Continuing on with the search at Kew

Yesterday interesting details emerged from the search on le Blake and le Blak. The appearance of a le Blake in Southampton prior to the date on which Richard le Blak of Rouen Normandy received his permit to set up a market in England was a surprise as I had not noted that particular item before. There is a Blake line in the southern part of Hampshire around Southampton/Christchurch that stays pretty much in that area although gradually does appear to move upwards into Dorset and Wiltshire as well as Hampshire and there are a number of wills for the Blake family in this area and they do not appear to link to the Blake family in Andover area nor do you see mention of the Blake family members known to be descendant of the Calne Blake family. But there are a number of distinct lines in the Blake yDNA study. This is perhaps one of those that now has three members (must check on that) or more and an excellent researcher in England on that one. But I am trying not to be subjective; I just found it interesting that there was a Blake present in southern Hampshire prior to 1274 when Richard le Blak received his market permit as shown in the Calendar of Patent Rolls. 

Today I want to continue with that search and will soon be doing that. This next month could prove to be interesting as there are many many Blake documents online and forever available to researchers because they are electronic. That is perhaps the gift of our generation to the future. When I first started into computers back in the mid 1960s who would have guessed how far we would come by the mid 2020s. We must continue to be in charge; to manage AI and to make it work for us as it is not limited by the frailty of Homo sapiens and can endure through the ages. It is our gift to the future and we must improve on it every day that lies ahead of us but always be in charge. 

Why do I think Richard le Blak in particular is the ancestor of the Calne Blake family. It is because he was Norman and that would likely give him a boost immediately on his arrival in England. Going to Wargrave makes really good sense because of its proximity to Windsor. Why move towards northern Wiltshire though? Someone with more knowledge than I have would probably quickly see something that was interesting but it does appear they moved towards Speen prior to finding them in northern Wiltshire. Still following that family lore that has (perhaps) a distant connection between the Hampshire Blake family to the Blake family that was at Calne and served as Parliamentarians in 1381, 1383 and 1384. This was John Blake and his son John Blake was born circa 1388 and can be located at Blacklands (a mile SE of Calne) in 1412 when he inherited some family property (I have blogged on that and must check what I wrote). I did blog it 22 Aug 2022 "Looking at Blake and an Anne Cole who were said to have married circa 1320s" and the land was held from 1262 to 1539 by the Malmesbury Abbey. It then passed into private family hands (eventually to the Maundrell family in the late 1780s). We do know that Robert Blake had a fulling mill at Quemberford which is close to Blackland. Source: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol17/pp17-27

The actual location of the fulling mill known to be held by a Robert Blake (father of this John and Robert) is not known to me. A google search revealed a couple of hits which could be investigated. A marker on the map (https://www.blacklandsmill.com/contact) does locate a building called Blacklands Mill that is close to the Blacklands estate.

The connection that hints towards a link to the Calne family appears in the Visitations of one line of the Blake family at Andover in the 1600s and in 1690 (with additions into the 1700s) the Daniel Blake family of London working with the College of Arms created the Blake Pedigree Chart I have mentioned a number of times where a more detailed descent was added. The Blake Museum at Bridgwater holds another large Pedigree Chart (principally linking the Somerset Blake family to the Calne Blake family) but it also mentions the Andover Blake family. Neither of them has the correct parents for William Blake of Eastonton who left his will in 1582 clearly establishing the family lines going back and forward. As do the other wills of this family. Five generations are readily established. I postulate that the connection between the Blake family that was eventually at Calne and the Blake family at Andover were related much further back in the early 1300s. That is the purpose of all this searching and I will spend the next month pursuing this idea in order to form a more concrete proof for this connection if one exists; one that makes use of all the records now available to me. 

I do not plan to publish this book outside of my family particularly but will place it into repositories with the embargo that is is available to family members and academic researchers. Because William, Prince of Wales is descendant, by way of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, of the Blake family of Calne definitely and I propose that he is descendant of the Blake family of Andover going back to Thomas Blake married to Dorothy Mayowe and the son of Thomas Blake and Eleanor Hall with William Blake married to Elizabeth (unknown) the father of John. This Thomas was the eldest son of John Blake and Margaret (Blake) Blake. Like James Sanders I will leave my thoughts to individuals who may in the future continue this research line and I do so humbly as did he! Certainly life can be very interesting in your old age as you read through all these documents from ancient times. 

My interest is primarily in that ancient ancestor of mine who likely arrived in the British Isles 8000 to 12000 years ago and was named Deer-Hunter by Ethnoancestry on the basis of the yDNA results of two of my four brothers (I could not test one as he was deceased and I really didn't need three results all the same) and this name has remained in the discussion but the more common name would have been Western Hunter-Gatherer. No surname through thousands of years and suddenly his surname is Blake. Why did he chose it? It was an established surname by that time with several families having the surname Blake already in England; I think there needed to be incentive to take on that surname personally. Marriage certainly does provide one with that sort of an incentive. That question I cannot really answer but certainly in the 1300s in England with the Duke of Normandy having conquered England and become its King there would be an asset to marrying into the le Blak family or Blake as it was commonly written by the 1300s. This ancestor was perhaps known as John of Enham in the early 1300s (the Blake family were at Knights Enham in the 1400s) so why not become John Blake of Knights Enham. Now I would say that my grandfather did not really buy into that idea that he was descendant of the Blake family at Calne. He didn't actually believe there was any relationship between Robert Blake, Lord High Admiral, of Bridgwater a line that considered itself descendant of the Blake family at Calne. But he did repeat the family lore along with the idea that the original settlers of the British Isles were one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. Family lore being what it is can sometimes have a moment of truth in it but it can also lead you astray so one proceeds very cautiously in this line of thought.

Breakfast is next, tea is drank, solitaire puzzles all done and even a Sudoku whilst I waited for my kettle to boil and my tea to steep. 

I will continue again to add to this blog through the day. Looking at le Blake 1200-1299 and there are 20 entries 12 completed yesterday). 

Entry 13:  Adam le Blake, 1270, Shropshire Archives 465/4, Grant and quitclaim. An interesting family but I do not think they are connected to the Wiltshire Blake family.

Entry 14: Refers to property and is held by Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library - 'la blake hege', date 27 Oct 1266 (28 Oct 1265). CCA-DCc-ChAnt/G/116

Entry 15: A similar property and individuals to Entry 14 but does mention a Thomas le Blake and I think is related to Entry 8, 9, 10 in 1200-1299

Entry 16: Refers to land belonging to a church of Blake Nhottele in Essex. 1261-1262.

Entry 17:  Roger Blake and his son Henry, 7 Mar 1294, a gift from father to son it would appear in the Blake family, Knyton, Leicestershire. This Roger Blake is perhaps living at the same time as the gift of land to the Knights Templar by a Roger Blake of Herefordshire (these two counties are fairly close). Leicestershire lies in the same area as Shropshire although somewhat distant apart with Warwickshire between them.

Entry 18. A grant in Swalecliffe once again a record in the Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library, 20 Nov 1284 - 19 Nov 1285. Thomas le Blake again mentioned. 

Entry 19: Quitclaim (Deeds and Papers), Shakespeare Birthplace Trust DR10/254. A Thomas Blake was a witness, c 1290. There was a Blake family in the Midlands that I have mentioned in another blog and I believe the records available eliminate them from being related to Richard le Blak.

Entry 20: Estate papers of the 4th and 5th Earls of Onslow and one line mentions 1320/273 Copy letters of J Jex Blake, Warren Farm. The holdings of the Earl of Northumberland were extensive and this one refers to the Blake family of Norfolk (East Anglia).

1300 - 1399 (with 98 of these I will only really look at the documents that pertain to Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset and possibly Gloucestershire)

Entry 1: Northamptonshire

Entry 2: Worcestershire

Entry 3: Warwickshire

Entry 4: Warwickshire

Entry 5: Warwickshire

Entry 6: Somersetshire - Thomas le Blake of Milverton 1340 DD/SF/1595 (Southwest Heritage Trust)

Entry 7: Northamptonshire

Entry 8: Northamptonshire

Entry 9: same as Entry 1 1100-1199, Worcestershire

Entry 10: Roger le Blake, Madebrook and his grant of land to the Knights Templar 10 Nov 1302 - 19 Nov 1303, C 143/41/23 

Entry 11: Lancashire

Entry 12: Gloucestershire, John le Blake as a witness to the land grant made to Margery le Blake and Nicholas le Blake.3 Jan 1318. BCM/A/2/62/2 (Berkeley Castle Muniments)

Entry 13: Gloucestershire, John le Blake is identified as being of Rockhill, 26 Dec 1330, BCM/A/2/62/5

Entry 14: Lincolnshire, John le Blake and his son Gilbert le Blake, 1317, C 241/113/124

Entry 15: as Entry 14, 1317, C241/82/211

Entry 16: Warwickshire

Entry 17: same as Entry 2 1100-1199

Entry 18: Buckinghamshire

Entry 19: Northamptonshire

Entry 20: Robert le Blake to John Malewayn, grant, 1358, Wiltshire and Swindon Archives 1720/154 (his brother Adam Blake is mentioned)

Entry 21: Robert le Blake paying bond to John Malewayn of Echelhamptone, Wiltshire, 1358, Ref: 1720/152

Entry 22: John le Blake, Cam, Gloucestershire, 16 Aug 1332, BCM/A/1/60/54

Entry 23: Hugo le Blake and wife Katherine, quitclaim, Gloucestershire, 1367, D6322/4

Entry 24: Warwickshire

Entry 25: Warwickshire

Entry 26: Gloucestershire, John son of William le Blake of Rockhill, 3 May 1311, BCM/A/2/62/1

Entry 27: Middlesex, Nicholas le Blake, London, 25 Jan 1349-24 Jan 1350, E 40/1733

Entry 28: Warwickshire

Entry 29: Gloucestershire, John le Blake of Cam, acquisition of land, 1332, BCM/A/1/60/55

Entry 30: Middlesex, similar to Entry 27

Entry 31: Middlesex, London, Nicholas le Blake.

Entry 32: Richard le Blake, Haydon, Wiltshire, 25 Jan 1343-24 Jan 1344, Taxes, E326/6618,  perhaps the son of Margery le Blake. similar to Entry 2: 1100-1199.

Entry 33: Warwickshire

Entry 34: Suffolk

Entry 35: similar to Entry 34

Entry 36: Essex

Entry 37: Gloucestershire, Grant, John le Blake 25 Jan 1338 - 24 Jan 1339, E 210/7780

Entry 38: Staffordshire

Entry 39: Worcestershire

Entry 40: Robert le Blake at Stokkelegh, Wiltshire, 1347, Ref: 1720/137. I have mentioned this in another blog.

Entry 41: Roger Blake, Bodmin, Cornwall, 6 May 1344, C 241/118/364. This is interesting as I have done a number of writeups on the Blake family of Cornwall; must check and see if I have this particular item.

Entry 42: similar to Entry 41: Roger le Blake, 3 May 1343, C241/117/256

Entry 43: John Blake, Gloucestershire, 1391, D2762/T5. Also rather interesting and will check to see if I have looked at this one earlier.

Entry 44: Robert Blake, Stokkelegh, Wiltshire, 1347, Ref 1720/139. Also in another blog.

Entry 45: Warwickshire, place name is Blake Furlong.

Entry 46: John Blake at Whetham, Wiltshire, 1387, Ref: 1720/202

Entry 47: Robert le Blake, Quemerford, 1353, Ref: 1720/148

Entry 48: Humphrey le Blake, Margarethis wife, Roger his son, and John le Blake, Shaftesbury, Wiltshire, Inquisition Ad Quod Damnum, 25 Jan 1347-24 Jan 1348, C 143/286/3.

Entry 49: Lincolnshire

Entry 50: Swaffham, Norfolk, Simon Blake, 1474

Entry 51: Robert le Blake, witness; Grant of Land. 1334, Ref 1720/120.

Entry 52: John le Blake of Rockhill, Shropshire, Nicholas le Blake of Stoke. 19 Jan 1321, Ref: BCM/A/2/62/4.

Entry 53: similar to Entry 52

Entry 54: John Blake, witness, 1395, Ref: 1720/213

Entry 55: Henry le Blake, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, 1343, C 241/117/176

Entry 56: Adam le Blake, London, 1330, Ref: SC 8/92/4572

Entry 57: Leicestershire

Entry 58: Suffolk

Entry 59: Herefordshire

Entry 60: Gloucestershire, Alexander le Blake, 0 Aug 1337, Ref: D326/T171/3.

Entry 61: Warwickshire

Entry 62: Cheshire

Entry 63: Buckinghamshire, Yorkshire

Entry 64: Kent

Entry 65: John le Blake and Alice his wife, 1347, Twyverton, Ref: DD/WHb/583.

Entry 66: Warwickshire

Entry 67: Herefordshire

Entry 68: Robert le Blake, witness, 1345, Ref: DD/WHb/1027-1028, East Coker, Somerset.

Entry 69: Murder of William le Blake, Ogbourne, Wiltshire, 1302,  Ref: SC 8/50/2463 (one of the King's Ministers). I did not see this one before, interesting. 

Entry 70: Suffolk

Entry 71: Lincolnshire

Entry 72: Warwickshire

Entry 73: Robert le Blake, of Kemerford (old word for Quemerford), quitclaim, 1364, Ref: DD/WHb/813 (blogged this item earlier).

Entry 74: John le Blake, witness, Quitclaim, Lega, Hampshire, 17 Oct 1331, Ref: 44M69/C/67

Entry 75: Leicestershire/Rutland

Entry 76: Suffolk

Entry 77: same as Entry 3: 1100-1199

Entry 78: Essex

Entry 79: Suffolk

Entry 80: Warwickshire

Entry 81: Robert le Blake, witness, 1363, Ref: 1720/164, Wiltshire

Entry 82: Christine, widow of Roger le Blake, John le Blake their son, Indented grant by the abbess of Lacock and the messuage is at Lacock. 1350 Dec 30, K H Rogers, Lacock Abbey Charters (Wiltshire Record Society, 1979), no 204. This is quite interesting as John is found at Lacock in a later record. Is he the John Blake that was the ancestor of Humphrey Blake, grandfather to the Admiral Robert Blake on the Blake Pedigree Charts? 

Entry 83: Suffolk

Entry 84: Cheshire

Entry 85: West Sussex

Entry 86: East Sussez

Entry 87: Herefordshire

Entry 88: Leicestershire

Entry 89: John le Blake, Stoke, Devon, witness quit claim, 1341, Ref: 1038 M/T/4/15.

Entry 90: Staffordshire

Entry 91: East Sussex

Entry 92: Warwickshire

Entry 93: Staffordshire

Entry 94: Staffordshire

Entry 95: Staffordshire

Entry 96: Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire

Entry 97: Kent

Entry 98: Essex

le Blak

1200-1299

Entry 1: Thomas le Blak, witness, mentioned in a grant of land, Milverton, Somerset, circa 1280. Very interesting to find a record for Thomas le Blak in Somerset. Reference DD/SF/1591. I think this is the first record I have found for a le Blak in Somerset this early.

Entry 2: Thomas le Blak, Swalecliffe, near Canterbury Cathedral, witness, grant, 20 Nov 1294 x 19 Nov 1295, CCA-DCc-ChAnt/T/17.

Entry 3: Thomas le Blak, Swalecliffe, Quitclaim, 19 Dec 1293, CCA-DCc-ChAnt/T/8.

1300-1399

Entry 1: Nottinghamshire

Entry 2: Thomas le Blak, Milverton, Somerset, grant of land from Thomas to Wm. Vycery, 1321-1322, Ref DD/SF/1593.

Entry 3: Nottinghamshire

Entry 4: William Blak, chaplain, Nottinghamshire, 16Aug 1315, C 241/81/147.

Entry 5: John son of Gilbert le Blak, Lincolnshire, 1333 Mar 26. C 241/104/23

Entry 6: Staffordshire

Entry 7: Suffolk

That completes that run through the National Archives looking at le Blak and le Blake.I will do a search on Blake itself as there are a number of records not caught with this search. 

A couple of surprises and I may order them just to see what is in the items. I have looked up records a number of times so have seen some of these already and worked my way through them. I made a map showing the number of hits in the Calendar of Patent Rolls per country for Blake.

 

 The time span for these records is 30 Jan 1230 to 16 Jun 1452. I have a copy of every one of these records and generally have used them looking at the families through the last few years but I decided to pull the records from the National Archives although most of them I have seen but this way I know that I have looked at all of them. 

Finished for the day, yoga done, running done, just weight lifting and that is next. No more work today. 

 

 

 

Will of Richard Blake, husbandman, Christchurch, Hampshire - Family Search Film 186695, Catalogue C-1148, number 24, probated 20 Feb 1558/59

The testator is Richard Blake, husbandman, of Christchurch. There are a number of wills for Blake at Christchurch and I shall complete them all before really commenting on them.

Richard identifies his wife as Margery and his brothers as William and Thomas. His estate is being split between his wife and Thomas to have one half and William to have the other half. Richard is the eldest as he inherited all of his father’s property (although this isn’t stated anywhere other than that he did inherit it). He states that he has children but does not identify them.

I transcribed Blake wills for Christchurch in 2012. One of which was for Henry Blake and dated 10 Jul 1594. There is a will for a William Blake, husbandman, 1585 which will be interesting to transcribe when I acquire it and will perhaps assist in understanding the Blake family at Christchurch.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 22 Mar 2014
Source: Family Search Film 186695, Catalogue C-1148, number 24
Testator: Richerd Blake, husbandman
Place: Christchurch, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 3 Feb 1558/59, probated 20 Feb 1558/59
Condition: 16h century English, legible copy

[Wrapper]: T[estament] Richerd Blake de Christchurch 1558

1    In the name of god amen the iij th day of February yn the yere of o[u]r lorde 1559 I Richerd Blake
2    of the p[ar]ishe of christchurche husbandman beyng sicke of bodie (but god be thancked) hole of mynde and
3    memorie do make this my last will conteynyng my testament In suche a[  ]re and forme as hereofe
4    doth folowe Fyrst I bequesse my soule to almightie god o[u]r lady saynt mary and unto all the
5    blessyd company yn heven and my bodie to be buridd withyn the church yearde of the p[ar]ishe
6    aforesaid It[em] I bequesse to my mother churche of wynt[on] vij d and unto my p[ar]she churche one pense
7    and I bequesse to my brother William blake my carte and all my horse bestes and lede And all
8    the howsholde stufe that was my fathers It[em] I geve and bequesse to my wyffe all suche howshold
9    stufe as she ___ hir to me It[e]m I bequesse to each of my children v shepe to willia[m] sanders
10    v shepe and to Richerd Curtes a shepe It[em] I geve and bequesse to __ele ballie a shepe and to
11    Gerry garwoke a shepe bullock of too yeres age
12    The Residewe of my goods bothe moveable and unmoveable I geve and bequesse to
13    Margery my wyffe and William and Thomas my brothers _____ _______ executori
14    that are to say my brother William to have the one half and my wyffe and my brother
15    Thomas the other halfe betwixt them And I make William sanders and alexander curtes
16    myn ov[er]seers gevyng to eche of them for there labors askyng yn that behalf a shepe apece
17    S[y]r William wylson Richard esquier and Thomas more recording the same
18    Probatum fuit humoi testamentum coram mro Robertus
19    Raynolds vichi generali apud winton xx
20    die februarie 1558 p ……….
21   
22   
23    The Invitorie of all the goods chatalles
24    late Richerd blake of the p[ar]ishe of Christ[church]
25    prysed by William sander alexander
26    curtes and William wyst
27    In primis the stufe yn the chamber    xiij s iiij d   
28    It[e]m iij pans iij kettellis and two crookears    xiij s iiij d   
29    It[e]m iij platers v potyngers one saucer and too candelstickes    ij s viij d   
30    It[e]m all the ledden vessellis    ij s
31    It[e]m the hay in the barne    v s
32    It[e]m vij horse bestes a carte a plowe with there farnisings    v l
33    It[e]m iiij eyew    iiij l   
34    It[e] v kyne    lv s   
35    It[e]m iiij bests of too yeres age    xxvj s viij d   
36    It[e]m iij calvs    vj s viij d   
37    It[e]m xl shepe    vj l
38    It[e]m viij hogie    xij s iiij d   
39    It[e]m the grayne yn the barne    iij l   
40    It[e]m ij acrs of whet and iij acres of corn    xl j s viij d   
41    It[e]m the wode    vj s viij d   
43    Sume tot[al]     xxlij l xij s   

Will of Elizabeth Blake - National Archives PROB 11/794/239, probated 12 May 1752

This will is written by the second wife of William Blake Mercer of Christchurch whose will was probated 8 Mar 1745. I have transcribed his will earlier in the year:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/05/will-of-william-blake-mercer-of.html

Primarily this will is about the second family of William Blake married to Elizabeth Hook. Elizabeth Blake identifies her father as William Hook deceased and that he owned a property called Little Kingston, Isle of Wight. Elizabeth has a sister Margaret Williams widow of Christchurch. She has the two daughters mentioned in William's will Hook (baptized 8 Dec 1727 at Christchurch (C14658-1 Family Search) (married to Francis Hackman (24 May 1750 at Christchurch (M14658-1 Family Search)) and Sarah (unmarried).

The executors of this will are Edward Hooper and James Worsley. David Worsley was one of the Executors of William's will but no relationship is known between these two men. However, one of Elizabeth's sisters is married to (unknown) Worsley (and James Worsley is said to be her cousin). Another sister was Grissel Hook mentioned in the will.

Also mentioned is the daughter of William Blake from his first marriage Elizabeth Dorothy Blake (right heir if Sarah and Hook die without heirs) and she is married to her first cousin John Garret Blake. Elizabeth's brother William Hook is also mentioned. Not a lot of new information on this Blake line (but new information on the Hook family for anyone interested) which is known to include siblings for William (husband of Elizabeth Blake testator) of Stephen (children: Stephen, Richard, Mary, Sarah, Dorathe, and perhaps grandchildren: Katherin and Stephen), John (father of John Garrett Blake) and his sister Dorathey married to Nicholas Slade.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 28 Sep 2012
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/794/239
Name of testator: Elizabeth Blake, Widow
Place: Christchurch Twyneham, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated:, 16 Aug 1750, probated 12 May 1752
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: modern English writing, 18th century
[In margin] Elizabeth
[In margin] Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Elizabeth Blake of the Borough of Christchurch Twyneham in the
3    County of Southampton Widow being in good health of Body, and of
4    sound and perfect mind memory and understanding (blessed be God
5    therefore do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in
6    manner and form following (that is to say) Whereas by virtue of the last
7    Will and Testament of my late Father William Hook deceased and
8    otherwise I am Intitled to the principal sum of one hundred and fifty
9    pounds payable out of a certain Estate called Little Kingston in the Isle
10    of Wight and County aforesaid when the same shall be sold and
11    till then to the Interest thereof at the rate of four pounds per
12    centum per annum I do hereby give and bequeath unto my
13    loving Sister Margaret Williams of Christchurch aforesaid Widow
14    the Yearly Sum of five pounds clear of all deductions for taxes
15    or otherwise for and during her natural Life if she shall so
16    long continue for and during her natural Life if she shall so
17    long continue her present Widowhood to be paid her yearly out
18    of the Interest and produce of the said sum of one hundred and
19    fifty pounds by my Executrixes herein after named the first
20    payment thereof to begin and be made three months after my
21    decease and I do hereby charge the said Sum of one hundred and
22    fifty pounds and the Interest and produce thereof with the payment
23    of the said yearly sum of five pounds unto my said Sister Margaret Williams accordingly
    [Page 2]
24    And from and immediately after the decease or determination of the
25    present widowhood of my said sister Margaret Williams I give and
26    bequeath the said sum of one hundred and fifty pounds and the then
27    growing Interest and produce thereof and also the overplus of the Interest
28    and produce there in the mean time as it becomes due unto my
29    two daughters Hook the wife of Francis Hackman gentleman and
30   Sarah Blake and to their Executors and administrators for ever
31    equally share and share alike and I do give and bequeath unto my loving
32    friend Edward Hooper of Hurn Court in the parish of Christchurch
33   aforesaid Esquire and to my loving Cousin James Worsley of the Isle of
34    Wight aforesaid Esquire (my Trustees) the sum of four hundred
35    pounds of lawful money of Great Britain Upon this special Trust and
36    confidence in them reposed and to the end intent and purpose that they
37    the said Edward Hooper and James Worsley and the survivor of them
38    and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivors and shall
39    as soon as conveniently may be after my decease from time to time
40    put out and continue the same at Interest in their own Names
41    or Name upon such Securitys or Security as can be gotten for
42    the same and the Interest and produce thereof as the same from
43    time to time becomes due and payable pay unto my said
44    daughter Sarah Blake into her own hands to be for her sole and
45    separate use and benefit during the term of her natural life whose
46    Receipts alone (whether covert or sole) shall be sufficient discharges
47    for the same and from and after the death of my said daughter
48    Sarah Blake then upon further Trust that they the said Edward Hooper
49    and James Worsley and the Survivor of them and the Executors and
50    Administrators of such Survivors shall pay the said Sum of four hundred
51    pounds and the Interest and produce whereof unto such of the children
52    (if more than one) of the Body of my said daughter Sarah Blake
53    lawfully to be begotten equally share and share alike as shall live
54    to attain the age of twenty one years or be married at
55    their respective ages of twenty one years or days of marriage and
56    if but one such child then to such only child at his or her
57    age of twenty one years or day of marriage and
58    if it shall happen that there shall be no such child or
59    children living at the time of the death of my said daughter
60    Sarah Blake or such child or children shall happen to die
61    unmarried and under the age of twenty one years then upon further
62    trust that they the said Edward Hooper and James Worsley and the
63    Survivor of them his Executors and Administrators shall pay the
64    Interest and produce of the said sum of four hundred pounds as
65    the same shall from time to time become due and payable unto
66    my said daughter Hook (if then living) into her own hands to be
67    for her sole and separate use and benefit exclusive of her husband
68    during the term of her natural life whose receipts alone (not withstanding
69    her coverture) shall from time to time and at all times during the
70    continuance thereof be sufficient discharges for the same  And from
71    and after the decease of my said daughter Hook then Upon further trust
72    that they the said Edward Hooper and James Worsley and the survivor
73    of them his Executors and Administrators shall pay the said sum of
74    four hundred pounds and the Interest and produce thereof unto such of the
75    children (if more than one) of the body of my said daughter Hook lawfully
    [Page 3]
76    begotten or to be begotten equally share and share alike as shall
77    live to attain the age of the twenty one years or be
78    married at their respective ages of twenty one years or days of
79    marriage and if but one such child then to such only child
80    at his or her age of twenty one years or day of marriage
81    And if it shall happen that there shall be no such child or
82    children living at the time of the death of my said daughter
83    Hook or such child and children shall happen to die
84    unmarried and under the age of twenty one years then upon
85    further Trust that they the said Edward Hooper and James Worsley
86    and the Survivor of them his Executors and Administrators shall pay
87    the said sum of four hundred pounds and the Interest and produce
88    thereof unto Dorothy Blake (the daughter of John Garrett Blake) or to
89    her Executors or Administrators to be and remain unto the for her and
90    their own proper use and benefit forever And my will is and I
91    do hereby order and direct the said Edward Hooper and James Worsley
92    their Executors and Administrators to reimburse themselves out of the
93    said sum of four hundred pounds and the growing Interest and
94    produce thereof all such Costs charges and expences as they or either of
95    them shall be as or put unto bear or sustain in or about the
96    execution of all or any of the Trusts aforesaid or for any
97    matter of thing touching concerning or relating to the same and
98    that they shall not be chargeable or answerable for any of the Trust
99    money that shall happen to be lost in lending the same And
100    I do desire the said Edward Hooper and James Worsley to take
101    upon themselves the Trust herein in them reposed and to see
102    that the same be duly and truly performed according to my true Intent
103    and meaning and for their trouble and pains therein I give to
104    each of them (so acting therein) the sum of five pounds of
105    like lawful money I also give and bequeath unto Sarah the Wife
106    of John Waterman of Christchurch aforesaid Butcher the sum of five
107    pounds a year during the term of five years (if she shall so
108    long live) to be paid on the Feast of Saint Michael the
109    Arch Angel yearly by my Executrixes therein after named into her own
110    hands to be for her own proper disposal and for her personal
111    and separate use and benefit (exclusive of her husband) whose Receipts
112    alone notwithstanding her coverture shall be sufficient discharges for the
113    same the first of which payments to begin and be made on the Feast of
114    Saint Michael the Arch Angel next after my decease I also give
115    and bequeath unto the poor widows of the Town of Christchurch aforesaid
116    who shall not receive Alms of the Parish the sum of five
117    pounds of like money to be paid and distributed amongst them
118    by and at the discretion of my Executrixes herein after named one
119    month after my decease I also give to my sister Mary
120    Worsley and her six daughters to my Sister Grissel Hook To my
121    Daughter in Law Elizabeth Dorothy Blake and to my Brother William
122    Hook and to each and every of them a Mourning Ring All the
123    rest residue and remainder of my Goods Chattels Household Stuff Utensils
124    Ready Money Money due upon Book Bills Bonds Judgments Executions
125    Mortgages Plate Rings Jewels and all other my Estate whatsoever and
126    wheresoever (after that my debts charges in sickness funeral expences and
127    the Legacys herein before given and bequeathed shall be fully paid and
    [Page 4]
128    I give and bequeath unto my said daughters Hook the wife of
129    the said Francis Hackman and Sarah Blake equall to be divided
130    between them share and share alike and I do hereby nominate constitute
131    and appoint them my said daughters Hook and Sarah joint Executrixes
132    of this my last Will and Testament And I do hereby revoke and make
133    void all former Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made and do
134    publish and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament
135    And Lastly I desire to be buried at Christchurch aforesaid by my dear
136    husband and as to the order and manner of my Funeral I desire
137    it may be done decently after Night as was my dear Husbands In
138    Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament (being
139    contained in five sheets of paper) set my hand and Seal the sixteenth
140    day of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred
141    and fifty Eliza: Blake. Signed sealed published and declared by the said
142    Elizabeth Blake the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament
143    in the presence of us who subscribed our Names hereto at her
144    request in her presence and in the presence of each other James
145    Newsam [signed] Ar: Blanchard [signed] Jno Oakes [signed]
146    This Will was proved at London on the twelfth
147    day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
148    hundred and fifty two before the Right Honourable Sir
149    George Lee Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or
150    Commisary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
151    constituted by the Oaths of Hooke Hackman (wife of Francis Hackman)
152    and Sarah Blake Spinster the daughters of the deceased and
153    the Executrixes named in the said Will to whom Administration
154    was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of
155    the said deceased being first sworn by Commission duly to
156    administer

Will of Samuel Blake, Brandy Merchant of Christchurch, Hampshire, National Archives PROB 11/1530, Image Reference 35/30 , probated 13 Feb 1812

I have already transcribed one will for the Blake family in Christchurch and this is the second one. I do not see any links between these two families. Samuel appears to be reasonably comfortable and has established his two sons in a business which he ran (he was a Brandy Merchant).

A few tidbits of history from


http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42056

notes that a William Blake in 1744 gave a secular salver to the Church at Christ Church. From A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain Volume 2 by John Burke. Sarah daughter of William Blake of Christ Church, Hants, married Thomas Moody 22 May 1755.

The will of Henry Blake at Christchurch was probated 15 Oct 1594 and appear on my blog:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2011/02/henry-blake-of-christchurch-and-his.html

Henry does mention a Joseph Blake and his children as legatees in his will. Linking the various Blake families at Christchurch will be a future endeavour.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 7 May 2012
Source:  The National Archives PROB 11/1530, Image Reference 35/30  (images by me)
Name of testator: Samuel Blake, Brandy Merchant of Christchurch, Hampshire
Place: Christchurch, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 29 Jun 1811, probated 13 Feb 1812
Read: Electronic file
Condition: 19th century, small indistinct handwriting, somewhat light
[In margin] Samuel Blake 17

1    This is the last Will and Testament
2    of me Samuel Blake of Christ Church in the County of Hants Brandy
3    Merchant whereas the partnership of which lately existed between me and my
4    Sons John and Samuel as Malsters and Common Brewers Farmers dealers and
5    chapmen at Sherborne in the County of Dorset has been virtually dissolved
6    though not publicly announced and a valuation of the Stock in Trade - property
7    and effects relating to or in any wise concerning such partnership hath been made
8    and taken by which it appears that my share thereof amounts in value to the
9    Sum of Three thousand one hundred and sixty six pounds with which I am
10    perfectly satisfied and for which amount I have accepted the joint word of my
11    said two sons payable at the expiration of three years with Interest in the
12    mean time and have in consequence thereof relinquish to them all my right
13    and interest in the said Stock property and Effects but as no legal conveyance or
14    Release of my right or share of and in any of the Messuages Tenements and
15    Premises which have been purchased in our joint Names has been made
16    I think it proper in order to obviate every doubt hereby to ratify and confirm
17    the said valuation of this said Stock property and Effects and to declare that
18    it is my will and desire that the Messuages Estates and Heriets purchased
19    and con___ed in the joint names of myself and my said two sons John and
20    Samuel shall be and become their absolute joint property Estates and Effects to
21    all intents and purposes whatsoever and that no claim article or thing
22    mentioned or contrived in our deed or copartnership or in any other
    [Page 2]
23    other Instrument whatsoever by me or either of us at any time evente shall
24    be operative valid or effectual either in Law or Equity to retain or prevent
25    their taking and becoming absolutely retitled to the said messuages Estates and Premises
26    as joint Tenants by Survivorship and my will further is and I do declare that my
27    said two Sons John and Samuel shall not be called on or be compelled or
28    compellable to pay off the said principal Sum of Three thousand one hundred
29    and Sixty Six pounds or any part thereof other than the annual Interest until
30    the expiration of three yeares to be computed from the day of my decease in
31    order that they might not be put to any inconvenience in their Business for
32    the want of it during that period I give and bequeath all my Goods and Table
33    Linen of every sort and kind unto my four daughters Elizabeth Harriet Sarah
34    and Lucy to be divided equally between them and if any difference shall arise
35    touching the division then I direct that my Executors and Trustees hereafter
36    appointed shall then divide and allot the same and that their division and
37    allotment shall be conclusive Also I give and bequeath to my said daughter
38    Elizabeth such part of my other household Goods and Furniture plate or China
39    as she shall make claim of not exceeding in value the Sum of Twenty pounds
40    in the estimation of my Executors or otherwise if she prefers taking it Also
41    Sum of Twenty pounds in money as to all other my household Goods and
42    Furniture plate and China Stock in Trade Monies and Securities for Money
43    particularly the said Bond for Three thousand one hundred and Sixty six
44    pounds and all other my personal Estate whatsoever wheresoever I give and
45    bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my freinds George Aldridge
46    of Christchurch afor[esai]d Banker and Joseph James of Blandford in the said county
47    of Dorset Mercer and Draper Upon this trust and for this intent and purpose
48    hereinafter inscribed and declared concerning this will that is to say that
49    they the said George Aldridge and Joseph James or the Survivor of them
50    the Executors or Adm[istrat]ors of such Survivor is and shall with all convenient
51    speed after my decease make sale of and convert into money all such parts
52    of my said personal Estate as shall not consist of money and the Security
53    above mentioned which they shall have so soon it is my will that in this
54    first place they pay and satisfy all my just debts funeral and other Expenses
55    and their costs of proving or otherwise relating to this my will and in the
56    next plan lay out and invest on Government or other their security as they shall
57    deem sufficient in the gaines of them the said George Aldridge and
58    Joseph James or in the name of the Survivor of them his executors or
59    adm[istrat]ors or suche and ___ part of my said Estate as by their dividends or
60    Interest thereof will produce a clear annuity or yearly Sume of
61    fifteen pounds which it is my will shall be paid to ______ _____ to be
62    received by my said daughter Elizabeth during the time of her natural
63    life if she remain sole and unmarried but not otherwise and after such a
64    de__ntion the rest and subject thereto there In trust ____ that they the said
65    George Aldridge and Joseph James or the survivor of them his Executors or
66    adm[inistrat]ors so and shall pay distribute and divide the residue and clear surplus of my
67    said personal Estate unto all and every my before mentioned and other children
68    Sons and daughters in equal shares and proportions and as for the money by
69    and out of which the said annuity of fifteen pounds shall arise it is my will
70    that after the decease or marriage of my said daughter which ever
71    event shall first happen the same shall be equally divided in manner
72    following viz[a vi]t in the event of her marriage then between herself and such of
73    her brothers and sisters as may then be living and Also Issue of any or other
74    that may be then dead leaving Issue and in the event of her dying
75    unmarried then equally between her Brothers and Sisters and their Issue
76    if any shall have died leaving Issue but in both cases the Issue of
77    any deceased brother or sister shall not be entitled to share and take
78    more than the part which their parent whom they represent would
79    have been entitled to if living and my will further is that in case my
80    daughter Lucy shall not have attained the age of Twenty one years
81    at the time of my decease her share of my said Estate shall
82    altogether remain at Interest for her maintenance and support during
83    her minority and that should she die under the age of Twenty one yeares
84    without having been married ____ her share shall go and be paid over
    [Page 3]
85    surviving brothers and Sisters and their Issue in like manner as I have before denoted
86    with regard to the Annuity money in the event of my daughter Elizabeth dying
87    unmarried provided always and my will further is that before my said children
88    shall be entitled to receive their distribution shares of the residue of my
89    Estate they and each of them shall bring into Such pot all such sum and
90    sums of money as they have at any time received of me either on marriage
91    or otherwise in the shape of their advancement in the world in like manner
92    as if I had died Intestate and if any doubt or dispute shall arise between my
93    said Trustees and any or either of my said children respecting the amount
94    which they shall been so advanced dower and direct that my Book or
95    Books of account if there be no better direction shall be decidur
96    concerning the amount of such advancements and I hereby nominate and
97    appoint my said Trustees the said George Aldridge and Joseph James joint
98    Executors of this my will In trust for the purposes afor[esai]d Lastly I direct
99    that my said Trustees respectively shall direct and retain all the costs
100    charges and Expences which they shall sustain or be put into in the
101    Execution of this my will and that they and each of them shall not be
102    answerable for none of the said Trust Monies than they shall
103    respectively actually recover non for any loss that may happen in
104    placing out the same unless such loss shall arise from wilful neglect
105    or misconduct nor shall one of them be answerable for the acts deeds
106    receipts and default of the other but each of them for himself and his own
107    acts deeds and defaults only In witness whereof I the said Samuel Blake the
108    Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in three sheets of
109    paper to the two first  I have subscribed my name and to this third and last sheet
110    subscribed my name and affixed my Seal the twenty ninth day of June in the
111    year of our Lord 1811 Sam[ue]l Blake [Seal] Signed Sealed published and declared
112    by the said Samuel Blake the Testator as and for his last will and Testament
113    in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence
114    of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses Also to John Goddard
115    Surgeon Rich[ar]d Thornton John Chater
116    On the 13th day of February 1812 Adm[inistrati]on with the will
117    annexed of Samuel Blake late of Christchurch in the County of Southampton
118    deceased was granted to John Blake and William Blake the Sons and heirs of
119    necessary Legators assured in the said will they having been first
120    sworn by Commission duly to administer George Aldridge and Joseph
121    James the Executors and ____ Legators In Trust named in the said Will
122    of then _____ having first renounced the probate and Execution

Blake family at Abbotts Ann in 1568

Transcribing Parish Registers is just always so meaningful. I have looked at Abbotts Ann before (probably four years ago now) and I missed the baptism of Thomas to Robert Blake 2 September 1568. Whether there will be more entries for Blake remains to be seen but finding them at Abbotts Ann is very interesting. Now who is this Robert baptizing children at Abbotts Ann? Is he the son of Robert Blake and brother to Nicholas Blake? This Robert Blake (brother to Nicholas) left a will in 1542 which I have not yet transcribed. I actually need to acquire it and hope to do that one of these days. I hadn't expected to find someone so early on but the earlier the better actually.

Checking Abbotts Ann wills reveals:

1533B/28  Will of Simon Prince (Prynce) of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire  1533
1629A/44  Will and inventory of William Kidgell (Kiggill) of Little Ann, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire  1629
1685A/054  Will and inventory of John Kidgell of Little Ann, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1685
1720A/062  Will of Richard Kidgell (Kidgel) of Little Ann, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1720
1729A/113  Will of Robert Prince of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1729
1753A/077  Will of James Prince of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1753
1760B/32  Will of James Prince of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, innkeeper ('innholder')  1760
1806A/059  Will of William Marshman of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1806
1815A/53  Will of George Marshman of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, Farmer  1815

All of which could provide information on the Mary Prince who married Charles Blake in 1736 at Abbotts Ann and the Jane Gilbert who married Charles Blake in 1761. Jane Gilbert is descendant of the Kidgell family. The Marshman family is rather interesting as I rather think this is the kindsman mentioned in John Blake (1796)'s will.

However, I deviate from 1568 but it does rather excite my mind to discover that there was a Blake family early at Abbotts Ann. That this time frame is good for a grandson of Robert Blake brother to Nicholas Blake. Interestingly nothing is known about Robert the eldest son of Robert Blake except he may have left a will at Andover

1522B/04  Will of Robert Blake (Blayke) of Knights Enham, Hampshire  1522
1542B/06  Will of Robert Blake of Enham, Andover, Hampshire  1542
1545B/022  Will of Robert Blake of ?Wallop Street, Lockerley, Hampshire  1545
1547B/006  Will of Robert Black (Blacke) of Christchurch, Hampshire  1547
1554U/03  Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Street, Lockerley, Hampshire  1554
1593A/009  Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Dibden, Hampshire, shipwright  1593
1601B/08  Will of Robert Blake of Knights Enham, Hampshire, husbandman  1601
1605A/07  Will of Robert Blake of Andover, Hampshire, victualler  1605

This list of wills for Robert Blake from 1522 to 1605 is an especially interesting one. I have transcribed the will of Henry Blake at Christchurch earlier and perhaps Robert Black (Blacke) is his ancestor. Did the name become Blake; were they originally Blacke? yDNA testing might help to solve the riddle of Andover and the Blake families there. Who leaves the will in 1522 - which Robert is this? Robert, brother to Nicholas, leaves a will in 1542 at Enham. The Lockerley Robert Blake is also a mystery and I have some of their wills to work on later but this is the earliest one and I do not have it either. Dibden is near Southampton and no idea on whom this Robert Blake is. The Robert Blake leaving a will at Enham in 1601 though is most interesting as is the Robert leaving a will at Andover in 1605 and a victualler. The Robert Blake family carried on this victualler type of business through the 1600s - is John a descendant of this family?

Back to transcribing now that I have a few thoughts in my mind about the Blake family that could be here at Abbotts Ann in the mid 1500s. The road to Abbotts Ann comes up through the Wallops so that getting to Abbotts Ann was probably not all that difficult; certainly as we drove up the highway through the Wallops towards Andover none of the small villages that dot the area to the south and west of Andover seemed very far away from each other. Stunningly beautiful countryside which reminded me of Ontario. I see why my grandfather was comfortable living in London Ontario; going out in the countryside was very much like living in Upper Clatford. Especially as we lived right on the outskirts of London when I was a child. Going to the end of our block and looking to the south was all farm land with just a couple more streets of houses. Now looking south London is solid right to the 401 highway.

Henry Blake of Christchurch and his will of 10 Jul 1594 and probated 15 Oct 1594

 There are four wills at the National Archives for the Blake family at Christchurch including the will of Henry Blake of 10 Jul 1594 and probated 15 Oct 1594 and the other three are the wills of William Blake, mercer, Elizabeth Blake widow and Samuel Blake brandy merchant (dated 8 Mar 1745, 12 May 1752 and 13 Feb 1812 respectively). I  have not read the last three having only transcribed the will of Henry Blake thus far. The Hampshire Record Office holds some early Blake wills at Christchurch - Robert Black (Blacke) 1547, Richard Blake husbandman 1559, Richard Black (Blacke) 1565, William Blake husbandman 1585, Margaret Blake widow (Hubborn) 1592, Agnes Blake widow 1607, John Blake husbandman (Hubborn), 1613,  Mary Blake widow 1636, John Blake senior yeoman (Hubborn) 1660. The Blake family continues (particularly at Hubborn well into the 1700s (as far as I have checked thus far) at Christchurch. I have not made a decision on the Black/Blacke entries that I find. Possibly it is a freestanding name but occasionally the Blake name is spelled that way in the Parish Record when it is obviously a member of the Blake family.

The oldest will at Christchurch is that of Richard Blake husbandman in 1559. William Blake husbandman leaves a will in 1585. We then jump to wills for individuals living at Hubborn, Christchurch and continuing John Blake husbandman at Hubborn, Christchurch leaves a will in 1613 and the Blake family continues at Hubborn at least into the 1700s which is as far as I have checked thus far. I wonder if Richard Blake husbandman in 1559 was also at Hubborn.

An Auction Ad appeared in 1812 which has some information on Hubborn:

ARABLE LAND, containing by estimation 10 acres, situate at Hubborn, in the parish of Christchurch, now in the occupation of the proprietor, Mr. Nicholas Verge. - The premises are admirably adapted either for the purposes of husbandry or building; they command extensive views of the sea, Isle of Wight, Needles, and surrounding country; and a brook of fine water runs through the whole. There are two Brick-Kilns on the Estate, in full work, and abundance of excellent clay. (Salisbury and Winchester Journal, Monday, June 8, 1812 - http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dutillieul/ZOtherPapers/S&WJ8June1812.html).

 The will of Agnes Blake widow in 1607 is perhaps the wife of Henry Blake (he mentions her name is Agnes) and no special location is given other than Christchurch in the Hampshire Record Office online catalogue. By the will Henry and Agnes do not have any living children. Instead this is a will that mentions siblings, other relatives and friends. Placing Henry in the Blake family of the 1500s will be a challenge I suspect. Henry is a name that occurs in the Blake family near Calne, Wiltshire in the 1300s and 1400s. There was also a Henry Blake baptizing children in 1622 at Andover. It would be interesting to read the will of Agnes Blake widow in 1607 in case it reveals more information about this particular Blake family. At the moment though they are an orphan Blake family at Christchurch although he has a sister Amy. Henry mentions a Joseph Blake (no relationship stated but he wants to help provide for the upbringing of the children of Joseph)  in his will and that his sister is Amy Fuller and that she has children. The Fuller family receive one quarter of his property. The will of Henry follows:
 

Recorded: 17 February 2011

Source: The National Archives PRO 11/84, Kew, London, UK, #303/265 (images by me)

Place: Christchurch, Hampshire, England

Testator: Henry Blake

Type of Record: Will

Dated: 10 Jul 1594 and probated 15 Oct 1594

Read: Electronic copy

Condition: scan, smudges, old English writing good, contrast medium

T[estator] Henri Blake

1    In the name of God amen The tennth daye of Julie Anno
2    dom[in]i millesimo quingentesimo nonagesimo quarto. I Henry Blake of Christchurche
3    in the countie of South[ampton] sicke in bodie but of good and perfect memorye thankes be to
4    god do ordaine and make this my last will and testamente in manner and forme
5    followinge, first and principallie I give and bequeath my soule into the handes of
6    almightie god my maker and redeemer, and my bodie to be burieth in the Churche or
7    Church yard of Christchurch aforesaid. Item, I give to my parishe churche two busshells
8    of wheate, Item to the Cathederall church of winchester twelve pound. Item I give unto
9    Roberte Tymer halfe my leafe of the meadowes after the decease of my wife. Item I give
10    to his sonn Henrye Tymer a quarter of my _oate with such furniture as to the same
11    belongeth. Item I give to my godsonn Henry Lea two sheepe and a silver spoone to be
12    delivered within the monthe after my decease. And a cowe after the decease of my wife
13    Item I give to Henry Pilgrim a sheepe and a stears bullock after the decease of my
14    wife. Item I give to the rest of my godchildren or every of them five pence Item I
15    give to Richard Heliar a steare Bullocke and an heifer bullocke and two sheepe to be
16    delivered after the decease of my wife Item I give to Elizabeth Clarke alias Vincente a
17    sheepe and a bullocke to be delivered at her marriage Item I give to Josephe Blake all
18    my wearinge apparrell, my best gowne and my best cloake excepted, and a sacke
19    of Barley, and two busshells of wheate and two bushells of Pit to be delivered th[e ]one
20    halfe at the month, and the other halfe the next yeare followinge Item I give to the
21    said Josephe Blake halfe the pickers and of Pit and an half of Barley about __westos
22    Item I give to Josephe Blakes children one bullocke amongst them, towardes theire
    [Page 2]
23    bringing up and a cowe after the death of my wife. Item I give to Agnes Heliar
24    my wife's goddaughter a bullocke of two years oulde. Item to Agnes Parker my wyve's
25    goddaughter a silver spoone Item I give to John Goddiers children to each of them a
26    lambe Item I give to John Newman a busshell of wheate Item I give to my sister
27    Amye Fuller and her children the fourth parte of my corne and cattle, a brasse pott
28    a platter and a pottenger a candlesticke and a bedstead to be delivered after the
29    decease of my wife Item I give to the poore people to be delivered at my buriall fourtie
30    shillinges and other fortie shillings more to be delivered after the decease of my wife
31    at the discrecion of my overseers All the rest of my goodes both moveable and immoveable
32    my debta and funeralls dischardges I give and bequeath unto Agnes Blake my
33    wife whom I make and appoynte my full and whole executrix Item I doe appoint
34    and ordaine my overseers my trustie and wel[l ]beloved in Christ William Lea Clearke
35    Thoms Packe and John Neale and I doe give to everie of them for theire paines
36    to be taken herein five shillinges

 Joseph Blake sounds like he might be a relative in that he has given him most of his wearing apparel. Henry Blake's will is interesting in that it mentions so many friends at a time when family would probably be considered to be the "first taker" of one's estate. The will of Agnes Blake in 1607 would be quite interesting is suspect and perhaps reveal more about this family.

I continue proofreading the Parish Registers at Upper Clatford. I became somewhat distracted looking at wills for a couple of days. I find reading microfilm can be hard on the eyes day after day so tend to move about to other things on occasion. In this case, it proved to be a most worthwhile exercise transcribing the will of Nicholas Blake.

I also transcribed the will of James Blake of Knights Enham and St George Bloomsbury Middlesex written 3 January 1727 and probated 8 July 1734. When I transcribed the Knights Enham parish register I thought I would find many Blake families there because that was where Nicholas and Robert Blake lived in the 1500s. They were the patriarchs of the two rather large Blake families in the Andover area in the 1500s so it was rather a surprise to find that by the very late 1600s there were very few Blake families attendant at the Knights Enham Church although they continued to remember the Church there in their wills. I have not yet worked through the possibilities for the parentage of James Blake but will do that later. His will proved to be an extremely interesting one and indeed it was contested and required two people who were familiar with his writing to enter proof of its legitimacy. Having once thus been determined the widow of James Blake, named Executrix in the will, renounced administration and inheritance both for herself and for her six daughters. There are a number of entries (margin) that lend to the suspicion that James Blake died perhaps in debt and his creditors were attempting to recover their debts from the property at Knights Enham. It was not resolved until 1790 as there had been an Indenture on the property in 1706 which left legal ownership in some doubt. It will make for interesting reading later once I have clarified some of the text (the notes in the margin are somewhat difficult to read). I will try to resolve the parentage of James but other than trying to find the marriages of his six daughters I will not trace this family any further down since my one name study looks solely at the Blake surname. In the case of my own personal family it will terminate with me since I too have married out of the Blake family.

I may transcribe the other three Blake wills at Christchurch or I may move on to other Hampshire wills closer to Andover. Curiosity drove me to look at Christchurch and the answer may lie in discovering more about the Wiltshire Blake family that gradually moved down towards Salisbury then to the New Forest area. To do that I need to transcribe the 30 odd wills that I have for the Wiltshire Blake family most located near Calne. Once I have finished looking at Hampshire wills then I shall move on to Surrey, Middlesex and London where the Blake family at Eastontown moved. I may be able to better understand why Richard Blake of the Tower Ward (Blog of 14 and 15 February 2011)  moved there from Eastontown. It was his cousins who also lived in Surrey/London/Middlesex. He is mentioned in the Visitation of London of 1633. I wonder what sort of tragedy happened between the Visitation in 1633 and his burial in 1644 at Andover. In the Visitation it is mentioned that he has two sons but no children (and no wife) are listed in his will. Is it the same Richard one might ask? Well his will clearly places him in the family of Richard Blake and Jone Blake of Andover.

The Hibberd family and the Blake family at Andover and Eastontown

Yesterday, I was reporting on the will of Nicholas Blake which was written 20 Nov 1641 and probated 4 Feb 1642 I have now completed the transcription and it is part of this blog. Nicholas is talking about the Hibberd family including Winifred and her four sisters (I can find this family in the Parish Registers of Andover and their father was Christopher Hibberd). Perhaps he was a brother/cousin to Margaret Hibberd who was the mother of Nicholas. He remembers them first of all and sets aside a sum of money that is to be used by Joseph Hinxman senior or his son Joseph or failing their being able to follow up then he passes this request on to William Blake (of Andover) and his eldest son Richard to undertake to ensure that the money is put to use buying stocke that can then provide work for the Hibberd sisters in order that they can continue to take care of themselves.

The will is a really lucky find in that it clearly distinguishes between these families and puts a number of people into family lines (always helpful in these early days of the parish registers). Because he is dying without descendants he has named many many people in his family. You feel sorry for what may have been a tragic life but oh so grateful that he has taken the time to remember so many people. I have not yet transcribed the Probate but it was taken by William Blake of Eastontown. Where to move next is always the question and I shall look through the Hampshire wills to see what would be a good next step. I have a number of wills for the Blake family at Christchurch and it would be interesting to see if this family is descendant of the Andover Blake family or have they come down through Wiltshire and are descendant of the Wiltshire Blake family.

The will of Nicholas Blake:
1    In the name of the eternall and everliveing
2    God the father the sonne and the holy ghost in whose name I was baptized
3    and in whome only I hope and beleeve to be saved Amen, The twintith
4    day of November Anno D[o]m[n]i 1641 and in the seaventeenth yeare of the raigne
5    of our Soveraigne Lord Charles King of England Scotland Fraunce and
6    Ireland defender of the faith and etc I Nicholas Blake of Eastentowne w[it]hin
7    the parrish of Andever in the County of South[amp]ton gent being at the
8    makeing whereof sicke in body yet in good and p[er]fect remembrance for w[hi]ch as
9    for all the other good blessinges and benefits w[hi]ch yt hath pleased him to
10    bestowe uppon me I doe yeeld and give unto his divine nature most humble
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11    and hear to thankes beseeching him of his great mercie and goodnes to
12    pardon and forgive me all my sinnes and to receave my soule into his heavenly
13    kingdome And I doe make and declare this p[re]sente to be my last will and
14    Testament revokeing all former wills and Testaments And first and principally
15    I comend my soule into the hands of god the father the sonne and the holy
16    ghost by whose mercifull promises and by the only merrits death and
17    passion of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer I hope to be
18    saved and to be made an inheritor of his heavenly kingdom My body yf
19    comend[ed] to be buried unto the earth in the Church of Andever neere unto the place where
20    my Ancestors have beene buried Item I give to the Church of Andever
21    thirty shillings Item I give to the Church of Knights Enham twentye
22    shillings Item I doe make my cosen William Blake of Eastentowne
23    aforesaid eldest sonne of my elder brother William Blake of Eastentowne
24    aforesaid my sole executor of this my last will and Testament Item I give
25    to all my godchildren twenty shillings a peece to be payed w[i]thin six months
26    after my decease they requireing the same Item I give to the poore people
27    of Andever such as are most ancient and have most need fourtye
28    shillings to be delivered to them at my funerall Item I give to Winnifred
29    Hibberd and her foure other sisters tenn pounds to be payed by my executor
30    unto my cosen Joseph Hinxman senior and Joseph his sonne and unto my cosen
31    William Blake of Andever and Richard Blake his sonne or to some of
32    them whome I doe desire soe to dispose and ymploy the same to at yt may
33    Be p[re]served and kept in stocke to keepe them in worke Item I give to
34    widow Hibberd their mother five shillings Item I give to Nicholas
35    Blake and Thomas Blake two of the sonnes of my cosen William
36    Blake of Eastontowne aforesaid fyftie pounds a peece to be payed unto
37    them when they shall attaine to the age of twenty one yeares Item I
38    give unto Sara Blake Anne Blake and Mary Blake three of the
39    daughters of my said cosen William Blake of Eastontown fyftie
40    pounds a peece to be payed unto them when they shall attayne to the
41    age of twenty one yeares or att such tyme as they shal[l ]be married
42    And my will and meaneing is that yf any of the Children of my said
43    cosen William Blake to whome I have by this last will given my
44    legacie unto shall happen to depart this life before such legacie shal[l ]be
45    growe due and payable then the legacie or legacies of him her or them
46    soe dyeing shal[l ]be paid and equally distributed amongst the survivors of
47    them Item I give to my kinswoman Mary Warberton widdowe of the towne
48    and county of Southampton twenty pounds to be payed unto her within
49    six moneths after my decease Item I give to the five children of the
50    said Mary Warberton now liveing twenty pounds a peece to be payed unto
51    them when they shall severally attaine to the age of twenty one yeares
51    or be married And yf any of them shall happen to depart this life before
52    they shall attaine that age or shall be married And yf any of them shall
53    Then my will and meaneing is that the legacie or legacies hereby given to
54    him her or them soe dyeing shal[l ]be paed and equally devided amongst the
55    survivors of them. Whereas Mrs. Venables of Andever doth owe unto
56    me divers sommes of money as by specialty remayning in my custody and
57    otherwise doth and may appeare. My will and meaneing is that for so much
58    thereof as will discharge the severall legacies hereby given to the children
59    of my cosen William Blake of Eastontowne and to the Children of my
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60    said kinswoman Mary Warberton shall remaine and continue in the hands of
61    the said Mrs. Venables at six pounds p[er] centum until such tyme as the same
62    shall severally and respectively growe due and payable unto them and either of
63    them she the said Mrs. Venables giving sufficient secureties to my executor
64    before named for the true payment thereof together w[i]th the interest and
65    profite for the only use and benefitt of the said Children Item I give to my
66    Sister Dorothie Smithe peece of gould of twenty two shillings of Queene
67    Elizabeths Coyne nowe in my custody And I give to my brother in lawe
68    William Smithe desireing him as my overseer of this my
69    last will to ayd and assist my executor the best he can All the rest of
70    my goods and Chattles I doe hereby give and bqueath to my said executor
71    requireing and chargeing him to be carefull in the performance of this my
72    last will and testament. In witness that this shall stand and remaine my
73    last will I have hereunto sett my hands the daye and yeare first above
74    written Nich: Blake [signed] And the same daye and yeare first w[i]thin
75    written I the said Nicholas Blake doe hereby further declare my will
76    and meaneing in manner and forme followeing that is to saye Item I doe
77    forgive unto Mrs. Venables w[i]thin named the somme of one hundred
78    pounds of the moneys she oweth me by specialty and otherwise And
79    doe desire that this clause may be counted and taken as part and p[a]rcell
80    of my wish in written last will and testament And in witnes that this
81    is my will and meaneing I have hereunto sett my hands the daye and
82    yeare first w[i]thin written Nich: Blake [signed] Published in the p[re]sence
83    of William Smith The same Legacies given by the Testator wer
84    e desired a little before his death might be subscribed to this his last will
85    Will and be reputed as part and parcell thereof. To Mr Matkins
86    vicar of Andever twenty shillings To his brother Mr. William Blake in
87    gould for remembrance twenty shillings To Tho: Blake the son of the said
88    Mr William Blake fyve pounds To Elizabeth Cload that attended
89    him in his sicknes twenty shillings William Smith [signed]

Records for the Hibberd family (early 1600s) at Andover (registers begin late 1580s):
Baptisms
Hibard    Winifred    daughter    Hibard    Christophur    1594    June    24               
Hibard    Alice    daughter    Hibard    Christophur        1594    August    14               
Hibard    Fayerned    daughter    Hibard    Christophur    1597    July    30               
Hibard    Philip    daughter    Hibard    Thomas            1591    October    18               
Hibbard    ……ard    son    Hibbard    Christopher            1589    July    16               
Hibbard    Mary    daughter    Hibbard    Christophur        1601    May    2               
Hibberd    Christopher    son    Hibberd    Christopher        1611    August    11               
Hibberd    Christour    son    Hibberd    Christophur        1595    November 26               
Hibberd    Thomas    son    Hibberd    Roberd            1602    December    19               
Hibbert    Margaret    daughter    Hibbert    Christopher    1604    January    26    of Andover
Hibbert    Richard    son    Hibbert    Christopher            1606    August    30               
Hiberd    Amy    daughter    Hiberd    Christophur        1603    April    3               
Hiberd    Dortye    daughter    Hiberd    Christophur        1590    December 16

Marriages
Braye    John        Hibbard    Susana                1587    October    29
Hopgood    Rowland        Hibbard    Elizabeth            1597    January    9
           
Burials
Hibard    Christofer                    1636    July    22   
Hibbard    Alce                        1592    February    24    widow
Hibbard    Christour    son    Hibbard    Christophur    1589    October    2   
Hibbard    Christour    son    Hibbard    Christphour    1596    January    6   
Hibbard    Dorathy                        1657    February    13   
Hibbard    Robert                        1589    April    17   
Hibberd    Susan    daughter    Hibberd    Christopher    1610    June    23   
Hibbert    Margarett daughter    Hibbert    Christopher    1604    February    26   
Hibbert    Thomas                        1604    February    6    died February 3, elder

Robert may be the father of Margaret Hibberd married to William Blake and the parents of Nicholas. Margaret was buried in 1613. Christopher is not buried until 1636 and perhaps that is why Nicholas is remembering the family so kindly (he does not imply close kinship in the will). Given the unusual surname though and the location one might suspect a cousin of his mother or perhaps a nephew.

I have also added a page to my Blog which appears under the title Pages (one can tab back and forth between the regular blog posting on "Home" that I make and this rather permanent addition which stands on its own and can be opened from the side panel "Guild of one name studies").

It is on the Guild of One Name Studies and grows out of a request that I had to do a short writeup on how I value my Guild membership. It was impossible for me to do it in a couple of lines but I allowed for a short quote to be made from the information to be placed on another blog. That inspired me to then publish my own thoughts on the Guild.