Thursday, June 20, 2013

Will of Elizabeth Blake, widow, Saint David in Exeter, Devon - The National Archives PROB 11/1176/207, probated 12 Mar 1789

This next set of wills is for the Blake family of Devon and begins with Elizabeth Blake who lived at Exeter. In trying to locate her maiden name I consider the possibility she was Elizabeth Hatherly given the bequests in her will. Elizabeth in her will asks to be buried by the side of her husband who is buried at Saint Martin Church in Exeter, Devon.

World Connect does have a tree for a Hatherly family going back to a Narcissus Hatherly married to Elizabeth Galsworthy who were married 24 Apr 1668 in Parkham, Devon and four children are listed: Grace baptized 21 Mar 1669, Arthur baptized 2 Jan 1672, Narcissus baptized 9 Jul 1674 and Elizabeth baptized 12 Jul 1677 all at Parkham, Devon. Narcissus is further traced down with his marriage to Elizabeth Bruton 29 Sep 1708 in Alwington, Devon. The children of this marriage are listed below and Elizabeth baptized 3 May 1722 is listed as being married to a Thomas Blake (no further details other than 26 Oct 1752 at Kenton, Devon). No children listed for Thomas Blake and Elizabeth Hatherley. I have not verified the data at World Connect but certainly the will does bear out the relationships mentioned for the siblings of Elizabeth the Testatrix of this will.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=hatters&id=I3

An online tree on The Blakes of Somerset that I have mentioned before

http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/admiralreport.htm

traces back a marriage of Thomas Blake (born circa 1697) and Elizabeth Hatherley which was celebrated in 1749 at Kenton, Devon (according to this website). Is this Elizabeth the testator? Elizabeth doesn’t mention any children and this site mentions there are five children for this couple. Thomas was 52 when he married Elizabeth Hatherley with children named: John, Martha, Mary, Kath., and Jane. The website further listst the three children of the Reverend Thomas Blake (born circa 1652 and died in Alwington 23 Nov 1713 at the age of 61) named George (bc 1682), Nicholas (bc 1686) and Thomas (bc 1697). The website then has Thomas the son marrying Elizabeth Hatherley and they have five children as mentioned but the numbering begins at iv instead of i. There is nothing further on the children of Thomas and Elizabeth. I can not find any children by these names baptized to Thomas and Elizabeth Blake. However, at this point I am not discounting the possibility that this Elizabeth Blake’s husband is perhaps descendant of the Somerset Blake family. This family is known to be in the Plymouth/Exeter area of Devon from the 1600s on. Did all five children of this couple die? Not impossible given the times but unusual for a family that had sufficient funds to provide the best but again it is not impossible so will not at this point discount the possible connection.

However, as with much of the Blake material online this website has some interesting features but tends to try to group together as many Blake families as possible. Using the unsourced early material perpetuates the errors that were created by Horatio Gates Somersby without adding any new material. I have already shown that some of these relationships as stated are not possible given the historical evidence in the Calendar of Patent Rolls.

The Hatherley family mentioned in the will and found on World Connect appear to be the descendants of Narcissus Hatherly married to Elizabeth Bruton 29 Sep 1708 at Alwington Devon) and their children were all baptized at Bideford Devon (Family Search website):

Narcissus baptized 16 Sep 1709 (from World Connect)

Elizabeth baptized 6 Mar 1711 (from World Connect) and probably died young

John baptized 17 Apr 1713

Arthur baptized 17 Aug 1715; buried 24 Dec 1715

Arthur baptized 17 May 1717 (from World Connect)

William baptized 12 Feb 1719

Elizabeth baptized 3 May 1722

Jane baptized 3 May 1722; buried 2 Jun 1722

Thomas baptized 6 Jan 1725

First mentioned in the will were the three nephews: Narcissus, John and William Henry. They would appear to be the children of Elizabeth’s brother Narcissus who was married to Honor Chope 18 May 1741 in Northam, Devon. Honor is mentioned in the will as a widow. They had seven children all baptized at Bideford namely(* marks nephews mentioned in the will):

*Narcissus baptized 18 Jul 1746
Grace baptized 11 Jul 1748
*John baptized 23 Aug 1750
Elizabeth baptized 6 Apr 1753
Henry baptized 8 Nov 1754
*William Henry baptized 24 Jun 1756
Thomas baptized 11 Aug 1758

*John is married to Elizabeth (mentioned in the will as the wife of John her nephew) and they had ten children between 1781 and 1807 but none mentioned in the will).

*William Henry is married to Elizabeth Fortescue Wells 13 Mar 1781 at Kingsbridge, Devon and they have 11 children between 1781 and 1800 (none of these children are mentioned in the will but Elizabeth wife of William Henry is mentioned).

Both of Elizabeth the Testatrix brothers Narcissus married to Honor and Thomas married to Grace are deceased as both women are mentioned as widows. The second wife of William is not mentioned.

Next to be mentioned is Elizabeth Hatherley (she is likely the sister of Narcissus, John and William Henry) married to Samuel Pyke and they were married 22 Apr 1776 at Abbotsham, Devon (Family Search M05015-1). Hence Elizabeth is also a child of Narcissus Hatherly and Honor Chowe shown above baptized 6 Apr 1753. The World Connect chart does not list her marriage to Samuel Pike.

Looking at the Herman Drewe family next mentioned in the will:  Married in Colyton Church 1 May 1775 Herman Drew, clerk, of the parish of Wootton Fitzpaine in the county of Dorset and Sarah Mary Hatherley of this parish married by licence in the presence of Elizabeth Hatherly, Jno. Rolle. Sarah Mary Hatherley is said to be the daughter of William Hatherley and Sarah Baker who were married 27 Sep 1753 at Modbury Devon and she was baptized 3 Dec 1755 at Kenton. According to the chart at World Connect William married a second time to Elizabeth Matthews 12 Sep 1758 at Bideford and they had one child Mary Ann Hatherly (not mentioned in the will) baptized 15 Feb 1762.

The children of Herman Drewe and Sarah Mary Hatherley (Sarah Elizabeth and Mary are mentioned in the will and if either of them die then the funds are to be shared by the rest of their children) are found on Family Search:

Sarah Elizabeth baptized 15 Jun 1776 at Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset

Herman baptized 2 Jan 1778 at Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset

Mary baptized 9 Feb 1780 at Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset

Elizabeth Judith Hatherly also mentioned in the will lastly was the daughter of Thomas Hatherly and Grace and was baptized 18 Sep 1749 at Bideford (Family Search C05032-1). There are two possible marriages for Thomas Hatherly and both appear to be patron entries: Thomas Hatherly and Grace Smith 1748 and Thomas Hatherly and Grace Voisey 1751. Given the birth date of 1749 for Elizabeth Judith it is possible that Thomas married twice with the first Grace having died.


Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 19 Jun 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1176/207
Testator: Elizabeth Blake, widow
Place: Saint David in Exeter, Devon, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 9 Aug 1786, probated 12 Mar 1789
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Elizabeth
[Margin]: Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Elizabeth Blake of the parish of Saint David in the County of
3    the City of Exeter Devon do make this my last Will and Testament in
4    the manner following that is to say I desire that I may be
5    buried in a decent and plain manner in the parish Church of
6    Saint Martin in the City of Exeter by the side of my late
7    husband and that the Funeral Service may be performed by the
8    Curate for the time being of the parish of Saint David
9    aforesaid to whom I give three Guineas and one Guinea to the
10    Rector of Saint Martin I desire that ______ no outer
11    Bearers but that the Reverend John Quick Rector of Highley
12    the Reverend Mr Locker Rector of St Lawrence in the City of Exeter
13    the Reverend John Stabback Edward Cleave Esquire Robert Lydstone
14    Newcome Esquire and Mr Richard Thorn will each accept of a
15    Ring of the value of one Guinea I give and bequeath to my
16    three Nephews Narcissus John and William Henry Hatherly
17    one hundred and sixty pounds each of lawful Money of Great
18    Britain to be paid to them respectively by my Executor hereinafter
19    named at the end of eight months next after my decease
20    also I give and bequeath unto my Friend Mr John Codrington
21    of the City of Exeter apothecary the Sum of two hundred pounds
22    of like lawful money upon trust for such person or persons
23    and to and for the Ends Intents and purposes as my Niece Elizabeth
24    Pike wife of Samuel Pike of Northam in the County of Devon
25    Esquire shall by any writing or writings under her hand attested
26    by one or more credible Witness or Witnesses or by her last Will
27    and Testament in Writing or any writing purporting to be or in
28    the nature of her her last Will and Testament attested by two or
29    more Credible Witnesses notwithstanding her Couverture and whether
30    she be Covert or Sole order direct or appoint and for want of
31    and in the meane time until the said Elizabeth Pike shall
32    make some such order direction or appointment as aforesaid to
33    and shall stand possessed of and in the said Sum of two hundred
34    pounds and the dividends and Interest that will be made thereof
35    upon trust for the said Elizabeth Pike her Executors and Admors
36    to and for the Sole separate and peculiar use and disposal of the said
37    Elizabeth Pike and wherewith as with any part thereof her said
38    present or any future husband shall not in any wise intermeddle
39    neither shall the same or any part thereof be in any wise
40    subject or liable to the power Control debts or Engagements of
41    any such husband but the Receipt and Receipts of the said
42    Elizabeth Pike alone or of such person or persons to whom she
43    shall so order direct or appoint the said Sum of two hundred
44    pounds and the Dividends and Interest thereof or any part thereof 
45    to be paid as aforesaid shall from time to time be a sufficient
46    and effectual discharge and discharges to the said John Codrington his Executors
47    and administrators for the same or so much and such part
    [Page 2]
48    and parts thereof as to such Receipt and Receipts shall be
49    mentioned expressed or acknowledged to be received Also I give
50    and bequeath unto the said John Codrington the like Sum
51    of two hundred pounds upon trust for the separate and peculiar
52    use of my Niece Sarah Mary Drewe the Wife of the Reverend
53    Herman Drewe of Wootton in the County of Dorset with the
54    like power of disposal and appointment and in the same
55    manner as I have hereinbefore declared touching the Legacy
56    of two hundred pounds hereinbefore given for the use of the
57    said Elizabeth Pike also I give and bequeath the like Sum
58    of two hundred pounds unto my Niece Elizabeth Judith Hatherly
59    and I do hereby direct that the aforesaid three several
60    Legacies of two hundred pounds shall be paid by my Executor
61    at the end of eight months next after my decease also
62    I Give and bequeath unto the said Herman the
63    sum of three hundred pounds old South Sea Annuities now
64    standing in my Name upon trust that he the said Herman
65    Drewe do and shall from time to time receive the dividends
66    thereof and lay out and invest the same Dividends in the
67    purchase of other stock or on good Securities until his two
68    daughters Sarah Elizabeth Drewe and Mary Drewe shall
69    attain the age of twenty one years or be married which shall
70    first happen and then do and shall transfer assign
71    and make over the said Sum of three hundred pounds
72    old South Sea annuities and the Dividends thereof and
73    all Stocks Funds and Securities wherein the same shall be
74    invested into and between his said two Daughters
75    Sarah Elizabeth and Mary equally to be divided
76    between them share and share alike and I do hereby
77    declare it to be my Will that if either of them the said
78    Sarah Elizabeth Drewe and Mary Drewe shall happen
79    to die before attaining her said age of twenty one
80    years or being married then the share of her so
81    dying shall go and belong to the Survivor of them
82    and shall be paid and payable to her at the
83    same time as the original Share and I do hereby
84    further declare that in case both of them the said
85    Sarah Elizabeth Drewe and Mary Drewe shall die
86    before having attained such age or have as aforesaid that
87    then the said Herman Drewe his Executors and
88    Administrators shall stand possessed of the said Stocks
89    Funds and Securities and the Dividends and Interest
90    thereof upon trust for all and every other the Child
91    and Children of the said Herman Drewe and Sarah
92    Mary Drewe his Wife equally to be divided likewise
93    then if more then one share
94    and share alike and if but one such Child then to such
95    one only Child the share and shares of such of
96    them as shall be a Son or Sons to be paid and payable
97    to him and them at his or their ages or respective
98    ages of twenty one years and the share or shares of
99    such of them as shall be a daughter or daughters
    [Page 3]
100    to be paid and payable to her or them at her or their
101    age or respective ages of twenty one years or Day or
102    respective Days of Marriage which shall first
103    happen and in case any or either of the aforesaid
104    Children shall happen to die without having
105    attained such age or time as aforesaid then the
106    share or shares of him her or them so dying
107    shall go and belong to the Survivors and
108    Survivor of such Children in the same manner
109    as is hereinbefore declared touching his her or
110    their original portion or portions and in case all
111    such Children shall die without attaining sucvh age
112    or time as aforesaid then I give and devise the
113    same Stock Funds and Securities unto the aforesaid
114    John Codrington his Executors Administrators and assigns
115    upon trust for the separate and peculiar use of my said
116    Niece Mary Drewe and with the same power of
117    appointment and in the same manner as I have
118    hereinbefore declared touching the said Sum of two hundred
119    pounds hereinbefore given to the said John Codrington
120    for the use of the said Sarah Mary Drewe
121    Recommending it nevertheless to her to give the same
122    to some part of my family and whereas it is my
123    intention to lay out the Sum of Fifty pounds more
124    during my life in old South Sea Annuities now I do
125    hereby bequeath such Sum of Fifty pounds in case I
126    shall so lay out the same to the said Herman Drewe
127    upon the same trusts as I have hereinbefore
128    declared touching the said Sum of three hundred
129    pounds and in case I should not in my life time
130    lay out such Sum of Fifty pounds in the manner
131    aforesaid I do hereby direct my Executor herein after
132    named to lay out that Sum out of the residue of
133    my personal Estate in the name of the said Herman
134    Drewe who shall stand possessed thereof Upon the
135    trusts aforesaid also I give and bequeath to
136    my two Sisters Honour Hatherly widow and Grace
137    Hatherly widow the Sum of five Guineas each as a
138    token of my affection for them I give to Joan
139    Thomas Six Guineas and to Mary White Sister of Mr
140    Arthur White Apothecary Mrs Waldrond widow of the
141    late Doctor Walrond deceased Mrs Margaret Coles Mrs
142    Isabella Weeks and Miss Francis Broom two
143    Guineas each I give to each of my Maid Servants
144    they shall have lived with me twelve months before
145    my decease three Guineas over and above the wages
146    which may be due to them and Mourning at the
147    discretion of my Executor I give to Ann Mortimer
148    one Guinea if she continues to be employed in my
149    service at the time of my death I give to Mrs
150    Joan Stooke Widow and her three daughters Mrs Margaret
151    Cleave Mrs Margaret Baker Mrs Mary Codrington Mrs
    [Page 4]
152    Locker wife of the Reverend Wm Locker Mrs Hannah
153    Newcombe Mrs Frances Stabback the aforesaid Herman
154    Drewe and Samuel Pike Esquire Mrs Elizabeth
155    Hatherley wife of my nephew John Hatherley and
156    Mrs Hatherley wife of my nephew William Henry
157    Hatherley a Ring of the value of one Guinea
158    each I give to the said John Codrington the
159    sum of thirty Guineas a Ring of the value of
160    one Guinea and a Suit of Mourning and do
161    appoint the said John Codrington Sole Executor of this
162    my last Will and Testament and I give and devise
163    unto the said John Codrington his heirs and assigns all
164    and every the Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments
165    which are vested in me by any mortgage or Mortgages
166    in Fee with their and every of their Rights Members
167    and appurtenances upon trust to convey the same upon
168    payment of the principal Sum and Sums and Interest
169    thereby respectively secured I give and bequeath unto my
170    aforesaid three Nieces Elizabeth Pike Sarah Mary Drewe
171    and Elizabeth Judith Hatherley my watch and all my
172    Plate Jewells wearing apparel household Goods
173    and Furniture and all other the Goods and Chattells
174    whereof I shall die possessed except my Monies and
175    Stocks Funds and Securities for Money equally to be divided
176    between them share and share alike all the rest and
177    residue of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and whereso
178    ever I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid
179    three Nephews Narcissus John and William Henry
181    Hatherley all my aforesaid three Nieces Elizabeth Pike
182    Sarah Mary Drewe and Elizabeth Judith Hatherley
183    equally to be divided between them share and share
184    alike and I do hereby declare that the respective Shares
185    of the said Elizabeth Pike and Sarah Mary Drewe of
186    and in my aforesaid watch plate Jewels wearing
187    apparel household Goods and Furniture and the residue
188    of my personal Estate and Effects shall be for the respective
189    sole and separate use of my said two Nieces exclusive of
190    their respective husbands in the same manner
191    as I have hereinbefore declared touching the said two
192    several Legacies of two hundred pounds and two hundred
193    pounds hereinbefore bequeathed to the said John
194    Codrington in trust for them as aforesaid and lastly I
195    do hereby declare it to be my Will that the aforesaid
196    John Codrington and Herman Drewe respectively or either
197    of them their or either of their heirs Executors or admors
198    shall not be charged or chargeable with or
199    accountable for any more of the said trust monies
200    and premises than they or he shall respectively
201    actually receive by virtue of the trusts aforesaid nor
202    with or for any loss which shall happen of the same
203    monies and premises or any part thereof so as
204    the same respectively happen without their wilful
    [Page 5]
205    defaults or neglects and that my said Trustees their
206    Executors and administrators respectively shall and
207    lawfully may deduct retain to and reimburse
208    themselves respectively out of the said trust monies
209    and premises all such Costs Losses Charges
210    damages and Expences whatsoever as they or
211    either of them shall or may bear sustain or be put
212    unto in or about the Execution or management of
213    the trusts hereby in them respectively reposed or any
214    thing relating thereunto and that it shall and
215    may be lawful to and for the said John Codrington
216    his Executors and administrators to compound any debt
217    or debts that shall or may be due to my Estate
218    and release the person or persons who may be
219    debtor or debtors therein and sign and subscribe this
220    or their consent to the allowance of the Certificate
221    or Certificates of any Bankrupt or Bankrupts
222    and submit to arbitration any matter in dispute
223    relating to my Estate and perform the award to
224    Be made in pursuance to such submission and
225    I hereby revoke all former Wills by me made
226    declaring this to be my last Will and Testament
227    In Witness whereof  I the said Elizabeth Blake
228    The Testatrix have to the three first sheets of
229    this my last Will and Testament contained in four Sheets
230    of Paper subscribed my name and to this fourth and
231    last sheet thereof set my hand and Seal the ninth
232    day of August in the year of our Lord one
233    thousand seven hundred and eighty six Eliz: Blake
234    Signed Sealed published and declared by the said
235    Elizabeth Blake the Testatrix and for her last
236    Will and Testament in the presence of us three whose
237    names are hereunto subscribed and who subscribed
238    our names as Witnesses hereto at the desire
239    and in the presence of the said Testatrix and in
240    the presence of each other Rv Lydston Newcombe
241    John Stabback Wm Stabback
242    June the 23rd 1788 I Eliz: Blake give to Mr John
243    Codrington the Sum of thirty pounds over and
244    above what I have given him in my Will in
245    consideration of his great care and attention to me and
246    I also give to Frances Broom twenty pounds over and
247    above what I have given her in my Will provided
248    she lives with me at the time of my Death likewise
249    such Mourning as my Executors or relations shall
250    judge proper this paper I desire may be
251    considered as part of my Will written by my own
252    hand Eliz: Blake
    [Page 6]
253    The second day of March 1789
254    Appeared Personally James Pitts of
255    The City of Exeter Ironmonger and Elizabeth Stabback
256    of the said City Spinster and being severally sworn
257    on the holy Evangelists to depose the truth made
258    oath and say that they very well knew and
259    were acquainted with Elizabeth Blake late of the
260    Parish of Saint David in the City of Exeter Widow
261    deceased for several Years before and to the time of her
262    death and also with the manner and Character of
263    hand writing and subscription of the said deceased
264    having often seen her write out witness and subscribe
265    her name to writings and declaring now seen and
266    carefully perused the paper Writing hereunto annexed
267    purporting to be a Codicil to the last Will and Testament
268    of the said deceased beginning thus June the 23rd
269    1788 Eliz: Blake ending thus written by my own
270    hand and thus subscribed Eliz: Blake They these
271    deponents say that they truly and in their consciences
272    believe the whole Body Series and Contents of the
273    said Codicil to the said Gifts of the said deceased and also the Subscription
274    hereto to be of the proper hand writing of the said
275    deceased James Pitts Eliz:Stabback Same Day the
276    said James Pitts and Elizabeth Stabback were duly
277    sworn to the truth of this affidavit before me Mr
278    Shore Commissioner
279    This Will was proved at London with a Codicil
280    The twelveth day of March in the year of our Lord
281    one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine before the
282    Right Worshipful Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of
283    Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative
284    Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of John
285    Codrington the Sole Executor named in the said Will to
286    whom Administration was granted of all and singular the
287    Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having
288    been first sworn by Commission duly to administer

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