Will of Ann Blake, Spinster, Lucknam, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/1709/467, probated 31 Mar 1826

Ann Blake is the testatrix. She lives at Lucknam which lies within the parish of Colerne with North Wraxall being 2.4 miles North, Castle Combe being 4 miles NNE and West Littleton lying 5 miles WNW.

There is a Blake family that has been placed online that lived at Tormarton, West Littleton and Marshfield and I have been entering this family into a Legacy file in case the webpage disappears. It is perhaps a collateral line to this particular one since I do not find any of the undernamed individuals in the website.

http://www.payman.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gloucestershire/descendants-of-william-blake-1742-to-1826.htm/odyframe.htm

The marriage of William Blake and Elizabeth Davis took place 15 Aug 1774 at West Littleton and they had nine children (most of the lines are traced down so I do not think this couple is the particular ancestor of the grouping below). Marshfield is 4 miles WNW of Colerne and Tormarton is 6 miles NNW. I came across this webpage by chance and decided to capture it for the Blake one name study. I have not yet attempted to discover the parents of William Blake married to Elizabeth Davis but perhaps this would be a good way to look at this particular will.

There was a William Blake born at North Wraxall and baptized there 31 Jul 1743 son of Abraham and Frances Blake. An Abraham Blake married a Frances Brown in 1737 at North Wraxall (Family Search M15251-1). An Abraham Blake was baptized 2 May 1708 at North Wraxall son of William Blake.

Children baptized to Abraham and Frances Blake at North Wraxall:

Sarah baptized 7 May 1738
Elizabeth baptized 3 Aug 1740
William baptized 31 Jul 1743
Hannah baptized 10 Aug 1746
June Jane baptized 25 May 1749
Ann baptized 13 May 1753

Interestingly this does fit the family grouping in the will of Ann with brother William and sisters Sarah and Elizabeth (Hannah and June Jane are not mentioned). The publisher of the family history of the William Blake and Elizabeth Davis did not take his family further back but some genealogists look only at the descendants of a particular couple.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 23 Nov 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1709/467
Testator: Ann Blake, Spinster
Place: Lucknam, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 21 Feb 1820, probated 31 Mar 1826
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Ann
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 4

1    I Ann Blake of Lucknam Wiltshire Spinster being of
2    sound disposing mind and memory do publish and declare this as my last Will and
3    Testament revoking all others in manner following viz I give and bequeath the
4    yearly Interest or dividend of the whole of my three percent consolidater
5    annuities equally between my brother and my two Sisters equally share and
6    share alike viz To William Blake of West Littleton laborer one third part for his
7    life and in case of his decease to his Wife for her life and to my Sister Elizabeth
8    Webb of Castle Combe Wilts Widow a third part for her life and to my Sister
9    Mary Bullock Wife of Edward Bullock of North Wraxall Labourer a third part
10    for her life and after her decease to descend to her husband for his life and should my
11    brother and his Wife had died first then their part to descend to the other two
12    Survivors if any Sister Eliz[abe]th Webb died first her part to descend to Mary Bullock and
13    my Brother and if my Sister Mary Bullock and her husband dies first then their
14    part to descend between my brother and Eliz Webb and when all the before
15    mentioned persons are deceased I give devise and bequeath one fourth part of my three
16    per cent consolidated Annuities between my brother William Blake’s children
17    equally share and share alike I give and bequeath the other fourth part or share
18    of my three per cent consols equally between my Sister Eliz[abe]th Webbs children share
19    and share alike Likewise I give and bequeath another fourth part or share of
20    my three per cent consols equally between my Sister Mary Bullocks children
21    share and share alike and the other fourth part or share I give and bequeath
22    to my three Nephews Will[ia]m Wait Henry Wait and George Wait all of North Wraxall
23    equally between them share and share alike In Witness whereof I have put my
24    hand and seal this twenty first day of February in the Year of our Lord One thousand
25    Eighteen hundred and twenty Ann Blake Signed Sealed and
26    delivered in the presence of Witness John Tippett Jane Tippett
27    On 31st March 1826 Administration with the Will annexed of the Goods Chattels and
28    Credits of Ann Blake late of Lucknam in the County of Wilts Spinster deceased was granted
29    to Mary Bullock (wife of Edward Bullock) the Sister and one of the next of kin being first sworn
30    by Commission duly to Administer No Executor or Residuary Legatee
31    On the 2nd day of June 1848 Admon (with the Will annexed) of the Goods Chattels
32    and Credits of Ann Blake late  of Lucknam in the County of Wilts Spinster deceased
33    left unad[ministere]d by a Mary Bullock, Wife of Edward Bullock) deceased whilst living the
34    natural and lawful Sister and one of the next of kin of the said deceased was granted to
35    William Wait the lawful Nephew and one of the persons entitled in distribution to the
36    undisposer of Residuary Personal Estate and effects of the said deceased having been first
37    sworn by Commission duly to Administer. No Executor or Residuary Legatee named
38    in the said Will. William Blake and Elizabeth Webb Widow the natural and lawful
39    Brother and Sister and only other next of kin of the said deceased having died without having
40    taken upon themselves the Letters of Admon with the said Will annexed of the Goods
41    left unad[ministere]d of the said deceased

Will of Robert Blake yeoman of Castle Coombe - National Archives PROB 11/163/729, probated 4 Jun 1633

Another interesting will by a Robert Blake. He does not appear to leave any descendants and Castle Combe is 11 miles WNW of Calne Wiltshire. He is married to Margaret and no children are mentioned. He has a couple of godsons but no other Blake mentioned in the will than himself and his wife. His wife has several relatives including Elizabeth Wallop and Marie Smith wife of John Smith.

Probably the most interesting item is the closeness to Calne Wiltshire where the Blake family lived from the 13th century on and probably earlier.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 28 Oct 2012
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/163/729
Name of testator: Robert Blake, yeoman
Place: Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated  23 Nov 1632, probated 4 Jun 1633
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: fine light text, middle English writing, 17th century
[In margin] T [estator] Robti Blake

1    In the name of God Amen the three and Twentieth of
    [Page 2]
2    November in the yeare of our Lord Christ one thousand six hundred thirtie and two And in the eight yeare of the
3    raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of God king of England Scotland Frannce and Ireland, defender
4    of the Faith etc I Robert Blake of Castle Combe in the Countie of Wiltes yeoman being weake in bodie but
5    of good and perfect memorie thanks bee to God and being taught and instructed by the word of God that it is
6    appoynted that all men shall die As is nothyng is more certayne than death soe, nothing more uncertayne
7    then the houre of death in a true and unfayned acknowledgement and confession of all my sinnes unto allmightie
8    whom I have as a most wretched sinner most grevouslie offended and whereof by the onely merritts perfect
9    obedience and suffering of Jesus Christ my all sufficient Lord and Savyour apprehended and taken hereby upon
10    by a true and lively faith I assuredly beleeve to have free pardon and forgivenes of all my sinnes the same never
11    to bee layd to my Charge doe ordayne appoynt and declare and make this my last Will and Testament in
12    manner and forme following First I commend my soule and spritt unto God that gave it mee as unto a most
13    faithfull Creator And my bodie unto the Earth from whence it came to bee buried in the parish Church of
14    of Castle Combe aforesaid at the care and discre[c]ion of my Executors verely beleveing according to the
15    truth of the holy Scripture that I shall receive the same legacie att the generall resurrec[t]ion of all Flesh
16    to bee reunyted to my soule noe more from thenceforth subject to corruption but mortall glorious and
17    incorruptible like unto the glorious bodie of the sonne our Lord and Savyour Jesus Christ of whom I hope
18    to receive life everlasting and glory in the Communion of S[ai]nts for ever And touching those temporall blessings
19    and goods which the Lord in mercy hath bestowed upon mee in this transitorie life I thus dispose of them
20    Imprimis I give and bequeath unto the poore of the parish of Castle Combe fortie shillings to bee given and
21    distributed att my Funerall Item I give and bequeath to the poore of Yatton Keinill  tenne shillings to
22    bee paid within five weeks after my funerall Item I give and bequeath unto Marie Smith wife to
23    John Smith of Castle Combe in the Countie of Wiltes my Wife's kinsewoman fortie pounds to bee paid
24    on St John Baptists daie next and immediately after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto
25    Elizabeth Wallop my now household servant and wife's kinsewoman Fortie pounds to bee paid on St John
26    Baptists day next and immediately after my decease Item I give and bequeath to William Osborne of
27    Marshfield Tayler in the Countie of Gloucester tenne pounds to bee paid him at Michaelmas next and
28    immediately after my decease Item I give and bequeath to Robert Smith sonne to John Smith of Castle
29    Combe my Godsonne  one sheep Item I give and bequeath to Robert Moodie my Godsonne one sheepe
30    All the rest of my goods chattell plate and Implements of housholdstuffe whatsoever not before bequeathed
31    and disposed I give and bequeath unto my wife Margarett Blake whom I make my full and sole Executrix
32    of this my last Will and Testament nothing doubting but that shee will see this my last Will and
33    Testament here expressed and declared in all things performed according to the trust and confidence I
34    repose on her my loveing wife And allso I doe nommyate and entreate my severall good friends Mr Thomas
35    Cullenor and Robert Smith both of Castle Combe in the Countie of Wiltes aforesaid to bee
36    overseers of this my last Will and Testament desireing them and either of them to bee aideng and
37    assisting unto my said Executrix to the best of their advice and power in the execu[t]ion and performance
38    of the premisses And for their paines and diligence to bee taken therein I doe give unto them twelve
39    pence apeece in remembrance of mee In wittnes whereof I have sett my hand and Seale to this my last
40    will and Testament the daie and yeare first abovewritten in the presence of Robert Blake his kres[t]
41    and marke Thomas Cullynor Robert Smith his marke