God who gave it and my body to the Earth to be decently buried
8    according to the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named And as
9    to my temporall Estate I dispose thereof as follows Imprimis As for
10    touching and concerning all that messuage or Tenement wherein I now
11    live with the Wharfe waters Lock Fishings lands arrable pasture
12    and meadow in Reading aforesaid and all other lands tenements
13    and hereditaments in Reading aforesaid which I hold by lease or
14    Leases from Walter Clarges My Will is and I do hereby give devise
15    and bequeath the same and every of them to Mary my loveing wife for
16    and dureing so many yeares of my respective terms and interests
    [Page 2}
17    therein as she my said wife shall live And from and after the death of my
18    said wife I give devise and bequeath the same and every of them and all
19    the then residue of my respective Estates and termes therein then to
20    come equally to and amongst such of my Children hereafter to be borne as
21    shall survive my said wife but in case my said wife shall depart this life
22    leaving no Child by me liveing at her death or in case such Child or
23    Children who shall survive my said wife shall all of them depart this life
24    before they or either of them shall attaine the age of Fifteene yeares.
25    Then in either of those cases first happening I give devise and bequeath
26    the then residue of my terms Estates and interests therein then to
27    come equally unto my two sisters Mary Burd and Jane Peach their
28    Executors and assignes Item I give to each of my Children which shall
29    be borne before or after my death the summe of one hundred pounds apeice
30    But if I shall leave but one Child then I give such Child the summe of One
31    hundred and fifty pound and my Will is that in case all my Children shall
32    depart this life before they attaine the age of Fifteene yeares and my
33    said wife shall then survive then in such case I give the legacies hereby
34    given to my said Children unto my said wife Item in case I shall have
35    no Child liveing at the time of my death then in such case I give to my
36    two Nephews Richard Burd and John Peach the summe of Twenty
37    pounds a peice to be paid unto them as they shall severally attaine the
38    age of one and twenty yeares but if both or either of my said Nephews
39    shall depart this life before they shall attaine that age then in such case
40    I give the legacy of legacies of such my said Nephews as shall so dye
41    unto my said wife if then liveing Item all and singular the rest and residue
42    of my moneys goods chattells and Estate whatsoever unbequeathed
43    I give devise and bequeath unto the said Mary my wife and I do make and
44    ordaine my said wife full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and
45    Testament in witness whereof I have here unto sett my hand and seale
46    the fourteenth day of June in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand
47    seaven hundred and Five Robert Blake signed and sealed published
48    and declared by the said Robert Blake and for his last Will and
49    Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names in the
50    presence of the said Testator Will: Douglas Sen Mary Pryor Wm:
51    Douglas Jun

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Kirk Andrews - Eskdale Ward Protestation Returns (Cumberland, England)

A few years ago I photographed and transcribed all the Protestation Returns for Eskdale Ward in Cumberland and these records were taken in 1641-42. The history behind these particular statistics follows (http://www.tackbear.co.uk/Protestation%20Returns.htm):

The Protestation Returns relate to the years 1641/42, around the start of the Civil War. The Protestation was an Oath of loyalty to the King, and was originally drawn up and taken by the members of the House of Commons on May 3rd 1641. The following day the Protestant Peers in the House of Lords also swore it.
On July 30th the House of Commons passed a resolution that all who refused the Protestation were unfit to hold office in Church or Commonwealth. The scope was widened so that it should be sworn by all adults over the age of 18.  In practice this meant all men; women were not usually asked to sign.

A letter was sent by the Speaker of the House of Commons to the sheriffs instructing them to take the protestation with the justices of the peace in their county, and then the incumbent of each parish was to read the protestation to his parishioners and they were all to sign. This took place in February and March 1641/2. The Protestation Returns were then sent back to Parliament.

The Oath:
I, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ do, in the presence of Almighty God, promise, vow, and protest to maintain, and defend as farr as lawfully I maye, with my Life, Power and Estate, the true Reformed Protestant religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations, within this Realme, contrary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my Allegiance, His Majesties Royal Person, Honour and Estate, as alsoe the Power and Privileges of Parliament, the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and any person that maketh this Protestation, in whatsoever he shall do in the lawful Pursuance of the same: and to my power, and as farr as lawfully I may, I will appose and by all good Ways and Means endeavour to bring to condign Punishment all such as shall, either by Force, Practice, Councels, Plots, Conspiracies, or otherwise, doe any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained: and further, that I shall, in all just and honourable ways, endeavour to preserve the Union and Peace betwixt the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland: and neither for Hope, Feare, nor other Respect, shell relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation.

In total I transcribed eighteen parishes in Eskdale Ward which included: Arthuret, Bewcastle, Brampton, Castle Carrock, Crosby Eden, Cumrew, Cumwhitton, Denton, Farlam, Hayton, Irthington, Kirk Andrews, Kirk Linton, Lanercost, Scaleby, Stanwix, Stapleton, and Walton. I have proofread only Lanercost and it was published in 2010 in The Cumbria Journal. I will post a blog every day for the next eighteen days with the names of the individuals who signed the Protestation Returns in each of the eighteen parishes (there will occasionally be a suffix or an occupation and sometimes there will be the name of a particular property within the parish. If this is helpful to anyone that is great. If you have a query then please leave a comment and I will try to answer. I am only researching the Routledge, Tweddle, Robson  and Bushby families (and primarily Routledge because most of my Routledges married other Routledges. Remember I have only proofread Lanercost and I have adhered to the spelling as shown on the original document. If you think that I have a letter wrong in a name feel free to query it and I will answer as soon as possible.

Surname    Forename    Suffix    Standing    Queries
Cairlill    Lancelett        Mister   
Story    Herbert           
Willson    Andrew           
Dinghillson    Robert           
Morrey    Mathew           
Grahame    George           
Willson    Thomas           
Wright    George           
Wrighte    David           
Blackburne    Herbert           
Wright    David           
Grahame    William           
Grahame    David           
Grahame    William           
Moore    William           
Grahame    Christopher           
Cowbhart    John           
Grahame    Rinie           
Newall    John           
Grahame    Thomas           
Lamb    Fergas           
Lamb    David           
Bell    John           
Sowdon    Allie           
Wh?    John           
Grahame    William           
Bowman    George           
Johnson    Richard           
Glendening    William           
Whitley    Robert           
Grahame    William           
Turner    William           
Turner    William           
Morrey    James           
Grahame    William           
Turner    Christopher           
Lamb    James           
Holidday    John           
Bowman    John           
Edgar    John           
Blair    David           
Lamb    John           
Edgar    Ozie           
Martin    John           
Lattimer    Robert           
Grahame    Symon    the younger       
Stockbrigs    George           
Grahame    Francis           
Robson    James           
Purdoms    George           
Grahame    William           
Johnson    David           
Sinderson    john           
Grahame    John           
Glendening    John           
Glendening    David           
Glendening    George           
Litle    Robert           
Grahame    George           
Tayt    Robert           
Johnson    William           
Bell    John           
Grahame    John           
Tayt    Thomas           
Baylie    David           
Grahame    Symon    the elder       
Newall    William           
Bell    Richard           
Armestrong    Alexander           
Grame    Symon    younger       
Morrey    William           
Baytie    Richard           
Rigg    James           
Urwen    Robert           
Walkin    Abie           
Grahame    Quintin           
Richardson    George           
Richardson    John           
Grahame    Dickye           
Holieday    John           
Usher    Mr. Charles        Constable   
Rae    David        Constable   
Atkinson    William        Constable   
Stockbrigs    John        Churchwarden   
Grahame    Thomas        Churchwarden   
Stockbrigs    Jo:           

Willl of Mary Blake, widow of Reading, National Archives PROB 11/666, Image Reference 12/11, probated 2 Jul 1734

The wills of the Blake family of Berkshire at the PCC in the oldest time period are my next interest. The first of these wills was written by Mary Blake widow and she mentions that her husband was Robert Blake and that they lived at Reading. The will was written 13 May 1733.

 The History and Antiquities of Reading by Charles Coates (St. Laurence's Church) mentions the memorial stone for Mary and her family: Here lyeth the body of Robert Blake, gent. twice mayor of this borough [Reading], who departed this life March 26, 1727, aged 65. Here also lie the bodies of Ann and Mary, daughters of the said Robert and Mary his wife, who departed this life Sept. 21, 1732, aged 24. Here also lieth the body of Mary, the wife of the aforesaid Mr. Robert Blake, who departed this life the 25th day of June, A.D. 1734, aged 65 years. Close by can be found: Here lie the bodies of John and Richard Wilder, late of this parish, 1727. Here lieth the body of Richard Wilder, coach-harness maker, citizen of London, and freeman, late of the parish of St James in the liberty of Westminster, who departed this life the 17th day of December, 1735, aged 47 years. Also John Wilder and Deborah, his father and mother. Also to the memory of William Wilder, who died Dec. 11, 1731. Richard Wilder is mentioned as a brother to Mary Blake, widow in the will below.

Robert Blake was mayor of Reading in 1710 and 1720 and William Wilder was mayor of Reading in 1703 and 1714. Robert's will is the next one to transcribe. He had at least two sisters one married to a Mr. Bird and the other to a Mr. Peach. He is likely the son of John Blake clothier and Burgess of Reading who was Mayor of Reading in 1671 and 1683. John chose not to have his pedigree in the 1665 Visitation of Berkshire. To the best of my knowledge no one has researched the Blake family at Reading. There is a Blake family at Reading into the 1800s appearing on the census there. There are over 140 Blake marriages in Reading between 1837 and 1951 although this amounts to less than one per year. In total 753 Blake marriages in Berkshire for the time period 1837 to 1951. Compare that to Hampshire where 2715 Blake marriages took place in a similar time period. I do wonder if the Blake family in Berkshire is descendant of the Hampshire or Wiltshire Blake family although the first will at the PCC was written in 1552 by William Blake, Yeoman of Speen, Berkshire. Speen being located 15 miles from Andover, Hampshire, 17 miles from Reading, Berkshire and 21 miles from Swindon, Wiltshire. William Blake at Speen is unlikely to be descendant of the Blake family at Andover but I would not cast that in stone as I am still learning about the Blake family there in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 28 Apr 2012
Source:  The National Archives PROB11/666, Image Reference 12/11  (images by me)
Name of testator: Mary Blake, widow of Robert Blake
Place: Reading, Berkshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 13 May 1733, probated 2 Jul 1734
Read: Electronic file
Condition: well formed letters, 18th century, bold copy

[In margin] T  Mary
[In margin] Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    The thirteenth day of May in the year of our Lord God one
3    Thousand seven hundred and Thirty and Three. I Mary Blake of
4    Reading in the County of Berks[hire] the widow and Executrix of the last
5    Will and Testament of my late dear husband Robert Blake late of
6    Reading aforesaid Gent deceased and who am also intituled in Law
    [Page 2]
7    or Equity to the effects and personal estate of my late dear daughters Anne
8    Blake and Mary Blake late of Reading aforesaid Spinsters deceased.
9    Being of sound mind and memory praise be Almighty God therefore
10    doe make and declare my last Will and Testament in manner following
11    my soul I  recommend to God who gave it and my body to the Earth
12    to be decently buried in the Grave where my said two daughters lie,
13    interred, at the discretion of my Executor William Greenaway the
14    Elder of Reading aforesaid, Barge Master (being my particular
15    friend and by me appointed my Executor as hereinafter named)
16    And my desire is that no wine or anything else be drank by my
17    Relations and friends at the time of my burial and as to my Goods
18    Chattels and personal Estate whatsoever whereunto I am or shall be
19    in any wise intituled my will is as followeth Imprimis I do order
20    my Executor to lay out any sume of money (not exceeding in the whole
21    Thirty pounds) on the charge of my Funerall Item I give the sume
22    of five pounds to be paid to the churchwardens and overseers of the
23    parish of St Gyles in Reading aforesaid to be by them distributed
24    within one month next after my death by Twelve pence a peice to
25    one hundred poor widows of the same parish and do also give the
26    like sume of five pounds to the churchwardens and overseers of
27    the parish of St Lawrence in Reading aforesaid to be by them
28    distributed within one month next after my death by twelve pence
29    a peice to one hundred poor widows of the same parish But if
30    there should not be so many poor widows in each parish Then to
31    give so many of the Twelve pnces as in each respective parish shall
32    remain undispossed To such other poor people in each parish as they shall
33    think fit objects of charity Item I do order my said Executor forthwith
34    after my death to deduct and take out of my Effects the sume of Ten
35    pounds which I do hereby give unto him as some recompence for
36    his trouble in the Execution of the Trusts hereby in him reposed The
37    severall sumes aforesaid to be paid without any deduction or abatement
38    whatsoever Item I give to Richard Bird William Bird and Mary Bird Nephews
39    and Neice of my said husband Robert Blake the sume of Twenty
40    pounds a peice Item I give to my kinsman John Peach Nephew
41    to my said late husband the sume of Twenty pounds and also I
42    give unto him the said John Peach my said late husbands Coatch
43    Item I give to my Nephew William Truss one of the sons of my
44    sister Ann Truss the sume of Thirty pounds Item I give to my
45    Nephew Charles Truss one other of the sons of my said sister Ann
46    Truss the sume of thirty pounds Item I give to my Brother
47    Richard Wilder the sume of Sixty pounds Item I give to my said
48    sister Ann Truss Ten pounds Item I give to my sister Sarah Parker
49    the sume of fifty pounds and also all my wearing apparell as
50    well Linnen as Woollen Item I give to my Nephew Jacob
51    Parker son of my said sister Sarah Parker the sume of Twenty
52    pounds Item I give to my Neice Elizabeth Cross daughter of my
53    said Brother Richard the sume of five pounds Item I give to
54    my neice Sarah Smith the wife of William Smith the sume of Ten
55    pounds to be paid unto her by my Executor into her own proper
56    hands and for her own Seperate use exclusive of her said husband
57    and her own receipt for the same shall be a sufficient discharge to
58    my Executor notwithstanding her coverture Item I give to my
    [Page 3]
59    Nephew John Wilder one of the sons of my late Brother John Wilder
60    deceased the sume of Ten pounds Item I give unto my Neice Sarah Wilder
61    one of the daughters of my said late Brother John Wilder the sume of
62    five pounds All and Singular which before mentioned Legacies which I
63    have before given to my Relations my Will is shall be paid with[in] one year
64    next after my death And in case by any unforeseen accidents and deficiency
65    shall happen in my Estate Then my will is that such deficiency shall be
66    born by my said Relations proportionably share and share alike
67    according to their aforesaid respective Legacies And as to the Legacy
68    of Sixty pounds above given to my said Brother Richard Wilder my
69    intent and will is that the same or any part thereof shall not be
70    Subject to the payment of any of the debts now owing by my said
71    Brother Richard but be a provision for buying him bread in his old
72    age and therefore my will is that untill my said Brother Richard shall
73    be sufficiently discharged from all his Creditors That the said sixty
74    pounds (Subject in case of deficiency to the aforesaid deduction) shall
75    remain in the hands of my said Executor for and towards the maintenance
76    of my said Brother Richard And my will is that if my said sister
77    Ann Truss shall die either before me or before her said Legacy shall
78    become payable Then I give her said Legacy of Ten pounds equally
79    to her said Two sons Item all and singular the rest and residue of
80    my Goods Chattels and personall Estate whereof or whereunto I
81    now am or shall be intituled (my debts Legacys Funerall and
82    Testamentary expences and all charges and Expences which shall be
83    Sustained by my Executor paid and discharged) I give devise
84    and bequeath to the said William Greenaway and I do make and
85    ordain the said William Greenaway full and sole Executor of this
86    my last Will and Testament In Trust nevertheless That if after
87    payment and discharge of my debts Legacies Funerall and
88    Testamentary Expences and all charges and expences which shall
89    be sustained by him my said Executor There shall be any overplus
90    of my personal Estate then remaining in his hands Then I do
91    hereby order and appoint and give such ovrplus to my said
92    Brother Richard Wilder and my said sisters Ann Truss and Sarah
93    Parker their respective Executors or Administrators equally share
94    and share alike. But that the share of such overplus as to my
95    said Brother Richard (if any there be) shall be subject to such
96    Restrictions in respett of his overplus thereof as are above men[t]ioned
97    in relation to his said Legacy of sixty pounds Item I do hereby
98    declare that what I have hereby given to my said Relations Is by
99    me meant and intended in full of all claims and demands which
100    they any or either of them my said Relations may have or pretend
101    to have forth of the personal Estates of my said late husband or self or
102    my said daughters or any or either of us and do enjoyn them my
103    said Relations or any of them to give such Releases and Discharges
104    accordingly as my said Executor shall require before payment of their
105    any or either of their respective Legacies which if they or any or
106    either of them refuse to do then the Legacy or Legacies of such of
107    them so respectively refusing shall become void and remain to my
108    said Executor for his own use and benefit And Lastly I do hereby revoke
109    all Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made and do publish and
110    declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I
    [Page 4]
111    have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written
112    Mary Blake. Signed Sealed published and declared by the said
113    Mary Blake (the Testatrix) as and for her last Will and Testament in the
114    presence of us who subscribed our names as witnesses hereto at the request
115    and in the presence of the said Testatrix, Ann House [signed] Eliz: Greenaway [signed]
116    Margarett Cane [signed] Jno Phipps [signed]
117    The Will was proved at London the second day of
118    July in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and thirty four
119    before the worshipfull Edward Rinaston Doctor of Laws and Surrogate
120    to the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor also of Laws
121    aster Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
122    lawfully constituted by the oath of William Greenaway the sole Executor
123    named in the said Will To whom Administration was granted of the Goods
124    Chattels and Credits of the said deceased he being first Sworne duly to
125    Administer

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Irthington - Eskdale Ward Protestation Returns (Cumberland, England)

A few years ago I photographed and transcribed all the Protestation Returns for Eskdale Ward in Cumberland and these records were taken in 1641-42. The history behind these particular statistics follows (http://www.tackbear.co.uk/Protestation%20Returns.htm):

The Protestation Returns relate to the years 1641/42, around the start of the Civil War. The Protestation was an Oath of loyalty to the King, and was originally drawn up and taken by the members of the House of Commons on May 3rd 1641. The following day the Protestant Peers in the House of Lords also swore it.
On July 30th the House of Commons passed a resolution that all who refused the Protestation were unfit to hold office in Church or Commonwealth. The scope was widened so that it should be sworn by all adults over the age of 18.  In practice this meant all men; women were not usually asked to sign.

A letter was sent by the Speaker of the House of Commons to the sheriffs instructing them to take the protestation with the justices of the peace in their county, and then the incumbent of each parish was to read the protestation to his parishioners and they were all to sign. This took place in February and March 1641/2. The Protestation Returns were then sent back to Parliament.

The Oath:
I, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ do, in the presence of Almighty God, promise, vow, and protest to maintain, and defend as farr as lawfully I maye, with my Life, Power and Estate, the true Reformed Protestant religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations, within this Realme, contrary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my Allegiance, His Majesties Royal Person, Honour and Estate, as alsoe the Power and Privileges of Parliament, the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and any person that maketh this Protestation, in whatsoever he shall do in the lawful Pursuance of the same: and to my power, and as farr as lawfully I may, I will appose and by all good Ways and Means endeavour to bring to condign Punishment all such as shall, either by Force, Practice, Councels, Plots, Conspiracies, or otherwise, doe any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained: and further, that I shall, in all just and honourable ways, endeavour to preserve the Union and Peace betwixt the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland: and neither for Hope, Feare, nor other Respect, shell relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation.

In total I transcribed eighteen parishes in Eskdale Ward which included: Arthuret, Bewcastle, Brampton, Castle Carrock, Crosby Eden, Cumrew, Cumwhitton, Denton, Farlam, Hayton, Irthington, Kirk Andrews, Kirk Linton, Lanercost, Scaleby, Stanwix, Stapleton, and Walton. I have proofread only Lanercost and it was published in 2010 in The Cumbria Journal. I will post a blog every day for the next eighteen days with the names of the individuals who signed the Protestation Returns in each of the eighteen parishes (there will occasionally be a suffix or an occupation and sometimes there will be the name of a particular property within the parish. If this is helpful to anyone that is great. If you have a query then please leave a comment and I will try to answer. I am only researching the Routledge, Tweddle, Robson  and Bushby families (and primarily Routledge because most of my Routledges married other Routledges. Remember I have only proofread Lanercost and I have adhered to the spelling as shown on the original document. If you think that I have a letter wrong in a name feel free to query it and I will answer as soon as possible.

Quarter    Surname    Forename    Suffix    Standing
Irthington    Salkeld    Anthony        Clarkson
Irthington    Bulman    James       
Irthington    Bulman    John       
Irthington    Elwood    John       
Irthington    Elwood    George        milner
Irthington    Harding    William       
Irthington    Gibson    Richard       
Irthington    Bulman    John        taylor
Irthington    Salt    John       
Irthington    Lowdon    Edward       
Irthington    Harding    John       
Irthington    Elwood    Richard       
Irthington    Mulcaster    Richard       
Irthington    Elwood    George       
Irthington    Elwood    Martin       
Irthington    Elwood    George    junior   
Irthington    Holme    Henry       
Irthington    Cragill    Richard       
Irthington    Porter    John       
Irthington    Bulman    John       
Irthington    Harding    Christofer       
Irthington    Harding    John       
Irthington    Harding    Richard       
Irthington    Bulman    Thomas       
Irthington    Bulman    Thomas    junior   
Irthington    Grame    William       
Irthington    Burtholme    John       
Irthington    Armestrong    Christofer       
Irthington    Grame    David       
Irthington    Grame    Thomas       
Irthington    Grame    John       
Irthington    Elwood    Leonard       
Irthington    Burtholme    Christofer       
Irthington    Harding    Thomas       
Irthington    Harding    Francis       
Irthington    Mulcaster    Edward       
Irthington    Hetherington    Christofer       
Irthington    Richardson    John Roger       
Newtown     Tully    Symond       
Newtown     Pattison    Richard       
Newtown     Pattison    Francis       
Newtown     Pattison    John       
Newtown     Hetherington    Christofer       
Newtown     Hetherington    George       
Newtown     Hutton    George       
Newtown     Hetherington    George    senior   
Newtown     Barnefather    William       
Newtown     Hetherington    Clement       
Newtown     Peeres    Henry       
Newtown     Bell    William       
Newtown     Hetherington    John       
Newtown     Elwood    Thomas       
Newtown     Elwood    Christofer       
Newtown     Bulman    Edward       
Newtown     Railton    Thomas       
Newtown     Gibson    Thomas       
Newtown     Gibson    Thomas    junior   
Newtown     Hetherington    Richard       
Newtown     Zehr    John       
Newtown     Elwood    George       
Newtown     Harding    Thomas       
Newtown     Harding    Richard       
Newtown     Dalton    Thomas       
Newtown     Allison    George       
Newtown     Zehr    Thomas       
Newtown     Harding    William       
Newtown     Hardinge    George       
Newtown     Elwood    James       
Newtown     Hetherington    Thomas       
Newtown     Elwood    Martin       
Newtown     Elwood    John       
Newtown     Elwood    Edward       
Newtown     Harding    Thomas       
Newby    Dixon    John       
Newby    Burtholme    Anthony       
Newby    Swan    John       
Newby    Blenechasset    John       
Newby    Wanoppe    John       
Newby    Wanoppe    Thomas       
Newby    Watson    Humfrey       
Newby    Lawson    Robert       
Newby    Warwicke    Thomas       
Newby    Swan    Leonard       
Newby    Coxon    Joseph       
Newby    Dalton    John       
Newby    Dalton    James       
Newby    Dalton    John    junior   
Newby    Burtholme    Thomas       
Newby    Watson    John       
Newby    Warwick als Pedsdeale    Pudsdale       
Newby    Dalton    John       
Newby    Watson    George       
Laversdale    Nicholson    Robert       
Laversdale    Nicholson    Edward       
Laversdale    Nicholson    John       
Laversdale    Nicholson    James       
Laversdale    Swan    Leonard    junior   
Laversdale    Nicholson    William       
Laversdale    Hetherington    William    senior   
Laversdale    Hetherington    George       
Laversdale    Hetherington    William    junior   
Laversdale    Bulman    John       
Laversdale    Nicholson    Rowland       
Laversdale    Stabell    John       
Laversdale    Grame    John       
Laversdale    Grame    Robert       
Laversdale    Nicholson    Rowland       
Laversdale    Hetherington    John       
Laversdale    Grame    William       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    John       
Laversdale    Browne    John       
Laversdale    Hardinge    John       
Laversdale    Hetherington    Richard       
Laversdale    Grame    William        high constable
Laversdale    Grame    George       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Mathew       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Edward       
Laversdale    James    Peter       
Laversdale    Grame    George       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Richard       
Laversdale    Bell    Edward       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    John    junior    Sta:
Laversdale    Mulcaster    John        in Dubbe
Laversdale    Mulcaster    George       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    George    junior   
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Christofer    senior   
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Christofer    junior   
Laversdale    Hetherington    John       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Thomas       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Edward       
Laversdale    Bulman    Christofer       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Edward        son of George
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Edward       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Leonard       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    John       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Walter       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    Randell       
Laversdale    Mulcaster    John        In Swotthill
Laversdale    Mulcaster    John    junior   
Laversdale    Taylor    Richard       
Laversdale    Taylor    John       
Laversdale    Warwicke    Thomas       
Laversdale    Hetherington    Thomas        In Cumoerto
Laversdale    Hetherington    Thomas    junior   
Laversdale    Carmor    John       
Laversdale    Warwicke    Joseph       
Laversdale    Reede    Christofer       
Laversdale    Bell    Archibald       
Laversdale    Warwicke    Robert       
Laversdale    Bell    John       
Laversdale    Grame    Thomas       
Laversdale    Uddert    Robert       
Laversdale    Hetherington    William        In Broomhall
Laversdale    Hetherington    George       
    Salkeld    Anthony        Cleric
    Nicholson    Robert        Churchwarden
    Lawson    Robert        Churchwarden
    Bulman    Thomas        Constable
    Elwood    Thomas        Constable
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               


Will of William Blake of Coggs, Oxfordshire, National Archives PROB 11/429, Image Reference 572/686 and 572/687, probated 4 Dec 1695

This William Blake I can fill in his line back to the Wiltshire Blake family from the chart at Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office. He names his siblings making it easy to locate him and the extra information he includes provides a well rounded picture of this Blake line. A real treat for the Blake study would be someone testing yDNA from this line. Because my father was born in England and I can trace his line back a long way I can perhaps better understand why people in England (or even Europe perhaps) feel less inclined to test their DNA than people in Canada and the United States. Americans are particularly into testing their DNA. But for those of us who know our ancestry the incentive to test comes from a desire to know your deep ancestry. How did my line get to Britain following the last ice age? How large a group are they now? Those are the questions that drove my testing my brother and myself to look at the deep ancestry of both our maternal and paternal lines and lately I have tested both of us for Family Finder. I have an amazing number of matches that are American and in many cases have been able to say to people who write that they could be looking at their Ellis family being from Dorset and other such neat items!

However this particular will is about William Blake whose charities left in 1695 funded three schools and helped children in his area to attain a better life. What a marvelous thing he did in leaving such a protected charity to endow these schools forever. In particular he set aside the following estate to be used to fund the schools and even in 1909 when the estate was sold it was still charged with the Blake charity annuities.


Shield Farm Estate (Alvescote)
 (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=2067)
An inclosed estate of some 136 a., chiefly former demesne north of Alvescot village, was sold by Charles Trinder in 1653 to Thomas Hales and his wife Katherine (Ashcombe), evidently reserving 8s. 6d. quitrent. Hales sold the estate in 1658 to John Wheeler of Minster Lovell, who before 1664 built for it a 'fair mansion house', later called Shield or Shill Farm. (fn. 79) In 1671 Wheeler settled both house and estate on his son John, who in 1673 sold them to William Blake of Cogges; Daniel Blake sold them in 1725, charged with charitable annuities, to Simon Harcourt, Viscount Harcourt, whose descendant the Revd William Vernon Harcourt sold them in 1867 to John Nalder of Alvescot. Nalder's executors sold the estate, still charged with the Blake charity annuities, in 1909.


William Blake, by will proved 1695, left a £12 rent-charge on his estates at Alvescot, to pay two schoolmistresses to teach in the schools which he had built at High Cogges and Newland. There was a rent-free house and garden for each mistress, who was to be a protestant and who was to teach reading, the catechism, sewing, and knitting. Each school was to have 12 boys and 12 girls aged 6-9 years. Blake also left £1 10s. a year for the upkeep of the schools, and £5 a year for boys leaving school to be taught writing by a master at Witney; £20 a year was left for buying books and clothing for the schoolchildren. If there were not enough poor children in Cogges and Newland, places could be given to children from neighbouring parishes.


In 1857 the Blake schools trust, which also included a school at Witney, was reorganized. The Witney school was sold and the proceeds devoted to enlarging and improving the school at Newland, which became the main school in the parish, although the High Cogges school continued. In 1860 the Blake schools were vested in the official trustee of charity lands, but the former trustees remained governors; the Newland school received its first government grant in 1862. The salaries of the Witney schoolmistress and of the master who taught the older boys writing were added to the Newland school endowment. There were no more free pupils; children of labourers paid 4s. a year and those of farmers and tradesmen 8s. Clothing was henceforth given only as a reward for good work and conduct. The school was taught by one certificated teacher and had an average attendance of 40.


In 1933 Blake's school at Cogges was reorganized as a junior school with 63 pupils; senior children went to Witney. In 1955 there were 80 children, divided into three classes by screens in the one large room; there was only one other small room and bucket sanitation. A new school was built on the new housing estate south of Cogges village in 1983, when there were 175 children on the register.

Looking at the ancestry of William Blake and he mentions that he was the son of Sir Francis Blake also of Coggs. The chart names him as Francis Blake of Highgate in County Middlesex Esquire 4th son living in 1690 aged 80 years and married to Catherine daughter of Sir Valentine Brown of Crofte in Lincoln County Knight. His second wife was Mary the daughter of Sir Anthony Cope of Hanwell in Oxford County Baronet. The three children mentioned in the will were all children of Catherine (Eleanor Briscoe his sister (married to Elisha Briscoe of London), William (testator) and Sir Francis his brother).
Sir Francis (father of the testator) was fourth son of Thomas Blake and Eleanor Hall whose children included Thomas (eldest son) who married Dorothy Maio, Eleanor who married John Stacy, Robert Blake who married Joane Pyle, Arthur Blake (wife unknown), Francis (4th son above), William married to Margaret Fountain, and Richard married to Elizabeth Bathurst.

Thomas Blake (married to Eleanor Hall) was the son of John Blake and Margaret Blake. At this point I have a problem with the chart which has been produced from the Visitations and other information. I believe that Margaret is the daughter of William Blake and Avice Ripley and John is the son of William Blake and Elizabeth (unknown) and both Williams lived at Eastontown, near Andover Hampshire.
William Blake married to Avice Ripley is said to be a son of Roger Blake and Mary Baynard (Roger does not list him in  his will but then he only mentions his eldest son and youngest daughter) and this couple had seven children.

William Blake married to Elizabeth (unknown) is a son of Nicholas Blake and Margaret (unknown) who lived at Enham. Nicholas left his will in 1547 and William in 1582 naming their children.
Emanuel Blake is a bit of a mystery. Although I do find his marriage to Amey Bellinger 18 Apr 1682 at Saint Olave, Old Jewry, London England and the baptism of their daughter Sarah 4 Mar 1688 Saint Paul Covent Garden, Westminster, London, England. 


Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 26 Apr 2012
Source:  The National Archives PROB 11/429, Image Reference 572/686 and 572/687  (images by me)
Name of testator: William Blake Esquire of Coggs, Oxfordshire
Place: Coggs, Oxfordshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 6 Apr 1693, probated 4 Dec 1695
Read: Electronic file
Condition: well formed letters, 17th century, light copy

[In margin] Tm Willimi
[In margin] Blake

1    In the name of God Amen
2    I William Blake of Coggs in the County of Oxon Esq[ui]re being of good
3    health blessed be God yet upon the account and considera[t]io[n] of my
4    mortallity doe this sixth day of Aprill in the first yeare of the Reigne of
5    William and Mary by the grace of God of England Scotland France and
6    Ireland King and Queen defenders of the Faith e[t]c Anno D[omin]i one thousand six
7    hundred ninety three make this my last Will and Testament in manner and
8    forme following that is to say Imprimis I give and bequeath my Soul unto
9    Almighty God hopeing throughe alone merrits of my blessed Saviour and
10    Redeemer Jesus Christ to obtaine everlasting life and my body to be
11    buryed with all convenient privacy near my sonn in the Church of Coggs
12    aforesaid in the Isle by me paved and repaired and now for the setling of the
13    estate which it hath pleased God farr above my deserts to bestow upon me
14    I doe order give and dispose of the same in manner and forme following that
15    is to say First I will that all those debts and duties which I shall owe in
16    Law right or conscience to any person or persons whatsoever at the time
17    of my decease and my Funeral charges and expences shall be paid within
18    convenient time after my decease by my Executors in trust hereafter in these
19    presents named and appointed. Item I give and bequeath the summe of twenty
20    five pounds to be laid out in gold mourning rings each of them of tenn
21    shillings vallue by my said Executors and by them to be distributed to gentleman
22    of my acquaintance in the neighbourhood of Coggs aforesaid to Rela[t]ions
23    and friends of my acquaintance in the county and in the citty of London and
24    West[minste]r within convenient time after my decease and to such persons as are
25    here in after named to each of them a ring to the vallue men[t]ioned over and
26    above the said five and twenty pounds. Item I will and bequeath the sev[er]all
27    summes next herein alsoe men[t]ioned to the persons hereinafter named to buy
28    them mourning viz [a vi]t to my brother Sir Francis Blake the summe of tenn
29    pounds and to Elizabeth his wife the summe of tenn pounds To my Uncle
30    Mr. William Blake the summe of eight pounds to my cozen Daniell Blake
31    sonn of the said William Blake a ring of twenty shillings vallue to Mr.
32    Emanuell Blake late Woollen Draper the summe of eight pounds and to
33    Amy his wife the summe of eight pounds And I further give and bequeath
34    unto the said Sir Francis Blake for ever the debt oweing me by the Late King
35    Charles the second in the Exchequer being two hundred pounds with the
36    Interest and arreares thereof which shall be due at the time of my decease
37    alsoe the writings of assignes and securitys concerning the said debt now in the
38    hands of my nephew John Biscoe Item I will and bequeath unto my
39    beloved wife Sarah over and above her Jointure or Dower of three hundred
40    and fifty pounds per ann[um] already setled and hereby confirmed by me upon
41    her
    [Page 2]
42    her out of Coggs and the moiety of the Mansion house of Coggs afores[ai]d
43    for and during her naturall life the summe of one hundred pounds to buy
44    her mourning her maid coachman footboy and butler and to other my
45    servants if she thinks fitting and the hangings chaires stooles tables bedds
46    bedding bedstead and screane and other the furniture of the Lodging Chamber
47    over the hall in my said Mansion house at Coggs which shall be as usually
48    there alsoe my small Iapan Cabinet and my Sandall Cabinet and my dressing
49    box my looking glasse and my sonns picture usually being in the said chamber
50    alsoe the bedd bedding beddstead chaire table and Andirons which shall
51    be at the time of decease in the garret chamber over my lodgeing chamber
52    alsoe her wedding ring set with a diamond and one pair of gold brassletts
53    filled with perfume and one gold chain necklace and my small gold watch
54    with a gold studded case and the small gold chain belonging to it together
55    with all her owne and my weareing apparrell whatever and the Trunks and
56    Chists in which they are commonly kept I further give and bequeath to my
57    said wife to the amount of fifty pounds of what ever my other goods and
58    moveables householdstuff and furniture which shall be in my said Mansion
59    house at the time of my decease if my said wife shall desire it such as she
60    shall choose but to noe greater amount. Item I give and bequeath unto the
61    said John Biscoe one hundred and fifty pounds and for the trouble I have
62    given unto  him about my businesse the further summe of one hundred pounds
63    to my nephew Joseph Biscoe one hundred and fifty pounds And to my
64    nephew Francis Biscoe one hundred pounds to be paid to each of them
65    respectively within a yeare after my decease and in case either of them
66    the said Joseph and Francis shall happen to dye before their Legacyes
67    shall be paid then the Legacy of him soe dyeing shall remaine and be
68    to the survivor Item I give and bequeath unto my Neece Elleanor
69    Biscoe besides the one hundred pounds to her already given the summe
70    of one hundred and fifty pounds if soe much by me be not given her in
71    my life time upon marriage and in case of her death before payment thereof
72    then to her issue if any and if she dye without issue before payment thereof
73    then the said Legacy to cease Item I give and bequeath unto my said
74    brother John Bellinger eight pounds to buy mourning Item I give and
75    bequeath unto my Nephew John Harris a ring of twenty shillings vallue
76    Item I give and bequeath unto the children of my said brother Francis
77    Blake and Elizabeth his wife which shall be unmarryed at the time of
78    my decease a bond of five hundred pounds and interest which he owes
79    me on bond alsoe what rent and arreares of rent he shall then owe to
80    me for two estates one of a hundred and fifty pounds per Annum And the
81    other of a hundred and thirty pounds per Annum which he holds of me
82    being in Northumberland or adjacent Countyes as appears by the deeds
83    and writings of rent charge leases or otherwise and what is owed to me from
84    him as men[t]ioned will appear by my books of accompt all which said moneys
85    to be equally divided between them by my said brother at his discre[t]ion
86    Item I give and bequeath unto my said brother Sir Francis Blakes daughter
87    Mary Delavall the summe of fifty pounds to buy her a jeweller peece
88    of plate Item I give to his daughter Elizabeth fifty pounds to buy her
89    a Jewell or peece of plate and to his daughter Sarah fifty pounds
90    And to his daughter Elleanor fifty pounds and to his daughter Katherine
91    and Susannah fifty pounds apeece at their several ages of eighteen yeares
92    or dayes of marriage which first shall happen Item I give to the Minister
93    of Coggs aforesaid being my Chaplain at the time of my decease five
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94    pounds to buy him a mourning gowne and a ring of twenty shillings Item I
95    give to Mr. Henry Cornish tenn pounds to buy him mourning or otherwise
96    Item I give to Mr Ralph Turmball Minister a mourning ring of twenty
97    shillings Item I give and bequeath unto Mr John Wheeler a ring of
98    twenty shillings And I further give unto him the Interest of fifty
99    pounds which shall be owe to me from him at my decease on a bond
100    of a hundred pounds but not the principall being fifty pounds which
101    he owes me on the said bond and what other moneys owe to me as by his
102    accompt in my bookes Item I give and bequeath unto my said wives
103    Rela[t]ions as followeth viz [ a vi]t to her Nephew William Billidge
104    sonn of John Billidge deceased her brother by Susannah his wife
105    the summe of fifty pounds haveing given him at setting up of his trade
106    two hundred pounds and in case of his dyeing before the said fifty poundes
107    be paid then I give the same to his brother if liveing otherwise the same
108    to cease. Item I give and bequeath unto Susannah Billidge the widow
109    of the said John Billidge the summe of tenn pounds and to each and
110    every one of her other childrens children by the said John Billidge the
111    summe of twenty five pounds to be by my said Executors equally
112    distributed and paid to them And in case they dye before the same
113    become payable then the same to cease Item I give and bequeath unto
114    Ministers of my acquaintance such as I releived in my life time and to
115    other distressed parsons in the County of Oxon and in and about the
116    cittyes of London and Westminster the summe of fifty pounds to be by
117    my said Executors given and distributed amongst them according to the
118    discre[t]ion of my Executors Item I give and bequeath unto poor widows
119    and Orphans and other distressed people such as I in my life time
120    releived and others in and about the cittyes of London and
121    Westminster the summe of fifty pounds to be by my said Executors
122    given and distributed amongst them according to the discre[t]ion of my
123    said Executors Item I give and bequeath unto the poor of the Towne
124    and Parish of Witny in the said County of Oxon the summe of twenty
125    pounds to be distrubuted as aforesaid Item I give unto my wife the
126    summe of fifty pounds if liveing at the time of my decease if otherwise
127    unto my Executors in trust for Joanna Hersington for her personall
128    use and dispose and for separate maintenance soe that her husband
129    may not have power to dispose of any part thereof from her and whom
130    I desire my wife to take care of and if the said Joanna dye before the
131    said Legacy be nowe payable then I give the said fifty pounds
132    to my said wife Item I give and bequeath unto Anne Adams the summe
133    of twenty pounds if living otherwise to cease Item I give and bequeath
134    unto Elizabeth Smart formerly my maid servant twenty and five pounds
135    Item I give and bequeath unto my servants which shall be at the time
136    of my decease imployed in the severall offices the severall Legacyes
137    following viz[ a vi]t To my Bayliff or cheife husbandman twenty and
138    five pounds if he gives in a just amount of his trust And what he
139    managed to my Butler five pounds to my groome fifty shillings
140    to the Coachman fifty shillings to the boy that worketh with him
141    tenn shillings to the Gardiner fifty shillings to the shephard fifty
142    shillings to the Carter thirty shillings to the under Shephard tenn
143    shillings to the boy that doth attend upon my person at the time of
144    my decease fifteen pounds to put him out to a trade and fit him with
145    cloathes and necessaryes Item I give and bequeath unto my women
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146    servants which shall be at the time of my decease as followeth
147    to the cheife maid Mary Freeman fifty pounds And I give to my said
148    wife fifty pounds to be paid to the said Mary Freeman provided she
149    continue servant to my said wife dureing her life she not departing
150    from my wives service without licence in writing under my wives
151    hand and then to have the said last men[t]ioned fifty pounds To the
152    middle maid three pounds to the coock maid fifty shillings to the
153    dairy maid thirty shillings to the under maid twenty shillings to the
154    garden weeding woman tenn shillings Item I give and bequeath unto
155    the Bayliffs and Churchwardens of the town of Witny aforesaid for
156    the time being for the use and benefit of the Towne the striking clock
157    with hand dyalls which I have caused to be set up and fixed on the
158    Market house of Witney aforesaid I alsoe give thirty shillings yearely forever
159    unto the said Bailliffs and Churchwardens towards the keeping and
160    repaireing of the said Clock and Clockhouse one half of the said summe
161    to be paid at Michaelmas the other at Lady Day and the paym[en]ts
162    to beginn at such of the said Feast dayes as shall first happen after
163    my decease And I appoint that the said summe of thirty shillings be paid
164    yearely according to the Feasts aforesaid by the Owners of my said
165    house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being to the said Bayliffs
166    and Churchwardens of Whitny for the time being to be by them
167    paid out for the aforesaid use of the clock dialls and clockhouse as
168    aforesaid unto the person or persons that shall look after them and
169    keep them in order goeing and repaired and for noe other use
170    purpose whatsoever Item I will and appoint to be paid by the
171    owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being
172    twenty shillings yearely and forever for and towards the keeping
173    in repair and beautifying of my owne my wives and of my deceased
174    sons monument erected in the said Church of Coggs alsoe the
175    wainscote curtaine to the said Monument And that Isle in which
176    the said Monument stands the said twenty shillings to be by them
177    laid out and disposed for the aforesaid use of the Monument Curtaine and
178    Isle aforesaid when there shall be occasion for any of the said
179    repairs otherwise to remaine in their hands until there be
180    occasion and for noe other use whatsoever Item I will and
181    appoint to be paid to the Minister of the said Church of Coggs and
182    his successors fifteen shillings yearely for ever And I will the same
183    be paid in manner aforesaid by the owners of my said house and
184    Mannor Coggs for the time being upon every new years day
185    provided the said Minister for the time being that day in the morning
186    or afternoon preach a sermon in the Church makeing it his subject
187    to exhort his hearers to consider their latter end or some such life
188    exhorta[t]ions And in case any New Years Day shall happen to be the
189    Lords day then such preaching to be in the afternoon and in case he
190    neglect to preach at the same time then I give the said fifteen
191    shillings to the poor of Coggs and Newland to be distributed amongst
192    them in bread by the Churchwardens of Coggs aforesaid for the time
193    being Item I give and bequeath tenn shillings yearely forever to be
194    paid by the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the
195    time being unto the Churchwardens of Coggs aforesaid for the time being
196    to be laid out by them in bread and to be distributed to the poor of
197    Coggs and Newland aforesaid at the discre[t]ion of the said Churchwardens
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198    at the said Church to such of them as shall come to heare and be
199    present at the said sermon which shall be preached on the said yearely
200    day Item I give and bequeath for the benefit of poor protestant
201    children males and females borne in the said parish of Coggs Newland
202    and Witney as followeth To the School Mistresse of High Coggs for the
203    time being who shall be a protestant and from time to time be nominated
204    by the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being
205    and by them to be paid to her the summe of six pounds yearely for ever
206    by two half yearely payments and at the two most usuall Feast dayes
207    Mich[elm]as and our Lady Day the first payment thereof to begin and to
208    be made on the first of the said Feasts which shall happen come
209    and be next after my decease for teaching to read and instructing
210    in learning and in a protestant catechisme the number
211    of four and twenty poor children of Coggs and Newland aforesaid And if
212    there shall be wanting children in Coggs and Newland aforesaid
213    to make up that number then to be supplyed from adjacent Towns
214    and alsoe to teach the females of them plaine work and to knit Item I
215    give and bequeath unto the School Mistresse of Newland for the time
216    being who shall be a protestant and alsoe be nominated by the owners
217    of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being the like summe
218    of six pounds yearely and for ever and by them to be paid to her by two
219    half yearely payments and at the most usuall Feasts dayes in manner as
220    aforesaid for the teaching to read and instructing in learning and a
221    protestant catechisme the number of four and twenty poore
222    children of Newland and Coggs aforesaid and if there shall be wanting
223    in Newland and Coggs children to make up that number then to be
224    supplyed from Witney and adjacent Townes and alsoe to teach the
225    Females of them plaine worke and to knit Item I give and bequeath
226    to the schoolmistress of Witney aforesaid for the time being who alsoe
227    shall be a protestant and nominated by the owners of my said
228    house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being the like summe of six
229    pounds yearely and for ever to be paid to her by two half yearely
230    payments in manner as aforesaid by the owners of my said house and
231    Mannor of Coggs for the time being for teaching to read and
232    instructing in learning and in a protestant Catechism the number
233    of thirty poor children of Witney and adjacent Townes males and
234    females and alsoe to teach the Females of their plaine worke and to
235    knit all which children shall be nominated from time to time by the
236    owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being
237    Item I give and bequeath five pounds per Ann[um] for ever to be paid by
238    two half yearely payments on the aforesaid Feast days by the owners
239    of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being in manner as
240     aforesaid to a writing Master for teaching a reasonable number of
241    men children to write and to cyphr soe farr as is convenient to fit
242    boys for trades and to perfect them in reading and in the protestant
243    catechisme which children shall be appointed and chosen by the owners
244    of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being and be by them taken
245    and still supplyed anew as any boy or boys shall goe off either out of the said
246    schooles of High Coggs and Newland fitting to learn to write such as have
247    well first learned to read in the bible by the said school mistresses
248    and if there shall be wanting boyes then the said number of boyes by the
249    owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being to be
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250    supplyed and made up from time to time from and out of the aforesaid
251    parish of Witney and adjacent Townes such whose parents are poor and
252    indigent all which said children male and Female for the preferring of them
253    to learning as aforesaid and the writing Master and Schoolmistresses are
254    to have the approba[t]ion of and to be nominated from time to time by the
255    owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being and not
256    otherwise to be admitted to any of the places aforesaid and the said
257    children at their entrance to be taught by the said school mistresses
258    as aforesaid are to be of or about the age of six yeares and shall and
259    may continue to be instructed as aforesaid until they be and have
260    accomplished the age of nine yeares and noe longer or until they have
261    read the Bible twice which shall first happen and as any of them the
262    said children taught by the said writing Master or school mistresses
263    shall happen to dye or be removed their rooms and places shall
264    successively be supplyed by the owners of my said house and Mannor
265    of Coggs for the time being againe out of the aforemen[t]ioned Townes
266    to compleate the said number of them as before appointed And I
267    further give and bequeath the summe of twenty pounds per Annum
268    for ever at the Feast dayes and in manner as aforesaid to be laid
269    out by the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time
270    being to buy some of the poorer sort of the said Children of Coggs
271    and Newland aforesaid to be distributed at their discre[t]ion and not
272    the children of Witney and Townes adjacent yearely and every
273    yeare gownes or cloathes all of a colour and alsoe to buy them
274    catechises primmers Testaments Bibles and other protestant bookes
275    and what of the said twenty pounds shall be in their hands not soe laid
276    out yearely shall be towards buying of cloathes for such of the said
277    children as shall be put out to prentice Trades or services at the
278    discre[t]ion of the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs as
279    aforesaid And further I give and bequeath the summe of seven pounds
280    and sixteen shillings per Ann[um] for ever to buy bread yearely and every
281    yeare to be distributed and given by the Churchwardens or Overseers of
282    Coggs aforesaid for the time being to such poor people of Coggs and
283    Newland aforesaid as the owners of my said House and Mannor of Coggs for
284    the time being shall think fit and approve off an equall propor[t]ion of the said
285    seven pounds and sixteen shillings to be distributed on every Lords day in
286    the yeare to the said poor which shall be at the heareing of the sermon
287    which shall be preached by a protestant minister at Coggs Church aforesaid
288    Item I give and bequeath the schoolhouse which I have built in Coggs
289    aforesaid with the garden and the appurten[an]ces thereunto belonging shall
290    forever remaine and be for the use of the aforesaid school mstresses
291    for the time being to dwell in rent free and without paying any Fine
292    at Entrance to teach and instruct the said children in Coggs aforesaid
293    according to the direc[t]io[n] aforesaid I further will give and bequeath that
294    the schoolhouse I have built in Newland aforesaid with the garden and
295    other the appurtenances thereunto belonging shall for ever remaine and
296    be for the use of the aforesaid schoolmistresse for the time being to dwell
297    in there rent free and without paying any Fine to teach and instruct the said
298    children in Newland aforesaid according to the direc[t]io[n] aforesaid. Item
299    I give and bequeath the schoolhouse of Witney by me built with the garden and
300    other appurtenances thereunto belonging shall for ever remaine and be for
301    the use of the school mistresse for the time being to dwell in rent free and
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302    without paying fine to teach and instruct children in Witney aforesaid
303    according to the direc[t]io[n] aforesaid I further appoint the said Schoolmistresses if
304    single women otherwise their husbands each of them to give bond in a reasonable
305    penalty for the owners of my house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being that
306    he or she respectively shall and will quietly goe out and leave the said
307    school house or houses when he or she or they respectively shall be required
308    thereunto by the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the
309    time being in writing under their hand or hands whom I desire may be
310    removed upon any misdemeanor of the said school mistresses respectively
311    refuseing to teach the children as aforemen[t]ioned or by takeing in a greater
312    number of children to teach than before men[t]ioned without the approba[t]ion
313    of the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being or
314    any other misdeamenor to the prejudice of the said childrens learning
315    And in such cases I appoint the owners of my said house and Mannor of
316    Coggs for the time being to nominate and put in others in his her and their
317    places who shall be removed for the foremen[t]ioned uses of teaching children
318    Item I give and bequeath the summe of thirty shillings per Ann[um] for ever to
319    be paid by the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the time
320    being at the said Feast dayes and in manner as aforesaid if occasion shall
321    require it for and towards the repaireing and rebuilding as occasion shall
322    happen by Fire or other accidentall causes of the said schoolhouses of
323    Coggs Newland and Witney otherwise to remaine in their hands for the said
324    use or uses when it shall be requisite to be disbursed and for noe
325    other use whatsoever Item I give and devise to the owners of my said
326    house and Mannor of Coggs for the time being the Master of the Freeschool
327    of Witney aforesaid for the time being John Collier of Witney aforesaid
328    cloathier Richard Broom of Witney aforesaid Mercer and Edward Moulden
329    of Witney aforesaid Ironmonger and their heires and to the heires of the
330    survivor of them all my Lands tenements and hereditaments in Alscot al[ia]s
331    Alvescot in the said county of Oxon to the uses intents and purposes hereafter
332    in this my Will men[t]ioned that is to say in trust for the due payment of
333    the said severall and respective summes before men[t]ioned of thirty shillings
334    twenty shillings fifteen shillings tenn shillings six pounds six pounds six
335    pounds five pounds twenty pounds seven pounds sixteen shillings thirty
336    shillings and tenn pounds per Ann[um] for ever out of the yearely profits of
337    the premisses in Alvescot unto the owners of my said house and Mannor
338    of Coggs for the time being for the severall and respective uses and beheeses
339    aforesaid and not otherwise And I further will and ordaine that my said
340    Trustees or Feofees last before named and the Major part of them their
341    heires and Assignes for ever shall from time to time let and set all my estate
342    and liveing in Alvescot aforesaid unto some able Tenant or Tenants
343    paying a certaine yearely rent or rents according to the true and then
344    reall vallue and worth thereof which they shall soe let or set by Lease
345    not exceeding one and twenty yeares without committing any wast or
346    takeing any Fine And I will and ordaine that they the said Trustees or
347    Feoffees their heires and Assignes out of the said yearely rent or rents
348    shall pay or cause to be paid Annually for ever the aforesaid yearely summes
349    of thirty shillings twenty shillings fifteen shillings tenn shillings six
350    pounds six pounds six pounds five pounds twenty pounds seven
351    pounds sixteen shillings thirty shillings and tenn pounds at the severall
352    and respective times of payment where at the said severall yearely
353    summes are to be paid as before directed every yeare as is
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354    before and after men[t]ioned unto the owners of my said house and Mannor
355    of Coggs aforesaid for the time being for ever to be by him her and them
356    paid and disposed at the times and for the uses and beheeses before
357    men[t]ioned and not otherwise And I further will and ordaine that the
358    overplus of moneys or what shall be remaineing of all the said rent rents
359    and profits of the said premisses in Alvescott shall be paid by my said
360    Trustees or Feefoes their heires and Assignes at the two most usuall Feasts
361    in every yeare viz [a vi]t the Feast of the Annuncia[t]io[n] of the blessed Lady St Mary
362    the virgin and Michaell the Archangell or within one and twenty dayes
363    next after each of the said Feasts unto the owners of my said house and
364    Mannor of Coggs for the time being successively for ever to whom I give
365    the said overplus yearely and forever the first payment thereof to begin
366    and to be made on the first of the said Feasts which shall happen after my
367    decease in confidence - that the owners of my said house and Mannor of
368    Coggs for the time being shall accept of and performe the trusts reposed
369    in them by this my Will and not otherwise And further provided that
370    the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs aforesaid doe not
371    demand take or receive any Fine rent or other payment from the said
372    schoolmistresses or their husbands or any of them of Coggs and Newland
373    or give them any disturbance concerning the title of the said school houses
374    And I further will and ordaine that my said Trustees or Feoffees their
375    heires and Assignes shall first pay and defalt unto themselves out of the
376    said rent or profitts of Alvescot aforesaid what reasonable charge they
377    any or either of them shall sustaine at any time or times in or about
378    the premisses or trusts reposed in them as aforesaid and after that they
379    pay and defalt unto themselves out of the said rent rents or profits
380    annually and every yeare twenty five shillings for the charge of a
381    meeting dinner at some place and time by them agreed on in and about
382    their said Trust Item I will that the owners of my said house and Mannor
383    of Coggs for the time being shall have and enjoy the use only and not
384    the property of all my sonns Francis bookes and other bookes of mine
385    which are men[t]ioned in a schedule hanging up in the studdy within the
386    withdrawing room of my Mansion house in Coggs aforesaid and alsoe
387    the use of the Globes and a large mapp in the said studdy And I further
388    will and direct that the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs
389    for the time being and my said wife dureing her naturall life shall have
390    and enjoy only the use but not the property of the furniture in the
391    great parlour and withdrawing room in my said Mansion house
392    of Coggs (viz [a vi]t) of the pictures of Sir Francis Blake my Father and of
393    the said Sarah my wife and of the said Francis my sonn and of Elleanor
394    my sister and my owne and other pictures hanging in the said great
395    parlour with the chaires Tables carpets Andirons and two large
396    Looking Glasses usually being there and in the withdrawing roome
397    and alsoe of the Furniture in the little parlour in my said Mansion
398    house (viz [a vi]t) the lookeing glass chaires Tables and Watch clock
399    usually being there and alsoe the China Wares pictures chaires
400    cushions a small silver carpet Tables which are usually in my
401    wives Closset over the hall and little parlour of Coggs aforesaid
402    All which bookes goods and things last men[t]ioned I give and devise
403    unto my said Executors and to the Executors and Administrators of
404    the survivor of them in trust for the owners of my said house and
405    Mannor of Coggs for the time being and which I desire should and
    [Page 9]
406    doe will and appoint to goe along and be enjoyed with my said
407    house for ever or soe long as may be and not to be sold disposed
408    off or moved out of the said Mansion house of Coggs but belong
409    and be annexed thereunto into whose hands soever the same shall
410    descend and come And I desire and appoint my said Executors
411    in trust to take an Inventory and make a duplicate there of of all
412    the before men[t]ioned goods which are to goe along with the
413    Inheritance of my Mansion house one part thereof to be hanged
414    up in the said studdy in my said house of Coggs and the other
415    part thereof to be kept by my said Executors in trust and by the
416    Executors and Administrators of the survivor of them to the use
417    interest and purpose aforesaid Item I will and bequeath to my said
418    wife my diamond Jewell called a Claspe being of three peices
419    which she usually wore with a gowne and Mantoe and all other
420    my rings plate pearle and Jewells Item I give and bequeath
421    unto the said John Biscoe whom I hereby appoint one of my
422    Executors in trust the summe of fifty pounds provided he accept
423    the trust and not otherwise Item I give and bequeath unto Mr
424    Peter Storer a ring of tenn shillings Item I give and bequeath
425    unto my cozen Joseph Biscoe a ring of tenn shillings Item I give
426    and bequeath unto my Chaplin for the time being  tenn pounds to
427    buy him a mourning or otherwise desireing him to make the
428    Inscrip[t]ion of mine and my wifes Tombstones and alsoe desire
429    him to preach my Funerall sermon in Coggs Church aforesaid
430    Item I give to my said wife my Chariot or Coach and my two
431    best horses or mares with their harnesse and other things
432    belonging to them which I shall have at the time of my decease
433    Item I give my owne rideing gelding with the saddle and
434    furniture which I shall have at the time of my decease unto
435    my said brother Sir Francis Blake Item I give and bequeath unto
436    my said brother Sir Francis Blake my silver hilted sword and
437    a jewell of diamond and other precious Stones which I did usually
438    wear on my left arme a silver hilted sword that was my
439    sonns sword alsoe my Silver Watch Item I will and appoint
440    to be paid to the Minister of Coggs aforesaid for the time being
441    yearely and for ever tenn pounds at the said two usuall Feasts
442    aforesaid by equall por[t]ions or within one and twenty dayes
443    by the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for the
444    time being which I have hereby charged out of my Landes of
445    Alvescot the first payment thereof to begin and to be made on
446    the first of the said Feasts which shall happen to come and be
447    next after my decease provided the said Minister doe in a
448    protestant catechisme catechise the children of Coggs and
449    Newland Schools aforesaid on every Lords day in the afternoon
450    dureing the time of Lent alsoe the children and young people
451    of the said Townes and expound the same and Catechise as
452    aforesaid on the first Lords day in every moneth in the afternoon
453    yearely and forever except in time of Lent and alsoe shall
454    preach a sermon or give some short exhorta[t]ions at the times
455    before men[t]ioned and in case he shall omit to catechise expound
456    and preach or exhort at the times men[t]ioned then I will and
457    appoint for every such neglect the owners of my said house and
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458    Mannor of Coggs for the time being keep and retain tenn shillings
459    out of the said half yearely payments and the moneys to be by them
460    distributed to the poor of Coggs and Newland aforesaid And I will
461    and desire the said Minister of Coggs for the time being may be
462    nominated by the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for
463    the time being for ever And I will and ordaine that my said Executors
464    in trust shall pay all my debts Legacyes and other payments due
465    from me at my decease out of my ready moneys and out of what
466    moneys shall be oweing me for arreares of rent not herein disposed
467    or upon any bonds or other securityes except what is before or
468    hereafter given which I will and appoint my said Executors in trust to
469    call in and in case the same shall not suffice then to make sale of
470    soe much of my corne hay and cattell at Coggs and else where that
471    is to say of corne hay cattle great and small horses beasts sheep
472    and Implements of husbandry not otherwise given away as before
473    or hereafter in this my Will as shall be necessary or wanting for
474    the paying and dischargeing of my said debts Legacyes and other
475    payments and that out of the said ready moneye and moneys which
476    shall be raised by arreares of rent and by moneys due upon Bond
477    or other securityes if need be and not otherwise by the said sales
478    of the said corne hay cattle and other particular things last men[t]ioned
479    as aforesaid Then my said Executors in trust shall pay or cause to be
480    paid out of the said last men[t]ioned particulars all my debts and the
481    severall giufts and Legacyes given and bequeathed by this my Will
482    within one yeare after my decease and to continue paying the same
483    as moneys shall come to their hands And I further will and ordaine
484    that the overplus if any of what moneys shall be remaineing and
485    raised by my said Executors in trust as before men[t]ioned and appointed
486    shall be paid within six monethes next after my decease unto my said
487    wife if liveing otherwise to my said brother Sir Francis Blakes
488    daughters and their heires for ever and what household stuff not
489    given away as before and Inventory thereof I will and desire my
490    Executors in trust to take and keep and for the said household stuff
491    my wife shall have only the use thereof dureing her naturall life
492    and after her decease I devise the same to my said brother Sir Francis
493    Blake and in case he dye before my said wife then I intend and
494    devise the same to be sold by my said Executors in trust and to be
495    by them disposed of amongst the children then unmarryed of my brother
496    Sir Francis Blake equally to be devided betweene them when they shall
497    attaine the age of eighteen yeares or dayes of marriage which shall first
498    happen and in case any of them shall dye before the same become
499    payable then to the survivor and survivors of them and for my said corne
500    hay cattle and other particular things last men[t]ioned which shall remaine
501    unsold after my debts and Legacyes paid as before men[t]ioned the same
502    shall be to the use of my brother Sir Francis Blake if then liveing
503    to whom I intend and doe hereby devise the same and in case my said
504    brother Sir Francis Blake dye before me then I will my said Executors
505    in trust shall make sale of the stock as corne hay cattle great and
506    small and other particular things last men[t]ioned and that the moneys soe
507    raised shall by them be given and disposed to the children of the said
508    Sir Francis Blake which shall be then unmarryed equally to be divided
509    as before to the survivor and survivors of them And whereas my said
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510    brother Sir Francis Blake hath by good assurances in the Law
511    conveyed and secured unto me and my heires by and out of his Lands
512    lying in Ford Towne Ford Castle or place adjacent in the county of
513    Northumberland or else where the yearely rent or summes of one
514    hundred and fifty pounds per Ann[um] and one hundred and thirty pounds
515    per Annum I give and bequeath the same unto the said John Collier and
516    Edward Moulden and their heires for ever to the use of them and their
517    heires for ever In trust that they the said John Collier and Edward Moulden
518    and the survivor of them and the heires of the survivor by sale of the same
519    or otherwise shall pay or cause to be paid the summes of money
520    following that is to say unto John Haselwood of the University of
521    Oxon Apothecary his Executors and Administrators the summe of five
522    hundred and twelve pounds and tenn shillings of currant English
523    money and unto Benjamine Cooper of the said University of Oxon
524    gent his Executors and Assignes two hundred and five pounds unto
525    Nathaniell Drew of the Citty of Oxon Innholder his Executors or
526    Assigns the summe of two hundred and five pounds and unto James
527    Hamner of the said University of Oxon Batchelor in Divinity his
528    Executors and Assignes the summe of one hundred and two pounds
529    and tenn shillings for which said severall summes last men[t]ioned I
530    stand bound with my said brother Sir Francis Blake being his proper
531    debts in four severall Bonds or Obliga[t]ions to the said four last
532    men[t]ioned persons or to any other and to save me and my said Executors
533    harmless from the said severall debts he hath given me four severall
534    counterbonds And further in case I am bound with him to any other
535    person or person for his proper debtor debts that then I will that the said
536    Lands of one hundred and fifty pounds per Annum and one hundred
537    and thirty pounds per Annum shall stand charged for the payment
538    of all such summe and summes of money whatsoever wherein I
539    stand bound as his Security And alsoe I doe hereby will and devise
540    unto the said Emanuel Blake and his Assignes out of the last
541    men[t]ioned Lands and Rents soe devised to the said John Collier
542    and Edward Moulden and their heires during his naturall life
543    thirty and five pounds per Ann[um] by two half yearely payments that is
544    to say at the Feast of the Annuncia[t]ion of the blessed Lady St Mary
545    the virgin and St Michaell the Archangell the first payment thereof to begin
546    and to be made on the first of the said Feasts which shall happen
547    come and be next after my decease And alsoe to Amy his wife and
548    her Assignes fifty pounds per Ann[um] in like manner at the Feasts
549    aforesaid dureing the life of the said Emanuell her husband for the
550    separate maintenance of the said Amy and Sarah her daughter
551    and the acquittance of her the said Amy or her Assignes shall be
552    a sufficient discharge to my said Trustees and Feoffees and their heires
553    upon such payment and not otherwise soe that the said Emanuel may
554    not have power to dispose of any part thereof and after the death of
555    the said Emanuell then the said fifty pounds to cease Alsoe I further
556    will and appoint that my said Trustees or Feofees and their heires
557    after the decease of the said Emanuell doe out of the said Lands
558    and rents pay or raise to be paid unto the said Amy untill her said
559    daughter Sarah attaines the age of one and twenty yeares dayes of
560    marriage or death which shall first happen the summe of eighty
561    pounds per Annum in like manner at the Feasts aforesaid in confidence
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562    that she the said Amy will take care to educate and breed up the said Sarah
563    her daughter untill she attaine the said age of one and twenty yeares or be
564    marryed and then after the said Sarah shall accomplish her said age of
565    one and twenty yeares be marryed or dye then the said eighty pounds
566    p[er] Annum to cease and then after to pay fifty pounds per Annum to the
567    said Amy dureing her life at the said Feasts and in manner as aforesaid
568    and I will that the said thirty five pounds per Annum to the said Emanuel
569    and the said fifty pounds per Annum to the said Amy dureing the life
570    of the said Emanuell and the said eighty pounds per Annum to the
571    said Amy after the death of the said Emanuel untill the said Sarah
572    shall attaine the age of one and twenty yeares be marryed or dye
573    which shall first happen and the said fifty pounds per Annum to the
574    said Amy dureing her life be paid by my said Trustees or Feofees
575    and their heires yearely in manner as aforesaid the first payment thereof
576    to begin and to be made on the first of the said Feasts which shall
577    happen come and be next after my decease And I further give and
578    bequeath out of the said Lands and rents to the said Sarah daughter of the
579    said Emanuell and Amy the summe of five hundred pounds to be
580    paid unto her at the age of one and twenty yeares or day of
581    marriage which shall first happen And in case the said Sarah dye
582    before the age of one and twenty yeares and not marryed then the
583    said Legacy of five hundred pounds to cease And I further give
584    and bequeath out of the said Lands and rents unto the said Sarah
585    Blake daughter of the said Sir Francis Blake the summe of three
586    hundred pounds to be paid unto her within a yeare after my decease
587    To the said Elizabeth Blake daughter of the said Sir Francis Blake
588    the summe of one thousand pounds to be paid her at the age of one
589    and twenty yeares or day of marriage which shall first happen And
590    to the said Susannah Blake daughter of the said Sir Francis Blake
591    the summe of two hundred pounds to be paid her at the age of one
592    and twenty yeares or day of marriage which shall first happen And
593    to the said Katherine Blake youngest daughter of the said Sir Francis
594    Blake the summe of three hundred pounds to be paid unto her
595    at the age of one and twenty yeares or day of marriage which
596    shall first happen And my will further is that the said yearely rents
597    of one hundred and fifty pounds per Annum and one hundred and
598    thirty pounds per Annum shall stand charged for the sure payment
599    for the said thirty five pounds per Annum to the said Emanuell
600    dureing his life and of fifty pounds per Annum to the said Amy
601    dureing the life of the said Emanuell and after his death then of the
602    said eighty pounds per Annum to the said Amy as aforesaid And
603    of the said fifty pounds per Annum to the said Amy dureing her life
604    as aforesaid and of the said five hundred pounds to the said Sarah
605    and of the said severall summes given as aforesaid unto the said Sarah
606    Elizabeth Susannah and Katherine daughters of the said Sir Francis
607    Blake and for what other moneys I stand bound with him as his Surety
608    and as before recited And I alsoe further will and appoint that all
609    the writings and securityes to me made or to be made by my said
610    brother Sir Francis Blake for the said one hundred and fifty
611    pounds and one hundred and thirty pounds per Annum shall
612    remaine and be in the hands and power of my said Trustees or
613    Feofees and their heires untill the said severall summes of money
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614    wherein I am bound as surety for the said Sir Francis Blake and
615    the Annuall payments to the said Emanuell and Amy and the said
616    summe of five hundred pounds to the said Sarah and alsoe of
617    the said severall summes given unto the said Sarah Elizabeth
618    Susanna and Katherine daughters of the said Sir Francis Blake
619    as aforesaid shall be paid and satisfyed and when the said severall
620    and respective summes of money before men[t]ioned and wherein
621    I stand bound with him shall be fully paid and satisfyed Then I
622    doe hereby give the residue of the trust of the said Lands and
623    yearely rents of one hundred and fifty pounds and one hundred
624    and thirty pounds per Annum unto my neeces Sarah Elizabeth
625    Susannah and Katherine daughters of the said Sir Francis Blake
626    and their heires they first giveing sufficient discharges unto my
627    said Trustees and the survivor of them and his heires Then I will
628    and appoint my said Trustees or Feofees and their heires to deliver
629    or cause to delivered up unto the said Sarah Elizabeth Susannah
630    and Katherine and their heires all the said writings and securityes
631    touching and concerning the said one hundred and fifty pounds and
632    one hundred and thirty pounds per Annum And I nominate and
633    appoint my said wife the said Joseph Biscoe the said John Biscoe
634    and the said Richard Broome Executors of this my last will and
635    Testament in trust for the uses and purposes aforesaid and not
636    otherwise And whereas I have given twenty pounds yearely before
637    in this my Will to the poor children of Coggs and Newland to
638    be by the owners of my said house disposed of as before men[t]ioned
639    my will and desire is that out of the said twenty pounds yearely
640    they cloath yearely and every yeare at St Thomas day the
641    number of six boyes and six girles and noe more soe long
642    as they stay and continues at school and when any of them goe
643    out then their places or Roomes be supplyed and filled up
644    with other children then at school at the elec[t]ion of the owners
645    of my said Mansion house and Mannor of Coggs for the time
646    being And I will that the said children be the poorest of them
647    as shall be then at my schooles in Coggs and Newland and to
648    such as are borne in the said Townes and not otherwise as followeth
649    to each boy a Gowne and other necessaryes for cloathing not
650    exceeding fifteen shillings To each Girle a Gowne and other
651    necessaryes not exceeding thirteen shillings and four pence and
652    what shall be remaineing of the said twenty pounds yearely shall
653    be by the owners of my said house and Mannor of Coggs for
654    the time being laid out and disposed of for buying bookes and
655    other things as before men[t]ioned Item I give and bequeath unto
656    the said Richard Broome fifty pounds and a mourning ring
657    of twenty shillings provided he accept of the trust as Executor
658    first and not otherwise and to the said John Collier Edward
659    Moulden and the said School Master and each of them mourning
660    Rings of twenty shillings And I further desire and appoint my
661    said wife at the time of her death to give and leave unto my said
662    brother Sir Francis Blakes children as she shall think meet
663    all my East India and Outlandish plate and alsoe some of my
664    Jewells which I have given her as aforesaid and what other of my
665    plate Jewells and household stuff given to her some part thereof
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666    To be given to her and my Rela[t]ions as she shall think fit Item I give and
667    bequeath unto Henry Godfrey of Burford in the said County of Oxon gent the
668    summe of five pounds and a mourning ring of tenn shillings And lastly my
669    will and mind is in case any or either of the persons before named in
670    this my Will she dye in my life time whereby the Legacyes and bequests
671    intended then shall become voyd and declared then to cease or
672    otherwise shall become voyd that then in such case whatsoever is hereby
673    willed devised or intended to or for the person or persons soe dying
674    and not otherwise disposed as aforesaid shall be and is hereby
675    devised to the children of the said Sir Francis Blake for ever
676    equally to be divided between them and to whom alsoe I devise all
677    the residue of my personall estate herein quitted to be men[t]ioned
678    and not otherwise devised as aforesaid And I doe hereby revoke all
679    former Wills by me made heretofore and this only to be taken for
680    my Last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto
681    Set my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written William
682    Blake Signed Sealed published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the said William Blake after the
683    interline above and various within made containing two lines and one peece of parchment in the presence of Hen: Godfrey, Cha: Smart, Rich: Godfrey, Edw: Spire.