Will of John Blake of Wheatenhurst, Gloucestershire - Diocese of Bristol Wills on Ancestry, probated 20 Aug 1556

Another will that fits in with yesterday’s will of John Blake at Standish. This John in his will mentions his brother John Blake of Standish. Possibly though the will of John Blake yesterday is a nephew of this man whose will is transcribed and blogged today.

John Blake, is in his will, mentions his sons Henry and Richard and his daughters Anne and Eleanor. His wife is Margaret Blake. He also mentions a bond with a William Baylye. Also his brother in law William Thue. Francis Haynes also receives a legacy. He even mentions the possibility of an unborn child.

Interesting to find the relationship between these two John Blakes. Another name for Wheatenhurst is Whitminster.

Consistory Court of Gloucester, Wheatenhurst, will number 39, year 1556 GDR/Wills/1556 (39).
Ancestry.com. Gloucestershire, England, Wills and Inventories, 1541-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
Original data: Gloucestershire Probate Records. Diocese of Gloucestershire, Finding Reference GDR, Wills and Inventories. Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester, UK.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 15 Jul 2014
Source: Ancestry – Diocese of Bristol Wills
Testator:  John Blake
Place: Wheatenhurst, Gloucestershire, England
Type of Record: Probate
Date of document: 2 Aug 1556; probated 20 Aug 1556
Condition: 16th century English, legible copy

[Top]: T[estament] John Blake
[Top]: 86
[Wrapper]: Johannis blake imp de wheatenhurst p[ro]bat glouc coram 20 Auguste 1556 _____

1    In the name of god Amen the seconde day of Auguste
2    yre of o[u]r Lord god a thowsand Fyve hundred fyftie and sixe
3    and in the thirde and Fourethe yere of the raigne of o[u]r Sovergnes
4    philippe and Marie By the grace of god kinge and queen of England
5    Espagne and frannce the Bothe Sicils jhurusalem and Ireland defenders
6    of the faythe Archduks of Austrie duks of myllayne burgandie
7    and Brabant Countes of hasbpurge Flaunders and Tiroll I John
8    Blake of the parishe of wheatenhurst in the Countie and diocese of
9    Gloucestre beynge sycke in my bodie nevertheless of whole and perfite reme[m]brance
10    doo make and ordeyne thys my Last will and testament in maner and forme
11    folowynge First I bequeythe my sowle to allmightie god my
12    maker redeemer and savior and for our blessed ladie Sainte Marie the Virgin
13    and to all the blessed companye of saints in haven and my Bodie to be
14    buried in the churche yard of my parisshe churche of wheaten
15    hurst aforesaide Also I geve and bequeythe to my parishe churche
16    of wheatenhurst aforesaide iij s iiij d to be employed and bestowed
17    upon the most necessarie thyngs that be lackyng there Also I
18    geve and bequeythe to henrie Blake my eldest sonne twentie
19    pounds in readie moneye remayngnge at this present tyme w[i]t[h] the
20    hands of willia[m] baylye of wheatenhurst aforesaide Also I geve and bequeythe
21    to Richard Blake my younger sonne twentie pounds in readie moneye
22    remaynynge w[i]t[h] the hands of the said willia[m] baylye Whiche two
23    severall Summes of moneye I will and my mynd is that my said
24    two sonnes shall receive at the hands of the oversears of this my last will and testament underwriten and enioye at sowche tyme and when they and eyther
25    of them shall come to the age of xviij yeres or rather if the said oversears
26    of this my last will and testament  shall thyncke mete
27    and conveniente Also I geve and bequeythe to Anne blake my
28    dawghter twentie pounds in readie moneye remaynynge w[i]t[h] the hands
29    of the saide willia[m] baylye Also I geve and bequeythe to Eleanor
30    Blake my dawghter twentie pounds in readie money remaynynge
31    in the hands of the saide willia[m] baylye Also if it so fortune
32    that margarete Blake my wyf so be with child at this presents
33    I geve and bequeythe to that child twentie pounds in readie moneye
34    remaynynge w[i]tph] the hands of the said willia[m] baylye whiche two
35    severall summes of money by me geven to the said Anne Blake
36    and Eleanor Blake I will that they shall receive the same of my
37    said oversears at the daye of theire mariages or rather if my said
38    overseares shall thyncke meete and conveniente And as touching
39    the child that my wyf goythe w[i]thall (if it shall please god so to be)
40    if it be a manchild I will that the said twentie pounds
    [Page 2]
41    shall be payed to hym after souche sorte and man[ner] as I have willed
42    to my twoe other sonnes henrie and Richard And if the said child
43    shall be a woman child than I will she shall be payed after
44    suche sorte and maner as Anne and Eleanor my twoe other dawghters
45    shall be payed And if it shall so happen that the saide Margaret
46    my wyf to be not with child at this present than I will and by
47    this my present testament doe geve and dispose the said twentie
48    pounds geven to that child to my said fowre childerne henrie
49    Blake Richard Blake Anne Blake and Eleanor Blake equallie
50    to be divided between them For all the whiche severall
51    summes of money before specified the said willia[m] baylie standethe
52    Bonde to me the said John Blake in three severall Billes
53    obligatory whiche three severall bills obligatory I will
54    that they shall remayne in the hands of my said oversears
55    to th[e ]use of my said childerne And if the said willia[m]
56    baylye his executor assignes doe make default of payment of
57    the said Summes of money mencioned in the said bills obligatory
58    at sowche dayes as the same money ought to be payed them I
60    will that myne executrix under written shall putte in sute
61    the said willia[m] Baylye his executor assignes for the non
62    payment of the said moneye at his costs and charges Also I
63    will that if any of my said twoe sonnes doe dye before they be
64    xviij yeres of age or that any of my said daughters doe dye before the
65    day of theire marriage then I will that the parte or parts of hym
66    her or them so dyeing shall remayne to the survivors or
67    survivor of my said childerne And if it happen that all
68    my said childerne doe dye afore the tyme above limited by me
69    be the receipte of the two legacies than I will that all theire said legacies shall remayne to
70    margarete Blake my wyffe and theire mother Also I geve and
71    bequeythe to everyoon of my godchilderne a xij d Also I geve
72    and bequeythe to Francise Haynes a vj s vij d The residue
73    of all my goods catalls and debts above not geven nor bequeythed
74    my detts and funerals discharged I geve and bequeythe to the
75    saide margarete blake my wyffe whome I make my sole
76    executrices of this my last will and testament to th[e ]intent
77    that she shall brynge up my said childerne vertuouslye
    [Page 3]
78    and to dispose the resdue as she shall thyncke good And I make
79    and ordeyne John Blake of the parishe of Standishe in the saide
80    countie of Glouc my brother and William thue of wheatenhurst
81    foresaide my brother in Lawe the oversears of this my last
82    will and testament to th[e ]intente that they shall see the same
83    well and trewelye in all poynts accomplisshed and performed
84    And eyther of theym shall have for theire paynes herein taken
85    and to be taken a xx s of legall englisshe money witnesses
86    here unto John parke will[ia]m thue and Richard Haynes
87    with others Jone thue  Elizabethe park and Alice hawelynge
88    with others

Will of John Blake, Hurstborne Tarrant, Hampshire - Hampshire Record Office 1559A-019, probated 31 Dec 1559

John Blake the testator does not give any ideas as to his siblings or parents. He has one older child since he mentions his daughter Christian Yong and a son in law John Bayly who was perhaps his wife’s child by an earlier marriage or another daughter of John who has married. His wife Annes is pregnant with another child. St Andrews Church is at Hurstborne Priors. The church at Hurstborne Tarrant is St Peter.

There is on Family Search under index M14667-1 a marriage between John Blake and Agnes Hendy at Hurstbourne Tarrant. Under FreeReg the marriage date is given a 15 Aug 1558.

There are a number of Blake marriages at Hurstbourne Tarrant:

Thomas Blake married Elizabeth Dowling 19 Oct 1601
Mr John Blake married Mrs Alice Reade 21 Jun 1664
John Blake married Margaret Harehood[sp] 27 Oct 1673
Peter Blake married An Godfery 24 Jun 1677
William Blake married Sarah Green 9 May 1749
John Blake married Mary Johnson 12 May 1773
Mary Blake married Edward Piper 18 Nov 1775
William Blake married Joanna Beer 19 Jul 1779
Mary Blake married Lazarus Guy 9 May 1785
Elizabeth Blake married Robert Worman 20 Jul 1795
Thomas Blake married Elizabeth Veryman 22 Dec 1806
Mary Blake married William Park 29 Apr 1811

And at Hurstbourne Priors

Sarah Blake married Silvester Deane 14 Nov 1607
Thomas Blake married Mary Harfell 12 May 1756
Mary Blake married William May 9 Apr 1780
Thomas Blake married Francis Appleton 12 Jun 1780
Thomas Blake married Jane Hull 29 May 1784
Sarah Blake married Thomas Self 18 Jan 1787

No baptisms or burials were entered into this database for Hurstbourne Tarrant or Hurstbourne Priors.

Could John be a son of Thomas who left his will in 1541?

Another Inventory with its very interesting items. This is a huge document I suspect as my copy is 11 inches by 17 inches on two pages. The handwriting is very large. These Hampshire wills appear to be the original documents printed probably from the microfilm. Having the similar surnames for witnesses is interesting – Munday, Goldyng. Does make one suspect that this is perhaps the same Blake family however the Munday and Goldyng families were also large in the areas.

I have just one will left from my bundle of 14 Hampshire wills that I got for Christmas. Such a very good idea and will pursue that thought in the future! The last will is for William Crowtch as he names his sister Margaret Blake so had to have that particular one. Acquiring this particular set of wills was as a result of the work of Charlou Dolan who painstakingly went through the Indexes for Hampshire Wills and prepared a list of over 100 pertinent wills for the Blake family. I have been ordering them from the Record Office and from Family Search. I will borrow the indexes eventually to collect the details for the wills from 1700 to 1900 for the Blake families in Hampshire.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 20 Feb 2014
Source: Hampshire Record Office, 1559A-019
Testator: John Blake
Place: Hurstborne Tarrant (burial location), Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Dec 1558, probated 31 Dec 1559
Condition: 16th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: 1559A-019

1    In the name of God Amen In the yere of o[u]r lorde god
2    an[n]o D[omin]I etc lviii th and the xxiij th day of December y
3    Joh[ahn]n[is] Blake beying sicke yn bodye but (thancks
4    be gevyn unto god) of a good mynde and memorie
5    do make my testament and last wyll after the
6    forme and man[ner] folowying first y gyve and
7    bequeth my sowle unto almyghtty god o[u] blesyd
8    lady seynte mary and all the holy co[m]pany yn hevyn
9    and my body to be buryed yn th[e] churchyard of seynt
10    androwys yn husb[or]n tarawnt It[em] y geve to th[e]
11    churche of husb[or]n tarawnt a shepe It[e]m y geve
12    to chrystyan yong my dowter vi shpe and my
13    best coverlet It[e]m y geve to the child that my
14    wyfe hath wyth[in] all vi shepe and a bullock
15    yf yt leve and be chryscenyd It[e]m y bequeth
16    to John bayly my son yn law a cow the The
17    rest of my goods not bequethyd y geve and
18    bequeth to annes my wyfe whome y mak
19    my hole executrix these being wytnessys to
20    this my last wyll Sy[r] Thomas statwood vicar
21    Robert munday John lake and George goldyng
22    Probate pe l[as]te day 1559___
23    etc etc
    [Page 2]
24    In primis    ij horssys    xiij s
25    It[e]m    xx shepe    xxxiij s iiij d
26    It[e]m    a weynlyng calf    iiij s
27    It[e]m    iiij pygs    x s
28    It[em]    iiij hens and a cock    xv d
29    It[em]    ij gess and a gander    xiij d
30    It[em]    iiij acars and an halfe of whete y[n] ye fleds     xvj s
31    It[em]     xij busshells of barley    x s
32    It[em]     a plow and a lytt and a lyttyll cart w[i]th all thynes longng unto the same    vij s
33    It[em]     ij brasse potts and ij posnetts    v s
34    It[em]    a cawdry and v kyttylls    x s
35    It[em]     vi platters iij potygers and iij sawcers    v s
36    It[em]    iij lyttyll candylstycke    vi d
37    It[em]    ij flocke beds and ij bolsters    v s
38    It[em]    iiij coverleds and iij pere of shetes    vj s viij d
39    It[em]    vj cofers    iiij s
40    It[e]m    a vate ij kevers and iiij barells and iiij kyvers and my tubbes    vj s viij d
41    It[e]m    a cubbert    ij s
43    It[em]    an ax and a byll    viij s
44    It[em]    a pot of ashes a pott hanggells and a broche    xij s
45    It[e]m    a borde and a forme    vj s
46        Su[mme] to[ta]ls    vij li ij s vij d

Will of John Blake, Hurstborne Tarrant, Hampshire - Hampshire Record Office 1559A-019, probated 24 Mar 1559 (old style)

John Blake, the testator, lives at Hurstborne Tarrant. He is married to Annes and has a daughter Christian and his wife is expecting another baby. His son in law is John Bayly (perhaps he married a widow with a son John). I wonder if this Blake family is related to the Blake family at and near Andover. He doesn't mention them.

His inventory is lengthy and he was likely a tenant. No property is mentioned neither freehold, leasehold or copyhold. He has a lengthy inventory list amounting to seven pounds two shillings and seven pence. In todays terms this might be using the website: www.measuringworth.com

£2,290.00 using the retail price index

£34,200.00 using average earnings

There was a Mundy family at Hurstborne Tarrant into the 1700s and a charity founded by this family in 1706. I could not find mention of the Blake family at Hurstborne Tarrant in British History online where I found the information about the Mundy family. No mention of Stratgood, Lake or Golding families there.

There are several mentions for Blake in the present village of Hurstborne Tarrant.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 3 Jan 2014
Source: Hampshire Record Office, 1559A-019
Testator: John Blake
Place: Hurstborne Tarrant, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Dec 1558, probated 24 Mar 1559
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: 1559A/019/1

1    In the Name of god Amen In the yere of o[u]r lord god
2    M D and lviij th and the xxiij th day of December Y
3    John Blake beying sicke yn bodye but (thancks
4    be gevyn unto god) of a good mynde and reme[b]ra[nce]
5    do make my testament and last wyll after the
6    forme and man[ner] folowyng first y _____ and be
7    bequeath my sowle unto almyghtty god o[u]r blessyd
8    lady seynte mary and all the holy co[m]pany yn hevyn
9    and my body to be buryed y nth[e] churchyard of seyn
10    androwys yn husb[or]n tarawnt It[em] Y geve to th[e]
11    church of husb[or]n tarawnte a shepe It[e]m Y geve
12    to chrystyan yeng my dowter vj shpe and my
13    best coverlet It[e]m y geve to the child that my
14    wyfe doth wyth all vj shepe and a bullock and
15    yf yt lyve and be chryscenye It[e]m y bequeath
16    to John bayly my son yn law a cow the The
17    rest of my goods not bequethyd y geve and
18    bequeath to annes my wyfe whome y mak
19    my hole executrix these being wytnessys to
20    this my last wyll Thomas Stratgood vicar
21    Robert munday John lake and George goldyng
22    Probate geven upon the l[as]te day 1559 ________
23    etc etc
        [Inventory]
24    In primis ij horssys                 xiij s j d
25    It[e]m xx shepe                       xxxiij s iiij d
26    It[e]m a weynlying calf           iiij s
27    It[e]m iiij pygs                         x s
28    It[e]m iiij hens and a cock        x s
29    It[e]m ij gese and a gander       xiij s
30    It[e]m iiij acars and an halfe of whete y[n] ye fld    6 s vij d
31    It[e]m xij busshells of barley      x s
32    Ite[m] a plow and a lytt and a lyttyle cart w[i]th all    vij s
33    thym blongyng unto the same
34    It[em] ij brasse potts and ij posnetts       v s
35    It[em] a cawdry and skyttylls          x s
36    It[em] vi platters iiij potygers and iij sawcers    v s
37    It[em] iij lyttyle candylstycke         vi s
38    It[em] ij flocke bed and ij bolsters    v s
39    It[em] iiij coverleds and iij pere of shtes   vi s viij d
40    It[em] vi cofers       iij s
41    It[e]m a vate ij kevers and iiij barells        vi s viij d
43    and iiij kyvers and my tubes
44    It[e]m a cubbert                                     ij s
45    It[em] ax and a byll                   vij d
46    It[em] a pot of led a pott hanggells                xij d
47    and a broche
48    It[e]m a bedde and a forme              vi s
49    Su[m] to[ta]ls    vij li ij s vij d

Will of Mary Blake, Spinster, Bath, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/1464/79, probated 8 Jul 1807

Mary Blake the testatrix is possibly an aunt of John Blake whose will was blogged earlier:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/10/will-of-john-blake-gentleman-st-james.html

In the will of John Blake, he left his property to his sister Anne for life and then to the Taylor family. The John Blake nephew is likely this John Blake which gives us the name of the father of John, Valentina, Anne and possibly Charles from the writeup on the will of John Blake. This lends more credence to the idea that this is the family of John Blake, apothecary at Bath mentioned in the writeup of Charles Blake in Canadian Bibliography.

William Taylor (brother in law) is still living at this time and she mentions the children of her niece Valentia Taylor and William Taylor namely Anna, Mary, Valentina, Julia and son William.  Anna has married George John Savage at the time that she gave witness as deponent.


Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 19 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1464/79
Testator: Mary Blake, Spinster
Place: Bath, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 17 Sep 1790, probated 8 Jul 1807
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Mary
[Margin]: Blake

1    This is the last Will
2    and Testament of me Mary Blake of the City of
3    Bath Spinster in the first I will that all my Just
4    debts funeral Expences together with the costs of proving
5    this my will shall be paid and then I give
6    and bequeath to my Nephew John Blake my
7    Silver Coffee pot to my Niece Anna Taylor daughter
8    of Mr William Taylor Bookseller my Silver Writing
9    Stand to Mary Taylor daughter of the said William
10    Taylor my six silver Table spoons my six best
11    Tea Spoons and Tea Tongs my Silver Cream Jug
12    and my pair of plates candlesticks together with all
13    my wearing apparel to Valentina Taylor all the
14    remainder of my Silver plate not hereinbefore disposed
15    of and my China Horn I give to Mrs Mary Horseman
16    of No. 18 Windmill Street West ___tives the Sum of
17    fifty pounds in case she shall be living at the
18    time of my death but in case she shall be then
19    dead then I will and direct that the said fifty pounds
20    shall be equally divided betwixt her Son and
21    daughter and paid to them respectively but in case either
22    of them shall be dead at the decease of their
23    said Mother then the said fifty pounds to be paid
24    to the Survivor his or her Executors or administrators
25    I also give and bequeath to the said Mary horseman
26    my Silver Watch Chain and Seals thereto belonging
27    Item I give to William Taylor Son of the said
28    William Taylor and to his Sister Julia Taylor
29    the Sum of fifty pounds apiece to be by my Executors
30    hereinafter named paid to them on their respectively
31    attaining their respective ages of twenty one years
32    together with the Interest thereof as it is my Will
33    that the same respective Sums shall be placed
34    out at Interest and in the mean time improved
35    to the best advantage Item as to all the rest residue
36    and remainder of my Estate and Effects Estates Goods
37    Chattels and Effects together with my ready money and
38    securities for money not before given or disposed of
39    I do hereby give devise and bequeath to the said
40    John Blake and William Taylor and to the
41    survivor of them his Executors and administrators
42    [Page 2]
43    In Trust for them and the Survivor of them
44    his Executors and administrators to divide the same
45    as near as may be equally betwixt the said
46    Anna Taylor Mary Taylor and Valentina Taylor
47    as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants
48    and to the Survivors and Survivor of them her
49    executors and administrators but in case this
50    could be done amicably to the satisfaction of my
51    said Executors then I will and direct them and
52    the Survivor of them his Executors and admors
53    to convert my said residuary Estate into money and
54    for that purpose to sell all and singular my said
55    my said residuary Estate and Estates Goods Chattels and Effects by auction or
56    otherwise as they in their discretion shall think
57    best and the produce thereof after paying all Expences
58    attendant on such Sale as aforesaid I do hereby
59    direct my said Trustees and the Survivor of them
60    his Executors and administrators to divide the
61    same together with my said residuary ready
62    moneys and Securities for money equally betwixt
63    the said Anna Taylor Mary Taylor and Valentina
64    Taylor and the Survivors and Survivor of them her
65    executors and administrators and I will that the
66    purchaser or purchasers in case of such Sale as
67    aforesaid of any part of my said residuary Estate or
68    Estates shall not be answerable or accountable for
69    the misapplication or nonapplication of his her
70    or their purchase money and the receipt or receipts
71    of my said Executors and the Survivor of them his
72    executors of administrators shall be a full discharge
73    to such purchaser or purchasers for his her or
74    their purchase money respectively Item it is my
75    will and I do hereby direct that my said
76    Trustees and Executors hereinafter named and
77    the Survivor of them his Executors and
78    administrators shall reimburse themselves and himself
79    out of my said Trust Estates all reasonable costs
80    charges and Expences which they may be at or
81    put unto for or by reason of the management
82    thereof or in any wise relating thereunto and
83    that they or either of them shall not be answerable
84    or accountable for the acts or receipts of each
85    other but each for his own acts and receipts
86    only and lastly I do hereby nominate constitute
87    and appoint the said John Blake and William
88    Taylor the elder Executors In trust of this my
89    last Will and Testament contained in three sides
90    of three sheets of paper to the two first sides
91    whereof I have set my hand and to this
92    third and last my hand and Seal this
93    seventeenth day of September in the year of
    [Page 3]
94    our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety
95    Mary Blake Signed sealed published and declared
96    by the said Testatrix Mary Blake as and for her last
97    Will and Testament in the presence of us who in
98    her presence and in the presence of each other and
99    at her request have subscribed our Names as
100    witnesses Zachary Bayly Tolocombe neer Bater 1790
101    Thos Tuppen Clerk to Mr Bayly
102    Whereas I Mary Blake of Bath in the
103    County of Somerset Spinster have made and duly executed
104    my last Will and Testament in Writing as before
105    mentioned I do hereby declare this present writing to be
106    a Codicil to my said Will and I do direct the same to be annexed to Hereto I give and bequeath to my worthy friend
107    Mary Southwood of Dunster forty pounds as an
108    acknowledgement for her goodness given me in my
109    late Ilness I likewise give to my Nephew John
110    Blake forty pounds I likewise give to Anna Blake his
111    sister forty pounds I likewise give to Julia Rougge
112    my diamond Mourning Ring if I die in Bath its
113    my desire to be buried in the Vault at Saint James’s
114    as near my dear Brother as possible which I beg my
115    nephew the only trust now living to see executed
116    and I do hereby ratify my said Will in all other
117    particulars thereof as witness my hand Mary
118    Blake August 24 1795
119    In addition to the above I revoke the Sum of forty
120    pounds left to Mary Southwood and leave her only
121    twenty pounds and I bequeath my Nephew John
122    Blake Sixty pounds added to the forty above making in
123    the whole one hundred pounds Mary Blake Oct[obe]r 25
124    1805 The additional Codicil was made October twenty
125    fifth one thousand eight hundred and five and
126    to which I am Witness Anna Savage
127    in the prerogative Court of Canterbury
128    in the Goods of Mary Blake Spinster deceased
129    appeared this twenty fifth day of June 1807
130    Anna Savage Wife of John Savage of the Parish
131    of Bathwick in the County of Somerset Bookseller and
132    Mary Taylor of the City of Bath Spinster and made
133    oath that they know and were well acquainted with
134    Mary Blake late of the City of Bath Spinster for
135    several years before and until her death and also
136    with her manner and Character of handwriting and
137    subscription having frequently seen her write and
138    also write and subscribe her name and these deponents
139    having attentively observed the paper writing hereunto
140    annexed the same being attached to the last will
    [Page 4]
141    and Testament of the said deceased and purporting
142    to be and contain a Codicil thereto beginning thus
143    “Whereas I Mary Blake of Bath in the County of
144    Somerset Spinster” ending thus “ as witness my hand
145    Mary Blake August twenty fourth 1795 and likewise
146    having observed the subscription Mary Blake written
147    under and additional Codicil to the said Will and
148    appearing written under the aforementioned Codicil
149    severally say that the whole series and contents of
150    the first mentioned Codicil beginning ending and
151    subscribed as aforesaid as well as well the subscription
152    of the additional Codicil aforesaid are of the
153    proper handwriting and subscription of the said
154    Mary Blake Spinster deceased Anna Savage
155    Mary Taylor Same day the said Ann Savage
156    and Mary Taylor were duly sworn to the truth
157    of this affidavit before me William Marshall
158    Commissioner
159    This Will was proved at London
160    with two Codicils on the eighth day of July in the
161    year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
162    seven before the Right honorable Sir William
163    Wynne Knight doctor of Laws Master keeper or
164    Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury
165    lawfully constituted by the Oath of John Blake the
166    nephew of the deceased and the surviving Executor
167    named in the said Will to whom administration was
168    granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and
169    Credits of the said deceased having been first
170    sworn by Commission duly to administer

Will of Richard Blake, Linen Draper of Andover - The National Archives PROB 11/141/491, probated 15 May 1623

This will precedes the first will for Dorset because that will is for Elizabeth Blake second wife of Peter Blake who was a grandson of Richard Blake, Linen Draper of Andover. 

Richard Blake, Linen Draper, of Andover left his will dated 10 Sep 1622 and it was probated by his wife Jone/Joane 15 May 1623. It is easy to tell who his children are as he names all of them and some of his grandchildren are also named. Unfortunately he does not name his siblings nor does he give a hint on his parent’s names. Naming his brothers in law as Nicholas Blake and William Smith is perhaps a clue to the ancestry of his wife Jone Blake as her surname was Blake before marriage.

Names mentioned in the will:

Jone Blake, wife of testator
William Cooke, tenant
Mr. Palmes, land owner
Mr. Thomas Fittiplace, land owner
Sir Francis Neale, land owner
William Blake, eldest son
John Blake, son
Nicholas Blake, son
Richard Blake, son
Peter Blake, son
William Blake, grandson, second son of William Blake
Peter Blake, grandson, son of William Blake
Mr. Richard Venables, land owner
Jone Bayly, daughter
Dorothie Burmingham, daughter
Ellnor Hinxman, daughter
Margarett Savage, daughter
Mr. Peter Noyes the elder, cousin
Mr. Nicholas Blake, brother in law
Mr. William Smith, brother in law
Joseph Hinxman, son in law
Hugh Marshall, witness
Nicholas Blake, witness
John Elton, witness

Richard names his eldest son as William which is helpful since the parish registers for Andover have not yet begun when he is baptized.

Baptisms and marriages for the children at Andover:

William Blake married Dorothy Madgwick 6 Feb 1606 (likely born before 1586)
Jone Blake married Richard Bayly 6 May 1605 (likely born by 1585)
Elizabeth Blake married John Hapgood 18 Jun 1605 (likely born by 1585)
Dorothy Blake married Peter Burmingham Apr 1608 (likely born by 1588)
Elenor Blake baptized 23 May 1589, married to Joseph Hinxman 10 Dec 1610
Margaret Blake baptized 25 Apr 1592, married to Richard Savage Apr 1616
Richard Blake baptized 30 Sep 1593 (lived at Tower Ward, London)
Peter baptized 25 Jul 1596
Edward baptized 21 Feb 1598 and buried 2 Mar 1599
John baptized 25 Oct 1601
Nicholas baptized 27 Mar 1604
Alice buried 11 Sep 1613

Since the eldest children are likely born by 1585 the possible date of marriage for Richard Blake and Jone Blake would be circa 1584 or earlier. That would give a likely date of birth for Richard of the early 1560s. I believe this Richard to be the son of William and Elizabeth Blake with William Blake leaving his will in 1582 at Eastontown, near Andover. William does not mention grandchildren in his will but to place him in a family he does mention his brother and sisters. He is definitely the son of Nicholas and Margaret Blake of Enham.

Will blogged for William Blake probated 14 Nov 1582:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/09/will-of-william-blakeyeoman-of-andover.html

and he mentions his siblings which clearly places him in the family of Nicholas and Margaret Blake of Enham. His brother Edmund mentioned in his father’s and his mother’s will quite disappears from the records although said to have a son Stephen. William has a large family as seen in his will. It is this large family along with his cousin Robert’s family that form the nucleus of the Blake family in this area of Hampshire. Robert being a brother to Nicholas and named in their mother’s will and if I am right about Richard Blake who left his will in 1522 also named in his will.

Looking at the Visitation of Hampshire in 1686 which has been a rather confusing item in that Peter (a great grandson of William above (son of Richard the fifth son of William who left his will in 1582) Peter states that his father was William Blake of Andover and he has some sort of a legal action obt Ao 1647 mentioned and that he died before 11 Jul 1642 and was married to Dorothy Madgwick. He only mentions himself as a child of this couple and John the youngest brother who was apprenticed to Robert Mason of Southampton, merchant 11 Jul 1642. Peter states in the Visitation that the father of William married to Dorothy Madgwick was Richard Blake of Andover and that he had married Joane daughter of William Blake of Easton Town. He mentions only two of Richard’s children namely William (his father) and Richard of Tower Ward, London. This is the interesting part in that he moves back another generation and names William Blake as the father of Richard which is correct but this William Blake he has married to Anne daughter of Thomas Tutt of Chilbolton rather he should be naming William Blake of Easton-Town married to Margaret Hibberd because I am beginning to wonder if William Blake married to Anne Tutt and Jone Blake married to Richard Blake are siblings. Further I am wondering if William who left his will in 1582 was married twice otherwise I would be having Richard marrying his elder brother William’s daughter Jone so technically his niece. Not unheard of in this time frame but not very usual. The marriage records for this time period do not exist in the Parish Records at Andover so no help there as I have already transcribed them.

Peter Blake who wrote up the Visitation was baptized 5 Apr 1619. He would have been twelve years old when his grandmother Jone Blake died so presumably would have heard from her the ancestry of the family although William Blake and Ann Tutt were still likely living but their children were more than 10 years older than him. It remains an interesting dilemma why he has recorded his lineage in this way. But I continue to look for possible scenarios that could have resulted in him doing so. There is of course a second confusing marriage in this family where John the eldest son of William Blake (leaving his will in 1582) marries a Margaret Blake daughter of William Blake of Eastontown. This from the Blake Pedigree Chart which names John as the son of William Blake and Avis Ripley of Eastontown and Margaret (his wife) as the daughter of William Blake of Eastontown. This William at Eastontown is also said to have died in 1582 but the children of the two Williams do not match the will of 1582. If instead Margaret is the daughter of William married to Avis Ripley (and that William is said to be the son of Roger Blake and Mary Baynard of Pinhills, near Calne, Wiltshire) then it does simplify that chart. However, I digress. I am publishing the will of Richard Blake, linen draper of Andover, who left a charity which benefitted many many schoolchildren in Andover through the years.

On the other hand and a much simpler relationship would be that Jone Blake was descendant of Robert Blake (brother to Nicholas Blake of Enham). Indeed the eldest son of Robert Blake may be the Robert Blake who left his will in 1605 at Andover and one of my purchases will be this will. His possible children are Richard Blake and Nicholas Blake and two unknown daughters one of whom could be Jone and the other married to William Smith. But in that case the Visitation is entirely incorrect beyond Richard and one notes that the Visitation of London of 1633-34 which is quoted as the source for the material does not go back before Richard Blake married to Joane Blake (daughter of William Blake of Eastontown).

You definitely need to love mysteries to do genealogy!

While investigating the next will I came across an interesting item in Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset, Volume 10, Frederic William Weaver and Charles Herbert Mayo, Sherborne:  J.C. Satwell, published 1907 (pages 309-327):

 http://archive.org/stream/notesqueriesfor05unkngoog/notesqueriesfor05unkngoog_djvu.txt

"William Rolfe, of Enford, married Sara, daughter of John Blake, of Estontown, Hants, who married his cousin, Margaret Blake, and had issue William Rolfe who died in 1646, having married Sarah Deane, and Sara Rolfe, who married George Dyer. Sara Rolfe (the mother), was married, secondly, to John Gerle, of Enford, who came from a well-known Hampshire family. He was one of the witnesses to George Dyer's marriage.

The will of John Gerle, of Long street in the parish of Enford, gentleman, is dated 26 Sep 1633 and proved 13 Feb 1633/34 (FCC 20 Seager). In his will he metions his niece Mary Dycke, his sons, Alexander and Thomas, son-in-law (stepson) William Rolfe, Esq., and William Tipper, of Seene (Seend): Witnesses, Henry Colepepper and others.

The complaint of Mary Dyke, of Chizenbury, Wilts, dated 14 June, 14 Car. I. states that John Gerle, late of Long street in the parish of Enford, gentleman, became on the 10 March, 6 Car. I, bound to the complainant for the payment of ___ at his decease, but in his will only ___ were left to her. He appointed Alexander Gerle, his son, executor. His estate was valued at _______ and more. The complainant sued Alexander Gerle in 1637, and obtained judgment against him, but in order to avoid payment he conveyed his estates to Robert Blake, of Estontown, Hants, gentleman, and George Dyer, of Heytesbury, Wilts, gentleman, in trust for his children.

George Dyer and Robert Blake deny the facts of the complainant's case except regarding the legacy, saying the estate was not sufficient to satisfy the claims on it.  ......l..

On 28 Nov 1645, William Blake, citizen and vintner of London, complainant, William Dyer, of London, gentleman, and ...... Cross and Sarah, his wife, otherwise Sarah Blake, executors to the will of Thomas Gerle, gentleman, (dated 27 Mar 1643) who bequeathed his estate to his cousin William Dyer, his cousin William Blake, his cousin Sarah Blake, and John Walker, and they to be executors. Proved 2 May, 1643 (PCC 35 Crane). "

This continues on for several pages as the estate is contested into the 1700s. This I find very interesting as it is the first mention of a relationship between John Blake of Eastontown near Andover and his wife Margaret Blake. That they are cousins. I collected all the paperwork and will have a longer look at it.


Transcribed by: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 22nd  February 2008
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/141/491
Place: Andover, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Testator: Richard Blake, Linen Draper
Place: Andover, Hampshire, England
Dated: 10 Sep 1622, probated 15 May 1623
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: scan, smudges, old English writing good, contrast medium

[Margin]: T[estament] Richardi
[Margin]: Blake

1    In the name of the eternall and everlivinge
2    God father sonne and holly ghost, In whose name I was baptized in whome only I hope and beleive
3    to bee saved Amen The tenth daie of december in the yeare of our lord god one thousand six
4    hundred and two and twentie And in the yeares of the raigne of our soueraigne Lord James
5    by the grace of god king of England France and Ireland, defender of the faith etc the twentith
6    and of Scotland the six and fiftieth I Richard Blake of Andever in the Countie of South[amp]t[on]
7    lynnen drapier aged of yeares being sicke in boddie but of good and perfitt memorie I thancks
8    my god the giver and preserver thereof doe make and ordayne this my last will and testament
9    as followeth Revokinge hereby both in deede and in lawe all former and other wills heretofore
10    made by mee And first with a free hart and willing mind I doe yield and render my soule
11    into thee hands o[f] father sonne and holye ghost I doe acknowledge with all my hart and doe
12    confesse I am a greate sinner and have neede of the grace mercy and favor of God and I hope
13    that I shall find both grace and merrit of god the father for his beloved Christs sake in him
14    I believe, hee is my redeemer hee liveth for ever and ever and maketh intercession for sinners
15    and this I knowe that now I am a corruptible body but I hope throughe Jesus Christ to rise an
16    Incorruptible boddie and I believe that the lord will have mercie uppon mee for hee first made
17    mee soe this I believe whether I live or dye I am the lords to whome bee all honor glory power and
18    dominion both now and for evermore Amen As concerning my boddie I bequeath itt to the earth
19    from whence itt came Item I give to Trynitie Church in Wynton – ij s vi d and to the church
20    of Andever xx s Item I give and devise to Joane Blake my loving wife my house wherein I
21    now dwell in Andever and all the lands w[i]th th[e ]appurten[a]nce thereunto belonging And all that
22    my house and lands thereunto belonging in Andever aforesaid heretofore called the Bleu Ancker and
23    is now called the Phenix in the possession of William Cooke And all other my lands and ten[emen]ts in
24    Andever aforesaid ^ w[hi]ch I purchased severally of Mr Palmes and of Mr Thomas Fittiplace and alsoe that house or tenement in Andever aforesayd wherein Walter Waight shoomaker now dwelleth And alsoe all that my messuage
25    or ten[emen]ts and one acre of land in Sopstreete alias Soplane in Andever aforesaid and allsoe
26    all that my mannor and farme of Cricklades with the water mill thereof in Andever
27    aforesaid and all the lands rents profitts and com[m]odities whatsoever thereunto belonging
28    And allsoe all that my messuage and Farme of Gallacre al[ia]s Gavellacre and all the lands
29    rents profitts and com[m]odities whatsoever thereunto belonging And allsoe all those my lands ten[emen]ts and
30    hereditaments which I purchased of Sir Francis Neale lyeing in Forton in the p[ar]ish of Longe
31    parish And all and ev[er]ie in the rents of the said sev[er]all mannors messuages lands tene[men]ts and p[re]misses
32    referred upon anie lease or leases thereof or of anie p[ar]te thereof made To have and to hould all
33    and singular the said mannor messuags farmes mill lands tene[men]ts and p[re]misses unto the sayd
34    Joane my wief for and during her naturall life if shee shall soe long continue and keepe her self sole
35    and unmarried And after her decease or marriage w[hi]ch shall first happen I devise and bequeath
36    all and singular the saide mannor messuags farmes mill lands ten[emen]ts and p[re]misses and the rev[er]cion
37    and remaynder of them and ev[er]ie of them in manner and forme following that is to saie I give and
38    devise unto Will[ia]m Blake my eldest sonne my saied dwelling house and all that my saied mannor and
39    Farme of Cricklades together with the mill thereof and all the lands thereunto sev[er]allie and respectively
40    belonging and all the houses and lands with theire appurten[an]ces which I purchased of Mr Thomas
41    Feffiplace aforesaide To have and to hould to him the saide Will[ia]m Blake and his heires for ever
42    And I give and devise unto John Blake my sonne All that my said messuage or ten[emen]te called
43    the Bleu Ancker or Phenix aforesaide and all other the messuags lands and ten[emen]ts w[hi]ch I purchased
44    of Mr Palmes in Andever aforesaide and alsoe all that my said house or ten[emen]te wherein Walter
45    Waight aforesaide now dwelleth and all the lands thereunto belonging To have and to hold unto
46    my saide sonne John Blake and to the heires of his boddie lawfullie begotten and for defaulte of
47    such issue the Remaynder thereof to my said sonne Will[ia]m Blake ad his heires for ever
48    And I give and devise unto my sonne Nicholas Blake All those my lands ten[emen]ts and hereditaments
49    lyeing in Forton aforesaid w[hi]ch I lately purchased of Sir Frances Neale to have and to hold unto
50    [Page 2]
51    unto my saide sonne Nicholas his heires and assignes for ever Uppon this condition that my
52    saide sonne Nich[ol]as Blake and his heires shall paie to ev[er]ie of his brothers and sisters twenty pounds
53    apeece within two yeares next after the decease of Joane my saide wife And further I give and
54    devise unto my saide sonne Nich[ol]as Blake All that my messuage and Farme of Gallacre alias
55    Gavellacre and all the lands ten[emen]ts and hereditam[en]ts thereunto belonging and the rev[er]cion and Remaynder
56    thereof with their appurt[en[ancs To have and to hould unto my sayde sonne Nicholas Blake and
57    to the heires of his boddie lawfullie begotten and for defaulte of such yssue the Remaynder thereof
58    to my sayde sonne Will[ia]m Blake and to the heires of his boddie lawfullie begotten and for defaulte
59    of such yssue the Remaynder thereof to him and his heirs for ever provided allwaies and my will
60    is that if itt shall happen my saide Farme and lands of Gallacre to come unto my sayde sonne
61    Will[ia]m Blake or to his heires for defaulte of heires of the boddie of my sayde sonne Nicholas lawfullie
62    begotten That then my saide sonne Will[ia]m Blake or his heire which att that time shalbe shall
63    paie unto Richard Blake my sonne two hundred pounds, to Peter Blake my sonne one hundred pounds
64    and to John Blake my sonne one hundred pounds of currant english money to bee paid w[i]thin two
65    yeeres nexte after the said land shall come unto my saide sonne Will[ia]m or to his heires as aforesaide
66    And yf my sayde sonne Will[ia]m or his heires to whome the sayde land shall happen to come for defaulte
67    of heires of the body of my said sonne Nich[ol]as shall make default of payment of the sayd sev[er]all
68    som[m]es of money unto my said sonnes Richard, Peter and John in manner as is aforesayd That
69    then I give and devise the saide Farme of Gallacre and lands thereunto belonging unto my sayde sonne
70    Richard Blake and his heirs uppon condition likewise that the said Richard Blake or his heires
71    shall paie unto my said sonnes Peter and John one hundred pounds apeece, And I give and devise
72    unto William Blake my grandchilde second sonne of my sonne Wyll[ia]m All that my saide messuage
73    or ten[emen]te in Soperlane al[ia]s Soperstreete aforesaid and one acre of land thereunto belonginge
74    and the rev[er]cion and Remaynder thereof To have and to holde unto him and to the heyres of his bodye
75    lawfully begotten and for defaulte of such yssue the Remaynder thereof to Peter Blake his brother
76    one other of my grandchildren and to his heires for ever Item I give and devise unto Jone Blake
77    my sayde wife All that my moyety p[ar]te and porcion of the Farme of Upclatford and the rents
78    thereof which I sometymes held together w[i]th Mr Richard Venables To have and receive the rents
79    and profitts thereof for and during all the estate and terme of yeeres therein yet to come
80    and unexpired (if shee shall soe long live and keepe her self widdowe and unmaryed and after
81    her decease or marriage which shall first happen I give and devise all my estate and terme of
82    yeares therein then to come and unexpired with the rents and profitts thereof unto my sayde
83    sonne John Blake his executors and assignes; provided my will and meaning is that my said
84    wief shall paie out of the rents and proffitts of the sayd Farme of Clatford unto my sayd sonne
85    John Blake for his mayntenance att Oxforde the some of xxiiiij li by the yeere yearly Item
86    I give and bequeath unto my sonne Richard Blake fower hundred pounds of currant
87    english money over and above all such moneys as hee hath allreadie had of mee to bee paied unto
88    him by my executrix in manner following viz [a vi]t one hundred pounds thereof within six months
89    next after my decease and soe within ev[er]ie six moneths next following one hundred pounds
90    untill the sayd some of fower hundred pounds bee fullie paied Item whereas I promised to
91    give unto my sonne Peter Blake upon his marriage with his now wief the some of Five
92    hundred pounds (Three hundred pounds whereof I have allreadie paied unto him my will is
93    that my executrix shall paye unto him one hundred pounds more within one yeere next
94    after my decease and in full satisfaction of the said Five hundred pounds I give unto my
95    sayd sonne Peter my lease and terme of yeares of the Salteren or Salthouse in or neere
96    the towne of Southampton if hee shall accept thereof in satisfaction of the sayd
97    500 li Item I give to ev[er]ie of the children of Jone Bayly my daughter x ls a peece
98    Item I give unto Dorothie Burmingham my daughter x li and to ev[er]ie of her children
99    40 s apeece Item I give unto Ellnor Hinxman my daughter one hundred pounds in
100    regard her porcion hath beene lesse then the rest of her sisters and to ev[er]ie of her children
101    40 s apeece Item I give unto Margarett Savage my daughter xx li and to ev[er]ie of her
102    [Page 3]
103    children 40 s apeece Item I give to ev[er]ie of my sonne William Blakes children 40 s apiece Item the residue
104    of all my goods credditts debts cattells and chattells whatsoever not given nor bequeathed moveable and un-
105    moveable I give and bequeath fully and wholly to Jone Blake my sayde wief whom I make and ordeyne to
106    bee my only and sole executrix of this my last will and testament to paie all my debts and discharge all
107    my legacies hereby given and bequeathed and to see my bodye decentlie buried Item my will is that all the
108    waynskott glasse benches shelves table bordes and ioynestooles of my dwelling house shall after my
109    sayd wifes decease remayne and bee unto my said sonne William unde[r]saied My overseers of
110    this my last will I desire to bee my Cossen Mr Peter Noyes th[e ]elder, my brother in law Mr Nich[ol]as
111    Blake my brother in law Mr Will[ia]m Smith and my sonne in law Joseph Hinxman and I
112    give unto each of them xx s a peece giving willing and graunting unto them and the longest li-
113    ver of them full power and authoritie to determyne decyde and end all ambiguities doubtes
114    questions and debates whatsoever which shall arise amongest my sayd children or anye of them
115    And further my will is that my executrix shall become bound by obligacion to my overseers as
116    they shall thincke reasonable before my will bee proved to p[er]fourme and paye all the legacyes be-
117    fore given and bequeathed w[hi]ch yf shee shall refuse to doe Then my will is that Will[ia]m Blake my
118    sonne shall bee my executor of this my last will becominge bound as aforesaide to perfourme
119    the same provided allwaies and my will is that yf itt shall happen after my decease anye of my
120    sonnes or anye other to whome I have limited to enioye anye p[ar]te of my lands or goods aforesaide
121    not to content himself or themselves with such porcion of lands or goods in such manner and
122    sort as I have before given and bequeathed the same or shall attempt practise or endeavour to
123    disturbe alter chaunge frustrate or made voide in anie respect or point this my last will
124    and testament and the contents of the same or anie p[ar]te thertoof that then my sayd sonnes he or
125    they and every other person and persons to whome I have given and graunted to have and enjoy anye
126    p[ar]te of my lands goods and chattells shall for ever lose the benefitt of this my last will to all
127    intents and purposes and the legacies to them or any of them by the same given and devised
128    And then I doe give and devise the same porcion of my lands and goods to the residue of my sayde
129    sonnes not soe offendinge to be equallie and indifferentlye divided amongest them Item my will
130    and meaning is that my sayde wief shall receive and have all the rents and p[ro]fitts of my
131    lands given unto her as is aforesayde towards the paiement of the legacies in this my will
132    contayned yf my goods and chattells shall not suffice to satisfie the same And lastely I give and
133    bequeath unto the corporacion of the towne of Andever and theire successors for ever Thirty
134    pounds of currant english money uppon condicion that the Baylief and approved men for the
135    time being of the sayde corporacion shall with the same money either purchase land in Fee
136    simple to the use of the poore people of the same towne accordinge to the proporcion of the sayd somme
137    of Thirtie poundes and paye the rent thereof yeerelye unto the sayde poore people or els that the
138    sayd Bailliffe and approved men shall give securitie unto my executrix and overseers or the s[ur]vivors
139    of them by rent chardge or otherwise by some other assurance as shal[l ]bee by my sayd executrix and
140    overseers or the survivor of them or theire counsell learned devised to paye unto the sayd poore
141    people such as have most neede and to soe manie of them as the sayd Bailliffe and approves
142    men shall thinke fitt the some of fourty shillings att the feast of St Thomas theapostle yerely
143    for ever And further I give towards the paving of the waye to the Free scoolhouse in Andever
144    the some of twentie shillings In witnes whereof I have to this my last will and testament sett
145    my hand and seale the daie and yere above written Richard Blake witnesses hereeunto Hugh
146    Marshall  Nich: Blake  John Elton

Lywood Family of Wiltshire - Milston, West Harnham, Fugglestone St Peter, South Newton and Fovant

Most of the work on the Lywood family has been done by Warwick Lywood in his one-name study on Lywood with the Guild of one name Studies. When one looks at the World Profile site of the Lywood surname and I received a surprise because I had only looked at the British Isles profiler before for this surname, the highest frequency for the surname is in Canada at 2.52 per million with the United Kingdom at 2.01 per million and then three European countries - Denmark (0.33), Netherlands (0.32), and Norway (0.28). The top region is the Northwest Territories where the frequency per million shows 110.33 (one does not generally think in millions in the Northwest Territories of Canada :) as there are only 43,529 people living there).

My Lywood connection runs back through my paternal grandmother's line. Her mother Elizabeth Taylor (née Rawlings) was the daughter of Elizabeth Lywood and at that point the name enters into my tree. I have a picture of Elizabeth Lywood probably at a nursing home as the person beside her looks like a nursing sister. She died 2 Jul 1904 at Kimpton (actually at my great grandmother Elizabeth Taylor's home - Elizabeth must have slipped out to buy something as it was her neighbour who was actually listed as being the informant of her death. Unfortunately my paternal grandmother died five years before I was born and not a lot of stories about this family line were passed on as family lore.

Elizabeth Lywood's parents were George Lywood baptized 7 May 1786 at West Harnham and Martha Peck baptized 1 Jul 1792 at Milston. George and Martha married 26 October 1817 at Milston (the registration is somewhat confusing in that Martha is crossed out and the name Rebecca is written in). However, later census show that George married Martha Peck and there isn't a Rebecca to be found. George was a Waterloo pensioner serving in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (23rd Regiment of Foot) and he earned several clasps during his service. He was honourably discharged in 1816 due to asthma. George and Martha had four children:

David baptized 20 Jul 1818 at Milston and married to Maria Henrietta Naish 21 Jun 1840 at Saint Edmunds Church, Salisbury

John baptized 11 Sep 1822 at Milston and married to Martha Elizabeth Jacobs 16 Nov 1844 at Figheldean

Elizabeth (as above)

George baptized 15 Apr 1832 and buried 18 Feb 1849 at Milston

It is John's line that brought the Lywood name to Canada via his grandson William George Lywood who emigrated to Canada in 1913 with his wife Alice Cannons and they were according to the ship's list heading for Winnipeg, Manitoba but they actually lived at Brockville, Ontario. They were accompanied by their children Robert, George and Nellie. This family I did know about from Warwick and I am curious if this is the family that my father corresponded with and can only vaguely remember his doing so when I was a child.

Looking up this family's emigration revealed another Lywood entry in 1919 and it was William John Lywood returning from the 1st world war. I have this person in the tree as a half brother to William George Lywood his father having been married twice - born Dec quarter 1888 at West Harnham. This was a puzzle to me actually and I have finally solved it. There were two Lywood lines in Canada (half siblings) and descended from Robert Lywood (youngest son of John).

I would like to learn a little more about the Lywood family and I have the protestation returns for this area in Wiltshire. I lately acquired these documents when we visited the Allen County Public Library.

Reviewing West Harneham  in 1641-42 I do not find any members of the Lywood family listed and this would be correct as they were not in this area until the middle 1700s.

Reviewing Foffont in 1641-42 I find Robert Lywood listed and indeed this is Robert Lywood married to Alice Baylie and he was born circa 1580s at Fovant and buried there 14 Dec 1660 (Robert and Alice were married 10 Jan 1624 at Fovant). Since his sons were all less than 18 (Robert was 13 and Thomas 8) they are not listed on the protestation return. I am curious about the Baylie family and there is a William Bayly listed. Whether or not this is the father of Alice remains to be proven. I shall set it as a goal of studying this particular family to learn more about the wives of the Lywood men since they are seldom researched in a one name study.

With that in mind I will check for:

Deart (Deare?) at Fovant
Bryan at Idmiston/Fovant/South Newton
Smith at Bemerton/South Newton
Canham at West Harnham

I did find a John Rawlins at South Newton and a Robert Rawlins at Fisherton Anger  which I shall tuck away for the Rawlins day.

There is a Deare family at Wishford Magna (three members on the Protestation Returns).

There is a Smith family at Steeple Langford (one member on the Protestation Return).

There is a Brian family at Langford Pva (one member on the Protestation Return)

There is a Smith family at Wyly (3 members on the Protestation Return).

There is a Smith family at Tilshead (1 member on the Protestation Return).

There is a Smith family at Shrewton (2 members on the Protestation Return (father and son)).

There is a Rawlins family (one member) and Smith family (six members) at Wilton Burg.

There is a Smith family at Fisherton Anger (three members on the Protestation Returns).

Interesting results from that quick survey and it has convinced me that I should enter these Protestation Returns into an excel file so that I can readily look at the names. This area is particularly pertinent to my paternal grandmother's line. My next study time for Lywood will be dedicated to that project.

Richard Blake of London mentioned in the London Visitation.

A bit of a quandry is Richard Blake's will which is dated 23 Mar 1643 in London and his burial was at Andover 12 Apr 1644 and the notation by the priest is that Mr. Richard Blake is of London. I have partially transcribed his will below. Interesting that he traveled from London to Andover (or perhaps he was moved there after death).

1. In the name of the eternall and
2. everliving god Father Sonne and holy ghost in whose name I was baptized in
3. whome only I hope and beleeve to be saved with a free heart and willing minde I
4. doe yeeld and render my soule into the hands of Father, sonne and holy ghost and
5. beleeve that the lord will have mercy upon my soule for he first made me; soe this I
6. beleeve that whether I live or dye I am the lords, to whome be all honour & glory
7. power and dominion forevermore Amen, As concerning my body I bequeath it to the
8. earth from whence it came I Richard Blake of London gent[leman] being sicke and weake in
9. body but of good and p[er]fect memory I thanke my god the giver and y[er]erver thereof
10. doe make this my last will and testam[en]t as followeth The twentie third day of March
11. one thousand six hundred forty three, Item I give to my sister Joane Baylie twentie
12. pounds To my sister Dorothie Burningham twenty pounds, To my sister Ellen Hinxman
13. twenty pounds, To my sister Margaret Savadge twenty pounds, .........

This Richard is the son of Richard Blake and Jone Blake. In his will he mentions his sisters in birth order - Jone married to Richard Bayly 6 May 1605 at Andover, Dorothy married to Peter Burmingham April 1608 Andover, Elenor married to Joseph Hinxman 10 Dec 1610 at Andover, and Margaret married to Richard Savage Apr 1616 at Andover. He also mentions his brother Peter later in the will which I shall complete transcribing tomorrow.  Only one other brother is still living Nicholas and I need to determine if Richard does mention him. He has a lot of names in his will and I would like to place all of them. Because his mother was also a Blake he has many Blake cousins on both sides of this family. This may help me to sort out her family.

My ancestor (his eldest brother) William married to Dorothy Madgwick was buried 4 May 1642 at Andover.  He has also left a number of children and perhaps they too are mentioned in the remainder of the will. One other brother John is deceased but I haven't determined which John Blake in the burial list yet. One sister is also deceased Elizabeth married to John Hapgood 18 Jun 1605 at Andover and deceased before 16 Oct 1607 leaving one child Elizabeth.

Looking at the London Visitation (1633) This is the Richard Blake mentioned as the son of Richard Blake of Andover in the county of Hampshire married to Jone Blake daughter of William Blake of Easton in the County of Hampshire. I hadn't put this visitation into its proper context yet but it appears that Jone Blake is a daughter of William Blake at Eastontown. Now Richard is the son of William Blake of Eastontown so we do have two William Blake's at Eastontown. This is the second marriage between children of the two William Blake's at Eastontown. I must continue working on this tomorrow whilst it is fitting together in my mind. This could be a really good breakthrough.