Monday, October 7, 2013

Will of Hester Blake, Spinster, Bath, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/1222/256, probated 14 Sep 1792

The testator Hester Blake identifies her Blake line through her cousin Robert Blake at Netherstowey. This is likely Robert Blake baptized 26 Sep 1750 at Nether Stowey and buried 2 Mar 1836. He was married to Francis Poole and they had six children all baptized at Netherstowey.

Esther or Hester Blake was baptized 26 Feb 1727 at Glastonbury the daughter of Francis Blake and Elizabeth Porch. She was the youngest of nine children born to this couple who had married 14 Feb 1708 at Wells. She was buried at St John the Baptist Church, Glastonbury 14 Jul 1792.

Children of Francis and Elizabeth Blake all baptized at Glastonbury:

1.    Mary baptized 24 Jan 1709 and married to Joseph Wride
2.    Elizabeth baptized 26 Oct 1710 and married to William Harrison at Thurloxton, Somerset
3.    William baptized 26 Jun 1713 and buried 26 Aug 1748 at Glastonbury married to Margaret Wood and they had four children Robert (1734-1758), Edward (1735-1758), Elizabeth (1738-1765) and William (1746-1765) all of whom appear to have died as young adults and all unmarried.
4.    Sarah baptized 2 Feb 1715 died at 20 years of age at Glastonbury
5.    Ann baptized 30 Jan 1718 and married to Joseph Card 6 Mar 1739 at Glastonbury
6.    Hannah baptized 5 Nov 1720
7.    Catherine baptized 25 Mar 1723 and buried 21 Feb 1735 at Glastonbury
8.    Nathaniel baptized 26 Dec 1724 and buried 7 May 1746 at Glastonbury (Nathaniel does not appear to have married)
9.    Esther baptized 26 Feb 1727 and buried 14 Jul 1792 at Glastonbury

Francis was baptized 4 Jul 1685 at Aisholt, Somerset and buried 25 Dec 1768 at Glastonbury (his wife Elizabeth was baptized 26 Aug 1686 at Glastonbury and buried there 7 Jan 1736).

Francis was the son of Roger Blake (buried at Aisholt 24 Jul 1702) and Susannah Taylor (buried at Aisholt 19 Sep 1718). Roger and Susannah had 11 children all baptized at Aisholt.

Francis and Susannah are the common ancestors for Hester Blake and her cousin Robert Blake, named as executor, of Netherstowey. Robert is her 1st cousin once removed and the son of Reverend Roger Blake and Jane St Albyn so perhaps well known to Hester plus she has picked only her godson to give her estate to and in a family of nine children there were likely a lot more nieces and nephews.

Looking for Robert Blake Harrison did not reveal any results but I did find a Robert Harrison (born circa 1781) living at North Petherton with wife Ann and children Anna and Hester. Robert is a farmer. Interesting but no real proof that he would be the godson of the testatrix.

Showing the relationship between this family (Hester first and then Robert her cousin) and Admiral Robert Blake:

Admiral Robert Blake [101] is the 2nd cousin 4 times removed of Esther Blake [500]

                                Common Ancestor

                              * Humphrey-21 Blake [1]
                                  (Cir 1499-1558)
                                    * Agnis [2]
                                 (          -1585)
                                   Married  [1]
                                        |
                    ---------------------------------------------------------------
                    |                                                          |
                    |                                                          |
     * John-27 (the elder) Blake [3]              * Robert-28 Blake [4]
          (Cir 1521-After 1576)                    (Cir 1523-Cir 1592)
               Johan [12]                         Margaret Symonds [22]
            (          -1595)                       (          -1600)
          Married Cir 1541 [4]                        Married  [5]
                    |                                                        |
                    |                                                        |
        * Humphrey-38 Blake [16]                 * Humphry-43 Blake [25]
           (Cir 1556-Cir 1619)                       (Cir 1563-1625)
          Agnus/Ann James [73]           Sarah Swithers formerly Williams [100]
          (          -11 Dec 1645)                     (          -1638)
        Married 23 Oct 1578 [19]                 Married 5 Oct 1597 [26]
                    |                                                       |
                    |                                                       |
         * Humphry-54 Blake [74]              * Admiral Robert Blake [101]
          (Cir 1580-          )                        (1598-1657)
          Elizabeth Giles [129]
              Married  [33]
                    |
                    |
   * Humphry-77 the elder Blake [131]
               (1611-1665)
          Elizabeth Upton [205]
            (          -1683)
              Married  [57]
                    |
                    |
         * Roger-105 Blake [210]
               (1651-1702)
          Susannah Taylor [226]
            (          -1718)
            Married 1672 [62]
                    |
                    |
        * Francis-131 Blake [399]
               (1685-1768)
          Elizabeth Porch [487]
               (1686-1736)
        Married 14 Feb 1708 [170]
                    |
                    |
          * Esther Blake [500]
               (1727-1792)

Admiral Robert Blake [101] is the 2nd cousin 5 times removed of Robert-173 Blake [569]

                                Common Ancestor

                              * Humphrey-21 Blake [1]
                                  (Cir 1499-1558)
                                    * Agnis [2]
                                 (          -1585)
                                   Married  [1]
                                        |
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    |                                                         |
                    |                                                         |
     * John-27 (the elder) Blake [3]              * Robert-28 Blake [4]
          (Cir 1521-After 1576)                    (Cir 1523-Cir 1592)
               Johan [12]                         Margaret Symonds [22]
            (          -1595)                       (          -1600)
          Married Cir 1541 [4]                        Married  [5]
                    |                                                       |
                    |                                                       |
        * Humphrey-38 Blake [16]                 * Humphry-43 Blake [25]
           (Cir 1556-Cir 1619)                       (Cir 1563-1625)
          Agnus/Ann James [73]           Sarah Swithers formerly Williams [100]
          (          -11 Dec 1645)                     (          -1638)
        Married 23 Oct 1578 [19]                 Married 5 Oct 1597 [26]
                    |                                                        |
                    |                                                        |
         * Humphry-54 Blake [74]              * Admiral Robert Blake [101]
          (Cir 1580-          )                        (1598-1657)
          Elizabeth Giles [129]
              Married  [33]
                    |
                    |
   * Humphry-77 the elder Blake [131]
               (1611-1665)
          Elizabeth Upton [205]
            (          -1683)
              Married  [57]
                    |
                    |
         * Roger-105 Blake [210]
               (1651-1702)
          Susannah Taylor [226]
            (          -1718)
            Married 1672 [62]
                    |
                    |
    * Reverend Roger-129 Blake [225]
               (1681-1721)
              Unknown [477]
             Married  [165]
                    |
                    |
    * Reverend Roger-150 Blake [481]
               (1719-1785)
           Jane St Albyn [567]
               (1725-1761)
        Married 21 Oct 1747 [197]
                    |
                    |
        * Robert-173 Blake [569]
               (1750-1836)



Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 4 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1222/256
Testator: Hester Blake, Spinster
Place: Bath, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 13 Oct 1790, probated 14 Sep 1792
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Hester
[Margin]: Blake

1    I Hester Blake Single woman was
2    living in Northumberland Buildings in the City of Bath and
3    County of Somerset do make and constitute this to be my
4    last Will and Testament in manner following I Give
5    and Bequeath to Mr Rob[er]t Blake Surgeon of Netherstowey
6    in the same County five Guineas I Give and Bequeath
7    to Mrs Sarah King of Haviett five Guineas
8    and I likewise Give the aforesaid Sarah King all my
9    wearing apparel I Give and Bequeath to my Friend and
10    Apothecary John Hester of the City of Bath ten
11    guineas I Give and Bequeath to my Godson Robert
12    Blake Harrison Son of my Nephew Harrison of
13    Leverstown in the said County my Best Damask Table
14    Cloth and Napkins the Lease of the House I now live
15    in I Give In Trust to my aforesaid Cousin Robt. Blake
16    Surgeon of Netherstowey and all my household
17    Furniture and all my household Linen except the
18    Table Cloth and Napkins before devised I give In
19    Trust for him to sell and turn all into Money and after
20    paying my aforesaid Legacies Just Debts and Funeral
21    Expences out of the Money arising from the Sale of
22    the above to place the Money out at Interest for the
23    sole use and benefit of my aforesaid Godson I also
24    Give and Bequeath unto the aforesaid Robert Blake
25    Surgeon all that my Lifehold Estate which I lately
26    purchased at Netherstowey in the said County In Trust
27    to put out the yearly Rents in Government Security
28    with the Moneys arising from the Sale of the Lease of
    [Page 2]
29    the house and of the Furniture aforesaid onelie sole
30    use and Benefit of my aforesaid Godson as soon as he
31    shall attain his age of twenty one years at the
32    expiration of which time I then Give and Bequeath
33    to my aforesaid Godson Robert Blake Harrison the
34    aforesaid Estate at Netherstowey the Principal Sum
35    vested till that time in the Funds and all the Interest
36    which has accrued from the same to him his heirs and
37    assigns for ever and I hereby constitute and appoint
38    the aforesaid Robert Blake whole and sole Executor
39    of this my last Will hereby revoking and making
40    void all other Wills by me at any time
41    made as Witness my hand this seventh Day of October
42    in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
43    and ninety H: Blake Signed Sealed published
44    and declared by the above named Hester Blake as
45    and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of
46    us who at her request and when in her presence have
47    Witnessed the same Mary Hester, William Whittle,
48    Neice to Journeyman to John Hester Apothecary of the
49    City of Bath
50    Since reading the within Will I have thought it
51    prudent not to Give my Cousin  Robert Blake the
52    Trouble of Disposing of my Effects I therefore desire my
53    Friend and Apothecary John Hester to sell and dispose
54    of all my Effects in the City of Bath and pay all my
55    Debts and Funeral Expences and remit the overplus to my
56    aforesaid Cousin Robt Blake out of which I empower
57    him to reimburse himself the Charge of proving my
58    Will and all other Expences relative to the Trusts as
59    Witness my hand and Seal this thirteenth Day of October
60    1790 H: Blake Witnesses Mary Hester
61    William Whittle
62    It is my wish to be buried decently in the Church
63    yard of Glastonbury to be carried in a hearse and one
64    Mourning Coach to attend and if Mr John Plura
65    Auctioneer is in Business I wish him to be employed
66    to sell my Lease and household Furniture and to be
67    my undertaker
68    This Will was proved at London with two
69    Codicils the fourteenth Day of September in the year
70    of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety
71    two before the Right Honourable Sir William
72    Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper
73    or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
74    lawfully constituted by the oath of Robert Blake
    [Page 3]
75    the sole Executor named in the said Will to whom
76    administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and
77    Credits of the said Deceased was granted having been first
78    sworn by Commission duly to administer.

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