Friday, October 18, 2013

Will of Malachi Blake, Esquire, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/1260/202, probated 13 May 1795

Malachi Blake is known to me as the son of William Blake and Jane A’Court who were married 21 Oct 1712 at Yeovil, Somerset. This couple had seven children but the place of their birth and baptism I have not yet located. The dates below are from the Portbury website and the chart below produced by using this website with some corrections although for the most part it appears to be correct with a few mixups in the connection) (http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/admiralreport.htm) and with the caution that these dates need to be verified and all connections which do not include a primary reference checked. Eventually I plan to post the gedcom for this particular legacy file once I have verified all the dates and links:

Children of William Blake and Jane A’Court (married 21 Oct 1712 at Yeovil and Jane was the daughter of William A’Court who lived in Yeovil)):

Jane born 2 May 1714
Abigail born 17 Jun 1715
Mary born 26 Sep 1717; married Samuel Reed circa 1760 (no issue)
Susannah born 2 Aug 1720; married Thomas Towell September 1759
Malachi born circa 1724; married Sarah Biscoe and they had one child Malachi Biscoe Blake (died at 3 years of age)
Catherine born circa 1725
William born 29 Apr 1730; married Hannah Downing 18 Oct 1766 in Bishops Hull and they had five children: Malachi born 20 Jun 1771, William born 31 Mar 1773, Downing born 9 Jan 1775, Hannah (not shown in Crewkerne records but mentioned in will) and Mary born 20 May 1777.

This line is collateral to Admiral Robert Blake:


Admiral Robert Blake [101] is the 2nd cousin 4 times removed of Malachi Blake [605]

                                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]
                    |                                                                 |
                    |                                                                 |
         * William-39 Blake [18]                 * Humphry-43 Blake [25]
           (Cir 1559-Cir 1642)                       (Cir 1563-1625)
                Anne [84]                Sarah Swithers formerly Williams [100]
            (          -1644)                       (          -1638)
              Married  [21]                      Married 5 Oct 1597 [26]
                    |                                                                  |
                    |                                                                  |
          * John-59 Blake [88]                * Admiral Robert Blake [101]
               (1597-1645)                             (1598-1657)
             Elizabeth [155]
              Married  [38]
                    |
                    |
          * John-86 Blake [158]
               (1629-1682)
           Mary Wilkins [276]
        Married 20 Jun 1648 [84]
                    |
                    |
   * Reverend Malachi-112 Blake [278]
               (1651-1705)
             Mary Mico [414]
             Married  [140]
                    |
                    |
        * William-140 Blake [419]
               (1688-1772)
           Jane A'Court [529]
               (1689-1769)
        Married 21 Oct 1712 [186]
                    |
                    |
       * Malachi-162 Blake [538]
               (1724-1795)



Names mentioned in the will


Malachi Blake, Taunton St Mary Magdalen, testator
Malachi Blake, nephew, son of Rev William Blake of Crewkerne
Reverend William Blake, Crewkerne
James Poole, Esquire, landowner
Mr Philip Maire, landowner
Mr James Gay, tenant
John Bradbeer, tenant
John Norman, sergemaker, Taunton, trustee
Joseph Jeffries, sergemaker, Taunton, trustee
William Blake, nephew, son of Rev William Blake of Crewkerne
Downing Blake, nephew, son of Rev William Blake of Crewkerne
Hannah Blake, niece, daughter of Rev William Blake of Crewkerne
Mary Blake, niece, daughter of Rev William Blake of Crewkerne
Abigail Blake, sister
Susannah Towell, wife of Thomas Towell, sister
Mr John Collier, nephew in law, Apothecary, City of London
Mr Joseph Biscoe, father in law, deceased
Thomas Emlyn, John Street, London
Bethia Emlyn, John Street, London, wife of Thomas
Edmund Calamy, Lincolns Inn Square, London
Mrs Calamy, Lincolns Inn Square, London
Mr Elisha Biscoe, brother in law, deceased
Mr Vincent Biscoe, brother in law
Mrs Cope, sister in law (sister of wife)
Reverend John Ward, Taunton St James
Mr John Hayne Bovet, attorney
Miss Crokers (two sisters, neighbours)
Joseph Wrightford, servant
Ann Manley, servant
Mary Reed, widow, sister
Nehemiah Bewsey, witness
Edward Hill, witness
Thomas Sabine, witness

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 17 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1260/202
Testator: Malachi Blake, Esquire
Place: Taunton St Mary Magdalen, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 18 Apr 1789, probated 13 May 1795
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Malachi
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: Esq[uie]r

1    The last Will and Testament
2    of me Malachi Blake of Taunton St Mary Magdalen in
3    the County of Somerset Esq[uie]r being in good health of body
4    and of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding
5    (Blessed be God) made and published this eighteenth day of
6    April in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred
7    and eighty nine In manner following that is to say
8    whereas I have made or intend shortly to make a surrender
9    called a dormant Surrender of all and singular my Customary
10    Lands of Inheritance parcels of the Manor of Taunton
11    deane To the uses of my last Will and Testament Now I
12    hereby give and bequeath unto my nephew Malachi Blake
13    Son of my Brother the Rev William Blake of Crewkerne
14    in the County of Somerset One Annuity of clear Yearly Rent
15    charge of One hundred Guineas of lawful money of Great
16    Britain to be paid him by even quarterly payments by and
17    out of my several Farms Lands and hereditaments parcels
18    of the Manor of Taunton deane situate lying within the
19    Parish of Taunton St Mary Magdalen afores[ai]d which I
20    lately purchased of James Poole Esq[uie]r or his Trustees and of
21    Mr. Philip Maire now in the several occupations of Mr
22    James Gay and John Bradbeer as my tenants the same
23    to be paid to my said nephew and his assigns during the
24    natural life of my s[ai]d Brother by quarterly payments and
25    on the four most usual days of payment in the year (that
26    is to say) Midsummer, Michaelmas, Christmas and Lady
27    Day in each year the first of such payments to be made on
28    such of the said days as shall first and next happen after
29    my decease and that without any deduction or abatement
    [Page 2]
30    whatsoever for Land Tax or otherwise and subject thereto I
31    give and devise all and singular my s[ai]d Customary Farms and
32    Lands Tenements hereditaments and premises with their
33    respective appurtenances unto my said Brother the s[ai]d Will[ia]m
34    Blake for and during the term of his natural life without
35    impeachment of or for any manner of Waste (except
36    voluntary Waste in houses) he yielding paying
37    doing and performing all necessary rents suits and services to
38    the Lord of the Manor for the time being therefore due and
39    of right accustomed and from and after his decease I give
40    and devise all and singular the same Customary Farms
41    Lands and premises with the respective appurt[enance]s unto my
42    s[ai]d nephew Malachi Blake and his assigns for and during
43    the term of his natural life without impeachment of
44    or for any manner of Waste (except as afores[ai]d) he and
45    they yielding paying doing and performing all necessary
46    rents suits and services to the Lord of the Manor as afores[ai]d
47    and after the determination of that Estate remainder
48    to John Norman and Joseph Jeffries both of Taunton
49    afores[ai]d Sergemakers and their heirs according the Custom
50    of the Manor of Taunton deane for and during the natural
51    life of my s[ai]d nephew the s[ai]d Malachi Blake In Trust
52    nevertheless to preserve the contingent remainders
53    hereinafter limited and from and immediately after the
54    death of the said Malachi Blake remainder to all and every
55    or such one or more of the Son or Sons of my s[ai]d Nephew
56    the s[ai]d Malachi Blake lawfully to be begotten for such
57    Estate or Estates at such time and times and in such parts
58    shares and proportions manner and form as he my s[ai]d nephew
59    Malachi Blake by any deed or deeds under his hand and
60    seal with or without power of revocation to be duly executed
61    in the presence of and attested by two or more credible
62    witnesses or by his last Will and Testament in writing to be
63    duly executed in the presence of and attested by a like number
64    of Witnesses shall direct limit or appoint give or devise the
65    same or any part or parts thereof and for want of such
66    direction limitation or appointment Gift or devise
67    remainder To the first and every other Son and Sons of
68    the s[ai]d Malachi Blake and the heirs of his and their
69    respective body and bodies lawfully to be begotten the
70    eldest of such Sons and the heirs of his body to be preferred
71    and to take before the younger or youngest and the heirs of his
72    and their body and bodies according to the Custom of the s[ai]d
73    Manor of Taunton deane and in default of all such issue
74    remainder To my nephew William Blake (another Son of
75    my said Brother William Blake) and his assigns for his
76    life without impeachment of or for any manner of waste
77    (except as afores[ai]d) he and they in like manner paying
78    doing and performing all necessary rents suits and services
79    to the Lord of the Manor for the time being and from
80    and after the determination of that Estate remainder to the
81    said John Norman and Joseph Jeffries and their heirs according
    [Page 3]
82    to the Custom of the s[ai]d Manor of Taunton deane for and
83    during the natural life of my s[ai]d nephew the s[ai]d William
84    Blake remainder to all and every or such one or more of the
85    Son or Sons of my said nephew the s[ai]d William Blake
86    lawfully to be begotten for such Estate and Estates of such
87    time and times and in such parts shares and proportions
88    manner and form and he my s[ai]d nephew William Blake by
89    any deed or deeds under his hand and seal with or without
90    power of revocation to be duly executed in the presence of
91    and attested by two or more credible Witnesses or by his last
92    Will and Testament in Writing to be by him duly executed
93    in the presence of and attested by a like number of Witnesses
94    shall direct limit or appoint give or devise the same or
95    any part of parts thereof and for want of such direction
96    limitation or appointment gift or devise remainder
97    to the first and every other Son and Sons of my s[ai]d nephew the
98    s[ai]d William Blake and the heirs of his and their respective
99    body and bodies lawfully to be begotten the eldest of such
100    Sons and the heirs of his Body being to be preferred and
101    to take before the younger or youngest and the heirs of
102    his and their body and bodies according to the Custom of the s[ai]d
103    Manor of Taunton deane and in default of all such issue
104    remainder to my nephew Downing Blake (the third Son
105    of my s[ai]d Brother William Blake) and his assigns for and
106    during the term of his natural life without impeachment
107    of or for any manner of waste (except as afores[ai]d) he and they
108    also paying doing and performing all necessary rents
109    suits and services to the Lord of the Manor for the time being
110    and from and after the determination of that Estate
111    remainder to the s[ai]d John Norman and Joseph Jeffries and
112    their heirs according to the Custom of the s[ai]d Manor of
113    Taunton deane for and during the natural life of my s[ai]d
114    nephew Downing Blake In Trust nevertheless to preserve
115    the contingent remainders hereinafter limited and from
116    and immediately after the death of my s[ai]d nephew Downing
117    Blake remainder to all and every or such one or more of the Son and Sons being Sons of the said Downing Blake lawfully to be begotten for such Estate and Estates at
118    such time and times and in such parts shares and proportions
119    manner and form as he my said nephew Downing Blake
120    by any such his deed or deeds or last Will and Testament
121    as afores[ai]d shall direct limit or appoint give or devise the
122    same or any part thereof and for want of such direction
123    limitation or appointment gift or devise remainder To
124    the first and every other Son and Sons of my s[ai]d nephew Downing
125    Blake and the heirs of his and their respective body and bodies
126    lawfully to be begotten the eldest of such sons and the heirs of
127    his body to be preferred and to take before the younger or
128    youngest and the heirs of his and their body and bodies according
129    to the Custom of the Manor of Taunton deane and in
130    default of all such Issue male of my s[ai]d nephew resp[ective]ly
131    then I give and devise all my s[ai]d Customary Farms and Lands
132    parcels of the s[ai]d Manor of Taunton deane unto my niece
133    Hannah Blake and her assigns for and during the term of her
    [Page 4]
134    natural life without impeachment of or for any manner
135    of waste (except only as afores[ai]d) she and they in like manner
136    yielding paying doing and performing all rents suits and services
137    as aforesaid and from and after her decease remainder to my
138    niece Mary Blake for and during the term of her natural life
139    without impeachment of or for any manner of Waste
140    (except as aforesaid) she and they also paying doing and
141    performing all rents Suits and Services as afores[ai]d and from
142    and after the decease remainder to all and every the daughter
143    and daughters of my s[ai]d nephew Malachi Blake and their heirs
144    according to the Custom of the s[ai]d Manor Taunton deane
145    and in default of such daughters and daughter remainder
146    to all and every the daughters and daughter of my s[ai]d nephew
147    William Blake and their heirs according to the Custom of the
148    said Manor of Taunton deane and in default of such
149    daughters and daughter of my s[ai]d nephew William Blake
150    remainder to all and every the daughters and daughter of
151    my s[ai]d nephew Downing Blake and their heirs according to
152    the Custom of the s[ai]d Manor of Taunton deane And in
153    default of all such issue both Male and Female of my s[ai]d
154    nephews respectively Then I give and devise all my said
155    Customary Farms and Lands parcels of the s[ai]d Manor of
156    Taunton deane unto my own right heirs according to the
157    Custom of the s[ai]d Manor and to or for no other use intent
158    or purpose whatsoever Also I give and bequeath to my Sister
159    Abigail Blake during the term of her natural life an
160    annuity or clear yearly sum of Fifteen pounds to be paid
161    by my Executors hereinafter named out of my Executory
162    Estate by equal half yearly payments the first to be made
163    at the end of Six months next after my decease and to
164    my Sister Susannah the Wife of Mr Thomas Towell during
165    her natural life an annuity or clear yearly sum of
166    Twenty pounds to be also paid by my Exors as aforesaid
167    by equal half yearly payments the first payment to be
168    made at the end of six months as aforesaid and in case
169    my brother in Law the said Thomas Towell survives his
170    s[ai]d Wife Then I give him during his natural life an
171    annuity or clear yearly sum of Ten pounds payable
172    in like manner by and out of my Executory Estate by
173    equal half yearly payments The first payment to
174    begin and be made at the end of Six Months next
175    after the decease of his s[ai]d Wife Also I give devise and
176    bequeath unto my nephew in Law Mr John Collier
177    Apothecary All that my sixth part and all other my
178    Estate and Interest of and in a Messuage or dwellinghouse
179    situate in Gloucester Street in the City of London heretofore
181    belonging to my late Father in Law Mr Joseph Biscoe
182    to hold to and to the use of him the said John Collier his
183    heirs Executors administrators and assigns for all my
184    Estate and interest therein and I give to the s[ai]d John Collier and
185    his Wife Mrs Collier the sum of one hundred pounds each
186    also I give to my dear Friends Thomas Emlyn of John Street
    [Page 5]
187    in the City of London Esq[uie]r and Bethia his Wife to each of them
188    the sum of Two hundred and fifty pounds and to Edmund
189    Calamy of Lincolns Inn Square in the City of London Esq[uie]r
190    and his wife the sum of one hundred pounds each Also I
191    give to and amongst the Children of my late Brother in Law
192    Mr Elisha Biscoe deceased the sum of Two hundred
193    pounds to be equally divided between them share and share
194    alike and to and amongst the Children of my late Brother
195    in Law Mr Vincent Biscoe the like sum of Two hundred
196    pounds to be equally divided between them and to the
197    children of my Sister in Law Mrs Cope my late dear
198    Wife’s Sister the like sum of Two hundred pounds to be
199    equally divided between them and I will and direct that
200    my said Executors shall pay to the s[ai]d Mrs Cope for her life
201    an annuity or clear yearly sum of Five pounds One
202    Moiety of which (viz[ a vi]t) Fifty shillings annually I have
203    always voluntarily paid her since my said late Wife’s
204    decease by her particular desire and that together with
205    an additional Fifty shillings make up together the s[ai]d
206    annuity of Five pounds I will shall be paid her yearly by
207    my Executors And I give it to her accordingly for and during
208    the term of her natural life as afores[ai]d Also I give to the
209    Rev John Ward on whose Ministry I attend the sum of
210    five Guineas and to Mr John Hayne Bovet my Attorney
211    twenty Guineas To my Good Neighbours the two Miss
212    Crokers the sum of Fifty Guineas each and in case my present
213    servants Joseph Wrightford and Ann Manley or either of them
214    shall be living with me at my decease I give to them or such
215    of them as may be then living with me the sum of Fifty
216    pounds and to any other Servants or Servant that may
217    have lived with me more than one year the sum of Twenty
218    pounds each and if less than that time the sum of Ten pounds
219    all which several Legacies I will shall be respectively
220    paid by my s[ai]d Exors hereinafter named by and out of my
221    Executory Estate within six months next after my decease
222    and I also will and direct that my s[ai]d Exors shall within one
223    month next after my decease distribute to and amongst
224    the poor of the several parishes of Taunton St Mary
225    Magdalen and Taunton St James as they shall think
226    proper the sum of Ten pounds and the like sum of Ten
227    pounds yearly for nine years afterwards to the poor of
228    the s[ai]d parishes at the discretion of my s[ai]d Exors as to the
229    proportions and persons who are to be the objects of this my
230    donation making together in the whole the sum of One
231    hundred pounds And all the rest and residue of my Messuages
232    Lands Tenements and hereditaments Mortgages in Fee and other
233    Mortgages Money and Securities or money Goods Chattels
234    and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever after payment of my
235    Debts Legacies and Funeral expences I give devise and bequeath
236    the same unto my s[ai]d Brother William Blake and my
237    Sister Mary Reed their heirs Exors and Admors share and
238    share alike to take as tenants in Common and not as joint
    [Page 6]
239    tenants Also it is my desire to be buried in the Morning
240    in the same Cave or Vault in the parish Church of Taunton
241    St James in which my late dear Wife and Child are interred
242    and that there may be no funeral Sermon and Lastly
243    I hereby revoke all former Wills by me made In Testamentary
244    whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained
245    in five sheets of paper to the four first sheets set my hand
246    and to this fifth and last sheet set my hand and seal the day
247    and year first above written Malachi Blake
248    Signed Sealed published and declared by the s[ai]d Malachi
249    Blake the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament
250    in the presence of us who have hereunto at his request
251    and in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribed
252    our names as Witnesses Nehemiah Bewsey Edward
253    Hill Tho[ma]s Sabine
254    On the thirteenth day of May in the year of our Lord
255    One thousand seven hundred and ninety five admon
256    with the Will annexed of all and singular the Goods
257    Chattels and Credits of the deceased Malachi Blake late
258    of Taunton Saint Mary Magdalen in the County of
259    Somerset Esquire deceased was granted to The Rev
260    William Blake Clerk the Brother and Mary Reed Widow
261    the Sister of the said deceased and the residuary Legatees
262    named in the said Will (no Executor being named therein)
263    having been first Sworn by Commission duly to adm[iniste]r

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