BLAKE - Will of William BLAKE, Yeoman, Eastontowne near Andover - National Archives, PROB 11/64/501, probated 14 Nov 1582

I was watching a Biblical movie about Isaac and Joseph where Isaac was teaching his son Joseph his ancestral line with a knotted rope and each knot represented a generation back with a name of the male ancestor. At that time, back in 2004, I was just starting to look at genealogy when I saw this movie and amazingly I remembered my grandfather reciting the names of his male ancestors going back in time. My grandfather, Samuel George BLAKE, lived with us when I was a young child and he loved to talk about Upper Clatford and would rhyme off the names of his parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. I was too young to retain everything that he told me regrettably. One item though always stuck in my memory, and my father repeated it on occasion as well. That particular item was that Nicholas BLAKE lived at Old Hall in Enham. I could not remember how you got back to Nicholas, I was stranded at Joseph BLAKE. However, these two forenames did stick in my mind. The path back to Joseph was easy, Grandpa was Samuel, his father was Edward, his father was John, his father was Thomas and his father was Joseph. In retrospect, he was trying to ensure that we, my six siblings and myself, did not forget our BLAKE heritage. That we knew where we were in this enormous family of BLAKE. I was pretty much stuck at Joseph although I knew the names Thomas, William, Richard, John all belonged in there but especially I remembered about Nicholas and Old Hall (probably because my father also mentioned his ancient ancestor over the years as I was growing up). Mind you I did not approach my own research with that idea firmly entrenched. I gradually worked my way back through the records. It was another five years before I was in the state I am now which is that it "appears that my line goes back to this Nicholas Blake, then his likely father Richard and his likely father Robert BLAKE who kindly left his will (in Latin) probably as quite an elderly person in 1521 naming his children."

In my father's hand the three generations of his line, this picture of my great grandfather was taken at Upper Clatford in 1898. Although his strabismus (lazy eye syndrome) is obvious to me; it is the much larger picture of Edward and his wife Maria Jane (Knight) BLAKE that convinced me that my eye defect came from my great grandfather.

Although I became a member of the Guild of one-name Studies in about 2007 taking on the Pincombe surname (my mother's maiden name), I never really contemplated, beyond wishful thinking, taking on the BLAKE surname. It seemed quite an indomitable task. By 2011, I had found a lot of material on BLAKE in the Andover area and realized that there was a mystery in this family which could only be solved by looking at the BLAKE families in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somersetshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and beyond. Gradually I realized as I accumulated data that a one-name study would make sense. I could collate the information that I had, zip it up and pass it on. That made BLAKE doable as a one-name study for me.

Having blogged on John BLAKE of Nether Wallop's will in the last blog of this blogging Challenge, the next logical will to blog was that of William BLAKE who died in 1582. How can I be sure he died in 1582, he wrote his will on the 27th July 1582 and his will was probated the 14th November 1582. As I mentioned in the last blog, William BLAKE who died in 1582 seemed like a very straightforward linear descendant of Nicholas BLAKE (and I will blog Nicholas' will next and that of his wife Margaret) until I accidentally discovered the BLAKE Pedigree Chart created by the College of Arms for Daniel BLAKE in 1690 (and the final chart has additions up to the 1730s and later). Daniel BLAKE was himself descendant of the BLAKE family of Calne and Pinhills according to the BLAKE Pedigree Chart* (inserted below).The Chart was mentioned in a write up by another BLAKE researcher and I managed to locate it at the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.

*Used with permission, Wiltshire and Swindon Archives, reference number 343/1MS

I think William BLAKE was a very precise man as he details absolutely everything that could possibly go wrong in the settling of an estate. He is particularly precise in how his wife Elizabeth is to be treated. I wonder is he so precise because she is a second wife? There is confusion about this William BLAKE of Eastontowne and in his will he does describe himself as of Eastontowne and Andover. He writes his will; he is mentioned in several Visitations, and he appears on the BLAKE Pedigree Chart held by the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office or does he, is it actually this William BLAKE, the testator?

The Lay Subsidy returns for Andover and area do list two William BLAKE entries*

1571 Andever William BLAKE of Enham G 40

1571 Knight's Enham Tithing William BLAKE G 3

*West Hampshire Lay Subsidy Assessments, 1558-1603 (Andover, Kingsclere and New Forest Divisions), edited by Douglas F Vick, 1987 (self-published).

Both of these subsidy returns were for a William BLAKE of Enham and following his father Nicholas's death in 1547, William lived at Old Hall in [Knights] Enham. However by 1582 he says in his will he lived at Eastontown. Making use of William BLAKE's will in order to place William in the correct spot in the genealogical framework of the BLAKE family at Andover, Hampshire is a good first step. William BLAKE, in his will, names his brother Edmund BLAKE, who must still be living in 1582, although I have yet to find him. He also mentions his sisters Elizabeth Monday and Ann Godwyn. These are the same children that Nicholas BLAKE of Enham named as his children including William in his will of 1574. William's grandmother Jone Blake of Enham widow left her will in 1527 naming her sons Robert and Nicholas and her daughter Elizabeth married to Mr. Mylne. Thus William is now located in the family that lived at Enham (near Andover in 1527). Unfortunately the name of Jone BLAKE's husband is not mentioned in her will and I will blog on this will in the blog next following the wills of Nicholas and his wife Margaret.

William, the testator, mentions his two youngest sons first - Richard and Thomas. He then moves on to his daughters mentioning first Amye and she is married to Drewe Rombold. Next daughter mentioned is Margeret and she is married to (unknown) Jarvis. Third daughter mentioned is Agnes married to (unknown Kynton). Elizabeth married to Peter Beale is mentioned next and she is the daughter about whom I have more information. The eight children of Peter Beale and Elizabeth are all baptized at Priors Dean with the eldest Eleanor (Helena) Beale, married to Anthony Habberley, baptized 11 Mar 1579. Perhaps Elizabeth BLAKE's likely date of marriage is 1578 or 1579 since March is the end of the year rather than the beginning in this time frame. Perhaps she was 21 when she married giving her a possible date of birth around 1558 or earlier (or later since young marriages also occurred). Elizabeth's last child was Elizabeth and I have not yet found her baptism but allotting a two year break which is not actually true in this family but close then Elizabeth was likely born around 1593 when Elizabeth would have been around 35 years of ago (or older since women often had children into their 40s). Playing with this timeline lets me look at the marriage of William with regard to time frame and all of his daughters are married by 1582 the date of his will. The last mentioned daughter is Mary and she married Ralfe Rigges and she is the daughter about whom I have the most information. She died before 1 Sep 1612 at Fareham. They had ten children with the first one buried 35 Apr 1580 at Fareham. The fifth child Mary is the first for whom I have a baptism and that was 27 Jun 1585 at Fareham. The Rigges family is in the Visitation and I have extracted their family information from there and collected records where available. It would appear that Mary has married before Elizabeth  leaving one to conjecture that Elizabeth may have been older rather than younger in the estimation of ages. Even randomly placing these children into the family of William with John the eldest there are in total ten children mentioned in the will (sons John, William, Peter, Thomas and Richard). Placing the children on an approximate distance apart scale of two years and knowing that Elizabeth may have been the last daughter to marry in 1578 or 79 at the possible age of 21 with a possible year of birth around 1558 and she was not the youngest then working back to the eldest John five children or more earlier than John may have been born around 1548 or earlier. Which brings us to Nicholas' will which I will put up next and he mentions that his son William has children in 1547 so coming close to a reasonable time frame and either some have died or John and other(s) were born prior to 1547 when Nicholas wrote his will.

William, the testator, writes that his eldest son is John and no details on John besides his being eldest. John is not named Executor unless William the second eldest son defaults. I am left with two thoughts in that regard. John doesn't live closeby is my first thought and my second is that John is already married and has perhaps a large family responsibility although William takes great pains to protect his inheritance to his children as if there aren't any heirs male of John. Any possible grandchildren are not mentioned by William in his will.

The order of sons: John is the eldest, William is the second son, Peter is the third son, Thomas is the fourth son and Richard is the fifth son.

The Blake Pedigree Chart which I mentioned earlier is held at the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office. It is a beautiful chart about four feet wide and twelve feet high. It lists William BLAKE of Eastontown as the son of Roger BLAKE of Pinhills Wiltshire and that he was married to Avis Ripley and died in 1582. The children listed on the chart: Agnes married to Roger Hyde, John married to Margaret Blake daughter of William Blake of Eastontown, William married to Ann Tutt and Peter who never married. William BLAKE, the testator in the will below, does have a daughter Agnes but she is married to (unknown Kynton) and he does have the three children mentioned John, William and Peter. Hence one can see my difficulty in resolving these two mentions of William Blake of Eastontown. The will is the difficulty. If one just goes with all the Visitation information the family lines just seem to flow and the Pedigree Chart at Swindon and Wiltshire was built from the Visitations. There is one notable exception, the Wiltshire Visitation of 1623 does not list a son William for Roger BLAKE.

My thoughts: William BLAKE mentioned could be the same man but with two different marriages (however he appears to have two different sets of parents). Perhaps Agnes has married twice and I must look at that more intently as I work through these wills. When you read the will below you will understand my thoughts that Elizabeth could be his second wife and he is ensuring that the children (namely John and William) clearly understand how he wants their possible step mother to be treated after his death. The older children in several cases as it turns out do not remain at Andover but move towards London. Enjoy the will; I think it is one of those landmark ones that is just fascinating to read and has so much information in it about the times and how people lived.


Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 20th February 2008
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/64/501
Name of Testator: William BLAKE, Yeoman of Andover, Hampshire
Place: Eastontowne, Andever, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 27 July 1582, probated 14 November 1582

[Margin]: 312
[Margin]: T[estator]  Willi[a]m Blake


1    In the name of God amen; I William Blake
2    of Estontowne, within the parishe of Andever in the countie of Southampton yeoman, beinge in good and
3    perfecte memorye of mynde and healthe of bodye (thancks be geven to allmightye god) wayethinge and pondering
4    withe my self the shortnes of the dayes of manne and the uncertentie of the tyme when hit shall please
5    Th[e ]allmightie to call us to his mercye oute of this transitory lief, And that wee are but Stewardes here
6    of this worldly gooddes and possessions to use accordinge to the rules of christian charitie to Godds honour
7    and glorye and muste at the generall daie of Judgemente render accompte of the obteyninge houldinge and
8    ymployinge thereof to his dyvine maiestie, Doe hereby of my self and by the councell and advise of my
9    good Freindes make and declare this to be my last will and testamente in wrytinge, revokinge by theise
10    presents all form other former willes of myne made, either by worde of or wrytinge at anye tyme before
11    the date hereof, And declaringe this to be my sole and onely last will and testamente in manner and forme
12    foollowinge and none other (viz Firste I yealde my soule and spyrite to the moste highe and blessed Trinitie
13    three personnes and one verye god the Father, the sonne and the holye ghoste, whoe hathe made redemed
14    and sanctified all the electe people of god, of which, nomber I doe hope that I am one; trustinge and belevinge
15    onelye by the meritts of Jesus Christe his bitter passionne, the second personne in the same Trinitie to bee
16    a saved sowle and in him at the daie of dome to have a ioyfull resurrection of this fleshe of myne,
17    willinge my Bodye in the meane tyme after my deceasse to be buried in christian buriall within the church
18    of Andever aforesaide nere the cloke howse doore there and in suche sorte as shal[l ]be thoughte most meete
19    by my executors, protestinge also by this my laste will and testamente that I houlde and beleve all th[a]t
20    whatsoever was promised for me at the tyme of my Baptisme and all the articles of a christian faythe
21    whatsoever which I aught to houlde or beleve and whiche the moste holye visible Churche of Christe
22    here on earthe teachethe and houldeth, acknowledgeinge my self hereby throughe the grace of god to dye
23    therein, wholye prostratinge and submittinge my self to the obedience of the same Churche wheare
24    soever the same is dispersed thereowte oute the worlde, utterlye renouncinge and defyinge all Sectes
25    heresies and dampable opinions whatsoever theye be, and of whomesoever there are houlden contrary
26    to goddes holye worde, the true catholike faithe and the Churche of Jesus Christe our Lorde and
27    savioure for the whiche he shedde his most precious innocente and guiltless[s] bloude. And as
28    concerninge the bestowinge of all my gooddes and chattells, I doe make thereof my laste will and
29    testamente in manner and fourme followinge and no otherwyse, That is to saye, I geve to thee
30    Cathedrall Churche of Win[ches]tor eight pence, And to the parrishe churche of Andever Thirteene
31    shillinges and fower pence, And to the Churche of Knightes Enham Thirtene shillinges & fower
32    pence, And to the poore people of Andever aforesaide Three poundes fyve shillinges and eighte
33    pence, to be amongest theme distributed by the discrecion of my executor and overseers. Item
34    I geve and bequeathe to Edmunde Blake my brother Tenne poundes of currant Englishe money
35    to be delyvered to him within one half yeare after my decease. Item I bequeathe and geve to my
36    sister Elizabeth Monday fyve poundes of the lyke currante englishe monneye, to be paide unto her within
37    one yeare after my deceasse. Item I geve to Alice Godwyn my sister twentie shillings of the
38    like currant Englishe monneye. Item I geve and bequeathe to everye one of my godchildrens
39    whiche shal[l ]be lyvinge at the tyme of my deceasse one good clydde lambe a peece. Item I geve and
40    bequeathe to Richarde Blake my sonne Fyftye poundes of currant englishe monneye, to be paide
41    unto him or his assignes within one yeare after my decease. Item I geve and bequeathe to
42    Thomas Blake my sonne Two hundred and fyftie poundes of lawfull Englishe monneye to be
43    paide unto him and his assignes yearlie after my decease by Fyftie pounds together by the yere,
44    untill the said Somme Two hundred and fyftie poundes shal[l ]be fullye satisfied and paide. Item
45    Item I geve to Amye Rombold my daughter two kyne one bullocke and twentie sheepe to bee
46    delyvered within one yeare after my deceasse, And the said sheepe to be delyvered oute of my flock
47    as theye shall ronne at lease. Item I geve to Magarett Jarvis my daughter Fyve marks of currant
48    englishe monneye to be paide her within one yeare after my deceasse. Item I geve to Agnes Kynton my daughter
49    one cowe and a bullocke, And to Elizabeth Beale my daughter fowertie shillings in monney. Item
50    I geve to Marye Rigges my daughter fortie shillings of currante englishe monneye to be delyvered
51    her within one yeare after my deceasse. Item I geve unto my eldeste sonne John one hundred sheepe
52    to be delyvered ymmediatelye uppon my deceasse ronninge at leace And also two horsses or fyve pounds
53    in money at the elections of my saide sonne John by hym to be taken or delyvered upon my deceasse
54    Item I geve and bequeathe unto Elizabethe Blake my wieff two kyne to be delyvered unto her ymmedi
55    ately uppon my deceasse by her owne choice owte of my herde of kyne, And also five sowes to bee
56    delyvered unto her by her owne choice owte of my herde of swyne. Item I doe bequeathe and will
57    unto my saide wieff all that her apparell woolens and lynnens which she shall have for her body
58    at the tyme of my deceasse, And also two feather or downe beddes nexte to my beste bedde and one other
59    flocke bedde for her maide to lye on, and twoe of my coverlettes to be chosen by her, nexte my Two
60    best coverlettes and also twoe paire of my beste blancketts and one paire of my seconde blancketts And
61    also eighte paire of my sheetes to be chosen by her, nexte after my sonne William hathe chosen fower
62    payre, And also twoe of my beste spones, twoe of my beste brasse pottes, twoe of my beste kettells
63    twoe of my best skelletts and two of my beste broches, and two of my beste Andirons, And also one
64    dossens of my best pewter platters, one dossens of pottengers, and one dosens of sawcers, fower
65    candlesticks, and sixe ioyne stooles, one table borde, one cupborde borde and the one half of my
66    poultrye whiche shal[l ]be aboute my howse at my deceasse, by her to be chosen, and also my beste
67    amblinge hackney that I shall have at the tyme of my deceasse and her saddle and furniture
68    belonginge to her for her iourneyinge. Item I geve and bequeathe to my sayde wife (uppon
69    condicion that shee shall clayme no Dowrie of my fee symple Landes, whereof I shall dye seyzed
70    or whiche I have bequeathed by this my laste will  the yearlye Annuytye of Twentye pounds
71    duringe her lieff to be issuinge and payable by my executours. owte of all my leasses and fearmes
72    that I houlde of the righte honnourable the Lord Sandys, at fower feasts of the yeare quart[er]ly
73    to be paide (viz the firste quarter to begynne the nexte Feaste either of Michaelmas, Christmas,
74    Th[e ]annunciations of oure Blessed Ladye, or sainte John Baptiste, whiche shall first happens
75    after my deceasse, And so at the same Feasts quarterlye fyve pounds a quarter yerelye to her
76    to be paide duringe her lieff, And if it happens the saide Annunytye of Twentie poundes or any
77    parte threreof to be behinde and unpaide at anye tyme duringe the naturall lieff of my saide
78    wieff, by the space of eighte daies after annye of the saide Feastes aforesaide as whiche the
79    same oughte to be paide unto the saide Elizabethe my wieff, That then and from thenceforth
80    it shal[l ]be lawfull for the saide Elizabethe my wieff and her assignees to enter into the sayde
81    Fearmes and other the permisses oute, whereof the saide Annuytie is goinge, yssueable or payable
82    whiche I houlde of the saide Lord Sandys, and thereuppon to distreyne, and the distresse to
83    dryve carrye awaye and with[ h]oulde untill the saide Annuitie and there everye thereof (yf anny
84    shall happens to be behinde be to her and her assignees fullye contented and paide). Item I
85    will and bequeathe unto the saide Elizabethe my wieff duringe her lieff, the fyndinge and
86    keepinge of two kyne to be found and kepte for her and to her use and proffitte uppon the
87    sayde Fearme groundes of the fearme of Andever, bothe in wynter tyme and in Sommer tyme
88    And to have aswell pasture for theme, as also fodder of sweete strawe to susteyne theme, in
89    good plighte, allwaies to be foddered, pastured, watered, and used at the paynes and provision
90    of my executor and by theire Servauntes and at their charge and industrye. And also I
91    bequeathe unto her my sayde wieff the fyndinge of two sowe hoggs for her and to her owne use
92    and proffitte to be kepte uppon the sayde Fearme of Andever, and to be sounde and well harboured
93    and well used and served within my saide Fearme of Andever in suche sorte as is meete and as
94    shall well contente my saide wieff ordered at the provisicion coste and charge of my executors
95    and the industrye of theire servauntes duringe her life. Item I bequeathe unto her fower dossen
96    of my poultrye of all sortes viz of Capons, hennes and chickens suche and best shall fansye and
97    like my saide wieff, and also the fyndinge so manye of poultrie duringe her life to be founde
98    fedde, harboured and well used and lyved, within my saide Fearme of Andever in suche sorte
99    as is meete and as shall well contente my saide wieff at the coste and charges of my saide
100    executor. Item I geve and bequeathe my saide wief yerelie duringe her life, for her necessary use one
101    waight of woll to be paide yearlye by my executor out of my Fearme of Andever the same yearlye to be deliv[er]ed
102    at the shere tyme, and that she choose yearlye the same waighte of wooll of the firste weighte of wooll
103    that shal[l ]be weighed of the ferme sheepe yearlye at shepesheare. Item I bequeathe and will that my
104    wieff shall have howse rome, duringe her naturall lieff for the abode within my house of Estontowne
105    that I nowe dwell in for her self and her maide, and that she shall have to her owne onely use, duringe
106    her lief, the bedchamber that I and she doe nowe lye in, and that she shall have free concoursse and
107    accesse into the hall, the kitchine, and the reste of my howses of office, aswell within doores as without
108    there allwaies to doe her necessarie busynes withall to her reasonable contemente, so as my executors
109    maye have with all, accesse quietlye into annye romes, within the howsses of office to serve his turne
110    reasonablye, not disquietinge nor excludinge my saide wieff oute thereof at annye tyme to do her
111    necessarye busynes therein. Item I will that my executors shall at his coste and charges provide
112    and fynde unto my saide wieff sufficiente necessarye and as muche woodde and fyreboote as she shall
113    spende in her saide chamber, or aboute the necessarye usage of dressinge her meate and drinck, w[i]thin
114    my saide howsse of Estontowne, And further more that if my saide wieff shal[l ]be mynded to remove
114    from my saide howsse of Estontowne to dwell at her pleasure and better lykinge and contentement
116    within the Towne of Andever, Then I will that neverthelesse, my saide executore shall at his
117    and theire costes and charges provide and fynde unto her sufficient woode and fyrebote for her
118    chamber, bakinge, dressinge and brewinge of her necessarie meate and drincke in suche sorte, as
119    before is lymyted to her for her inhabitinge within my said howse of Estontowne even in such manner
120    as thoughe she weare or shoulde be continuallye rescant there in all respecte, And shall further
121    yearlie paye unto my saide wieff for and towardes her howse rente, so longe as she shall contynue
122    there or else wheare, oute of my howse at Estontowne the yearlie somme of Twentie shillinges,
123    by the yeare to be paide quarterlye unto her at suche Feasts and daies and in suche manner and
124    sorte as her Annuitie of Twentye poundes before mencioned is appointed to be paide. And
125    furthermore if it shall lyke my said wieff to inhabite in anye other place besydes the Towne of
126    Andever owte of the same parrisshe, That then so longe tyme as she shall so enhabite owte of the
127    same parrisshe, I doe will that my executoure shall yealde and paie unto her for and in lewe of
129    suche kyne, hoggs, wooll, and poultrie as she shoulde otherwise have had goinge and founde
129    by my executor uppon my saide Fearme of Andever the somme of fowertie shillings of currante
130    Englishe monneye yearlye to be paide her at the Feastes, daies and tymes, and in suche sorte as her
131    Annuytye of Twentie poundes before recyted is and ought to be paide, And that so longe tyme
132    as she shall so abide, and dwell owte of the saide parrishe of Andever, she shal[l ]be excludedd to
133    demande of my executor annye other duetye before to her limited bequeathed or appointed owte of
134    my sayde Fearme, besydes the saide Twentie poundes to her limited and bequeathed w[hi]ch nevertheles
135    shal[l ]be paide her, in manner and fourme aforesaid. Provided also and my will and entente is
136    and so I doe declare it to be my mynde, That if my saide wieff shall happen to marrye, and
137    not to lyve sole and in her widowhedd, That then she shall have the saide yearlie Annuytye of
138    Twentie poundes, in manner and fourme as before is to her appointed onelye and shal[l ]be excluded
139    and barred for ever by this my laste will of all other benefitte whatsoever, if she should otherwise
140    have owte of my saide Fearme of Andever (annye thinge mencioned in this my will to the co[n]trary
141    notwithstandinge. And soe that my whole mynde and will is that my Fee symple landes w[hi]ch
142    I have to me and myne heyres by purchase or discente or otherwise, shall remayne contynue and
143    be forever hereafter in my name and bloude, withoute anye alteracion, discontynuance or devise
144    thereof to be made or suffered to the contrarye by those or annye of those or theire or anye of
145    theire heires, or heire males or annye of theme to whome I shall by this my laste will and
146    Testamente geve and bequeathe the same or annye parte thereof unto, I doe by this my will
147    And Testament geve and bequeathe all my Landes and Tenementes with all and singler thee
148    Appurtenauncs in manner and fourme followinge, That is to saye, Firste I geve and
149    bequeathe unto John Blake, my eldest Sonne, All that my two Tenements called Brownes
150    and Cambers with all and singuler the appurtenauncs situate in Knights Enham and Kinges
151    Enham within the saide Countie of Southampton, and all Landes arrables, meadowes feedings
152    pastures, commons, commodities, and advanntags whatsoever to the same Tenements or to anye
153    of theme belonginge or in annye wise apperteyinnge or as annye parte or parcell of themee or any of theme
154    used or occupied withall and singuler th[e ]appurtenauncs, whatsoever, And also all that my Landes Teneme[n]ts
155    and hereditaments called Brayes, and all landes arrables meadowes belonginge to the same withe th[e ]appur
156    tenancs, To have and to houlde the saide two Tenements called Brownes and Chambers withall and
157    singuler th[e ]appurtanauncs and also the said Tenemente called Brayes, and all other the Landes and p[re]misses
158    last bequeathed and recited unto the saide John Blake my sonne for terme of his naturall lieff, And after
159    his deceasse to the heires males of his bodye lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue to Will[ia]m
160    Blake my seconde sonne, for terme of his naturall lieff, and after the deceasse of the same William, to the
161    heyres males of his body lawfullye begotten the bodye of the saide William lawfully begotten And
162    for defaulte of suche issue to the heires males of the bodye of Peter Blake my Thirde sonne lawfully
163    begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue to the heires males of the bodye of Thomas Blake, my
164    fourthe sonne lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue, to the heires males of the body of
165    Richarde Blake my fyfte sonne lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue to the righte heires
166    of my saide Ist sonne John Blake for ever. And furthermore I doe by this my laste will and
167    Testamente geve and bequeathe unto the saide William Blake my second sonne one Tenement
168    with Th[e ]appurtenauncs commonlye called Roses lyinge within Kings Enham aforesaide, And all
169    Landes tenementes, meadowes, pastures, feedings, proffitts and commodities and advauntages whatso
170    ever to the same Tenement belonginge or in any wise apperteyninge whiche I late purchased of Mr
171    Cauley, And also one meadowe, with th[e ]appurtenaunces lyinge in Kings Enham aforesaide, which I
172    late bought of _ne Hayse, commonly called Dichie meade. And also the Crofte withe Th[e ]appurtenauncs
173    called Whiteyeres crofte and all the landes with th[e ]appurtenauncs which I late purchased of John James
174    of Charleton lyinge in Kings Enham aforesaid, To have and houlde the saide Tenement called Roses
175    with th[e ]appurtenauncs and the saide meadowe called Dichie meade with th[e ]appurtauncs and the saide Lande
176    called Whiteyeres Crofte and the saide Landes late purchased of the saide John James with th[e ]appurte[n]auncs
177    and all other the laste recited premisses unto the saide William Blake bequeathed withe all and
178    singuler their appurtenaunces unto the saide William Blake my sonne second Sonne for terme of his
179    naturall life, And after his deceasse to the heires males of his bodye lawfullie begotten, And for
180    defaulte of suche issue, to the saide John Blake my eldest sonne for terme of his naturall life, And
181    after the deceasse of the same John to th[e h]eirs males of his bodye lawfully begotten with the lyke
182    Lymytacions in their respecte and degree as before is lymitted to the saide Peter Blake and the
183    others followinge him, And furthermore I doe by this my laste will and Testamente geve and
184    bequeathe unto the saide Peter Blake, my thirde sonne all that my Eleaven Tenements and one
185    Cottage withe all and singuler their appurtenauncs scituate and beinge in Andever, aforesaide,
186    nowe at the daie of the date of this my will in the severall tenure or occupacions of William
187    Northe, Hughe Tydder, William Hussie, Christopher Broughe and Goodman Wilson, William
188    Bathe, Robert Carde, George Masonn, John Presser, Robert Newell, Katherine Hide
189    and [blank] Wiggs widdowe, And also all that my three meadowes with th[e ]appurtenauncs
190    lyinge within Charletonn within the saide Countie of Southampton, nowe at the date of this
191    my will in the severall tenures and occupacions of John Purham, John James and John West.
192    To have and to houlde all the saide eleven Tenements and cottage and three meadowes laste
193    recyted withe all and singuler theire appurtena[u]ncs unto the saide Peter my Thirde Sonne
194    to him and to his heires for ever. And to th[e ]entente that suche Fearmes, Landes, Tenem[en]ts,
195    withe all and singuler th[e ]appurtena[u]ncs whiche I houlde by Lease or Leasses, and of the graunte
196    of the saide Lorde Sandys, or of annye of his Lo[rd] Ancestors shoulde, contynue, remayne and be
197    to my bloudde and name withe my saide fee symple Landes in suche sorte and to somme of those
198    personnes to whome I have gevenn and bequeathed my sayde Fee symple Landes unto therefore
199    I doe by this my last will and Testamente geve and bequeathe the same landes in manner and
200    fourme followinge, That is to saie, I geve and bequeathe to my saide John Blake one Tene[ment]
201    withe th[e ]appurtenauncs, commonlie called th[e ]olde haule lyinge in Knights Enham aforesayde,
202    And all Landes and meadowes whatsoever in Leasies, pastures, feadinges, com[m]ons, proffitts,
203    commodities and advauntags whatsoever to the same Tenemente belonginge or in anye wise
204    app[er]teyninge, And also one severall close withe th[e ]appurtuance commonly called Walworte
205    And also twoe meadowes in Andever beinge Lammas Lande houlden by Tenne shillings rente by the yeare
206    And also all my Lammas Lande and meadowe, whatsoever with th[e ]appurtenauncs lyinge in Andever,
207    or Andever feilde aforesaide, And all other my Landes and tenements, whatsoever conteyned and
208    mentioned uppon the grande Lease to me made of the last recited premisses (excepte the Tenement
209    called Smythes and the parcell of grounde called Evatts Okes al[ia]s Glosshanger and suche Lammas
210    Landes as the saide William Blake my sonne nowe houldethe whiche saide Tenement called Oulde
211    hall and closes called Walwort, meadowe and lamas lande and other the laste recited premisse I
212    doe houlde of the saide Lorde Sandys for terme of yeares not yet expired, To have and to hold
213    the saide Tenemente called oulde hall, the saide close called Walwortt and the meadowes and Lammas
214    lands aforesaide and all other the premisses with all and singuler, th[e ]appurtena[u]nces laste recited (except
215    before last excepted) unto the saide John Blake for terme of his naturall lieffe, yf my terme of yeres
216    thereof so longe shall endure, And after his deceasse the saide Tenemente called old hall the said close
217    called Walwort and the meadowes and Lammas Lande and all the laste recited premisses withe th[e ]appurtena[u]ncs
218    (excepte before excepted) to remayne contynue and be to the heires males of the bodye of my saide sonne
219    John lawfullye begotten and so to contynue in my bloude and name from one to an other in lyke manner
220    and sorte and in everye respecte and degree accordinge to my sayde lymytacion made of my sayde fee simple
221    landes called Brownes, Cambers and Brayes so longe as the terme of yeares which I have in the granted
222    leasses of the same or of annye parte thereof shall contynue The saide John Blake and the heyres males of
223    his bodye bodye lawfullye begotten, and all other the persons before lymyted to enioye the saide Tenemente
224    called oulde haule & the saide close called Walworte and the said two meadowes and Lammas lande and other the premisses laste recited (excepte
225    before excepted) yealdinge payinge doinge and performinge all suche rentes dueties and covenants whiche
226    shal[l ]be after my deceasse at annye tyme due, paieable or to be donne to the saide Lorde Sandys his heires or
227    assignes or annye other personne or personnes whatsoever by reason of the graunde Leasse or Leasses made
228    thereof or of annye other parte or parcell thereof, other than suche rente and dutyes as shall growe due
229    by reason of the saide Tenemente called called Smythes and the saide groundes called Evatts okes alias
230    Glosshanger and other then for the said Lammas lande in the tenure of the saide William Blake my sonne
231    viz for the sayde Tenemente called Smythes fowertene shillinges by the yeare for the saide grounde called
232    Glosshanger fyve shillinges by the yeare and for the saide Lammas Lande Twelve shillinges by the Yeare
233    And furthermore to th[e ]intente that my sonne William Blake and th[e ]other personnes hereafter lymyted to have
234    my Fearme of Andever shall contynwe hospitalitie with the same accordinge to the proportions thereof
235    within the parrishes of Andever and Knightes Enham or one of theme duringe the terme of yeares w[hi]ch
236    shal[l ]be therein to comme after the tyme of my deceasse, I doe by this my last will and testamente geve and
237    bequeathe unto the same William Blake my saide seconde sonne my Tenemente and howse with th[e ]app[u]rtena[u]ncs
238    whiche I nowe dwell in commonlie called Smythes and all landes, meadowes, leasues, pastures, feadings,
239    commons, proffittes, commodities and advauntages, whatsoever to the same tenemente belonginge or in anye
240    wise apperteyninge, And also my Ferme of Andever, withe all landes, meadowes, leasues, pastures, feedings,
241    proffittes, commodities, and advauntages, whatsoever to the same ferme belonginge, or in annye wise appertey
242    ninge, whiche saide Fearme and Tenemente and other the last recyted premisses I doe lykewise houlde
243    for terme of yeares not expired of the saide Lo: Sandis (except and allwayes res[er]ved oute of this my last
244    gifte and bequeaste all suche percell of lande as bene before by me geven unto John my sayde eldeste
245    sonne, To have and to houlde the saide Tenemente Ferme and all other the premisses withe all and singuler
246    their appurtenauncs last recited and bequeathed (excepte last before excepted) unto the saide William my
247    sonne for terme of his naturall lief, yf my terme of yeares thereof to me made shall so longe endure
248    And after his deceasse the saide ferme and Tenemente and all other the premisses laste bequeathed and
249    recyted (excepte before laste excepted) to remayne contyneue and be to the heyres males of the bodye of the
250    sayde William my sonne lawfullye begotten and so from one to an other in like manner and sorte and in
251    everye respecte and degree accordinge to my saide Lymytacions made of my Fee symple landes called Roses
252    Dichie meade and whiteyeares crofte, so longe as my terme of yeares, which I have in the graund leasse
253    to mee made of the same or of annye parte thereof shall contynewe, The saide William Blake and ye
254    heires males of his bodye lawfullye begotten and all other the personnes before lymyted to enioye ye
255    sayde Ferme or Tenemente and other the premisess laste to him bequeathed yealdinge payinge doinge and
256    performinge all suche rentes dueties and covenannts, whiche shal[l ]be after my deceasse at annye tyme
257    due paiable or to be donne to the saide Lo: Sandys his heires or assignees or annye other personne or p[er]sonnes
258    whatsoever by reason of the saide graunde Leasse or leasses, made thereof or of annye parte or parcell thereof
259    or of annye the premisses laste recited and to the saide William bequeathed. The residue of my goods
260    (before not bequeathed nor disposed, my debtes and legacies beinge paide and this my laste will and testament
261    in all respectes iustlie performed and accomplished) I geve and bequeath to my sonne William aforesaide
262    to th[e ]intente that he and th[e ]other personnes before lymyted to have, my said Fearme of Andever shall
263    contynewe hospitalitie within the parrishe of Andever Knights Enham or one of theme during thee
264    terme of yeares of my said Fearme of Andever. Provided allwayes and my will and whole entent
265    is, That if it shall fortune after my deceasse anny of my said sonnes, or anny others to whome I have
266    limited to have and enioye annye parte of my landes or gooddes aforesaid, not to contente himself or
267    theme selves withe suche porcions of Landes or gooddes and in suche manner and sorte as I have before
268    gevenn and bequeathed the same unto him or theme, and unto everie or annye of theme, Or that theie or
269    annye of theme shall shewe themselves or annye of theme shall shewe himselfe or herself to have mislike
270    withe the same or of this my last will or of annye parte of the contente of this my testament, Or
271    shall endewe themselves or annye of theme shall endewe him or herself to devise doe practise attempte
272    or putte in use, or cause to be devised donne prassised attempted or putte in use or assente, consent agree unto
273    or suffer annye acte, thinge or thinges whatsoever or by what meanes soever whiche shalbe disturbe alter
274    violate, frustrate, breake or make voide, or shall or maie be by annye meanes intended, construed or
275    ymagined to disturbe, alter, chaunge, violate, frustrate, breake or make voide, in annye respecte or pointe
276    this my last will and testament, and the contents and limitacions of the same, or of annye parte,
277    pointe, limitacion, legacie, bequeaste, gift or contents thereof, or of annye parte thereof, or shall
278    not stande to and obeye the order and iudgemente of my overseers and the longest lyver of theme
279    duringe their lyves in suche ambiguities, doubts, questions, and controversies as shall happen to
280    aryse hereafter uppon or by reasonn of this my last will and testament to all entents and purpos[e]s
281    That then in all and everie the cases laste recyted, my said sonnes and everye other person and
282    personnes shall and everie of theme to whome I have geven graunted or lymyted to have or enioye
283    annye parte of my landes gooddes or chattells aforesaide and everie of theme in so doeinge and
284    offendinge this my mynde in my last will and testament shall for ever lose the benefitt of this my
285    laste will, and Testamente, to all entents and purposes and the Legacies and devises to theme and
286    everie of theme or annye of theme by the same gevens devised or bequeathed, and whiche otherwise
287    theye or annye of them, in not so doinge or offendinge mighte have had and enioyed. As thoughe
288    no mencions at all hadd beene made in this my laste Testamente of annye suche gifte devise or
289    Legacie And that then in everie suche case as aforesayd I doe geve and bequeathe by this my last
290    will and Testament the same porcion of my sayde goods and Landes to the resydue of my sayde
291    sonnes not so offendinge and to suche others aforesaide not so offendinge to whome I have made
292    the Lymytacions of the contynuaunce and enioyinge the reside of my sayde Landes, goods and
293    chattells to be equallye and indifferentlie devided and apporcioned amongeste theme. And
294    I doe make my sayde sonne William Blake my executor of this my last will and testament
295    Provided nevertheless and this my last will is, That if the saide William shall not or doe
296    not take uppon him the execucion and executorshipp of this my last will and Testament, or that
297    he and his issue male aforesaide shall not trewlye and iustlie paye all, the Legacies of this my
298    last will and also shall not doe accomplishe and performe the same thorowlye accordinge to my
299    entente and meaninge expressed in this my last will and testamenete, in all respectes whatsoever, or
300    shall not within one monneth after my deceasse become in sufficient bond unto my overseers or
301    suche of theme as shal[l ]be lyvinge at the tyme of my decease, or if theye shall happen to be deceased
302    to the Bisshopp of the dioces for the tyme beinge to obeye and performe this my laste will and
303    Testament, That then I will my said legacie and gifte before to him and his heires males bequethed
304    and geven as well of my Landes as of my goods utterlye to surceasse and to be voyde and of none
305    effecte, And then I doe make my saide sonne John my executor of this my last will and testament
306    to see the same well and trulye performed Annye thinge before mencioned to the contrarie notw[i]th
307    standinge. And I doe by this my last will and testament appointe my verye trustie and welbeloved
308    freindes Richard Sotwell, Doctor of the Civill Lawe, and Andrewe Reade gent to be my ov[er]seers.
309    givinge willinge and grauntinge theme and the longest lyver of theme full power and Authoritie by this my last will
310    and testamente yf theye shall so please to determyn decide and ende all ambiguities, doubtes, questions or debate
311    whatsoever whiche hereafter duringe their lyves or the longest lyver of theme shall happen to fall owte
312    amongest my saide children, or annye other to whome I have geven annye of my Landes or gooddes unto
313    by this my will conc[e]rninge this my last will and Testamente or anny matter conteyned therein
314    And I doe bequeathe to eche of my saide overseers in token of my good will towardes theme for theire
315    paynes Fowrtie shillings a peece to be delyvered within one monneth uppon my deceasse. In witnes
316    whereof I have to everie paper leaffe of this my will sette my signe and marke, Geven the Seaven
317    and twentithe daie of Julye one Thousande fyve hundred eightie two. Anno Regni Regine [domine ]n[ost]re Elizabethe
318    vicesimo Quarto. And further have to theise presentes putte my mark and sette my seale. witness
319    the same those whose names are under writtenn William Stotwell, Richarde Stotwell, John
320    Sotwell, An: Reade, John Deane
321    Probatum fuit suprascriptum testamentum apud London. Coram venerabili viro
322    mag[ist]ro Willi[el]mi Drurye legum doctore curie prerogative Cantuarien[sis] commissario etc Decimo
323    Quarto die mensis Novembris Anno Domini mill[es]imo quingentesimo octagesimo secundo. Juramento Petri
324    Johnson notarij publici procuratoris Willi[a]m Blake filij et executoris etc Cui commissa fuit administrac[io]
325    bonorum etc De bene etc Jurat[e]

BLAKE - Transcription of the Will of John Blake, Esquire, of Nether Wallop - The National Archives, PROB 11/14/155, probated 24 Apr 1504

 The countryside driving along A343 between Salisbury and Andover was quite beautiful and this picture was taken the 22 Apr 2008 (we are close to Nether Wallop). We had left stacks of snow in Canada when we flew to England and seeing the lush green fields was quite ethereal. We love the snow but escaping it in April was quite wonderful although we knew it would be gone when we returned mid May! The distance from Salisbury to Andover is 31 kilometres and driving straight through takes about 30 minutes. We dawdled along somewhat since there was very little traffic and the entire trip took just under one hour (my BLAKE cousin Ivan Kent and his wife had driven us).



We did not actually go to Andover but took a turn at Abbotts Ann that led us to Upper Clatford where my grandfather Samuel George BLAKE was born in 1875 and a number of generations of his BLAKE family before that were also born at Upper Clatford. His 2x great grandfather Joseph BLAKE was born in Andover. But that is a long story and can be seen in other blog posts. I digress and will return to the intent of this post.

This will below written by John BLAKE of Nether Wallop and dated 24th Feb 1503/04 is often quoted by BLAKE researchers to prove their BLAKE lines and this John was known to be the son of Robert BLAKE and Avis Wallop. We know that John is 40 years or more old when his mother's estate was examined under Inquisitions Postmortem, Series 1, Edward IV Avice BLAKE (C 140/48/6) in 1474 so he was born circa 1434 or earlier. In 1504 he would have been at least 70 years old. John was married twice and he did not mention, in his will below, any of his male heirs carrying the BLAKE surname. Part of the fascination for me in all of this aside from information for my one-name study of the BLAKE family is that he lived at the time that the grandfather of Nicholas BLAKE (my likely 12x great grandfather) at Enham lived (thought to be Robert BLAKE married to Maud Snell). Living at Nether Wallop John BLAKE, the testator, was only seven miles south west of Andover and we passed through the area of the Wallops on our way to Upper Clatford (1 mile south of Andover or in truth just on the opposite side of the highway these days having traveled A30 several times between the two). Nether Wallop lies in a bit of a valley and one mile to the north west is Middle Wallop and two miles to the north west is Over Wallop. Then six miles to the north east is Goodworth Clatford and also Upper Clatford which are two continuous villages (Upper Clatford lying between Andover and Goodworth Clatford). As we drove these lanes I could imagine my great grandfather Edward BLAKE (Ivan Kent, my second cousin, and I both descend from Edward BLAKE (my father was born at Eastleigh, Hampshire)) walking from his home to work each day as he did all of his working life down Rice Road. Looking at the picture of him from 1898 I can see from whom I inherited my strabismus (lazy eye syndrome) for there it is forever captured in picture the one eye wandering about on its own whilst the other is fixed on you the viewer (my cousins have the original which is about 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall). I have a copy of it that was made into postcards and given to all the children. My grandfather's copy was folded into his wallet to keep it close to him.

The testator John's brother Robert acquires Pinhills (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1261808) by this will of Johns (although not mentioned except in the line where it was said that Richard Dauntsey would inherit the properties in Southampton (old name for Hampshire) and Wiltshire with some exceptions and this was one of the exceptions) and it stays with the Robert BLAKE family into the reign of Charles I when it was destroyed by the Royalists in 1644 (and that is a whole other story!). A smaller manor was built from the original stones at Pinhills and the BLAKE family continued to live there into the 1700s.That John does not directly mention that Robert, his brother, will receive Pinhills in his will does leave one to wonder what else might not be in the will. 

This BLAKE family at Pinhills and Nether Wallop can trace back on paper to the BLAKE family that is on the 1286 subsidy for Wiltshire and on the BLAKE Pedigree Chart which is held by the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office. This rather large document (12 feet long by 4 feet wide) was commissioned by the Daniel BLAKE family in London, England in 1690 to record their family line and was produced using primarily the Visitations but also other family documents which I have not yet been able to determine. The College of Arms holds an original chart. I did speak with one individual who works at the College of Arms and they do not hold the other family documents but he suggested contacting any living family to see if they still retain these documents (I have not yet done so and may leave that for another researcher). The College of Arms is located near St Paul's Cathedral in London just up from the London Millennium Footbridge. Something that should not be missed when visiting London is crossing on foot all of the bridges over the Thames River and wandering down both sides of the River. The most we ever did was 20,000 steps per day and that took us from our hotel just south of Waterloo Station up into London and along the Thames to St Paul's Cathedral and back across the Thames and down into Bermondsey and then back to our hotel. A wonderful walk and we took about ten hours in total with lots of interesting stops along the way. Over the next few days we repeated our long walks journeying all over Bermondsey and London. You can take the Underground and it is a must to go to Kew, the Museums, Greenwich but to be in the City of London or Westminster the best way is to go on foot.

The BLAKE Pedigree Chart (mentioned above) interestingly enough does have a male descendant for John BLAKE (son of Robert BLAKE and Avis Wallop). He is named David BLAKE on the chart and was the son of his first wife Margaret Dyncham/Dinham/Denham. David is said to have married Joane Mallet and two children are mentioned: John BLAKE Abbot of Cirencester, Gloucester and William BLAKE who married Margaret Browne of Wablyn (all duly entered on the BLAKE Pedigree Chart mentioned above). William BLAKE and Margaret Browne had two sons Martin BLAKE who married Catherine Vaughan of Herefordshire and John BLAKE who is said to be the ancestor of the Somerset BLAKE family and mentioned on the chart the Lord High Admiral Robert BLAKE as one of that John BLAKE's descendants.

Robert BLAKE and Avis Wallop had seven children according to the Visitation of Wiltshire 1623. Their son Robert BLAKE married Margaret Inglefield and their two children Roger BLAKE and Anne BLAKE married into the Baynard family. Roger BLAKE married Mary Baynard and the Visitation of Wiltshire 1623 lists six children for this couple (Thomas, Robert, Sibell, Jone, Maria and John).  Roger BLAKE and Mary Baynard are said (on the BLAKE Pedigree Chart prepared by the College of Arms in 1690) to have had seven children including a son William BLAKE of Eastontown who married Avice Ripley. It is this William BLAKE that I have been most interested in from the viewpoint of my own family at Andover/Upper Clatford (his death is listed as 1582 on the BLAKE Pedigree Chart and he was living at Eastonton near Andover). A William BLAKE does leave a will dated 27 Jul 1582,  probated 14 Nov 1582 and he was living at Eastonton but he was the son of Nicholas and Margaret (unknown) BLAKE of Enham (he identifies his siblings in his will). This William (son of Nicholas) who lived at Eastonton near Andover lists his children in his will but this list does not agree with the children listed in this BLAKE Pedigree Chart. But one is left with the impression that it doesn't really make sense to make up a William when all this other information exists. Unfortunately, Roger BLAKE only mentions his eldest son and his youngest daughter in his will.  However, there could have been a son William who married Avis Ripley and had the children mentioned because these children do exist in the records as do the children in William BLAKE's 1582 will! Each of the William BLAKE had a son they named John and that John married a Margaret BLAKE just to add to the confusion. The 1571 Lay Subsidy returns for Andover and area do list two William BLAKE entries (1571 William BLAKE of Enham G 40 and 1571 Knight's Enham Tithing William BLAKE G 3 - West Hampshire Lay Subsidy Assessments, 1558-1603 (Andover, Kingsclere and New Forest Divisions), Edited by Douglas F Vick, 1987 (self-published))). It is just a really strange coincidence perhaps. But it has entered into the BLAKE families of Andover and Calne a real mystery! Since the parents of the William who left his will in 1582 were Nicholas and Margaret (unknown) BLAKE I eliminated the idea that William BLAKE married twice. But it is a real conundrum because of these old BLAKE Pedigrees. That Roger BLAKE did not name all of his children in his will and John BLAKE, the present testator, does not appear to either has led me to look at this present will with a different approach which I also mention in one of the paragraphs below. All of these wills mentioned are on my blog (I have nearly 2000 posts but it is possible to search or use the tags). Interestingly one of William's grandsons (William son of Nicholas) Richard BLAKE married Jone BLAKE (this appearing to be my line) and I am contemplating if Jone BLAKE may have been descendant of the Wiltshire BLAKE family.

This Visitation of Wiltshire 1623 principally looks at Robert BLAKE (brother of the testator John BLAKE)'s descendants. Henry BLAKE is living in 1623 at Pennells (according to the visitation) and just to place this manor it is to the WSW of Calne about 1 mile. It is about 29 miles from Nether Wallop to Calne. John BLAKE, the testator, doesn't say in his will where he is located at the time that he is writing his will.

John does mention his nephew Roger (son of his brother Robert although not as nephew). He does mention his servants Robert Blake yeoman and John Blake (currently his servant) (possibly these two men were learning from him how to manage an estate which was not uncommon for this to happen in families with land). For me, this will of John BLAKE opened my eyes to interpreting wills in a way that I had not before 2008. As a result, I read wills differently (and discussed them with a thought to what could be missing when it was applicable) from that point onward.
 
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 25 Oct 2012
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/14/155
Name of testator: John Blake, Esquire
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 24 Feb 1503, probated 24 Apr 1504

[In margin] Testum
[In margin] Jo Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen The xxiij day of February the xix yere of our sov[er]eigne lorde kinge henry
2    the vij th I John Blake Esquier of good and hole mynde laude and praysing be to the Infinite mercy and grace
3    of all myghty god make and comend this my last Will and testament First I bequeth my sowle to almyghty
4    god and to owr blessed lady his mother and to all the company of he[a]ven And my body to be buried in the p[ar]ich
5    church of Saint Andrews in Nether Wallop wyth and next the sepulure of Margery late my wife now disse
6    ased Also I bequeth to my mother church of Saint Swythwyns in Winchester xl d Item to my saide p[ar]ich
7    church and vicar for my tithyngs forgoten xl d It[e]m to the church wardens of the same church towards
8    the edyfiing of the same church xl d Item to the Mother church of owr lady in New Sar[um] xl d Item to the
9    church and vicare of owr lady of Calne for tithynys forgoten xij d Item to the church wardens for the
10    edyfing of the same church vj s viij d Item to the chapell of Saint Janry's within the same church for meyn-
11    tenyng of the lightes in the same Chapell xl d Item to Master Richard Sclater Vicare of the said church
12    of Saint Andrews xx d Item to the parish prest of the same church xvj d Also I bequeth to Roger blake
13    xx s and to Jane Dawency cosyn to my wife x s and to Robert Blake yeoman lat[e] my srvant x s and I
14    respite and release the same Robert of jjj s now he owith me and to John Blake my servant xx s and
15    to John Walishman my tawney gown and x s and to William Blancherd my servant xl d And to Alys
16    Cleylesdon my new and last gowne made and xij d And to Richard Colnot xl s for his labor in makyng
17    this my testament and feoffment so that they and ev[er]y of them pray for my sowle
18    First as towching all my maners landis and tenementis I will that John dawntsey shal[l ]have the moyte
19    of all my man[er]s landis tenements rentis reversions and farms with the appurtenancs within the
20    cown[t]ies of South[hamp]ton and Wiltes[shire] or elswher excepte certen landis underwriten in Compton and Calne
21    to come to hym for terme of his life and after his decese to remane to Richard dawntsey sonne of the sayde
22    John d and Alice late his wife and dowgther to the saide John Blake and to the heyres of the body of the
23    same Richard lawfully begotten and for default of such issu the remayndre therof to Jane Wrowgtone
24    dawghter of the said John Blak and to the eyres of her body lawfully begoten and for defaut of such
25    the remayndre ther of to the ryght heyres of Robert Blake my brother for evermor And as to the
26    other moyte of all my Maners landis and tenements with the appurtenancs within the saide cownty
27    or els wher excepte before excepte I will that the said Jane my dowgther have them to her and
28    to the eyres of her body lawfully begotten and for default of such Issue the remayndre therof to
29    the said Richard Dawntesey and to the eyres of his body lawfully begotten and for defawt of such issue
30    the remaynder ther of to the right heyres of the saide Robert Blake my brother Also I will by this my p[re]sent
31    will that my feoffys of my mes[sag]es landys and tenements with appurtenance in Compton and of a
32    corne myll in Calne called Kew myll a Tenement which Robert Cubley now dwellyth yn In an
33    tenement with William Ostyter now dwellyth in Calne aforesaid w[h]ich is of the yerly valor of xj £
34    xiij s iiij d or ther abowt as owe all charges shallstand and be feoffed therof to this menr folowny
35    that is to say that thei shall suffer myn executors of this my present last will to take and preyve
36    the Issues and p[re]sents of the same Mes[sag]es landis in Compton and Calne aforesaid untill the tyme
37    that they have payd all my detts and legacyes p[er]formed and my finall expensis done and
38    that the Issues theroff and profetts be taken for the salary and fyndyng of a prest by my said
39    executors duryng the terme of a yere to pray for my sowle and all my frendis and all cristen
40    sowles and that the same prest shalhave x marks for his salary and this done and executyd I
41    will that the saide feoffes stande and be feoffe of the said John Dawntesey for terme of his
42    life and after his disseace to remayne to the saide Richard Dawntsey and to his heyres of his body
43    lawfully begotten And for defaute of such Issue to remayne to the sayd Jane and to the eyres of
44    her body lawfully begotten And for defaut of such Issue the remayndre thereof to the ryght heyres
45    of the saide Robert Blake And as to the other moyte of the saide Mes[sag]es Landis and tenements in
46    Compton and Calne aforesaid to stand and be feoffes to the use of the said Jane and of the heyres of
47    her body lawefully begotten And for defaut of suche Issu to remayne to the said Richard Dawntesey
48    and to the eyres of his body lawefully begotten and for defaut of such Issue the remaynder thereof to the
49    sayde rigth heyres of the said Robert Blake And this estats to be evermore in forme abovesaid at in
50    goodly hast may be concomently and lawfully of this my testament and last Will I make my Exe
51    cutors Margery my wife and John Dawntesey her sonne and I make Robert Blak my brother to be
52    overseer of this my testament and that the same Robert to be aidyng and assisyng to my sayde
53    executors shalhave xl s The residue of all my goodes and cattals not spokin of in this my testament
54    not bequethed I geve and grante utterly in my life to the said Margery and John Dawntesey to ther own
55    p[ro]pur use and behese so that they for my sowle the better Thes being witness Robert Blake Richard Sufat
56    clerke Richard Gorre Richard Colnet and Sir John the p[ar]ish prest of Walop and many other mee In witnes
57    of this my present last will I have subscrebed with my nowne hande
58    Probatum fuit suprascriptu[m] testamentu[m] coram domini apud Lamebith xxiiij die mensis Aprilis Anno do[min]o
59    millesimo quingentesimo Quarto Juramento Johannis Pare procuratoris Margerie relict et John Dawtesey
60    executoris etc comissa fuit administracio omnium bonorum etc dicti executoris  in p[er]sona supradicti pouratori__
61    De bene etc Ac de pleno Inuentario etc necnon de plano et vero compoto etc Ad scanta dei evangelia Jurate

In my next blog I will discuss the will of William BLAKE which was probated in 1582. It would be convenient to show part of the large BLAKE Pedigree Chart when I do blog this will and I will write to the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office to see if I can get permission to do so. It is possible to purchase images of this chart from the Record Office. 

BLAKE - Origin of the BLAKE families along the Cornwall/Devon border

This week's blog will look at the initially small number of BLAKE  marriages in the localities along the Cornwall side of the Cornwall/Devon border. I mentioned last week that up to 1600 there were seven marriages in total in this area along the border with five marriages having BLAKE as the groom and two marriages having BLAKE as the bride.

In the second blog of ten blogs on my BLAKE one-name study I mentioned the England's Immigrants Database 1330-1550 and the individuals who emigrated to the south-west of England from Breton.

This is the citation for this particular set of documents.  England’s Immigrants 1330 – 1550 (www.englandsimmigrants.com, version 1.0, 15 February 2015).

In my search of this database I found two individuals mentioned as emigrating to Devon:

 Surname    Forename    Nationality    Day    Month    Year    Residence

BLAKE   John                   Fleming            24   Jul    1484               Devon, Exeter

BLAKE   William             Breton                 4    Apr    1524            Devon, Morchard Bishop

I have blogged a number of times on the BLAKE family in the North Molton area of Devon. The earliest BLAKE records in the parish registers of North Molton are for a Thomas BLAKE buried 8 May 1542 and a John BLAKE buried 5 Dec 1546. There is through the years an extensive BLAKE family at North Molton and the next BLAKE family noted at North Molton:

BLAKE    Mighell    married Agnes Squire    1558    Dec    2  
BLAKE    Johane    daughter   BLAKE    Mychell    baptized    1560    Sep    1  
BLAKE    John    son    BLAKE    Mighell        baptized    1564    Dec    10 (buried  1565    Dec    6)
BLAKE    John    son    BLAKE   Mighell        baptized    1565    Dec    6  
BLAKE    Mote    daughter    BLAKE    Mighell    baptized    1565    Dec    6 (buried   1565    Dec  7)
BLAKE   Anne    daughter    BLAKE    Mighell    baptized    1568  May  16 (buried  1568    Jun  17)
BLAKE Michael, husbandman, will probated PCC 13 Nov 1619

Of interest,  it is 36 kilometres from Morchard Bishop to North Molton and 73 kilometres from Exeter to North Molton. I have transcribed all of the BLAKE wills at the National Archives (UK) known to me for Devon and links to them can be found on the Devon Genuki pages (https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/Probate).

The entries of interest along the Cornwall/Devon border include (Sheviock, Botus Fleming, Landulph, Marhamchurch, Launceston St Mary Magdalene):

Thomas BLAKE married Elizabeth (unknown) Sep 1551 (Landulph)
Patrik BLAKE married Sedwell Truskot 15 Oct 1570 (Botus Fleming)
Francis BLAKE married Jone Wills 15 May 1586 (Marhamchurch)
William BLAKE married Elizbeth Gyngar  5 May 1588 (Marhamchurch)
John BLAKE married Sybblye Holman 21 Oct 1591 (Sheviock)

There were two marriages with a BLAKE bride in this time period (Botus Fleming and Launceston St Mary Magdalene) but I do  not trace down any further than marriage so did not add these two in. The five marriages listed above do not trace down in the area in which they married.

Are there other Blake families in Devon in the border area with Cornwall?

Plymouth, Devon is the closest large city to Sheviock, Landulph and Botus Fleming.  Holsworthy and Okehampton are across the border from Landulph. In my studies of the BLAKE family in Devon thus far I have not located any families that would coincide with these marriages.

One of the oldest BLAKE lines (to the present) in this area of Cornwall was at Landrake which is about 14 kilometres from Plymouth.

Henry BLAKE married Margery Bake 22 Jun 1605 at Landrake with St Erney. Henry was buried 21 Jan 1664 (Landrake) and Margery was buried 29 Mar 1665 (Landrake). They appear to have had eight children and a number of them had descendants. This line is continuous in this general area to the present. But I could not discover any BLAKE members in this particular area prior to their marriage in 1605. I then moved to the Bodmin area working on the BLAKE family in that area.

Although it is tempting to conclude that the BLAKE family in Cornwall is composed of two distinct lines of BLAKE only yDNA testing could really verify the earlier ancestry of this family.

This concludes my look at the BLAKE family in Cornwall. I have extracted all the records and built all the reasonable trees from these records if anyone is particularly interested and I am most willing to share any of this information.

My next blog in this series of ten blogs will examine the oldest BLAKE will that I transcribed from the set of over 700 at the National Archives under PROB/11.That is the Will of John BLAKE probated 24 April 1504, PROB 11/14/117. There are two earlier wills both from 1487 that I have not yet completed (they are in Latin).

More thoughts on Prince Harry

He could teach at any of our military colleges and do his PhD at the same time. His experiences in the military and as a leader for so many groups will be an enormous asset to Canada.

I am always biased towards education and all of our universities are top notch as far as I am concerned. We are turning out really excellent graduates all across the country.

He is an excellent public speaker and has huge experience in so many types of fields. 

Will of Susanna Blake, widow of Sittingbourne, Kent - The National Archives, PROB 11/2029/26, probated 6 Jan 1846

This rather lengthy will declared by Susanna Blake, the testator, was written in 1841. The text is fairly straight forward and captures this Blake family in Kent at Sittingbourne but formerly of Lymington. Her husband was Captain William Blake. There is a will for William Blake of Dover written the 14th February 1796 where he names his wife as Susanna. His will is quite short and only a Susanna Blake is mentioned by name although he does mention children but not named; at the time the will seems to state that his wife was expecting a child. His will was probated 8 Apr 1820 and will be transcribed soon.

Susanna names her daughter Susanna, her son George and her married daughters Elizabeth King and Ann Smith (married to John Grant Smith). She also names her deceased son Thomas’ wife as Frances Gregson Blake and Anne Blake as the widow of her son William. She also names her nephew as George Blake. I did not find the marriages for her two sons.

On the 1841 Census at Sittingbourne Kent, Susanna Blake, 65, independent, born in the county, Susanna Blake, 40, born in the county, Ann Blake, 20, not born in Kent. Susanna (mother) born circa 1776 and Susanna (daughter) born circa 1801, Ann born circa 1821. Ann, it would appear, was not born in Kent.

The Death Duty Register Index, Susanna Blake, testator, Sittingbourne Kent, Susanna Blake (same address), probated will register 1, folio 10. From the transcription the death year was 1846 and the will was probated at the PCC. NA reference IR27/276.

The only marriage that I located for a William Blake with wife Susanna (Find My Past and the forename could have similar sounding/looking names) was the marriage of William Blake and Susanna Rice 9 Apr 1792 at Croydon St John. The 1841 census ages tended to be within five years of the actual but even if 1776 then she would have been 16 years of age.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 6 Jan 2020
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/2029/26
Testator: Susanna Blake, Widow
Place: Sittingbourne, Kent
Type of Record:    Will
Date of document: 31 May 1841, probated 6 Jan 1846

[Margin]: Susanna Blake 35

1    I Susanna Blake of Sittingbourne in the
2    County of Kent widow and relict of Captain William Blake former-
3    ly of Lymington but late of Sittingbourne aforesaid deceased do here-
4    by revoke all wills and testaments dispositions heretofore made by
5    me and declare this to be my last will and testament I give and
6    bequeath unto my daughter Susanna Blake any watch jewels and
7    trinkets and also such part of my plate linen and books as she
8    may make their of for her own absolute use And I direct that my
9    said daughter shall have the use occupation and enjoyment of a
10    the dwellinghouse in which I shall reside at the time of my decease
11    with the remainder of the plate linen and books and of the house-
12    hold furniture and effects which shall them be therein for twelve
13    calunder months from the day of my decease without payment of
14    any rent or taxes for the same I give and bequeath all my goods
15    chattels money and securities for money debts and other Personal
16    Estate and Effects whatsoever of or to which I or any person or per-
17    Sons in trust for me shall be possessed or intitled at the time of my
18    decease except such as I have hereinbefore and may hereafter by any
19    codicil or codicils to this my will otherwise dispose of unto my said daugh-
20    ter Susanna Blake my nephew George Blake and my good friend
21    Thomas Pain of Dover in the said County of Kent Gentleman their
22    executors administrators and assigns upon trust that they or the survi-
23    vors or survivor of them his or her executors administrators or assigns
24    do and shall with all convenient speed after my decease sell or dispose of
25    call in and convert into money such part of my personal estate as
26    shall not consist of ready money And do and shall stand possessed of
27    the money to arise from such sale calling in and conversion and
28    of the ready money upon trust that they my said trustees or the sur-
29    vivors or survivor of them his or her executors administrators or
30    assigns do and shall pay my just debts funeral and testamentary
31    expences and such legacies as I may bequeath by any codicil or
32    codicils to this my will And do and shall lay out and invest the sum
33    o three thousands pounds of lawful money of Great Britain in their
34    or his or her names or name in the purchase of a competent share
35    or competent shares of any of the parliamentary stocks or public funds
36    of Great Britain or at interest upon government or real securities in
37    England to be from time to time varied for other stocks funds or securi-
38    ties of the like nature at their his or her direction and do and shall
39    stand possessed of the said sum of three thousand pounds and the stocks
40    funds and securities in or upon which the same shall be laid out or
41    invested and the interest dividends and annual produce there upon and
42    for the trusts intents and purposes hereinafter expressed and declared of
43    and concerning the same items do and shall divide the residue or surplus
44    which shall remain after answering the trusts and purposes aforesaid
45    of the money to arise from such sale calling in and conversion as
46    aforesaid and of any ready money into six equal parts or shares
47    and pay to my son George Blake one of such parts or shares which
48    I hereby give and bequeath unto him for his own use absolutely and
49    do and shall pay to or permit my said daughter Susanna Blake to re-
50    tain one other of such sixth parts or shares which I hereby give
51    and bequeath unto her for her own use absolutely And do and
52    shall lay out and invest the remaining four sixth parts of such resi-
53    duary or surplus monies in the names or name of my said trustees or
54    trustee for the time being in such stocks funds or securities as herein
55    before are mentioned to be from time to time varied as aforesaid And
56    do and shall stand possessed of such four sixth parts and the stocks
57    funds and securities in or upon which the same shall be laid out or invested
58    and the interest dividends and annual produce thereof upon and for
59    the trusts intents and purposes hereinafter expressed and declared of and
60    concerning the same (that is to say)  to one of such fourth parts or
61    shares of the said trust monies stocks funds and securities and the inter-
62    est dividends and annual produce thereof upon trust that they my said
63    trustees or trustee for the time being do and shall during the life of my
64    daughter Elizabeth King pay and apply the interest dividends and an-
65    nual produce of the same fourth part of share of the said trust monies
66    stocks funds and securities to such person or persons as she the said
67    Elizabeth King shall from to time whether she shall be cover or sole
68    by any writing or writings under her hand but not so as to dispose
69    of or effect the same by way of anticipation appoint and in default
70    of such appointment into her own hands for her separate use and
71    benefit independently and exclusively of her present or any future
72    husband with whom she may hereafter intermarry and without being
73    subject to his control or arrangements And the receipts of the said Eliza-
74    beth King or of her appointees to be from time to time sufficient dis-
75    charges for the same And after the decease of the said Elizabeth King do
76    and shall pay the interest dividends and annual produce of the
77    same fourth part of share of the said trust monies stocks funds and se-
78    curities to her present husband in case he survives her and his as-
79    signs during his life And after his decease do and shall stand possessed
80    of the same fourth part or share of the said trust monies stocks funds and
81    securities and the interest dividends and annual produce thereof In
82    trust for all and every the children and child of the said Elizabeth
83    King who being a son or sons shall attain the age of twenty one
84    years or being a daughter or daughters shall attain that age or marry to
85    be divided between or among such children if more than one in
86    equal shares and proportions And if there shall be but one such child
87    the whole to be In trust for that one child provided always and I
88    further declare my will to be that in case there shall be no child of
89    the said Elizabeth King who being a son shall attain the age of twen-
90    ty one years or being a daughter shall attain that age or marry
91    then after the decease of the survivor of them the said Elizabeth
92    King and her present husband and such default or failure of this
93    as aforesaid my said trustees or trustee for the time being shall
94    stand and be possessed of and interested in the said fourth part or shall
95    of the said trust monies stocks funds and securities and the interest
96    dividends and annual produce thereof and the accumulations of the
97    same (if any) As to one fifth part thereof upon trust for and to pay
98    assign and transfer the same unto my son the said George Blake
99    his executors administrators and assigns And as to one other fifth
100    part thereof upon trust for and to pay assign and transfer the same
101    unto the said Susanna Black her executors administrators and as
102    signs And as to the remaining three fifth parts thereof upon and for
103    the same trusts intents and purposes as are hereinafter _______ of
104    or concerning the remaining three fourth parts or shares of the said
105    original trust monies stocks funds and securities and the interest
106    dividends and annual produce thereof And I declare my will to be
107    that my said trustees or trustee for the time being shall stand
108    possessed of one other equal fourth part of share of the said trust mo
109    nies stocks funds and securities and the interest dividends and an
110    nual produce thereof upon and for such and the life trusts
111    intents and purposes and _____ under and subject to such and
112    the like powers provisos and declarations for the benefit of my
113    daughter Ann Smith the wife John Grant Smith during her life and
114    after her decease for the benefit of her said husband and of her chil
115    dren or child as are hereinbefore by reference expressed or declared of or con
116    cerning the first mentioned fourth part of share of the said trust monies
117    stocks funds and securities and the interest dividends and annual produce
118    thereof for the benefit of the said Elizabeth King and her husband children
119    or child And with a similar trust or bequest over for the benefit of my son
120    the said George Blake and Susanna Blake their respective executors
121    administrators and assigns and the person or persons who under the
122    Trusts thereby declared shall become entitled to the remaining three
123    fourth parts or shares of the said trust monies stocks funds and securities
124    and the interest dividends and annual produce thereof to take effect in
125    case there shall be no child of the said Ann Smith who being a
126    son shall attain the age of twenty one years or being a daugh
127    ter shall attain that age or marry And I declare my will to be that
128    my said trustees or trustee for the time being shall stand possessed
129    of one other equal fourth part or share of the said trust monies
130    stocks funds and securities In trust that they he or she do and shall
131    pay the interest dividends and annual produce thereof to Frances Gregson
132    Blake the widow of my late son Thomas Blake and her assigns during
133    her life in case she shall so long continue his widow And after her
134    decease or next marriage which shall first happen do and shall
135    stand possessed of such last mentioned fourth part of share of the
136    said trust monies stocks funds and securities and the interest dividends
137    and annual produce thereof In trust for all and every the children
138    and child of my late son the said Thomas Blake who being a son
139    or sons shall attain the age of twenty one years or being a daugh
140    ter or daughters shall attain that age or marry to be divided between
141    or among such children if more than one in equal shares and pro
142    portions And if there shall be but one such child the whole to be
143    in trust for that one child but in case there shall be no child or
144    children of the said Thomas Blake living at the time of my
145    decease then in trust for my son the said George Blake and daugh-
146    ter Susanna Blake their respective executors administrators and as
147    signs and the person or persons who under the trust hereby declared
148    shall become entitled to the remaining three fourth parts or shares
149    of the said trust monies stocks funds and securities and the interest
150    dividends and annual produce thereof And I declare my will to be
151    that my said trustees or trustee for the time being shall stand
152    possessed of the remaining one fourth part or shall of the said trust
153    monies stocks funds and securities In trust that they he or she do
154    and shall pay the interest dividends and annual produce thereof
155    to Anne Blake the widow of my late son William Blake and her
156    assigns during her life in case she shall so long continue his widow
157    and after the decease or next marriage of the said Anne Blake
158    which shall first happen do and shall stand possessed of such last
159    mentioned fourth part of share of the said trust monies stocks funds
160    and securities and the interest dividends and annual produce there
161    of In trust for all and every the child and children of my late son
162    the said William Blake their executors administrators and assigns
163    and I declare my will to be that my said trustees or trustee for the
164    time being shall pay the interest dividends and annual produce of
165    the said sum of three thousand pounds and the stocks funds and se
166    curities in or upon which the same shall be laid out or invested unto
167    my daughter the said Susanna Blake and her assigns for and dur
168    ing the term of her natural life And subject and without prejudice to
169    the afore said trust shall stand possessed of the said sum of three
170    thousand pounds and the stocks funds and securities in or upon
171    which the same shall be laid out or invested and the interest divi-
172    dends and annual produce thereof upon such trusts intents and
173    purposes and under and subject to such powers provisos and declar-
174    ations as the said Susanna Blake shall by any deed or will appoint
175    and dispose of the same or any part thereof unto or in favor of all
176    or any of my children and their issue in such manner and propor-
177    tions in all respects as she my daughter the said Susanna Blake
178    shall think proper provided always and I declare my will to be that
179    the receipt or receipts in writing of the said Susanna Blake my nep
181    hew George Blake and Thomas Pain and survivors or survivor
182    of them their her or his executors administrators and assigns for any
183    sum or sums or money payable to them her or him under or
184    by virtue of this my will or in or about the execution of any of
185    the said trusts or powers shall be a sufficient and effectual dis
186    charge or sufficient and effectual discharges for the same or so
187    much thereof respective as in such receipt or receipts shall be
188    pressed or acknowledged to be received And the person or persons
189    paying such money and take such receipts shall not be obliged
190    to see to the application thereof or be answerable or accountable for
191    the misapplication or nonapplication thereof provided also and I de
192    clare my will to be that if the said trustees hereby appointed or any or
193    either of them or any future trustee or trustees to be appointed as
194    hereinafter is mentioned shall die or be desirous of being discharged
195    from or refuse or become incapable to act in the said trusts then
196    and so often as the same shall happen it shall be lawful for the
197    surviving or continuing trustees or trustee for the time being or
198    the executors or administrators of the last surviving or continuing
199    trustees or trustee by deed to appoint any other person or persons to
200    be a trustee or trustees in the stead of the trustee or trustees so dy-
201    ing or desiring to be discharged or refusing or becoming incapable
202    to act as aforesaid And that upon every such appointment all the
203    trust estates monies and premises shall be assigned and transferred
204    in such manner that the same may be vested in the new trustee or
205    trustees jointly with the surviving or continuing trustees or trustee
206    or solely as the case may require upon the same trusts as are herein
207    before declared of and concerning the same or such of them as shall be
208    then subsisting or capable of taking effect And that every such new
209    trustee shall have such and the same powers authorities and dis
210    cretion whatsoever as if he had been originally in and by this my
211    will nominated a trustee anything hereinbefore contained to the con-
212    trary thereof in anywise nowithstanding provided also and I do
213    hereby further declare that the said several trustees hereby appoint
214    ed or to be appointed by virtue of the proviso last hereinbefore con-
215    tained and their respective executors administrators and assigns
216    shall not be answerable for any involuntary loss And that it shall
217    be lawful for them respectively to retain all costs charges damages
218    and expences which they or any of them may sustain or be put
219    into in or about the execution of the aforesaid trusts or in relation
220    thereunto I give devise and bequeath unto the said Susanna Blake
221    my nephew George Blake and Thomas Pain their heirs executors ad-
222    ministrators and assigns respectively All the estates which at the time
223    of my decease shall be vested in me upon any trusts or by way or mort-
224    gage of which I have power to dispose by this my will with their rights
225    members and appurtenances To hold the same premises unto the said
226    Susanna Blake my nephew George Blake and Thomas Pain their
227    heirs executors administrators and assigns respectively according to
228    the nature and quality thereof respectively upon the trusts and subject
229    to the equity of redemption which at the time of my decease shall be
230    subsisting or capable of taking effect therein respectively but the money
231    secured on such mortgages to be considered and taken as part of my
232    personal estate I appoint the said Susanna Blake my nephew George
233    Blake and Thomas Pain Executrix and Executors of this my will And
234    I direct that the sum of five hundred pounds three and a half per-
235    cent consols shall be deducted from the share of my said daughter
236    Elizabeth King of and in my said estate under the trusts aforesaid
237    unless the same shall be paid or transferred to me in my lifetime And
238    which said sum of five hundred pounds if not so paid to be brought
239    into and form part of my personal estate And I declare that the
240    appointment of the said Thomas Pain as one of my trustees and
241    executors as aforesaid shall not prevent his acting as the Attorney or
242    solicitor in the management and settlement of my affirs or in
243    anything relating thereto And that it shall be lawful for him to make
244    all usual professional charges for any business to be done by him in
245    the same manner as he might and could have done if he had not
246    been so appointed such trustee and executor In witness whereof I
247    have to this my last will and testament in eight sheets of paper
248    contained set my hand this thirty first day of May in the year of our
249    Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourty one S Blake Signed by
250    the said testatrix in the presence of us present as the same time who
251    In her presence and at her request have hereunto subscribed our
252    names as witnesses the word pay in the fourth sheet being first inter-
253    lined Willm Castle Surgeon Sittingbourne Kent John Grayling Surgeon
254    Sittingbourne Kent
255    Proved at London 6th January 1846 before the Judge by the Oath
256    of Susanna Blake spinster the daughter George Blake the nephew and
257    Thomas Pain the Executors to whom Admon was granted having been
258    first sworn to wit the said Susanna Blake and Thomas Pain by common
259    and the said George Blake before the worshipful John Danbery Doctor
260    of Laws and Surrogate duly to administer