Although this will is for Thomas Rigges and not the usual Blake one, Thomas' mother was Mary Blake daughter of William and Elizabeth Blake of Eastontown. Mary would be a sister to Richard Blake whom I feel is one of the ancestors in my Blake line. The will didn't have anything Blake related as it turned out so will publish for descendants of the Rigges family if they happen to come upon my blog. He does manage to mention most of his nieces and nephews as well as his siblings and other related individuals. It is a colourful will as you can practically imagine this poor man in his illness being visited probably daily by family members curious about how he was going to deal with the family fortune that he had inherited as the eldest son of his father. Thomas never married.
One of the places mentioned near Titchfield was interesting as I wondered if it was misspelled but indeed the name Chillinge belongs to a house of the Elizabethan period and a write up can be seen below and in the attached webpage from British History Online:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41958
Hill Head consisted, till lately, of a few cottages and fishermen's sheds at Titchfield Haven, but is now developing into a seaside resort with rows of houses along the shore. Chillinge is a desolate-looking house of Elizabethan date, now cut up into two cottages, standing alone by the seashore a little to the east of Hook. Hook House Park, east of the parish of Hook with Warsash, is well wooded, but a large tract of bare heather land stretches from there to Warsash. A great part of it is now being brought under cultivation as strawberry ground. Hook House, built by Mr. William Hornby, governor of Bombay, at the end of the eighteenth century, which was a reproduction of Government House, Bombay, was burnt down a few years ago. From Warsash House, the property of G. A. Shinley, the road descends a sharp hill to the shore where, by the Crab and Lobster inn, the crab tank of the well-known local industry is built. The village of Warsash is small, and its inhabitants are chiefly employed in the crab and lobster trade, which occupies them through the late autumn, winter, and spring, many of them in the summer working as sailors on the many yachts which make their head quarters in the Solent and Southampton Water.
The Rigges family can be found on the Visitation of Sussex 1662 and referring to the Riggs of Eastbourne. Raphe Riggs of Fareham (Southampton) married Mary Blake daughter of William Blake of Eastontown near Andover, gent and their son Raphe Riggs (three times Mayor of Winchester) married Mary Johnson daughter and coheir of William Johnson of Reding in Berkshire. Their son Ogle Riggs of Hollis House in the parish of Eastbourne Sussex, gent. 1662 (died 1705 aged 59) and will probated 1705 (Chichester 30, 797) married Mercy Lock eldest daughter of John Lock of Hollis House, Sussex. Their children were Thomas son and heir 11 years of age in 1662, Ogle, Mary, Elizabeth and Mercy.
Looking at the family of Raphe Riggs (buried 16 Oct 1604 at Fareham) and Mary Blake (buried 1 Sep 1612 at Fareham) the following children:
William buried 3 Apr 1580 at Fareham
Thomas (testator) buried 8 Aug 1638 at St Peter and St Paul, Fareham (Find My Past)
Robert (married to Margery Chambers) with children: Margery married to John Earlsman, Margarett married to Thomas Baker, Robert (never married and he was heir at law of Thomas), Mary married to Sir John Otway (knight), and Elizabeth married to Robert Coates
Francis (deceased by 1638) (married to Katherine Knight) with children Francis, Joseph, Benjamin, Alice, Elizabeth married to Mr. Masey, Catherine married to Mr. Mitchell, and Susan
Mary (deceased by 1638) baptized 27 Jun 1585 at Fareham and married to James Harris (Clerk) 25 Jul 1605 at Fareham with children John (buried 9 Jan 1634) and James
Raphe Blake (buried 8 May 1647 at Fareham) married to Mary Johnson with children: Ogle (above), Francis, Raffe, Thomas married to Elizabeth Bennett, Edmond married to Margaret Savage, Mary married to Anthony Yeldon 8 Apr 1634 at Winchester
John married to Mary Hopgood with children: John, Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, Francis and Thomas
Elizabeth baptized 5 Aug 1591 at Fareham
William baptized 14 Jul 1593 at Fareham
Anne baptized 3 Oct 1596 at Fareham and married to Richard Hill
Sir John Shelley of Michelgrove to whom the testator refers is the 1st Baronet of Michelgrove (first named 1611) and he died circa 1644.
Sir Basil Brook of Madeley Court (instrumental in the Industrial Revolution) was born in 1576 so would have been 58 at the time of the writing of the will.
Sir John Ingilby is possibly the John Ingilby admitted to Gray's Inn 8th February 1602-3 which might make him about 18 years at that time and so 52 at the time of the will being written.
It is an interesting will in that Thomas has passed over the two brothers next in line (one deceased) to give his estates to Raphe Blake Rigges the sixth child of Ralfe Rigges and Mary Blake. He doesn't mention William (youngest brother) so perhaps he has died before 1636.
Thomas writes that he is sickened with old age and I estimate that he was probably born circa 1578 and thus would be about 58 at the time of writing his will. The first baptismal date was Mary baptized in 1585 and she was child number 5 with the eldest son William buried in 1580 as an infant/young child. Probably 1577 to 1579 is a reasonable time span for his birth. This is one of the timeline dating that I use for the family of William and Elizabeth Blake. I know that they are buried in 1582 and 1589 respectively and that their daughter Mary is buried 1 Sep 1612 at Fareham after the birth of her ten children youngest baptized in 1596 putting her birth year in the early 1550s likely and she was child number eight in her birth family.
His sisters Avise and Tamosin are somewhat of a mystery (do not appear to be sisters in law) and his sisters were: Mary, Elizabeth and Anne. Mary is deceased (no mention of the Harris family), Elizabeth did not marry (perhaps now deceased) and Anne married Richard Hill (and perhaps also deceased) as the Hill family is not mentioned.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 15 Oct 2012
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/178/702
Name of testator: Thomas Rigges, Gentleman
Place: Fareham, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated:20 May 1636, probated 11 Dec 1638
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: 17th century, middle English, tiny writing (smudges)
[In margin] T[esta]m[ent] Thome
[In margin] Rigges
1 In the Name of God Amen the twentith day
2 of May Anno Domini one thousand six hundred thirtie and six and in the
3 tweleth yeare of the raigne of our Souveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of god
4 King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith etc I
5 Thomas Rigges of Fareham in the Countie of Southampton gent being nowe so sicken
6 with old age and thereby being putt in mind of the uncertaintie of this life am
7 verie willing duringe the contynuance of my perfect memorie and such reasonable
8 strength of bodie as I have to dispose of my personall estate goodes and chattles in
9 suche sorte as may be best pleasing to Almightie god to the nowe quiett of my
10 owne minde and for good of my kinsfolkes and freinds hereafter in this my Last
11 Will named soe farr forthe as they will extend to the end I may lyvieth my daies in
12 more quiet att such tyme as it shall please his divine Maiestie to take me out
13 of this world and to prevent as much as in me lieth that noe variance strife or debate
14 may arrise about ye same after my decease For which causes and respectes I doe make
15 ordaine and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and forme followeing
16 First and principally I commend my Soule into the handes of Almightie god my maker
17 and creator and to his dearelie beloved Sonne Jesus Christ my onely Saviour and redeemer
18 by whose death merrittes and passion I doe trust and firmely believe to have full and
19 free remission pardon and forgiveness of all my synnes and life everlasting my body I
20 commit to the earth from whence it came and to be buried according to the discrecion of
21 my executor hereafter named Imprimis I doe give and bequeath to ye poore people of
22 Fareham aforesaid five poundes of lawfull money of England to be distributed
23 amongst them Item I doe give and bequeath to John Rigges and Francis Rigges the
24 twoe sonnes of my brother John Rigges to eache of them fiftie poundes apeece Item I
25 doe give and bequeath to Raphe Rigges brother of me the said Thomas Rigges five
26 poundes to be disposed of in such manner as Sara Twyne my kinswoman shall lymitt
27 and appointe Item wherein my brother John Rigges doth owe unto me by bond one
28 hundred poundes I doe freely give and bequeath the same unto him And whereas
29 my brother Francis Rigges nowe deceased did owe unto me three score poundes I doe
30 freely give and bequeath the same unto Katherine Rigges my sister in lawe late
31 wife of the said Francis Item I doe give and bequeathe to my brother Raphe
32 Rigges his executors administrators and assignes All that the Scite of the Mannor
33 Capitall Messuage or Farme of Fareham aforesaid and all the Landes tenementes
34 meadowes pastures and hereditamentes thereunto belonging And all my estate interests
35 tearme of yeares clayme and demande of in and to the same nevertheless upon the
36 condicion that my said brother Raphe Rigges shall paie unto my sister Tamison of
37 Portsmouth in the countie of Southampton within twelve moneths next after
38 my decease all such moneys which hee oweth unto her by bondes billes specialties or
39 elsewise And shall likewise paie unto my brother Robert Rigges within the tyme
40 aforesaid fiftie poundes towards all such charges which he hath disbursed and paid for
41 the buildinge of my hall and kitchin of my said Mansion house att Fareham Item I give
42 and bequeath to my Nephew Francis Rigges sonne of my brother Francis Rigges
43 deceased fiftie poundes Item I doe give and bequeath unto Beniamyne and Josephe
44 twoe of the youngest sonnes of my said brother Francis Rigges to each of them
45 fiftie poundes apeece Item I doe give and bequeath to Anne Terrell of Southwarke
46 in the countie of Surrey my kinswoman five poundes Item I doe give and
47 bequeath unto Margerie Earlesman my neece fiftie shillinges to bestow upon a
48 ringe to weare in remembrance of me Item I doe give and bequeath to my brother
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49 Robert Rigges fiftie shillinges to bestowe upon a ringe to weare in remembrance of
50 me Item I doe give unto my sister Margerie Rigges fiftie shillinges to bestowe
51 upon a ringe to weare in remembrance of me Item I doe give to my sister Tamison
52 fiftie shillinges to bestowe uppon a ringe to weare in remembrance of me Item I doe
53 give and bequeathe to my said brother John Rigges fiftie shillinges to bestowe upon
54 a ringe to weare in remembrance of me Item I doe give unto my said brother Raphe
55 Rigges fiftie shillinges to bestowe upon a ringe to weare in remembrance of me
56 Item I doe give to Margarett Rigges daughter of my said brother Robert Rigges fiftie
57 shillinges to bestowe uppon a ringe to weare in remembrance of me Item I doe give to
58 my sister Avise fiftie shillinges to bestowe upon a ringe to weare in remembrance of
59 me Item I doe give to Mr James Clayton fiftie shillinges to bestowe upon a ringe
60 to weare in remembrance of me Item I doe give to Marie Rigges one of ye daughters
61 of my brother Robert Rigges fiftie shillinges to bestowe upon a ringe to weare in
62 remembrance of me Item I doe give unto Elizabeth Rigges one other of ye daughters
63 of my said brother Robert Rigges fiftie shillinges to bestowe alsoe uppon a ring to
64 weare in remembrance of me Item I doe give and bequeath to Mistris Bearmont
65 widowe dwellinge in the parishe of Titchfield and neare Chillinges in my County
66 of South[amp]ton five poundes Item I doe give to Alice alias Mary Rigges Elizabeth Rigges
67 Katherine Rigges and Susanna Rigges daughters of my said brother Francis Rigges
68 to every of them twentie poundes apeece to bee paid unto them within twelve
69 monethes next after my decease Item I doe alsoe give to my cosen Mr John
70 Chapperlaine my verie lovinge friend a mourning cloake and suite Item I doe
71 give and bequeath unto John Ingleby of Graies Inne in the countie of Midd[lesex]
72 Esquire the said John Chapperlayne of London gentleman and William Birch
73 of Chillinges in the said countie of South[amp]t[on] gentlemen fiftie shillinges apeece
74 to bestowe in a Ringe to weare in remembrance of me Item I doe give to Thomas
75 Rooper of London Esquire fiftie shillinges to bestowe in a ringe to weare in
76 remembrance of me And as for and concerninge all and singuler the residue
77 of my goodes and chattles whatsoever not before herein given and bequeathed
78 I doe give and bequeath unto Sir John Shelley of Michelgrove in ye County
79 of Sussex Knight and Baronett Sir Bassill Brooke of Meadeley Court in ye
80 countie of Salop Knight John Caryll of Westhartinge in the said Countie of
81 Sussex Esquire and the said Thomas Rooper And I doe hereby make them the
82 said Sir John Shelley Sir Bassill Brooke John Caryll and Thomas Rooper
83 Executors of this my last will and testamente And I doe alsoe hereby make
84 and ordaine them the said John Ingleby John Chapperlaine and William Birch
85 Supervisors of this my last will and testament desiringe them and every of them
86 to see the same performed in every respect according to the tenor and true meaning
87 thereof Provided allwaies and my will and meaninge is that if att any tyme
88 hereafter any questions and diferences shall arrise amongst my executors or my
89 other to whom I have herein given my legacies that then the same questions and
90 differences shall arrise amongst my executors or any other to whom I have herein
91 given my legacies that then the same questions and differences shal[l ]be decided
92 and determined by the Supervisors of this my last will And if the said
93 p[ar]ties betweene whom the said diferences and questions shall arrise shall not abide
94 and stand to the ends and determinacion of the said Supervisors That then my
95 further will and meaninge is that such legacie soe given to such person or p[er]sons
96 whoe shall soe refuse shal[l ]be utterly voide to the same person or p[er]sons any thing
97 in this my last will and Testamente before contained to the contrary thereof
98 in any wise notwithstandinge In witnes whereof I the said Thomas Rigges
99 to every sheete of this my last will being in number seaven have subscribed my
100 name and to the labell thereof which fast with them on topp have sett my seale
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101 the day and yeare first above written Signed sealed published and declared to be
102 my last will in the presence of Tho Hamond James Hinde the marke of John
103 Dorn George Smithson Thomas Frost Item I give to Robert Rigges ye sonne
104 of my said brother Robert Rigges fiftie shillinges to bestowe on a Ringe to weare
105 in remembrance of me Tho: Rigge [signed] Item I give to my lovinge friend Mr
106 Thomas Hickes of Fleetestreete fiftie shillinges to make him a ringe Item
107 I give to Captain Williams of Cheapside fiftie shillinges to make him a ringe
108 Thomas Rigge [signed] The said Mr Hamond is a Barrister and Counsellor of Graies
109 Inn and att this present lodgeth att Mistress Conynestes house in Holborne att
110 the entrance into Graies Inne Lane James Hinde liveth in Holborne in ye Middle
111 Rowe neare to Mistres Conynestes house att the entrance into Graies Inn lane
112 George Smithson dwelleth att the same Taverne in Holborne right against
113 Chansery Lane Captaine Frost dwelleth in Blomsberry
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