As I said in my earlier post my initial acceptance of the Pedigree Chart as written when I first purchased it from the Swindon and Wiltshire Office was replaced following our attendance at the "Who Do You Think You Are?" Conference in 2013 in London, UK. There was a sort of "you need to look carefully at the Chart" attitude and I did have queries about the Chart because of William (d 1582) being named as a son of Roger Blake and Mary (Baynard) Blake. I could find absolutely no other record that would verify they had a son William. But that did not deter me from examining all the tax returns, all the property data and the wills for a William Blake at Eastontown nr Andover, Hampshire and other William wills, England. I think one must do that especially when the chart was created in 1690 much closer to the event. I do think the onus is on one disproving the flow of the chart. That was also the time when I corrected the place for the will of Nicholas Blake; it was listed as Essington but he lived at Enham and Old Hall. The Archives of the UK did make that change.
The item at the top of the chart implies that Richard Blaake/Blague had been involved in a land gift to the Knights Templar (but does not actually say Richard but placing it in the position beside his section of the Pedigree Chart was leading to that thought). Certainly the R. Blake left one with the impression at the top of the chart. The chart is quite fascinating and does form a blueprint for other charts that have been produced in particular the Blake family of Somerset held by the Blake Museum at Bridgwater. I do have a few theories on this chart as well which I have expressed earlier in my blog.
This chart at Bridgwater is written all in the same hand and judging by the script probably dates back to after the First World War but I could be mistaken. But it mostly deals with the Somerset Blake family. It does however have to the right of this section a short reference to the Andover Blake family.
This section, at the top left, includes this preamble: "Note: The exact connection of the Hampshire Blake with those of Wiltshire is not yet fully established; the link here suggested seems the most probable."
This Hampshire portion of the chart resembles the premise in the private book which Horatio Gates Somerby wrote for an American Blake family where he has a Blake from Whiteparish, Wiltshire with sons William of Old Hall, Eastontown, Knights Enham marrying a Mary daughter of Humphrey Cole and there is a brother Robert of Enham marrying an unknown [Maude] Snell. This William is said to have a son Nicholas, a son Henry, a son Robert and this Robert is said to have a son William who has three sons John, Richard and Robert. The interesting part is that Nicholas and Robert (along with Elizabeth (Blake) Mylne) are the children of a Mr. Blake and Jone Blake, a widow, who left her will in 1527 naming her children but, unfortunately, not her husband by his first name. I will deal with that later and Nicholas (her son) left his will naming his children (and his siblings) and William Blake of Eastontown was one of his sons.
So we have these two large documents prepared in the past, one in 1690 and the other one does look like it would be completed perhaps in the early 1920s. Now the question would be was the chart in production before Horatio Gates Somerby wrote the private book which was later published in 1881 (after Somerby's death). The Blake Chart held at the Blake Museum does have entries up until the early 1920s and hence my thought, given the style of writing, was that this chart was produced sometime in the 1800s extending into the 1900s although the handwriting is pretty consistent. Again it is a huge chart as one can see if you open the file online that is on the Blake Museum site. In general the places listed are all in England and not the United States which initially led me to the thought that it was a chart in process that Horatio Gates Somerby had access to at some point. There is another book that gives rise to the possibility of the actual author which I will review once again at a later date (but sooner rather than much later).
It is the will for William Blake at Eastontown (1582) that is mostly of interest in this entire discussion although the other wills both from his ancestors and other Blake wills (particularly Berkshire) also play a role. The one thing about the wills for the Blake family at Andover is the identification of their siblings in the wills. It does make for a much easier charting of the family and my first proven connection with the Andover Blake family was my 4x great grandfather Joseph who is identified by the priest at Upper Clatford as being "of Andover." I did find his father-in-law, Thomas King's will, interesting because he didn't even mention his daughter in the will but just his son in law to inherit (but more on Joseph later). Definitely this line of the family coming down from a William (1615-1696) to John (1649-) to Thomas (1685-1714) to Thomas (1709-1767) to Joseph (1730-1767) went through very difficult times. The will of this William (1615-1696)'s mother (Jone (Blake) Blake) identified that there was a problem (and it appears to be financial and by the end of William's life in 1696 he may even be without lands and he does not leave a will). This William was baptized 9 Aug 1615 at Andover son of William Blake and Dorothy Madgwick. They had a large family - 13 children. Continuing to reach back through time in the Andover registers we find William who died in 1582 (will dated 27 Jul 1582 and probated 14 Nov 1582). What is at question I think and it does continue to occupy my thoughts? Was there a second William Blake at Eastontown? I have examined all of the records that I have had access to and it does appear that there was only one William. My point is to correct the Pedigree Chart and remove William as a son of Roger and show that there was a relationship in the past between the le Blak family of Wargrave, Berkshire and an individual in Andover who resided at Old Hall, Enham. But do I want to go beyond that? That is the question in my mind since it would be interesting to prove that the Richard le Blak from Rouen, Normandy who was given permission to set up a market in England in 1274 is the Richard le Blak found at Wargrave, Berkshire on the Pipe Rolls in 1301 along with other family members perhaps? Proving that may be difficult. But given the likelihood that my Blake ancestor at Andover, being descendant of the earliest populations in England, had taken on the Blake surname and the wills of the Blake family at Speen, Berkshire mentioning the Andover Blake family in 1559 does lead one to that thought. The mention is closer to the idea of friendship but one is left to think if two hundred years earlier that there had been kinship (marriage of a male without a surname to a female with the Blak[e] surname) it would, over time, have become more of a friendship that involved land dealings as the cousinship became much more distant.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 20th February 2008 (retranscribed: 27 Sep 2013)
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/64/474
Name of Testator: William Blake, Yeoman of Andover, Hampshire
Place: Eastontowne, Andever, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 27 July 1582, probated 14 November 1582
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: scan, smudges, middle English writing, tiny writing, quite legible
[Margin] T[estator] Willi[a]m Blake
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1 In the name of God amen; I William Blake
2 of Estontowne, within the parishe of Andever in the countie of Southampton yeoman, beinge in good and
3 perfecte memorye of mynde and healthe of bodye (thancks be geven to allmightye god) wayethinge and pondering
4 withe my self the shortnes of the dayes of manne and the uncertentie of the tyme when hit shall please
5 Th[e ]allmightie to call us to his mercye oute of this transitory lief, And that wee are but Stewardes here
6 of this worldly gooddes and possessions to use accordinge to the rules of christian charitie to Godds honour
7 and glorye and muste at the generall daie of Judgemente render accompte of the obteyninge houldinge and
8 ymployinge thereof to his dyvine maiestie, Doe hereby of my self and by the councell and advise of my
9 good Freindes make and declare this to be my last will and testamente in wrytinge, revokinge by theise
10 presents all form other former willes of myne made, either by worde of or wrytinge at anye tyme before
11 the date hereof, And declaringe this to be my sole and onely last will and testamente in manner and forme
12 foollowinge and none other (viz Firste I yealde my soule and spyrite to the moste highe and blessed Trinitie
13 three personnes and one verye god the Father, the sonne and the holye ghoste, whoe hathe made redemed
14 and sanctified all the electe people of god, of which, nomber I doe hope that I am one; trustinge and belevinge
15 onelye by the meritts of Jesus Christe his bitter passionne, the second personne in the same Trinitie to bee
16 a saved sowle and in him at the daie of dome to have a ioyfull resurrection of this fleshe of myne,
17 willinge my Bodye in the meane tyme after my deceasse to be buried in christian buriall within the church
18 of Andever aforesaide nere the cloke howse doore there and in suche sorte as shal[l ]be thoughte most meete
19 by my executors, protestinge also by this my laste will and testamente that I houlde and beleve all th[a]t
20 whatsoever was promised for me at the tyme of my Baptisme and all the articles of a christian faythe
21 whatsoever which I aught to houlde or beleve and whiche the moste holye visible Churche of Christe
22 here on earthe teachethe and houldeth, acknowledgeinge my self hereby throughe the grace of god to dye
23 therein, wholye prostratinge and submittinge my self to the obedience of the same Churche wheare
24 soever the same is dispersed thereowte oute the worlde, utterlye renouncinge and defyinge all Sectes
25 heresies and dampable opinions whatsoever theye be, and of whomesoever there are houlden contrary
26 to goddes holye worde, the true catholike faithe and the Churche of Jesus Christe our Lorde and
27 savioure for the whiche he shedde his most precious innocente and guiltless[s] bloude. And as
28 concerninge the bestowinge of all my gooddes and chattells, I doe make thereof my laste will and
29 testamente in manner and fourme followinge and no otherwyse, That is to saye, I geve to thee
30 Cathedrall Churche of Win[ches]tor eight pence, And to the parrishe churche of Andever Thirteene
31 shillinges and fower pence, And to the Churche of Knightes Enham Thirtene shillinges & fower
32 pence, And to the poore people of Andever aforesaide Three poundes fyve shillinges and eighte
33 pence, to be amongest theme distributed by the discrecion of my executor and overseers. Item
34 I geve and bequeathe to Edmunde Blake my brother Tenne poundes of currant Englishe money
35 to be delyvered to him within one half yeare after my decease. Item I bequeathe and geve to my
36 sister Elizabeth Monday fyve poundes of the lyke currante englishe monneye, to be paide unto her within
37 one yeare after my deceasse. Item I geve to Alice Godwyn my sister twentie shillings of the
38 like currant Englishe monneye. Item I geve and bequeathe to everye one of my godchildrens
39 whiche shal[l ]be lyvinge at the tyme of my deceasse one good clydde lambe a peece. Item I geve and
40 bequeathe to Richarde Blake my sonne Fyftye poundes of currant englishe monneye, to be paide
41 unto him or his assignes within one yeare after my decease. Item I geve and bequeathe to
42 Thomas Blake my sonne Two hundred and fyftie poundes of lawfull Englishe monneye to be
43 paide unto him and his assignes yearlie after my decease by Fyftie pounds together by the yere,
44 untill the said Somme Two hundred and fyftie poundes shal[l ]be fullye satisfied and paide. Item
45 Item I geve to Amye Rombold my daughter two kyne one bullocke and twentie sheepe to bee
46 delyvered within one yeare after my deceasse, And the said sheepe to be delyvered oute of my flock
47 as theye shall ronne at lease. Item I geve to Magarett Jarvis my daughter Fyve marks of currant
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48 englishe monneye to be paide her within one yeare after my deceasse. Item I geve to Agnes Kynton my daughter
49 one cowe and a bullocke, And to Elizabeth Beale my daughter fowertie shillings in monney. Item
50 I geve to Marye Rigges my daughter fortie shillings of currante englishe monneye to be delyvered
51 her within one yeare after my deceasse. Item I geve unto my eldeste sonne John one hundred sheepe
52 to be delyvered ymmediatelye uppon my deceasse ronninge at leace And also two horsses or fyve pounds
53 in money at the elections of my saide sonne John by hym to be taken or delyvered upon my deceasse
54 Item I geve and bequeathe unto Elizabethe Blake my wieff two kyne to be delyvered unto her ymmedi
55 ately uppon my deceasse by her owne choice owte of my herde of kyne, And also five sowes to bee
56 delyvered unto her by her owne choice owte of my herde of swyne. Item I doe bequeathe and will
57 unto my saide wieff all that her apparell woolens and lynnens which she shall have for her body
58 at the tyme of my deceasse, And also two feather or downe beddes nexte to my beste bedde and one other
59 flocke bedde for her maide to lye on, and twoe of my coverlettes to be chosen by her, nexte my Two
60 best coverlettes and also twoe paire of my beste blancketts and one paire of my seconde blancketts And
61 also eighte paire of my sheetes to be chosen by her, nexte after my sonne William hathe chosen fower
62 payre, And also twoe of my beste spones, twoe of my beste brasse pottes, twoe of my beste kettells
63 twoe of my best skelletts and two of my beste broches, and two of my beste Andirons, And also one
64 dossens of my best pewter platters, one dossens of pottengers, and one dosens of sawcers, fower
65 candlesticks, and sixe ioyne stooles, one table borde, one cupborde borde and the one half of my
66 poultrye whiche shal[l ]be aboute my howse at my deceasse, by her to be chosen, and also my beste
67 amblinge hackney that I shall have at the tyme of my deceasse and her saddle and furniture
68 belonginge to her for her iourneyinge. Item I geve and bequeathe to my sayde wife (uppon
69 condicion that shee shall clayme no Dowrie of my fee symple Landes, whereof I shall dye seyzed
70 or whiche I have bequeathed by this my laste will the yearlye Annuytye of Twentye pounds
71 duringe her lieff to be issuinge and payable by my executours. owte of all my leasses and fearmes
72 that I houlde of the righte honnourable the Lord Sandys, at fower feasts of the yeare quart[er]ly
73 to be paide (viz the firste quarter to begynne the nexte Feaste either of Michaelmas, Christmas,
74 Th[e ]annunciations of oure Blessed Ladye, or sainte John Baptiste, whiche shall first happens
75 after my deceasse, And so at the same Feasts quarterlye fyve pounds a quarter yerelye to her
76 to be paide duringe her lieff, And if it happens the saide Annunytye of Twentie poundes or any
77 parte threreof to be behinde and unpaide at anye tyme duringe the naturall lieff of my saide
78 wieff, by the space of eighte daies after annye of the saide Feastes aforesaide as whiche the
79 same oughte to be paide unto the saide Elizabethe my wieff, That then and from thenceforth
80 it shal[l ]be lawfull for the saide Elizabethe my wieff and her assignees to enter into the sayde
81 Fearmes and other the permisses oute, whereof the saide Annuytie is goinge, yssueable or payable
82 whiche I houlde of the saide Lord Sandys, and thereuppon to distreyne, and the distresse to
83 dryve carrye awaye and with[ h]oulde untill the saide Annuitie and there everye thereof (yf anny
84 shall happens to be behinde be to her and her assignees fullye contented and paide). Item I
85 will and bequeathe unto the saide Elizabethe my wieff duringe her lieff, the fyndinge and
86 keepinge of two kyne to be found and kepte for her and to her use and proffitte uppon the
87 sayde Fearme groundes of the fearme of Andever, bothe in wynter tyme and in Sommer tyme
88 And to have aswell pasture for theme, as also fodder of sweete strawe to susteyne theme, in
89 good plighte, allwaies to be foddered, pastured, watered, and used at the paynes and provision
90 of my executor and by theire Servauntes and at their charge and industrye. And also I
91 bequeathe unto her my sayde wieff the fyndinge of two sowe hoggs for her and to her owne use
92 and proffitte to be kepte uppon the sayde Fearme of Andever, and to be sounde and well harboured
93 and well used and served within my saide Fearme of Andever in suche sorte as is meete and as
94 shall well contente my saide wieff ordered at the provisicion coste and charge of my executors
95 and the industrye of theire servauntes duringe her life. Item I bequeathe unto her fower dossen
96 of my poultrye of all sortes viz of Capons, hennes and chickens suche and best shall fansye and
97 like my saide wieff, and also the fyndinge so manye of poultrie duringe her life to be founde
98 fedde, harboured and well used and lyved, within my saide Fearme of Andever in suche sorte
99 as is meete and as shall well contente my saide wieff at the coste and charges of my saide
100 executor. Item I geve and bequeathe my saide wief yerelie duringe her life, for her necessary use one
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101 waight of woll to be paide yearlye by my executor out of my Fearme of Andever the same yearlye to be deliv[er]ed
102 at the shere tyme, and that she choose yearlye the same waighte of wooll of the firste weighte of wooll
103 that shal[l ]be weighed of the ferme sheepe yearlye at shepesheare. Item I bequeathe and will that my
104 wieff shall have howse rome, duringe her naturall lieff for the abode within my house of Estontowne
105 that I nowe dwell in for her self and her maide, and that she shall have to her owne onely use, duringe
106 her lief, the bedchamber that I and she doe nowe lye in, and that she shall have free concoursse and
107 accesse into the hall, the kitchine, and the reste of my howses of office, aswell within doores as without
108 there allwaies to doe her necessarie busynes withall to her reasonable contemente, so as my executors
109 maye have with all, accesse quietlye into annye romes, within the howsses of office to serve his turne
110 reasonablye, not disquietinge nor excludinge my saide wieff oute thereof at annye tyme to do her
111 necessarye busynes therein. Item I will that my executors shall at his coste and charges provide
112 and fynde unto my saide wieff sufficiente necessarye and as muche woodde and fyreboote as she shall
113 spende in her saide chamber, or aboute the necessarye usage of dressinge her meate and drinck, w[i]thin
114 my saide howsse of Estontowne, And further more that if my saide wieff shal[l ]be mynded to remove
114 from my saide howsse of Estontowne to dwell at her pleasure and better lykinge and contentement
116 within the Towne of Andever, Then I will that neverthelesse, my saide executore shall at his
117 and theire costes and charges provide and fynde unto her sufficient woode and fyrebote for her
118 chamber, bakinge, dressinge and brewinge of her necessarie meate and drincke in suche sorte, as
119 before is lymyted to her for her inhabitinge within my said howse of Estontowne even in such manner
120 as thoughe she weare or shoulde be continuallye rescant there in all respecte, And shall further
121 yearlie paye unto my saide wieff for and towardes her howse rente, so longe as she shall contynue
122 there or else wheare, oute of my howse at Estontowne the yearlie somme of Twentie shillinges,
123 by the yeare to be paide quarterlye unto her at suche Feasts and daies and in suche manner and
124 sorte as her Annuitie of Twentye poundes before mencioned is appointed to be paide. And
125 furthermore if it shall lyke my said wieff to inhabite in anye other place besydes the Towne of
126 Andever owte of the same parrisshe, That then so longe tyme as she shall so enhabite owte of the
127 same parrisshe, I doe will that my executoure shall yealde and paie unto her for and in lewe of
129 suche kyne, hoggs, wooll, and poultrie as she shoulde otherwise have had goinge and founde
129 by my executor uppon my saide Fearme of Andever the somme of fowertie shillings of currante
130 Englishe monneye yearlye to be paide her at the Feastes, daies and tymes, and in suche sorte as her
131 Annuytye of Twentie poundes before recyted is and ought to be paide, And that so longe tyme
132 as she shall so abide, and dwell owte of the saide parrishe of Andever, she shal[l ]be excludedd to
133 demande of my executor annye other duetye before to her limited bequeathed or appointed owte of
134 my sayde Fearme, besydes the saide Twentie poundes to her limited and bequeathed w[hi]ch nevertheles
135 shal[l ]be paide her, in manner and fourme aforesaid. Provided also and my will and entente is
136 and so I doe declare it to be my mynde, That if my saide wieff shall happen to marrye, and
137 not to lyve sole and in her widowhedd, That then she shall have the saide yearlie Annuytye of
138 Twentie poundes, in manner and fourme as before is to her appointed onelye and shal[l ]be excluded
139 and barred for ever by this my laste will of all other benefitte whatsoever, if she should otherwise
140 have owte of my saide Fearme of Andever (annye thinge mencioned in this my will to the co[n]trary
141 notwithstandinge. And soe that my whole mynde and will is that my Fee symple landes w[hi]ch
142 I have to me and myne heyres by purchase or discente or otherwise, shall remayne contynue and
143 be forever hereafter in my name and bloude, withoute anye alteracion, discontynuance or devise
144 thereof to be made or suffered to the contrarye by those or annye of those or theire or anye of
145 theire heires, or heire males or annye of theme to whome I shall by this my laste will and
146 Testamente geve and bequeathe the same or annye parte thereof unto, I doe by this my will
147 And Testament geve and bequeathe all my Landes and Tenementes with all and singler thee
148 Appurtenauncs in manner and fourme followinge, That is to saye, Firste I geve and
149 bequeathe unto John Blake, my eldest Sonne, All that my two Tenements called Brownes
150 and Cambers with all and singuler the appurtenauncs situate in Knights Enham and Kinges
151 Enham within the saide Countie of Southampton, and all Landes arrables, meadowes feedings
152 pastures, commons, commodities, and advanntags whatsoever to the same Tenements or to anye
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153 of theme belonginge or in annye wise apperteyinnge or as annye parte or parcell of themee or any of theme
154 used or occupied withall and singuler th[e ]appurtenauncs, whatsoever, And also all that my Landes Teneme[n]ts
155 and hereditaments called Brayes, and all landes arrables meadowes belonginge to the same withe th[e ]appur
156 tenancs, To have and to houlde the saide two Tenements called Brownes and Chambers withall and
157 singuler th[e ]appurtanauncs and also the said Tenemente called Brayes, and all other the Landes and p[re]misses
158 last bequeathed and recited unto the saide John Blake my sonne for terme of his naturall lieff, And after
159 his deceasse to the heires males of his bodye lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue to Will[ia]m
160 Blake my seconde sonne, for terme of his naturall lieff, and after the deceasse of the same William, to the
161 heyres males of his body lawfullye begotten the bodye of the saide William lawfully begotten And
162 for defaulte of suche issue to the heires males of the bodye of Peter Blake my Thirde sonne lawfully
163 begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue to the heires males of the bodye of Thomas Blake, my
164 fourthe sonne lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue, to the heires males of the body of
165 Richarde Blake my fyfte sonne lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue to the righte heires
166 of my saide Ist sonne John Blake for ever. And furthermore I doe by this my laste will and
167 Testamente geve and bequeathe unto the saide William Blake my second sonne one Tenement
168 with Th[e ]appurtenauncs commonlye called Roses lyinge within Kings Enham aforesaide, And all
169 Landes tenementes, meadowes, pastures, feedings, proffitts and commodities and advauntages whatso
170 ever to the same Tenement belonginge or in any wise apperteyninge whiche I late purchased of Mr
171 Cauley, And also one meadowe, with th[e ]appurtenaunces lyinge in Kings Enham aforesaide, which I
172 late bought of _ne Hayse, commonly called Dichie meade. And also the Crofte withe Th[e ]appurtenauncs
173 called Whiteyeres crofte and all the landes with th[e ]appurtenauncs which I late purchased of John James
174 of Charleton lyinge in Kings Enham aforesaid, To have and houlde the saide Tenement called Roses
175 with th[e ]appurtenauncs and the saide meadowe called Dichie meade with th[e ]appurtauncs and the saide Lande
176 called Whiteyeres Crofte and the saide Landes late purchased of the saide John James with th[e ]appurte[n]auncs
177 and all other the laste recited premisses unto the saide William Blake bequeathed withe all and
178 singuler their appurtenaunces unto the saide William Blake my sonne second Sonne for terme of his
179 naturall life, And after his deceasse to the heires males of his bodye lawfullie begotten, And for
180 defaulte of suche issue, to the saide John Blake my eldest sonne for terme of his naturall life, And
181 after the deceasse of the same John to th[e h]eirs males of his bodye lawfully begotten with the lyke
182 Lymytacions in their respecte and degree as before is lymitted to the saide Peter Blake and the
183 others followinge him, And furthermore I doe by this my laste will and Testamente geve and
184 bequeathe unto the saide Peter Blake, my thirde sonne all that my Eleaven Tenements and one
185 Cottage withe all and singuler their appurtenauncs scituate and beinge in Andever, aforesaide,
186 nowe at the daie of the date of this my will in the severall tenure or occupacions of William
187 Northe, Hughe Tydder, William Hussie, Christopher Broughe and Goodman Wilson, William
188 Bathe, Robert Carde, George Masonn, John Presser, Robert Newell, Katherine Hide
189 and [blank] Wiggs widdowe, And also all that my three meadowes with th[e ]appurtenauncs
190 lyinge within Charletonn within the saide Countie of Southampton, nowe at the date of this
191 my will in the severall tenures and occupacions of John Purham, John James and John West.
192 To have and to houlde all the saide eleven Tenements and cottage and three meadowes laste
193 recyted withe all and singuler theire appurtena[u]ncs unto the saide Peter my Thirde Sonne
194 to him and to his heires for ever. And to th[e ]entente that suche Fearmes, Landes, Tenem[en]ts,
195 withe all and singuler th[e ]appurtena[u]ncs whiche I houlde by Lease or Leasses, and of the graunte
196 of the saide Lorde Sandys, or of annye of his Lo[rd] Ancestors shoulde, contynue, remayne and be
197 to my bloudde and name withe my saide fee symple Landes in suche sorte and to somme of those
198 personnes to whome I have gevenn and bequeathed my sayde Fee symple Landes unto therefore
199 I doe by this my last will and Testamente geve and bequeathe the same landes in manner and
200 fourme followinge, That is to saie, I geve and bequeathe to my saide John Blake one Tene[ment]
201 withe th[e ]appurtenauncs, commonlie called th[e ]olde haule lyinge in Knights Enham aforesayde,
202 And all Landes and meadowes whatsoever in Leasies, pastures, feadinges, com[m]ons, proffitts,
203 commodities and advauntags whatsoever to the same Tenemente belonginge or in anye wise
204 app[er]teyninge, And also one severall close withe th[e ]appurtuance commonly called Walworte
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205 And also twoe meadowes in Andever beinge Lammas Lande houlden by Tenne shillings rente by the yeare
206 And also all my Lammas Lande and meadowe, whatsoever with th[e ]appurtenauncs lyinge in Andever,
207 or Andever feilde aforesaide, And all other my Landes and tenements, whatsoever conteyned and
208 mentioned uppon the grande Lease to me made of the last recited premisses (excepte the Tenement
209 called Smythes and the parcell of grounde called Evatts Okes al[ia]s Glosshanger and suche Lammas
210 Landes as the saide William Blake my sonne nowe houldethe whiche saide Tenement called Oulde
211 hall and closes called Walwort, meadowe and lamas lande and other the laste recited premisse I
212 doe houlde of the saide Lorde Sandys for terme of yeares not yet expired, To have and to hold
213 the saide Tenemente called oulde hall, the saide close called Walwortt and the meadowes and Lammas
214 lands aforesaide and all other the premisses with all and singuler, th[e ]appurtena[u]nces laste recited (except
215 before last excepted) unto the saide John Blake for terme of his naturall lieffe, yf my terme of yeres
216 thereof so longe shall endure, And after his deceasse the saide Tenemente called old hall the said close
217 called Walwort and the meadowes and Lammas Lande and all the laste recited premisses withe th[e ]appurtena[u]ncs
218 (excepte before excepted) to remayne contynue and be to the heires males of the bodye of my saide sonne
219 John lawfullye begotten and so to contynue in my bloude and name from one to an other in lyke manner
220 and sorte and in everye respecte and degree accordinge to my sayde lymytacion made of my sayde fee simple
221 landes called Brownes, Cambers and Brayes so longe as the terme of yeares which I have in the granted
222 leasses of the same or of annye parte thereof shall contynue The saide John Blake and the heyres males of
223 his bodye bodye lawfullye begotten, and all other the persons before lymyted to enioye the saide Tenemente
224 called oulde haule & the saide close called Walworte and the said two meadowes and Lammas lande and other the premisses laste recited (excepte
225 before excepted) yealdinge payinge doinge and performinge all suche rentes dueties and covenants whiche
226 shal[l ]be after my deceasse at annye tyme due, paieable or to be donne to the saide Lorde Sandys his heires or
227 assignes or annye other personne or personnes whatsoever by reason of the graunde Leasse or Leasses made
228 thereof or of annye other parte or parcell thereof, other than suche rente and dutyes as shall growe due
229 by reason of the saide Tenemente called called Smythes and the saide groundes called Evatts okes alias
230 Glosshanger and other then for the said Lammas lande in the tenure of the saide William Blake my sonne
231 viz for the sayde Tenemente called Smythes fowertene shillinges by the yeare for the saide grounde called
232 Glosshanger fyve shillinges by the yeare and for the saide Lammas Lande Twelve shillinges by the Yeare
233 And furthermore to th[e ]intente that my sonne William Blake and th[e ]other personnes hereafter lymyted to have
234 my Fearme of Andever shall contynwe hospitalitie with the same accordinge to the proportions thereof
235 within the parrishes of Andever and Knightes Enham or one of theme duringe the terme of yeares w[hi]ch
236 shal[l ]be therein to comme after the tyme of my deceasse, I doe by this my last will and testamente geve and
237 bequeathe unto the same William Blake my saide seconde sonne my Tenemente and howse with th[e ]app[u]rtena[u]ncs
238 whiche I nowe dwell in commonlie called Smythes and all landes, meadowes, leasues, pastures, feadings,
239 commons, proffittes, commodities and advauntages, whatsoever to the same tenemente belonginge or in anye
240 wise apperteyninge, And also my Ferme of Andever, withe all landes, meadowes, leasues, pastures, feedings,
241 proffittes, commodities, and advauntages, whatsoever to the same ferme belonginge, or in annye wise appertey
242 ninge, whiche saide Fearme and Tenemente and other the last recyted premisses I doe lykewise houlde
243 for terme of yeares not expired of the saide Lo: Sandis (except and allwayes res[er]ved oute of this my last
244 gifte and bequeaste all suche percell of lande as bene before by me geven unto John my sayde eldeste
245 sonne, To have and to houlde the saide Tenemente Ferme and all other the premisses withe all and singuler
246 their appurtenauncs last recited and bequeathed (excepte last before excepted) unto the saide William my
247 sonne for terme of his naturall lief, yf my terme of yeares thereof to me made shall so longe endure
248 And after his deceasse the saide ferme and Tenemente and all other the premisses laste bequeathed and
249 recyted (excepte before laste excepted) to remayne contyneue and be to the heyres males of the bodye of the
250 sayde William my sonne lawfullye begotten and so from one to an other in like manner and sorte and in
251 everye respecte and degree accordinge to my saide Lymytacions made of my Fee symple landes called Roses
252 Dichie meade and whiteyeares crofte, so longe as my terme of yeares, which I have in the graund leasse
253 to mee made of the same or of annye parte thereof shall contynewe, The saide William Blake and ye
254 heires males of his bodye lawfullye begotten and all other the personnes before lymyted to enioye ye
255 sayde Ferme or Tenemente and other the premisess laste to him bequeathed yealdinge payinge doinge and
256 performinge all suche rentes dueties and covenannts, whiche shal[l ]be after my deceasse at annye tyme
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257 due paiable or to be donne to the saide Lo: Sandys his heires or assignees or annye other personne or p[er]sonnes
258 whatsoever by reason of the saide graunde Leasse or leasses, made thereof or of annye parte or parcell thereof
259 or of annye the premisses laste recited and to the saide William bequeathed. The residue of my goods
260 (before not bequeathed nor disposed, my debtes and legacies beinge paide and this my laste will and testament
261 in all respectes iustlie performed and accomplished) I geve and bequeath to my sonne William aforesaide
262 to th[e ]intente that he and th[e ]other personnes before lymyted to have, my said Fearme of Andever shall
263 contynewe hospitalitie within the parrishe of Andever Knights Enham or one of theme during thee
264 terme of yeares of my said Fearme of Andever. Provided allwayes and my will and whole entent
265 is, That if it shall fortune after my deceasse anny of my said sonnes, or anny others to whome I have
266 limited to have and enioye annye parte of my landes or gooddes aforesaid, not to contente himself or
267 theme selves withe suche porcions of Landes or gooddes and in suche manner and sorte as I have before
268 gevenn and bequeathed the same unto him or theme, and unto everie or annye of theme, Or that theie or
269 annye of theme shall shewe themselves or annye of theme shall shewe himselfe or herself to have mislike
270 withe the same or of this my last will or of annye parte of the contente of this my testament, Or
271 shall endewe themselves or annye of theme shall endewe him or herself to devise doe practise attempte
272 or putte in use, or cause to be devised donne prassised attempted or putte in use or assente, consent agree unto
273 or suffer annye acte, thinge or thinges whatsoever or by what meanes soever whiche shalbe disturbe alter
274 violate, frustrate, breake or make voide, or shall or maie be by annye meanes intended, construed or
275 ymagined to disturbe, alter, chaunge, violate, frustrate, breake or make voide, in annye respecte or pointe
276 this my last will and testament, and the contents and limitacions of the same, or of annye parte,
277 pointe, limitacion, legacie, bequeaste, gift or contents thereof, or of annye parte thereof, or shall
278 not stande to and obeye the order and iudgemente of my overseers and the longest lyver of theme
279 duringe their lyves in suche ambiguities, doubts, questions, and controversies as shall happen to
280 aryse hereafter uppon or by reasonn of this my last will and testament to all entents and purpos[e]s
281 That then in all and everie the cases laste recyted, my said sonnes and everye other person and
282 personnes shall and everie of theme to whome I have geven graunted or lymyted to have or enioye
283 annye parte of my landes gooddes or chattells aforesaide and everie of theme in so doeinge and
284 offendinge this my mynde in my last will and testament shall for ever lose the benefitt of this my
285 laste will, and Testamente, to all entents and purposes and the Legacies and devises to theme and
286 everie of theme or annye of theme by the same gevens devised or bequeathed, and whiche otherwise
287 theye or annye of them, in not so doinge or offendinge mighte have had and enioyed. As thoughe
288 no mencions at all hadd beene made in this my laste Testamente of annye suche gifte devise or
289 Legacie And that then in everie suche case as aforesayd I doe geve and bequeathe by this my last
290 will and Testament the same porcion of my sayde goods and Landes to the resydue of my sayde
291 sonnes not so offendinge and to suche others aforesaide not so offendinge to whome I have made
292 the Lymytacions of the contynuaunce and enioyinge the reside of my sayde Landes, goods and
293 chattells to be equallye and indifferentlie devided and apporcioned amongeste theme. And
294 I doe make my sayde sonne William Blake my executor of this my last will and testament
295 Provided nevertheless and this my last will is, That if the saide William shall not or doe
296 not take uppon him the execucion and executorshipp of this my last will and Testament, or that
297 he and his issue male aforesaide shall not trewlye and iustlie paye all, the Legacies of this my
298 last will and also shall not doe accomplishe and performe the same thorowlye accordinge to my
299 entente and meaninge expressed in this my last will and testamenete, in all respectes whatsoever, or
300 shall not within one monneth after my deceasse become in sufficient bond unto my overseers or
301 suche of theme as shal[l ]be lyvinge at the tyme of my decease, or if theye shall happen to be deceased
302 to the Bisshopp of the dioces for the tyme beinge to obeye and performe this my laste will and
303 Testament, That then I will my said legacie and gifte before to him and his heires males bequethed
304 and geven as well of my Landes as of my goods utterlye to surceasse and to be voyde and of none
305 effecte, And then I doe make my saide sonne John my executor of this my last will and testament
306 to see the same well and trulye performed Annye thinge before mencioned to the contrarie notw[i]th
307 standinge. And I doe by this my last will and testament appointe my verye trustie and welbeloved
308 freindes Richard Sotwell, Doctor of the Civill Lawe, and Andrewe Reade gent to be my ov[er]seers.
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309 givinge willinge and grauntinge theme and the longest lyver of theme full power and Authoritie by this my last will
310 and testamente yf theye shall so please to determyn decide and ende all ambiguities, doubtes, questions or debate
311 whatsoever whiche hereafter duringe their lyves or the longest lyver of theme shall happen to fall owte
312 amongest my saide children, or annye other to whome I have geven annye of my Landes or gooddes unto
313 by this my will conc[e]rninge this my last will and Testamente or anny matter conteyned therein
314 And I doe bequeathe to eche of my saide overseers in token of my good will towardes theme for theire
315 paynes Fowrtie shillings a peece to be delyvered within one monneth uppon my deceasse. In witnes
316 whereof I have to everie paper leaffe of this my will sette my signe and marke, Geven the Seaven
317 and twentithe daie of Julye one Thousande fyve hundred eightie two. Anno Regni Regine [domine ]n[ost]re Elizabethe
318 vicesimo Quarto. And further have to theise presentes putte my mark and sette my seale. witness
319 the same those whose names are under writtenn William Stotwell, Richarde Stotwell, John
320 Sotwell, An: Reade, John Deane
321 Probatum fuit suprascriptum testamentum apud London. Coram venerabili viro
322 mag[ist]ro Willi[el]mi Drurye legum doctore curie prerogative Cantuarien[sis] commissario etc Decimo
323 Quarto die mensis Novembris Anno Domini mill[es]imo quingentesimo octagesimo secundo. Juramento Petri
324 Johnson notarij publici procuratoris Willi[a]m Blake filij et executoris etc Cui commissa fuit administrac[io]
325 bonorum etc De bene etc Jurat[e]
So I publish the will but will actually continue looking at the 1300s for the moment and work my way down the Pedigree Chart. I would in this month I have given myself to examine the le Blak family see if I can come up with something that could resemble a hypothesis and then start collecting documents I do not yet have. It can be a back burner sort of thing since it isn't actually the Andover Blake family but the possibility remains that there is a kinship between this Blake family initially at Wargrave and the Andover Blake just because of historical references that occur over time. This William (d 1582) was the only Blake who would be considered "wealthy" perhaps in this time frame. The others were less wealthy but somewhat affluent before the Commonwealth - that does seem to have affected this family as they appeared to be Royalist inclined just having listened to my grandfather talk about his family. And his statement that we were not related to Robert Blake who was an English naval officer who served as General at Sea and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports from 1656 to 1657. Robert Blake served under Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War and hence a parliamentarian and supporter of the Commonwealth which existed in England for a short period until the restoration of the monarchy namely Charles II in 1660. Looking at the records, life did not improve for this Blake family at Andover following Restoration as the Blake family name was associated with the Commonwealth. My grandfather insisting that we were not related has much to do with the Publication of Horatio Gates Somerby's private publication for a Blake family in the United States where a Nicholas Blake is said to be the brother of Humphrey Blake the father of the Admiral. That it was published in 1881 and my grandfather would have been a youngster at the time and it must have been a discussion of interest that lasted until my own father was born and they were still talking about Nicholas of Old Hall when I was a child. Nicholas did not have a brother Humphrey and it is interesting that this family went to such detail in their wills to say who their siblings were. No ideas on that because other wills also do that. Nicholas was the father of this William (d 1582) whose will is included above this paragraph! But why so much discussion on Nicholas in the late 1800s and indeed still in my time within my family. Nicholas, although he left a will, was not wealthy by any means.
So today bringing together all of the material in a folder so that I have access to it as I review the Pedigree Chart.
The known Blake family at Calne: John I (d 1395), lawyer, represented the Calne borough in the Parliaments of 1381, 1384 and 1385. His son John II (bc 1388) (source: https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/blake-john-ii-1388 ). The biography of the family identifies this Blake family as one of the oldest and most substantial burgess families in Calne (HMC Var. iv. 110-12; A.E.W. Marsh, His. Calne, 186.)
A History of the Borough and Town of Calne and some account of the Villages, etc., in its vicinity, A.E.W. Marsh F.R. Hist. Soc. The preface has the date 1903 and the printer in Calne: Robert S Heath; London: Castle, Lamb and Store 133, Salisbury Square. There are entries for Blake on pages 54, 119, 133-4, 184, 186, 188.
P. 54 Robert Blake, Burgess Steward 1565
P. 199 Payment of a fine for refusal to accept the honour of knighthood at the coronation of Charles 1 - Richard Blake, Pinhills 12 pounds, Henry Blake, Pinhills, 10 pounds
P. 133-4 Certificate of 37 Henry VIII - profits of hospital go to Richard Blag (Blake), master there; 2 Edward VI value of property 4 pounds 4 shillings 6 pence that Robert Blake at the age of 26 years is the incumbent and that the sayd incumbent is no preeste but hadde the sayd priory of Free Chapel gyven unto hym for his Exibytyon to give hym to scole. Patent Roll 2 Edward VI pt 5. The hospital is called the Priory or Free Chapel of John the Baptist in this grant.
p. 135 John Blake is mentioned with respect to the Chantry of St Mary Magdalene of Calne
p. 184 Associated with Calne and at Pinhills for four hundrd years (Jackson, Wiltshire Archeological Magazine, vol xxiv, p. 190. in the collection of a xvth and xth in 7 Edward III. Robert le Blake is shown as a burgess of Calne and pays as his share 18 shillings 1.25 pence, proving that at this time Robert was by far the most wealthy burgess of the borough. In 1381, and for several years to 1413, Johannes Blake was one of the borough M.P's. In 1698 Henry Blake of the same family was also a member. In the collection of a Benevolence, 36 Henry VIII, Roger Blake, gent, is shown as of Stock (Calne) and pays 26 s 8 pence. Lower in the same list a Robert Blake appears. To be continued on the next Blake day which will be Tuesday.
Sunday and the Lord's Day and it is Lent. I think working with people who were Muslim was really an important happening in my life. Up until that time I did not know anyone who was of the Islamic faith. It did give me an insight into how people felt about their faith and as a Catholic Christian faith has always been very important to me. I did feel mutual respect for each other's faith which gave me an entirely new understanding of Islam.
Like the Christian faith during Lent for the fourty days in the wilderness that Jesus spent being a very important part of the Christian Church Year so also is Ramadam in the life of people with the Islamic faith. Since I tend to be rather in deep thought during the Lenten period so I understand that the Islamic faith will have their time for seculsion and deep religious time during Ramadam. Interesting that this year these two times overlap. The world is pulling together to get food to Gaza by sea now. 80% of Gaza is destroyed and too many people have died including the massacre of the innocents on October 7th last in Israel and the continuing refusal to release the Israeli hostages taken from their own land to Gaza by Hamas. Had Hamas obeyed the laws of God it never would have happened and those 30,000+ Palestinians would still be alive. Hamas must go from the lives of the people of Gaza. UNRWA must disappear they only teach hate even if they do effectively distribute food. Neither of these groups help the people of Gaza move forward into a richer life. Israel, on the other hand, which also faced a displacement in the 1940s settled on their land (and their deep ancestral right to this land can not be contested) and they have developed their lands into a productive country where all do well including non-Jews of whom there is apparently one-third of the population. The United Nations has always ruled in favour of the ancient peoples right to their land and it can be no different this time. The only way forward is for the Palestinians to now take up the hoe and plant Gaza and produce a country for their children so they are no longer living off of the United Nations generation after generation (people work hard for their money and donate to the United Nations and we prefer to see people like the Rohingya receive their due share as their lives have been so much harder than anyone else really). The Palestinians did not have their own land before (colonials must give way to the rights of ancient peoples) and now they have Gaza; Israel left Gaza to them for their homeland. Colonials have to accept what is given and not try to take what isn't theirs. So God speed to all as food is being prepared to go to Gaza and start this new life. Hamas, as usual, is the cause of no ceasefire as they are terrorists and incapable of becoming good citizens of the world. They must be outed; find someplace for them out in the ocean perhaps where they can do no harm and the same is true of the Houthis and Hezbollah all created by Iran to disrupt the world because they are Satanic Evil people.
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