Will of Ann Blake, Spinster, Saint James Place, Bristol - The National Archives PROB 11/2068/349, probated 5 Feb 1848

Ann Blake is the testatrix and the bulk of her estate is left to her adopted daughter Eliza Bawdon (the names of Eliza’s parents are also given namely John and Mary Bawdon of Little Bovey, Devon).

On Find My Past Census of Shaldon 1841 there is a Joseph Blake, 44, merchant, born in Devon with wife Elizabeth, 40, born in Devon.

The 1830 Pigot’s Directory of Gloucester shows a John Blake, Gent, living at St James’ Place, Kingsdown Bristol. There is also a John Blake, Surgeon, Colston Parade, Bristol.

There are too many Thomas Willcocks marrying Eliza(beth) to separate out this line.

Further searching for a John Blake, surgeon, Bristol did not help to link this Ann Blake with any particular family.

Elizabeth Blake is living with John and Mary Metherell on the 1841 Census at North Bovey in District 7. She is independent and John is a Miller. All three are born in Devon. Elizabeth is 55, John is 55 and Mary is 60. The 1851 Census Elizabeth Blake is living at North Bovey at Aller Farm where William Shears (born at North Bovey, 44 years)) and Susan Blake Shears (40 Years) are the head and his wife. There is a large group living there which includes their son George 19, daughter Susan 15, daughter Elizabeth Blake 12, Mary Grace 11, son John 9, Richard Metherel 7 and Edward 4 and daughter Eliza Metherel 1 (all surname Shears). Susan Blake Shears was born at Combeinteignhead. Also living there George Shears (Father of William, widower and 70 years and he is an annuitant). Elizabeth Blake the Aunt, unmarried and 65 years is an Annuitant and she was born at Bishops Teignton. There are several servants: William Mortimer, John Hill, Eliza Langworthy and William Bond.

Perhaps a breakthrough. William Shears married Susanna Blake Metherell 27 Jul 1830 at North Bovey (Find my Past). Is Susan the daughter of John and Mary Metherell? Are Mary Metherell and Elizabeth Blake sisters? Impossible to tell if the testatrix is a sister to Mary and Elizabeth; she doesn’t state any relationship. Tracing this Blake family has not been very successful but will set aside in case another will is helpful although I have done all the Devon wills at the PCC and the rest were lost in WWII bombing. However I could check my indexes for Metherell.

An interesting record mentioned in the National Archives and held at the Devon Record Office:

Joseph Collings  3419 A/PO9/73  1832

These documents are held at Devon Record Office

Contents:
Now residing in Combeinteignhead. Born in Bishopsteignton. When aged about 12 yrs, he hired himself and served Thomas Blake of the parish, as a yearly servant about 3 yrs. He returned with Thomas Blake, served him by the week about 12 months. Then went to Combeinteignhead, hired himself to serve William Frost under a written agreement for 3 yrs for meat, drink and clothes, to go as a sailor in the William and Nancy sloop out of the port of Teignmouth, which he served out 3 yrs. Remained in the sloop about 16 yrs afterwards. Then he returned to Combeinteignhead where he has resided ever since, about 30 yrs. Further says that about 9 yrs since, he had given to him under the will of the late Elizabeth Brimblecombe, a cellar (worth about 5s per year) during his lifetime. He occupied the cellar in Combeinteignhead about 7 yrs, when it fell down. Then he agreed with Joseph Morgan to give him all the right the examinant had to the cellar if Morgan would rebuild the same, and allow him to lodge in it for his lifetime, which he has done ever since

Another interesting site: http://www.gramstedt.com/familygroup.php?familyID=F6956&tree=England

A John Blake Metherell was born 1815 at Combeinteignhead, Devon but no parents are given. Could he be a brother to Susan Blake Metherell? I was not successful in learning anything further about this Blake line.

Names mentioned in the will:

Ann Blake, testatrix, Bristol
Eliza Bawdon, adopted daughter
John Bawdon, natural father of Eliza, Little Bovey, Devon
Mary Bawdon, natural mother of Eliza, Little Bovey, Devon
Catherine Stockham, widow
William Stockham, husband of Catherine, deceased
Elizabeth Blake, North Bovey, Devon
Mary Russell, cook to the testatrix
Joseph Blake, Shaldon, Devon now of Liverpool, shipowner
Ann Saterley, Devonport, Devon, spinster
Joseph Blake West
John Blake West
Thomas West
Susannah West, wife to Thomas
William Satterley Willcocks, Devonport, Devon
Mary Willcocks, Devonport, Devon
Emma Willcocks, Devonport, Devon
Thomas Willcocks, Devonport, Devon
Thomas Willcocks, Devonport, Devon, deceased
Eliza Willcocks, wife to Thomas, Devonport, Devon, deceased
Elizabeth Grindon (Grindson), friend
Elizabeth Wood, servant
Ann Weaver, housemaid
Henry Woodford, Executor and Trustee, Clevedon, Somerset
William Henry Honnywill, Executor and Trustee, Atherington, Gloucestershire
Mary Metherell, North Bovey
John Metherell, husband to Mary, North Bovey
Mary Langdon, Clifton, Gloucestershire
Lucy Grey Earle, Westbury on Trym, Gloucestershire

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 11 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/2068/349
Testator: Ann Blake, Spinster
Place: Saint James Place, Bristol, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 2 Dec 1847, probated 5 Feb 1848
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Ann
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 23

1    I Ann Blake of No 18 Saint James’s Place in the
2    out parish of Saint James in the Borough of the City of Bristol and
3    county of the same City spinster do make my last Will and Testament in
4    manner and form following (that is to say) First I direct my Executors
5    hereinafter named to pay and satisfy all my just debts and funeral
6    and testamentary expenses and the expenses of proving this my will I
7    give and devise unto my dear adopted daughter Eliza Bawdon the
8    daughter of John and Mary Bawdon of Little Bovey in the County of
9    Devon All that my messuage or dwelling house and premises wherein
10    I now reside situate in Saint James’s Place aforesaid And also the
11    plot piece or parcel of garden ground lately purchased by me lying be-
12    hind the said dwelling house To hold the same with the appurtenances
13    unto and to the use of the said Eliza Bawdon her heirs and assigns
14    for ever Also I give and bequeath unto the said Eliza Bawdon All
15    my household goods and furniture wine and other liquors plate
    [Page 2]
16    linen china glass books paintings and wearing apparel of which
17    I  now am or shall or may be possessed at the time of my decease
18    Also I give and bequeath unto the said Eliza Bawdon the sum of
19    four thousand pounds and also all my notes and shares in the
20    Bristol dock Company and the monies secured thereby Also I give
21    and bequeath unto Catherine Stockeham the widow of William
22    Stockham an annuity or clear yearly sum of twenty pounds for and
23    during the term of her natural life Also I give and bequeath unto
24    Elizabeth Blake of North Bovey in the County of Devon spinster a like annu-
25    ity of clear yearly sum of twenty pounds for and during the term of her natu-
26    ral life Also I give and bequeath unto my Cook Mary Russell in considera-
27    tion of her great infirmity of body an annuity or clear yearly sum of thirty
28    pounds for and during the term of her natural life And for the purpose
29    of providing a fund for securing payment of the said several annuities
30    it is my Will and I hereby direct my trustees and Executors as soon as
31    convenient after my decease to set apart and transfer into their monies so
32    much of my stock in the three pounds and five shillings per cent Bank
33    Annuities or otherwise lay out and invest such a sum of money in the
34    purchase of like or other Government securities as shall be necessary to pro-
35    duce such annuities And I direct my trustees and executors to apply the
36    dividends of the said stock funds and securities when and as the same
37    shall be received and receivable in and towards payment of the said
38    annuities by two equal half yearly payments the first payment to be made
39    on such one of the half yearly days for the payment of dividends arising
40    from the said stock funds and securities as shall next happen after my decease
41    And until such transfer or investment shall be made the said annuities
42    shall be paid in like manner out of my personal estate And I declare
43    that the said Catherine Stockham Elizabeth Blake and Mary Russell
44    shall be entitled to a proportionate part of the same respective annui-
45    ties for the fractional period (if any) of the half year which shall or may
46    be pending or acruant at the time of their respective deceases to be paid
47    immediately on such decease And it is my Will and I hereby direct
48    that at the respective deceases of the said Catherine Stockham Elizabeth
49    Blake and Mary Russell the stocks funds and securities constituting the
50    fund for the payment of the said several annuities shall sink into and
51    form part of my residuary personal estate Also I give and bequeath
52    unto Joseph Blake late of Shaldon in the County of Devon Shipowner
53    but now of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster the sum of one thousand
54    pounds but in case he shall happen to die in my life time Then I give
55    and bequeath the same unto between and amongst all and every the
56    child and children of the said Joseph Blake in equal shares and pro-
57    portions as tenants in common Also I give and bequeath unto Ann
58    Satterley of Devonport in the County of Devon spinster the sum of
60    one thousand pounds Also I give and bequeath unto Joseph Blake
61    West and John Blake West (sons of Thomas and Susanna West) the
62    sum of five hundred pounds apiece Also I give and bequeath unto
63    William Satterley Willcocks Mary Willcocks Emma Willcocks and
64    Thomas Willcocks (the children of the late Thomas and Eliza Will-
65    cocks of Devonport aforesaid) the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds
66    apiece Also I give and bequeath unto my friend Elizabeth Grindon
67    the sum of two hundred pounds Also I give and bequeath unto my
68    servant Elizabeth Wood in consequence of her having lived with me
69    upwards of fourteen years the sum of one hundred pounds and in
70    addition thereto the amount of one years wages and also the sum
71    of ten pounds for mourning Also I give and bequeath unto my
72    housemaid Ann Weaver the amount of one years wages and also
73    the sum of ten pounds for mourning Also I give and bequeath
    [Page 3]
74    unto Henry Woodford and William Henry Honnywill my Executors here-
75    inafter named the sum of Two hundred pounds apiece as a compensate-
76    on for the trouble they will have in the execution of the trusts of this my
77    Will And it is my Will and I hereby direct my said Executors to pay the
78    said several annuities bequeathed to the said Catherine Stockham Elizabeth
79    Blake and Mary Russell and the legacies to the said Elizabeth Grindson
80    Elizabeth Wood and Ann Weaver free of legacy duty Also I give and bequeath
81    unto the said Henry Woodforde and William Henry Honnywill the sum
82    of three thousand pounds Upon trust nevertheless that they do and shall
83    pay the sum of one thousand pounds part thereof unto such person or
84    persons upon such trusts and for such intents and purposes as Mary Meth-
85    erell wife of John Metherell of North Bovey aforesaid shall notwithstand-
86    ing coverture by deed or will to be by her legally executed direct or appoint-
87    And in default of such direction or appointment into her own hands for
88    her own sole separate and peculiar use and benefit apart from her pre-
89    sent or any future husband and so as the same shall not be liable to
90    his control debts or engagements and so as the receipt of the said Mary
91    Metherell shall only and alone be a sufficient discharge for the same
92    But in case the said Mary Metherell shall die during my life time Then
93    upon trust to pay the said legacy or sum of one thousand pounds unto be-
94    tween and amongst all and every her child and children in equal shares and
95    proportions as tenants in common And as to for and concerning the sum of
96    two thousand pounds (residue of the said sum of three thousand pounds)
97    Upon trust that my said trustees do and shall pay the same unto such
98    person or persons upon such trusts and for such intents and purposes as the
99    said Susanna West shall notwithstanding coverture by deed or will to be
100    by her legally executed direct or appoint And in default of such direction or
101    appointment into her own hands for her own use separate and peculiar use
102    and benefit apart from her present or any future husband And so as the
103    same shall not be subject or liable to his control debts or engagements and so
104    as the receipt of the said Susanna West shall only and alone be a sufficient
105    discharge for the same But in case the said Susanna West shall die during
106    my life time Then upon trust that my said trustees do and shall pay the
107    said legacy or sum of two thousand pounds unto between and amongst all
108    and every her child and children in equal shares and proportions as tenants
109    in common All the rest residue and remainder of my real and
110    personal estate whatsoever of which I shall be seized or possessed at the time
111    of my decease I give devise and bequeath unto and to the use of the said
112    Eliza Bawdon her heirs executors administrators and assigns for her and their
113    own absolute use and benefit I direct my executors to pay all legacies by me
114    hereby bequeathed within three calendar months next after my decease
115    except to such legatees who shall at that time happen to be minors in
116    which case payment shall be postponed until they respectively attain the
117    age of twenty one years but in the mean time I direct my Executors to in-
118    vest the same in Government securities and to pay the dividends interest
119    and annual produce of their respective legacies unto them during their respect-
120    ive minorities for and towards their maintenance and education Provided
121    always and I hereby declare that in case my said trustees or either of them
122    shall die renounce be desirous of being discharged or neglect or refuse or
123    become incapable to act in the execution of the trusts of this my Will it
124    shall be lawful for the acting surviving or continuing trustee or if
125    there shall be no such trustee than for the renouncing or retiring trustee
126    or trustees and if there shall be no such trustee as last aforesaid or he or
127    they shall decline to exercise this present power then for the executors or
128    administrators of the last acting trustee to nominate and appoint any
129    person or persons to supply the place of the trustee or trustees so dying re-
130    nouncing desiring to be discharged or refusing or neglecting or becoming
    [Page 4]
131    incapable to act as aforesaid And that after such appoint the trust
132    estate then vested in the trustee or trustees respectively so dying renounce-
133    ing desiring to be discharged or refusing or neglecting or becoming inca-
134    pable to act as aforesaid shall be assigned and transferred so that the
135    same may vest in such new trustee or trustees jointly with the surviv-
136    ing or continuing trustee or solely as the case may require and in his or
137    their executors administrators or assigns upon such of the said trusts as
138    shall then be subsisting And I hereby declare that no trustee shall be
139    chargeable for more money than he shall actually receive notwith-
140    standing his signing or joining in any receipts for the sake of conform-
141    mity nor be answerable or accountable for the other or others of them
142    nor for any involuntary losses And that it shall be lawful for every
143    trustee to retain and allow to his Co trustee all costs and expenses
144    which he or they shall incur in the execution of the aforesaid trusts or
145    in relation thereto Lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint the said
146    Henry Woodforde of Clevedon Somerset Gentleman and William
147    Henry Honnywill of Atherington in the County of Gloucester Gentle-
148    man Joint Executors in trust of this my Will hereby revoking all
149    former Wills and declaring this to be my last Will and Testament
150    In witness whereof I the said Ann Blake the testatrix have to this
151    my last Will and Testament contained in this and four preceding
152    sheets of paper set and subscribed my hand and name at the foot
153    of this and each of the four preceding sheets this second day of decem-
154    ber one thousand eight hundred and forty seven Ann Blake
155    The Writing contained in this and the four preceding sheets of paper was
156    signed by the said Ann Blake the testatrix and by her acknowledged
157    and declared to be and contain her last Will and Testament in the
158    presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
159    hereto in her presence at her request and in the presence of each other
160    the word “fifty” in the second sheet having been first struck out and the
161    words “one hundred” in the same sheet having been first interlined
162    Mary Langdon of the District Parish of St John the Evangelist Clit
163    son Spinster Lucy Grey Earle of Westbury on Trym of Gloucestershire
164    Spinster
165    Proved at London 5th February 1848 before the Judge by the
166    Oaths of Henry Woodforde and William Henry Honnywill the Exe-
167    cutors to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn by
168    Commission duly to administer