Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Will of Thomas Blake, Fellmonger, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire - The National Archives PROB 11/901/452, probated 10 Sep 1764

There is only this one PCC will in Bedfordshire for Blake  in the PCC. I do now notice that there are six wills at the Archives for the Bleak/Bleek/Bleake family and must look into acquiring those but none are for Bedfordshire.The next set of wills will be from Berkshire and there are seven in total. I am missing one will there for Mary Blake widow, 1802 so will add that to my list for our next trip to Kew sometime in the future. 

Thomas Blake, fellmonger of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, is the testator. He is married to Constance and has/had sons John and George.

The baptism of George (only living child named in the will) was 21 Jul 1751 at Leighton Buzzard with parents Thomas and Constance Blake. George would have been only 13 years of age when his father died. Other children born to this couple and baptized at Leighton Buzzard include (from family search)

Mary Bleake baptized 14 Mar 1736
John Bleake baptized 23 Jun 1737
Elizabeth Blakes baptized 27 Aug 1741
Mary Blake baptized 29 Jan 1743
Thomas Blake baptized 17 Dec 1744
William Blake baptized 9 Sep 1747

with George being the youngest. John has recently died according to the will but he does not mention the other five children.

LDS also has an Alice Blike baptized 25 Oct 1569 at Leighton Buzzard with parent Thomas Blike.

There is a marriage of Tho. Bleak to Constance George 26 Nov 1735 at Leighton Buzzard (Family Search M00360-1)).

At the Bedfordshire Record Office there is a Pedigree of the Bleake family (rough pencil) Reference: HW99/3 and further there are Notes on Blake (or Bleake) family Reference HW99/4.

There are 785 results for Blake in the archival catalogue at the Bedfordshire and Luton Archives Service. Their search engine is malfunctioning so could not bring that down to a time period but will check back later. But a quick look at results shows an Alexander Blake at Peterborough in the 1650s. There are a number of Blake entries through to the present day in this particular archive.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 3 Apr 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/901/452
Testator:  Thomas Blake, Fellmonger
Place: Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 2 Jun 1764, probated 10 Sep 1764
Read: Electronic copy images
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Thomas Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Thomas Blake of Leighton Bussard in the County of
3    Bedford Fellmonger being sick and weak in Body but of
4    sound and perfect Mind Memory and Understanding praised
5    be God but considering the uncertainty of this Life do therefore
6    make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner
7    following In the first place I give and devise All my Messuages
8    Cottages Lands Tenements and hereditaments whatsoever
9    and wheresoever with their and every of their Rights
10    Members and appurtenances unto my loving wife
11    Constance Blake and to her heirs and assigns upon
12    such Trusts and subject to such provisoes and charged
13    and chargeable with such Legacies and Sums of money
14    as are mentioned in and by the Last Will and Testament
15    of John Blake my son lately deceased who devised
16    the same to me Also I give and bequeath unto my
17    son George Blake all my wearing apparel and the
18    wearing apparel of my late son John Blake
19    deceased and also my Silver Buckles All the rest
20    residue and remainder of my Goods Money debts
21    Bills Bonds Securities for money Chattels and
22    personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of
    [Page 2]
23    what nature or kind soever the same be I give and
24    bequeath unto my said wife Constance Blake She
25    thereout paying my just debts and Funeral Expences
26    and I do hereby make constitute and appoint my said
27    wife Constance Blake full and sole Executrix of this
28    my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I
30    the said Thomas Blake the Testator have to this
31    my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal this
32    second day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand
33    seven hundred and sixty four The mark of Thomas
34    Blake Signed sealed published and declared by the
35    said Thomas Blake the Testator as and for his last
36    Will and Testament in the presence of us who have
37    hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses at his
38    request in his presence and in the presence of each
39    other Rich[ar]d Yate William Hopkins Tho[ma]s Deverell
40    This Will was proved at London the
41    tenth day of September in the year of our Lord one
42    thousand seven hundred and sixty four before the
43    worshipfull George Harris Doctor of Laws and Surrogate
44    of the Right Worshipfull George Hay Doctor of Laws
45    Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court
46    of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of
47    Constance Blake Widow the Relict of the deceased and
48    sole Executrix named in the said will to whom Administration
49    was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and of
50    the [Credits] of the said deceased having been first sworn duly
51    to administer
5

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