Will of Agnes Blake, Charleton, Hampshire, England - 4 Apr 1617 and probated 5 May 1617

 This will was quite interesting. There is an inventory which I decided not to transcribe as it would not add anything to my research. But the Probatum revealed that her husband’s name was Robert and he was of Andover. So well worth the time and effort.

I should be able to place her and her relationship to the Thurman family would be anticipated with Robert Blake of Andover being her husband. Her maiden name is now known (Garle) as she identified John Garle of Chute as her brother. Sometimes a will can be a surprise as I did not expect to find anything helpful for the Andover Blake family with an Agnes Blake of Charlton widow’s will.

I may have to rethink these wills for the Diocesan Court - they will provide useful information for sure but the idea of publishing them with a Creative Commons License may disappear since the first one I am already not doing the Inventory as it does not provide any useful material and will take me a bit of time to transcribe it. I will add them to the Blake material held by the Guild of One Name Studies for sure as an electronic book. 

So a good beginning on this work and I shall try to do a few a week. It is awhile since I transcribed any wills. I need to put my efforts to the grindstone and just work away at this and not get distracted. A lovely walk up to the store today but the sidewalks are really very busy; much easier to go when I usually go when school is in and people are working. 

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 6 May 2025
Source: Hampshire Record Office 62475_3730550019_4556-00000
Testator: Agnes Blake
Place: Charlton, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 4 Apr 1617, probated

[Wrapper]:

1    Memorand[um] that about the fowerth daie of Aprill
2    in the yere of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and
3    seventeene Agnes Blake of Charllton in the parish of Andever
4    in the countie of South[ampton] widowe beinge of p[er]fect memorie thanks
5    be to God did declare her last Will and Testament nuncupative
6    in manner and forme as followeth First shee bequeathed her
7    soule in the hands of the almightie and her bodie to Christian
8    buriall Item shee gave unto her brother John Garle of
9    Chute five shillings I[e]tm shee gave unto William Sweataple
10    her godsonne a brasse pan a candlestick and a chest I[e]tm
11    shee gave unto Murqerie Thurman her
12    little brasse pann It[e]m shee gave unto Agnes Drue her
13    god daughter the bed w[hi]ch shee laye upon w[i]th the furniture
14    upon yt Item shee gave unto five poore weomen viz[a vi]t
15    Margaret Framich widowe Sibill Carick Mary Rutt widowes
16    Johane Sam and Agnes Thurman widowe for their paines
17    vj d a peece Item more unto shee gave more unto Johane Sam her Russet
18    gowne It[e]m more unto Marie Rutt her old peticote It[e]m shee
18    gave unto Margaret Swetaple her best kercheife her
19    best partlett and her hollan aperon It[e]m shee gave unto
20    Marie Foster a hollan partlett and a lokrom aperon It[e]m
21    shee gave unto Johane Drue a hollan p[ar]tlett and her best gowne
22    and her best hatt It[e]m shee gave unto Johane Foster a
23    p[ar]tlett w[i]th cutt worck strippes It[e]m shee gave unto Jane
24    Foster a greene lace aperon It[e]m shee gave unto Gillian
25    Drue her best petticote and a lynsey wolsey wascote The
26    rest of all her goods she gave unto Robert Drue to have
27    all and paie all
28    Declared and pronounced
29    In the p[re]sence of
30    William X (his mark) Sweataple  Aliced Foster (signed mark)
31    Johanne Foster (signed mark)
32    Margaret Framich (signed mark)
33    Sibill  X (her mark) Carrick
34    Probatum fuit h[uius]modi test[ament]um noncupative in cor[am] forma prob[atum]
35    Rasphum Barlow Archim Archinatus Winton 5 die
36    Maij Anno d[omi]n[o] 1617 Commissa [etc] fuit admi[nistraci]o bonor[um] omniu[m] e[tc]
37    dic[ti] de fuit Robto Drue iurat etc sonal__ saluoau_d
38    _______________
39    Roberto Drue Supradict[us] ________
40    _______ Rob[er]tus de Andever husband:
41    de Petrus Payne de ____ ____
43    Yeoman
44    Wrapper
45    1617
46    Agnes Blake viz [a vi]t
47    de Andever
48    de Charleton
49    5 die Maij 1617
50    An Inventorie of the goods and chattels of
51    Agnes Blake of Charleton widowe deceased taken by us
52    Edward Thurman of Charleton aforesaid gent, Willm Sweatyaple
53    of the same yeoman and Richard Twyne of the same yeoman
54    the second day of may in the xv th yeare of the raigne of
55    ye Sov[er]aigne Lord James by the grace of god King of England
56    France and Ireland defende[r] of ye fayth etc and of
57    Scotland the fiftieth
58    In the chamb[er]
59    etc (the inventory is in good shape but I will not transcribe it)

Will of John Blake, yeoman, Charleton, Andover, Hampshire - Hampshire Record Office 1625A-015, probated 2 May 1625

The present testator John Blake of Charleton is a brother to Edward Blake of Charleton who was buried at Andover in 1653. These two are children of Nicholas Blake and Dorothy Blake. With Nicholas having been a son of John Blake the Younger and Dorothy a daughter of John Blake the Elder. Both of these Johns were sons of Robert Blake brother to Nicholas Blake (left his will in 1547 at Enham and Robert left his will in 1542 also at Enham). Nicholas died young (his will is to come) and was buried 1 Mar 1586 at Andover. His widow remarried to Thomas Noyes. The children of Nicholas and Dorothy were Marye, John and Edward and the children of Thomas Noyes and Dorothy were Peter, Thomas, Ann and Dorothy.

This is the Robert Blake line as I tend to refer to it. By far the larger of the two lines coming down from Nicholas as Robert had six sons and Nicholas had two sons and two daughters.


Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 4 Feb 2014
Source: Hampshire Record Office, 1625A-015
Testator: John Blake, yeoman
Place: Charleton, Andover, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 8 Jun 1624, probated 2 May 1625
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: 1625A-015

1    In the name of god Amen The eighteth day of June in the yere of our Lord god 1624 and in ye yeres of the Raigne of o[u]r most gratious sov[er]aigne
2    Lord king James of England Frannce and Ireland the Two and Twenteth and of Scotland the seaven and Fifteth defender of ye faith etc I
3    John Blake of Charleton in ye p[ar]ishe of Andever in the countie of South[amp]t[on] yeoman beinge sicke of bodie but god be thanked of good and p[er]fit memorie
4    doe make my last will and Testam[en]t  in manner and forme followeinge First I commend my soule into the handes of my blessed savior and Redemer
5    Jesus Christ hopinge throwe his death and passion to have a ioyfull resurrexition when all mankind shall come to ijudment before his glorious ma[jes]tie
6    And my bodie I commend to the earth from whence it came It[e]m I give to the p[ar]ishe church of Andever x s It[em] I give to the poore ofe
7    Charleton x s It[em] I give unto my daughter Dorothy Blake Three skore poundes of lawfull English monie It[em] I give unto my daughter
8    Ann Blake Three skore poundes of English monie It[em] I give unto my daughter Rebecca Three skore poundes of English
9    monie Provided allwayes that my wiffe shall have the use and occupa[t]ion and p[ro]fitt of all these legaces which I have given my children until
10    they come to the lawfull age of xxi tie yeres or to be married and shee to brede and bringe upp my children well as shee ought to doe And at
11    the age aforesayd or at thire dayes of marriage to deliver them thire por[t]ions which shall first happen And yf anie of my children shall happen
12    to die before the day of marriage or the age of xxi tie yeres that her por[t]ion shall be equallie devided to those other of
13    my children that shall remayne alive And yf it shall happen that two of my children die before the day of marriage or
14    the age of xxi tie yeres Then I will their portions remayne to her that is then alive And yf all my children happen to die
15    before they be married or come to the age of xxi tie yeres then I will that all their legaces shall remayne unto my wife And yf my wife
16    happen to die before my children be married or come to the age of xxi tie yeres Then I will that my ov[er]seers shall see
17    my children brought upp and shall receave the dispose their legaces to their use and bringing upp It[em] I give unto my daughters Ann
18    and Rebecca each of them a brass pot at the decease of my wife All the rest of my goods moveable and unmoveable I give and
19    bequeath unto Joan my wife whome I make my whole executrix of this my last will and Testam[en]t It[em] I will that yf my wife doe
20    marrie That then he that shall marrie with her shall first enter into sufficient bondes to my ov[er]seers to brede my children
21    and if he will not enter into bond then the overseers shall have the childrens por[t]ion to do as the fathers will is
22    as they ought and to pay them their legaces according to my will before expressed And I doe also intreat my loving brethren
23    Edward Blake of Charleton and Peter Noyes of Penton Grafton to be ov[er]seers of this my last will and Testam[en]t and to be aiding
24    and assisting to my executrix in the p[er]formance and execution thereof And my desire will and meaning is that yf at anie time
25    hereafter anie scruple ambiguitie or dout shall happen to arise about anie matter or thing touching this my will and
26    Testam[en]t that my ov[er]seers shall deside and determine the same and for their paynes to be taken herein I give unto either of
27    my ov[er]seers iij s iiij d In witness whereof I have unto this my will sett my hand seale the day and yeres above men[t]ioned
28    John Blake
29    Sealed and subscribed in ye p[re]sence of Thomas Whes Jun[ior]
30    Sereck Scullard
31    Probatum fuit humoi test[ament]um suprascriptum in
32    _______________________________________________________
33    ________ secondo die Maij A[nn]o d[omi]ni 1625
34    bonor etc _______ testamentum ________________
35    Joh[ann]e Blake vid Relict  ___________________
36    ____ etc de bene etc iurat _____________________
37    Joh[ann]e vid Exec
38    obt ipa vig Edw Blake
39    ____ irietry xls y coman
    [Page 2]
40    A True Inventory of all the goods and chattels of
41    John Blake of Charleton in the parish of Andever
43    died seased of taken the xxi day of April 1625
44    by Sirack Scullard and John James and Edward Blake
45    and John Beard
46    Imprimis in the holle a table borde and forme Joyne shoules and one chayre and 2 stoles and one Coubert and one Cradell    xvj s
47    Item the Bookes and 6 peces of pewter and one warming pan and one candlestick and 9 sacers and one morter and one stole and one bord clothe    xxvj s iiij d
48    Item to augers and one fender an 2 pot hangers and one pearre of pot hockes and one tostting f[o]rc and one fleshocke and one fiere pan and one gierder and one payre of belowes And nine fliches of Backen    iiij li vj s
49    Item in the Chichin 4 kettels twoe postnets and one stilles and one dripen pan and one friing pan and 2 spitts and one basten ladell and 2 tobb and one chopen knife and 4 Re_bers and one _nerne and one mathock and 2 bars and one hachat and one Bile and one bilhock and 5 barales and one knife and one podering toub and one botter charne and a Dozen of Dishes with other old things    iiij li
50    Item in the chamber one fether bed and 3 flockebeds six coverlits 3 payre of blankets and 4 pellows and six paire of sheets and 4 bousters iii beddsteds and 2 chists and 3 coffers and 2 boxes and one payre of stockcares and 3 pillowtys and one chaier and one sward and a dagger    xl li
51    Item A dosen of pewter and 2 candilstickes and one bason and one chamber pot and 2 peeces of cloth    iij li
52    Item 3 busheles of wheat and 3 quarters of barly and 2 quarters of moult and one painting reets and x sacks and one peare and one bushel    vj li iij s
53    Item 3 horses one harsnet and harness and woodropes and one courtine and one Rowber and 2 carts and one plow and a payre of harraws    xiij li
54    Item vij boards and 2 ladders and a lade piece with other ould things    xx s
55    Item of wheat 12 buseles and of barly viij quarters    xliiij s
56    Item x load of great woods and 2 load of smale woode and vij ton of timber  and a horsframe and one grinding [s]tone    x li
57    Item 4 kine 3 boulhaks vj hogs    xij li
58    Item six skore of shepe    xxx li
59    Item of wheat upon the ground and of faches and of barly and of woots and of pearson twoeskore and to ackers    lxiij li
60    Item his waring apparel    v li
61    The some is eight skore pound and seventeen pound and xiiij s viij d   

Will of Robert Blake of Andover, Hampshire - The Hampshire Record Office 1678A-10, probated 24 Dec 1678

Robert Blake of Andover is the Testator. He was possibly buried at Andover although does ask to be buried at Knights Enham. The burial in the Andover Parish Register was 7 October 1678. He was buried in woolen and referred to as Mr Robert Blake. He mentions a son John but there wasn’t a John baptized to Robert Blake at Andover in this time frame. The only John is baptized by William Blake.

There are children baptized by a Mr Edward Blake (a brother Edward was mentioned in the will below) at Andover (and his wife was Margery with children John, Peter, Mary). Edward was buried 15 Mar 1653 (and he was of Charlton) and Robert speaks of his son as being under 21 at the time of writing of his will. Was this Robert Blake young (ie under 40)?

I have not done very much work on the Robert Blake line as most of it was prepared by Charlou Dolan and blogged by me earlier (I am still in the process of verifying dates with the Andover Register):

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2011/02/robert-blake-family-at-knights-enham.html

Names mentioned in the will

Robert Blake, gent, Andover, testator
Hester Blake, wife of Robert the testator
John Francis, land owner
John Blake, son of testator, under 21 years possibly as not 21 when will was written
James Blake, second son of testator’s brother Edward
Edward Blake, brother of testator, deceased
William Goodale, land owner
William Beare, land owner
Richard Dennett, land owner
John Linlay, land owner
Robert Blake, son of the testator’s brother Richard
Richard Blake, brother of testator
Joane Blake, niece, goddaughter of testator, sister of Robert (daughter of Richard)
Mary Blake, niece, sister of Robert (daughter of Richard)
Francis Lap
Mrs Abagail Blake, sister in law of testator
Mr John Taylor, brother in law of testator
Mrs Sara Taylor, wife of John Taylor
Mr Edward Pile, cousin of testatorm overseer
Mr John Taylor, father in law of testator, overseer
Samuel Spring, witness
Gabriell Hancocke, witness
George Potticary, witness
Peter Bankes, witness
Ann Holdway, witness
Thomas Feilder, accessor
Richard Butcher, accessor

Mr Edward Blake who was buried in 1653 lived at Foxcott (near Charlton and often Charlton is considered part of Foxcott and the testator mentions Charleton). I have three baptisms for Edward and Margery’s children at Andover: John baptized 19 Sep 1630, Peter baptized 25 Jun 1632 and Mary baptized 19 Mar 1633. The testator names brothers Edward and Richard. I need to do a little work on separating out the families at Andover in this time period but will read the other wills that I have for this time period first. Interestingly there is a baptism for John Blake son of Robert and Esther Blake 2 Jun 1668 at Devizes St Mary in Wiltshire.

That thought reminded me that I have been through this thinking pattern before and it is the will of Hester Blake, widow, living at Winchester who left her will which was probated 5 Oct 1689. She remembers family members in her will by the name of Taylor but does not mention her father John Taylor who is perhaps deceased but does mention her uncle William Taylor living at Eaton Wiltshire.

Hester’s will was blogged:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/10/will-of-hester-blake-widow-winton.html

Thus John (son of the testator) has survived at least to 1689. I do not believe this is my ancestor who married by 1683 to Elizabeth (unknown) and I have not yet found their marriage. Their first son was John who died as an infant in 1683. In total they had eleven children but did not name even one Robert or one Hester. Although it is fascinating finding this will with an elusive John Blake who was in the right time frame I am confident that he is not my ancestor.

Would Robert and Hester have married at Devizes where there was a John baptized in 1668 (he would have been 21 when his mother died? Her aunt lived at Bromham which is just 3 miles from Devizes. Working on the other Blake wills at Andover may help to put this Robert Blake line together.

The inventory is very interesting and I have blogged it as well.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 30 Jan 2014
Source: Hampshire Record Office, 1678A-10
Testator: Robert Blake
Place: Andover, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 19 Sep 1678, probated 24 Dec 1678
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: 1678A-10

1    The Nineteenth day of Septemb[e]r in the yeere of o[u]r Lord One Thousand Sixe hundred Seventy and Eight
2    I Robert Blake of Andever in the County of South[amp]ton gent being sick and weake in body but of sound
3    and perfect mind and good memory (praised be my God) revoking all former Wills and Testam[ent]ts
4    doe make and ordine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following
5    First and before all World respects I com[m]end my Soule to God my heavenly father that gave
6    it Who of his free grace and exceeding riches of his love hath redeemed it by the blood of his onely
7    son my Saviour o[u]r Lord Jesus Christ and my body to be decently interred in the Church of
8    Knights Enham at the discretion of my executrix hereaft[e]r named to rest in assured hope to be partaker of the
9    resurrection of the Just And as concerning those goods and worldly estate w[hi]ch it hath pleased God
10    of his abundant goodness to blesse me w[i]thall I give and bestow the same in manner and forme
11    following Inprimis I give unto the poore of the Tithing of Charleton in the parish of Andover
12    aforesaid the som[m]e of Five pounds Twenty Shillings whereof to be distributed amongst them
13    at or shortly after the time of my Funerall and th[e]oth[e]r Foure pounds w[i]thin the space of One
14    yeere then next ensuing at Foure quarterly payments to be distributed amongst them at the
15    discretion of my executrix Item I give to the poore of the Borough of Andever Forty Shillings
16    to be distributed amongst them in bread at or neere the time of my Funerall at the discretion
17    of my executrix Item I give unto such preacher as shall preach my fun[er]all sermon Twenty
18    Shillings Item whereas I have formerly made a Conveyance and settlement of my lands
19    lying in Charleton aforesaid w[hi[ch] were heretyfore purchased of one John Francis unto div[er]se uses
20    herein conteined and expressed the Remainder thereof unto me my heires and assignes Now my
21    Will and meaning is that if John my onely child shall happen to decease before his age of Twenty
22    and One yeeres or marriage Then in such case I give devise and bequeath the same lands and
23    all my estate therein after my Wyves life unto James Blake (second son of my brother Edward
24    Blake deceased) his heires and assignes for ever Whereas I am seised of an estate of
25    inheritance in Fee simple of and in certeine lands lying in Charleton aforesaid being reputed to be
26    a yardlands lying in Charleton aforesaid com[m]only called by the name of Crookebeggs being
27    heretofore the lands of the Lord Sandys and also of and in certain other lands lying in Charlton
28    aforesaid w[hi]ch I have lately purchased of William Goodale William Beare Richard Dennett and John
29    Linelay I give devise and bequeath the same lands unto my son John To have and to Hold unto him
30    and to the heires of his body lawfully to be begotten But in case my son John shall happen to
31    decease before his age of Twenty and one yeeres or marriage Then in such case I give and
32    bequeath the same lands unto Hester my welbeloved wife for and during soe long time as she shall
33    live sole and unmarried And after her marriage or decease I give and devise the same unto
34    Robert Blake (son of my broth[e]r Richard Blake) his heires and assignes for ever Provided allwayes and my
35    Will and meaning is that in case the same lands shall happen to come unto the said Robert Blake
36    That then he the said Robert Blake shall w[i]thin the space of Sixe yeeres then next ensuing paye
37    unto Joane Blake my Goddaughter and sist[e]r of him the said Robert the som[m]e of One hundred pounds
38    in case she shalbe then living And in case she shalbe then dead Then my Will is that the same One
39    hundred pounds be paid unto Mary another sist[e]r of the said Robert in case she be then living And
40    my Will is that my said lands shalbe chargable and liable to the payment thereof unto them as it
41    shall happen Item I give and bequeath unto the said Joane Blake Five pounds to be paid unto
43    her at her age of Twenty and One yeeres or day of marriage w[hi]ch shall first happen the same to
44    be paid of out of such moneys as her father oweth unto me in case the same shalbe received by my
45    executrix or my son John from him the said Richard Blake her father and not otherwise to be
46    paid unto her Item I give and bequeath unto my Wife Hester the som[m]e of Two hundred pounds
47    All the rest and residuye of moneys and debts whatsoever due and owing unto me on Mortgage
48    Bonds Bills penalties or by Booke Contract or otherwise howsoever together w[i]th the whole advantange
49    benefit to be made of them or any of them for or by reason of any forfeiture or forfeitures of
    [signed with Robert Blake’s signature at the bottom of first page] Robert Blake
    [Page 2]
50    them or any of them in land or money or elsewise howsoever [obliterated]
51    chamber in Lincolnes Inne w[hi]ch I purchased of and from Francis Lap Esq[uie]r (my debts legacies
52    and funeral expencs out of the same being deducted dischardged paid) I give and bequeath
53    the same unto my son John To have and to hold unto him his heires executo[r]s administrato[r]s and
54    assignes for ever Whom I charge as the Words of a tender and loving father that as he may
55    expect the blessing of God on him and his to be obedient and dutifull unto his mother and
56    to hearken as well unto her Counsell admonition and advice as also of my Overseers
57    hereinafter named Provided all ways and my Will and meaning is that my Wife shall have the disposal
58    ordering and management in trust of all my estate aswell reall as personal herein
59    before by me given and bequeathed unto my son until such time as he shall accomplish
60    his age of Twenty and One yeeres in case she shall live soe long sole and unmarried
61    But in case she shall happen to marry Then my Will is that my son shall have the benefit
62    and the management and disposal thereof and my Wife and such second husband not to have
63    any intermeddling therew[i]th And my Will and meaning is that in eyther case my Wife
64    shalbe accomptable unto my son of such profit benefit and advantage as she shall make
65    receive and have during such her ordering disposal and management thereof she being
66    allowed and deducting and defalking out of the same all such reasonable charges expences
67    and disbursements w[hi]ch she shalbe putt onto aswell in and about the maintenance education
68    and bringing up of my son (whom I would have to be brought up in learning and in such manner
69    as my Wife shalbe thereonto advised by my Overseers hereaft[e]r named) as also in and about the
70    execution of my Trust in her reposed as aforesaid And in case my son shall happen to decease
71    before his age of Twenty and One yeeres or marriage Then all my debts personal estate and
72    benyfitt of my Mortgage herein before bequeathed unto him shall remayne unto my executrix I make
73    and ordeine my Wife to be the sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament And my Will is
74    that mourning rings shalbe given by her unto Mrs Abigail Blake my sist[e]r in law Mr John Taylor arm and unto
75    his wife Mr Richard Blake my brother and Mrs Sara Taylor my sist[e]r in law And I intreat my loving Cousin
76    Mr Edward Pile and my loving father in law Mr John Taylor theld[e]r to be Overseers of this my last
77    Will and Testament intreating them to be ayding and assisting unto my executrix in the performance of the same
78    And I give unto each of them as alsoe unto the Wife of my said Cousin Pile a mourning ring to weare in
79    remembrance of me In Wittnes Whereof I have to this my Will conteyning Two sheets of paper
80    subscribed my name to the first sheete and to the last sheete sett my hand and seale and declared the
81    same to be my last Will and Testament the day and yeere abovewritten
82    Robert Blake
83    Signed sealed and declared in the p[re]sence of Samuel Spring Gabriell Hancocke George Potticary Peter Bankes Ann (the marke of) X Holdway
84    Vicesimo quarto die mensis Decembris Anno d[omi]ni 1678
85    Probatum fuit humoi testamentum in commisa forma coram
86    venti viro Waltera Darell Sacre Theologie Professore Archi[diaco]no
87    Archinatus Winton[iensis] Comissa adue Executrici in humoi Testament
88    nominat etc de bene etc deg solvenda debita et legata etc
    Jurat p[er]sonata juxta etc Salvo ___ __________
    [Page 3]
89    A true and perfect Inventory
90    of all and Singuler the goods and Chattalls
91    of Robert Blake late of Andover in the
92    County of South[amp]ton gent deceased
93    taken and appraised the thirtieth
94    day of October in the yeere of o[u] Lord
95    1678 by us Thomas Feilder and Richard
96    Butcher whose names are under
97    written as followeth
98    I                                                                                          £      s       d
99    Impris    His Wearing appareill his Watch and Goldring    x      0       0
100        In the Kitchin   
101    Item    One long Table board and Frame   
102        One little Table board and Frame   
103        One Bacon Rack One trancher   
104        Rack Five Joynd Stooles Foure   
105        Wooden Chaires One   
106        Cupboard and Iron Jack one   
107        Iron bonk one paire of greate                    xi       xv   __
108        Andirons one paire of little   
109        Andirons one paire of Tongs   
110        One Fire pan One Fender   
111        Three Broaches Two dripping   
112        pans One paire of Bellowes   
113        One Screene and other small utensills   
114        In the Studdy   
115    Item    One deskbord and Bookes and Shelves          v       0      0
116        In the parlour   
117    Item    One Table board and Frame one   
118        little Table board and Frame one   
119        dozen of Red leather chaires   
120        One paire of Brasse Andirons                  iiij     iiij   __
121        One Fire pan and tongs One little   
122        paire of brasse Andirons Two   
123        Red Courpotts and two red Window   
124        Curtaines   
125        In the pantrey   
126    Item    One Safe one little Table board   
127        One Meals Tubb and Flower                   0        x      0
128        Tubb One little chaire one little   
129        Stoole and Frying pan and other   
130        Small utensills   
    [Page 4]
131        In the Celler   
132    Item    Seaven Barrells One   
133        powdering Tubb Three   
134        Tubbs one Silt Two kivers                   j     vj     viij
135        one Meshingvate one Tin   
136        boile Four Woodden Horses   
137        and other Small utensills   
138        In the Great Chamb[e]r   
139    Item    One Standing Bedsteed with   
140        Cord and Matt one Feather bed   
141        one Feather Bolster Two   
142        downe pillows one white   
143        Rugge One Counter paine   
144        and paire of Blancketts with   
145        curtaines and veileants Sixe                 xxvj   viiij     ij
146        Wrought Chaires Two   
147        Wrought Stooles One Couch   
148        Two little side Table boards   
149        One paire of Brasse Andirons   
150        One Brasse Fire pan one   
151        paire of Brasse Tongs Two   
152        looking Glasses One Frame   
153        with escutcheons and Armes   
154        wrought in needleworke   
155        In the Little Chamber next to the greate Chamber   
156    Item    One Standing Bedsteed with   
157        Cord and Matt one Feather bed   
158        One Feather Bolster Two   
159        Feather Pillowes One rugge   
160        One paire of Blancketts One                v     xiiij    iiij
161        Joynd Presse and One paire of   
162        Curteines and Veilants   
163        In the Chamber over the Parlour and in the Maides Chamber   
164    Item    One Standing Bedsteed with   
165        Cord and Matt Curtaines   
166        veilants rods and one Feather Bed and   
167        Bolster Two Feather Pillowes   
168        and rugge Two Blanketts One   
169        Chest of drawers Three   
170        Trunkes One wicker Chaire and three        xij      vij     __
171        other chaires and one looking Glasse   
172        One low Bedsteed Two Feather Beds   
173        Two Feather Bolsters Two Feather   
174        Pillowes Two ruggs Two paire of   
175        Blancketts and other small utensills   
    [Page 5]
176    Item    In plate                               xij        0       0
177    Item    In Linnen                              x          0        0
178    Item    In Pewter                              vij        x        0
179    Item    In Brasse                             ij          x        0
180    Item    One Horse with Saddle and Bridle     ij          x        0
181        In the Backside   
182    Item    In Wood                                       x         0        0
183    Item    In Hay                                     iij          0        0
184    Item    Corne in the Barne                    iij          0        0
185    Item    Two Stockes of Bees                     0          xij       0
186    Item    A Bedsteed and Bedding at his   
187        Chamb[e]r in Lincolns Inne            ij            x       0
188    Item    In Spereits debts and upon   
189        Bonds Bills Mortgages and other              d          0        0
190        Specilties   
191        The somme of this Inventory comes to     dcxxi   xvij     v
192        In desperate debts                     cl          0        0
193    Item    for things forgotten                   iij          0         0
194        Thomas Feilder   
195        Richard Butcher   
196        Sum total                             775        18      8
197           

Will of John Blake the elder, yeoman, Ford, Laverstock, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/556/154, probated 24 Jan 1716/17

The testator is John Blake of Ford in the parish of Laverstock. His brother is Zachary Blake of Newton Toney. He has other siblings. His wife is Elizabeth and she was a widow when they married. His children are named John Blake and Anne Carter. Anne is married to William Carter and they have a daughter Anne. John, the testator, is related to a Charles Blake of Wallop. One sister is Debora Sheppard and she has a son John. He has land at Ford, Wallop and Charleton. Hannah Langley is a kinswoman.

Laverstock is one mile east of Salisbury with Ford being one mile north of Laverstock. The testator mentions Lobcome and he possibly means Lopcombe which is near Wallop (nine miles from Laverstock). Great Wishford is just six miles from Laverstock. Newton Toney (Zachary Blake lives here) is just seven miles from Laverstock. Charleton is 16 miles (close to Andover Hampshire). As always I find any Blake family very interesting this close to where my Blake line is located at Andover. That he has property at Charleton is especially interesting along with Wallop. Is he from the Andover Blake line?

There was a Zachary Blake buried 11 Jun 1717 at Newton Toney from Family Search (I065268-8 and others). There was a Zacariah Blake baptized 6 Oct 1681 at Winterslow, Wiltshire son of Zachariah and Christian and buried 12 Oct 1681. There was a second Zacariah Blake baptized 22 Jun 1688 son of Zachariah and Susannah at Winterslow. Winterslow is 4 miles from Laverstock and Ford and close to Lopcombe near Wallop. A son of Zachariah and Susanne named John was baptized at Newton Tony 23 Jan 1693/4.

There is a baptism for Deborah Blake 30 Jan 1679/80 daughter of Zachariah and Christian at Winterslow. Possibly a niece to the testator. Deborah would be 36 years of age when the will was written.

There is a baptism for John Blake son of John 25 Oct 1683 at Winterslow. He would be too young to be the testator. A second baptism for a John Blake at Winterslow 1 Apr 1690 son of John and Ann. 

Searching marriages yielded an interesting one between John Blake of Winterslow, widower, yeoman and Ann Truckwell, Wells, Somerset, spinster, 30 years of age,  married 29 Dec 1686 possibly at Winterslow with bondsmen Thomas Truckwell, yeoman, Wells and Zacharias Blake, yeoman, Winterslow. An earlier marriage at Winterslow between John Blake, Winterslow, 35 years of age, and Alice Ward, Etchilhampton, spinster, 34 years (daughter of Robert or Edward), married 23 Jan 1684 with bondsman Robert Ward, husbandman, Etchilhampton. The two baptisms for John in the paragraph above could fit into these marriages. The bond mentioned in the will between the testator and Thomas Truckwell of Wells is very interesting.

Possibly the testator is John Blake aged 35 years of age in 1684 giving him a year of birth circa 1649 and hence he would be 67 years of age when he died.

The marriage of Anne Blake (Salisbury St Martin (Ford)) spinster, 22 years of age, to William Carter of Winterbourne Earls, bachelor, carpenter, 27 years of age was celebrated 5 Apr 1714. Bondsman: Timothy Wheeler, weaver, St Martin Salisbury. Anne was thus born circa 1692 and likely baptized 20 Oct 1692 at Winterslow daughter of John and Ann.

Who is Charles Blake of Wallop? Charles is always a rather interesting forename in the Blake family. 

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 11 Dec 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/556/154
Testator: John Blake the elder, yeoman
Place: Ford, Laverstock, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 9 Apr 1716, probated 24 Jan 1716/17
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: T[esta]m[ent]
[Margin]: Johannis Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    the Nineth day of Aprill in the Year of our Lord God one
3    Thousand Seven hundred and Sixteene I John Blake the Elder
4    of Ford in the parish of Laverstock in the County of Wilts yeoman
5    being weak in body but of sound and perfect sence mind and
6    memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same doe make
7    ordeine and appoint this to be my Last Will and Testament
8    in manner and forme following (revokeing all former Wills
9    and Codicills of Wills by me formerly made) First I recommend
10    my Soul into the handes of Almighty God that gave it me
11    hoping through the Meritts and mediation of my blessed
12    Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to be made partaker of
13    Everlasting Life and my body I commit to the Earth from
14    whence it came to be decently buryed by my Executor herein
15    after named in hopes of a joyfull Resurrection and as for
16    what Worldly Estate which Almighty God hath blessed me
17    with I give devise bequeath and dispose as follows, (that is to
18    say) Imprimis I give and bequeath to my Brother Zachary
19    Blake of Newton Toney one Annuity or yeare rent charge of
20    Five pounds cleare of and from all Taxes Charges and
21    deductions whatsoever to be issueing due and payable out
22    of and from my Estate in Ford aforesaid to him dureing his
23    natural Life yearly and every yeare upon the five and Twentieth
24    day of March the four and Twentieth day of June the Nine and
25    Twentieth day of September and the one and Twentieth day of
26    December by even and equall portions The first payment thereof
27    to begin at such of the said days of payment as shall first and
28    next happen after my decease But my Will is that in case my s[ai]d
29    Brother Zachary Blake shall happen to have in possession or
30    enjoy at any time dureing his Life one Estate Situate in Maiden
31    Bradley which he claimes to hold the Rever[s]ion of immediately
32    after the decease of one Nathaniel Still who now enjoys it dureing
33    his Life) That then the said annuity of Five pounds so before
34    bequeathed unto my said Brother shall immediately cease and be
35    no longer paid to him out of my said Estate at Ford I give and
36    bequeath unto my Kinsman Charles Blake of Wallop one shilling
37    Item I give unto my Kinsman John Sheppard Son of my Sister
38    Debora Sheppard the Summe of Twenty pounds to be paid to him
39    by my Executor hereinafter named within one month next after
40    my decease Item I give unto my loving Wife Elizabeth all
41    such Goods and Chattles as were lately her Aunt Cowleys and
42    likewise one Feather bed which was heretofore my said Wifes
43    and all Furniture to him belonging Item I give and bequeath
44    unto my Son in Law William Carter all that bond made from
45    Thomas Truckwell of Wells in the County of Somersett unto me in
    [Page 2]
46    the penalty of one hundred and Eighty pounds condi[t]ioned for the
47    payment of Ninety pounds with the interest Together with all the
48    principall and interest thereon due Item I give unto my Granddaughter
49    Anne Carter the Summe of one hundred pounds to be put out at Interest
50    by my Executor herein after named and my Said Son in Law William
51    Carter within Twelve Months next after my decease until she shall
52    attain the age of one and Twenty years or be married or in case She
53    my said Grandaughter happens to dye before She attains the Age of
54    one and Twenty years or be married Then the said Summe of one
55    hundred pounds and interest thereof to be to and for the use of the
56    next Child of the said William Carter my Son in Law by Anne his Wife
57    my now daughter Item I give unto my daughter Anne now the Wife
58    of the said William Carter the Sume of one hundred pounds to be paid
59    to her by my Executor herein after named within Six months next after
60    my decease and her receipt to be a good discharge for the same not
61    withstanding her Coverture Item I give devise and bequeath unto
62    my said daughter Anne Carter all my Land at Charleton in the County
63    of South[amp]ton (after Elizabeth my said Wife is paid Twenty pounds per
64    annum for her Life out of the same according to my Marriage agreem[en]t)
65    To hold to my said daughter Anne Carter dureing her natural Life and
66    her husband not to have anything to doe therewith and after her
67    decease to the heirs males of the body of my said daughter Lawfully to
68    be begotten according to Seniority of age and priority of birth and to
69    the heirs of such heirs males for ever and for want of such Issue
70    to the heirs female of her body Lawfully begotten or to be begotten
71    and to the heires of such heires female for ever and for want of such
72    issue to my Son John Blake and to the heirs of his body lawfully to be
73    begotten for ever Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Said Son
74    John Blake all my inclosed piece of arable ground lyeing in the Parish
75    of Wallop in the County of South[amp]ton near a place called Lobcombe
76    Corner Together with all Trees hedgerows and other appurten[an]ces there-
77    unto belonging and also all that my Messuage Tenement and Farme
78    with the appurten[an]ces situate in Ford aforesaid to hold to him for
79    and dureing the terme of his natural Life and after his decease then
80    to the first Son of my said Son John Blake which in case his Wife should
81    dye leaveing noe heires) then to the first Son of any Second Wife and
82    the heires of the body of such said first Son (of the said Second Wife if
83    any) Lawfully to be begotten and in default of such issue then to the
84    heires female of my said Son John Blake lawfully to be begotten on
85    such Wives (if any) and the heires of such heires female for ever and
86    in default of such issue to my said daughter Anne Carter and the heirs
87    of her body lawfully begotten or to be begotten for ever. And If my said
88    Son and daughter shall happen to dye leaving noe heires of their
89    bodies lawfully issueing Then I give devise and bequeath my said
90    Lands att Ford and Charleton and the said piece of ground att
91    Wallop to be equally divided between such of my Brothers and
92    Sisters Children as shall be then living Share and Share alike as
93    Tenants in common and their heirs for ever Subject nevertheless to the
94    payment of the said Twenty pounds per annum to the said Elizabeth
95    my Wife dureing her life out of the Lands at Charleton and to the
96    payment of the said Five pounds per annum out of the said Lands att
97    Ford unto my said Brother Zachary Blake as aforesaid Item I give
    [Page 3]
98    unto my Kinswoman Hannah Langley Twenty Shillings Item I give
99    unto my loving Wife Elizabeth Blake the little possnett and the
100    little Bellmettle Skillett and Two Stock of Bees which was her former
101    husbands Item I give unto my Son John Blake all  my Stock of
102    Cattle and Waggons and plows and Corne of what nature soever
103    with the appurten[an]ces thereunto belonging Item I give and bequeath
104    unto my Son John Blake and my daughter Anne Carter all my household
105    goods (not herein before given and bequeathed) equally between
106    then and do make my said Son John Blake sole Executor of this my
107    Last Will and Testament In Wittnesse whereof I the said John Blake
108    the Elder have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and yeare in
109    the Sheet of paper hereunto annexed first above men[t]ioned (the marke
110    of John Blake the Eld[e]r) Signed Sealed published and declared by
111    the Said John Blake the Elder to be his Last Will and Testament
112    in the presence of us who have attested the Same in the presence of
113    the Testator Elizabeth Collier the mark of Elizabeth Tavly Ja:
114    Hayward

Will of Hercules Blake, Yeoman, Enham - The National Archives, probated 2 Sep 1656

Hercules Blake is the testator of this next will and he was buried 26 May 1656 at Andover and said to be of Enham. Being of Enham has an enormous significance to me as this is the home of Nicholas Blake and my ancestral line. Enham was not a big place but also Robert Blake brother to Nicholas lived at Enham. Was he descendant of Robert brother to Nicholas? When we are talking about the sons of Robert they were all born before 1542 when Robert died living his will. This is more than 100 years before Hercules died so I am looking at at least three generations since Robert and possibly four generations. He has a brother William Blake with a number of children but no ideas on where this brother lives.

Ancestry had a clue for Hercules Blake of Knights Enham husbandman with a marriage record with Catherine Douse of Knights Enham spinster married at Knights Enham 6 Jul 1609. This is interesting and she must have died as his named wife in the will is Rebecca. If this is the correct Hercules Blake then he was probably born by or before 1588 (he could have been a minor and hence the reason for the licence). This would make him at least 68 when he was buried in 1656 which is not an unreasonable age.

However, when you get into the will it actually says that he is of Kings Enham and one could ask what is the difference between Kings Enham and Knights Enham where Nicholas and Robert lived? I pursued this thought reading through a number of websites and I do understand Knights Enham - from the map looking across the top of the city of Andover you can see from right to left East Anton, then Knights Enham then Charlton then Foxcotte then Penton Mewsey. There are two other places called Enham - Upper Enham and Enham Alamein which are more or less to the north of Knights Enham. On the gazeteer for Genuki Knights Enham is listed as 2.2 miles north east of Knights Enham with Enham Alamein also being 2.2 miles north east and Upper Enham being 2.5 miles north east. Interestingly Genuki Andover page described Kings Enham as a hamlet in the parish and hundred of Andover, 2 miles north of Andover.

There was a Lease for 21 years performed for Thomas Golding and Hercules Blake of Kings Enham which was for a coppice and croft of ground called Hethcroft, containing 3 acres, and the drove of land containing about a yard of ground executed 15 Nov 1624 (Finding No 87M87/94 at the Hampshire Record Office, Winchester).  The end of this lease would have been 1645.

Hercules mentions his cousin Jane Blake daughter of Henry Blake late of Andover. Henry Blake baptized a son John Blake 4 May 1622 at Andover but no sign of a daughter Jone being baptized at Andover. I do not know which Blake family Henry fits into at Andover. But his other cousin Robert Blake mentioned is of Salisbury and a third cousin Margaret Pewsey living at Chute. A kinswoman Mary Blackman at Collingbourne and all of these last places in Wiltshire. Perhaps this line is descendant of the Wiltshire Blake family arriving at Andover later than my line.

An interesting will that I shall come back to later when I look at the Blake families of Andover with respect to the wills that I have now transcribed.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 13 Oct 2012
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/1829/430
Name of testator: Hercules Blake, Yeoman
Place: Andover, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated:25 Sep 1647, probated 2 Sep 1656
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: middle English, 17th century, tiny writing, fairly clear copy
[In margin] Hercules Blake

1    In the name of God Amen
2    I Hercules Blake of Kings Enham in the Parish of
3    Andever in the County of Southampton yeoman being weake
4    in body but of good and perfect memory I thanke the Lord
5    God for the same doe here make and ordayne this my last
6    will and Testament in manner and forme following
7    That is to say Imprimis I give and bequeath my soule into
8    the hands of Allmighty God my heavenly father hopeing
9    to be saved by the onely meritts and mercyes of Christ Jesus
10    my alone Saviour, and Redeemer, and my body to the earth
11    from whence it was taken and to be buryed in Christian
12    buriall in a comely, and decent order; Item I give, and
13    bequeath unto my brother William Blake if he be living
14    at the tyme of my decease five shillings, and to as many
15    Children of his which shall be liveing lykewise at the tyme
16    of my decease Twelve pence a peice to be paid unto them
17    within one whole yeare next after my decease if they
18    or any of them shall make demand thereof Item I give
19    and bequeath unto Joane Walker the wife of Anthony
20    Walker my kinswoman twelve pence. Item I give, and
21    bequeath unto her sonne five shillings Item I give, and
22    bequeath unto my Cosen Jane Blake daughter of Henry
23    Blake late of Andever deceased Twelve pence. Item
24    I give and bequeath unto the Parish of Andever two shillings. Item
25    I give and bequeath unto all the Children of my Cosen Robert Blake
26    of Salsbury and to each of them liveing at the tyme of my decease Twelve
27    pence a peice. Item I give and bequeath unto my Cosen Margaret
28    Pewsey Chute five shillings. Item I give and bequeath unto Mary
29    Blackman my kinswoman of Kollingborne five shillings, All the
30    rest of my goods Cattells, Chattells, money, plate, debts due unto mee
31    goods, household stuffe whatsoever unbequeathed my debts being paid
32    and funerall expences discharged I give and bequeath unto Rebecca
33    my wife whom I make sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament
34    And my will is that all the said Legacies before mentioned shall be
35    paid by my said Executrix within one whole yeare next after my
36    decease And I doe order, ordayne and make my loveing freinds
37    William Palmer of Andever, and William Leggatt of Charleton
38    Overseers of this my last Will and Testament and I give unto
39    either of them for theire paines Ten shillings a peice In Witnesse
40    whereof I have hereunto putt my hand and Seale, This five and
41    twentith day of September in the three and Twentith yeare of
42    the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles over England
43    et c[eter]a One Thousand six hundred fourty seaven, The marke of
44    the said Hercules Blake Signed and sealed by the s[ai]d Testator
45    and by him acknowledged to be his last Will and Testament
46    and Published in the p[re]sence of William Palmer, William
47    Legatt, William Culley his marke The marke of Thomas Smith esq[uir]e
48    This will was proved at London the second day of September
49    One Thousand six hundred fifty six. Before the Judges for
50    Probate of wills and granting Administrations lawfully
51    authorized by the oath of Rebecca Blake the relicte sole executrix
52    named in the said will. To whom Administration of all singuler
53    the goods Chattells, and Debts of the said deceased was comitted, she
54    being first by Commission sworne truely to Administer ye same.

St Marys Church at Andover

We did not visit St Marys Church at Andover when we went to Upper Clatford. We were with my cousin and there was so much he wanted to show us in the area around Andover that we decided not to go into Andover itself. That is one place I would like to visit although I suspect it was probably bombed during the war so that old areas are probably gone for the most part. There were Blake families in Andover (mine) and Blake families at Enham (mine as well). But which Enham - Knights Enham or Kings Enham? Also there were Blake families at Finckley, Foxcott (likely mine), Charleton, Penton Mewsey, Abbotts Ann, Monxton, Vernham Dean and I still have other registers to look at with regard to this family.

But were they all the same Blake family? That is a curiosity for me that only yDNA testing can probably resolve. The variety of yDNA in the Blake family includes: R1a, R1b, I1, I2a (my line), I2b and as we continue with the study perhaps there will be other haplogroups. There are two William Blake families at Andover and/or Eastontown. There actually would appear to be two Blake families at Eastontown with the forename William in the mid 1500s. One would definitely be the son of Nicholas by wills and subsidy records. The other William is a bit of a mystery. Is he a son of Roger Blake and Mary Baynard as shown on the Wiltshire Chart mentioned earlier in my blogs? He is said to be married to Avice Ripley (daughter of Sir Gervase Ripley of Ripon Hampshire). William son of Nicholas is married to Elizabeth and leaves a will in 1582 naming his children (and wife). The other William is also said to have died in 1582 but his children are different from William son of Nicholas plus his wife is Avice.

It is interesting to contemplate - was William married twice? This is a question that I cannot answer but one would think that he would have mentioned the children from both marriages if that was the case. The answer lies in reading the manor books for Eastontown (Andover) and that will be one of my prime targets when we next go to Salt Lake City. I wish they were not in Latin but will work away at that problem.

Continuing with the burials at St Marys Andover, I now have 7575 burials to the end of December 1721. There were 9138 baptisms at St Mary Andover by the end of December 1721 so a good growth situation at Andover. New families have moved in and we are just now approaching the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in England (between 1760 and 1780 appears to be the generally accepted time period for the commencement of this enormous change in what was primarily a manual labour and draft-animal–based economy towards machine based manufacturing. Towns were fairly small and the rural areas large with many hands needed to work the farms.

I will continue working on the Burials at St Marys heading to 1746 (25 years to do) and also reading my book on the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. It has proven to be most interesting reading. The sources listed include many of the books published about the Colonels of the 23rd Regiment as well as biographies about these particular men. My book report will mention some of the famous colonels of the regiment who went on to greater glory within the British Army.

Perhaps this weekend I will extract the names that have been at Andover since the early registers. I will select a cut off date of 1620 and then do 100 years to 1720. The variety of "home" locations for people marrying at Andover has also increased and I will augment that list as well. I am still hoping it will be helpful for me eventually.

One other mystery that I have in this area is the Coleman/Collman family at Goodworth Clatford. Sarah Coleman was my 3x great grandmother married to Thomas Blake at Upper Clatford. I can trace Sarah back several generations, her father was John Coleman son of Clement Coleman and Dinah Bever. This Clement was the son of Clement Collman and Katherine Holeridge. I have copies of an Inn License for Katherine Coleman in the 1720s at Goodworth Clatford and Clement and Katharine married at Goodworth Clatford 6 Oct 1695. But there I am still waiting but do need to transcribe the Goodworth Clatford registers just to be sure I haven't missed an earlier entry for either or both of them.