Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Will of Sarah Blake, widow, Maldon, Essex - The National Archives PROB 11/1708/416, probated 27 Feb 1826

Locating the husband of Sarah Blake was not possible initially as he was not named in the will.

Her niece Elizabeth Simpson, married to William Woolley Simpson, was also not found although I did find the Will of her husband and they were living at Montagu Place Russell Square Middlesex as well as his being an Auctioneer at Bucklersbury London. It is a short will which leaves everything to his wife Elizabeth; will dated 12 Oct 1847 and probated 9 Dec 1847.

The marriage of Mr John Wyatt Lee of Maldon, Essex to Ann Dunkin (daughter of John Dunkin Esquire of Woodham Mortimer) at Woodham Mortimer 17 October 1805 (Find My Past).

One of the names of the great nephews of Sarah Blake is William Staddon Blake Lee and googling this name reveals a William Staddon Blake who lived in St Mary Woolnoth and St Mary Woolchurch, London. He was in 1795 one of the churchwardens.

There is a will for William Stadden Blake of Change Alley in the City of London, Engraver. He mentions his wife Sarah Blake. His will was probated 10 November 1814. His will was written 2 Nov 1795. I will transcribe his will next. It is interesting sometimes how one can discover more about individuals who leave their wills. I did find the baptism of William Stadden Blake son of William and Fanny Blake of Saff[ron]hill, St Andrew Holborn, 14 Jan 1747 (Ancestry.ca). Cornhill is approximately 1 mile away from Saffron Hill.

Names mentioned in the will:

Sarah Blake, testatrix, Maldon, Essex
Francis Maria Lee, executrix, sister, Maldon, Essex
John Rowe, tenant, Change Alley, Cornhill, London
George Turney, tenant, Change Alley, Cornhill, London
Elizabeth Simpson, niece, Bucklersbury, London
William Woolley Simpson, Auctioneer, husband of Elizabeth, Bucklersbury, London
John Wyatt Lee, nephew
Thomas Lee, son of John Wyatt Lee, great nephew
David Stringlet, tenant, Great Totham, Essex
John Dunkin Lee, son of John Wyatt Lee, great nephew
William Staddon Blake Lee, son of John Wyatt Lee, great nephew,
Samuel Willett, executor, Barnards Inn, Middlesex, gentleman
George May, executor, Maldon, Surgeon
Mary Lee, daughter of John Wyatt Lee, great niece
Nancy Lee, daughter of John Wyatt Lee, great niece
Joanna Dunkin Lee, daughter of John Wyatt Lee, great niece
Elizabeth Frances Lee, daughter of John Wyatt Lee, great niece
Emma Lee, daughter of John Wyatt Lee, great niece
Robert Clarke, Little Totham, Essex, Farmer
Hannah Fanks, Castle Street, Southwark Bridge
Ann Cotter, wife of Joseph Cotter, Great Totham, Essex
Joseph Cotter, Great Totham, Essex, husband of Ann, Innholder
Elizabeth Sly, Purleigh, Essex
Elizabeth Goddard, residing with Lady Julia Howard
Ann Goddard, sister of Elizabeth Goddard
Elizabeth Foster, servant
Mary Wood, servant to Francis Maria Lee
Hannah Ruggles, residing with the testatrix
Betsy Stotherd, witness
Wm Wright, witness, Sol[icito]r Maldon
Z: W: Digby, witness, Clerk to Wm Wright

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 6 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1708/416
Testator: Sarah Blake, Widow
Place: Maldon, Essex, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 10 Jun 1825, probated 27 Feb 1826
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Sarah
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 27

1    In the Name of God Amen I
2    Sarah Blake of Saint Mary Islington in the County of Middlesex but me residing
3    at Maldon in the County of Essex Widow being of sound mine memory and
4    understanding (praised be God for the same) do make publish and declare my last
5    Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) in the first place I direct
6    all my just debts Funeral and Testamentary Expenses to be paid off and discharged
7    by my Executrix and Executors hereinafter appointed from and out of my personal
8    Estate And I give devise and bequeath unto my Sister Francis Maria Lee of Maldon
9    aforesaid Spinster all those my two Leasehold Messuages or dwellinghouses with the
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10    outbuildings and appurtenances thereto respectively belonging being Numbers 16 and 18 in
11    Change Alley Cornhill in the City of London now in the occupations of John Rowe
12    and George Turney To hold the same unto the said Francis Maria Lee her Executors
13    Administrators and Assigns to and for her and their own absolute use and benefit for the
14    residue of my Estate Term and interest therein respectively And I also give and bequeath
15    unto my said Sister Francis Maria Lee all my Principal Money Stocks of Funds
16    standing in my Name in the Long Annuities in the Books of the Governor and
17    Company of the Bank of England to and for her own absolute use and benefit and direct
18    the same to be paid or transferred to her within six months next after my decease
19    and I give and bequeath unto my Niece Elizabeth Simpson Wife of William Woolley
20    Simpson of Bucklersbury in the said City of London Auctioner the Sum of two thousand
21    pounds Stock part of the money Stock or Trust standing in my name in the new four
22    per cent Annuities to and for her own absolute use and benefit and direct the same
23    to be paid or transferred to her within six Calendar months next after my decease but
24    in case she shall happen to depart this life in my lifetime hereby the said Legacy
25    would lapse then I give and bequeath the said two thousand pounds Stock in the
26    now four per cent Annuities unto the said William Woolley Simpson absolutely
27    and direct the same to be paid or transferred to him within six Calendar months
28    next after my decease And I give and bequeath unto my Nephew John Wyatt Lee
29    the Legacy or Sum of One thousand pounds and direct the same to be paid to him
30    within six Calendar Months next after my decease to and for his absolute use and
31    and benefit And I give and devise unto Thomas Lee Son of the said John Wyatt Lee All
32    that my Messuage or dwellinghouse with the Outbuildings Yards Gardens and the
33    several pieces or parcels of Land thereto belonging containing by Estimation thirty
34    acres (be the same more or less) with the Appurtenances (part Freehold and part
35    Copyhold) situate and being in the parish of Great Totham in the said County of
36    Essex now in the occupation of David Stringlet To hold the same unto the same
37    Thomas Lee his heirs and Assigns for ever And I give and bequeath unto John
38    Dunkin Lee another Son of my said Nephew John Wyatt Lee All those my ten
39    shares (of One hundred pounds each) of and in the Capital Stock of a certain Company
40    called or known by the Name of the West Middlesex Waterworks Company and direct
41    that the same shall become vested in and be paid or Assigned and transferred to him
42    when he shall attain the Age of twenty one Years and the Interest dividends and
43    produce thereof in the meantime I direct to be paid to his Father the said John
44    Wyatt Lee to be applied by him for and towards his maintenance benefit and
45    Education and I give and bequeath unto William Staddon Blake Lee another Son
46    of the said John Wyatt Lee All and every my shares (being about twenty one in number
47    of and in the Capital Stock of a certain Company called the London Dock Company And
48    also all my shares and Interest or Interests in the Capital Stock of a certain Company
49    called the Waterloo or Stand Bridge Company and direct that the same respectively shall
50    become vested in and be paid or Assigned and transferred to him when he shall attain the
51    age of twenty one years And the Interest dividends and produce thereof respectively in
52    the meantime I direct to be paid to his Father the said John Wyatt Lee to be applied
53    by him for and towards his maintenance benefit and education provided always And
54    in case either or both of them the said John Dunkin Lee and William Stadden Blake
55    Lee shall happen to depart this life under the Age of twenty one years then I give and
56    bequeath the shares of the Stock of him of them so dying unto all his or their surviving
57    Brothers and Sisters in equal shares and proportions share and share alike and in
58    case there shall be but one Survivor then I give and bequeath the whole to such
60    only Surviving Child to and for his or her own absolute use and benefit and direct that
61    such accruing share or shares shall become vested in and be paid to assigned and
62    transferred to them him or her as and when they severally attain the Age of twenty one
63    Years and the Dividends Interest or produce thereof in the meantime I direct to be paid
64    to the said John Wyatt Lee to be by him applied for and towards their his or her
65    maintenance benefit and Education and I give and bequeath unto my Sister the said
66    Francis Maria Lee Samuel Willett of Barnards Inn in the said County of Middlesex
67    Gentleman and George May of Maldon aforesaid Surgeon the Sum of two thousand
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68    five hundred pounds upon trust that they the said Francis Maria Lee Samuel
69    Willett and George May or the Survivors or Survivor of them or the Executors or Admors
70    of such Survivor do and shall lay out and invest the same in their his or her own
71    names or name in some or one of the public Stocks or Funds or upon Government or
72    Real Security at Interest and from time to time to call in alter and transpose such Stocks
73    Funds and Securities as they she or he shall think fit and proper and do and shall pay the
74    Interest dividends and annual produce thereof as and when the same shall become due
75    and be received into the proper hands of the said John Wyatt Lee to be by him applied
76    for and towards the maintenance benefit and Education of his daughters Mary Lee
77    Nancy Lee Joanna Dunkin Lee Elizabeth Frances Lee and Emma Lee until they
78    shall severally and respectively attain the age of twenty one years and Marry with
79    the consent of my said Trustees or Trustee for the time being or the majority of them
80    or until such time or period as they shall (from any other cause than marriage)
81    severally cease to be maintained and supported by and at the Expence of the said John
82    Wyatt Lee their Father And when and as they shall severally and respectively attain
83    the age of twenty one Years and marry with such Consent as aforesaid or as and
84    when they shall (from any other cause than Marriage) severally cease to be
85    maintained and supported by their said Father then I do hereby declare and direct that
86    that the said Francis Maria Lee Samuel Willett and George May or the
87    Survivors or Survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor
88    shall stand and be possessed of the said Sum of two thousand five hundred pounds
89    or the Stocks Funds and Securities in or upon which the same shall be laid out and
90    invested as aforesaid in trust for and to pay or assign and transfer the same unto the
91    said Mary Lee Nancy Lee Joanna Dunkin Lee Elizabeth Frances Lee and Emma
92    Lee in equal shares and proportions share and share alike to and for their
93    respective absolute use and benefit nevertheless I do hereby declare my Mind and Will
94    to be that the said several and respective shares shall become vested in the said daughters
95    of the said John Wyatt Lee as and when they severally attain the age of twenty one
96    years notwithstanding the payment thereof is postponed till the time of their
97    marriage or (from any other cause) ceasing to be maintained and supported by
98    their said Father provided always and I do hereby further declare and direct that if
99    any one of more of them the said Mary Lee Nancy Lee Joanna Dunkin Lee Elizabeth Frances
100    Lee and Emma Lee shall happen to depart this life under the Age of twenty one
101    Years then the share or shares of her or them so dying shall go accrue and belong
102    to the Survivors of them in equal shares and in case of only one Survivor then the whole
103    shall go and accrue to such Survivor and shall vest in and be paid or assigned and
104    transferred to them or her at the same time or times and be subject to the same
105    contingency as is hereinbefore declared or expressed relative to her or their original
106    share or shares and the dividends and Interest thereof in the mean time shall be
107    paid and applied for their benefit as aforesaid And I give devise and bequeath unto
108    my Friend the said Samuel Willett All those two Leasehold Messuages or dwelling
109    houses with the Outbuildings Yards Gardens and Appurtenances thereto belonging
110    being Numbers 29 and 30 in Queens Row Walworth in the County of Surrey To
111    hold the same unto the said Samuel Willett his Executors Administrators and
112    Assigns to and for his and their own absolute use benefit and disposal for the
113    residue of my Estate Term and Interest therein respectively and I also give and
114    bequeath unto the said Samuel Willett the Legacy or Sum of One hundred pounds
115    and I give and bequeath unto my Friend the said George May the Sum of Fifty
116    pounds and I give and bequeath unto my Friend Robert Clarke of Little Totham
117    in the said County of Essex Farmer to Hannah Fanks of Castle Street Southwark
118    Bridge to Ann Cotter wife of Joseph Cotter of Great Totham aforesaid Innholder
119    and to Elizabeth Sly of Purleigh in the said County of Essex the Sum of Five Guineas
120    each as a token of my respect for them and I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth
121    Goddard now residing with Lady Julia Howard the Sum of nineteen Guineas
122    and I give and bequeath to Ann Goddard the Sister of the said Elizabeth Goddard
123    the Sum of Five Guineas and I give and bequeath unto my Servant Elizabeth
124    Foster the Sum of ten Guineas and I give and bequeath unto Mary Wood the
    [Page 4]
125    Servant of my said Sister Frances Maria Lee the Sum of Five Guineas all which said
126    several last mentioned Legacies I will and direct shall be paid to the said several and
127    respective Legatees thereof within one Calendar months next after my decease and I
128    give and bequeath unto Hannah Ruggles now residing with me all my Clothes and
129    Linen And I give and bequeath unto my said Sister Francis Maria Lee All and
130    singular my ready money and Securities for Money debts and the rest and residue of
131    my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever to and for her own absolute use benefit
132    and disposal And I hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Francis Maria
133    Lee Samuel Willett and George May Executrix and Executors of this my Will And
134    do hereby declare my Will to be that my said Trustees and Executrix and Executors and
135    and their respective Executors and Administrators shall be charged and Chargeable
136    respectively for such monies only as they respectively shall actually receive by virtue
137    of this my Will notwithstanding their or any of their giving or signing or joining
138    in any receipt or receipts for the sake of Conformity And that no one or more of
139    them shall be answerable or accountable for the acts receipts neglects of defaults of
140    the others or other of them but each and every of them for her and his own acts
141    receipts neglects and defaults only and that they or any or either of them shall not
142    be answerable or accountable for any Banker Broker or other person with or to
143    whom or in whose hands any part of the said Trust monies shall or may be
144    intrusted paid or deposited for safe custody or otherwise in the Execution of the
145    Trusts of this my Will nor for the rise or fall in the price or value of Stocks or the
146    insufficiency or deficiency in Title or value of any Security and Securities in or upon
147    which the said Trust monies or any part thereof shall be laid out or invested nor
148    for any other loss of misfortune which may happen to the same trust monies
149    or any part thereof except the same shall happen by or through his her or
150    their own respective wilful act neglect or default and also that it shall be
151    lawful for my said Trustees and Executrix and Executors and their respective
152    Executors and Administrators by and out of the monies which shall come to
153    their hands by virtue of the trusts aforesaid to retain to and reimburse themselves
154    respectively and also to allow their respective Co Trustee and Executrix and Executor or respective Co Trustees and Executrix and Executors
155    All Costs Charges damages and Expenses which they or any or either of them shall
156    or may pay sustain or be put unto in the Execution of this my Will and the trusts
157    hereby in them reposed and I hereby revoke and make void all former Wills by me
158    at any time heretofore made and declare this alone to be and contain my last
159    Will and Testament In witness whereof I have to this  my Will contained in five
160    Sheets of paper set my hand and Seal to wit my hand to the four preceding sheets
161    and my hand and Seal to this fifth and last sheet hereof the tenth day of June in
162    the Year one thousand eight hundred and twenty five Sarah Blake
163    Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Sarah Blake as and for her last Will
164    and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto at her request in her
165    presence and in the presence of each other Subscribed our names as Witnesses
166    Betsy Stotherd Wm Wright Sol[icito]r Maldon Z: W: Digby his Clerk
167    Proved at London 27th February 1826 before the Worshipful Jesse Addams d[octo]r of Laws
168    and Surr[ogate] by the Oaths of Frances (in the will written Francis) Maria Lee Spinster the
169    Sister Samuel Willett and George May Esq[uie]rs the Ex[ecuto]rs to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted
170    being first Sworn duly to adm[iniste]r

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