I very happily received an email from a descendant of the Suffolk Blake family and my information thus far on the Suffolk Blake family is that they can be found in Suffolk back into the 1400s. The Blake family was not found on the Visitations of Suffolk in 1561 or later in 1664 but when you consider the number of people in any given area in England the Visitations cover only a small portion of them.
The line of Blake descent in this case is at Sibton Suffolk which is in Blything Registration District. Free BMD has 16 marriages in Blything Registration District.
I have acquired a number of Blake marriages in Hartismere Registration District of Suffolk and a number of Blake families lived in that area back into the 1400s. Is the Blake family at Sibton descendant of that family? Once I have put together all the Blake family material that I have I may have an answer to that question.
yDNA studies remain the best single method of determining deep ancestry of the Blake family.
This Blog will talk about researching my English ancestors from Canada but also the ancestors of our son in law whose families stretch back far into Colonial French Canada. My one name study of Blake and of Pincombe also dominate my blog these days.
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Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
UK Poll books and Electoral Registries
Ancestry put up the UK Poll Books and Electoral Registries. Although I have a number of these on fiche it is much appreciated that Ancestry has digitized these books and indexed them. Although their index is not quite the way I need it (I am redoing my Blake one name entries into parish, hundred and county plus occupation if given) the addition of this database to Ancestry is a great tool. I have 2745 Blake entries (including Blague and Bleak) between 1538 and 1889. I am always busy tracking the Hampshire Blake family as it moved about but also the Wiltshire, Somerset and Norfolk Blake families are now coming into sight with this new addition. When I took on the Blake one name study I knew that I would only be collecting throughout the rest of my life but I am content to do so. I very much doubt that I will come to many conclusions on Blake lines although individually I have discovered a few nuggets!
I am working away on my extracted entries reviewing the original document and placing the entries into parish/place where shown, then hundred as applicable and county if missing. For the most part the database has a good record for county placement with only fifty entries missing the county designation. Some of the older poll books did not always list that interesting bit of information because, of course, you knew the county if you lived in a particular place and for whom else were the poll books!
Along the way though I am working on one of the Routledge documents. It is a difficult one. I am still determining year, place and all those other details that help to get into these really old documents. Some parts of it are so legible but others are somewhat obscure and the writing is very very ornate.
A slow process working my way through the poll and electoral results which have now been reduced to 2709 Blake entries as there is some duplication (different transcriptions have been scanned). As I look at Blake families in different areas I expect this file will be quite handy through the years. I am able to find many many occupations as well which are not in the Ancestry transcription. Nothing new on Hampshire yet but I do have the poll books for Hampshire so have already extracted the Blake entries from them. I have now looked at 138 entries (plus the duplicates) and it will be a slow process extracting all of this information into my flat file.
My plan is to build as much data into files so that when I do archive my Blake one name study at some time in the future it will be useful to someone picking up the mantle of Blake once again and to move forward from that point instead of having to redo everything. Although I must admit quite truthfully to myself that I tend to recheck information but at least it is in an organized fashion making it somewhat easier to find.
I am working away on my extracted entries reviewing the original document and placing the entries into parish/place where shown, then hundred as applicable and county if missing. For the most part the database has a good record for county placement with only fifty entries missing the county designation. Some of the older poll books did not always list that interesting bit of information because, of course, you knew the county if you lived in a particular place and for whom else were the poll books!
Along the way though I am working on one of the Routledge documents. It is a difficult one. I am still determining year, place and all those other details that help to get into these really old documents. Some parts of it are so legible but others are somewhat obscure and the writing is very very ornate.
A slow process working my way through the poll and electoral results which have now been reduced to 2709 Blake entries as there is some duplication (different transcriptions have been scanned). As I look at Blake families in different areas I expect this file will be quite handy through the years. I am able to find many many occupations as well which are not in the Ancestry transcription. Nothing new on Hampshire yet but I do have the poll books for Hampshire so have already extracted the Blake entries from them. I have now looked at 138 entries (plus the duplicates) and it will be a slow process extracting all of this information into my flat file.
My plan is to build as much data into files so that when I do archive my Blake one name study at some time in the future it will be useful to someone picking up the mantle of Blake once again and to move forward from that point instead of having to redo everything. Although I must admit quite truthfully to myself that I tend to recheck information but at least it is in an organized fashion making it somewhat easier to find.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Blake family of Norfolk
I received a very interesting document from a descendant of the Norfolk Blake family. They had visited Wimbotsham Norfolk and his document included images of the Church and the parish registers for the Blake family that lived at Tonwell Manor. He had a few queries as well which I shall answer as best as I am able. It is always great to hear from members of the Blake family worldwide. Ours is a fascinating family although I am still thinking that the name Blake may have arisen spontaneously in several different areas. But there is always the remote possibility that the male line of a particular Blake family may have died out and the child of a sister may have changed his surname to Blake at the request of a grandfather or uncle. There are some examples of the Blake name being hyphenated but thus far that is to ensure that the surname of the mother is remembered.
The history of the Blake family in Norfolk can first be looked at with the Visitation of Norfolk (1563, 1589 and 1613) found on page 38 of this publication (http://www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/england/Norfolk/visitation/ ) and with further note: Harl. 1552, ink fo. 106, pencil 100. The Arms of this family: Ermine, a pile indented sable bezootée between two lions' gawbs erased and erect gules, over all a bendlet vert, a mullet for difference argent.
John Blake of Swaffam married to a sister of Sir John Spilman, knight and their son Jasper Blake of Wynbotsham in Norfolk married to Agnes daughter of John Pygott of Stradsett in Norfolk. Their children were Peter Blake of Wynbotsam (eldest son) married to Beatrix daughter of Richard Badyscroft [Batchcroft] of Bekswell in Norfolk, second son Henry and daughter Alice. The children of Peter Blake and Beatrix Batchcroft were: first son Jasper Blake of Wynbotsam married to Anne daughter of Thomas Amyas of Depham in Norfolk), second son John Blake, third son Thomas Blake and fourth son Frances. The children of Jasper Blake and Anne Amyas are listed as Jasper Blake and Beatrix. This Visitation is unsigned and notably the first John is generally said to be Peter Blake rather than John Blake. The wife of this Peter was said to be Elizabeth Spilman/Spellman.
I did find The Visitation of Norfolk in the year 1563 online at Internet Archive (Google.com) but was unable to download a good .epub of this document. However reading it online I was able to save the images. The author of this Visitation was William Harvey, Norfolk and Norwich Archeological Society, it was printed by Miller and Leavins in 1895 and is volume 2 which was edited by Brig. General Bulwer. In this Visitation you can see the error in the later Visitations which used this earlier version. Peter Blake of Southery and after of Wimbotsham, purchased the Manor of Tonwell from John Skott of London 3 Edw IV and held his first court with John Fincham, Henry Spilman 9 Ed IV (1470). His will was dated 21 Oct and proven 23 Nov 1500, buried at Wimbotsham. Peter married Elizabeth ____ and she held the Manor of Tonwells for life under her husband's will. This couple had three children listed, Sir John Blake Clerk of Swaffham, Peter Blage of Swaffam, gent married sister of Sir John Spelman, Knight and Mary unmarried in 1500 (named in her father's will. There is a note: In Harl. MSS 1552, fo. 106, this Peter Blague is called John Blake of Swaffham.
The child of Peter Blage of Swaffam and Elizabeth Spelman is named Jasper Blage of Wimbotsham in Norfolk, gent. Devisee of Manor of Tonwells under his grandfather's will. Held his first Court 11 Hen VIII (1526). Will dated 17 July and probated 22 Aug 1547. Buried at Wimbotsham. Jasper married first Agnes daughter of John Pigott of Stradsett in Norfolk, gent. Jasper married second Anne daughter of Robert Blundervile of Newton Flatman by Constance, daughter of William Gurney of Barsham. She was widow of John Bastard, son and heir of John Bastard of Lynn Bishop. Her marriage settlement with Jasper Blake dated 34 Henry VIII. The first marriage only has children listed with Peter Blage as 1st son of Wimbotsam, Norfolk son and heir, buried at Wimbotsham, 24 Oct 1570. Will dated 16 October and proven 7 Dec 1570. This Peter was married to Beatrix daughter of Richard Badiscroff (Batchcroft) of Bakeswell in Norfolk, gent by Margaret his wife daughter and heir of Richard Aylmer Alderman of Norwich and sister of Christopher Bachecrofte. She afterwards married 18 Jan 1571 Richard Killingworthe at Wimbatsham and was buried there 31 May 1597. The other children of Peter Blage and Agnes Pigott were Henry 2nd son, Thomas 3rd son under 16 in 1547, John 4th son under 16 in 1547, Elizabeth named in father's will 1547 and Alice a minor in 1547.
The children of Peter Blage and Beatrix Batchcroft were Jasper 1st son, John 2nd son of the Isle of Ely , named in his father's will, Thomas 3rd son named in his father's will (this Thomas had a son Thomas Blake who was Clerk of Shelford Cambridge, Curate of Narford, Vicar of Wereham (buried there 30 Sep 1566 and he was executor to will of his uncle Francis), this Thomas had a daughter who was the wife of Thomas Self with a son Lionel Self, Clerk, under age 35 Geo. II and a son Richard son and heir, gent, died 1682) and Francis 4th son baptized at Wimbotsham 19 Dec 6 Elizabeth, died 1642, mentioned in his father's will; his will proven in London, his nephew Thomas Blake, Clerk, of Shelford, Cambridge, executor.
Jasper Blage (son of Peter and Beatrix (Batchcroft) Blage) married Anne daughter of Thomas Amyas of Deopham, Norfolk, gent. Marriage settlement dated 10 Dec 34 Eliz and she was buried at Wimbotsham 3 Jan 1597/98. Jasper and Anne had the following children: Jasper of Wimbotsham, gent, only son and heir baptized 27 Sep 1592, Churchwarden of Wimbotsham 1612, and registered his Pedigree in Heralds College 1614, alienated all his lands to Roger Pratt, Esquire, 1623; Elline baptized at Wimbotsham 26 Nov 1593 and buried 4 Mar 1593/94; Anne baptized at Wimbotsham 23 Oct 1597 buried 3 Jan 1597/98, Beatrix baptized at Wimbotsham 7 Oct 1595, Executrix of her father's will, was married to Roger, son of Gregory Pratt, of Ryston, Esquire. Roger bought the Manor of Tonwells of Jasper Blake and Jane baptized 23 Oct 1597 buried 3 Jan 1597/98.
Jasper married Frances (unknown) who was living 21 James I and was at that time his wife. This is the Jasper Blake thought to have gone to New Hampshire Colony around 1643 although he has sold his land to his brother in law in 1623. A 20 year difference seems like a long time between selling his land and emigrating to America but the usual reference book for Jasper Blake: Descendants of Jasper Blake: Emigrant from England to Hampton, N.H., ca 1643. by Carlton E Blake 1980 Gateway Press Inc: Baltimore puts forward either the above hypothesis or that this Jasper Blake had a son Jasper Blake who was the emigrant. Jasper Blake (b 1592, baptized 27 Sep 1592) and son of Jasper Blake and Anne Amyas was said to be married to Frances (unknown) by 1624 according to the Visitation.
There is a burial for a Jasper Blake 18 Aug 1657 at All Saints Parish Church in Necton, Norfolk. Necton is 4 miles west of Swaffham and 17 miles west of Wimbotsham. No baptism for a child of Jasper Blake and Frances in the time frame. One hypothesis that crosses my mind is that he and Frances with their child/children did go to America but returned to Norfolk later leaving their descendants in the New Hampshire Colony. I think it is a thought which I would follow in looking at this family. The name Jasper is very very unusual.
The Blake family is absent from the 1664 Visitation of Norfolk.
While I was searching out information for the Norfolk Blake family I came across a book I had not had the occasion to read yet: History of the Borough of Calne (Wiltshire) and in one of the articles dealing with Tithings of Calne was mentioned: Tithing of Blakelonde mentioned in the Certificate of Muster of the men of the Hundred of Calne taken in 30 Henry (page 95). There was more information which I shall put into a later blog. This particular book mentions Robert le Blake with respect to the Tithing of Blakelonde and paying subsidy. I need to read the article more thoroughly and report back to my blog. As my memory, this blog is serving me very well.
The history of the Blake family in Norfolk can first be looked at with the Visitation of Norfolk (1563, 1589 and 1613) found on page 38 of this publication (http://www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/england/Norfolk/visitation/ ) and with further note: Harl. 1552, ink fo. 106, pencil 100. The Arms of this family: Ermine, a pile indented sable bezootée between two lions' gawbs erased and erect gules, over all a bendlet vert, a mullet for difference argent.
John Blake of Swaffam married to a sister of Sir John Spilman, knight and their son Jasper Blake of Wynbotsham in Norfolk married to Agnes daughter of John Pygott of Stradsett in Norfolk. Their children were Peter Blake of Wynbotsam (eldest son) married to Beatrix daughter of Richard Badyscroft [Batchcroft] of Bekswell in Norfolk, second son Henry and daughter Alice. The children of Peter Blake and Beatrix Batchcroft were: first son Jasper Blake of Wynbotsam married to Anne daughter of Thomas Amyas of Depham in Norfolk), second son John Blake, third son Thomas Blake and fourth son Frances. The children of Jasper Blake and Anne Amyas are listed as Jasper Blake and Beatrix. This Visitation is unsigned and notably the first John is generally said to be Peter Blake rather than John Blake. The wife of this Peter was said to be Elizabeth Spilman/Spellman.
I did find The Visitation of Norfolk in the year 1563 online at Internet Archive (Google.com) but was unable to download a good .epub of this document. However reading it online I was able to save the images. The author of this Visitation was William Harvey, Norfolk and Norwich Archeological Society, it was printed by Miller and Leavins in 1895 and is volume 2 which was edited by Brig. General Bulwer. In this Visitation you can see the error in the later Visitations which used this earlier version. Peter Blake of Southery and after of Wimbotsham, purchased the Manor of Tonwell from John Skott of London 3 Edw IV and held his first court with John Fincham, Henry Spilman 9 Ed IV (1470). His will was dated 21 Oct and proven 23 Nov 1500, buried at Wimbotsham. Peter married Elizabeth ____ and she held the Manor of Tonwells for life under her husband's will. This couple had three children listed, Sir John Blake Clerk of Swaffham, Peter Blage of Swaffam, gent married sister of Sir John Spelman, Knight and Mary unmarried in 1500 (named in her father's will. There is a note: In Harl. MSS 1552, fo. 106, this Peter Blague is called John Blake of Swaffham.
The child of Peter Blage of Swaffam and Elizabeth Spelman is named Jasper Blage of Wimbotsham in Norfolk, gent. Devisee of Manor of Tonwells under his grandfather's will. Held his first Court 11 Hen VIII (1526). Will dated 17 July and probated 22 Aug 1547. Buried at Wimbotsham. Jasper married first Agnes daughter of John Pigott of Stradsett in Norfolk, gent. Jasper married second Anne daughter of Robert Blundervile of Newton Flatman by Constance, daughter of William Gurney of Barsham. She was widow of John Bastard, son and heir of John Bastard of Lynn Bishop. Her marriage settlement with Jasper Blake dated 34 Henry VIII. The first marriage only has children listed with Peter Blage as 1st son of Wimbotsam, Norfolk son and heir, buried at Wimbotsham, 24 Oct 1570. Will dated 16 October and proven 7 Dec 1570. This Peter was married to Beatrix daughter of Richard Badiscroff (Batchcroft) of Bakeswell in Norfolk, gent by Margaret his wife daughter and heir of Richard Aylmer Alderman of Norwich and sister of Christopher Bachecrofte. She afterwards married 18 Jan 1571 Richard Killingworthe at Wimbatsham and was buried there 31 May 1597. The other children of Peter Blage and Agnes Pigott were Henry 2nd son, Thomas 3rd son under 16 in 1547, John 4th son under 16 in 1547, Elizabeth named in father's will 1547 and Alice a minor in 1547.
The children of Peter Blage and Beatrix Batchcroft were Jasper 1st son, John 2nd son of the Isle of Ely , named in his father's will, Thomas 3rd son named in his father's will (this Thomas had a son Thomas Blake who was Clerk of Shelford Cambridge, Curate of Narford, Vicar of Wereham (buried there 30 Sep 1566 and he was executor to will of his uncle Francis), this Thomas had a daughter who was the wife of Thomas Self with a son Lionel Self, Clerk, under age 35 Geo. II and a son Richard son and heir, gent, died 1682) and Francis 4th son baptized at Wimbotsham 19 Dec 6 Elizabeth, died 1642, mentioned in his father's will; his will proven in London, his nephew Thomas Blake, Clerk, of Shelford, Cambridge, executor.
Jasper Blage (son of Peter and Beatrix (Batchcroft) Blage) married Anne daughter of Thomas Amyas of Deopham, Norfolk, gent. Marriage settlement dated 10 Dec 34 Eliz and she was buried at Wimbotsham 3 Jan 1597/98. Jasper and Anne had the following children: Jasper of Wimbotsham, gent, only son and heir baptized 27 Sep 1592, Churchwarden of Wimbotsham 1612, and registered his Pedigree in Heralds College 1614, alienated all his lands to Roger Pratt, Esquire, 1623; Elline baptized at Wimbotsham 26 Nov 1593 and buried 4 Mar 1593/94; Anne baptized at Wimbotsham 23 Oct 1597 buried 3 Jan 1597/98, Beatrix baptized at Wimbotsham 7 Oct 1595, Executrix of her father's will, was married to Roger, son of Gregory Pratt, of Ryston, Esquire. Roger bought the Manor of Tonwells of Jasper Blake and Jane baptized 23 Oct 1597 buried 3 Jan 1597/98.
Jasper married Frances (unknown) who was living 21 James I and was at that time his wife. This is the Jasper Blake thought to have gone to New Hampshire Colony around 1643 although he has sold his land to his brother in law in 1623. A 20 year difference seems like a long time between selling his land and emigrating to America but the usual reference book for Jasper Blake: Descendants of Jasper Blake: Emigrant from England to Hampton, N.H., ca 1643. by Carlton E Blake 1980 Gateway Press Inc: Baltimore puts forward either the above hypothesis or that this Jasper Blake had a son Jasper Blake who was the emigrant. Jasper Blake (b 1592, baptized 27 Sep 1592) and son of Jasper Blake and Anne Amyas was said to be married to Frances (unknown) by 1624 according to the Visitation.
There is a burial for a Jasper Blake 18 Aug 1657 at All Saints Parish Church in Necton, Norfolk. Necton is 4 miles west of Swaffham and 17 miles west of Wimbotsham. No baptism for a child of Jasper Blake and Frances in the time frame. One hypothesis that crosses my mind is that he and Frances with their child/children did go to America but returned to Norfolk later leaving their descendants in the New Hampshire Colony. I think it is a thought which I would follow in looking at this family. The name Jasper is very very unusual.
The Blake family is absent from the 1664 Visitation of Norfolk.
While I was searching out information for the Norfolk Blake family I came across a book I had not had the occasion to read yet: History of the Borough of Calne (Wiltshire) and in one of the articles dealing with Tithings of Calne was mentioned: Tithing of Blakelonde mentioned in the Certificate of Muster of the men of the Hundred of Calne taken in 30 Henry (page 95). There was more information which I shall put into a later blog. This particular book mentions Robert le Blake with respect to the Tithing of Blakelonde and paying subsidy. I need to read the article more thoroughly and report back to my blog. As my memory, this blog is serving me very well.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Routledge Family of Bewcastle, Cumberland and the Bond for Liddesdale, 1543
Returning for a short time to the Routledge Family of Bewcastle, Cumberland and I managed to partially transcribe a bond that was taken in 1543 by a number of residents of Liddesdale to ensure their loyalty to King Henry VIII. This bond includes as one of the 16 individuals who agreed to stand as pledge of their loyalty Joke Routledge. In 1543 he is not listed as the Laird of the Routledge Clan but by 1583 he is so named. Thomas, my cousin, would like to discover where Joke Routledge lived in order to ascertain just which Routledge branch were Laird of the Clan as in later years there wasn't a reference to anyone as being Laird of the Routledge Clan and thus we remain as leaderless so to speak. Although Thomas Routledge has kindly stepped into the breach and taken over the duties of "head" of the Routledge Clan. Tom lives in England and has been very busy accumulating a vast amount of information on the Routledge Clan:
http://www.everymansprey.com/
which you should visit if you are interested in your Routledge Family History.
The document is below as I have transcribed it thus far (it still needs a lot of work but I will move forward in the documents and work on the next ones that he has sent to me):
Transcriber - Elizabeth Kipp
Transcription Date - 21 May 2012
Document Read - XVIII, Pt II. 137 folio 32 page 209, page 210
Location of Document - The National Archives, Kew, London, England
Date of Document - 6 Sep 1543
Title: Copye of the Bonde for the Leddesdalle
1 M[emorandu]m that in h[i]s kynge his ma[jes]ties casstell gardyn at carlisle The
2 Sext day of septembre In the xxxvth yeare of his hyghnes most gra
3 cious Reigne, Thomas Harmstrang Lord of Mayngerton x[o]p[h]ofer
4 armestrange called Laird cystell perey armestrange archbald
5 armestrange Sym armestrang called Reid Sym dobs armstrange
6 Renyan Harmstrang Wyll armestrang called wyll of the gyngles
7 davy armestrange called davy the lady of sym armestrange whyntyn
8 Soy yngrys armstrang Joke Routlege crysty armstrang John son
9 Arche armstrang hew son georg forster of grenole And cristy
10 armstrange whyntyn son p[er]sonallie have appeared afore Sir Thomas
11 Wharton kinges deputie wardane of the west ma[r]ches for and west
12 scotland and tht hayth sworyd the Solemyne oathe uppon the
13 gelide _______shisties to the said deput[ie] warden in the marche and on
14 behalf of the kyngs ma[jes]tie his most ____ sov[er]eigne Lord __hsyng
15 and _______ they by the sayd oathe and ______ ____ of all s________
16 __ _yraishe that as well as sayd thomas harmestrang x[o]pofer arms
16 trange bengey armstrang allan armstrang doby armstrang
17 arche armstrang georg foster cristy harmstrang then foes kyn
19 frends and clannes whos names or expressed in a cedall unto
20 this p[re]sent bond annexede at all others ther kyn frends and clannes
21 shall from henseforth trewlie and loyallie as most obyedient and
22 set most farr a mynd to all these powers sorte and myght ____ the
23 kyng his ma[jes]tie my lord wardan his hyghnes seide offecers or
24 offecers of the ____ for the tym beyng as all tymes and as all
25 commandments And for the assurances of that said _____ to be trewly
26 and loyally don in ____ as afore and for the true p[er]formance of
27 the sayng and the said thomas armsetrang x[o]per armstrang porry
28 armstrang archbald armstrang Sym armstrang petor armstrang
29 Ringey armstrang well armstrang davy armstrang sey armstrang
30 georg armstrang Joke Routlege cristy armstrang arche armstrang
31 georg foster and crysty armstrang hath named and cypoyised
32 sextyn psanes as to say Roy armstrang son to thom the lard archbalde
33 armstrang x[o]pofer son alexander armstrang wyll of the Gingles by
34 arche armstrang than of the marches son olyvar armstrang son to olyvar
35 sym armstrang son to andrew of bakstangill jefry armstrang
36 Roger son sandy armstrang hughy son jefry routleg
[Page 2]
37 ____ son georg foster Sh___ armstrang Ringey son hobby armstrang davy
38 the lady son John armstrang archie of Jonston son and monyte armstrang
39 archy son ____ tyen of coowopdall ____ of iiij _____ to lye at pled
40 ges in the ______ liste or ____ shall plesse the kyng his
41 ma[jes]tie his hyghnes most honourable _____ or his of[fec]ers said off[ece]rs
42 or _____ for the tym beyng to assyne and appoynte ______
43 them ____ lyke payn as afore it the said pledges shall trewly Re
44 mayn at trew yf pledges ____ ____ they shalbe appoynted and not the
45 _____ frend clens ____ speciall ly___ of the kyng his ma[jes]tie
46 his hyghnes most honorable _____ his graces said offecers
47 or offecer for the tym beyng In wetnesse whereof the aforsaid thomas
48 armstrang larde of mayngerton x[o]pofer armstrang perry armstrang
49 archbald armstrang sym armstrang robert armstrang Ringey armstrang
50 wyll armstrang davy armstrang sym armstrang hugye armstrang
51 Joke routlege cristie armstrang arche armstrang georg foster
52 and cristie armstrang to this p[re]sent bond hath put there
53 sealle and subscribed the saym as there ___ hands the day
54 and yere above said
55 Tho[mas] Whartton
In a publication:
http://www.everymansprey.com/
which you should visit if you are interested in your Routledge Family History.
The document is below as I have transcribed it thus far (it still needs a lot of work but I will move forward in the documents and work on the next ones that he has sent to me):
Transcriber - Elizabeth Kipp
Transcription Date - 21 May 2012
Document Read - XVIII, Pt II. 137 folio 32 page 209, page 210
Location of Document - The National Archives, Kew, London, England
Date of Document - 6 Sep 1543
Title: Copye of the Bonde for the Leddesdalle
1 M[emorandu]m that in h[i]s kynge his ma[jes]ties casstell gardyn at carlisle The
2 Sext day of septembre In the xxxvth yeare of his hyghnes most gra
3 cious Reigne, Thomas Harmstrang Lord of Mayngerton x[o]p[h]ofer
4 armestrange called Laird cystell perey armestrange archbald
5 armestrange Sym armestrang called Reid Sym dobs armstrange
6 Renyan Harmstrang Wyll armestrang called wyll of the gyngles
7 davy armestrange called davy the lady of sym armestrange whyntyn
8 Soy yngrys armstrang Joke Routlege crysty armstrang John son
9 Arche armstrang hew son georg forster of grenole And cristy
10 armstrange whyntyn son p[er]sonallie have appeared afore Sir Thomas
11 Wharton kinges deputie wardane of the west ma[r]ches for and west
12 scotland and tht hayth sworyd the Solemyne oathe uppon the
13 gelide _______shisties to the said deput[ie] warden in the marche and on
14 behalf of the kyngs ma[jes]tie his most ____ sov[er]eigne Lord __hsyng
15 and _______ they by the sayd oathe and ______ ____ of all s________
16 __ _yraishe that as well as sayd thomas harmestrang x[o]pofer arms
16 trange bengey armstrang allan armstrang doby armstrang
17 arche armstrang georg foster cristy harmstrang then foes kyn
19 frends and clannes whos names or expressed in a cedall unto
20 this p[re]sent bond annexede at all others ther kyn frends and clannes
21 shall from henseforth trewlie and loyallie as most obyedient and
22 set most farr a mynd to all these powers sorte and myght ____ the
23 kyng his ma[jes]tie my lord wardan his hyghnes seide offecers or
24 offecers of the ____ for the tym beyng as all tymes and as all
25 commandments And for the assurances of that said _____ to be trewly
26 and loyally don in ____ as afore and for the true p[er]formance of
27 the sayng and the said thomas armsetrang x[o]per armstrang porry
28 armstrang archbald armstrang Sym armstrang petor armstrang
29 Ringey armstrang well armstrang davy armstrang sey armstrang
30 georg armstrang Joke Routlege cristy armstrang arche armstrang
31 georg foster and crysty armstrang hath named and cypoyised
32 sextyn psanes as to say Roy armstrang son to thom the lard archbalde
33 armstrang x[o]pofer son alexander armstrang wyll of the Gingles by
34 arche armstrang than of the marches son olyvar armstrang son to olyvar
35 sym armstrang son to andrew of bakstangill jefry armstrang
36 Roger son sandy armstrang hughy son jefry routleg
[Page 2]
37 ____ son georg foster Sh___ armstrang Ringey son hobby armstrang davy
38 the lady son John armstrang archie of Jonston son and monyte armstrang
39 archy son ____ tyen of coowopdall ____ of iiij _____ to lye at pled
40 ges in the ______ liste or ____ shall plesse the kyng his
41 ma[jes]tie his hyghnes most honourable _____ or his of[fec]ers said off[ece]rs
42 or _____ for the tym beyng to assyne and appoynte ______
43 them ____ lyke payn as afore it the said pledges shall trewly Re
44 mayn at trew yf pledges ____ ____ they shalbe appoynted and not the
45 _____ frend clens ____ speciall ly___ of the kyng his ma[jes]tie
46 his hyghnes most honorable _____ his graces said offecers
47 or offecer for the tym beyng In wetnesse whereof the aforsaid thomas
48 armstrang larde of mayngerton x[o]pofer armstrang perry armstrang
49 archbald armstrang sym armstrang robert armstrang Ringey armstrang
50 wyll armstrang davy armstrang sym armstrang hugye armstrang
51 Joke routlege cristie armstrang arche armstrang georg foster
52 and cristie armstrang to this p[re]sent bond hath put there
53 sealle and subscribed the saym as there ___ hands the day
54 and yere above said
55 Tho[mas] Whartton
In a publication:
'Henry VIII: September 1543, 6-10',
Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 18 Part 2:
August-December 1543" the following information was obtained on this document:
6 Sept. 137. Liddisdale.
Memorandum that, in the castle garden at Carlisle, 6 Sept., 35 Hen. VIII., Thos. Harmstrang lard of Mayngerton, Chr. Armstrang called Braide Crystell, Paton Armstrang, Archibald Armstrang, Sym Armstrang called Reide Sym, Ector Armstrang, Renyan Harmstrang, Wyll Armstrang called Wyll of ye Gyngles, Davy Armstrang called Davy ye Lady, Sym Armstrang Whyntyn son, Yngrye Armstrang, Joke Routlege, Cristy Armstrang John son, Arche Armstrang Hew son, George Forster of Grenow and Cristy Armstrang Whyntyn son, personally, before Sir Thos. Wharton, deputy warden of the West Marches, took solemn oath that they, "their sons, kin, friends and clannes whose names are expressed in a schedule unto this present bond annexed," and all other their kin, friends, and clannes will henceforth serve the King and his officers of the Marches; and appointed sixteen persons (named, with their fathers' names and abodes) to lie in pledge for this. Signed : Thomas Whartton.
Copy, pp. 2. Headed Copye of the bande for ye Leddesdalles. From: 'Henry VIII: September 1543, 6-10', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 18 Part 2: August-December 1543
Memorandum that, in the castle garden at Carlisle, 6 Sept., 35 Hen. VIII., Thos. Harmstrang lard of Mayngerton, Chr. Armstrang called Braide Crystell, Paton Armstrang, Archibald Armstrang, Sym Armstrang called Reide Sym, Ector Armstrang, Renyan Harmstrang, Wyll Armstrang called Wyll of ye Gyngles, Davy Armstrang called Davy ye Lady, Sym Armstrang Whyntyn son, Yngrye Armstrang, Joke Routlege, Cristy Armstrang John son, Arche Armstrang Hew son, George Forster of Grenow and Cristy Armstrang Whyntyn son, personally, before Sir Thos. Wharton, deputy warden of the West Marches, took solemn oath that they, "their sons, kin, friends and clannes whose names are expressed in a schedule unto this present bond annexed," and all other their kin, friends, and clannes will henceforth serve the King and his officers of the Marches; and appointed sixteen persons (named, with their fathers' names and abodes) to lie in pledge for this. Signed : Thomas Whartton.
Copy, pp. 2. Headed Copye of the bande for ye Leddesdalles. From: 'Henry VIII: September 1543, 6-10', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 18 Part 2: August-December 1543
As you can see there are lots of blanks and I continue to work on the document.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Will of John Blake, Gentleman of Christchurch, Hampshire, National Archives PROB 11/541 Image Reference 212/211, probated 21 Aug 1714
This will precedes yesterday's will in that John Blake is the father of William Blake testator which appears in yesterday's blog. This will be the last Blake will for as much as a couple of weeks as I must return to some early Routledge documents that I have on hand. My cousin Thomas Routledge is writing a book and I had promised to transcribe some documents for him. A couple of months ago I became very very busy and it slipped my mind but Thomas has reminded me! Therefore I will be back to the Routledge family of Eskdale Ward Cumberland England working on about a dozen documents which I will post here as well.
The Blake family of Christ Church does appear in the Visitations. William Blake who died in 1606 lived at Hubborn, Hampshire and he had a son John who also lived at Hubborn and in 1660 was 64 years of age (hence born circa 1596 and would have been ten years old when his father died). This John was married to Susanna Emberley (daughter of Nicholas Emberley of Christchurch) and they had at least two children: John b c 1630 and Susanna married to Henry Hopkins (Burgess of the Burough of Christ Church). John was was a Captain of Foot under the command of Colonel Fleming (and in 1686 Mayor of Christ Church) married Sarah Preston (daughter of Henry Preston of Burton, Christ Church). John and Sarah had at least one child also John who lived at Legore, Parish of Milton, Hampshire and he was approximately 33 years of age in 1686 (b c 1653) and married to Dorothy Blake (daughter and sole heir of Stephen Blake of Legore, Hampshire). They had five children Dorothy b c 1673, John b c 1674, Sarah b c 1681, Stephen b c 1683, and William b c 1685 (died 20 Dec 1744). The Visitation has been signed by John Blake in 1686 at the Kings Arms in Lindhurst 25 Jul 1686. This John is the Testator in this will. Probate was given to his wife Dorothy and sons Stephen and William although I have not yet transcribed the Probate.
Dorothy (wife of John) was also a Blake; daughter of Stephen Blake of Legore, Milton, Hampshire (near Christ Church) but I have not yet been able to determine the lineage of Stephen Blake.
I wonder which Blake family; are they descendant of the Wiltshire Blake family? William was a Mercer but it was a time when the most profit lay in cloth so I can not say that just because he was a Mercer he might be related to the Andover Blake family. Other than Richard Blake at Andover and his line, the rest were gentlemen farmers. Hubborn is an area in Christ Church looking at the Post Office Directory for the Borough of Southampton by William Cooper (1834), Southampton: Fletcher, Forbes and Fletcher. Interesting that the furtherest back William Blake died in 1606 the same year as William Blake at Eastontown. However, William at Eastontown did not have a son John.
In the Blog on Henry Blake's will http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2011/02/henry-blake-of-christchurch-and-his.html written 18 Feb 2011, there is some information on Hubborn. The Hampshire Record Office does hold a number of wills for Blake members at Hubborn including the will of John Blake husbandman at Hubborn who left his will in 1613, William Blake husbandman leaving a will in 1585. The Blake family at Andover does not really appear at Andover until the early 1500s and the earliest wills may be Richard Blake who left a will in 1522 naming his brother Thomas and his wife Executor (this is a will that I need to order from Hampshire Record Office). Jone Blake left a will in 1527 naming her children Robert, Nicholas and Elizabeth but neglected to name her husband at Andover. I am wondering if Richard is the husband of Jone since he is at Enham.
Back to Christchurch and Robert Blake leaves his will in 1547 naming his sons Richard (eldest and executor), William, Thomas the elder, Thomas the younger and Elizabeth. Is this the family on the Visitation? This keeps reminding me that I need to transcribe the 30 odd Wiltshire Blake wills that I have on hand. Personally my feeling is that the Christchurch family is descendant of the Calne Wiltshire Blake family.
Once again the yDNA study of the Blake family is an interesting way to look at your Blake line. Movement in the British Isles as people migrated from one area to another for various reasons happened early as well as now. For instance, my great grandparents Blake were from two different counties (Blake from Upper Clatford Hampshire and Knight from Turnworth Dorset). yDNA tells you about your deep ancestry. My line at Upper Clatford testing my brother is I2a2b which is said to be a very ancient British Isles haplogroup. My father was born at Eastleigh Hampshire (near Southampton) in 1904 with his father born at Upper Clatford in 1875.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 17 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/541 Image Reference 212/211
Place: Christchurch, Hampshire, England
Testator: John Blake, Gentleman of Christchurch, Hampshire
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 25 May 1714, probated 21 Aug 1714
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, bold text
[In margin] Tes[tat]or Johannis Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 This is the Last Will and Testament of me John Blake of
3 Sanborne within the parish of Christ Church in the County of
4 South[amp]ton Gentleman as followeth (that is to say) and chiefly I
5 commend my Soul to the Mercy of Almighty God thro[ug]h the merits
6 of my Saviour Christ Jesus and my body I commit to the Earth
7 and my Worldly Estate I dispose of in manner following (viz [a vi]t)
8 I give to the Poor of the Parish of Christ Church aforesaid Forty
9 shillings to be disposed of att my Grave by my Executors herein
10 after named. Item I give to my Grandson John Garret Blake
11 and to my Grand daughter Jane Blake Son and Daughter of
12 my Son John Blake the Summe of One hundred pounds a peice
13 of Lawfull Money when they shall respectively attaine the
14 age of one and Twenty years. Item I give to my Son John
15 Blake the Summe of One hundred pounds of like money to be
16 paid within one year after my decease Item I give to my daughter
17 Dorothy Slade the summe of One Hundred pounds of like
18 money to be paid within One year after my decease. Item I
19 give to my Grand daughter Sarah Slade and to my Grand Son
20 Nicholas Slade the Summe of fifty pounds a peice of like money
21 and to my Grand daughter Susannah Slade the Summe of one
[Page 2]
22 hundred pounds of like money to be paid them respectively
23 at their attaining the age of one and Twenty years or days of
24 Marriage which shall first happen and in case of either of
25 their deaths to the Survivors and Survivor of them. Item I give
26 devise and bequeath unto my Son Stephen Blake his heirs Execu[to]rs
27 and administrators all and Singular my Lands Tenements and
` hereditaments situate lying and being within the Tythings of
29 Street Burton and Bure within the Parish of Christ Church afores[ai]d
30 (except Colgills Hamm) Item I give to my Grand children Stephen
31 Richard and John Blake sons of my said Son Stephen the Summe
32 of one hundred pounds apeice of like Lawfull Money to be paid to
33 them at their attaining their respective Age of One and Twenty
34 years and in Case of either of their deaths to the Survivors and
35 Survivor of them. Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Son
36 William Blake his heirs Executors and Administrators all and
37 Singular my Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments
38 Scituate lyeing and being within the Burrough of Christ Church
39 in the Said County of South[amp]ton together with Colgills Hamm and
40 the Close or Plott of Ground in the Possession of Joseph Jeanes
41 with the rights members and Appurtenances thereof but in case
42 my said son William shall happen to dye without any other
43 Issue of his body lawfully begotten besides his now daughter
44 Then my will is and I do give devise and bequeath all and
45 Singular the Said Premisses so devised to him his heirs Executors
46 and Administrators unto my Son Stephen Blake his heirs Executors
47 and Administrators upon Condition nevertheless that he or
48 they pay unto my Said Son William Blake the Summe of Two
49 hundred pounds of Lawfull money when She Shall attaine her
50 full age or be Married which shall first happen. Item I give
51 to my said Grand daughter Elizabeth Dorothy Blake the further
51 Summe of One hundred pounds of like Money to be paid her
52 at her attaining her full age or Marriage which shall first
53 happen. Item I give to the Churchwardens of the Parish of Christ
54 Church aforesaid Forty Shillings to be paid at my Funeral
55 to the use of the Repaires and beutifying the Said Parish Church
56 all the residue of my Good and Chattells and Estate whatsoever
57 not herein before devised I give to my Loveing Wife and my
58 Said Sons Stephen and William equally to be divided between
59 them and make and appoint them joint Executors of this my
60 Last Will and Testament hereby revokeing all former and other
61 by me made and declareing this only to be my Last In Wittness
62 whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seale this five and
63 Twentieth day of May in the year of Our Lord Christ one Thousand
64 Seven hundred and fourteen John Blake Signed Sealed
65 and declared by the Said John Blake to be his Last Will and
66 Testament in our presence who Subscribes Our names in his
67 presence in the Lodging Room of him the said John Blake att
68 Sambborne aforesaid, the words (Garret. Item I give to my Son
69 John Blake the Summe of One hundred pounds of like money
70 to be paid within One yeare after my decease Sarah Slade
71 apeice) being First interlined in the above Written Will
[Page 3]
72 Ja: Coffin, Tho: Coffin, William Whichre
The Blake family of Christ Church does appear in the Visitations. William Blake who died in 1606 lived at Hubborn, Hampshire and he had a son John who also lived at Hubborn and in 1660 was 64 years of age (hence born circa 1596 and would have been ten years old when his father died). This John was married to Susanna Emberley (daughter of Nicholas Emberley of Christchurch) and they had at least two children: John b c 1630 and Susanna married to Henry Hopkins (Burgess of the Burough of Christ Church). John was was a Captain of Foot under the command of Colonel Fleming (and in 1686 Mayor of Christ Church) married Sarah Preston (daughter of Henry Preston of Burton, Christ Church). John and Sarah had at least one child also John who lived at Legore, Parish of Milton, Hampshire and he was approximately 33 years of age in 1686 (b c 1653) and married to Dorothy Blake (daughter and sole heir of Stephen Blake of Legore, Hampshire). They had five children Dorothy b c 1673, John b c 1674, Sarah b c 1681, Stephen b c 1683, and William b c 1685 (died 20 Dec 1744). The Visitation has been signed by John Blake in 1686 at the Kings Arms in Lindhurst 25 Jul 1686. This John is the Testator in this will. Probate was given to his wife Dorothy and sons Stephen and William although I have not yet transcribed the Probate.
Dorothy (wife of John) was also a Blake; daughter of Stephen Blake of Legore, Milton, Hampshire (near Christ Church) but I have not yet been able to determine the lineage of Stephen Blake.
I wonder which Blake family; are they descendant of the Wiltshire Blake family? William was a Mercer but it was a time when the most profit lay in cloth so I can not say that just because he was a Mercer he might be related to the Andover Blake family. Other than Richard Blake at Andover and his line, the rest were gentlemen farmers. Hubborn is an area in Christ Church looking at the Post Office Directory for the Borough of Southampton by William Cooper (1834), Southampton: Fletcher, Forbes and Fletcher. Interesting that the furtherest back William Blake died in 1606 the same year as William Blake at Eastontown. However, William at Eastontown did not have a son John.
In the Blog on Henry Blake's will http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2011/02/henry-blake-of-christchurch-and-his.html written 18 Feb 2011, there is some information on Hubborn. The Hampshire Record Office does hold a number of wills for Blake members at Hubborn including the will of John Blake husbandman at Hubborn who left his will in 1613, William Blake husbandman leaving a will in 1585. The Blake family at Andover does not really appear at Andover until the early 1500s and the earliest wills may be Richard Blake who left a will in 1522 naming his brother Thomas and his wife Executor (this is a will that I need to order from Hampshire Record Office). Jone Blake left a will in 1527 naming her children Robert, Nicholas and Elizabeth but neglected to name her husband at Andover. I am wondering if Richard is the husband of Jone since he is at Enham.
Back to Christchurch and Robert Blake leaves his will in 1547 naming his sons Richard (eldest and executor), William, Thomas the elder, Thomas the younger and Elizabeth. Is this the family on the Visitation? This keeps reminding me that I need to transcribe the 30 odd Wiltshire Blake wills that I have on hand. Personally my feeling is that the Christchurch family is descendant of the Calne Wiltshire Blake family.
Once again the yDNA study of the Blake family is an interesting way to look at your Blake line. Movement in the British Isles as people migrated from one area to another for various reasons happened early as well as now. For instance, my great grandparents Blake were from two different counties (Blake from Upper Clatford Hampshire and Knight from Turnworth Dorset). yDNA tells you about your deep ancestry. My line at Upper Clatford testing my brother is I2a2b which is said to be a very ancient British Isles haplogroup. My father was born at Eastleigh Hampshire (near Southampton) in 1904 with his father born at Upper Clatford in 1875.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 17 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/541 Image Reference 212/211
Place: Christchurch, Hampshire, England
Testator: John Blake, Gentleman of Christchurch, Hampshire
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 25 May 1714, probated 21 Aug 1714
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, bold text
[In margin] Tes[tat]or Johannis Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 This is the Last Will and Testament of me John Blake of
3 Sanborne within the parish of Christ Church in the County of
4 South[amp]ton Gentleman as followeth (that is to say) and chiefly I
5 commend my Soul to the Mercy of Almighty God thro[ug]h the merits
6 of my Saviour Christ Jesus and my body I commit to the Earth
7 and my Worldly Estate I dispose of in manner following (viz [a vi]t)
8 I give to the Poor of the Parish of Christ Church aforesaid Forty
9 shillings to be disposed of att my Grave by my Executors herein
10 after named. Item I give to my Grandson John Garret Blake
11 and to my Grand daughter Jane Blake Son and Daughter of
12 my Son John Blake the Summe of One hundred pounds a peice
13 of Lawfull Money when they shall respectively attaine the
14 age of one and Twenty years. Item I give to my Son John
15 Blake the Summe of One hundred pounds of like money to be
16 paid within one year after my decease Item I give to my daughter
17 Dorothy Slade the summe of One Hundred pounds of like
18 money to be paid within One year after my decease. Item I
19 give to my Grand daughter Sarah Slade and to my Grand Son
20 Nicholas Slade the Summe of fifty pounds a peice of like money
21 and to my Grand daughter Susannah Slade the Summe of one
[Page 2]
22 hundred pounds of like money to be paid them respectively
23 at their attaining the age of one and Twenty years or days of
24 Marriage which shall first happen and in case of either of
25 their deaths to the Survivors and Survivor of them. Item I give
26 devise and bequeath unto my Son Stephen Blake his heirs Execu[to]rs
27 and administrators all and Singular my Lands Tenements and
` hereditaments situate lying and being within the Tythings of
29 Street Burton and Bure within the Parish of Christ Church afores[ai]d
30 (except Colgills Hamm) Item I give to my Grand children Stephen
31 Richard and John Blake sons of my said Son Stephen the Summe
32 of one hundred pounds apeice of like Lawfull Money to be paid to
33 them at their attaining their respective Age of One and Twenty
34 years and in Case of either of their deaths to the Survivors and
35 Survivor of them. Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Son
36 William Blake his heirs Executors and Administrators all and
37 Singular my Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments
38 Scituate lyeing and being within the Burrough of Christ Church
39 in the Said County of South[amp]ton together with Colgills Hamm and
40 the Close or Plott of Ground in the Possession of Joseph Jeanes
41 with the rights members and Appurtenances thereof but in case
42 my said son William shall happen to dye without any other
43 Issue of his body lawfully begotten besides his now daughter
44 Then my will is and I do give devise and bequeath all and
45 Singular the Said Premisses so devised to him his heirs Executors
46 and Administrators unto my Son Stephen Blake his heirs Executors
47 and Administrators upon Condition nevertheless that he or
48 they pay unto my Said Son William Blake the Summe of Two
49 hundred pounds of Lawfull money when She Shall attaine her
50 full age or be Married which shall first happen. Item I give
51 to my said Grand daughter Elizabeth Dorothy Blake the further
51 Summe of One hundred pounds of like Money to be paid her
52 at her attaining her full age or Marriage which shall first
53 happen. Item I give to the Churchwardens of the Parish of Christ
54 Church aforesaid Forty Shillings to be paid at my Funeral
55 to the use of the Repaires and beutifying the Said Parish Church
56 all the residue of my Good and Chattells and Estate whatsoever
57 not herein before devised I give to my Loveing Wife and my
58 Said Sons Stephen and William equally to be divided between
59 them and make and appoint them joint Executors of this my
60 Last Will and Testament hereby revokeing all former and other
61 by me made and declareing this only to be my Last In Wittness
62 whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seale this five and
63 Twentieth day of May in the year of Our Lord Christ one Thousand
64 Seven hundred and fourteen John Blake Signed Sealed
65 and declared by the Said John Blake to be his Last Will and
66 Testament in our presence who Subscribes Our names in his
67 presence in the Lodging Room of him the said John Blake att
68 Sambborne aforesaid, the words (Garret. Item I give to my Son
69 John Blake the Summe of One hundred pounds of like money
70 to be paid within One yeare after my decease Sarah Slade
71 apeice) being First interlined in the above Written Will
[Page 3]
72 Ja: Coffin, Tho: Coffin, William Whichre
Friday, May 18, 2012
Will of William Blake, Mercer of Christchurch, Hampshire, National Archives PROB 11/738 Image Reference 196/202, probated 8 Mar 1745
I will be posting a will today for my Blake one name study and then a will tomorrow for my one name Blake study. The next items will then be for the Routledge papers that my cousin asked me to transcribe. It will likely be a couple of weeks before I return once again to the Hampshire Blake wills. In the meantime if Blake is an interest of yours please consider doing yDNA testing to help discover all the Blake lines of the Isles. The yDNA project at FT DNA can be seen here:
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/blake/
All of the originals of these wills are available for download on the National Archives website for the extremely reasonable price of £3.50. Once you discover your ancestor on a will it is wonderful to have a copy of that will.
William Blake of Christchurch was married twice with his second wife being Elizabeth Hook and they were married 24 May 1719 at Christchurch. Hook, one of their daughters, was baptized 8 Dec 1727 at Christchurch.
Elizabeth Dorothy Blake (daughter from his first marriage) was baptized 5 Jun 1711 at Christchurch. Elizabeth Dorothy Blake married her cousin John Garrett Blake 1 Oct 1728 at Christchurch. Their first child William was baptized 5 Dec 1729 at Christchurch and their second child was Dorothy for whom I could not locate a baptism yet.
In his Will, William mentions his siblings and their children which is always a very nice linking document to have. He has brothers Stephen Blake and John Blake (deceased) and sister Dorothy Slade (deceased). His father was Johannis Blake, his mother Dorothea and his will is the next one to be transcribed.
Stephen his brother has children baptized at Christchurch: Stephen baptized 23 Apr 1710, Richard baptized 29 Sep 1713, Mary baptized 12 Oct 1715, Sarah baptized 27 Sep 1717, Dorathe baptized 4 Nov 1719. Possibly his son Stephen has children baptized at Christchurch: Katherin baptized 22 Feb 1733 and Stephen baptized 19 Sep 1735.
John his brother is the father of John Garrett Blake who married William's eldest daughter Elizabeth Dorothy Blake. John's daughter Jane married (unknown) Boorne (sp).
His sister Dorathey Blake married Nicholas Slade on 26 Dec 1694 at Christchurch. Their daughter Sarah was baptized 3 Dec 1696 at Christchurch and she married Thomas Janes 13 May 1719 at Christchurch. Their son Nicholas (not mentioned in this will) was baptized 14 Jan 1692 and 31 Jan 1701 (likely the first Nicholas died, Nicholas is mentioned in his grandfather's will).
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 16 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/738 Image Reference 196/202
Place: Christchurch, Hampshire, England
Testator: William Blake, Mercer of Christchurch, Hampshire
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 9 Jun 1744, probated 8 Mar 1745
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, bold text
[In margin] William Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen I
2 I William Blake of the Borough of Christchurch in the
3 County of Southampton Mercer being in good health of Body
4 and of sound and perfect Mind and Memory (blessed be
5 God therefore) but calling to mind the uncertainty of this
6 transitory life and that all flesh must die do make and
7 publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following
8 that is to say First and principally I commit my Soul to the
9 hands of Almighty god who gave it me and my Body to
10 the Earth from whence it came to be decently buried at
11 the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named and as
12 for that Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to
13 enrich me I dispose thereof as followeth (that is to say) First
14 I will that all my just debts and funeral Expences be first paid
15 and satisfied and I give and bequeath unto David Worsley
16 of the Isle of White Esq[uir]e and Lawrence Jackson of the Borough
17 of Christchurch aforesaid Gentleman my Trustees the Sum of
18 two hundred pounds of lawful British Money upon this
19 special Trust and Confidence in them reposed and to the
20 intent and purpose that they the said David Worsley and
21 Lawrence Jackson and the survivor of them and the said
22 Executors and Administrators of such Survivor do and shall
23 as soon as conveniently may be after my decease place
24 out and continue the same at Interest on such security and
25 Securities as can be got for the same and the Interest and
26 produce thereof during the natural Life of my daughter
27 Elizabeth Dorothy Blake now wife of John Garret Blake
28 the same from time to time becomes due shall pay unto her
29 my said daughter Elizabeth Dorothy Blake into her own
30 hands to be for her own proper disposal and for her personal
31 and separate use and benefit exclusive of her husband
32 whose receipts alone (notwithstanding her coverture) shall
33 from time to time and at all times during the continuance
34 thereof be sufficient discharges for the same and from and
35 after the death of my said daughter Elizabeth Dorothy
36 Blake then upon this further Trust and confidence that they
37 the said David Worsley and Lawrence Jackson and the
38 Survivor of them of them and the Executors and Administrators
[Page 2]
39 of such Survivor to and shall pay the said Sum of two hundred
40 pounds and all interest due for the same unto my Grandchildren
41 William and Dorothy Blake children of my said daughter
42 Elizabeth Dorothy Blake equally Share and Share alike at
43 their several and respective ages of twenty one years or
44 days of Marriage and if either of them die under age and
45 unmarried then the whole to the Survivor of them at the age
46 of twenty one years or Marriage as aforesaid and in case
47 both of my said Grandchildren die under age and unmarried
48 Then upon this further Trust and confidence that they the said
49 David Worsley and Lawrence Jackson and the Survivor of
50 them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor
51 do and shall pay the said Sum of two hundred pounds and all
51 Interest and for the same unto my two daughters Hook and
52 Sarah Blake equally or to the Survivor of them or to the
53 Executors Administrators and Assigns of such Survivor also I
54 give and bequeath unto my said Grandchildren William and
55 Dorothy Blake the sum of fifty pounds a piece of like Money
56 to be paid them severally at their respective ages of twenty
57 one years or days of Marriage and if either of them dye
58 under age and unmarried then his or her Legacy of fifty
59 pounds so dying I will to the Survivor to be paid at the age
60 of twenty one years or Marriage as aforesaid and in case both
61 of them dyes under age and unmarried then I give their
62 Legacys equally betwixt my said daughters Hook and Sarah
63 Blake also I give and bequeath unto my said daughters Hook
64 and Sarah Blake the sum of four hundred pounds a piece of
65 like Money to be paid them severally at their respective ages
66 of twenty one years or days of Marriage And if either of
67 them dye under age and unmarried then I give her Legacy
68 of four hundred pounds so dying to the Survivor of them at the
69 age of twenty one years or Marriage as aforesaid and I gave
70 devise and bequeath unto my loving Wife Elizabeth Blake
71 all my freehold and Leasehold Messuages Lands Tenements and
72 Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever that I shall die
73 seized and possessed of to hold to her my said Wife and her
74 assigns for and during her natural life spent in case my
75 said wife marries again then my Will is that my said Wife
76 and her assigns do and shall out of the Rents and Profits of
77 my said Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments well
78 and truly pay or cause to be paid unto my said daughters
79 Hook and Sarah Blake the yearly annuities or clear yearly
80 Sums of ten pounds apiece in lawfull money of Great Britain
81 during the natural life of my said Wife by two equal half a
82 yearly payments (that is to say) at Michaelmas and Lady Day
83 and the first payment thereof to be made on each of the said days
84 as shall first and next happen after the marriage of my said
85 Wife and I do hereby charge my said Lands Tenements and
86 Hereditaments with payment of the same accordingly and
87 from and after the death of my said Wife I give and devise
88 all my freehold Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments
89 lying and being in the Borough of Christchurch aforesaid and my
[Page 3]
90 Freehold land containing twelve acres of Meadow (more or
91 less) lying in Bure Meade within the parish of Christchurch
92 aforesaid unto my said daughter Hook Blake and the heirs
93 of her Body lawfully to be begotten and for want of such Issue
94 I give and devise the same to my said daughter Sarah
95 Blake and the heirs of her Body lawfully to be begotten and
96 for want of such Issue I give and devise the same to my
97 Grandson William Blake son of my said daughter Elizabeth
98 Dorothy Blake and to his Heirs and assigns for ever and as
99 from and after the death of my said Wife I give and devise
100 my freehold Estate at Hubborne my close of land containing
101 six acres lying against Summerford Lane which I purchased
102 of Mr. John Smith and my dwelling house Mealhouse Lands
103 and premisses at Common Gate which I purchased of Henry
104 and Mark King all within the parish of Christchurch unto
105 my said daughter Sarah Blake and the heirs of her Body
106 lawfully to be begotten and for want os such Issue I give
107 and devise the same and every part thereof unto my said
108 daughter Hook Blake and to the heirs of her Body lawfully
109 to be begotten and for want of such Issue I give and devise
110 the same unto my said Grandson William Blake the Son
111 of my said daughter Elizabeth Dorothy Blake and to his
112 heirs and assigns for ever and I give five pounds to be
113 distributed amongst the poor of the Borough of Christchurch
114 aforesaid one Month after my decease at the discretion of
115 my Executrix hereafter named and I give five pounds to the
116 Church Wardens of the parish of Christchurch to be laid out
117 in ornamenting their Parish Church and I give to my Brother
118 Stephen Blake and to his Son and three daughters Stephen
119 Mary Sarah and Barbariah and to my late Brother John
120 Blake's son and daughter John Garrett Blake and Jane
121 Boorne and to my late sister Dorothy Slade's daughter
122 Sarah the wife of Mr. Thomas Janes and to each of them
123 one Guinea and I give to my friends in Trust the said
124 David Worsley and Lawrence Jackson five pounds a piece
125 desiring them to take upon themselves the Trust herein in
126 them reposed and to see that this my Will be duly and
127 truly performed all the rest and residue of my Lands Goods
128 Chattels and Credits whatsoever and wheresoever (not before
129 given) I give devise and bequeath unto my loving Wife
130 Elizabeth Blake whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will
131 and Testament and I do hereby revoke and make void all
132 former and other wills by me made In Witness whereof I
133 the said William Blake have to this my last Will and
134 Testament (being contained in two Sheets of paper) set my
135 Hand and Seal the ninth day of June in the year of my
136 Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty four Will[ia]m Blake
137 Signed Sealed Published by the said William Blake the
138 Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence
139 of us who subscribed our Names hereto as Witnesses at his
[Page 3]
140 request and in his presence and in the presence of each
141 other Jno Scott, Joseph Jeans, Jno Oake
142 This Will was proved at London before the
143 Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master
144 Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury
145 lawfully constituted on the eighth day of March in the
146 year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty
147 four by the Oath of Elizabeth Blake Widow the Relict of
148 the deceased and sole Executrix named in the said Will to
149 whom administration was granted of all and singular the
150 Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased being first
151 sworn Commission duly to administer
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/blake/
All of the originals of these wills are available for download on the National Archives website for the extremely reasonable price of £3.50. Once you discover your ancestor on a will it is wonderful to have a copy of that will.
William Blake of Christchurch was married twice with his second wife being Elizabeth Hook and they were married 24 May 1719 at Christchurch. Hook, one of their daughters, was baptized 8 Dec 1727 at Christchurch.
Elizabeth Dorothy Blake (daughter from his first marriage) was baptized 5 Jun 1711 at Christchurch. Elizabeth Dorothy Blake married her cousin John Garrett Blake 1 Oct 1728 at Christchurch. Their first child William was baptized 5 Dec 1729 at Christchurch and their second child was Dorothy for whom I could not locate a baptism yet.
In his Will, William mentions his siblings and their children which is always a very nice linking document to have. He has brothers Stephen Blake and John Blake (deceased) and sister Dorothy Slade (deceased). His father was Johannis Blake, his mother Dorothea and his will is the next one to be transcribed.
Stephen his brother has children baptized at Christchurch: Stephen baptized 23 Apr 1710, Richard baptized 29 Sep 1713, Mary baptized 12 Oct 1715, Sarah baptized 27 Sep 1717, Dorathe baptized 4 Nov 1719. Possibly his son Stephen has children baptized at Christchurch: Katherin baptized 22 Feb 1733 and Stephen baptized 19 Sep 1735.
John his brother is the father of John Garrett Blake who married William's eldest daughter Elizabeth Dorothy Blake. John's daughter Jane married (unknown) Boorne (sp).
His sister Dorathey Blake married Nicholas Slade on 26 Dec 1694 at Christchurch. Their daughter Sarah was baptized 3 Dec 1696 at Christchurch and she married Thomas Janes 13 May 1719 at Christchurch. Their son Nicholas (not mentioned in this will) was baptized 14 Jan 1692 and 31 Jan 1701 (likely the first Nicholas died, Nicholas is mentioned in his grandfather's will).
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 16 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/738 Image Reference 196/202
Place: Christchurch, Hampshire, England
Testator: William Blake, Mercer of Christchurch, Hampshire
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 9 Jun 1744, probated 8 Mar 1745
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, bold text
[In margin] William Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen I
2 I William Blake of the Borough of Christchurch in the
3 County of Southampton Mercer being in good health of Body
4 and of sound and perfect Mind and Memory (blessed be
5 God therefore) but calling to mind the uncertainty of this
6 transitory life and that all flesh must die do make and
7 publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following
8 that is to say First and principally I commit my Soul to the
9 hands of Almighty god who gave it me and my Body to
10 the Earth from whence it came to be decently buried at
11 the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named and as
12 for that Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to
13 enrich me I dispose thereof as followeth (that is to say) First
14 I will that all my just debts and funeral Expences be first paid
15 and satisfied and I give and bequeath unto David Worsley
16 of the Isle of White Esq[uir]e and Lawrence Jackson of the Borough
17 of Christchurch aforesaid Gentleman my Trustees the Sum of
18 two hundred pounds of lawful British Money upon this
19 special Trust and Confidence in them reposed and to the
20 intent and purpose that they the said David Worsley and
21 Lawrence Jackson and the survivor of them and the said
22 Executors and Administrators of such Survivor do and shall
23 as soon as conveniently may be after my decease place
24 out and continue the same at Interest on such security and
25 Securities as can be got for the same and the Interest and
26 produce thereof during the natural Life of my daughter
27 Elizabeth Dorothy Blake now wife of John Garret Blake
28 the same from time to time becomes due shall pay unto her
29 my said daughter Elizabeth Dorothy Blake into her own
30 hands to be for her own proper disposal and for her personal
31 and separate use and benefit exclusive of her husband
32 whose receipts alone (notwithstanding her coverture) shall
33 from time to time and at all times during the continuance
34 thereof be sufficient discharges for the same and from and
35 after the death of my said daughter Elizabeth Dorothy
36 Blake then upon this further Trust and confidence that they
37 the said David Worsley and Lawrence Jackson and the
38 Survivor of them of them and the Executors and Administrators
[Page 2]
39 of such Survivor to and shall pay the said Sum of two hundred
40 pounds and all interest due for the same unto my Grandchildren
41 William and Dorothy Blake children of my said daughter
42 Elizabeth Dorothy Blake equally Share and Share alike at
43 their several and respective ages of twenty one years or
44 days of Marriage and if either of them die under age and
45 unmarried then the whole to the Survivor of them at the age
46 of twenty one years or Marriage as aforesaid and in case
47 both of my said Grandchildren die under age and unmarried
48 Then upon this further Trust and confidence that they the said
49 David Worsley and Lawrence Jackson and the Survivor of
50 them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor
51 do and shall pay the said Sum of two hundred pounds and all
51 Interest and for the same unto my two daughters Hook and
52 Sarah Blake equally or to the Survivor of them or to the
53 Executors Administrators and Assigns of such Survivor also I
54 give and bequeath unto my said Grandchildren William and
55 Dorothy Blake the sum of fifty pounds a piece of like Money
56 to be paid them severally at their respective ages of twenty
57 one years or days of Marriage and if either of them dye
58 under age and unmarried then his or her Legacy of fifty
59 pounds so dying I will to the Survivor to be paid at the age
60 of twenty one years or Marriage as aforesaid and in case both
61 of them dyes under age and unmarried then I give their
62 Legacys equally betwixt my said daughters Hook and Sarah
63 Blake also I give and bequeath unto my said daughters Hook
64 and Sarah Blake the sum of four hundred pounds a piece of
65 like Money to be paid them severally at their respective ages
66 of twenty one years or days of Marriage And if either of
67 them dye under age and unmarried then I give her Legacy
68 of four hundred pounds so dying to the Survivor of them at the
69 age of twenty one years or Marriage as aforesaid and I gave
70 devise and bequeath unto my loving Wife Elizabeth Blake
71 all my freehold and Leasehold Messuages Lands Tenements and
72 Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever that I shall die
73 seized and possessed of to hold to her my said Wife and her
74 assigns for and during her natural life spent in case my
75 said wife marries again then my Will is that my said Wife
76 and her assigns do and shall out of the Rents and Profits of
77 my said Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments well
78 and truly pay or cause to be paid unto my said daughters
79 Hook and Sarah Blake the yearly annuities or clear yearly
80 Sums of ten pounds apiece in lawfull money of Great Britain
81 during the natural life of my said Wife by two equal half a
82 yearly payments (that is to say) at Michaelmas and Lady Day
83 and the first payment thereof to be made on each of the said days
84 as shall first and next happen after the marriage of my said
85 Wife and I do hereby charge my said Lands Tenements and
86 Hereditaments with payment of the same accordingly and
87 from and after the death of my said Wife I give and devise
88 all my freehold Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments
89 lying and being in the Borough of Christchurch aforesaid and my
[Page 3]
90 Freehold land containing twelve acres of Meadow (more or
91 less) lying in Bure Meade within the parish of Christchurch
92 aforesaid unto my said daughter Hook Blake and the heirs
93 of her Body lawfully to be begotten and for want of such Issue
94 I give and devise the same to my said daughter Sarah
95 Blake and the heirs of her Body lawfully to be begotten and
96 for want of such Issue I give and devise the same to my
97 Grandson William Blake son of my said daughter Elizabeth
98 Dorothy Blake and to his Heirs and assigns for ever and as
99 from and after the death of my said Wife I give and devise
100 my freehold Estate at Hubborne my close of land containing
101 six acres lying against Summerford Lane which I purchased
102 of Mr. John Smith and my dwelling house Mealhouse Lands
103 and premisses at Common Gate which I purchased of Henry
104 and Mark King all within the parish of Christchurch unto
105 my said daughter Sarah Blake and the heirs of her Body
106 lawfully to be begotten and for want os such Issue I give
107 and devise the same and every part thereof unto my said
108 daughter Hook Blake and to the heirs of her Body lawfully
109 to be begotten and for want of such Issue I give and devise
110 the same unto my said Grandson William Blake the Son
111 of my said daughter Elizabeth Dorothy Blake and to his
112 heirs and assigns for ever and I give five pounds to be
113 distributed amongst the poor of the Borough of Christchurch
114 aforesaid one Month after my decease at the discretion of
115 my Executrix hereafter named and I give five pounds to the
116 Church Wardens of the parish of Christchurch to be laid out
117 in ornamenting their Parish Church and I give to my Brother
118 Stephen Blake and to his Son and three daughters Stephen
119 Mary Sarah and Barbariah and to my late Brother John
120 Blake's son and daughter John Garrett Blake and Jane
121 Boorne and to my late sister Dorothy Slade's daughter
122 Sarah the wife of Mr. Thomas Janes and to each of them
123 one Guinea and I give to my friends in Trust the said
124 David Worsley and Lawrence Jackson five pounds a piece
125 desiring them to take upon themselves the Trust herein in
126 them reposed and to see that this my Will be duly and
127 truly performed all the rest and residue of my Lands Goods
128 Chattels and Credits whatsoever and wheresoever (not before
129 given) I give devise and bequeath unto my loving Wife
130 Elizabeth Blake whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will
131 and Testament and I do hereby revoke and make void all
132 former and other wills by me made In Witness whereof I
133 the said William Blake have to this my last Will and
134 Testament (being contained in two Sheets of paper) set my
135 Hand and Seal the ninth day of June in the year of my
136 Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty four Will[ia]m Blake
137 Signed Sealed Published by the said William Blake the
138 Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence
139 of us who subscribed our Names hereto as Witnesses at his
[Page 3]
140 request and in his presence and in the presence of each
141 other Jno Scott, Joseph Jeans, Jno Oake
142 This Will was proved at London before the
143 Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master
144 Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury
145 lawfully constituted on the eighth day of March in the
146 year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty
147 four by the Oath of Elizabeth Blake Widow the Relict of
148 the deceased and sole Executrix named in the said Will to
149 whom administration was granted of all and singular the
150 Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased being first
151 sworn Commission duly to administer
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Will of Thomas Blake of Finkley, National Archives PROB 11/364 Image Reference 173/168, probated 26 Nov 1680
Thomas Blake left his will in 1680 with only the notation that he was of Finkley. I found only two Finkley references in England. The one is Finkley Street in Tankersley (South Riding Yorkshire (was West Riding Yorkshire)) and the other is located in Andover Registration District along the Roman Road. There is Finkley Manor Farm and Finkley Ho about five miles east of Andover (and Finkley Forest).
From the British History Online: A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 4 -
Smannell is situated 2½ miles north-east of the town, it contains the hamlets of Woodhouse, East Anton, Little London and Finkley. Finkley House is the seat of the Rev. Robert Finch. The northeastern part of the parish is well wooded, including the southern portion of Doles Wood, which was parcel of Finkley Park or Finkley Forest. A survey of this park, taken by order of the Parliamentary Commissioners in 1652, exists at the Public Record Office. At that date it contained 841 a. 1 r. 17 p., together with a lodge standing therein. There were 7,149 timber trees and saplings growing in it, and there were also various copses in the park, usually fenced in, and containing 620a. 2r. The 150 deer in the park were valued at £100 and the rabbits at £50. 'The wood and woody ground called the Ridges,' which was parcel of Finkley Forest, contained 5,120 trees, and the underwoods there were worth £40. Richard Cromwell was then the chief ranger, and William Cooke the keeper. The inhabitants of King's Enham, Knight's Enham and East Anton had certain rights of common of pasture in Finkley Park, and 20s. yearly and 9s. yearly were paid to the ranger and the keeper respectively towards the making of fences by the tenants of King's Enham farm, under Magdalen College, Oxford, who from time immemorial had had common of pasture there for seventy cows and one bull from Mayday to Michaelmas. Four years after his accession Charles II granted Finkley Park to George Duke of Albemarle and his heirs for ever.
In 1680 Charles II is King of England (Date of Restoration 29 May 1660) so Finkley Park belonged to George Duke of Albemarle likely and perhaps the common of pasture was still observed.
The will does make it sound as if Thomas is indebted and Peter his second son is to clear his debts. He mentions three sons Richard, Peter and Charles and three daughters. It is possible that this is the Peter Blake who married Ann Godfrey 26 Jun 1677 at Penton Mewsey with banns read at Hurstbourne Tarrant (Ann Godfrey was born at Hurstborne Tarrant). Still working on this particular line but Peter and Ann had two children Peter and Ann with Peter marrying Joan (unknown) and their children were Ann, Mary, Peter, Jacob and John. Jacob married Mary Mosdown 20 May 1744 at Penton Mewsey. The other Peter Blake (said to be born at Upper Clatford) married Ann Noyes 26 Jun 1677 at Penton Mewsey (interestingly the same day) and their children were Katheren, Mary and Peter. This family lived at Upper Clatford and their children were baptized at Upper Clatford. Penton Mewsey was another Blake family home area in the 1600s and my line was there. Sorting the Peter Blake lines out is a challenge and this is a forename that goes back to the mid 1500s in the Blake family at Andover.
There is a Charles Blake baptized at Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hampshire 12 Apr 1653 son of Thomas Blake. Charles is not a common Blake forename in this area in this time period. There is a Richard Blake baptized 24 Mar 1650 at Hurstbourne Tarrant. Hurstbourne Tarrant is to the north of Finkley and further away than Andover. However it is interesting to find a Charles and a Richard who would have been 27 and 30 years of age in 1680 when Thomas is writing his will.
A parochial history of St Mary Bourne has a chapter on the Forest of Chute and Finkley. Finkley Forest is bordered along the south by Eastanton which belongs to Mr. W. Blake. This is likely Eastontown where the family of William Blake has lived since the mid 1500s. The William Blake there in 1652 would be the great grandson of William Blake who left his will in 1582 naming himself as William Blake of Eastontown. His son William inherited this property and willed it to his eldest son William in 1607. This William left the property to his son William.
The Blake family at Hurstborne Tarrant is known to me and descendant of Robert Blake brother to Nicholas Blake. Robert's son John Blake the Elder died before 8 Apr 1572 at Knights Enham and he mentions his son John Blake, then a minor, who died before 25 Feb 1605 at Upton, Hurstborne Tarrant. The children of this John Blake, yeoman, Upton, Hurstborne Tarrant and his wife (unknown) had four children Agnes, Christian, Elizabeth and John who was single in 1605 but not listed as underage.
There was a Thomas Blake baptized 30 Sep 1621 at Hurstbourne Tarrant and the son of John Blake. By 1680 this Thomas would have been 59 years of age and could be the Thomas Blake in this will. Why he lists himself at Finkley is a mystery if indeed the children baptized at Hurstbourne Tarrant (Charles and Richard) were indeed the children of the Thomas Blake at Finkley listed in his will.
In the 1841 census of Hurstbourne Tarrant there were nine Blake members listed including John, Edward and Richard. In the 1851 census of Hurstbourne Tarrant there were eight Blake members listed including John Charles, Edward Walter, Richard, Charles Henry, and James. This is one family with John Charles Blake as the head married to Charlotte (John Charles Blake married Charlotte Eyeles in 1831 at Hurstbourne Tarrant according to the LDS website). John Charles Blake was born in 1810 at Hurstbourne Tarrant. In 1861 there were 16 Blake members at Hurstbourne Tarrant but not all were born at Hurstbourne Tarrant. John Charles and Charlotte Blake are still there and there is a new family Thomas Blake married to Susanna Pibworth 3 Jul 1830 Hurstborne Tarrant (she was born at Hurstbourne Tarrant) and this Thomas is a brother to my 2x great grandfather John Blake (both were born/baptized at Upper Clatford).I am ever mindful though that proximity is not a sufficient proof for family relationships. The Blake family that was at Upper Clatford in the 1600s was not directly related to the Blake family (mine) that was at Upper Clatford from the mid 1700s on. Their common ancestor, William Blake of Eastontown, was six generations earlier in the mid 1700s Upper Clatford Blake family. No descendants of the Peter Blake family of Upper Clatford in the 1600s lived at Upper Clatford in the mid 1700s.
Checking the LDS website John Charles Blake (1851 census) was born 8 Oct 1809 and baptized 22 Oct 1809 at Hurstbourne Tarrant and he was the son of Richard and Mary Blake. There isn't a marriage on the LDS website at Hurstbourne Tarrant for a Richard Blake in the appropriate time frame Although there was a Richard on the 1841 census.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 16 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/364 Image Reference 173/168
Place: Finkley, Hampshire, England
Testator: Thomas Blake, Finkley
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 4 Oct 1680, probated 26 Nov 1680
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, light text
[In margin] Thomas Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen I
2 Thomas Blake of Finkley being infirm and weak in bodye but of sound and p[er]fect
3 mind and memory doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner
4 and forme following That is to say Imprimis I commend my Soule unto the hands of
5 God Almighty hopeing through the merritts of my Saviour Jesus Christ to receive full
6 pardon from all my Sinns and to Inheritt eternall life And my Body I committ to the Earth
7 to bee decently buried at the discre[t]ion of my Executor hereafter named and as to my temporall
8 estate I dispose of it as followeth / Item I give and bequeath to my Sonne Richard the
9 Summe of twelve pence / Item I make my sonne Peter Blake my Executor / Item I give
10 him all my Lands goods and Chattells to pay all his Engagements that he standeth bound
11 for mee and the overplus for him to devide amongst my Wife and three daughters and my
12 Sonne Charles the marke of Thomas Blake In witnes whereof / I have hereunto sett my
13 hand and Seale The Fourth day of October 1680 in the yeare of Edward Noyle the mark of
14 Anne Pecke the marke of William Nowell
From the British History Online: A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 4 -
Smannell is situated 2½ miles north-east of the town, it contains the hamlets of Woodhouse, East Anton, Little London and Finkley. Finkley House is the seat of the Rev. Robert Finch. The northeastern part of the parish is well wooded, including the southern portion of Doles Wood, which was parcel of Finkley Park or Finkley Forest. A survey of this park, taken by order of the Parliamentary Commissioners in 1652, exists at the Public Record Office. At that date it contained 841 a. 1 r. 17 p., together with a lodge standing therein. There were 7,149 timber trees and saplings growing in it, and there were also various copses in the park, usually fenced in, and containing 620a. 2r. The 150 deer in the park were valued at £100 and the rabbits at £50. 'The wood and woody ground called the Ridges,' which was parcel of Finkley Forest, contained 5,120 trees, and the underwoods there were worth £40. Richard Cromwell was then the chief ranger, and William Cooke the keeper. The inhabitants of King's Enham, Knight's Enham and East Anton had certain rights of common of pasture in Finkley Park, and 20s. yearly and 9s. yearly were paid to the ranger and the keeper respectively towards the making of fences by the tenants of King's Enham farm, under Magdalen College, Oxford, who from time immemorial had had common of pasture there for seventy cows and one bull from Mayday to Michaelmas. Four years after his accession Charles II granted Finkley Park to George Duke of Albemarle and his heirs for ever.
In 1680 Charles II is King of England (Date of Restoration 29 May 1660) so Finkley Park belonged to George Duke of Albemarle likely and perhaps the common of pasture was still observed.
The will does make it sound as if Thomas is indebted and Peter his second son is to clear his debts. He mentions three sons Richard, Peter and Charles and three daughters. It is possible that this is the Peter Blake who married Ann Godfrey 26 Jun 1677 at Penton Mewsey with banns read at Hurstbourne Tarrant (Ann Godfrey was born at Hurstborne Tarrant). Still working on this particular line but Peter and Ann had two children Peter and Ann with Peter marrying Joan (unknown) and their children were Ann, Mary, Peter, Jacob and John. Jacob married Mary Mosdown 20 May 1744 at Penton Mewsey. The other Peter Blake (said to be born at Upper Clatford) married Ann Noyes 26 Jun 1677 at Penton Mewsey (interestingly the same day) and their children were Katheren, Mary and Peter. This family lived at Upper Clatford and their children were baptized at Upper Clatford. Penton Mewsey was another Blake family home area in the 1600s and my line was there. Sorting the Peter Blake lines out is a challenge and this is a forename that goes back to the mid 1500s in the Blake family at Andover.
There is a Charles Blake baptized at Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hampshire 12 Apr 1653 son of Thomas Blake. Charles is not a common Blake forename in this area in this time period. There is a Richard Blake baptized 24 Mar 1650 at Hurstbourne Tarrant. Hurstbourne Tarrant is to the north of Finkley and further away than Andover. However it is interesting to find a Charles and a Richard who would have been 27 and 30 years of age in 1680 when Thomas is writing his will.
A parochial history of St Mary Bourne has a chapter on the Forest of Chute and Finkley. Finkley Forest is bordered along the south by Eastanton which belongs to Mr. W. Blake. This is likely Eastontown where the family of William Blake has lived since the mid 1500s. The William Blake there in 1652 would be the great grandson of William Blake who left his will in 1582 naming himself as William Blake of Eastontown. His son William inherited this property and willed it to his eldest son William in 1607. This William left the property to his son William.
The Blake family at Hurstborne Tarrant is known to me and descendant of Robert Blake brother to Nicholas Blake. Robert's son John Blake the Elder died before 8 Apr 1572 at Knights Enham and he mentions his son John Blake, then a minor, who died before 25 Feb 1605 at Upton, Hurstborne Tarrant. The children of this John Blake, yeoman, Upton, Hurstborne Tarrant and his wife (unknown) had four children Agnes, Christian, Elizabeth and John who was single in 1605 but not listed as underage.
There was a Thomas Blake baptized 30 Sep 1621 at Hurstbourne Tarrant and the son of John Blake. By 1680 this Thomas would have been 59 years of age and could be the Thomas Blake in this will. Why he lists himself at Finkley is a mystery if indeed the children baptized at Hurstbourne Tarrant (Charles and Richard) were indeed the children of the Thomas Blake at Finkley listed in his will.
In the 1841 census of Hurstbourne Tarrant there were nine Blake members listed including John, Edward and Richard. In the 1851 census of Hurstbourne Tarrant there were eight Blake members listed including John Charles, Edward Walter, Richard, Charles Henry, and James. This is one family with John Charles Blake as the head married to Charlotte (John Charles Blake married Charlotte Eyeles in 1831 at Hurstbourne Tarrant according to the LDS website). John Charles Blake was born in 1810 at Hurstbourne Tarrant. In 1861 there were 16 Blake members at Hurstbourne Tarrant but not all were born at Hurstbourne Tarrant. John Charles and Charlotte Blake are still there and there is a new family Thomas Blake married to Susanna Pibworth 3 Jul 1830 Hurstborne Tarrant (she was born at Hurstbourne Tarrant) and this Thomas is a brother to my 2x great grandfather John Blake (both were born/baptized at Upper Clatford).I am ever mindful though that proximity is not a sufficient proof for family relationships. The Blake family that was at Upper Clatford in the 1600s was not directly related to the Blake family (mine) that was at Upper Clatford from the mid 1700s on. Their common ancestor, William Blake of Eastontown, was six generations earlier in the mid 1700s Upper Clatford Blake family. No descendants of the Peter Blake family of Upper Clatford in the 1600s lived at Upper Clatford in the mid 1700s.
Checking the LDS website John Charles Blake (1851 census) was born 8 Oct 1809 and baptized 22 Oct 1809 at Hurstbourne Tarrant and he was the son of Richard and Mary Blake. There isn't a marriage on the LDS website at Hurstbourne Tarrant for a Richard Blake in the appropriate time frame Although there was a Richard on the 1841 census.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 16 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/364 Image Reference 173/168
Place: Finkley, Hampshire, England
Testator: Thomas Blake, Finkley
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 4 Oct 1680, probated 26 Nov 1680
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, light text
[In margin] Thomas Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen I
2 Thomas Blake of Finkley being infirm and weak in bodye but of sound and p[er]fect
3 mind and memory doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner
4 and forme following That is to say Imprimis I commend my Soule unto the hands of
5 God Almighty hopeing through the merritts of my Saviour Jesus Christ to receive full
6 pardon from all my Sinns and to Inheritt eternall life And my Body I committ to the Earth
7 to bee decently buried at the discre[t]ion of my Executor hereafter named and as to my temporall
8 estate I dispose of it as followeth / Item I give and bequeath to my Sonne Richard the
9 Summe of twelve pence / Item I make my sonne Peter Blake my Executor / Item I give
10 him all my Lands goods and Chattells to pay all his Engagements that he standeth bound
11 for mee and the overplus for him to devide amongst my Wife and three daughters and my
12 Sonne Charles the marke of Thomas Blake In witnes whereof / I have hereunto sett my
13 hand and Seale The Fourth day of October 1680 in the yeare of Edward Noyle the mark of
14 Anne Pecke the marke of William Nowell
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Will of William Blake, Peruke Maker and belonging to His Majesty's Ship Terrible of Gosport, Hampshire, National Archives PROB 11/819 Image Reference 142/159, probated 3 Dec 1755
Another will for a William Blake married to Mary (unknown). Not being of military background I am realizing that perhaps the "Terrible" is stationed at Gosport and his wife could be elsewhere. Although his executor James Rimes is at Gosport.
Checking on Find my Past I do not find any Blake entries at Gosport between 1700 and 1755. There was a William Blake buried 6 Aug 1770 at Gosport but this William was buried in 1755.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 15 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/819 Image Reference 142/159
Place: Gosport, Hampshire, England
Testator: William Blake, Peruke Maker and belonging to His Majesty's Ship Terrible of Gosport, Hampshire
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 3 Feb 1755, probated 3 Dec 1755
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, contrast medium
[In margin] William Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I William Blake of Gosport in the County of Southampton
3 peruke maker and belonging to his Majesties Ship
4 Terrible being in Bodily health and of Sound and disposing
5 Mind and Memory and considering the perils and dangers
6 of the Seas and other Uncertainties after my decease make
7 publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in
8 manner following that is to say first I recommend my
9 soul to God that gave it and my Body to commit to the
10 earth or Sea as it shall please God to order and as for
11 and concerning all my Worldly Estate I give bequeath and
12 despose thereof as followweth that is to Say all and Singular
13 my Wages Sum and Sums of Money Lands Tenements Goods
14 Chattels and Estate whatsoever as Shall be any ways
15 and owing or belonging unto me at the time of my
16 decease I do give devise and bequeath the same unto
17 my loving Wife Mary Blake and I do hereby nominate
18 and appoint my friend James Rimes of Gosport abovesaid
19 peruke maker Executor of this my last Will and Testament
20 hereby revoking all former and other Wills Testaments
[Page 2]
21 and Testaments and Goods of Gift by me at any time heretofore
22 made and I do ordain and ratify these presents to stand and
23 be for and as my only last Will and Testament And Witness whereof
24 to this my said Will I have set my hand and Seal the third day
25 of February in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven
26 hundred and fifty five and in the twenty eighth year of the
27 Reign of his Majesty King George the Second over Great
28 Britain etc W[illia]m Blake Signed Sealed Published and declared
29 in the presence of the William Andrews on Higgens 1755
30 This Will was proved at London the third day of
31 December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
32 and fifty five before the Right Honourable Sir George Leese
33 Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the
34 Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the
35 Oath of James Rimes the Sole Executor named in the said Seale
36 to whom Administration was granted of all and Singular
37 the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having
38 been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer
Checking on Find my Past I do not find any Blake entries at Gosport between 1700 and 1755. There was a William Blake buried 6 Aug 1770 at Gosport but this William was buried in 1755.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 15 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/819 Image Reference 142/159
Place: Gosport, Hampshire, England
Testator: William Blake, Peruke Maker and belonging to His Majesty's Ship Terrible of Gosport, Hampshire
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 3 Feb 1755, probated 3 Dec 1755
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, contrast medium
[In margin] William Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I William Blake of Gosport in the County of Southampton
3 peruke maker and belonging to his Majesties Ship
4 Terrible being in Bodily health and of Sound and disposing
5 Mind and Memory and considering the perils and dangers
6 of the Seas and other Uncertainties after my decease make
7 publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in
8 manner following that is to say first I recommend my
9 soul to God that gave it and my Body to commit to the
10 earth or Sea as it shall please God to order and as for
11 and concerning all my Worldly Estate I give bequeath and
12 despose thereof as followweth that is to Say all and Singular
13 my Wages Sum and Sums of Money Lands Tenements Goods
14 Chattels and Estate whatsoever as Shall be any ways
15 and owing or belonging unto me at the time of my
16 decease I do give devise and bequeath the same unto
17 my loving Wife Mary Blake and I do hereby nominate
18 and appoint my friend James Rimes of Gosport abovesaid
19 peruke maker Executor of this my last Will and Testament
20 hereby revoking all former and other Wills Testaments
[Page 2]
21 and Testaments and Goods of Gift by me at any time heretofore
22 made and I do ordain and ratify these presents to stand and
23 be for and as my only last Will and Testament And Witness whereof
24 to this my said Will I have set my hand and Seal the third day
25 of February in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven
26 hundred and fifty five and in the twenty eighth year of the
27 Reign of his Majesty King George the Second over Great
28 Britain etc W[illia]m Blake Signed Sealed Published and declared
29 in the presence of the William Andrews on Higgens 1755
30 This Will was proved at London the third day of
31 December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
32 and fifty five before the Right Honourable Sir George Leese
33 Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the
34 Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the
35 Oath of James Rimes the Sole Executor named in the said Seale
36 to whom Administration was granted of all and Singular
37 the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having
38 been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer
Terribye and Houghton - - The Border Papers, Volume I, 1560 - 1594, edited by Joseph Bain
The Border Papers: Calendar of Letters and Papers relating to the
affairs of the Borders of England and Scotland preserved in Her
Majesty's Public Record Office London, edited by Joseph Bain, Fellow of
the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Foreign Corresponding Member
of the Society of Antiquaries of Normandy. Volume I. A.D. 1560 - 1594.
Published by the Authority of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's
Treasury, under the direction of the Deputy Clerk Register of Scotland.
London, February 1894.
This particular volume includes the Muster rolls for Eskdale Ward in Cumberland and I will post them over the next few days. Unfortunately Bewcastle, Eske, Leven and Kirklinton did not answer the Muster call. These records can be found on pages 37 to 41, Section 90. Musters of Eskdale Ward, Cumberland. The Muster Rolls were taken on 9 Feb 1580/81 and for me provide a nice census of the Townships as my Routledge, Tweddle, Robson and Bushby families are found in some of these parishes.
This is the final set from the Border Papers for Eskdale Ward. A number of other Wards are in Volume 1 of the Border Papers.
Township Surname Forename Suffix
London, February 1894.
This particular volume includes the Muster rolls for Eskdale Ward in Cumberland and I will post them over the next few days. Unfortunately Bewcastle, Eske, Leven and Kirklinton did not answer the Muster call. These records can be found on pages 37 to 41, Section 90. Musters of Eskdale Ward, Cumberland. The Muster Rolls were taken on 9 Feb 1580/81 and for me provide a nice census of the Townships as my Routledge, Tweddle, Robson and Bushby families are found in some of these parishes.
This is the final set from the Border Papers for Eskdale Ward. A number of other Wards are in Volume 1 of the Border Papers.
Township Surname Forename Suffix
| Terribye | Bell | Patten | ||
| Terribye | Barnefather | Christofer | ||
| Terribye | Iveson | John | ||
| Terribye | Anderson | Christofer | ||
| Terribye | Parker | Thomas | elder | |
| Terribye | Bell | Henrie | ||
| Terribye | Barnefather | Cuthbert | ||
| Terribye | Anderson | Thomas | ||
| Terribye | Ridge | Robert | ||
| Terribye | Anderson | Henrie | ||
| Terribye | Parker | Thomas | younger | |
| Terribye | Anderson | Michaell | ||
| Terribye | Bell | Henrie | younger | |
| Houghton | Parker | Christofer | ||
| Houghton | Parker | John | ||
| Houghton | Parker | Thomas | ||
| Houghton | James | Robert | ||
| Houghton | Dalton | Robert | ||
| Houghton | Blaicklocke | Robert | ||
| Houghton | Kinge | William | ||
| Houghton | Robinson | Thomas | ||
| Houghton | Haught | William | ||
| Houghton | Heslope | William | ||
| Houghton | Milnes | Christofer | ||
| Houghton | James | Clemente | ||
| Houghton | James | James | ||
| Houghton | Lecke | Edwarde | ||
| Houghton | Holme | Randell | ||
| Houghton | Kinge | Thomas | ||
| Houghton | Robinson | Thomas | ||
| Houghton | James | Christofer | ||
| Houghton | Milner | John | ||
| Houghton | Blaicklocke | John |
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Ellis family of Winterborne Stickland
Talking about Family Finder brought me to the Ellis family in a discussion on the autosomal list serv. I decided to verify something about Ellis Ellis my 5x great grandfather and ended up discovering that Winterborne Stickland early parish records are now on Ancestry. An hour passed quickly!
Ellis Ellis's parents were Thomas Ellis and Mary Bound and they married 27 Dec 1703 at Winterborne Stickland, Dorset, England. I haven't found any information on this couple at Winterborne Stickland yet. There are a lot of members of the Bound family there but few Ellis members. Thomas and Mary had six children of whom only three appear to have survived to adulthood with Ellis being the youngest child. Their children were Elizabeth, Mary, John, Thomas, William and Ellis (with Mary, John and Ellis appearing to survive to adulthood). I have not yet looked at Mary and John with regard to marriage or children but Ellis married Sarah Wellspring 7 Mar 1738 at Winterborne Stickland and they had seven children according to some family trees. I have not yet found a baptism for a William baptized around 1739 but I do have the information on Jane, Elizabeth, John, Susanna and Sarah (my ancestress). All survived to adulthood and I have marriages for Jane, Elizabeth and Susanna sisters of Sarah but not yet one for William or John. I shall spend more time looking at the records on Ancestry.
Sarah married William Knight 7 Aug 1775 at Winterborne Stickland and their son Ellis Knight married Eleanor Knight (they may have been 2nd or 3rd cousins). Their son Samuel Knight married Louisa Butt and my father remembered his great grandparents very well and actually knew Samuel when he was a child. They used to visit him at Turnworth Dorset where he lived. Samuel died in 1912 and was 83 years old ( his wife had died twelve years earlier but my grandfather's oldest sister Louisa lived with her grandparents and eventually married at Turnworth and stayed there thus providing them with good support in their old age since only four of their eleven children survived to adulthood).
For anyone related to this Ellis line there is quite a bit of information on them in the parish registers.
Ellis Ellis's parents were Thomas Ellis and Mary Bound and they married 27 Dec 1703 at Winterborne Stickland, Dorset, England. I haven't found any information on this couple at Winterborne Stickland yet. There are a lot of members of the Bound family there but few Ellis members. Thomas and Mary had six children of whom only three appear to have survived to adulthood with Ellis being the youngest child. Their children were Elizabeth, Mary, John, Thomas, William and Ellis (with Mary, John and Ellis appearing to survive to adulthood). I have not yet looked at Mary and John with regard to marriage or children but Ellis married Sarah Wellspring 7 Mar 1738 at Winterborne Stickland and they had seven children according to some family trees. I have not yet found a baptism for a William baptized around 1739 but I do have the information on Jane, Elizabeth, John, Susanna and Sarah (my ancestress). All survived to adulthood and I have marriages for Jane, Elizabeth and Susanna sisters of Sarah but not yet one for William or John. I shall spend more time looking at the records on Ancestry.
Sarah married William Knight 7 Aug 1775 at Winterborne Stickland and their son Ellis Knight married Eleanor Knight (they may have been 2nd or 3rd cousins). Their son Samuel Knight married Louisa Butt and my father remembered his great grandparents very well and actually knew Samuel when he was a child. They used to visit him at Turnworth Dorset where he lived. Samuel died in 1912 and was 83 years old ( his wife had died twelve years earlier but my grandfather's oldest sister Louisa lived with her grandparents and eventually married at Turnworth and stayed there thus providing them with good support in their old age since only four of their eleven children survived to adulthood).
For anyone related to this Ellis line there is quite a bit of information on them in the parish registers.
Will of William Blake, Gentleman of Portsmouth, Hampshire, National Archives PROB 11/1644 Image Reference 136/135, probated 15 Jun 1821
Two wills that fit together is always a nice
find. This William is the father of Arthur who left his will dated 1838 and
probated in 1841. The one clue that really connects them is the individual to
whom William the father has given a mortgage and that Arthur forgives him the
interest owed to him from that mortgage at the time of Arthur's decease. Arthur
did not marry and so his father's legacies now will go to the grandchildren. There
must be a story connected to Arthur but the will doesn't reveal it to us. Why
he is living with the Mitchell family? Even by 1821 he appears to not be living
with his father. Perhaps the marriage of William to Mary is a second marriage
as they have a daughter under 21 when the will was written. It was also three
years before Arthur's will was probated.
William's (testator) sister Ann Blake married (unknown)
Smith and a search of the LDS website reveals a few possible marriages.
Henry Sherman Fennell married Ann Smith 4 Jun
1815 at Saint Thomas Parish Church, Portsmouth.More work on this will later as I put the wills together of family members.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 14 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/1644 Image Reference 136/135
Place: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Testator: William Blake, Gentleman of Portsmouth, Hampshire
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 3 Jan 1820, probated 15 Jun 1821
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, contrast medium, probably in his own handwriting
[In margin] William Blake 24
1 This is the last Will and Testament
2 of me William Blake of Portsmouth in the county of Hants Gentleman
3 made whilst in an indifferent state of health but of sound and disposing
4 mind memory and understanding to hereby, I give devise bequeath and
5 bequeath dispose of all my real and personal estate and effects in manner following
6 that is to say I give and devise unto my wife Mary and to my son in law Richard
7 Batchelor of Portsmouth aforesaid Surgeon and my friend William
8 Prince of the same place Hatter and to the survivor of them and his heirs
9 all those my two messuages or dwelling houses with the appurtenances
10 there to belonging situate and being at Buckland in the parish of Portsea
11 in the said County was occupied by Mr. Hoffmister and Mr. Saunders and
12 also all that my messuage or dwelling house situate in Fredrick Street
13 in Portsea aforesaid No 18 occupied by Mrs Balfour sublett to a charge
14 of two hundred pounds now existing on such said messuage and
15 premises and chargeable therewith To hold the same three messuages
16 subject and chargeable therewith To hold the as aforesaid to my said
17 wife Mary the said Richard Batchelor and William Prince and
18 to the survivor of them and his or her heirs upon trust nevertheless
19 to permit my son said Arthur Blake to receive the writs of the said
20 messuage and Premises from and after the expiration of twelve
21 calendar months from my decease for his life and immediately after
22 his decease or in case my said son shall die leaving a wife and child
23 or children Then In trust to retain the rents of my said three messuages
24 and premises and pay the same unto the widow of my said son Arthur
25 for her life and after her decease upon trust and I devise the said three
26 messuages and premises unto all and every the child or children of my
27 said son lawfully begotten if more than one as tenants in common
28 and if but one than to such only child his or her heirs and assigns
29 for ever but in case my said son should die without having a
30 wife or child or children lawfully begotten then I give and devise
31 the said three messuages and premises unto my sister Ann Smith of
32 Portsea aforesaid widow for her life and after her decease I give and
33 devise the said three messuages unto the children of the said Ann
34 Smith living at her decease their heirs and assigns for ever as tenants
35 in common and not as joint Tenants I give and devise unto Charlotte
36 White Butler of Portsea aforesaid spinster and to her heirs and
37 assigns for ever all that my messuage or dwelling house situate
38 in Daniel Street in Portsea aforesaid and lately occupied by my
39 mother in law Francis Blake deceased but now by the said
40 Charlotte White Butler and I give and bequeath the principal
41 sum of eight hundred pounds now secured to me on mortgage of an
42 estaate on Oyster Street in Portsmouth aforesaid belonginge to Mr
43 Joseph Puelman unto my said wife Mary and the said Rich[ar]d
44 Batchelor and William Prince upon trust and confidence
45 nevertheless that they my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them
46 or the executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall
47 after twelve calendar months from my decease call in one
48 hundred pounds principal money part of the said sum of eight
49 hundred pounds and when received upon trust and I direct sixty
[Page 2]
50 pounds par thereof to be paid to my said sister Ann Smith
51 for her own use with the interest to accrue from twelve
51 calendar months next after my decease twenty pounds other part
52 thereof to her son John Smith of Portsea aforesaid Shipwright and
53 twenty pounds remaining part thereof unto her daughter Ann
54 Fennell wife of Henry Fennell of Portsea aforesaid Labourer and
55 also upon further trust to receive the interest of the remaining sum of
56 seven hundred pounds every three calendar months if payment can
57 be so obtained and to pay the same when and as borrowed unto my
58 said son Arthur Blake for his life and after his decease upon
59 trust to pay the interest of the said sum of seven hundred pounds
60 other part thereof unto the widow of my said son Arthur for her
61 life and immediately after her decease then In trust and I give the
62 said sum of seven hundred pounds unto all and every the children of
63 my said son Arthur living at the time of the decease of his said widow
64 in equal shares and proportions but in case my said son should
65 die leaving only a widow and without child or children then I direct
66 my said trustees to pay the interest of four hundred pounds only part
67 of the said sum of seven hundred pounds to my said sons widow
68 for her life and the remaining sum of three hundred pounds I
69 hereby direct them to pay to my two Grandsons in law William
70 Cunningham Batchelor and Richard Batchelor sons of my son
71 in law William Cunningham Batchelor late of Portsmouth afor[esai]d
72 Merchant and in case my said son Arthur should die without
73 leaving either a widow or child or children then after his decease I
74 give and bequeath the said sum of seven hundred pounds in
75 manner following that is to say four hundred pounds part thereof
76 to my said daughter Ann Blake for her own use and one hundred and
77 fifty pounds to each of my said Grandsons in law the said William
78 Cunningham Batchelor and Richard Batchelor and in case of the decease
79 of my said daughter Ann Blake under the age of twenty one years
80 I give and bequeath twelve hundred pounds stock five percent Ann[uitie]s
81 under the power reserved in my marriage Settlement and now standing
82 in the joint names of myself John Whitlow and Harrison Deacon in
83 manner following I give and bequeath six hundred and forty
84 pounds stock part thereof unto my son in law and my three daughters
85 in law namely the said Richard Batchelor Sarah Batchelor Mary
86 Batchelor and Elizabeth Batchelor in equal shares and proportions
87 to and for their own use and benefit absolutely and one hundred and
88 sixty pounds stock other part of the said twelve hundred pounds
89 stock I give and bequeath unto my said two Grandsons in law
90 William Cunningham Batchelor and Richard Batchelor
91 equally share and share alike and the remaining four hundred
92 pounds stock I hereby give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary
93 Blake and to the said Richard Batchelor and William Prince their
94 executors administrators and assigns upon trust and confidence that
95 they my said trustees or the survivor of them or the executors or
96 administrators of such survivor shall and do permit and suffer my
97 said son Arthur to receive and take the dividends and interest thereof
98 for his life and from and immediately after his decease then I give
99 and bequeath the sum of two hundred pounds part thereof to the
100 children of my sister Ann Smith widow equally share and share
101 alike and the remaining sum of two hundred pounds I give and
102 bequeath unto and equally between my said son in law and three
103 daughters in law namely Richard Batchelor Sarah Mary and
104 Elizabeth Batchelor to and for their own use and benefit and I give
105 and bequeath unto my said trustees the said Richard Batchelor
[Page 3]
106 and William Prince the sum of ten pounds each as a
107 compensation for the care and trouble they will be put to in the
108 execution of the trusts hereby in them reposed to be paid them
109 at the expiration of fifteen calendar months next after my decease
110 and I give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary all my household
111 Goods and furniture of household plate linen and China together
112 with all my ready money securities for money debts rents and interest
113 and money due and owing to me and to grow due and accrue then to me
114 from twelve calendar months next after the day of my decease and
115 all the residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects of
116 what nature the same shall consist at my decease and not
117 hereinbefore by me disposed of subject nevertheless to the payment
118 of my just debts funeral expences and the costs of proving this my
119 will I give to her my said wife for her own use and benefit absolutely
120 and I authorize and fully empower my said trustees or the survivor
121 of them and his or her heirs to sell and dispose of my said three
122 freehold messuages and premises hereunto first by me herebefore devised
123 or any or other of them by public or private sale as they he or she may
124 think most advantageous and on sale of such my said real estate
125 or any part thereof I direct that the receipt or receipts of my said
126 trustees or the survivors or survivor of them shall be a good and
127 sufficient discharge to a purchaser or purchasers thereof and on sale
128 as aforesaid to plan the consideration money arising there from in
129 the public stocks or funds of this Kingdom or on good real security
130 on the trusts aforesaid and it is my will that my said trustees or the
131 survivors or survivor of them shall from time to time as often as
132 they shall think proper alter and change the securities on which
133 the said trust monies or any part thereof are now or shall hereafter
134 be placed out and from time to time as often as they shall think
135 fit again the place the same out upon Government or other good
136 real sufficient security or securities in such manner as they shall
137 think most beneficial and it is my will and meaning that my said
138 trustees or either of them shall not be liable to make good any
139 loss of losses that shall happen in the execution of the trusts
140 mentioned in this my will unless the same shall appear to
141 happen by or through their or either of their wilful neglect or
142 default nor shall either of my said trustees be answerable or
143 accountable for the acts deeds receipts or disbursements of the
144 other of them but each of them shall be answerable for his and
145 her own separate acts deeds receipts and disbursements only and I
146 hereby direct that my said trustees shall reimburse themselves out
147 of my said estate and effects all necessary costs charges and expences
148 whatsoever that they or either of them shall be put into in the
149 execution of this my will or the trusts hereby in them reposed
150 and lastly I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said
151 wife Mary and my son in law the said Richard Batchelor
152 and William Prince my trustees executrix and executors of this
153 my last will and testate testament and hereby revoke and make
154 void all former and other will and wills by me at any time
155 heretofore made and do declare this only to be said testament my last will and
156 testament In witness whereof I the said William Blake the
157 testator have to this my last will and testament the whole whereof
158 is contained in five sheets of paper set my hand and seal that is to
159 say may hand to the first four sheets hereof and my hand and seal
160 to this fifth and last sheet thereof this third day of January in the
161 year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty W[illia]m Blake
162 [seal] Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Blake
[Page 4]
163 the Testator as and for his last will and Testament on the day
164 of the date in the presence of us who at his request in his presence
165 and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as
166 witnesses hereto W[illia]m Glendening Sol Portsea W[illia]m Allen James Garrate
167 Proved at London 15th June 1821 before the Judge by the oaths
168 of Mary Blake widow the Relict Richard Batchelor and William
169 Prince the executors to whom administration was granted having
170 been first sworn duly to administer