Will of Robert Blake, Coachman, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - Diocese of Bristol Wills on Ancestry, probated 18 June 1847

Robert Blake is the testator. He and his wife Martha and children Eliza 8 years, George 4 years and Thomas 1 year appear on the 1841 census at Cheltenham. He was not born in Gloucestershire, Martha and the children all were born in Gloucestershire. He is said to be 40 years of age and Martha 35.

On the 1851 census Martha Blake is still a widow living at Cheltenham, 44 years of age, born at Preshute Worcestershire with daughter Eliza 17 years, son George 13 years, son Thomas 10 years and daughter Harriet 8 years.

On the 1861 census Martha Blake is still a widow living at Cheltenham, 49 years of age, born at Pershute, Worcestershire with son Thomas 21 years, Fly Driver, born at Cheltenham and daughter Harriett 18 years, born at Cheltenham.

Could not find a marriage for this couple or a baptism for Robert.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 24 Oct 2014
Source: Ancestry – Diocese of Bristol Wills
Testator:  Robert Blake, Coachman
Place: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 20 Mar 1847, probated 18 Jun 1847
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy


1    This is the last Will of me Robert
2    Blake of Cheltenham Coachman made
3    the twentieth day of March one thousand eight
4    hundred and forty seven as follows, after the
5    payment of debts funeral and testamentary
6    expences I give to my dear Wife Martha all
7    my Household furniture and Effects and also
8    Sixty pounds part of the sum of one hundred
9    and twenty pounds I have in the National
10    Provincial Bank in Cheltenham and the
11    remaining sixty pounds I give equally between
12    my four children namely Eliza George Henry
13    Thomas and Harriet to be paid them as they
14    severally attain twenty one years of age and that
15    the Interest on each Child’s share shall accumulate for
16    his or her benefit until that period but in
17    case of the death of either of my said children
18    before that time then I give the share
19    of him or her so dying unto my said wife
20    absolutely and in case of her death before
    [Page 2]
21    before my children shall attain twenty one
22    and one or more of my children should die between
23    that period and attaining twenty one then I
24    will and direct that the share or shares of
25    him or her so dying and all accumulations shall
26    go and belong to the survivor or survivors in
27    equal shares my Executors not to be accountable
28    for any loss that may occur to my Estate through
29    any Banker I appoint my said Wife and
30    my friend Mr  John Bennett Executrix and
31    Executor of this my Will and Guardian of my
32    children as witness my hand
33    Robert Blake
34    Signed and published by
35    the said Testator as his last Will in the presence
36    of us in his presence and
37    in the presence of each
38    other and here subscribe our
39    names as witnesses
40    Jane Brimson 20 Rutland St
41    Ja[me]s Bevan 26 North Place
    [Page 3]
42    A Codicil to my Will on the other
43    side I authorize my said Trustees to
44    place the said sum of sixty pounds
45    in the Cheltenham Savings Bank
46    which I have given to my Children
47    and request them do so and I also
48    authorize them to advance out of the
49    share to come to either of my said
50    children any portion thereof to apprentice
51    them or for their advancement in life
52    Witness my hand the 20th of
53    March 1847  Robert Blake
54    Witness
55    Jane Brimson
56    Ja[me]s Bedvan
    [Send prob to Mrs Blake No 20 Sherborne Place Chelt]
    [Page 3]
57    18th June 1847
58    Appeared personally Martha Blake of
60    Cheltenham in the county of Gloucester
61    Widow and alleged upon oath that this
62    paperwriting contains the last Will and
63    Testament and Codicil of Robert Blake
64    late of Cheltenham aforesaid deceased who died
65    on the 26th day of May 1847 leaving Goods
66    Chattels and Credits wholly within the diocese
67    of Gloucester and Bristol under the value
68    of two hundred pounds That she is the Executrix
69    therein named That she will well and faithfully
70    perform the same and render an Inventory and
71    account etc
72    Wherefore she prayed probate
73    Let probate pass reserving power
74    for the other when etc
75    Andrew Sagar
76    Sworn under £200 before me Andrew Sagar Surrogate
    [Page 4]
77    In the Consistory Court of Gloucester,
78    In the goods of Robert Blake deceased
79    18th June 1847
80    Appeared personally Martha Blake of
81    Cheltenham in the County of Gloucester
82    Widow the Executrix named in the last Will
83    and Testament with a Codicil thereto of Robert Blake late of
84    Cheltenham aforesaid deceased bearing date
85    respectively the twentieth day of March One
86    thousand eight hundred and forty seven
87    now hereunto annexed marked it and
88    made oath that she was present at the
89    execution of the said Will and Codicil and
90    did see the Testator sign his name at
91    the foot or end of each respectively and that
92    Jane Brimson and James Bedvan were
93    also present at the execution thereof and
94    did sign their respective names thereto
95    as Witnesses in the presence of the said
96    Testator, the said Testator and Jane
97    Brimson and James Bedvan being all
98    present together at the same time
99    Martha Blake
100    Sworn at Gloucester
101    this eighteenth day of
102    June 1847
103    Before me
104    Andrew Sagar Surrogate

Jane Blake of Prestbury, Gloucestershire - probated 21 Dec 1822

The testatrix is Jane Blake widow with brother in law John Blake living in Wales. She names her present abode as Prestbury but mentions property in Withington which is 2 miles from Shipton and 5 miles from Cowley. Is this coincidence or Gloucester is just not that big an area. It is 6 miles to Bagendon, seven miles to Duntisbourne Abbots and 7 miles to Prestbury. Nine miles to Up Hatherley.

This will is very valuable for the Walker family of the widow as it names her siblings and their children.

William Blake and Jane Walker married 27 May 1798 at Withington, Gloucestershire, England ("England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NLSW-RYP : accessed 03 Jul 2014), William Blake and Jane Walker, 27 May 1796; citing Withington,Gloucester,England, reference ; FHL microfilm 856943.).

The will of Jane’s husband William is to come but does not add any details on the Blake family to which he belongs. There are other wills for the Blake family at Prestbury which may assist.

I should have done this for all the Gloucestershire wills from the Diocese of Bristol and will go back in and add it to the ones already done as time permits.

Source  Will #223,l Consistory Court of Gloucester, GDR/Wills/1822(223):
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: 3 Jul 2014
Source: Ancestry – Diocese of Bristol Wills
Testator:  Jane Blake
Place: Prestbury, Gloucestershire, England
Type of Record: Probate
Date of document: 11 Jan 1821; probated 21 Dec 1822
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

1    This is the last Will and Testament of me Jane Blake of
2    Prestbury in the County of Gloucester Widow being of sound and disposing
3    mind memory and understanding First it is my Will and desire
4    that I be buried at Withington as near to my late dear Husband as
5    possibly, and that my funeral be conducted in as similar a manner
6    to his as circumstances will admit of And I give and devise unto
7    my Brother in Law John Blake now residing in Wales All those my
8    five Freehold Cottages or Tenements and a Rockery with the Gardens and
9    all other the appurtenances there to belonging situated in the parish
10    of Withington in the said County of Gloucester To hold to him and
11    his assigns for and during the term of his natural life without
12    impeachment of waste And from and after his decease I give
13    and desire the same Cottages or Tenements Rockery and
14    Hereditaments unto between and amongst all and every the
15    Child and Children of the said John Blake male and female
16    who shall live to attain the age of twenty one years and the
17    issue of such of them as shall die under that age (such issue to
18    take only the share or shares which his her or their Parent or
19    Parents would have been entitled to if living) equally to be
20    divided between and amongst them if more than one share
21    and share alike as tenants in Common and not as joint
22    tenants their several and respective heirs executors administrators
23    and assigns for ever and with benefit of survivorship between
24    and amongst them And if but one child shall live to
25    attain the said Age, and in default of Children of those so
26    dying I give and desire the same Cottages and Hereditaments
27    to such one or only Child his or her heirs executors administrators
28    and assigns for ever And I give and bequeath unto the two
29    Children now living of my Nephew John Hayden of
30    Miserdine Mill all and singular my Household furniture
31    plate linen china and all other my household effects which
32    shall be in upon or about the house and premises in which
33    I now reside at Prestbury aforesaid And I give and
34    devise unto my friends James Cooke Pinker Linen draper
35    The mark X of Jane Blake
36    Witnesses
37    Tho[ma]s Fletcher
38    Chas Bubb
39    John Bubb
    [Page 2]
40    and John Finch Wheelwright both of Cheltenham in the
41    aforesaid County of Gloucester All that my Messuage or
42    Tenement in which I now reside Garden Hereditaments and
43    all other my real Estate situated in Prestbury aforesaid or
44    elsewhere To hold to them their heirs and assigns for ever
45    but nevertheless Upon trust as soon as conveniently may be
46    after my decease to sell the same by public Auction or private
47    Contract for the best price they can reasonably obtain And
48    after paying and satisfying the charges to which the same
49    are subjected in and by the Will of my late dear Husband
50    I direct that the surplus of the purchase money shall be
51    applied in payment of my debts funeral and testamentary
52    Expences and the Legacies hereinafter by me given And I
53    direct that the receipt or receipts of the said James Cooke
54    Pinker and John Finch or of the survivor of them his heirs or
55    assigns shall be a complete exoneration to the purchaser
56    or purchasers of the said Hereditaments or any part thereof
57    and that such purchaser or purchasers shall not be bound
58    to see to the misapplication or nonapplication of their his or her
60    purchase money or any part thereof And I give and bequeatrh
61    unto my aforesaid Nephew John Hayden of Miserdine Mill
62    the sum of Two hundred pounds to my nephew William
63    Hayden and Robert Hayden and to my Niece Elizabeth Walker
64    (daughter of William Walker of South Cerney the Sum of
65    Fifty pounds each. To my brother Edward Walker One hundred
66    pounds To my nephew Thomas Walker son of William Walker
67    Twenty pounds All which said several Legacies I do hereby
68    direct shall be paid by my Executors within twelve months
69    after my decease And I do hereby Will and direct that any
70    said Executors or the survivor of them shall and do within
71    twelve months after my decease invest the sum of Two hundred
72    and fifty pounds in their or his names or name in or upon
73    Government or real Security and pay the interest thereof half
74    yearly unto my Brother in Law William Wakefield and his
75    The mark X of Jane Blake
76    Witnesses
77    Tho[ma]s Fletcher
78    Chas Bubb
79    John Bubb
    [Page 3]
80    assigns for his life And after his decease unto his wife for her life
81    halfyearly in case she shall survive him And after the
82    decease of the survivor of them Upon trust to pay and divide
83    the said principal sum of Two hundred and fifty pounds
84    between all and every the Child and Children of the said
85    William Wakefield (except Ann Robertson who it is my Will
86    shall not receive any part thereof) on the youngest of them
87    attaining twenty one years of age And as to all the rest
88    and residue of my real and personal Estate not hereinbefore
89    devised or bequeathed after payment of my debts funeral and
90    testamentary Expences and the legacies and bequests hereinbefore
91    by me given I give devise and bequeath the same unto the
92    aforesaid James Cooke Pinker and John Finch their heirs
93    executors administrators and assigns for ever equally as tenants
94    in Common discharged of and from any trust implied
95    constructive or otherwise howsoever And I nominate and
96    appoint the said James Cooke Pinker and John Finch
97    Executors of this my last Will and Testament I hereby
98    revoking all former Wills by me at any time here before
99    made In Witness whereof I the said Jane Blake the
100    Testatrix have to the two first Sheets of this my last Will
101    and Testament set my hand only and to this third and
102    last Sheet my hand and seal this eleventh day of
103    January One thousand eight hundred and twenty one
104    The mark of X Jane Blake
105    Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the
106    said Testatrix Jane Blake as and for her last Will
107    and Testament in the presence of us who in her
108    presence ather request and in the presence of each
109    other have hereunto subscribed our names as
110    Witnesses
111    Tho[ma]s Fletcher
112    Chas Bubb
113    John Bubb
114    21st December 1822
115    The within named James Cooke
116    Pinker and John Finch the Executors
117    were duly Sworn before me
118    Under £2000    M Bishop Surrogate