Yes, this is the key that Ukraine should use

Ukraine has applied to join NATO. That is the best answer to Russia's illegal annexation of part of Ukraine. Ukraine should continue fighting; NATO should continue to supply them with arms/ammunition and anything else they need. Putin can rattle his nuclear arms threat all he likes but the resounding payback would be something he would not want to see but it would be his just desserts. The guessing game is what would NATO members do to Russia if they use a nuclear weapon? There are so many ways to hit Russia from all the different countries in the world. The effect of the nuclear bomb that Putin threatens to use would be felt in all the countries to the west of Ukraine and the prevailing winds spread it in a wide cone all over that western area (which of course includes Russia, China and all the countries in between (how disgusting to even threaten that). As usual Putin continues to be the most disgusting leader that Russia has ever had. The Russians need to rise up against him and eliminate him. They should not expect us to do that; it isn't our job to free their homeland from him; it is their job. Our job is to keep Ukraine supplied with everything they need to protect themselves and regain all the territory that belongs to Ukraine that Russia has stolen.      

The end of September is here

The end of September and one can sense winter in the background as we are now well into Fall. No snow yet but there is yet another frost advisory. It can not be too far away for sure. Winter has always been my favourite season by far. The long nights and shorter days give me plenty of working time and I have a lot of plans to get work done this winter. So much transcription to do of all those wills (nearly 2000) and my newsletters to keep up. Once the war is over in Ukraine I can go back to publishing the H11 Newsletter as well. Would that it be over soon. It is sad to see so many young men die that do not need to. Nobody needs to fight wars; talk about it; compromise and come to agreements. Stop the killing especially of the children caught in war. They have no escape; their lives are controlled by adults and bombing civilians is disgusting. 

I  find it interesting that the Queen of Denmark has taken away the Prince/Princess designation for her younger son's children. That was very opportune especially at this time when Harry and Megan appear to be demanding that their children be Prince and Princess even HRH to which they are not entitled as neither they nor their parents are working royals. I will avoid all the discussion around Harry and Megan in the future. I can only think that Diana would be very disappointed by Harry. She certainly felt William had good ideas and was worth listening to.He has proven to be very much her son in his caring ways with his people. Not trying to fracture anything; just constantly building up.

On to the day. I have published my next issue of the Blake Newsletter although will send out the email tomorrow.  The day is new and no rain; if you said that Canada has a rainy season than this is it into winter when all the snow falls. When we really need the rain is in July and August when vegetables and fruits are ripening!

Sorting out the Blake Records at Calne between 1302 and 1472

Records from the search of the Discovery Catalogue on the website of the National Archives of the UK

 Number    Name    Place    Nearest year    Year    Item    Other
32    le Blake, William    Oxfordshire    1302    24 Jul 1302    Petition oyer and terminer    William le Blake of Okeburne, Minister to the King, was killed when distraining some tenants 24 Jul 1302

The earliest record, 1302, is for William le Blake and the petition submitted in Oxfordshire relating to William le Blake of Okeburne.  The Pipe Rolls for the Bishopric of Winchester  list a William le Blake at Staplegrove 1301-2. Looking for Okeburne on a map from 1659 did not have this particular location even though it was possible to enlarge the map. I find it interesting that there is a William le Blake on the Calendar of Patent Rolls in 1302 and on the Pipe Rolls 1301-1302 one entry for Okeburne, Wiltshire and the second entry for Staplegrove, Somerset. Perhaps most valuable as a find is Staplegrove as a location for a William le Blake in 1301-1302 since it is in Somerset (near Taunton) where we do find the Blake family of Somerset. The need for Blake yDNA has never been more apparent than with this finding. Why is William le Blake at Staplegrove listed in the Pipe Rolls for the Bishopric of Winchester? Looking up the Bishopric of Winchester (founded in 676) it apparently covered Wessex which included present day Hampshire as well as Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. Wessex was Anglo-Saxon and a kingdom in the south of Great Britain (refers to England, Scotland and Wales) commencing circa 519 when it was thought to be founded by Cerdic his son was Cynric) of the Gewisse (according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of which I have a copy). Cerdic was thought to be descendant of Gewisse  but the origins of this individual seem to be lost to time. The word Gewisse is thought to be Germanic. Since the yDNA line of my brothers is ancient to the British Isles (according to present day testing by Ethnoancestry and BritainsDNA) I am left with the thought that a good deal more yDNA samples are needed in the general British population in order to understand the genetic makeup of the British Isles. But I am distracted from this look at William le Blake. The entry in the Pipe Rolls for the Bishopric of Winchester (1301-2, Hampshire Record Series Volume 14, ISBN: 1859751083/ 1-85975-108-3) becomes rather more interesting and I will repeat the entire set of data here:

Place                                Surname    Forename       Date
Wargrave                         Blak          John              1301-2
Havant                             Blak         Laurence       1301-2
Wargrave                         Blak, la    Alice              1301-2  (daughter of Richard le Blak)
Wargrave                         Blak, le    Richard          1301-2
Merdon                            Blak, le    Thomas          1301-2
Waltham St Lawrence     Blak          Hamo             1301-2
Waltham St Lawrence     Blak          Walter            1301-2 (son of Hamo Blak)
Staplegrove                     Blake, le    William         1301-2

Just for information sake, Wargrave is a hundred in this time period and includes the parishes of Waltham St Lawrence, Warfield and Wargrave (35 miles NE of Andover). Havant is near Portsmouth (33 miles SE of Andover). Merdon (included in the present parish of Hursley (SW of Winchester and 14 miles SSE of Andover). 

But the question remains is Richard le Blak the Richard le Blak who is mentioned in the Calendar of Patent Rolls in 1272 being given permission to setup a wool market in England (at that time he was living in Normandy). Are all these Blak members related including William le Blake at Staplegrove, Laurence Blak at Havant, Thomas le Blak at Merdon. The others one could put forward the thought that living closeby each other they might be related. There does appear to be a generational event with Walter Blak being the son of Hamo Blak (both living at Waltham St Lawrence) and Alice la Blak is mentioned as the daughter of Richard le Blak living at Wargrave. There is also a John Blak living at Wargrave. 

Domesday Book

Wargrave belonged to King William - there were 41 villagers, 14 smallholders and 6 slaves in 1086. 

Waltham belonged to King William - there were 32 villagers, 4 cottagers, 4 slaves in 1086. 

Havant belonged to the Bishop of St Peter and St Swithin (Winchester) - there were 20 villagers in 1086

Merdon and Staplegrove not found in the Domesday Book yet (spelling may be different and there are a couple of choices which I will continue to look at). 

I have searched the Domesday book for Blak/Blake/Bleak/Blaik amongst others. The name Blake does occur in the surnames Blakeney (Norfolk), Blakenhall (Cheshire), Blakesley |(Northamptonshire), Blakewell (Devon). Since I do not find any records prior to 1230 I am left to consider that perhaps there were not any Blake/Blak/Bleak/Blaik members in the British Isles prior to 1230 unless they were ancient (like my brother's yDNA line) and they acquired the Blake surname perhaps through marriage and their own lack of a surname at the time. Until the Normans came to England there weren't any surnames in England it would appear. I still do not believe I have found the earliest mention of the Blake surname as I have not read the Manor Books of Andover completely. The earliest was a John Blake found by me (circa early 1300s). One notes though that he does not appear on the Pipe Rolls of the Bishopric of Winchester in 1301-1302 at Andover. There is a John Blak at Wargrave. 

I believe I may have exhausted the potential for more information from this first entry.

3    Blake    Idmiston    1334    1334-49 or 1541 or 1634-1837    Idmiston parsonage CC/Chapter/128/1-22    

Idmiston is a parish in Wiltshire about seven miles North East of Salisbury. Interesting that a Blake may have lived in this area in the earlier time frame but it is unknown by me if they were actually in the later time frame. I would need to purchase this record and for the moment will not follow up on that.  There are a umber of Blake members living at Idmiston at various times. A John Blake married Elizabeth Bayford 13 Dec 1599. A John Blake married Suzanne Browne 10 Oct 1616. Joseph Blake married Mary Ward 23 Nov 1685.  And several more entries in the parish records after this date.  

Marmaduke Blake, yeoman of Porton, Idmiston and his will which was probated 10 Aug 1613 may be of interest. I have blogged this will

http://kippeeb.blogspot.com/2012/10/will-of-marmaduke-blake-yeoman-of.html

In this blog I do not provide any information particularly on the earlier ancestry of Marmaduke Blake other than mentioning the existence of a Marmaduke Blake at Lockerley, Hampshire (Porton is nine miles NW of Lockerley). It is now ten years since I published the blog above so will do a search to see if I can find anything further on this Marmaduke Blake. In the Discovery Catalogue at Kew I did find a reference for Marmaduke Blake as a plaintiff claiming a messuage with appurtenances in Lockerley, Hampshire (and other lands). This document is between 1558 and 1603 (C 2/Eliz/B11/13).

16    le Blake, Robert*    Blakelonde    1334    1334    Witness of grant 1720/120    

This document has Robert* le Blake as a witness for a grant of a piece of land in Blackland (Blakelonde). The grant was at Calne and witnessed by Robert* le Blake placing him in this area in this time frame. The Blake family chart held by the Blake Museum in Bridgwater lists a Robert Blake (son of heir to Henry Blake and Margaret Bellett) and married to Avis widow of Roger Malewyn and daughter of John Wallop of Over Wallop. However, Avis Blake's (as a widow) Postmortem Inquisition was held in 1474 and one of the sons of Robert and Avis named John was 40 years or more of age at this time. That pretty much precludes this Robert le Blake being that individual. He is from an earlier time frame and it just happens that there isn't a Robert (le) Blake on any of the Pedigree/Family Charts prior to Robert Blake married to Avis Wallop other than the top person on the chart held by the Blake Museum (and only on their chart). Robert* le Blake of Quemberford Co Wiltshire is listed as a juror in an Inquisition Postmortem dated 22 Jan 1336. This Robert* le Blake is said to be the father of Richard Blaque/Blake of Wiltshire and married to Anne daughter of William Cole. Interesting this individual Richard is the individual at the top of the College of Arms Blake Pedigree. There are a number of documents that refer to this Robert* le Blake in this set of documents and to assist with marking them as the likely same Robert^ le Blake I will add an * to Robert (Robert*)

12    le Blake, Alexander    Gloucestershire    1337    20 Aug 1337    Witness to document D326/T171/3    

Alexander le Blake in this time frame is a new individual for me.  This document is held by the Gloucestershire Record Office and concerns a piece of land at Blunsdon St Andrews where Alexander le Blake has been a witness. A quick glance at the search function for the Gloucestershire Archives reveals a Robert le Blake of Wodemonkote (Woodmancote) in 1300, a Nicholas le Blake in 1302, a Hugo le Blake in 1367 and John le Blake in 1391. None of these records relate to the Blake family at Calne in a way that I am able to link them.

7    le Blake, Richard    Haydon    1343    25 Jan 1343 - 24 Jan 1344    Ancient Deed E 326/6618    Richard le Blake  in Haydon Wick? (now in Swindon). Married to Margery le Blake (widow in E 326/6191)

I did locate Haydon Wick on the map and it is now part of the City of Swindon. Is there any relationship between this Richard le Blake (married to Margery (the Richard Blake son of Robert Blake of Quemberford was married to Anne one notes on the Blake Pedigree Chart) and the Calne family? The time frame is similar and the distance between Calne and Swindon is  30 kilometres.

34    Blake, Robert    East Lavington    1347        Dealing with a messuage and land in the manor of East Lavington C 1/1340/27-28    Robert is the son of Richard Blake, deceased

Another interesting document with East Lavington and we have a generation mentioned with Robert being the son of Richard Blake who is deceased in 1347. East Lavington (a tithing in the parish of Market Lavington as stated on a tithe map created in 1840 (Tithe file: IR 18/11061) is 23 km mostly south of Calne. Robert is involved with a messuage and land in this manor. 

19    Blake, Robert    Stokkeleye    1347    1347    Witness to re-conveyance 1720/139 

Stokkeleye (Stockley)  is about five km from Calne and quite close to the area known as Blac   klands. Robert is a witness to this transaction. 

20    Blake, Robert    Stockelegh    1347    1347    Witness to Quitclaim 1720/138, 1720/137    

Same as above. 

25    Blake, Robert    Coumbe    1349    1349    Witness to Conveyance 1720/140    

I believe this refers to Coombe which is  a small hamlet in the parish of Enford, Wiltshire about 38 kilometres SE of Calne. Robert is again a witness to this transaction.

31    Blake, Roger    Lacock    1350    30 Dec 1350    Indented grant WARD 2/27/94B/150    Grant to Christine, widow of Roger le Blake and John their son

Lacock is 13 km from Calne and to the WSW. This is interesting as there is a Roger Blake son of Robert Blake but is the time frame correct for that since it is 1350 and it is not.  There is a Robert Blake in this area as per the earlier documents above. Pedigree charts are somewhat notorious for whom they do not include. Siblings are often left out. In this case we have a Roger le Blake married to Christine with a son John.

30    Blake, Robert    Burbage    1352    1352    Left hand Indenture of final Concord 9/6/27    Plaintiff Robert Blake and Joan his wife

Burbage is going to be interesting because it is possible to connect the Robert Blake at Burbage with the Robert Blake at Calne in this time period. This Robert Blake is married to Joan. 

18    le Blake, Robert    Quemerford    1353    1353    Grant of exchange 1720/148    In favour of Robert le Blake

Continuing with Robert le Blake in this time frame and Quemerford is known to be near Calne. 

5    le Blake, Robert    Echelhamptone    1358    1358    Payment of £50 at Hungerford    Bond by Blake

Echelhamptone  is just south of Devizes which is about 14 km South from Calne. Interesting that the payment of the bond was at Hungerford which is about 38 km East from Calne. Hungerford is close to the Berkshire/Hampshire border area.

9    le Blake, Robert    Echelhamptone    1358    1358    Grant of land 1720/154    Held by feoffment of his brother Adam Blake

As above for Echelhamptone, but this time family information with Robert le Blake having a brother Adam Blake. 

13    Blake, Robert        1363    1363    Acknowledgement of payment 1720/163    Robert Blake, a payee

Time frame continues for a Robert Blake. The location is unknown.

23    Blake, Robert    Wynterbourne Basset    1363    1363    Witness to grant 1720/165  

 Winterbourne Basset is about 7 km ENE from Calne. Again in the same time era for Robert Blake as a witness.

  
29    le Blake, Robert    Bromham    1363    1363    Witness to Grant 1720/164

Bromham is nine kilometres SSW of Calne. Again the time frame is good for Robert Blake known to be in the Calne area. He is a witness. 

36    le Blake, Robert     Burbage     1364      1634   Quitclaim to Robert le Blake of Kemerford   

Linking Robert le Blake of  Kemerford (near Calne and likely Kemerford) to Burbage.

26    Blake, John    Whetham    1384    1384    Witness to Grant 1720/193 

 Whetham is about 3 km to the SW of Calne. Who is John Blake? A Roger Blake mentioned above has a son John Blake. Again the Pedigree Charts to not show a John Blake in this time frame.

  
8    Blake, John    Quemerford    1386    1386    Grant of land called Westyntone 1720/199 

Finding a John Blake at Quemerford is most interesting. The last Blake mentioned at Quemerford was Robert le Blake in 1353.   The website history of parliament on line has a writeup on John Blake who was born circa 1388 and that he was the son and heir of John Blake (who died 1395) of Quemerford. He is described as John Blake II an obscure member of one of the oldest and most substantial burgess families in Calne. John was aged seven at the death of his father, a well-to-do lawyer who had represented the borough in the Parliaments of 1381, 1384 (Nov.) and 1385. By 1412 John had inherited some of the family property at Blacklands, a mile south east of Calne, said to be worth 40 marks a year. Although the father (to whom this record of a grant of land called Westyntone is attributed) is highlighted on the page his information has not yet been entered into this online site. The comments on John Blake I and II are taken from a book by A.E.W. Marsh, A history of the borough and town of Calne and some account of the villages, etc., in its vicinity. Published Calne: Robert S Heath; London: Castle, Lamb & Storr, 133, Salisbury Square E.C. circa 1903. 

In Marsh's book he mentions that Robert le Blake in 7 Edward III (25 Jan 1333-24 Jan 1335) was a burgess of Calne and pays as his share of subsidy 18 s 2.5 d (the next highest amount paid by any burgess is 6s 1.25 d so it would appear that Robert le Blake was the most wealthy burgess of the borough). Marsh also mentions that in 1381 and for several years to 1415 Johannes Blake was one of the borough MPs. These dates fit in nicely with the above records. Interesting as no distinction is made between John Blake I and John Blake II although the history of Parliament does do so.

Certainly the implication is there that this was all one family in the 1300s in the Blacklands area leaving one to think that Robert le Blake was the father of John who himself had a son John. The Pedigree Chart has a Richard Blake in the time frame of Edward I and Edward II (early 1300s).  His 2x great grandson named Robert Blake lived at Quemberford (early 1500s). The time frame does sort of work with a two hundred year span and five generations. It is interesting trying to put this together.

The Herald's Visitation of 1565 does have an interesting spelling for Blake listed Robert Blage (Blake), gent. This is a later time frame than I really want to look at the moment but finding that spelling does rather intrigue me. It does appear on the College of Arms Pedigree Chart. 

 
28    Blake, John    Northehethe    1387    1387    Witness to grant 1720/202    

According to the document, Northehethe is in the Hundred of Chippenham which places it in the area of Lacock etc). The distance to Calne is small from this area.

14    Blake, John    Box parish    1390    1390    Witness of quitclaim at Calne 1720/206    

Box is about 20 kilometres from Calne. 

22    Blake, John    Yatisbery    1391    1391    Witness to Quitclaim 1720/138    At Calne

Yatisbery is about 10 kilometres from Calne. 

21    Blake, John    Wodelond    1393    1393    Witness to Grant   

 If this is actually Woodlands then it is about 2 kilometres.

 
1    Blake, John    Wiltshire    1394    22 June 1394-21 June 1395    Inquisition Post Mortem C 136/83/5    John was deceased by 21 Jun 1395

The Inquisition Post Morten for John Blake I. It would be an interesting document to look at because information for John Blake I is not yet written up in the Parliament online website although he is mentioned on his son's writeup.    

17    Blake, John    Whetham    1395    1395    Witness of lease 1720/213  

  Whetham is about 3 km to the SW of Calne. This John Blake is likely John Blake I.

27    le Blake, Roger    Ricardeston    1400    1100-1603    Feoffment E 40/12128    In favour of Roger le Blake

Ricardeston is in Stanley which is half way between Chippenham and Calne (about 5 km). I could not find any information on this Feoffment in favour of Roger le Blake (involved 1 acre of land).

35    Blake, Robert    Stokkeleye    1400    pre 1500    Robert holds a portion of land 1720/115  

 Stokkeleye is quite close by to Calne (4 km south) and Quemerford. Who is this Robert Blake? There continues to be mention of Robert Blake in 1404 and again in 1422 at Burbage. How does he fit into the Blake family at Calne and is he the Robert Blake at Burbage?

  
2    Blake, William    Salisbury    1404    1404-07 or 1413-17 or 1424-26    Mortgage C/1/6/148    Plaintiff: William Blake

 The earliest record that I have found for a William Blake at Salisbury - Wyllyam Blake married 21 Apr 1595 to Jone Myles at St Edmund Salisbury. Comments on the Blake family of Ford in Laverstock include John Blake and Thomas Blake but this was in the latter part of the 1700s into the middle of the 1800s. 

There is a second entry (below) for a William Blake at Salisbury, again a mortgage, and in the similar time frame.

4    Blake, William    Salisbury    1404    1404-1426    Mortgage C/1/6/131    Plaintiff: William Blake

See above entry.

15    Blake, Robert    Burbage    1404    1404    Witness of quitclaim 1300/33    

 The earliest baptism record that I found at Burbage was for John Blake son of Richard and Joan Blake and baptized 26th Feb 1566. There is a marriage of a John Blake and Susan Tarrant 26 Feb 1652 also at Burbage. The document from 1364 identified Robert le Blake as being of Kemerford (Quemerford?) when he was the recipient of a QuitClaim at Burbage. Now fourty years later a Robert Blake witnesses a quitclaim at Burbage.

10    Blake, Robert    Burbage    1422    29 Sep 1422    Lease 9/6/28     Document signed at Calne

A Robert Blake signing a lease in 1422 for property in Burbage (document signed at Calne). Another link of a Blake at Burbage with Calne.

33    Blake, Robert    Marlburgh    1431    5 May 1431    Oath to enable Seised in fee of the manor of Esbury 47/5/1  

 Calne to Malburgh is 22 kilometres and is East of Calne.Interesting that Marlburgh to Burbage is about 9 kilometres to the SSE. 

Interesting entry in The History of Parliament online with a biography of a Robert Blake who was returned to parliament in 1421. 

https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/blake-robert

Robert was, no doubt, a relation of John Blake II and a member of the same old Calne family. He is only known to have been returned to Parliament once, in May 1421, when Roger Trewebody (a duchy of Lancaster official and a servant of the Hungerford family) stood surety for his attendance.1 In May 1427, with John Justice and other burgesses of Calne, he witnessed a grant to Robert Long and his associates of land at Calne and elsewhere, mainly in mid Wiltshire. By 1428 he was holding lands and tenements at Shaw-by-Overton (which lies between Marlborough and Calne); and in 1434 he was one of those Wiltshire worthies certified as liable to take the oath not to maintain malefactors.

  
11    Blake, Robert    Gloucestershire    1437    1437    Witness to document D2700/NR11/1/12 

The Blake family did appear to have land in Gloucestershire although I think as witness to this document it isn't really saying anything in particular. 

   
24    Blake, Robert    Calne    1465    1465    Letter of Attorney 1720/285    To Robert Blake, Alexander Blake and others

This item at Calne was interesting naming Robert Blake and Alexander Blake. No ideas on who this Alexander Blake is but there are a number of Blake names that do not appear on pedigree charts in this time frame. Alexander is a name that was used by the Blake family in the 1500s (one of the sons of Robert Blake and Avis Wallop). 

6    Blake, Alexander    Calne    1472    1472    Payment of bond of £10    Bond by Blake

Again the name Alexander Blake at Calne about seven years later.

This research brought up an interesting item:

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol6/pp113-118

A third estate at Tuxwell, later known as WEST TUXWELL manor, was held by Thomas Trowe in 1431 (Thomas was attainted in 1504 (unable to find if this was because he had supported Richard III, interestingly this footnote reference of Feud. Aids C 142/23/5 was used to show that the Trowe family had held the manor of West Tuxwell, this was the Inquisition Post Mortem held for Elizabeth Trowe so possibly it had come with her at marriage) and his Inquisition Post Mortem in 1504 saw him stripped of his property which included West Tuxwell, the advowson was granted to Sir John Williams) and until 1506 descended with Plainsfield manor in Over Stowey. (fn. 173  Below, Over Stowey, manors; S.R.O., DD/SE 27) In 1506 it was absorbed into Plainsfield manor, and formed part of the land sold to John Perceval, earl of Egmont, in 1761. The sale included part of TUXWELL CUM RADLET manor, (fn. 174 S.R.O., DD/NN (H/20); below, Over Stowey, manors.) which included much of East Tuxwell, and passed to George Sydenham from the Seymour family. George conveyed it to Humphrey Blake in 1556 as a holding of the Crown. (fn. 175 P.R.O., CP 25(2)/77/659/3 & 4 Phil. & Mary Mich.; C 142/119, no. 163.) Humphrey died in 1558, leaving the estate to his son Robert, but it appears to have passed to another son, John (d. 1571), and to John's brother Thomas. (fn. 176 Som. Wills, ed. Brown, i. 59; S.R.O., D/P/o. sty 2/1/1.) In 1572 the manor was settled on Thomas, who sold it to his brother Robert in 1577. (fn. 177 Cal. Pat. 1575-8, pp. 266, 270.) Robert Blake died in 1592 and his son William sold the manor in 1602 to John Malet of Enmore. (fn. 178 P.R.O., C 142/236, no. 56; ibid. CP 25(2)/207/44 Eliz. I Hil.) 

This was rather interesting as it refers to the Somerset family and in particular Humphrey Blake (d 1558).

Putin is destroying Russia

Putin is destroying Russia. He is playing into the hands of countries that would like to see Russia break into parts. That isn't the European Union that wants to see that. They were enjoying having their oil and gas coming on a regular basis at a reasonable price. Russia wake up and see who gains from a weakened Russia. The space program was moving along nicely between the Russians and the Americans; everybody was happy. Who gains. Look at it Russia before it is too late as your young men rush for the borders or surrender in Ukraine or die there. They do not want to fight your war of imperialism; your nazi war looking for land and riches. Putin is destroying Russia. Peter the Great would hate you for what you are doing; his life's work was to build Russia and make it a stronger country like the European nations; like France. 

Of course Putin will not listen. He is a poor boy without any education to understand what he is doing. Too bad his daughters can not get him to stop before he completes the destruction of Russia as we know her as a country. The Russian people, except for a few, do not want to kill their cousins in Ukraine. 

Continuing with the Blake Newsletter

 Spent at least eight hours yesterday on the Blake Newsletter. It is for the most part complete. Just have to read it over and make a few changes likely here and there and insert some images. 

Hard to understand why mismanagement of the mobilisation in Russia gets more attention than the ridiculousness of the war against Ukraine

The best way for Russians to solve the troubles in Russia itself is to simply stop the war against Ukraine. Russia has no right to attack a sovereign nation - Russia didn't like being attacked by the Nazis who wanted their land and riches. Why would Russia attack Ukraine for the same thing? it is just a land and riches grab. Look at the women of Russia apparently telling their husbands who have been called up to steal Ukrainian goods from the Ukrainians that they kill - the Bible says thou shalt not steal and thou shalt not kill. The Russians can only prove that they are humans by laying down their arms and retreating back into Russia; get out of Ukraine. At the moment they look like animals. And the only treatment for mad animals is well known to all of us worldwide. Prove you are human Russians. The human ones are leaving Russia for any place other than Russia/Ukraine as fast as they can. 

Back to work today, just a couple of items left to examine in the list that I downloaded from the National Archives of the UK. The Newsletter begins today. The next newsletter should be H11 but not doing that so long as the Russians are attacking the Ukrainians - the Ukrainians do not have time to read a newsletter and I am certainly not going to send it out for the Russians to read at this point in time. Revenge is mine sayeth the Lord and I am truly waiting for God to punish Russia for what they are doing. 

I will start the next issue of the Kipp Newsletter although I do not see it  as a replacement for the H11 Newsletter. Eventually I hope someone will come forward to take it on. But for the moment I will publish Edward's work that he has done.The H11 Newsletter waits for Russia to get out of Ukraine. A sham referendum held in these areas of Ukraine under the gun is illegal. With all the graves that have been found in the liberated areas it would appear that Russia is trying to kill all the people who would vote against being part of Russia. That is called genocide and along with torture and rape of even young children Russia is proving to be far more animalistic than anything else. Plus the women of Russia telling their men to bring back Ukrainian belongings as trophies after murdering Ukrainians is just sick animal behaviour. What defines us as human is our humanity - love and respect for our fellow man. 

 

Babysitting weekend

I spent the weekend with an adorable six week old kitten. We had a lovely time together but I did keep my eyes on her constantly. She is doing very well though and ate exceedingly well I am happy to say. She is really playing now which was a joy to watch but I did not accomplish very much as she arose when I did and I put her to bed just before I went to bed but she was very accommodating and I never heard one meow through the night. Where she sleeps she has a lot of fun toys, a tunnel, a climber and if she woke up I am sure she played on all of the things that were there. We celebrated my 77th birthday in the evening with a lovely lemon cake which I ate and I had already had birthday wishes and cards earlier in the day.  Interesting being 77 actually; each year as it passes seems to be more and more interesting. Not sure why but I was always impressed by increasing numbers. Turning ten was an absolute gem for me - I loved being double digit. Plus in the back of my mind I continue being amazed that I have lived so long; I did not expect to do so. Life becomes more and more complicated though as you age; each year has new challenges and difficulties to overcome. 

Today I shall try and get to the Calne records. I did have an occasional time with them on the weekend but nothing that really was a landmark. There are only a few left mostly at Salisbury and Burbage. I can not link the Salisbury Blake with Calne at all without reading the documents likely but the Burbage do appear to be the same Blake family. 

Church on YouTube was lovely as always; some of my most favourite hymns were sung which I really enjoyed. The sermon was interesting and I need to spend a bit of time thinking about it. Jacob is one of those very interesting people in the Bible. Being the second twin (born after the first Esau), he was not the firstborn with all that entailed in life. But in the end, in spite of his desire to be first born, Jacob had to live a hard life in order to become a better person. There is strength in a life that is difficult.  

And tonight lemon cupcakes with Happy Birthday. A lovely end to the weekend.

Continuing to work on the Calne documents

Down to the wire so to speak with this Blake Newsletter. It has been a very busy month of September. Plus I did take off three or four days and watch the preparations for and the Queen's funeral. It is my Englishness showing likely. I find it intriguing how some people express their rights and privileges really whether by the way they act or verbally. But it goes without saying that the Queen did not look well at her Christmas Message last year and all pictures that I have seen of her since then has spoken of a woman slowly succumbing to grief although I would have said she has been grieved for quite a while but the loss of her husband completely enveloped her in total grief along with the grief she was already feeling and old age took its toll. A couple of weeks ago when she held her annual Balmoral weekend with family it was too bad that everyone didn't take the opportunity to be there with her. Amazing really as it was so obvious that she was unwell and 96 years of age. 

I guess it would be nice if the Royal family in England could be left in peace for awhile to mourn the loss of the Queen and for the King to regain his good health. The strain on him was enormous and I give him 100% plus for doing such an excellent job under such trying circumstances made worse by obvious leaks to the press just to undermine the carefully thought out plans that the Queen had produced for her funeral. Interesting to plan one's funeral and lots of people do do that now a days. I shall do the same as I do not want a funeral just a family committal service that would encompass the normal funeral service plus committal. It would be exactly the same as the service that we had for Edward as far as I am concerned. But back to the Queen and her marvelous reign and her smile that will light up pictures for several hundred years perhaps before one sees another like her.  The first Queen Elizabeth was the same.

I am reminded of the olden days when rivalry between Royal sons resulted in alternate courts being set up just to add more mystery to the royal house as if there wasn't enough already back in those far different times. When you chose to be out you are out really and trying to get back in as an alternate court does seem rather unbrotherly especially in a constitutional monarchy. It is sad really as Diana meant them to be a team - one the king to be and the other his best supporter but life has moved on unfortunately. They both have a lovely family though which would have made Diana happy.

The Blake records at Calne continue to amaze

Another interesting record from the Calne area for Robert Blake involves Plainsfield which rather surprised me. Finding this many documents relating to the Blake family of Calne in the area closeby where the Somerset Blake family later lived is interesting. There is mention of Humphrey Blake (d 1558) with regard to Plainfield and West Tuxwell Manor. He actually purchased the manor in 1555. Still nothing to show his parentage but will continue watching for that. 

The Bible Reading today is from Psalm 146 and I do love the line: I will sing and praise the Lord God as long as I live. 

It is also my 77th birthday and I am amazed at how much I am still doing with regard to Blake, Pincombe and H11 research. 

The H11 remains in the back of my mind although I have not published the two issues this year and unless Russia gets out of Ukraine suddenly I do not see myself publishing the fourth issue either of this year's journal. It is horrible to think of H11 people killing H11 people but I do not blame Ukraine; it is entirely the fault of Russia. The people of Russia must stop this insane genocide of the Ukrainian people. Putin and his enablers are evil Nazis - land grabbers with no respect for the peoples of the world - any of us. Putin is just like Hitler and he is about to pretend that the part of Ukraine which he has stolen wants to be Russian. He will claim it is Russian and keep murdering the Ukrainian people who live there and anywhere else that he can kill them. He is totally mentally ill along with his crazy enablers. 

 

Blake entries in the National Archives database Discovery

Interesting reading came from a couple of the entries that I found in the database. I was able to put together one line starting with Robert le Blake, his son John I and his son John II. It would also appear that Richard Blake is a son of Robert le Blake  as well which matches the pedigrees. The only item to try and determine would be that these two Robert le Blake entries are a single person. It does feel like I am moving along a good trajectory. All of these entries are at Calne or close by. The Parliament online database proved to be most interesting with regard to John Blake I and John Blake II as the latter individual actually has a page in the database with a hypertext link to John Blake I that is still empty at the moment but perhaps to come along one of these days. All of this is from the early 1300s to the early 1400s so quite exciting. Entries from the 1200s would be equally exciting but I have not yet discovered very many where a location in England is mentioned. But I can be pleased with the work on the 1300s thus far. This line of Robert le Blake to the two Johns also leads to the Blake family at Pinhills during the 1600s when this family home was destroyed because the Blake at the time refused to accept a title. I always thought that was interesting in that my grandfather had a rather strong opinion on such things. He always felt that the monarchy lived in a fishbowl and he much preferred life outside of that fishbowl but had enormous respect for the monarchy which he passed on down to his child and grandchildren for sure. He scarcely moved as he watched the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II other than to stand at the appropriate times. We did learn a lot about being "English" from him. 

I do always find that English Heritage in Canada has been lost over time and for most people is just part of the maze that is "English-Canada" so to speak. Definitely English-Canada does not remind me very much of English roots at all to be honest. It is a mixture of so many ethnicities and faiths that the English part of it is long gone and really should be just referred to as Canadian. Canadian is unique really; we are the greatest conciliators in the world I think. We have managed to peacefully live together in this country for nearly 300 years since 1759 when Quebec City surrendered to British Forces and then 1760 when Montreal  was taken and the Royal Proclamation of 1763 which ended the Seven Years War with France. The Quebec Act of 1774 was really the beginning of this tendency towards finding a middle plain that we could all live with here in what became present day Canada and we have tried to maintain that middle ground ever since. As a country we are stronger together and that general rule of thumb tends to bring us again and again to the Table of Compromise that we have honed to a fine art. Now having a First Nations Governor General has given us an added incentive to be together and we should consider having one of the First Nations always very much in the forefront of our governing body. They have good ideas and are interested in the environment and have the local knowledge of a great deal of Canada to help in that quest. 

But returning to the Blake family at Calne. I have no idea if the Blake line at Andover is related to the Blake line at Calne. My first instinct is that my Blake line, at Upper Clatford, Andover, Enham, and very ancient to the British Isles acquired the Blake surname (like everyone in the British Isles since there were no surnames prior) after the Norman Invasion. I have seen the Manor Books at Andover and I did find the surname Blake in them in the early 1300s but I have not read them all; they are in Latin and my Latin is at best very poor. There are at least two marriages in the 1500s/1600s between my Blake line (male) and another Blake line (female). Both of the female lines are perhaps from the Calne Blake line. Autosomal DNA Matches that I have with known descendants of Richard Blake of Andover (now living in the United States and have been since the 1600s) does point towards a likelihood that those two Blake/Blake marriages have slanted the atDNA to a stronger match even though the generational difference is quite large. One day perhaps I will write to them and we could perhaps determine where we match as there are a couple of chromosomes that appear to be very strong matches in the Blake lines of present day. 

Must get back to working on the entries as I want to complete them today perhaps. I am satisfied that this decision to move to these documents this time was a good idea. I just do not have time at the moment to go the Family History Library and look at the Subsidies for Somerset. The other plus is finding locations in Somerset very early on for the Blake family at Calne - not Pitminster or Bridgwater but none the less interesting. Humphrey Blake (left his will in 1558) is buried in Over Stowey, Somerset and said to be the progenitor of the Blake family in Somerset and descendant of the Calne Blake family has not yet been clearly assigned to parents - many have given him a tree but the actual factual information linking him to his parents has not yet been found. His birth precedes the institution of Registration of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials in the Church of England (1538 although later in some parishes) thus making it more difficult to pinpoint his parentage.

Cleaning and working

Another day of cleaning and working as Fall makes its appearance felt. It is cooler now and lots of rain to green up the grass before winter comes. 

Worked a little on the Blake documents for the Wiltshire Blake family. I want to complete that for the next Blake Newsletter. I would call Blake a medium to large sized study. There are, by yDNA evidence, a number of founding families for the Blake surname in the British Isles. Some have certainly come as emigrants in the 1330 to 1550 period when nearly 40 Blake entries are found in that particular register. But the Calendar of Patent Rolls show a number of Blake families in the British Isles from the early 1200s on. Were they there before that (using the surname Blake)? It is a mystery even yet as I have not been through all the sets of documents held by the National Archives of the UK. That will be years in the discovery for sure. Anything less would not be respectful of the Blake families that now live in the British Isles. One must do as complete a search as is possible. 

Russia has called for a mobilization of 300,000 to try to wrest Ukraine from the Ukrainians. What they haven't accomplished thus far they hope to now do. They will go down in history as murders, rapists and thieves instead of that bright spot that was Russia before Putin where science and the arts flourished amongst a people who were engaged with the world. Now they let a despot ruin their country because he and his enablers are so greedy. They make up lies about the why of it all but basically it is greed. They are desperate for China and other countries to fly to their aid and help them fight claiming that they are being endangered by NATO but the reality is that they started a war by invading a sovereign state all for greed. So now they will try to put all these men into the field hoping that by sheer might of forces they can win. Their entire lack of respect for the human race is unbelievable.  The ignorant comment by one of their newspeople that they should have nuked the Queen's Funeral has become a typical statement from them. Leaders from all over the world had gathered to say goodbye to an honest and great woman and that they would even say what they did is undeniably ignorant. When Russia was clinging to life under the Nazi firepower, it was the British seamen who risked life and limb to bring supplies across the northern route to help Russia in those perilous hours. The Russians have no respect; even people who have aided them in the past when they were invaded are threatened by them.

King Charles III - long may he live

I have now been alive for three monarchs - King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III. I hope to see Canada continue as a Constitutional Monarchy. First of all I like the idea of having a Head of State that is not political. Politics are at best, a means to have democracy, and at the worst a place where some people attack another politician just because his mother or brother made money and he needs to know how much and why they were able to do that. Really it is  none of our business unless it is illegal which it was not. It was just meant to embarass; no other reason. I hope to see politics clean up its act rather than follow the politics seen in other countries. Argue about the issues; there are plenty but the party not in power doesn't do that because they do not intend to do what needs to be done either - like fund the military properly amongst others including minimum income for everyone over 18 that is a Citizen of Canada and not in prison. So instead they do character assassination of which I am very tired. 

Secondly, I look forward to King Charles III as head of the Commonwealth. I am the first to admit that imperialistic conquest is wrong; we have moved past (at least trying if Russia will only stop their murderous rampage in Ukraine) that but there is an opportunity to help all the members of the Commonwealth if they can move past their grievances and get good trade going and a preferential status for members of the Commonwealth within the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is almost one third of the world's peoples spread all around the globe. We can be a very effective trading group and we have something in common. After all at the end of the American Revolution and the War of 1812 Canada was mostly sidelined in the treaties that followed. We all have complaints against imperialism but in the long run our Westminster System of government has stood all of us in good stead and the continuing loyalty of the Royal Family to all of its dominions and provinces around the globe hasn't hurt us at all.

Today is a cleaning day and I hope to get back into my looking at the records from the Discovery Catalogue. I would like to complete that for the next newsletter.

Up at 4:45 a.m.

I watched the entire parade to Westminster Abbey, the funeral service at Westminster Abbey, the parade at Windsor and the  committal service at the St George Chapel Windsor. Just waiting for the parade and then the service at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa online. Watching from afar as I am at my daughter's house. 

Although I remember when King George VI died and the pictures of his funeral, I believe I saw that at the theatre. It is a bit vague in my mind. I do not think young children under about 8 or 9 really understand about death. From 9 to 10 they do appear to have a better understanding. I was just 6 and 1/2 when the King died but I do remember that quite well possibly because our principal was an ex British Officer and we all lined up in our classes in front of the flagpole and he lowered it to half-mast. Then we continued with our formed lines and went back into the school and filed into the auditorium (was the usual kindergarten classroom after that started up just before I went to kindergarten actually) where we had a service of remembrance for the King and finished up singing God Save the Queen). 

 An extremely fitting tribute to a Queen of seven decades as her great grandson (Prince George) walked with his younger sister behind the Queen's Coffin - the continuous line there for all to see - King Charles III, the Prince of Wales (Prince William), and Prince George. The two children, so very young, did very well as it was their beloved grandmother that they had lost. I am not sure that it hurts any less when your loved one is old; they are still lost to you and if you are young it looks like a long life without them. I am sure Prince George will always be proud that he was there (as well as his sister). 

The Service of Commemoration has begun at Christ Church Cathedral. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney certainly did his usual expert job and the entire service was a good commemoration. One might expect that I might not like Prime Minister Mulroney as I was one of the people that was cut during his first cuts in the public service (I was a proofreader) but I almost immediately had another job (the same, proofreading on contract at home) and I am a great believer in the government keeping good control of finances.

As one of seven children there wasn't a lot of time to spend individually with either of my parents. I did work for my father for a couple of summers but he was busy and I was busy so not a lot of communication. With my mother, I have almost thirty years of letters she wrote to me after we moved to Ottawa from my home town of London, Ontario. But mostly I have thoughts she expressed to me over that period of 59 years from my birth to her death. We moved away when I was just 30 and I married at 20 so not a lot of time with my mother. But I have to admit the thoughts that she expressed to me were very meaningful. Particularly as I started to recover from my nervous, mental, physical breakdown. She didn't say too much whilst I was under care but once I was back looking after my five month old daughter, she would just make these comments and I would tuck them away to think about because that is the way that my brain works. I seldom react to anything at the time; I need to think about it. Sometimes people would ask me questions after I gave a talk and perhaps I did a good job or perhaps I did not; it depended on the question. If it was answerable from the talk that I had just given then I would do well; if it was off topic then I mostly avoided it. But back to my mother; her words of wisdom sometimes were years in fruition in terms of my understanding their significance but gradually they have all proved useful in my life. I would describe her as an excellent mother actually; she didn't show favoritism; she demanded that you work as well as you were able and she insisted that you learn to do everything that you needed to do in order to manage your life. My father was actually pretty much the same kind of person but I didn't really know him that well I would say even though I did work for him for several summers. But I think he too was a very good father interested in his children although his attitude was quite British in retrospect and perhaps my mother's attitude was as well.

As I watched the two young children of the Prince of Wales today it brought me back in time as they had I am sure already schooled their children in what was expected of them and they then simply moved them along through what needed to be done. with a minimum of fuss. I do not envy them that fishbowl existence but they are raised to serve their country and I expect they will do the same wonderful job that their great grandmother did and that their grandfather, father and mother are doing and will do.

Rainy Sunday

A rainy Sunday today and the Church Service was early on YouTube as Christ Church Cathedral prepares to host the Commemoration Service for Queen Elizabeth II tomorrow. I plan to be up early for the actual Funeral tomorrow morning and the Commemoration Service at Christ Church Cathedral will be at 1:00 pm so should be able to watch all of them on YouTube. 

The Vigil of the Princes by the grandchildren of the Queen was beautifully done. Four of the eight grandchildren of the Queen do use their Prince and Princess titles. Princess Anne declined any titles for her two children (also at the Vigil as her grandchildren) and Prince Edward elected to not use the Prince and Princess titles for his children although the two children do have titles of  Lady for the one and Viscount for the other. What a beautiful celebration of their love and dedication for their grandmother. 

I think that is the important part of a funeral that all the descendants (living) should be present at the funeral if at all possible. Edward's daughters and grandsons were all there for his and it was a beautiful service. It was very private and that was my choice. Although Edward liked the idea of having an open service so that everyone he knew could attend I just felt that private is so much more meaningful for the family. It isn't a time for visiting and remembering with people outside of your immediate group I do not feel although both of my parents and my grandparents funerals were like that. They were very large funerals as I recall and I felt it was very hard to really sit and talk about our times together as children. 

Continuing to work on the Blake family at Calne. It has proven to be quite interesting. I do wonder if I can look at the areas around Calne where a number of the different individuals lived and assume that the Robert or Richard le Blake mentioned were indeed one and the same person when the time frame is correct. Not really sure about that. It would be so intriguing to have yDNA results from more Blake descendants living in old Wessex just to have a look at the possibilities. There were a number of Blake emigrants to England between 1330 and 1550 from different parts of the British Isles and Europe and in this time period I am looking at 1302 - 1472 those emigrants may have a bearing on the various items found in the search of the Discovery Catalogue at the National Archives of the UK. 

Weight lifting completed and the next item is my four minute run due to begin shortly. Fall is progressing rapidly as it generally does. I do not think I will get swimming at the cottage this Fall as I did last year.

I feel the winds of God today

I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift,
though heavy oft with drenching spray
and torn with many a rift;
if hope but light the water’s crest,
and Christ my bark will use,
I’ll seek the seas at his behest,
and brave another cruise.

By far one of my most favourite hymns and it was much loved by my grandfather. Two of his wife's brothers were in the Navy so is perhaps why; not sure really. His own siblings were not in the military except for his youngest brother who was in the Navy also. But he did love to sing that hymn. Learning it as a child, I too loved it every time that we sang it at Church. 

Thinking about the Queen Lying-In-State in Westminster Hall and the words did come to mind. She comes from a long line of British sailors as it tends to be the favourite of the services quite likely because they are an Island Nation and their strength lay in their Navy until the Air Force took over the skies.  But the Navy and Air Force work together and so the great love for the Navy continues in the British Isles although the Army is also greatly loved as are all the Services. 

A greater pageant can not be staged by anyone I do not think than the British with their various remembrances and huge parades. As a child we did have more parades in Canada than now. But in many ways we are a pacifist country in that we have not gone to war without first being attacked. But we will fight and fight hard for our country and in particular the First Peoples have been very much a part of that protection of our country. 

It is good that so many countries have been invited and are sending their leaders. The Queen was an amazing person and very worthy of all that is being done. Her children are doing an amazing job and the King looks especially strained. 

I am sorry that Harry and Meghan are making his life so difficult with their "I want" attitude. They should just be glad that their families treat them so well after the dreadful things they said and implied about them. I do hope that Harry in his book doesn't go after them all again. I would never want that fishbowl existence myself and the Royal Family lives in it exceedingly well. If you do not like something than just leave and make your own way.

Continuing to work on the records from the search on the National Archives (UK) website

I continue to look at the records from 1302 to the 1400s that I found in my search on the National Archives (UK) website. It is a curiosity partially and to see if I am able to link any of them together by the Blake individual named. Learning about Blake in the 1300s will be interesting. By the 1400s there are a number of definite Blake areas but is this number smaller in the 1300s? Perhaps one accomplishment I am looking for is creating interest in descendants carrying Blake yDNA to be tested. Obviously, already, we have a number of lines known in the yDNA study at FT DNA. Linking these larger groups back into known areas of the British Isles is very interesting and in some cases that has happened. Some of the large groups though do not have a positive UK match and that would be handy. I do consider my brother's matches to be definitely of the Andover/Upper Clatford Blake family since my father was born in Eastleigh (near Southampton) and his father at Upper Clatford. However, I have not asked any of my Blake cousins to test. Partly because I do not know them personally and Ivan (my 2nd cousin (mother was a Blake)) did not know them either since he was a young child when he did stay in Upper Clatford during World War II. That is definitely one aim that I am looking at as I meander through the records. There is also the possibility of linking information which is a bonus. 

When I visited Upper Clatford with my cousin in 2008, it was a stupendous moment in time for me. To be back in the place where my grandfather was born and had lived with his parents and siblings was wonderful. He had talked a great deal about Upper Clatford so I felt as if I knew it a little. It seemed very like he said but he would have probably noted great changes which were, of course, not apparent to me. When we were in the graveyard at the Church, I chanced to look up at the sky because one of the shared times that I had with my grandfather was looking up at the clouds as he would say that this cloud or that cloud will travel across the Ocean and be over Upper Clatford in a few days. I was young and it was all mysterious to me but I can see now that he missed his home village as he grew older and older. But as he often said so many were gone now of his siblings and of course his parents and so many of his aunts, uncles and cousins. A number had died in the war (WWII) and a number had died of old age. But there I was in the churchyard looking at the various tombstones, I did find one for Henry Blake one of my great grandfather's brothers but my great grandparents were buried at Goodworth Clatford. It was a beautiful quiet place. The Church itself was said to be built during the reign of Henry I (1100-1135). It was rebuilt in the 16th century and to me had a unique layout with the Chancel not visible to the entire seating as one can see that the Church is some what staggered in design.

It was quite fascinating being in this village of my Blake family from the mid 1700s on and then in Andover where they lived back into the 1500s and then Knights Enham in the 1400s-1500s. Their location in the 1300s is within the Manor of Andover and perhaps Enham but I am not positive of that.

Parliamentarians in the UK - Queen Elizabeth the Faithful

A beautiful thought to name Queen Elizabeth the Faithful and there is also a petition to name a holiday the 8th of September as Queen Elizabeth day. Perhaps that was the thought behind Queen Victoria Day as we called the third Monday in May when I was a child and it is still celebrated as a holiday here in Canada and marks the beginning of summer although not by the astronomical calendar but none the less the thoughts of summer does begin then. 

Watched the Processional from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Palace yesterday. We walked that route a few times, Edward and I, when we visited London. Remembering each step of the way as the procession moved forward. Tears for Queen Elizabeth as the procession moved along; a much loved Queen. I felt the same way to be honest. But I think King Charles III will also be an excellent King. He loves the peoples of the UK with all his heart and soul. I feel he also cares about all the peoples of the Commonwealth. We represent nearly a third of the world's population. The Empire grew through a five hundred year period and now we are all brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth. It is a relationship that Queen Elizabeth nurtured throughout her entire reign and I believe that King Charles would continue that nurturing. It is easy to remember and hate; the road to move on and simply enjoy this life forgetting the memory of the past is much more difficult but so worth it in the long run. Passing your bitterness on doesn't help anyone. 

The end of the war in 1945 was meant to be the last and we should work together to make it so. We all share 99.9% of the same DNA - all descendant Homo sapiens. Human nature, being what it is, will always find differences between people but the tendency to attack the weak needs to disappear from our world. 

Spent part of yesterday working on the Blake family records that I downloaded from the Discovery catalogue at Kew. Interesting, this first record for William le Blake. Searching through the old maps for Okeburne, Wiltshire and Staplegrove, Somersetshire was also very interesting. Were there two William le Blake in this time frame around 1300? Is it interesting there was already a Blake in Somerset this early and more records for Staplegrove appear in the searches. Is this the founding line for the Somerset Blake family? Are they descendant this early on from the Calne Blake family? Knowing there is also a John Blake in Andover this early (and that is likely my line) how many Blake lines are there in actuality. It would be exciting to see more people do the yDNA test in England for the Blake family. Perhaps as Prince William takes on his role as Prince of Wales there will be more interest for people as his mother was descendant of Thomas Blake of Easton Town, Andover. Richard K Evans produced a generational chart for Diana, Princess of Wales with Thomas Blake being in her twelfth generation back (#5532) and this item reads Thomas Blake of Easton Town, Hampshire, born ca. 1562 and buried in St Paul's Church, Covent Garden, near London, 19 Aug 1660. The Blake Pedigree Chart created by the College of Arms was requested by descendants of Thomas Blake. I have discussed William Blake of Easton Town, Andover (said to be the father of Thomas Blake) and the possibility that there were two William Blake families at Easton Town. The actual proof lies in the records I suspect and, to me, they point to their being just one William Blake who, in my opinion, probably married twice with two good sized families. The will which William Blake left in 1582 does not mention a first wife, it mentions only his present wife but the reading of the will makes one wonder as he asks that his sons be kind to his wife which strikes me as a second wife rather than their own mother. Time will tell but doing DNA for the Blake line could be most interesting. Two of my four brothers have tested and the line is ancient to the British Isles which fits in with my grandfather's thought that his family had been in the Andover area for ever (a comment often made by peoples with ancient heritage in a place). Certainly respect for his Blake line was part of his upbringing as he could remember his line all the way back to Nicholas of Old Hall. Too bad I was only eight when he passed away and did not write it all down but I could get back to Joseph Blake (by memory) who was of Andover according to the priest's notes on the marriage to Johanna King of Upper Clatford 8 Jun 1757. Going back from Joseph to Nicholas is pretty straightforward but I am always on the lookout for any new information going further back. The evidence though continues to flow in and does not change my thought that this is my Nicholas who left his will dated the 31 May 1547 and probated 20 Jun 1547 naming his siblings and his children.

 All the discussion on Long Term Care patients being moved miles from their family. I realize that it would be somewhat sad but they will not be alone. They will have others around them to talk to. I would do it so long as my computer can come with me and I have access to internet. I would miss my family but there is always Skype. We have to do, as elders, what we need to do in order to make the system workable. The number of people in our age group is increasing exponentially and if you need extra care and your family can not care for you then I think it is incumbent on us to do what works for the system.

 

 

Queen Elizabeth the Great

I heard this said yesterday and I very much agree. She has been a great Queen truly passionate about her country and mine as part of the Commonwealth and very much someone the world has looked up to and listened to through this past seventy years. Being almost seventy seven I am able to remember her entire reign. 

I can remember when King George VI was still the reigning monarch and living in an "English" home growing up the King/Queen was often mentioned every day of my life living at home. My grandfather often talked about the Kings and Queens of England and he lived in England until he was 39 years of age. Queen Victoria reigned when he was born and was his Queen until she passed away when he was 26 years of age, then her son King Edward VII, his son George V, his son Edward VIII and the younger brother of Edward VIII was George VI and he did live to see Queen Elizabeth II crowned (six monarchs during his lifetime). My grandfather could recite all the Kings and Queens of England back to Alfred the Great and from him I learned all of them but not quite as well although I could go from William I (also the Duke of Normandy who led the invasion of England in 1066) to the present day but I wonder if I still can! You could tell my grandfather's priorities as he knew all those Kings and Queens in proper order with their dates and he could quote great sections of the Bible and knew the Book of Common Prayer by rote. To him that was the important elements of life when he was in his 70s when I knew him. 

He was 78 when he passed away but up until his last year he was pretty bright and active. A stroke though rendered him less capable and he did not live long after his stroke. But it was his devotion to the Monarchy that I can still see in the peoples of the British Isles today. It is my own familial history that directs me in that way as well; three of my four grandparents were born in England and lived there to adulthood and beyond; my father was born in England coming to Canada when he was nine years of age and my only Canadian line was my mother, her father and his mother with all of their ancestors having been born and raised in England although my 2x great grandmother (mother of my maternal grandmother) was only 14 when she came to Canada with her parents in 1818. I always lived in an area where the Queen was revered and so I just never noticed that perhaps the monarchy played less of a role in Canada than I saw it. But the role is so deeply enshrined in our lives  I can not actually see that changing for quite a long time. It quite simply works very well; the treaties with the First Peoples which are very important were signed by the King/Queen of the time and our Governor General is appointed by the government here but represents the Monarch here in Canada. It is a pleasant system that isn't marred by political intrigue. Our present Governor General, a member of the Inuit Peoples, is a perfect choice blending the original peoples with the more recent peoples. I have to say; why change, it is a system that works well although there have been Governor Generals of whom I have been less approving perhaps because they tried to make the job about them when they really did not represent that many of us. The person needs to be someone who represents the King (we now have King Charles III) and preferably Canadian born and travels extensively in Canada during their term of office. 

I am pretty much glued to the television reporting of this past week. Amazing to have the rainbows and the sunbeam in various pictures since the death of the Queen. She was a great person. In my early 20s (I think I think I was 22 although I could look it up the Queen only came to London a few times) I was in the crowd when the Queen did a walkabout and she stopped and smiled at me; I was incapable of saying even one word or even of moving really but I shall always remember her smile and I think she said Hello. It will remain in my mind forever. I was on my own that day and coming from a large family I would have always been with them before marriage and they would surely have told me what to do but I was stunned in her presence. It was a long time ago but I can remember it like yesterday. What an honour to be in her presence that was. 

Living in Ottawa now, the Queen came a number of times and we always were there by the side of the road waving - Royalist at heart and sad to see her go but those last days she was so weak and frail that God called her home to rest after her momentous seventy year reign. Now we have King Charles III and I am sure he will be a very excellent King. The strain I can remember seeing in the Queen's face that day so long ago is also with me. It is a life long commitment to be the Monarch of a nation but the training that they have had will lead him forward just as it did his mother.

Just finished watching the ceremonial walk from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster for the Lying in State of the Queen. Again so wonderful to see on the television; again it makes me think of my grandfather when he watched the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on television; I do not believe his eyes ever left the television set. 

Living in Ottawa these past 47 and a half years, I was not there as my parents aged and passed away. Just visits to them; I generally spent the days with them when I was there. But it is not the same as actually being with your loved ones as they age into eternity. For me, those memories are of my grandparents although I was at my grandparent's funerals and both of my parent's funerals but that is not the same. There were many people there although mostly family but it is hard to mourn in public like that.

Ukraine and Russia

Ukraine has reached the border with Russia in their forcing the Russian military out of their country. Russia would do well to heed that they stopped at the border. One would like to see Russia stay as it was pre 2014 and earlier with regard to places like Georgia; a wonderful nation that has existed for a thousand years perhaps not quite the same borders but in essence the country of Russia has been part of the world scene for a very long time.  There has been so many wonderful creations that have come out of Russia. One could wish that they return to being that sort of nation showing the world their abilities in business, the arts, the sciences, and athletics. Attacking a sovereign nation (Ukraine) was inherently wrong in our modern society. They have murdered over a thousand children - surely a crime against humanity; children are the future. Little people who can not defend themselves; who have no idea of war. That is pretty hard to forgive and forget. We did do it at the end of the Second World War in order to bring everyone into a peaceful world. We can try to do that again and welcome Russia back into the world's beloved nations. But there is something they have to do; get out of Ukraine including the Crimea. Putin and his enablers are leading Russia down a very sad path but it is for the people of Russia to rid themselves of such a tyrant that he would send young men (little more than children) into war against a neighbour; against cousins. 

Where will China be with regard to Russia's attack on a sovereign nation? If they would attack one nation they would attack any. Their excuse for attacking Ukraine is pretty lame. It is simply land and wealth greed - like the Nazis of the Second World War. The most ancient population is in Ukraine - they represent the descendants of the first peoples who have gone all over the world from the ancient Ice Refuge Ukraina including my own maternal line which ended up in Scotland thousands of years ago. 

Russia and China are both descendant of quite old generations but looking at the Western Hemisphere one is now thinking in terms of perhaps 30,000 years or more ago that the first migrants reached the shores from Asia/Oceania and perhaps even Europe and Africa. As the archaeological trail widens one never knows what one might find.

A bit foggy and cooler today

Woke up before sunrise but could see the fog in the streetlights and it was around 14 degrees celsius and now 17 degrees celsius and the fog is mostly gone. No sunrise today. Gradually I will continue to be up before sunrise and to bed at 9:00 pm. I enjoy that lifestyle and have lived it most of my life. I was always so exhausted at the end of the day with children that I went to bed when they did. Then when I went back to work I was generally in bed before anyone else! Edward would wake me up later and we would share some quiet time together - sometimes it meant donning my winter clothes and going out in the backyard to see the stars. We had a lot of fun times. 

Today I want to get back to my work on the Blake family at Calne broken up with my usual exercise routines - lifting weights, running, calisthenics and walking. All can be done inside although I generally walk outside with the dogs. Sadly the cat has passed away. Brady will be much missed but likely replaced in the future once the sadness of losing him has passed somewhat. Perhaps two cats this time so that they have each other. The dogs and the cat were good friends but Brady was lonely and would have liked a friend I rather think. A house full of animals is always a treat. We had a bunny (Peter) that was greatly treasured by all of us. He was underfoot but a very neat and tidy bunny for sure. He did chew though so one had to prepare a room before he could go into it. At least he didn't chew the woodwork which was rather a relief. He stuck mostly to wires and paper (and of course food!). 

I shall watch the funeral procession from the Palace of  Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh today. We walked the Royal Mile a number of times when we were in Edinburgh. We toured Holyrood Palace as well and went to St Giles Cathedral. The Royal Mile is a walk through History for sure and Queen Elizabeth II will very much be a big part of the history of mankind from her birth in 1926 to her death in 2022  She has lived a life of duty and love for the British people and the British Commonwealth. 

Will I ever go to England again? I do not actually think I will although my fingers crave to go through more of the documents at Kew. Fortunately if the desire is great enough I can get documents scanned for me and have them emailed (the cost is not actually that great when you consider the cost of the trip!).

 

 

Busy summer and turning into a productive fall

The summer has been busy as always. I seldom can get very much work done during the summer on my various projects. Mostly I can keep my newsletters going and it is heartening to see the Ukrainians driving the Russians from their land. Perhaps I can start publishing my H11 Newsletter once again. I stopped because I just found it is dreadful to publish a newsletter when so many Ukrainians were dying as a result of Russian aggression. It was H11 people killing H11 people possibly and I just didn't want to carry on as normal. The Ukrainians wouldn't have time to read it anyway. 

Hopefully back to my Blake Newsletter which is due the 1st of October. Lots of time to work away at the Blake family of Calne over the next couple of weeks. I also want to get back to my will transcriptions for the Blake family as I still have over 1500 wills to transcribe. 

We were enroute today so I did not attend my You-Tube Church service. I have a meeting tomorrow but will try to work in the Service during the day. 

That is wonderful that there will be a commemorative service for Queen Elizabeth II at Christ Church Cathedral. It will be on You-Tube so that I can see it and I will watch the parade on the television.

Aggression and Greed

Perhaps the two worst attributes of homo sapiens, aggression and greed, have caused more unhappiness and hatred in the world than any other happening. Our written history is replete in  stories of forced slavery and conquered countries from some of the earliest written histories (many times the conquered became the conqueror as the centuries passed). But I have always felt that 1945 with the end of the hostilities around the world that we should move forward (perhaps because I was born after VJ day when everything was pretty much done) and search for that peaceful world where people help other people and do no injury to those who reside in our proximity or our country and even our world. It is the only way forward I do believe because we now have the ability to destroy our world completely with nuclear weapons and it would only take a matter of minutes to do the deed. It is time to let bygones be bygones and forge ahead with the borders that we have from 1945 and the collapse of the Soviet Union (they went bankrupt because of their war efforts in Afghanistan). The benefits are enormous - freedom can be everywhere as much as people want. Some people exist in a communal type of government and find that it works for them others head for democracy but we have seen how that can get distorted when greed enters into the picture. 

I am 100% English from five different areas of England - I have first hand knowledge of the lives that my ancestors lived in four of these five distinct areas to carry with me and pass on to those around me. I am deeply saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II just as I was when her father King George VI died. The death of King George VI (although he was very ill) was such a tragedy because he was so young and the loss of Queen Elizabeth II will also be deeply felt but at 96 we knew that the time would come. Now it is time to celebrate King Charles III and a new age for England for my ancestors' descendants who still live there. I would like to see us remain a constitutional monarchy but the will of the people is important to me as well. Time will tell on that but I would not be surprised to see us continue as a monarchy; it works well for us. We have a head of state that isn't dependent on political rivalry which has been quite nasty these last few years in Canada. Although I realize that in the past political rivalry was also rather nasty on occasion but I think homo sapiens have moved along and should be able to be polite and not always in attack mode. 

That being said; I watched the Ascension Ceremony on television and thought how much my grandfather would have enjoyed the new age of television compared to the grainy picture that we had of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II all those years ago when I was but seven years of age and he was 78. He lived through such a change in life style and as I look back; I too have seen great changes in how we live our lives.

Up early every day this week

I have been up early every day this week; this is one of my favourite times of the year when dawn is just breaking around the six o'clock mark. It is the first day after the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. She was truly a wonderful Queen and I can still remember sitting and watching the Coronation on the television with my grandfather. He was absolutely totally engaged with the events unfolding on the television. In 1953 he was 78 years of age (and I was nearly eight years of age) and he had then been in Canada for fourty years. To actually view the Coronation albeit on television was to him the most stupendous event in his life. He talked about it constantly from that day onward until he died later that year. Before that definitely his trip across the Atlantic Ocean to Canada (on his own as my father and grandmother followed him six months later) and then discovering Canada working for the CNR was a huge event in his life. But he was British first and foremost and in the 1950s that was being fast replaced by pride in being Canadian which my English born maternal grandmother had quickly done when the option of being Canadian was offered. 

It is exciting to watch as King Charles III makes his mark on the world. He is a very accomplished person with that same great pride in England that my grandfather had - England in his eyes was perfect. God speed to our new King.

God Save the King

 Sadly Queen Elizabeth II has passed away; I remember when King George VI died and at our auditorium at school our principal (he had been an officer in the British Army) stood up and said God Save the Queen the day that the King died. He then went on to explain that the King had died in his sleep and that we now had a Queen - Queen Elizabeth the second. 

I think King Charles III will make an excellent king. I look forward to him being King in this age we are now in; one fraught with so much difficulty but he is a forward progressive person who has talked the talk of environment for many many years.

Dawn is breaking on a lovely new day

Of all the beings in the universe I think we are the luckiest. Our ancestors worked hard, followed the rules and we have progressed to this point. Following the rules is the important part; that is what keeps us from one generation to the next. There will always be people who do not follow the rules and appear to succeed but at what cost to the rest of the ruled populations. Greed is a dreadful thing really. 

Cleaning all accomplished inside; today the car needs vacuuming and the garage needs a good sweep before I start to store the car inside for the winter. Although today is promised to be warm the winter sneaks up on us here and soon ice on the car windows and I hope not to have to scrape car windows this year or brush off snow to any extent. I do love winter though. There is something very magical about the sun on the snow; it looks like an enchanted world from the window. I look forward to that every year. The picture postcard that is Canada. 

What will I accomplish otherwise today? I think I might be able to get back to the Blake family at Calne. Hoping for that anyway.