The testator Nicholas Blake is likely from Cornwall or Devon. Parish of Maker, Cornwall - in this parish is found Cremble Passage which was the common place of transferring passengers by boat or barge over the rapid and dangerous waves of the Tamerworth Harbour or Sea Haven from the Cornish shore to the Plymouth or Devonshire side or lands. Source: The parochial history of Cornwall, founded on the manuscript histories of Mr. Hals and Mr. Tonkin; with additions and various appendices (Volume 3) . (page 9 of 36)
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/davies-gilbert/the-parochial-history-of-cornwall-founded-on-the-manuscript-histories-of-mr-ha-bli/page-9-the-parochial-history-of-cornwall-founded-on-the-manuscript-histories-of-mr-ha-bli.shtml
An interesting notation in the Parish Register of Sheviock, Cornwall is the burial of Aquila Blake son of John Blake who died 3rd December 1631 (there is a floorstone in the parish church at Rame which reads "Here lyeth the body of Aquila Blake, the Sonne of John Blake, of this Parish who departed this life the third day of December 1631). The parish of Sheviock is 3.1 miles WSW of Passage Point (possibly Cremble Passage).
The National Archives holds a document that mentions Aquila Blake of Bodynnecke in Cornwall:
[no title] T/44 26th. April, 1653
Contents:
(1) Temperance Little, p. Creed, widow
(2) John Williams of St. Ewe, gent.; Aquila Blake of Bodynnecke, p. Lanteglos by Fowey, mercht. Tregigio Feoffment to uses: from (1) to (2) to use of Edward, John and Stephen, sons of John Williams Provision clause: land to remain to use of Temperance Little and her intended husband Nicholas Sawett whilst they live.
The parish of Lanteglos by Fowey where Aquila Blake is living at Bodynnecke although this is 18 miles WSW of Passage Point. However it is also twenty years earlier. Interesting as this Aquila Blake is also described as a merchant.
The Visitation of Cornwall in the Year 1620 edited by Lieutenant Colonel J.L. Vivian and Henry H. Drake (London, 1874) has entries for the Blake family but it is John Blake of Comb in County Devon. The grandson of John Blake of Comb (married to Elizabeth Lugar) has as his third wife Grace Cock daughter of John Cock of Cambelford Cornwall. His son also John Blake is the submitter of this pedigree in1620 and he shows four sons (John, George, Nicholas and Edward) and three daughters (Susan Elizabeth and Jane). Interestingly the coat of arms for this family is listed as Ar. a chev. betw. 3 garbs Sa. This coat of arms is indeed the coat of arms for the Calne Wiltshire Blake family. This coat of arms is not shown on the Visitation page but is listed under the List of Coats of Arms not shown in the back of the publication.
The Executor of the will who made probate was Aquilla Blake.
A Somerset Blake descendant who has researched the Blake family in that area has on her website:
http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/huttonreport.htm
Aquilla Blake was born 12 Oct 1845 in Banwell, Somerset. It is just really interesting to find this name once again albeit two hundred years later. Unfortunately she is only able to trace her line back to a Thomas Blake who was born at Hutton which is 3 miles ENE of Banwell Somerset. certainly the life and times in the 1600s when Elizabeth I was Queen of England and encouraging her mariners to sail the world the lure of the channel ports was high and the gains to be made by visiting and trading in all the foreign countries attracted many many younger sons to the pursuit. Banwell Somerset is 15 miles NNE of Bridgewater Somerset.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 12 Nov 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/343/263
Testator: Nicholas Blake, Mariner of Saint Clement Danes
Place: Middlesex, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 16 Oct 1673, probated 16 Nov 1673
Read: Electronic copy images
Condition: middle English writing legible, copy clear
[Margin] Tm
[Margin]: Nicholai Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen I Nicholas Blake of the Parish ofe
2 Saint Clement Danes in the County of Midd[lesex] Mariner being now sick and
3 weake in Body but of sound perfect and well disposing mind and memory
4 I praise Almighty God therefore and calling to mind the frailty of this
5 transitory lyfe and that I must yeild obedience to death when it shall please
6 his divine Providence soe to ordeine it doe therefore make and declare this
7 to be my last Will and Testament First and principally I commend my
8 Soule into the hands of Almighty god my Creator stedfastly beleeving
9 that in and by and through the precious death and sufferings of his only
10 sonne my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to have free pardon and remission
11 of all my sinnes and so enioy with him and his elected life everlasting And
12 as touching such worldly Estate as I have namely all such wages and Pay
13 due or to grow due to mee for my service in his Ma[jes]t[ie]s Friggott the Crowne I
14 gyve and bequeath unto my very loving Father Aquila Blake of Cremble
15 Passage in the County of Devon Merchant whome I doe hereby make and
16 appoint to be full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby
17 making void frustrate and of noe effect all other Wills by mee made either
18 by word of mouth or in writing declaring this to be my only last Will In
19 Witnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the Sixteenth day of
20 October In the Fyve and Twentyth yeare of the Raigne of our soveraigne
21 Lord King Charles the Second Anno d[om]ini 1673 Nicholas Blake his marke
22 Sealed and delyvered in the presence of Francis Bultell Mathew Maskins
23 John Scoble his marke James Kirtham SR
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