Thursday, October 3, 2013

Will of Francis Blake, Merchant, Minehead, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/1393/276, probated 6 Jun 1803

Francis Blake is the testator. There isn’t much online information on Francis himself unfortunately. I have not yet located his first marriage but there is quite a bit of information on their only child: Elizabeth Bastone Blake.

Elizabeth Bastone Blake married the Reverend John Emra, vicar of St George’s Bristol.

Names mentioned in the will:

Robert Blake, Minehead, brother, executor
Sarah Blake, Minehead, sister
Ann Blake, Minehead, sister
Elizabeth Burwell, Minehead, servant
John Deake, Mercer, Minehead, executor
Reverend John Blake, Faversham, Kent, nephew, executor
Elizabeth Bastone Emra, daughter
John Emra, son in law
Andrew Blake, brother
John Blake, son of Andrew, nephew
Robert Blake, son of Andrew, nephew
Mr. Lewis Fisher, Bristol, broker
Worthington Price, Indentee
John Blake, Indentee
Francis Bastone, Indentee
Hannah Bastone, witness
Jos: Bastone, witness
Francis Bastone, junior, witness
Christian Rawle, witness
Robert Carpenter, witness

Musings in advance of reading the will follow for a number of lines:

From Notes and Queries (3rd S. II. July 19, 1962, page 58) by William White:

“my grandmother, Elizabeth Bastone Blake, daughter of Francis Blake, Esq., of Minehead, was believed to be the last descendant of Nicholas Blake, or George (I am not sure which), who both settled in Minehead. My grandmother’s family had lived there for generations, and claimed to be the descendants (collateral, of course,) of the great Admiral. Elizabeth Bastone Blake married the Reverend John Emra, Vicar of St. George’s, Bristol.” The author J. Emra Holmes of Hartlepool, Durham.

The will of Andrew Blake, merchant at Minehead was probated 2 Jun 1753. His will was blogged:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/09/will-of-andrew-blake-merchant-at.html

and I make note that he is descendant of Alice Blake whose will was blogged:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/09/will-of-alice-blake-widow-of-dunster.html

This family does have a tradition that they are descendant of Humphrey Blake of Overstowey so it will be worthwhile to attempt to locate the husband of Alice as that would be the trail back to Humphrey.

In the discussion on the will of Andrew Blake I have not determined who the father of Francis Blake buried 21 Apr 1803 at Minehead is. Francis Blake was married to Ann Warrin (although where does the name Bastone arise in the family, was she a widow and need to find that reference) first and Elizabeth Bastone Blake born 8 Oct 1769 was from this first marriage. His second marriage was to Elizabeth Bradley 11 May 1774 and their only child (a son) died as an infant.

This I have written before looking at the will and perhaps within the will I will make some discoveries that will help to link Francis to the families in Minehead. I notice that Andrew Junior has a son Francis and I assumed that the burial of Frances was that son but it does appear to note in the burial record that Frances was his daughter (but no baptism). Perhaps Andrew Junior is the father of this Francis. I have made the change on the blog and will revisit that after the will is read.

The historical lore is that two brothers of Admiral Blake lived at Minehead. Nicholas (married to Jone Question) lived at Dunster which is just a couple of miles from Minehead) but who was the other brother living at Minehead? The above source mentions George but George died at Plymouth and lived there as far as I can tell.

Within the will, the testator, Francis Blake, doesn’t mentions his wives. He does mention his siblings Ann, Sarah, Robert and Andrew (which would place him as a son of Andrew Junior. He does mention his nephew the Reverend John Blake and he has two other nephews he mentions, the sons of Andrew, namely: John and Robert. Will check to see if I can find Reverend John Blake at Faversham in the Clergy of the Church of England database but this was not helpful as I can not find him in Kent.

But the charting that I did earlier looking at the will of Andrew and Alice Blake does lend credence to the idea that this Francis is the son of Andrew Blake Junior and hence Andrew Blake Senior and then back to Robert Blake and Ann Teague. This Robert likely being the son of Andrew Blake, Butcher of Dunster, whose will was blogged (and a certain property in Dunster is mentioned in this will that is mentioned later in the will of Robert’s son Andrew at Minehead):

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/09/andrew-blake-is-testator.html

This then takes us back to the will of Alice Blake, widow of Dunster who named her sons as Andrew and William. But still the question who was the husband of Alice and that would answer the question as to the relationship with Admiral Robert Blake.

I have written to the OPC for Dunster, Liz Jones, to see if she has a marriage for Alice to unknown Blake at Dunster. On the 1641-42 Protestation Returns at Dunster there were six Blake entries (all presumably 18 years of age or older) namely: Francis senior, Francis junior, William, Andrew, James, Richard and Robert. William and Andrew are possibly the sons of Alice. If I receive a positive answer I will add that in at this particular spot in the post.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 2 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1393/276
Testator: Francis Blake, Merchant
Place: Minehead, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 17 Aug 1802, probated 6 Jun 1803
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Francis
[Margin]: Blake

1    This is the last Will and Testament
2    of me Francis Blake of Minehead in the County of Somerset
3    Merchant as follows First I give unto my Brother Robert
4    Blake and to my two sisters Ann and Sarah Blake all
5    new and arrears of Rent which shall be due and owing
6    to me at the time of my decease in respect of the house
7    they now reside in situate in Bampton Street in Minehead
8    they paying and discharging and indemnifying my
9    Executors hereinafter named from all Fines herriotts and
10    dilapidations which shall or may attach to me in respect
11    of the said house and premises but not otherwise I give
12    unto my said Brother Robert Blake all my Estate Title
13    and Interest which I possess in a Field of ground
14    called the Pitt park adjoining to the said Town of
15    Minehead subject to his paying the Yearly Rent
16    chargeable thereon I give unto my Servant Elizabeth
17    Burwell the Sum of Ten pounds and Ten shillings to
18    be paid her within three Months next after my
19    decease and also a Suit of Mourning provided she
20    be living with me at the time of my decease but
21    not otherwise I give and bequeath unto John Deake
22    of Minehead aforesaid Mercer my said Brother Robert
23    Blake and my Nephew the Reverend John Blake late
24    of Southmolton in the County of Devon but now of
25    Feversham in the County of Kent all Sum and Sums of
26    money which now stand in my Name or in the Name
27    or Names of any other person or persons in trust for me
28    either in the public Funds or Stocks of Great Britain or
29    on any other Government real or personal Security
30    whatsoever or wheresoever (except as to the Sum of
31    Two thousand pounds hereinafter particularly
32    mentioned and excepted) Upon Trust that the same
33    Sum and Sums of Money and every part thereof shall
34    within Twelve Months next after my decease or sooner
35    if possible be bought in and transferred into the three
36    per cent consolidated Annuities in the joint names of
37    the said John Deake Robert Blake and John Blake and
38    the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors
39    and administrators of such Survivor and to be paid
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40    and applied in such manner and for such uses intents
41    and purposes as are hereinafter particularly mentioned
42    that is to say upon Trust to pay and apply the Interest
43    dividends and annual produce thereof unto my daughter
44    Elizabeth Bastone Emra during the joint lives of herself
45    and her husband John Emra and from and immediately
46    after the decease of either of them the said Elizabeth
47    Bastone Emra and John Emra then upon trust to pay
48    and apply the Interest dividends and annual produce
49    thereof unto the Survivor of them the said Elizabeth
50    Bastone Emra and John Emra during the term of his
51    or her natural life and from and immediately after the
52    decease of both of them the said Elizabeth Bastone Emra
53    and John Emra upon trust to pay assign transfer and
54    apply the said principal Monies so directed to be invested and
55    transferred as aforesaid and all Interest due thereon
56    unto and amongst all and every the Child and Children
57    of them the said John Emra and Elizabeth Bastone
58    Emra equally to be divided between them share and
59    share alike and to be paid and applied to them
60    respectively when and as they shall attain their full age
61    and ages of Twenty one Years and I direct that the
62    Share or Shares of him her or them so dying under the
63    said age of Twenty one Years shall be paid unto and
64    among the Survivors of them in equal shares when
65    and as they shall attain their full age of Twenty one
66    years and in case there shall be only one such Child
67    that shall live to attain his or her full age of Twenty
68    one Years then in trust for such only Child and to be
69    paid transferred and applied to the use of such only
70    Child when and as he or she shall accomplish the full
71    age of Twenty one Years and in case all such Child
72    and Children shall die before he she or they shall
73    respectively accomplish their full age and ages of
74    Twenty one Years then upon trust to pay transfer
75    and apply the same principal Monies so directed to
76    be invested and transferred as aforesaid and all
77    interest that may be due thereon unto and amongst
78    all and every my Brothers and Sisters and my
79    Nephew namely Ann Blake Sarah Blake Robert
80    Blake Andrew Blake and my said Nephew the
81    Reverend John Blake their Executors and Administrators
82    equally to be divided between them share and share
83    alike provided that in case my said Brother Andrew
84    Blake should depart this life before me then and subject
85    to the proceedury Limitations and bequests I give the
86    share to be bequeathed to him unto and amongst his two
87    Sons John and Robert Blake equally to be divided between
88    them share and share alike and in case of the death
89    of either of them before he may have attained his
90    full age of Twenty one Years then I give the Share
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91    and Interest of him so dying unto the Survivor of them
92    the said John Blake and Robert Blake provided always
93    that the Receipt of Receipts of my said daughter the
94    said Elizabeth Bastone Emra shall be good and sufficient
95    discharge and discharges for any Sum or Sums of Money my said
96    trustees may pay her during the joint lives of herself
97    and her husband the said John Emra and that the
98    same or any part thereof shall not be liable to
99    subject to the control debts or Engagements of the
100    said John Emra in any manner whatsoever but to
101    and for her sole and absolute use and benefit
102    provided also that in case my said daughter the
103    said Elizabeth Bastone Emra should happen to die
104    before her said husband the said John Emra and
105    he should marry a second Wife then it is my will full
106    intent and meaning that immediately upon such second
107    Marriage all and every bequest or gift contained in
108    this my Will in any manner whatsoever shall
109    immediately cease and be utterly void to all intents
110    and purposes and that the same and every part
111    thereof shall from thenceforth be applied to the
112    further limitations contained in this my Will
113    provided further than in case my said daughter the
114    said Elizabeth Bastone Emra should survive her
115    said husband the said John Emra and marry a
116    second husband then it is my will that all and
117    every Child and Children which she may have by
118    such second Marriage shall be entitled to an equal
119    share and proportion with the Child and Children
120    of such her first or present Marriage provided
121    further that in case either of the Child or Children of the
122    said Elizabeth Bastone Emra which she now has or may
123    hereafter have either by her present or any future
124    Marriage shall be desirous of settling in any Trade
125    Business or profession or should think proper to
126    marry then my said Trustees shall to and with the
127    consent of the said John Emra and my said daughter
128    the said Elizabeth Bastone Emra or the Survivor of
129    them advance and pay any Sum or Sums of Money
130    not exceeding the Sum of One thousand pounds for
131    and towards his her or their better advancement in
132    Life and that any such Sum and Sums of Money
133    when so advanced shall be deducted and accounted
134    as a part of his her or their Share Interest or
135    fortune when the same shall so become payable
136    as aforesaid provided also that if or in case my
137    said daughter the said Elizabeth Bastone Emra
138    and John Emra or in case of the death of either of
139    them then with the consent of the Survivor of
140    them shall be desirous of placing any part of the
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141    Money (so directed to be invested in the public Funds as
142    aforesaid) in Trade that they to and with the joint consent
143    of my said Trustees may transfer any Sum that shall
144    be standing in the public Funds as aforesaid which Sum
145    and the Interest and profits thereof when so placed
146    in Trade I direct shall be paid and applied in such
147    manner and form as is before directed and as if the
148    same Sum was standing in the public Funds and shall
149    be subject to the same provisoes Limitations and
150    conditions as are hereinbefore contained in this my
151    Will and Whereas I did on the Marriage of my said
152    Daughter Elizabeth Bastone Emra with the said John
153    Emra become Bound or obligated to pay the Sum of
154    Two thousand pounds to be applied unto my daughter
155    the said Elizabeth Bastone Emra and John Emra and
156    the Issue of such Marriage in Such manner as it
157    particularly mentioned in certain articles of agree-
158    ment made and entered into on or about the tenth
159    day of december one thousand seven hundred and
160    Ninety five between myself of the first part my
161    daughter Elizabeth Bastone Emra of the second part
162    Worthington Price of the third part John Emra of the
163    fourth part and John Blake and Francis Bastone of
164    the fifth part and Whereas I have advanced the said
165    Sum of Two thousand pounds to be employed in Trade
166    with Mr Lewis Fisher and others of Bristol the Interest
167    and profits of which said Sum of Two thousand
168    pounds has been duly paid and received by my said
169    Son in Law and daughter the said Elizabeth Bastone
170    Emra and John Emra now I do hereby direct that
171    such said Sum of Two thousand pounds and the
172    interest and profits thereof shall be paid and applied
173    in every respect agreeable to the contents of the above
174    mentioned articles of agreement and shall be taken
175    and deemed to be the said Two thousand pounds so
176    intended to be secured by such said Marriage articles
177    and to be paid and applied for such uses ends
178    intents and purposes as are therein particularly
179    expressed concerning the same and for no other use
181    intent or purpose whatsoever and it is my Will
182    that in case such said Sum of Two thousand pounds
183    shall be paid in at any time after my decease then I
184    order and direct that the Trustees in such said recited
185    Marriage articles shall invest the same either in the
186    public Funds of Great Britain or on some good
187    Freehold Security and pay and apply the same and
188    the Interest and dividends arising therefrom for such
189    uses as are in such said Marriage articles directed
190    and Whereas I am possessed of a Freehold house and
191    premises situate in Frog Place in the Town of Tiverton now I
192    hereby direct that my said Trustees shall as soon
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193    as conveniently may be after my decease either by
194    public auction or private contract sell and dispose of the
195    same and also all my household Furniture Goods plate
196    Linen China and all other my Furniture and also all
197    Wines and Liquors which I am possessed of (save and
198    except such part of my said household Goods plate
199    Linen China and Liquors as my said daughter the
200    said Elizabeth Bastone Emra shall think proper to keep and retain for her own sole use and benefit and that the same and every part thereof subject to such as my said daughter the said Elizabeth Bastone Emra may retain and keep)
201    shall be disposed of by public auction as soon as
202    conveniently may be after my decease and the Monies
203    arising by such Sale both of my Furniture and the
204    premises situate in Tiverton I direct shall be placed
205    out at Interest as aforesaid and pay and apply the
206    same and the Interest and dividends thereof unto my
207    said daughter the said Elizabeth Bastone Emra and John
208    Emra and their Children in such manner as is before
209    mentioned as to my other property so directed to be
210    purchased in the public Funds of Great Britain as
211    aforesaid all the rest residue and remainder of my goods
212    Chattels Monies Securities for Money debts Stock and
213    all and singular other my real and personal Estate
214    and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever I give and
215    bequeath unto my said Trustees upon trust to sell and
216    dispose of the same and to place the Monies arising
217    therefrom at Interest as aforesaid and pay and apply
218    the same and the Interest and profits arising therefrom
219    in such manner and form and to be applied for such
220    uses intents and purposes as is before particularly
221    directed provided always and my Will and meaning is
222    that the said John Deake Robert Blake and the Reverend
223    John Blake their heirs Executors administrators and
224    assigns shall be charged and chargeable only with
225    and for such Monies as he or they shall respectively
226    actually receive by virtue of the Trusts hereby in
227    them reposed nor shall he or they or any of them be
228    answerable or accountable for any Banker or Broker
229    Goldsmith or other person with whom or in whose
230    hands any part of the said Trust Monies shall or
231    may be deposited or lodged for safe custody or otherwise
232    in the execution of any of the said Trusts hereinbefore
233    mentioned nor shall they or any of them be at any
234    time answerable or accountable for the insufficiency
235    or deficiency of any Security or Securities Stocks or Funds
236    in or upon which the said Trust Monies or any part
237    thereof shall be placed out or invested nor for any
238    Loss which may happen to the aforesaid Trust premises
239    except the same shall happen or arise by or through
240    their own wilful default respectively and that the
241    one of them shall not be answerable or accountable
242    for the deeds acts defaults receipts or disbursements
243    of
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244    of the other or others of them notwithstanding they or either
245    of them shall join in any receipt for conformity but each
246    of them for the acts deeds defaults and disbursements of
247    himself only and also that they the said John Deake
248    Robert Blake and the Reverend John Blake their heirs
249    Executors administrators and assigns shall and may
250    by and out of the Monies which shall or may come
251    to his or their hands by virtue of the Trusts aforesaid
252    retain to and reimburse himself and themselves all Costs
253    Charges damages and Expences which he or they shall
254    or may sustain expend disburse beat or be put unto in
255    or about the execution or management of all or any
256    of the Trusts hereby in them reposed or in relation
257    thereunto and lastly I constitute and appoint the said
258    John Deake Robert Blake and the Reverend John Blake
259    joint Executors in trust of this my last Will and Testament
260    hereby revoking all former Will and Wills by me heretofore
261    made In Witness whereof I have to this my Will
262    contained in seven Sheets of paper to each of which I
263    have subscribed my Name and to the last affixed my
264    Seal this seventeenth day of August in the Year of our
265    Lord one thousand and eight hundred and two Fran[ci]s Blake
266    Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator Francis
267    Blake as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence
268    of us who in his presence and at his request and in the
269    presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses
270    the words “bought in and” being first interlined in the first
271    Sheet and the words “principal Monies” in the second sheet
272    Hannah Bastone Jos Bastone Fran[ci]s Bastone Jun[io]r
273    I Francis Blake of Minehead in
274    the County of Somerset Merchant do make this Codicil
275    to be taken as part of my last Will and Testament as
276    follows Whereas I have by my Will given unto my
277    Executors in trust therein named all Sum and Sums
278    of Money which now stand in my Name or in the
279    name of any other person or persons in trust for me
280    either in the public Funds or Stocks of Great Britain or
281    in any other Governance at real or personal Security
282    whatsoever or wheresoever upon trust to invest the
283    same in their Names in the three per cent consolidated
284    annuities to be applied to be applied in such manner
285    as in my said Will is particularly mentioned now I do
286    hereby empower and authorize my said Executors when
287    and as they in their judgment and discretion shall think
288    proper to place all or any part thereof of the said
289    Monies (so directed in my will to be invested in the
290    public Funds) on good freehold Securities at Interest
291    and to change vary and alter the Securities or to
292    transfer the same or any part thereof from such
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293    Freehold Securities into the said three per Cent consolidated
294    annuities at such time and in such proportions manner
295    and form as they may deem requisite and proper for the
296    better advantage of the said Trust so in them reposed
297    and to be applied to the same uses and for the intents
298    and purposes as are in my said Will herein particularly
299    mentioned and directed in Witness whereof I have to this
300    my Codicil annexed to my said Will set my hand and Seal
301    this second day of April in the Year of our Lord one
302    thousand Eight hundred and three Fran[ci]s Blake Signed
303    Sealed published and delivered by the said Francis
304    Blake as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament
305    and to be taken as part thereof in the presence of us
306    who in his presence and in the presence of each
307    other have at his request subscribed our Names as
308    Witnesses thereto Chris[ti]an Rawle Rob[er]t Carpenter Fran[ci]s
309    Bastone Jun[io]r
310    This Will was proved at London with a Codicil on the Sixth
311    day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand Eight
312    hundred and three (with a Codicil) before the Right
313    honorable Sir William Wynne Knight doctor of Laws
314    Master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative
315    Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath
316    of Robert Blake the Brother of the deceased and one
317    of the Executors named in the said Will to whom
318    administration was granted of all and singular the
319    Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having
320    been first sworn by Commission duly to administer John
321    Deake and the Reverend John Blake the Nephew of the
322    deceased and the other Executors named in the said
323    Will having first renounced.

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