Ontario Genealogical Society Meeting Ottawa Branch 28 October 2017 - Gail Dever

An interesting talk today by Gail Dever on social tools for genealogy. Gail asked if anyone had had success breaking down a brickwall with Blogging. The question period was pretty busy so did not add in  my thoughts on the value of blogging with regard to breaking down brickwalls at the meeting but thought I would share it with my blog.

When I started my blog in November 2008, it was to become my corporate memory of working through the 2500 images that I had brought back from Salt Lake City. The first year was mostly on those images and what I learned from them with regard to individual lines of my ancestry. Because I entered into the world of genealogy quite late (2003), I came in with the computer age of genealogy. I have done the dusty microfilm  bit but a great deal of my research has been online using the online databases and services like Ancestry, Find My Past, My Heritage, Genes Reunited etc. I have bought a lot of records (microfiche and images) from registration offices/libraries/archives. I was comfortable with the idea of writing up my daily thoughts on these images in a blog although I had imagined that only I would ever look at it!

In that thought I was so wrong. Just a short time after discussing Elizabeth Siderfin (my 6x great grandmother) and the assignment of a maiden name to her by another researcher and my thoughts on that assignment (a book published on our family in 1912), I received a comment on the blog from another researcher who was looking at her Question family. Augustine Question (my, as it turned out, 7x great grandfather) had left his will mentioning his daughter Elizabeth Siderfin (her husband Robert) and Augustine named his grandchildren and those names were an absolute match with the known children of Robert and Elizabeth Siderfin. What a gift! I still marvel at that although have had more than 40 such comments over the past 9 years since then. Each one of them has opened the curtain a little or the comment has actually broken down the brick wall that existed.

Gail gave an excellent talk on Blogging, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and Pinterest. I do have a membership in each of these individual services but tend to prefer blogging.

Second DNA Circle at Ancestry

Although I am not doing a lot of research  these days,  the arrival of a new DNA circle at Ancestry was a welcomed surprise.

Jeremiah Rawlins is the ancestor celebrated in this newest DNA circle. He was my 4x great grandfather and his baptism provided a good amount of discussion because all of his siblings were baptized at Enford, Wiltshire whereas he was baptized at Netheravon (not far away in distance only about 3 kilometres). So far, no reason for the baptism being at Netheravon has arisen. Perhaps the priest at Enford was not available; perhaps they had moved house in that time period returning to Enford once again; all sorts of ideas present themselves for thought.

Jeremiah Rawlins was baptized 13 Apr 1755 son of William Rawlins and Mary Ford. He married Sarah Tanner 1 Nov 1780 at Tilshead (the priest kindly wrote on the marriage registration that Jeremiah was of Enford). They had nine children between 1781 and 1801 and he was buried 6 Dec 1834 at Fifield (all in Wiltshire). My line descends from his eldest son Thomas Rawlins. The circle is still small (just six members (of whom three are my close relatives)) but welcomed none the less. As my matches continue to flow in (albeit slowly), I can see more DNA circles in the future as the information comes together.

I am now up to 17 shared ancestor hints and I have corresponded or attempted to correspond with all of these matches. One of my best matches is a mystery as she does not respond. But then my best matches at ancestry are just 57 centimorgans spread over 5 segments and 57 centimorgans spread over three segments other than my siblings.

Away from blogging

I will be away from blogging for a few weeks. I decided it was time to put more organization into my files.

OGS Conference Treasurers Duties nearly finished; just one more trial balance to do and then that is the end finally after 1.5 years. It was certainly an excellent Conference and all loose ends tied up now but did rather take a large bite out of my genealogical research.

Will of Samuel Blake belonging to his Majesties ship the Boyne - The National Archives PROB 11/434, probated 12 Nov 1697

There are too many Samuel Blake baptisms to even suggest a possible person. The same is true for his executrix Elizabeth Lowen. One of the witnesses is named Samuell Rolf which is interesting as one Rolf family at Andover married into the Blake family. However I was not able to particularly relate this Samuell Rolf to that family.

HMS Boyne was an 80 gun Royal Navy second rate ship of the line launched in 1692. This ship was under the command of Captain Dursley when she helped take Gibraltar in 1704.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 3 Oct 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/434
Name of testator: Samuel Blake, Mariner
Place:  belonging to his Majesties ship the Boyne
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 2 Nov 1696, probated 12 Nov 1697

[In margin]: Tm Samuelis Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    this second day of November Anno domini 1696 I Samuell Blake mariner
3    belonging to his Majesties ship the Boyne being sick and weake in body
4    but of perfect mind and memory doe make and declare these presents to containe
5    my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say First I bequeath my Soule to God
6    and my Body to the Earth Item all such wages sume and summes of money
7    goods Chattels and Estate whatsoever wherewith att the time of my decease
8    I shall be the possessed or which shall then belong or of right appertaine
9    unto me my debts and funeral Expences being first paid I doe give
10    devise and bequeath unto Elizabeth Lowen of Portsmouth in the
11    County of Southton and I doe hereby nominate and appoint the said
12    Elizabeth Executrix of this my will and doe revoke all other wills by me
13    formerly made In Wittness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and
11    Seale the said second day of November Anno domini 1696 being the day
15    and yeare first above written Samuel Blake Signed sealed published
16    and declared in the presence of us John Smith Samuell Rolf Jno Hughs
17    John Sleensow
18    Probatum fuit huiusmodi Testamentum apud London
19    Coram venti et Egregi viro domini Richardo Raines Militis legum
20    doctore Curiae Prerogative Cantuariensis Magistri Custodis siue
21    Commissario legitime Constituto duodecimo die Mensis Novembris
22    Anno domini Millesimo Sexcentesimo Nonagenio Sexto Juramento Elizabetha
23    Lewen Executricis in dicto Testamento nominati Cui Commissa fuit
24    Administratio omnium et singulorum bonorum jurium et creditorum dicti defuncti
25    de bene et fideliter administrando Eadem Ad sancta dei Evangelia
26    vigore Commissionis Jurat ex[a]m[inatus]

Will of Robert Blake - The National Archives PROB 11/177, probated 4 Sep 1638

Robert Blake may or may not be on the Jonah (not known if this is Merchant Marine or Royal Navy, nothing found online). It isn’t really possible to tell that. His sister is Elizabeth Blake and a friend perhaps Dorothy Windsor.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 2 Oct 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/177
Name of testator: Robert Blake
Place:  unknown
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 20 Feb 1637, probated 4 Sep 1638

[In margin]: Tm Robti Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen etc Item to George
2    Scavis on the Jonah all my bedding to be delivered him presently after my death Item to
3    Robert Seri__nt in the said ship, my Cloth Cote to be delivered as it is aforesaid Item the whole
4    remainder of my estate whatsoever I give unto my sister Elizabeth Blake and Dorothy Windsor
5    to be equally devided betweene them and doe ordayne the sayd Elizabeth Blake and Dorothy Windsor
6    to be my joynt executrixes dated the Tweneth of February One thousand sixe hundred thirtie
7    seaven Robert Blake Sealed and delivered in the presence of Hugh Owen John Clarke
8    Probatum fuit testamentum suprascript[um] apud London coram Johanne Exton legum doctore
9    Surrogato venerabilis viro dui henrici Marten militis legum etiam doctoris Curie Prerogative Cant[uariensis] Mag[ist]ro
10    Custodis siue Com[m]issarij legitime constitute[o] Quarto die mensis Septembris Anno domini mill[es]imo Sexcentesimo
11    tricesimo Octavo Juramentis Elizabethe Blake et Dorothee Windsor executoris in h[uius]modi Testamento
12    nominati Quibus comissa fuit administratio omnium et singulorum bonorum iurium et creditorium dicti
13    defuncti de bene et fideliter administrand eadem Ad sancta dei Evangelia Jurat ex[a]m[inatus]

Will of Richard Blake, Captains Clerk belonging to his Majestys Ship Ruby - The National Archives PROB 11/794, probated 30 May 1752

There is a Richard Blake baptized 29 May 1724 at Gosport Hampshire son of John and Elisabeth Blake.

There is a marriage for Richard Blake 5 Aug 1742 to Mary Bowers at Gosport Hampshire.

Because there are a number of entries in Hampshire records for a Richard Blake (baptism and marriage) it is unknown if the two records above correspond to this particular Richard Blake.

HMS Ruby was a 50 gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy built at Bursledon, Hampshire and launched on 3 August 1745.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 1 Oct 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/794
Name of testator: Richard Blake, Captains Clerk
Place:  belonging to his Majestys Ship Ruby
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 1 Nov 1747, probated 30 May 1752

[In margin]: Richard Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Richard Blake Captains Clerk of his Majestys Ship Ruby Captain Joseph
3    Knight Commander being in bodily health and of sound and disposing
4    mind and memory and considering the dangers and other uncertaintys of
5    this transitory Life do (for avoiding controversys after my decease) make
6    publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner
7    following that is to say First I recommend my Soul to God
8    that gave it and my Body to the Earth or Sea as it shall
9    please God to order and as for all my Worldly Estate I give
10    bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth that is to say
11    all and singular such pay Short allowance Money Prize Money
12    and all other Wages Sum and Sums of Money Lands Tenements
13    Goods Chattels and Estate whatsoever as shall be any ways due
11    owing or belonging unto me at the time of my decease I give
15    devise and bequeath the same unto my well beloved Wife Mary Blake
16    of Gosport in the County of Hampshire and I do hereby nominate
17    and appoint my trusty Friend Antrum Fulford of Gosport aforesaid
18    Merchant to be Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby
19    revoking all former and other Wills Testaments and deeds of Gift by
20    me at any time heretofore made And I do ordain and ratify
21    these presents to stand and be for my only last Will and Testament
22    In Witness whereof to this my said Will I have set my
23    hand and Seal the first day of November and in the twenty
24    first year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second
25    by the Grace of God over Great Britain France and Ireland King
26    defender of the Faith and so forth And in the year of
27    our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and forty seven Richd Blake
28    Signed sealed and published in the presence of us Jos: Knight Capt
29    Jas Munro Lieut Jno Hullock Purser
30    This Will was proved at London before the Right
31    honourable Sir George Lee Knight doctor of Laws Master keeper
32    or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
33    constituted on the thirtieth day of May in the Year of our Lord
34    one Thousand seven hundred and fifty two by the Oath of
35    Antram Fulford the sole Executor named in the said Will
36    to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the
37    Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased being first sworn by
38    Commission duly to administer

Will of Richard Blake otherwise Black belonging to his Majestys Ship Vengance - The National Archives PROB 11/1781, probated 23 Jul 1781

I did not discover anything further about this testator, Richard Blake otherwise Black.


Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 30 Sep 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/1781
Name of testator: Richard Blake otherwise Black
Place:  belonging to his Majestys Ship Vengance
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 1 Mar 1779, probated 23 Jul 1781

[In margin]: Richard Blake otherwise Black

1    In the Name of God Amen I
2    I Richard Black Mariner belonging to his Majestys
3    Ship the Vengance being in bodily health and of sound
4    and disposing mind and memory and considering the
5    perils and dangers of the Seas and other uncertainities of
6    this transitory life do for avoiding controversies after
7    my decease make publish and declare this my last
8    will and Testament in manner following that is I
9    say First I commend my Soul to God that gave
10    it and my Body I commit to the Earth or Sea as
11    it shall please God to order and as for and concerning
12    all my Worldly Estate I give bequeath and dispose
13    thereof as followeth that is to say all such Wages
11    Sum and Sums of Money Lands Tenements Goods
15    Chattels and Estate whatsoever as shall be any
16    ways due owing or belonging unto me at the time
17    of my decease I do give devise and bequeath the
18    same unto my loving Mother Sarah Black at
19    Brentford in the County of Middlesex and I do
20    hereby nominate and appoint the aforesaid Sarah
21    Black my Mother to be Executrix of this my last
22    Will and Testament hereby revoking all former and
23    and other wills Testaments and deeds of Gifts by me at
24    any time heretofore made and I do ordain and
25    ratify these presents to stand and be for and as my
26    only last Will and Testament In Witness whereof
27    this my said will I have set my hand and Seal
28    the first day of March in the Year of our Lord one
29    thousand Seven hundred and Seventy nine and in
30    the nineteenth Year of the Reign of his
31    Majesty King George the third over Great Britain
32    etc The mark X of Rich. Black Signed Sealed
33    published and declared in the presence of us Jn
34    Sharp 1st Lieutenant Benjm Black Alex Maclanie
35    Clerk
36    This Will was proved at London the twenty third
37    day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand
38    Seven hundred and eighty one before the Worshipful
39    John Fisher doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right
40    Worshipful Peter Calvert doctor of Laws Master Keeper
41    or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
42    was truly constituted by the oath of Sarah Blake otherwise
43    Black the Mother of the deceased and Sole Executrix
44    named in the said Will to whom administration was
45    granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and
46    Credits of the said deceased having been first Sworn
47    duly to administer