Thursday, February 16, 2017

Will of Henry Blake of Lehinch, co Mayo, Ireland - The National Archives, PROB 11/1075, probated 14 Mar 1781

The testator, Henry Blake, is descendant of the Galway Blake family being a 12th great grandson of Richard Caddell alias Blake. Henry, the testator, was the son of Henry Blake and Charity Annesley and his sister Charity married Thomas Newburgh. Neither of the children had any descendants and, as mentioned, the property of the testator is passing to his kinsman Valentine Blake son of Mark Blake.

The grandfather of the testator was Patrick Blake and Patrick was the son of Henry Blake who had emigrated to Montserrat about 1668, returning to Galway in 1676 where he purchased the estate of Lehinch, Co Mayo and the estate of Renvyle, Co Galway. This Henry had three sons Patrick, John and Nicholas and a daughter Katherine. None of these sons had a line that continued past the current testator.

Henry was the son of John Blake and Mary French. John had been the Mayor of Galway and was elected MP. His family included four sons and four daughters. The eldest son was named Thomas Blake with Henry being the second eldest. The present testator had selected the descendant of Thomas to be his successor to his estates. Thomas married Mary Blake (his cousin) and their eldest son was John Blake and he married Eveline Lynch. Their second eldest son was Mark Blake and he had married Joan French. Their second eldest son was Valentine Blake mentioned in the will below.

Relationship Chart


Valentine Blake [120] is the 3rd cousin of Henry Blake [1602]

                                Common Ancestor

                                  * John Blake [73]
                                (          -1680/1681)
                                 * Mary French [84]
                                   
                                         |
                     ----------------------------------------
                     |                                      |
                     |                                      |
            * Henry Blake [86]                      * Thomas Blake [85]
             (          -1704)                     (          -Abt 1690)
                                                             Mary Blake [876]
                                              Married likely 10 Feb 1658 [54]
                     |                                      |
                     |                                      |
           * Patrick Blake [87]                     * John Blake [107]
             (          -1693)                     (          -Aft 1720)
                                                           Eveline Lynch [114]
                                                  Married 28 Dec 1695 [57]
                     |                                      |
                     |                                      |
            * Henry Blake [88]                      * Mark Blake [116]
          Charity Annesley [1600]                    Joan French [117]
             (          -1732)                   Married 18 Sep 1731 [58]
            Married 1721 [731]
                     |                                      |
                     |                                      |
           * Henry Blake [1602]                   * Valentine Blake [120]
           (          -Bef 1780)                     (          -1800)


Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 14 Feb 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/1075
Name of testator: Henry Blake
Place: Lehinch, Mayo, Ireland
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 5 May 1779, probated 14 Mar 1781

[In margin] Henry Blake Esqr
[Top] Extracted from the Registry of his Majestys Court of Prerogative in Ireland

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Henry Blake of Lehinch in the County of Mayo Esqr
3    do make and publish this my last Will and Testament
4    and dispose of my real and personal Estates in manner
5    following hereby revoking all former Wills First I devise
6    all my Lands and my Estates in the Countys of
7    Mayo and Galway Subject to and chargeable with
8    all my Just debts which I order and will to be paid
9    out of the Rents and proceeds thereof and Subject
10    also to such Legacies and annuities as are herein
11    after bequeathed and charged upon the same unto the
12    Honourable James Brown of __n Street in the City
13    of Dublin Councellor at Law and Arthur McGuire
14    of Dawson Street in the said City Esqr and their
15    heirs to the use of and In Trust for my Kinsman
16    Valentine Blake late of the Island of Jamaica
17    Merchant but now at Lehinch above mentioned for and
18    during the Term of his natural life and from and
19    after the determination of that Estate to my said
20    Trustees James Brown and Arthur McGuire and
21    their heirs during the life of the said Valentine Blake
22    to preserve the contingent Remainders herein after
23    limited from being destroyed and for that purpose
24    to make Entries and bring actions as the case
25    shall require yet nevertheless in Trust to permit the said
26    Valentine Blake and his assigns to receive the Rents
27    and profits thereof to his and their own proper use
28    and benefit during his life and from and after his
29    decease to the use of the first and every other Son of
30    the said Valentine Blake severally and Successively
31    one after the other according to their priority of
32    Birth and the heirs Male of their Several and
33    respective Bodies in regular Tail Male provided
34    always that such Sons of said Valentine Blake
35    be begotten the Body of a protestant Wife born of
36    a protestant Father and Mother and not otherwise
37    and I do hereby give full power to said Valentine
38    Vale to charge my said Estates in the hands of my
39    Trustees aforesaid with a Jointure to the life of
40    any such protestant wife as is above discribed whom
41    he may Marry to consist of any annual
42    he may think fit not Exceeding however Five
43    hundred pounds a Year and also to charge them
44    with the Sum of Five thousand pounds for any
45    Younger Children he may have by such protestant
46    Wife to be divided amongst them in such shares
47    and to be payable at such times as he shall by any
48    authentick writing appoint and also to make Leases
49    of any of my said Lands for Twenty one Years or two
50    Lives at the best Improved Rent but no in Reversion
51    But if my said Kinsman Valentine Blake should not
52    Marry such a protestant Wife or so Marrying should
53    not leave Issue Male by her or that such Issue being
54    had should die before full Age without leaving Issue
55    Male then and in any of such cases my Will is that all
56    my said Lands and Real Estates shall be and go to the
57    use of my Kinsman John Blake Son of Mark
58    Blake of the Town of Galway and Younger Brother
59    of the aforesaid Valentine Blake for and during his
60    natural life with the same provisions for preserving
61    contingent remainders as have been herein before
62    mentioned in my devise to his Elder Brother Valentine
63    Blake provided the said John shall become a protestant
64    within three Months after the said Lands shall fall
65    to him and after his decease to the use of his Sons
66    Successively in regular Tail Male following Exactly the
67    same Line of Succession as is mentioned in my devise
68    to the Sons of his Brother Valentine and Subject
69    to the same Condition of such Son being born of
70    such a protestant Wife as is above described and in
71    case the said John Blake shall Marry ever a protestant
72    Wife I then give him the same powers for Settling
73    a Jointure charging with portions for Younger
74    Children and making of Leases that I have herein
75    above given to his Elder Brother Valentine but if he the
76    said John Blake should not so conform or not
77    Marry such a protestant Wife or so Marrying there
78    should be a Failure of Issue Male by such Marriage
79    then my Will is that all my said Lands and Estates
80    in the Countys aforesaid shall be and go to the use
81    of Arthur Mr Guire Esqr my Trustee above mentioned
82    and his heirs for ever Secondly I devise my share of
83    and all my Interest in the Lands of Lullimore and
84    Lullibog lying in the County of Kildare to my
85    Kinsman Arthur McGuire Esqr my Trustee before
86    mentioned and in heirs for ever the said Lands being
87    used by John Annesley of Ballysax in the said County
88    of Kildare Esqr Thirdly I hereby charge my said
89    Lands and Estates in the Countys of Mayo and Galway
90    aforesaid with the following Legacies and annual
91    Rent charges to be paid out of the Rents of said
92    Lands and order that the Rent charges shall
93    commence on the first day of May which shall next
94    ensue the day of my decease and shall thence forward
95    be payable half Yearly and be recoverable by Distress
96    Viz[ a vi]t I bequeath to my Cousin Dorothy Rutledge of
97    Killala in the County of Mayo aforesaid but now of
98    Lehnich before mentioned a Rent charge of Sixty
99    pounds a Year for and during her life to her sole and
100    Separate use as if unmarried to be paid into no
101    hands but her own and upon her own Receipt only
102    and this I give her in lieu of the annuity I now
103    allow her which is to cease on my death and I
104    hereby ratify the Gift of one hundred pounds which
105    I formerly promised her in my Letter to her Brother
106    Francis Knox Esqre a bequeath to each of her
107    daughters Mary and Charity Rutledge the Sum of
108    two hundred pounds to be paid to them on the days
109    of their Marriage respectively provided they Marry
110    with the previous advice and intire consent of their
111    mother above mentioned and of their uncle Francis
112    Knox Esqre and if they should not Marry in the
113    life time of their said Mother then the said two
114    hundred pounds so bequeathed to each of them shall
115    bear Interest from their said Mothers decease and
116    not before I bequeath to James Rutledge the
117    Brother of the aforesaid Mary and Charity Rutledge
118    the Sum of three hundred pounds to bear Interest
119    from the day of my decease but not to be payable
120    except upon some rational Scheme for his advancement
121    to be approved of by his uncle Francis Knox aforesaid
122    and by my Executors herein after mentioned or any
123    two of them I bequeath to my Cousins Ann Cuff and
124    Bridget Cuff of Stephens Green in the City of Dublin
125    a Rent charge of twenty pounds a year to each of
126    them Severally for and during their lives respectively
127    requesting their kind acceptance of this small Token
128    of my regard and Esteem I bequeath to my Servant
129    Hugh Kane now living with me at Lehinch
130    aforesaid a Rent charge of Fifteen pounds a year
131    during his life over and above his wages which I
132    hereby order to be continued and paid to him
133    Yearly as long as he lives out of the Rents of
134    my Lands aforesaid and I leave him besides
135    Forty pounds to Build a house I order that all
136    the Servants living with me at the time of my
137    decease shall each of them receive a Years wages
138    over and above what may be then due to them
139    Fourthly as to all the personal Estate I may die
140    possessed of in the Kingdom of England or Ireland
141    I dispose of it in the manner following I give to
142    my friend and Kinsman the hon[our]able George
143    Browne of Claremont in the County of Mayo all
144    my plate Jewells and Trinkets that are in my
145    Iron Chest at Arthur McGuire Esqre in Dawson
146    Street Dublin to be applied to the use of his
147    daughter Margaret Browne as he may think fit
148    I give to my Kinsman Francis Blake of Ralena
149    in the County of Roscommon Esqre one hundred
150    Guineas and I give the like Sum of one hundred
151    Guineas to my friend Fitzherbert Richards now of half
152    Moon Street in the City of London Esqre and I give
153    the like Sum to the hon[oura]ble James Browne my
154    Trustee herein before mentioned requesting of each of
155    them that they would respectively lay out this Money
156    in the purchase a Ring a Snuff Box or something
157    of that sort to be kept as a Memorial of their Friend
158    I give to my Kinsman John Knox of Dorset Street
159    in the City of Dublin Second Son of James Knox
160    of Moyne in the County of Mayo Esqre Five hundred
161    pounds I give to my friend Parsons Sterling of
162    Sackville Street in the City of London Esqre the eight
163    hundred pounds Stock which I have there in the
164    four per Cent Bank Consolidated Annuities In Trust
165    to his Son James Sterling to be applied to the sole
166    use and advancement of the said James and to
167    no other purpose whatever I give to my Friend
168    Arthur McGuire Esqre above mentioned Six hundred
169    pounds together with all the Interest and Costs
170    which may be due at my decease on the Several
171    Bonds left including Settlement Bonds or all __of them as have not be applied by
172    me to the exs of my Mothers Will or the Expences
173    of the Executorship thereof I order my Executors to
174    deliver up to those Intitled to them by virtue of my
175    Mothers Will first deducting out of the Contents of
176    said Bonds whatever may remain due to me for
177    the said Expences of the Executorship and the debts
178    and Legacies discharged by me as to all the rest of
179    my said personal Fortune be it where it will or of
180    what nature it may I give to my Kinsman
181    Valentine Blake aforesaid and do hereby appoint
182    my residuary Legatee thereof Lastly I appoint the
183    Hon[oura]ble George Browne also before mentioned Arthur
184    McGuire Esqre herein also before mentioned and the
185    said Valentine Blake to be the Executors of this
186    my last Will and In Witness whereof I have hereunto
187    put my hand and Seal the Fifth day of May
188    one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy nine 1779
189    when the words benefit and the the words so
190    conform or not and the words and not before and
191    the word there and the word be were Interlined
192    in different places with my own hand H Blake
193    Signed Sealed published and declared by the
194    above named Henry Blake as his last Will and
195    Testament in the presence of us who Subscribe our
196    names as Witnesses in his presence and in the
197    presence of each other Christ Howe Thom Lindsey
198    Willm Fish
199    In the Name of God Amen
200    I Henry Blake of Lehinch in the Kingdom of
201    Ireland but now of Maddox Street Hanover Square
202    in the City of London do make and publish this
203    Codicil to my last Will and Testament which I
204    deposited in the hands of the hon[oura]ble George
205    Browne of Claremont in the Kingdom of
206    Ireland First I order that I may be Buried in a
207    very private manner at Bromley or Eltham in
208    Kent at the option of such of my Relations and
209    Friends as may be kind enough to see these last
210    offices performed to me and in hopes that my
211    Bones may be the more likely to remain undisturbed
212    I desire that my Grave may be made very deep and
213    desire that there may be no Inscription on the Flat
214    Stone to be placed over my Grave but these words
215    Sir Edgment Henricus Blake armiger ob nt Vpa
216    with my arms Engraved at Top in the plain manner
217    they are on my Seal 2dly I order that the following
218    Tenants at Lehinch shall be Forgiven all the
219    arrears of Rent which they may owe at the May
220    or November proceeding my death viz Robert Dyrcoll
221    Samuel Johnston George Buchard Patrick and
222    John Hagarty Brothers at Cloneen and Cormick
223    Hugllos of the same place and also Michael
224    Hugllos of Towne Daikin and Henry Pott Mallett
225    (Kirwan the Son of the Sick old Mary) and I desire each
226    of the poor cotters of Siss__tava may be Forgiven
227    half a years Rent in their account next occurring
228    my decease Also the three last named persons are
229    all of Carrowkell[y] 3dly I bequeath to the two Miss
230    Morgans with whom I lodge all the Furniture that
231    belongs to me in the dining Room here viz[ a vi]t my
232    large Book Case my large reading desk with the
233    Cabinet of Drawers underneath it my Small
234    writing desk and all my Framed and Glazed
235    prints in the Dineing Room and Closet and all the
236    Ireland Tea Trays and the Table Tray I likewise
237    bequeath to Miss Ann Morgan Fifty Guineas and
238    to her Sister Miss Elizabeth Morgan thirty Guineas
239    for their Great care of me during my Illness to be
240    paid them directly and the Furniture to be delivered
241    up to them as soon as my Executors has taken out
242    the Contents 4thly I give to my Servant Patrick
243    Donoghoe if living with me at the time of my
244    death all my Linnen and wearing apparel of
245    every kind that I have in England I order that
246    his wages and Boys wages be continued till my
247    Executor comes to England and has Settled my
248    affairs here provided said Patrick will remain here
249    as long as I hope he will I order he may get
250    ten pounds to buy him Mourning and Ten
251    pounds more to be on his Expences back to Ireland
252    and that when he gets there he may get two
253    years wages over and above what may be then due to
254    him 5thly I order that Hugh McCoy shall stand
255    rent free in his Freehold during his life he paying
256    only for those acres which he holds over and above his
257    Freehold 6thly if I should not die in London or near
258    it I desire that I may be buried at the nearest
259    Village Church to the place of my decease 7thly I
260    appoint my Kinsman Valentine Blake now of
261    Lehinch Executor to this Codicil 8thly I leave the
262    following Trifles to some of my Friends which
263    I request they will kindly accept as Small
264    Memorandums of the regard of their departed
265    Friend and if I should have made any different
266    disposition of the Following things in will (which
267    I cannot now recollect not having a copy of my
268    Will by me) I desire that the present disposition may
269    stand good notwithstanding said Will viz[ a vi]t I leave
270    my Graham watch and Seals except the Seals
271    with my arms and Cypher which I leave to my
272    Executor to my Friends the hon[oura]ble Richard Gow
273    now of this City I leave my Gold Headed Cane
274    to my Friend Parsons Sterlings Esqre now also of
275    this City and I leave the diamond Ring that was
276    in _isters which will be found in one of the
277    drawers of my large Reading desk to my Friend
278    Francis Knox Esqre now likewise of this City but I
279    desire that before it is presented to him my Executor
280    would get it now set in a handsome manner
281    with small Stones Round it either as a Mourning
282    Ring or as a Socket at the choise of my said
283    Friend 9thly I desire that all my Books and prints
284    may be Sold by action or otherwise as my Executor
285    may be advised but I recommend that Mr Paine
286    at the Mews gate in Castle Street may have a
287    preference he being the faires honeste man
288    my Executor can deal with the prints I
289    suppose be Sold by action and I bequeath the
290    produce of said Books and prints to my
291    Cousin Bridget Cuff of Stephens Green Dublin
292    10thly I bequeath the eight hundred pounds Stock
293    which I have in the Four per Cent Consol Fund
294    to my Friend Parsons Sterling Esqre above
295    mentioned In Trust for the use of his Son James
296    Sterling if I should have mentioned this bequest
297    in my Will as I believe I have it being always
298    my intentions that what is here mentioned is only
299    to be considered as a confirmation of the said
300    Legacy in my Will or rather an unnecessary
301    repetition I except out of the Book I have ordered
302    to be held here those which are ready packed up
303    in the deal Box in the Clost they being mostly
304    Books printed in Dublin which are not Saleable here
305    and I desire my Executor may take them to
306    Ireland for his own use In witness whereof I have
307    here unto put my hand and Seal in London this
308    18 December 1779 H Blake Signed Sealed and
309    published in presence of Wm Lyndon
310    The last will and Testament and Codicil of
311    Henry Blake late of Lehinch in the county
312    of Mayo Esquire deceased (having and soforth
313    was proved and approved in Common Form
314    of Said and Registered in his Majesty Court
315    of Prerogative and the burden of the Execution
316    of and administration of the Goods
317    and so forth of the said deceased were
318    granted by the most Reverend Father
319    Richard and so forth to Valentine Blake
329    Esquire one of the Executors therein named
321    he being first personally Sworn Saving the
322    the Right of the honourable George
323    Browne and Arthur McGuire Esquire
324    the other Executors and so Forth (Sowing
325    and soforth) dated the 9th day of November
326    in the year of our Lord 1780
327    A true copy which I attest
328    Hen Upton
329    d Regr
330    This Will was proved at London with a
331    Codicil the fourteenth day of March in the Year
332    of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred eighty
333    one before the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert
334    doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the
335    prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted
336    by the oath of Valentine Blake one of Executors
337    named in the said Will to whom administration
338    was granted of all and Singular the Goods
339    Chattels and Credits of the deceased having
340    been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer
341    power reserved of making the like grant to the
342    Honourable George Browne and Arthur Mc
343    Guire otherwise Macquire Esquire the other
344    Executors named in the said Will when they
345    or either of them shall apply for the same.

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