I would like to finish up the chapter on the Blake Pedigree Chart and the Blake Family Chart as soon as possible. Although I am sure I will revisit the chapter throughout writing the entire book. I spent time reviewing what I had written already in the chapter and cleaned up the paragraphs to satisfy my proofreading tendencies! and making sure that I had all the footnoting that was needed.
I continued looking at Robert le Blake and doing a proof of life with a set of documents which referred to Quemberford as that is a known location for the Calne Blake family over a long time period.
Probably my approach at this point is to look at Richard le Blak and the frequency of his name in the early records. Is he the same person appearing in Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Hampshire? If one is setting up a market perhaps one would cover a lot of territory.
Searching British History Online (BHO) I find a Richard le Blake at Severn Stoke in the County of Worcestershire at Naunton and the land dealing in this case was in 1275. In 1276 Nicholas le Blake, John le Blake, Thomas le Blake and Richard le Blake paid subsidies at Naunton, Worcestershire. Nicholas le Blac appears on the Gt. Roll of Pipe (Worcestershire), 204 Hen. II (Rec. Com.), 157). Source: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol4/pp192-197.
The manor of BLACK NAUNTON (Newenton, xiv cent.) may probably be identified with the lands of Robert le Blake, or Blac, who in 1180–1 (fn. 106) paid relief for his lands, amounting to half a knight's fee, in Severn Stoke. (fn. 107) This entry is repeated in the two following years. (fn. 108) In 1195 this or another Robert le Blake gave 2 marks 'for having his inheritance in Severn Stoke, which was worth a mark yearly.' (fn. 109) In 1237–8 Robert 'le Neir' gave to Avice widow of Richard de Severn Stoke a third part of 3½ virgates of land in Naunton which Avice claimed as dower. (fn. 110)
John D'Abitot in 1265 granted to Thomas le Blake and Agatha his wife lands in Hillfield in Severn Stoke, (fn. 111) which they in 1271–2 granted to Geoffrey de la Hide. (fn. 112) Nicholas le Blake of Naunton dealt with lands here in 1275. (fn. 113) Adam de Naunton in 1274–5 narrowed the king's way in the vill of Naunton. (fn. 114) In 1276 he was assessed at 2s. under Severn Stoke, while John, Thomas, Richard and Nicholas le Blake also paid subsidies here. (fn. 115) In 1315 Alice de Naunton was returned as holder of a quarter of a fee in Naunton under Robert Clifford. (fn. 116) Reginald le Blake was a landowner in Severn Stoke in 1332–3. (fn. 117)
As a manor Black Naunton first appears in the 15th century in the possession of John Throckmorton, (fn. 118) who enfeoffed John Cade and others to make an estate for one Thomas Greet. (fn. 119) Thomas left it to his wife Margery, who married as her second husband Thomas Washbourne. The manor appears to have reverted to the Throckmortons, however, for in 1518 Sir Robert Throckmorton died seised of Black Naunton Manor, held of Lord Clifford. (fn. 120) He was succeeded by his son George, who in 1543–4 mortgaged the manor to John Legh of London. (fn. 121) Black Naunton is mentioned in the will of Sir George Throckmorton, 1552, (fn. 122) and his son and heir, Sir Robert Throckmorton, sold it in 1562 to John Folliott of Pirton, (fn. 123) with which manor Black Naunton has since descended. (fn. 124)
BLAKE'S FARM was held of the manor of Clifton, (fn. 125) probably by the Blake family. It is first mentioned in 1539, being given by Richard Monington to his daughter Sybil and her husband Sir Rowland Morton. The latter died in 1554 and was succeeded by a son Richard. (fn. 126) Sybil was holding the property in 1556 (fn. 127) and 1576. (fn. 128) In 1603 Thomas Morton and Anne his wife, Rowland Morton and John Morton granted it to James Morton. (fn. 129) It was conveyed in 1651 by Sir William Morton, kt., (fn. 130) and Anne his wife to Thomas Peirson and Richard Williams. (fn. 131
Reading through this and knowing that there were many Blake founding families in England, I think this is a separate family in that it dates back to a Robert le Blake or Blac already in England in 1180-1 at the manor of Black Naunton in Severn Stoke, Worcestershire. Interesting that he has descendants including a Thomas le Blake in 1265 and a Nicholas le Blake in 1275. Further descendants are named John, Thomas, Richard and Nicholas le Blake in 1276. I shall keep this for a story in the Blake Newsletter as there are Blake members in the study who trace back to this area in England.
Moving forward ever forward, in the book " A history of the borough and town of Calne, and some account of the villages, etc., in its vicinity" by A.E.W. Marsh R.F. Hist. Soc. published London, Castle, Lamb and Store 139, Salisbury Square and printed by Hazell, Watson and Viney, LD. London and Aylesbury and the Preface is dated Calne, 1903, on page 186: "7 Edward III (Jan 1333-Jan 1334) Robert le Blake is shown as a burgess of Calne, and pays as his share 18s 2.5d. The next highest amount paid by any burgess is 6s. 1.25 d, proving that at this time Robert was by far the most wealthy burgess of the borough." That he was a burgess one would assume that he was over 21 in Jan 1333-Jan 1334. I will go through the book and see if there is any indication of the presence of Blake earlier than this date in Calne.
On page 134 Robert Blake is identified as 26 years of age (2 Edw VI (1548-1549)) (presumably this is the grandson of Robert Blake brother to John Blake who left Pinhills to him in 1504). I will continue to look at this book next Blake day. I also need to get into the records for Rouen, Normandy to have a look at the le Blac family there.
Teatime and Latin.
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