Will of John Blake the Elder, Weaver, Chesham, Buckinghamshire - The National Archives PROB 11/501/397, probated 22 Jun 1708

This will too was misfiled and is for John Blake the Elder of Chesham, Buckinghamshire. This will adds greatly to the knowledge of the earlier will of Job Blake published earlier as a blog:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/01/will-of-job-blake-elder-clothier.html

The present testator John (married to Rebecca perhaps as his second wife since Job calls her his mother in law) names two sons John and Job and a son in law John Payne so perhaps his daughter has died.

This brings us back closer to the time of the will of Alexander Blake 1600 and blogged earlier:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-alexander-blake-of-chesham.html

also of Chesham and he mentions his children Samuel, Joshua, Thomas, Mary, and Martha. All of these children were born between 1588 and 1598 and one of the two sons Joshua or Thomas could be the father of the present testator. Samuel was buried 8 Feb 1604. Alexander Blake married Elizabeth Hick 17 May 1587 at Chesham.

There was a marriage of John Blake, testator, to Rebecca Wheeler 28 Oct 1686 at Chesham (Family Search (M02080-2).

There was a baptism of John Blake son of William and Martha Blake baptized 22 Jan 1625 at Chesham, Buckinghamshire. Who is William?

Some new information taking Job back another generation but still the mystery of Alexander and whether he was the ancestor of this John.

I have included the latin probate although there are likely errors as I do not recognize a couple of the words. But it does explain that Job's wife Mary probated both wills with the permission of the court because her husband Job had died before probating his father's will over which he was executor.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 9 Jan 2014
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/501/397
Testator: John Blake the Elder, Weaver
Place: Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 18 Jul 1704, probated 22 Jun 1708
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: T[esta]m[ent]
[Margin]: Joh[ann]is Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I John Blake the Elder of Chesham in the County of
3    Bucks Weaver being of a sound and perfect disposing
4    mind memory and understanding (thanks be therefor
5    given to Almighty God) do make and ordain this my
6    Last Will and Testament in manner and form following
7    (that is to say) First and principally I commend my
8    soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator
9    trusting to Enjoy Everlasting Life through the Meritts
10    of Jesus Christ my ever blessed Saviour and Redeemer
11    And my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried in
12    the Church Yard of Chesham aforesaid in such manner as
13    to my Executor herein after Named shall seem meet And
14    as to the worldly Estate wherewith God in his mercy hath
15    blessed me withal I do hereby give devise and dispose the
16    same in manner and form following viz[ a vi]t Imprimis I
17    give and devise unto my Son in Law John Payne of
18    Chesham aforesaid Brewer Yearly and every Year during
19    the Term of his natural Life the summe of Five and
20    Thirty shillings of lawfull English Money to be paid to
21    him by my Executor herein after Named by equall quarterly
22    payments at the Four usuall Feasts or dayes of payment
23    in the Yeare (that is to say) at the Feast of St Michael the
24    Archangell St Thomas the Apostle the Annunciation of
25    our blessed Lady St Mary the Virgin and St John the
26    Baptist the first payment to begin and be made at
27    such of the said Feasts or dayes of payment which
28    shall First and next happen after my decease Item I
29    give and bequeath unto my Son John Blake of Chesham
30    aforesaid Clothworker my Standing Bedsted with the
31    Matt and Cord one Flock Bed two bolsters two blankets
32    one Coverlett my drawing Table and Frame my joined
33    Form my boowded Chest two paire of sheets and my best
34    brass Kettle provided he suffer my Son Job Blake and
35    his Assignes quietly to take down and carry a way to and
36    for his own use the little Furnace hanging in the now
37    dwelling house of my said Son John (the which my said
    [Page 2]
38    Son Job bought and sett there at his own charge) together
39    with the frame of bricks wherein it hangs and also his
40    Racks or Conters now standing on my Coippyhold Land
41    Item I give and bequeath unto my said Son John Blake
43    after the decease of Rebecca my Wife my Jack with the
44    Lines and weights and one Firkin Item I give and
45    bequeath unto my said Son John Blake the summe of
46    Twenty pounds of lawfull English Money to be paid unto
47    him by my Executor herein after Named within six
48    Months next after my decease Item I give unto the
49    Four Children of my said Son John Blake (viz[ a vi]t) to
50    John Job George and Edward the summe of Four
51    pounds a peece of like lawfull English Money to be paid
52    unto them respectively by my Executor herein after
53    Named within one Year next after my decease Item
54    I give and devise unto my Son Job Blake and to his
55    Heires and Assignes for ever all that my Cottage or
56    Tenement with the Appurtenances in Chesham
57    aforesaid wherein I now dwell with all Outhouses Edificies
58    buildings Yards gardens and backsides thereto belonging
59    Item I give to my Grandchildren Job Mary Lydia
60    Caleb Joshua Ursula and Sarah Children of my said
61    Son Job Blake the summe of Four pounds a peece of
62    like Money Item I give and bequeath unto my said
63    Wife Rebecca all such household Goods Furniture
64    and implements of household which were her own
65    before our intermarriage Item I give to my said
66    Wife Rebecca the use of three pairs of my Sheets which
67    she shall choose two kettles two Skilletts one warming pan
68    one scummer one pottage pott three pewter platters
69    two fruit dishes one pewter Flaggon one quart pott
70    one Table three Joyned Stools one little Table with a
71    drawer Five Chairs one pott hanger one pair of
72    Bellows fire shovel and Tongs one paire of Andirons
73    one Jack with the Lines and weights one Spitt two small
74    drink before the three Rivers two Boles one Flannell blanket
75    Six Napkins one pillow and pillowbear one Chest and
76    one box during her natural Life if she shall continue a
77    Widow sole and unmarried and continue her hatita[t]ion
78    and abode in the house wherein wee now dwell but if it
79    shall so happen that she shall Marry again or remove
80    her habitation out of the said house that then in either
81    of the said Cases my Executor herein after Named shall
82    take into his Custody all the said Goods last mentioned
83    and forthwith dispose the same or such of them as are
84    herein before directed to be disposed of after my said
85    Wifes decease to my said respective Legatees wording as
86    they were to have had the same after her decease Item I
87    give to my said Wife the summe of Forty shillings of like
88    Money to be paid to her by my Executor herein after
89    Named forthwith after my decease All the Rest and
90    Residue of my goods chattles moneys and personal Estate
    [Page 3]
91    whatsoever undisposed of after my debts Legacies and
92    Funeral Expences shall be thereout first satisfied paid and
93    discharged I do hereby give and bequeath unto my said Son
94    Job Blake And I do Nominate constitute ordain and
95    appoint my said Son Job Blake to be sole Executor of this
96    my Will And I do hereby revoke anull and make void all
97    former and other Wills by me made In Witness whereof
98    to this my last Will and Testatment contained in three Sheets
99    of paper to each sheet have sett my hand and to the First
100    and last sheets have sett my Seal the Eighteenth day of July in
101    the third Year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lady Anne by
102    the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland
103    Queen defender of the Faith etc Anno d[omi]ni One thousand Seven
104    hundred and Four the mark of John Blake the Elder Signed
105    and sealed and by the above Named John Blake the
106    Testator published and declared to be his last Will and
107    Testament in the presence of us whose Names are under
108    written and were subscribed as Wittnesses thereunto in the
109    presence of the said Testator Willim Hill Jno Smith
110    Anne Clifton
111    Vicesimo Secundo die Mensis Junij Anno
112    d[omi]ni Millesimo Septinantisimo Octavo Einanavit Commissio
113    Maria Blake Vidua Relictae et Executrici Nominata in
114    Testamento Job Blake defuncti (dum vixit) Filij et Extoris
115    inici Nominati in Testamento Johannis Blake weaver de
116    Chesham in Com Bucks defuncti habentis etc ad adstrandinn
117    bona juxa et credita dicti defuncti juxta tenorem et effectum
118    Testamenti ipenis defuncti (eo quod dictus Job Blake Executor
119    in dicto Testamento Nominatus antegnam omis Executioris
120    dicti Testamenti in se atteptasset mortem etiam abut) de bene
121    et fideliter administrando eadem ad Sancta dei Evangelia
122    Jurat

Will of Job Blake the elder, Clothier - The National Archives PROB 11/501/398, probated 22 Jun 1708

The will of Job Blake is from Buckinghamshire and I have misfiled this particular will in Hampshire. Looking back at the Buckinghamshire wills and there is a mention of the marriage of Job Blake and Mary Skilton in 1703. The exact details appear to be 10 Sep 1704 from the Family Search Website (M02080-2). This is likely the marriage of Job the son of the testator which would put the year of birth for this Job possibly in the mid 1600s.

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/05/will-of-priscilla-blake-widow-chesham.html

An earlier blog for the will of Alexander Blake of Chesham mentions sons Samuel, Joshua and Thomas and daughter Mary and Martha but this being 100 years earlier one can not really come to any conclusions on the ancestry of Job from this will:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-alexander-blake-of-chesham.html

No further information found on this family.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 7 Jan 2014
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/501/398
Testator: Job Blake the elder, Clothier
Place: Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 20 Mar 1707, probated 22 Jun 1708
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

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

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Job Blake the Elder of Chesham in the County of Bucks
3    Clothier being sick and weak in Body but of a sound and
4    perfect disposing mind memory and understanding thanks
5    be therefor given to Almnighty God I do make and declare this
6    my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is
7    say) First and principally I commend my Soul to Almighty
8    God my Creator and my Body I commit to the Earth to be
9    decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix herein after
10    Named And as to my temporal Estate I dispose thereof as
11    followeth (viz[ a vi]t) Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my loving
12    Wife Mary Blake and her Assignes all that Cottage or
13    Tenement with the Appurtenances in Chesham aforesaid
14    wherein my Mother in Law Rebecca Blake now dwelleth
15    immediately after the decease of her the said Rebecca for
16    and during the natural Life of her my said Wife Item I
17    give to my Son Job Blake Five shillings of lawfull money
18    of Great Britain to be paid him by my Executrix herein
19    after Named out of my personal Estate forthwith after my
20    decease he having lately had a portion of my said Estate
21    Item I give to my said Son Job one paire of Flaxen Sheets
22    two paires of Hemp Sheets and Six Napkins Item I give
23    and devise to my son Caleb Blake the summe of Fifty
24    pounds of like Money to be paid him by my Executrix
25    herein after Named at his Age of One and twenty Years
26    And in case my said Wife after my decease shall Marry
27    again then as an increase of the portion of my said Son
28    Caleb I give and devise to him the further Summe of ten
29    pounds to be paid to him at the Age aforesaid Item I
30    give to my said Son Caleb one pair of Flaxen Sheets two
31    pair of Hemp Sheets and Six Napkins Item I give and
32    devise to my Son Joshua the like summe of Fifty pounds
33    to be likewise paid to him by my Executrix herein after named
34    at his Age of One and Twenty Years And also the further
35    summe of Ten pounds if my said Wife shall happen to
36    Marry again to be paid him at his Age abovesaid Item
37    I give to my said Son Joshua one paire of Flaxen Sheets
38    two pairs of Hemp Sheets and Six Napkins Item I give
39    and devise to my daughter Mary Blake the summe of
40    Thirty pounds of like Money to be paid to her by my
41    Executrix herein after Named at her Age of one and
43    Twenty Years or day of Marriage which shall first happen
44    Item I give to her my said daughter one pair of Flaxen
45    Sheets and two pairs of Hemp Sheets and Six Napkins
46    Item I give to my daughter Lydia the like summe of
47    Thirty pounds to be also paid to her by my Executrix
48    herein after Named at her Age of one and Twenty Years
49    or day of Marriage which shall First happen Item I also
50    give to my said daughter Lydia one pair of Flax Sheets two
51    pair of Hemp Sheets and Six Napkins Item I likewise
52    give to my daughter Ursula the like summe of thirty pounds
53    to be likewise paid to her by my Executrix herein after
54    Named at her Age of one and Twenty Years of day of
55    Marriage which shall first happen Item I give to my said
56    daughter one pair of flaxen Sheets and two pairs of Hemp
57    Sheets and Six Napkins Item I also give and devise to
58    my daughter Sarah the like summe of Thirty pounds to
59    be likewise paid to her by my Executrix at her Age of
60    One and Twenty Years of day of Marriage which shall
61    first happen and also the like number of like Sheets and
62    Napkins And in case my said Wife after my decease
63    shall Marry again that then and in that case for an
64    increase of my said daughters Portions I give and
65    devise to them respectively the first summe of Ten
66    pounds a peece to be paid to them respectively by my
67    Executrix herein after Named together with their afore
68    mentioned Legacies And to enable my said Wife to
    [Page 2]
69    pay all such just debts which I shall owe at the time of
70    my decease the charge of my Funerall and for the Maintenance
71    of my Younger Children and for the placing my Youngest
72    Son an Apprentice which I desire may be done as soon as
73    conveniently may be and to pay the Legacies herein before
74    disposed of I do give and devise unto my said Wife all my
75    Stock in Trade Implements utensils belonging to the
76    Clothing and dyeing Trades Moneys household goods
77    Creditts and personal Estate whatsoever in disposed of
78    And I do hereby Nominate constitute ordain and
79    appoint my said Wife Mary Blake to be the sole
80    Executrix of this my Will And I do hereby revoke anull
81    and make void all former Wills by me made In Wittness
82    whereof to this my last Will and Testament contained
83    in two sheets of paper to both sheets I have sett my hand
84    and seal the two and twentieth day of March in the
85    Seventh Year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lady
86    Queen Anne Anno d[omi]no One thousand seven hundred
87    and Seven Job: Blake Signed and sealed by the
88    Testator Job: Blake and by him published and declared
89    to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us
90    whose Names are underwritten and were subscribed as
91    Wittnesses hereunto in the presence of the said Testator
92    John Welch William Dearmer Willm Hill

Will of Priscilla Blake, widow, Chesham, Buckinghamshire - The National Archives PROB 11/257/427, probated 7 Aug 1656

Returning from my break and eager to begin once again although my time has become somewhat curtailed with the garden needing a lot of time at the moment.


Priscilla Blake the testator is located at Chesham Buckinghamshire which is 4.1 ESE of Chenies and 8 miles S of Beaconsfield. No children are mentioned in her noncupative will nor is her husband's name mentioned.

The National Archives has a deed mentioned for a Thomas Birche of Charteridge, Chesham, yeoman 21 May 1627 (DE/B664/29131).

Searching on the LDS website, Ancestry and Find My Past did not supply any details on this Blake family at Chesham, Buckinghamshire.

An earlier blog for the will of Alexander Blake of Chesham Buckinghamshire may be this family at Chesham into which Priscilla has married. Alexander left his will in 1600 mentioning sons Samuel (died 1604), Joshua (baptized 1590), Thomas (baptized 1592). The question at hand may be was Alexander Blake the ancestor of the Blake families in Buckinghamshire?

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-alexander-blake-of-chesham.html

An interesting marriage at Chesham in 1687 between Moses Blake and Elizabeth Birch. Again at Chesham in 1703 Moses Blake (clothier) married to Mary Willson. In 1703 also Job Blake married to Mary Skilton. In 1712 Moses Blake married to Mary Weston. Also in 1712 George Blake and Rebeckah Gate. In 1715 Moses Blake junior married to Sarah Goold (20 October).  in 1715 Moses Blake married Mary Gray (widow) (4 Jun). Then in 1732 George Blake and Elizabeth Wells. (source:  http://archive.org/stream/buckinghamshirep08phil/buckinghamshirep08phil_djvu.txt)

The British History on line site mentions a Moses Blake who held 155 acres at Beckley Oxfordshire in 1786 (on ancient maps Beckley was part of Buckinghamshire).

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=101881

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 27 Apr 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/257/427
Testator:  Priscilla Blake, Widow
Place: Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document:  23 Sep 1652, probated 7 Aug 1656
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Top]: Memorandum
[Margin]: T[estator] Priscilla
[Margin]: Blake

1    memorandum
2    That upon the Three and Twentith day of Septem[be]r
3    one Thousand six hundred fiftie two Priscilla Blake late of
4    Chesham in the Countie of Bucks Widdowe deceased did wish
5    minde and resolution to make her noncupative Will and settle her
6    Estate voluntarilie declare and say That she did give and bequeath all her
7    Estate which she should die possessed of and which did or should of right belong
8    unto her att the tyme of her decease whatsoever and wheresoever the
9    same should be unto her loving Sister Susan Birch or she used words
10    to that or the verie like effect and substance And that the said Priscilla
11    Blake was att the tyme of the declareing of her minde and Will nun-
12    cupative aforesaid of perfect minde and memorie and understanding
13    and that the same said by her soe declared In the presence of Thomas
14    Birch and Elizabeth Butler and others Credible Witnesses
15    The Seaventh day of August In the Yeare of
16    our Lord God One thousand six hundred fiftie and Six by the
17    Judges for probate of Wills and granting Administrations lawfully autho-
18    rized A commission or Letters of Administration with this nuncupative
19    Will annext was granted onto Susan Birch the sister and Universall
20    Legaterie named therein To administer the Goods Chattells and debts
21    of the said deceased according to the Tenor and effect of the above written last Will
22    and Testament Noncupative of the said deceased There being no Execut[o]r
23    named in the same She the said Susan Birch being first Legallie
24    Sworne by vertue of a Commission truly and faythfully to administer
25    the same

Will of Alexander Blake of Chesham Buckinghamshire, National Archives PROB 11/95 Image Reference 394/685, probated 5 Aug 1600

I have moved on to the Oxfordshire wills but discovered that this will of Alexander Blake was actually for the Chesham and Agmondesom (Amersham) area which is Buckinghamshire. Plus the will that I am transcribing for William Blake at Coggs, Oxfordshire is already at eight pages and still six pages to go. I hope to acquire more of the wills for the Blake family in Oxfordshire on our next trip to Kew.

From this will, Alexander Blake is married to Elizabeth and they have five children with the eldest being Samuel. For the moment Alexander is a mystery. He does not choose any Blakes to be his overseers and does not mention any siblings. At a time when religious statements are the norm in wills he makes none at all. This is coming to the end of the Elizabethean era in England and he doesn't mention the Queen either. No ideas on what can be taken from all of this but it is interesting to see his will written without a date and probated 5 Aug 1600.

This Alexander Blake does not appear on the Wiltshire Blake Pedigree Chart.

Buckinghamshire is bounded by Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Surrey and Oxfordshire.

Looking at Family Search there are five children born to Alexander Blake and his wife Elizabeth and baptized at Chesham: Samuel 17 Mar 1588 (died 8 Feb 1604), Joshua 10 May 1590, Thomas 12 Nov 1592, Mary 16 Nov 1595 and Martha 24 Dec 1598. Alexander Blake married Elizabeth Hick 17 May 1587 at Chesham.

This will is perhaps written in haste seeing the dates of baptism for the children. Alexander is probably a young man leaving behind five children aged Samuel 12 years, Joshua 10 years, Thomas 8 years, Mary 5 years and Martha 2 years.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 27 Apr 2012
Source:  The National Archives PROB11/95, Image Reference 394/685  (images by me)
Name of testator: Alexander Blake
Place: Agmondesom, Buckinghamshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: undated, probated 5 Aug 1600
Read: Electronic file
Condition: slanted writing, 16th century, bold copy
[In margin] T  Alexandri
[In margin] Blake

1    Item I give to the poore of this Towne and p[ar]ish of Chesam fortye
2    shillings Item I give to the poore of Agmondesom Twenty shillings Item I
3    geve to Samuel my sonne my house and lande in Agmondesom with orchard
4    and garden and all thereto belonginge to him and to his heyres for ever Item I
5    geve to my fyve children to every of them a hundred pounds of good and lawfull
6    money and that my Executrix shall pay this fyve hundredth pounds into the hands of
7    my Overseers within one whole yeare next after my deathe and that they shall
8    enter into Bonde unto Mr Gled and Mr Harry Tredwaye to paye to the
9    portion or portions to every of my sonnes at the agge of one and twentye yeares
10    And if any of my children departe this lyfe before yt of one and twenty or
11    my daughters be eightene Then I will that his or her por[t]ion or por[t]ions to be
12    equally devyded betwixte them then lyvinge and that my overseers shall have
13    the bringinge of my children mainetayninge them w[i]thall necessaries and
14    placeinge them with maisters and trades as they are fitt for and that my
15    children should have the profitte of theire Stocks from fiftene yeares untill
16    the receyving of their whole stocke w[hi]ch for my sonnes shal[l ]be one and
17    twentye yeares and for daughters at eightene And further that they shal[l ]be
18    consailed and gowned by my Overseers as parents to them both for theire
19    trades as also for theire marryages And if they shall refuse so to be yt shal[l ]be
20    at the good discre[t]ion of said Overseers to abate of his or her por[t]ion or por[t]ions
21    and to distribute the same to the rest of the other that shal[l ]be then lyvinge That
22    shee shall keepe my house in repar[ati]on as it nowe is untill the ende of seaven
23    yeares Item I geve to Rychard Chace twenty shillings And to everye of my
24    Overseers twentye shillings Item all the res[idu]e of my goods Chattells moveables
25    and whatsoever unbequeathed after my debts payde and my bodye buryed
26    I geve to Elizabeth my wyfe whome I make my sole Executrix of this my Will
27    and testam[en]t And I doe make theis men undernamed to be my Overseers
28    William Carter Elias Porteris Thomas Corke John Partrige This I
29    make and geve as my acte and deede Signed w[i]th my [seale] in the presence of Will[ia]m
30    Carter Elias Porteris Thomas Corke Rychard Chace Alexander Blake