The testator is likely the Robert Blake married to Elizabeth Blake, widow, of Over Stowey who left her will which was probated 16 May 1656. She mentions her children Robert, John and Grace as does he. Still wondering if this is the descendant of John Blake of Kingston who was a son of Thomas Blake of Wedmore and hence of the Blake Over Stowey line.
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/09/will-of-elizabeth-blake-widow-of-over.html
This would mean that this line is also collateral to the line of Admiral Robert Blake. However, the land referred to in this will at Wemdon clearly connects to the Blake family at Halse.
I still have not yet determined if the Blake family at Halse is descendant of Thomas Blake of Wedmore. There are five Blake wills at Halse: Elizabeth the relict of Robert Blake (current testator), John who was a brother to Robert Blake (possibly the Robert Blake who left his will in 1639 and the father of the present testator), William Blake who only names a son John in his will of 1594 but mentions his property at Wembdon, the will of Robert Blake 1639 where he mentions John Blake of Kingston and the will of Agnis Blake 1641 (wife of Robert Blake who left his will in 1639).
What we do know thus far about Thomas Blake at Wedmore was that he was buried there 8 Dec 1580 and that he and his wife Isobel had nine children but only four survived to be mentioned in his will: Thomas , Lucia, John and Elizabeth. Thomas married Alice Tutton 10 Feb 1587 at Wedmore and they had four children but only one son Richard and I have not yet been able to trace him down. Lucia married Robert Jarvis 11 Jan 1586 at Wedmore, John was baptized 230 Jan 1571 and I am suspicious that this is the John who left his will in 1620 who identified his brother as Robert and his children Anne and Anstice (he is married to Katherine).
William Blake in his will of 1594 identifies his father as Robert and a son William. It is possible that his wife had a posthumous child which would account for the Robert brother of John. But this negates this family as being connected to Thomas Blake of Wedmore which is fine but we continue to be left with the mystery of the Blake family at Halse and the ancestor of Robert Blake father of William leaving his will in 1594.
The mention of property at Stogursey is also interesting. Robert also mentions his sister Edith. The mother of Robert’s father Robert was Edith. Still more thinking to do on this family.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 26 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/224/141
Testator: Robert Blake, yeoman
Place: Halse, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 6 Nov 1651, probated 9 Jul 1652
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: The Will of Robert
[Margin]: Blake
1 In the name of God Amen I Robert
2 Blake of halse in the County of Somersett yeoman beinge of perfect health of
3 body and mynd (praised be God) doe make and ordaine this my last will and
4 Testament in manner following First I give unto the poore of halse Tenn Shillings
5 to be distributed unto them by my Executrix or Administrators Item I give and
6 bequeath unto Robert my Sonne Fortie pounds And unto John my Sonne Fourescore
7 pounds and unto Grace my daughter Fourscore pounds to be paid unto them
8 eespectively when they shall attaine unto their severall ages of one and Twenty yearesor
9 qithin three moneths after the death or next marriage of Elizabeth my wife w[hi]ch
10 ahall First happen Alsoe I give and bequeath unto Robert my Sonne his Executors
11 administrators or Assignes after the death of my said Wife my Grounds lyeinge
12 in halse aforesaid called Finses (which I purchased of Mr Jones) for and dureinge
13 the Residue of my Terme which shall be then to come therein And my will is That
14 if
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15 if my wife shall not in the Judgment of my Overseers Sufficiently maintaine all my said
16 children then the portions of money hereby given unto them Shalbe paid into the hands of my
17 overseers for maintenance of my Said Children within Six Moneths after notice thereof
18 given unto her in that purpose Alsoe I give and devise unto my said Sonne John and his
19 heires for ever after the death of my wife all my lands in Stogursey Marsh in the said County of
20 Somersett And if he shall dye before he shall attaine to the age of one and Twenty yeares Then
21 I give and devise the same Lands after my said wife’s death unto my sonne Robert and his heires for
22 ever And my will is that such person or persons as by virtue of this my will Shall jnioy the said
23 lands in Storgursey Marsh Shall pay unto Grace my daughter One hundred pounds of
24 lawfull English money within one yeare next after such tyme as my said sonne John Shall
25 or Should have Accomplished the age of one and Twenty yeares provided allwayes and
26 the same meaning of this my will is That if Elizabeth my wife shall be living at the tyme
27 when the said One hundred pounds Shalle come payable to my Said daughter Grace as is
28 is above limited Then neither of my said Sonnes or other person Shalbe charged with the
29 payment thereof until one yeare after the decease of my said wife And then I will that
30 the said One hundred pounds shall be paid unto my said daughter by such person or
31 persons as shall jnioy the said Lands And my will is further that if my said wife Shall
32 happen to dye before the said one hundred pounds become due then such person or persons
33 as shall jnioy the said Lands shall from and after the death of my said wife paye unto my
34 said daughter Grace Eight pounds yearly portion and every yeare until her said portion shalbecome
35 payable in Such manner and at Such tyme as I have herein before declared And
36 if default shall be made in payment of the said One hundred pounds at the before limited
37 tyme Then I give the said land in Stogursey Marsh unto my said daughter Grace and
38 her heires for ever And my will is that if my said daughter Grace shall happen to dye
39 before She shall accomplish the age of one and Twenty yeares without yssue of her body
40 lawfully begotten That then this last legacie of one hundred pounds payable out of
41 Stogurseye Marsh as aforesaid shall be void to all intents and purposes But the legacies
42 of Fowescore pounds First bequeathed unto her I wholie give unto my Sonne Robert
43 and whereas I am to pay unto my Sister Edith One hundred and Fortie pounds when
44 she shall Accomplish her age of one and Twenty yeares which was given unto her by the
45 will of my Father And Twenty pounds more which I have received for her My will
46 is that if my Executrix or Administrators shall quietly Jnioy the halfenddast of A
47 Tenement in Wemdon in the said County of Somersett called Perry wood until my
48 said Sister shall attaine unto the age aforesaid and shall not in the meane tyme be
49 charged with more than Eight pounds apeace towards the maintenance of my said
50 Sister Then my Executrix or Administrator shall pay unto her Two hundred pounds And
51 assigne over unto her all the Jnterest which I have in the said Tenement in Wembdon
52 soe as my said Sister shall at the same tyme Seale and deliver unto my Executrix or
53 Administrators A sufficient general release of all Accomptes debts and demands
54 whatsoever All the rest of my goods and Chattells whatsoever not formerly bequeathed
55 my debts paid and legacies discharged I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth my wife
56 whome I make Executrix of this my will. But if my said wife shall happen to dye before
57 probate hereof shalbe made Then I make my said sonne John and my daughter Grace
58 Executors hereof And in Case they dye they dye before probate made Then I make my
59 said Sonne Robert Executor And I desire my Overseers hereafter named to take letters
60 of Administration dureinge my said Childrens minorities Lastly I desire my brother in
61 law John Sellocke and my brother Edmund Blake to be Overseers of this my will And
62 doe give them for there Care and paines to be taken in and about the Execution thereof
63 twenty shillings apiece and their necessary Expences In Witnesse whereof I have to
64 every sheete thereof beings three in number Sett my hand and Seale the Sixth day of
65 November in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand six hundred Fiftie and one
66 Robert Blake Seased published and declared to be the last will and Testament of
67 the said Robert Blake in the presence of us Henry Haddridge J Sellacke
68 Edmund Blake Wat: Peirce An Addi[t]ion to my will Alsoe I give unto
69 my daughter Grace Fortie pounds to be paid unto her when the legacie of
70 fowrescore
[Page 3]
71 fowrescore pounds given her by this my will Shall become due and payable And my
72 will is that if my said daughter shall dye before the Said legacie of Fortie pounds Shalbe
73 com due unto her then the some shall remaine unto my sonne John if he be lievinge if not
74 unto my sonne Robert And whereas my father by his will gave unto my
75 and bedstead performed and my mother gave the same unto my Sister Edith my will
76 is that Tenne pounds shalbe paid unto my said Sister in consideration thereof
77 when she shall Accomplish the age of one and Twenty yeares She then Seallinge
78 a personal release unto my Executor In Witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my
79 hand Robert Blake Witnesses Ja Sellacke Wal: Pearse Corye Comer
80 This will was proved at London before the Right Worshipfull Nathaniell Grey
81 Knight doctor of Lawes and Master or Keeper of the prerogative Court lawfully
82 constituted the ninth day of July in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand Six
83 hundred Fiftie two by the Oath of Elizabeth Blake the Relict of the said deceased
84 and Sole Executrix named in the said Will To whome was Committed Administration
85 of all and Singular the goods Chattell and debts of the said deceased She beinge
86 first legallie Sworne (by Commission) well and truly to Administer the same.
Showing posts with label Comer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Comer. Show all posts
Monday, October 28, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Will of Elizabeth Blake, widow, of Over Stowey, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/255/325, probated 16 May 1656
Elizabeth Blake, the testatrix, was the wife of Robert Blake and this Robert probably the son of Robert Blake, yeoman of Halse, who left his will which was probated 15 Jun 1639. Is this family descendant of Thomas Blake of Wedmore since Robert (will probated 1639) mentions John Blake of Kingston as one of his Executors in Trust:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-robert-blake-of-halse-national.html
In this will Robert mentions his sons Robert, Edmond, John, and Richard and daughters Grace, Jane and Edith.
The will of Robert (husband of Elizabeth the testatrix and will still to be transcribed) mentions his brother Edmund and the same children as below in the will of his widow Elizabeth, John, Robert and Grace.
Perhaps the clue lies in John Selleck one of the overseers in the will below. He is named as brother in the will and brother in law in the probate so probably brother in law. Now is he the husband of one of Elizabeth’s sister(s) or married to one of Robert’s sisters Grace, Jane or Edith?
Agnes Blake was married to Robert whose will was probated in 1639 and her will also blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-agnis-blake-widow-of-halse_17.html
She too mentions Robert, Edmond, John and Richard as sons and Grace, Jane and Edith as daughters. Her will was probated in 1641. She does not mention grandchildren so the marriage of Robert Blake and Elizabeth (unknown) must be in 1641 or after which would mean that none of the three children of Robert and Elizabeth was older than 15 when Elizabeth wrote her will or older than 11 when Robert wrote his will.
Returning again to the Visitations of Somersetshire 1623 and the entry for the Perry family. Elizabeth Perry daughter of John Perry and Joane James married first John Smith and second Robert Blake. Since the visitation was taken in 1623 this Elizabeth is an aunt to the children of her sibling Robert married to Elizabeth Warren. The children of Robert and Elizabeth Perry are married and have children of their own. This is not the Elizabeth Blake who has left the present will as she would be too elderly to be her. The Elizabeth Perry in the visitations would be born circa 1550-1560. That helps to eliminate this family at Halse as being part of the present Blake family being examined although I wonder who Robert Blake married to Elizabeth Perry was.
Perhaps this is the time to look at the articles published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register by Clifford L. Stott. I had found the published accounts for the Blake Family of Andover, Hampshire linking that family to the Somerset Blake family and knew them to be absolutely incorrect since wills existed to disprove the connection first suggested by Horatio Gates Somerby and stated to be erroneous in this article published in the April Register of 2009. Finding this verification of what I had found from the wills is possibly what led me onwards into eventually taking on the Blake-one-name study at the Guild of one name studies.
In this paper Thomas Blake (son of Humphrey and Agnis Blake) is said to have married Ann Castleton but the records in the Blake Museum at Bridgwater list this Thomas as marrying Isobel and that he was buried 8 Dec 1580 at Wedmore. This couple baptized nine children at Wedmore namely:
1. John baptized 29 Mar 1561; deceased by 1570
2. Joan baptized 7 Aug 1562; deceased by 1572
3. Thomas baptized 21 May 1563 (married to Alice Tutton 10 Feb 1587 at Wedmore) and buried there 16 Apr 1613.
4. Edward baptized 16 Sep 1565 and buried 23 Mar 1569 at Wedmore
5. Lucia baptized 28 Jun 1568 married to Robert Jarvis 11 Jan 1586 at Wedmore
6. John baptized 6 Dec 1570; buried 9 Dec 1570
7. Joan baptized 20 Jan 1572
8. Edward baptized 13 Mar 1575 and buried 17 Oct 1576 at Wedmore
9. Elizabeth baptized 18 Oct 1577
Clifford Stott has stated that this is only a possibility as there were other Blake families and deciding that this Thomas was the son of Humphrey was unclear.
The will of Thomas Blake of Wedmore was blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-thomas-blake-of-wedmore.html
and he has written it 17 Dec 1577. Only four of these children have survived to 1577 namely Thomas, Lucia, John and Elizabeth. His elder brother John (the elder) was buried 10 Dec 1576 at Overstowey which leaves his younger brother John Blake the younger to be the John Blake mentioned in the will of Thomas Blake.
Thomas Blake son of the testatrix married Alice Tutton 10 Feb 1587 at Wedmore as mentioned earlier. Thomas buried 16 April 1613 and Alice buried 23 Jul 1632 both at Wedmore.
The following information from Google books:
Baptisms at Wedmore:
John son of Thomas Blake 29 Mar 1561
Johanna Blake 7 Aug 1562
Thomas Blake 21 May 1563
Issebella daughter of John Blake 14 Feb 1564
Edward son of Thomas Blake 16 Sep 1565
Essebella daughter of John Blake de Cocklade 3 Mar 1567
Lucia daughter of Thomas Blake de Blackforde 28 Jun 1568
Christiana daughter of John Blake 2 Feb 1569
John son of Thomas Blake 6 Dec 1570; buried 9 Dec 1570
John son of Thomas Blake 20 Jan 1571
Maria daughter of John Blake 23 Mar 1571
Grace daughter of John Blake 16 Feb 1574
Edward son of Thomas Blake 13 Mar 1574
Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Blake 18 Oct 1577
Edith daughter of John Blake 8 Dec 1578
Margaret daughter of John Blake 1 Oct 1581
Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Blake 3 Jun 1588
Richard son of Thomas Blake 29 Nov 1590
Maria daughter of Thomas Blake de Blackforde 14 Jul 1596
Joanna daughter of Richard Blake 18 Jan 1599; buried 30 Mar 1606
Joanna daughter of Thomas Blake de Blackford 4 Jun 1600
John son of Richard Blake 29 Sep 1602; buried 1 May 1603
Richard son of Richard Blake 5 Aug 1604
John son of Richard Blake 7 Jun 1607
Benjamin Blake son of Josias Blake 19 Feb 1670; buried 25 Feb 1671
Marriages at Wedmore:
William Hourcombe and Julia Blake 26 Sep 1569
Thomas Wall and Alice Blake 1 Jun 1581
Robert Jarvis and Lucia Blake 1 Nov 1586
Thomas Blake and Alice Tutton 2 Oct 1587
William Yeascombe and Johanne Blake 20 April 1588
William Downe and Johanne Blake 24 May 1593
Thomas Rainold de Blagdonn and Isabella Blake de Cocklake 7 Feb 1594
Richard Blake and Edeth Pytt (widow) 4 Nov 1598
John Coles and Christiana Blake 19 Apr 1599
Richard Adames and Grace Blake 12 Nov 1601
Richard Vowles and Mariam Blake 1 Jul 1602
Edmund Colborne and Mariam Blake 29 Apr 1619
Robert Pope and Joan Blake 6 Feb 1622
Richard Blake and Margery Quicke 11 Jul 1625
John Smith and Margery Blake (widow) 11 Apr 1627
Richard Blake and Joan Champeny (widow) 29 Oct 1629
William Yescombe and Joane Blake 15 Jan 1634
John Blake and Sibbell Warman 10 May 1653
William Tayler and Joana Blake de Cocklake 26 Sep 1678
Thomas Barns and Elizabeth Blake 5 Dec 1719
James Blake and Sarah Beacham 2 Jul 1749
As can be seen the Blake family has virtually disappeared from Wedmore by the 1630s with just the occasional marriage.
This still does not answer the question about Robert and Elizabeth Blake (the testatrix) and their family. That Elizabeth is remembering the poor of Overstowey where she currently lives and the poor of Halse does give one pause to think that she may have moved back to Overstowey after the death of her husband in 1562.
Presumably Thomas and John baptizing children at Wedmore are the sons of Thomas who left his will at Wedmore dated 1577 and probated 1581. Indeed looking at the burials for Wedmore he must be the Thomas Blake buried at Wedmore 8 Dec 1580. Along with Thomas in the 1560s and he lived at Blackford there is a John Blake baptizing children at Wedmore and he lived at Cocklade. This John Blake is John Blake the younger married to Christian Jugg 18 Aug 1558 at Over Stowey.
Looking at the families having children in the latter part of the 1580s and early 1600s at Wedmore:
Thomas Blake and Alice Tutton married 2 Oct 1587 (son of Thomas Blake)
Elizabeth 3 Jun 1588
Richard 29 Nov 1590
Maria 14 Jul 1596
Joanna 4 Jun 1600
Richard Blake and Edeth Pytt (widow) married 4 Nov 1598 (son of John Blake the younger)
Joanna 18 Jan 1599; buried 30 Mar 1606
John 29 Sep 1602; buried 1 May 1603
Richard 5 Aug 1604
John 7 Jun 1607
Having worked through that exercise I can see that there isn’t a Robert Blake born at Wedmore in this time period. There remains only Richard son of Thomas carrying the Blake surname as I do not have any children for his younger brother John.
Richard Blake married to Edith Pitt is the only descendant of John Blake the younger carrying the Blake surname and it is known from the registers that Richard was buried at Wedmore 2 Jan 1630. His son Richard married Margery Quicke and they had a son John who married Sibbell Warman and this John was buried 13 Feb 1673 at Wedmore. This John does not appear to have baptized any children at Wedmore.
Working through all of this it does make sense that Thomas Blake (son of Humphrey) and John Blake the younger (son of Humphrey) could be brothers and both living at Wedmore. I feel that the Blake Museum at Bridgwater has probably done extensive research on the children of Humphrey Blake (great grandfather of Admiral Robert Blake) and this meander through the data does agree totally with their chart.
The question remains who is Robert Blake at Halse married to the present testatrix Elizabeth Blake of Overstowey. Is it just coincidence that she moves from Halse to Overstowey? Perhaps his will will be helpful when I reach it in a couple of weeks. Did John the second son of Thomas have a son Robert who later lived at Halse?
Looking again at the first paper on the Humphrey Blake family by Clifford Stott the children of John Blake the younger (married to Christian Jugg) I have all the children he has listed plus another 6 daughters baptized at Wedmore. Gradually as all this is pulled together I hope to be able to see the Blake family in Somerset more clearly. I also would like further proof that Thomas Blake of Wedmore and John Blake of Wedmore were siblings.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Sep 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/255/325
Testator: Elizabeth Blake, widow
Place: Over Stowey, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 22 Dec 1655, probated 16 May 1656
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: T[estament]
[Margin]: Elizabeth
[Margin]: Blake
1 In the name of God Amen It
2 Elizabeth Blake of Overstowey in the county of Somersett widowe doe
3 make and ordayne this my last will and Testament in manner and forme
4 following First I commend my Soule into the hands of Almightie God
5 my maker hopeing assuredly through the merritts of Jesus Christ my
6 saviour to bee made partaker of life ever lasting And I commit my body
7 to the earth from whence it was taken; Alsoe I give to the poore of Overstowey
8 Five shillings And to the poore of Halse Five shillings To be distributed by my
9 Overseers Alsoe I give to my sonne John Blake Fower score pounds To be disposed
10 of by my Overseers hereafter named according to their discretion for the good and
11 benifitt of my said sonne Alsoe I give to my daughter Grace Blake Fower score
12 pounds To be paid unto her within sixe monthes after her marriage or other age of
13 One and Twentie yeares which shall first happen And my Will is that my said daughter
14 shall have the profit to be raised by her said legacy yearely towards her maintenance
15 in the meanetyme And if she dye before the said Fower score pounds become payable to
16 her I give the same to my said sonne John; And if my sonne John dye before his said
17 legacie shall be disposed of as aforesaid; My will is That soe much as shall remayne
18 thereof at his death shall accrues and redowne to my sonne Robert Blake Alsoe I give
19 to my sonne John Fower silver spoones And to my daughter Grace Five silver spoones
20 my silver salt cellar and gilted Cupp, my gold ring my weareing apparel, my Holland
21 sheetes and Holland drawers for pillows and my lesser silver bowle which was given by
22 my sister Joane her Godmother All the rest of my goods and chattels I give and be-
23 queath to my said sonne Robert Whom I make and ordayne Executor of this my last Will
24 and Testament but in case my sonne Robert dye before hee shall accomplish the age of
25 One and Twentie yeares I doe make my sonne John Executor of this my last Will and
26 Testament And I desire my brother John Selleck and my brother in law William
27 Hawkins and my cozen George Comer to bee Overseers hereof and to manage
28 my two sonnes Estates for the good and benifitt of my said sonnes until they shall
29 respectively attaine to the age of seventeen yeares; And to put my daughters
30 portion to the best profit they can for her; And I further desire my brother John
31 Selleck to take letters of Administration with my will annexed dureing the minority
32 of my Executor And if he dye I desire my said brother in lawe to doe it And to bring
33 upp my Children in the feare of the Lord; And I hope my Children will be loveinge
34 one towards another and very thankefull to there supervisors for theire love and
35 And paines towards and for them In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my
36 hand and seale the two and twentieth day of December in the yeare of our lord one
37 thousand and sixe hundred Fiftie five I give to the said Overseers Twenty shillings
[Page 2]
38 shillings a peece; And I desire the said George Comer (In case the other Overseers before
39 named dye whilst any one of my children is under the age of seventeen years to be an
40 administrator for them If neede be Elizabeth Blake Signed sealed and declared by
41 the Testatrix to bee her last will and Testament in the presence of Robert Blinman Joane
42 Blinman the marke of Joane Morris
43 The sixteenth day of May in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred
44 fiftie and sixe issued forth Letters of Administration (with the will annexed) to John
45 Sellecke the brother in lawe and Testamentary Guardian of Robert Blake the natural
46 and lawfull sonne and sole Executor of Elizabeth Blake late of Overstowey in the county
47 of Somersett widowe deceased To administer all and singular the goods Chattells and debts
48 of the said deceased according to the tenor and effect of the said will dureing the minoritie and
49 for the onely and proper use and behoofe of the said Robert Blake hee the said John Seillicke
50 being first by Commission sworne truly to administer the same
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-robert-blake-of-halse-national.html
In this will Robert mentions his sons Robert, Edmond, John, and Richard and daughters Grace, Jane and Edith.
The will of Robert (husband of Elizabeth the testatrix and will still to be transcribed) mentions his brother Edmund and the same children as below in the will of his widow Elizabeth, John, Robert and Grace.
Perhaps the clue lies in John Selleck one of the overseers in the will below. He is named as brother in the will and brother in law in the probate so probably brother in law. Now is he the husband of one of Elizabeth’s sister(s) or married to one of Robert’s sisters Grace, Jane or Edith?
Agnes Blake was married to Robert whose will was probated in 1639 and her will also blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-agnis-blake-widow-of-halse_17.html
She too mentions Robert, Edmond, John and Richard as sons and Grace, Jane and Edith as daughters. Her will was probated in 1641. She does not mention grandchildren so the marriage of Robert Blake and Elizabeth (unknown) must be in 1641 or after which would mean that none of the three children of Robert and Elizabeth was older than 15 when Elizabeth wrote her will or older than 11 when Robert wrote his will.
Returning again to the Visitations of Somersetshire 1623 and the entry for the Perry family. Elizabeth Perry daughter of John Perry and Joane James married first John Smith and second Robert Blake. Since the visitation was taken in 1623 this Elizabeth is an aunt to the children of her sibling Robert married to Elizabeth Warren. The children of Robert and Elizabeth Perry are married and have children of their own. This is not the Elizabeth Blake who has left the present will as she would be too elderly to be her. The Elizabeth Perry in the visitations would be born circa 1550-1560. That helps to eliminate this family at Halse as being part of the present Blake family being examined although I wonder who Robert Blake married to Elizabeth Perry was.
Perhaps this is the time to look at the articles published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register by Clifford L. Stott. I had found the published accounts for the Blake Family of Andover, Hampshire linking that family to the Somerset Blake family and knew them to be absolutely incorrect since wills existed to disprove the connection first suggested by Horatio Gates Somerby and stated to be erroneous in this article published in the April Register of 2009. Finding this verification of what I had found from the wills is possibly what led me onwards into eventually taking on the Blake-one-name study at the Guild of one name studies.
In this paper Thomas Blake (son of Humphrey and Agnis Blake) is said to have married Ann Castleton but the records in the Blake Museum at Bridgwater list this Thomas as marrying Isobel and that he was buried 8 Dec 1580 at Wedmore. This couple baptized nine children at Wedmore namely:
1. John baptized 29 Mar 1561; deceased by 1570
2. Joan baptized 7 Aug 1562; deceased by 1572
3. Thomas baptized 21 May 1563 (married to Alice Tutton 10 Feb 1587 at Wedmore) and buried there 16 Apr 1613.
4. Edward baptized 16 Sep 1565 and buried 23 Mar 1569 at Wedmore
5. Lucia baptized 28 Jun 1568 married to Robert Jarvis 11 Jan 1586 at Wedmore
6. John baptized 6 Dec 1570; buried 9 Dec 1570
7. Joan baptized 20 Jan 1572
8. Edward baptized 13 Mar 1575 and buried 17 Oct 1576 at Wedmore
9. Elizabeth baptized 18 Oct 1577
Clifford Stott has stated that this is only a possibility as there were other Blake families and deciding that this Thomas was the son of Humphrey was unclear.
The will of Thomas Blake of Wedmore was blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-thomas-blake-of-wedmore.html
and he has written it 17 Dec 1577. Only four of these children have survived to 1577 namely Thomas, Lucia, John and Elizabeth. His elder brother John (the elder) was buried 10 Dec 1576 at Overstowey which leaves his younger brother John Blake the younger to be the John Blake mentioned in the will of Thomas Blake.
Thomas Blake son of the testatrix married Alice Tutton 10 Feb 1587 at Wedmore as mentioned earlier. Thomas buried 16 April 1613 and Alice buried 23 Jul 1632 both at Wedmore.
The following information from Google books:
Baptisms at Wedmore:
John son of Thomas Blake 29 Mar 1561
Johanna Blake 7 Aug 1562
Thomas Blake 21 May 1563
Issebella daughter of John Blake 14 Feb 1564
Edward son of Thomas Blake 16 Sep 1565
Essebella daughter of John Blake de Cocklade 3 Mar 1567
Lucia daughter of Thomas Blake de Blackforde 28 Jun 1568
Christiana daughter of John Blake 2 Feb 1569
John son of Thomas Blake 6 Dec 1570; buried 9 Dec 1570
John son of Thomas Blake 20 Jan 1571
Maria daughter of John Blake 23 Mar 1571
Grace daughter of John Blake 16 Feb 1574
Edward son of Thomas Blake 13 Mar 1574
Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Blake 18 Oct 1577
Edith daughter of John Blake 8 Dec 1578
Margaret daughter of John Blake 1 Oct 1581
Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Blake 3 Jun 1588
Richard son of Thomas Blake 29 Nov 1590
Maria daughter of Thomas Blake de Blackforde 14 Jul 1596
Joanna daughter of Richard Blake 18 Jan 1599; buried 30 Mar 1606
Joanna daughter of Thomas Blake de Blackford 4 Jun 1600
John son of Richard Blake 29 Sep 1602; buried 1 May 1603
Richard son of Richard Blake 5 Aug 1604
John son of Richard Blake 7 Jun 1607
Benjamin Blake son of Josias Blake 19 Feb 1670; buried 25 Feb 1671
Marriages at Wedmore:
William Hourcombe and Julia Blake 26 Sep 1569
Thomas Wall and Alice Blake 1 Jun 1581
Robert Jarvis and Lucia Blake 1 Nov 1586
Thomas Blake and Alice Tutton 2 Oct 1587
William Yeascombe and Johanne Blake 20 April 1588
William Downe and Johanne Blake 24 May 1593
Thomas Rainold de Blagdonn and Isabella Blake de Cocklake 7 Feb 1594
Richard Blake and Edeth Pytt (widow) 4 Nov 1598
John Coles and Christiana Blake 19 Apr 1599
Richard Adames and Grace Blake 12 Nov 1601
Richard Vowles and Mariam Blake 1 Jul 1602
Edmund Colborne and Mariam Blake 29 Apr 1619
Robert Pope and Joan Blake 6 Feb 1622
Richard Blake and Margery Quicke 11 Jul 1625
John Smith and Margery Blake (widow) 11 Apr 1627
Richard Blake and Joan Champeny (widow) 29 Oct 1629
William Yescombe and Joane Blake 15 Jan 1634
John Blake and Sibbell Warman 10 May 1653
William Tayler and Joana Blake de Cocklake 26 Sep 1678
Thomas Barns and Elizabeth Blake 5 Dec 1719
James Blake and Sarah Beacham 2 Jul 1749
As can be seen the Blake family has virtually disappeared from Wedmore by the 1630s with just the occasional marriage.
This still does not answer the question about Robert and Elizabeth Blake (the testatrix) and their family. That Elizabeth is remembering the poor of Overstowey where she currently lives and the poor of Halse does give one pause to think that she may have moved back to Overstowey after the death of her husband in 1562.
Presumably Thomas and John baptizing children at Wedmore are the sons of Thomas who left his will at Wedmore dated 1577 and probated 1581. Indeed looking at the burials for Wedmore he must be the Thomas Blake buried at Wedmore 8 Dec 1580. Along with Thomas in the 1560s and he lived at Blackford there is a John Blake baptizing children at Wedmore and he lived at Cocklade. This John Blake is John Blake the younger married to Christian Jugg 18 Aug 1558 at Over Stowey.
Looking at the families having children in the latter part of the 1580s and early 1600s at Wedmore:
Thomas Blake and Alice Tutton married 2 Oct 1587 (son of Thomas Blake)
Elizabeth 3 Jun 1588
Richard 29 Nov 1590
Maria 14 Jul 1596
Joanna 4 Jun 1600
Richard Blake and Edeth Pytt (widow) married 4 Nov 1598 (son of John Blake the younger)
Joanna 18 Jan 1599; buried 30 Mar 1606
John 29 Sep 1602; buried 1 May 1603
Richard 5 Aug 1604
John 7 Jun 1607
Having worked through that exercise I can see that there isn’t a Robert Blake born at Wedmore in this time period. There remains only Richard son of Thomas carrying the Blake surname as I do not have any children for his younger brother John.
Richard Blake married to Edith Pitt is the only descendant of John Blake the younger carrying the Blake surname and it is known from the registers that Richard was buried at Wedmore 2 Jan 1630. His son Richard married Margery Quicke and they had a son John who married Sibbell Warman and this John was buried 13 Feb 1673 at Wedmore. This John does not appear to have baptized any children at Wedmore.
Working through all of this it does make sense that Thomas Blake (son of Humphrey) and John Blake the younger (son of Humphrey) could be brothers and both living at Wedmore. I feel that the Blake Museum at Bridgwater has probably done extensive research on the children of Humphrey Blake (great grandfather of Admiral Robert Blake) and this meander through the data does agree totally with their chart.
The question remains who is Robert Blake at Halse married to the present testatrix Elizabeth Blake of Overstowey. Is it just coincidence that she moves from Halse to Overstowey? Perhaps his will will be helpful when I reach it in a couple of weeks. Did John the second son of Thomas have a son Robert who later lived at Halse?
Looking again at the first paper on the Humphrey Blake family by Clifford Stott the children of John Blake the younger (married to Christian Jugg) I have all the children he has listed plus another 6 daughters baptized at Wedmore. Gradually as all this is pulled together I hope to be able to see the Blake family in Somerset more clearly. I also would like further proof that Thomas Blake of Wedmore and John Blake of Wedmore were siblings.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Sep 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/255/325
Testator: Elizabeth Blake, widow
Place: Over Stowey, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 22 Dec 1655, probated 16 May 1656
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: T[estament]
[Margin]: Elizabeth
[Margin]: Blake
1 In the name of God Amen It
2 Elizabeth Blake of Overstowey in the county of Somersett widowe doe
3 make and ordayne this my last will and Testament in manner and forme
4 following First I commend my Soule into the hands of Almightie God
5 my maker hopeing assuredly through the merritts of Jesus Christ my
6 saviour to bee made partaker of life ever lasting And I commit my body
7 to the earth from whence it was taken; Alsoe I give to the poore of Overstowey
8 Five shillings And to the poore of Halse Five shillings To be distributed by my
9 Overseers Alsoe I give to my sonne John Blake Fower score pounds To be disposed
10 of by my Overseers hereafter named according to their discretion for the good and
11 benifitt of my said sonne Alsoe I give to my daughter Grace Blake Fower score
12 pounds To be paid unto her within sixe monthes after her marriage or other age of
13 One and Twentie yeares which shall first happen And my Will is that my said daughter
14 shall have the profit to be raised by her said legacy yearely towards her maintenance
15 in the meanetyme And if she dye before the said Fower score pounds become payable to
16 her I give the same to my said sonne John; And if my sonne John dye before his said
17 legacie shall be disposed of as aforesaid; My will is That soe much as shall remayne
18 thereof at his death shall accrues and redowne to my sonne Robert Blake Alsoe I give
19 to my sonne John Fower silver spoones And to my daughter Grace Five silver spoones
20 my silver salt cellar and gilted Cupp, my gold ring my weareing apparel, my Holland
21 sheetes and Holland drawers for pillows and my lesser silver bowle which was given by
22 my sister Joane her Godmother All the rest of my goods and chattels I give and be-
23 queath to my said sonne Robert Whom I make and ordayne Executor of this my last Will
24 and Testament but in case my sonne Robert dye before hee shall accomplish the age of
25 One and Twentie yeares I doe make my sonne John Executor of this my last Will and
26 Testament And I desire my brother John Selleck and my brother in law William
27 Hawkins and my cozen George Comer to bee Overseers hereof and to manage
28 my two sonnes Estates for the good and benifitt of my said sonnes until they shall
29 respectively attaine to the age of seventeen yeares; And to put my daughters
30 portion to the best profit they can for her; And I further desire my brother John
31 Selleck to take letters of Administration with my will annexed dureing the minority
32 of my Executor And if he dye I desire my said brother in lawe to doe it And to bring
33 upp my Children in the feare of the Lord; And I hope my Children will be loveinge
34 one towards another and very thankefull to there supervisors for theire love and
35 And paines towards and for them In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my
36 hand and seale the two and twentieth day of December in the yeare of our lord one
37 thousand and sixe hundred Fiftie five I give to the said Overseers Twenty shillings
[Page 2]
38 shillings a peece; And I desire the said George Comer (In case the other Overseers before
39 named dye whilst any one of my children is under the age of seventeen years to be an
40 administrator for them If neede be Elizabeth Blake Signed sealed and declared by
41 the Testatrix to bee her last will and Testament in the presence of Robert Blinman Joane
42 Blinman the marke of Joane Morris
43 The sixteenth day of May in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred
44 fiftie and sixe issued forth Letters of Administration (with the will annexed) to John
45 Sellecke the brother in lawe and Testamentary Guardian of Robert Blake the natural
46 and lawfull sonne and sole Executor of Elizabeth Blake late of Overstowey in the county
47 of Somersett widowe deceased To administer all and singular the goods Chattells and debts
48 of the said deceased according to the tenor and effect of the said will dureing the minoritie and
49 for the onely and proper use and behoofe of the said Robert Blake hee the said John Seillicke
50 being first by Commission sworne truly to administer the same
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Will of William Blake, Yeoman of Bishops Lydeard, Somerset, National Archives PROB 11/132, probated 27 Sep 1618
The will of Humphrey (probated 1559) left land to John the elder (his son) in Bishops Lydeard. John does have a son William but I am not sure this is John's son. The only kin mentioned is Philipp Sully. William son of John is said to be married to Anne (unknown) with children: Grace, Eme, William, John, Anne, Robert and Richard. Plus he and his wife were buried at Pitminster in 1642 and 1644 respectively.
According to John's will: To son William Blake all my land in the parish of Bishops Lydeard in Bishops Wood and Bishops Downe. Also one tenement in Plainsfield in the tenure and occupation of Robert Jenkins and all my land in Padnoller in the parish of Spaxton in the tenure and occupation of John Burnell.(probated 1577) and it rather looks like William ended up in Pitminster.
I rather think this is a different William Blake; he is dying in 1618. Looking at the Protestation Returns for Somerset we have: William Blake (noted as aged by the recorder) in Blagdon Tithing of Pitminster. Also in Pitminster there are John and Richard (above it is noted that he has sons William, John, Robert and Richard). There isn't a Blake living at Bishops Lydeard on the Protestation Returns of 1641-42. William doesn't mention anyone at Bishops Lydeard with the surname Blake other than his wife Johane.
At this time, I do not see how this William connects into the Humphrey Blake family or whether he does. Like the Halse Blake family there simply isn't enough early information to help connect them back another generation although in the case of the Halse family there are more wills to come.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 20 Apr 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/132 Image Reference 218/181 (images by me)
Name of testator: William Blake, Yeoman
Place: Bishops Lydeard, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 13 Jun 1618, probated 27 Sep 1618
Read: Electronic file
Condition: smudges, 17th century, bold copy
[In margin] T Willmi
[In margin] Blake
1 In the name of God Amen the thirteenth day of June in A[nn]o
2 Domini one thousand six hundred and Eighteene I William Blake of Leddiard Episcopi
3 yeoman thankes be to god at perfect memorye and calling to mynde the brevitie of mans life
4 dispose to make my last will and testament in manner and forme folowing. First I give
5 and bequeathe my Soule to Almightie god my Creator and my bodie to be buryed in the
6 Churchyarde. Item I give to St Andrewes church in Wells fouer pence. My will is that
7 Philipp Sully my kyne shall have and enjoy three acres of Land lying in the parish of
8 Hillfarrrance late in the tenure of John Leane which I boughte of Emanuel Capell and the
9 Lease belonging to the same three Acres of Land and the same guifte to commence and begynne
10 ymmediatlie after the deathe of Johane my wife. For my meaning is that the said Johane
11 shall have occupie and enioye the same three acres of Land during her naturall life And allso
12 I do further appoynte give and ordayne that the said Johane my wife shall have occupye
13 and enioye all my Land lying in the parishe of R[u]iston during her naturall life making noe
14 waste or spoyle uppon the premisses. Item I give eache one of all my godchildren one young
15 sheepe a peece to be delivered after my decease by the direction of my Overseers I doe
16 appoynte Thomas Richardes of Norton and Simon Powle of Whithelscome my overseers
17 of this my last will and testament And I give unto Thomas Richards for his paynes taken
18 fyve shillinges And to Simon Powle for his paynes taken twelve pence. All the residue of
19 my goodes and chattells I give to Johane my wife whome I make my sole Executrix of this
20 my will and testament seying me sufficient the buryal and all my debts payed Item I give
21 to John Bowne of Staplegrove one peice of Land conteyning twoe acres lying within the
22 parishe of R[u]iston called Barrowes meade beyng my yeaster peece and the same peece to have
[page 2]
23 and enioye ymmediatlie after the deathe of Johane my wife. And the same John shall
24 paye out of the saied Landes twelve poundes within one yere after the fall of the sowne
25 Lande that is to Jane the wife of Robert Elleat of R[u]iston three poundes And to Laurence
26 Elliott her sonne fortie shillinges And to Simon Brown of the same parishe fyve poundes
27 And to Johane his sister twentie shillinges. And I do appoynte into the handes of John
28 Lightefoote twentie shillinges by hym to be bestowed for the best benefitt of Thomas Brown
29 his wife and children parcell of the twelve poundes Item I give one other parcell of Lande
30 conteyning three acres called Moore meade late in the tenure of Cristofer Mathews of Stoke Mary
31 unto Frannces Crosse my servante and the same peece to have and enioy ymmeadiatlie after
32 the deathe of Johane, my wife. And the said Franncis shall paye out of the same peece of
33 Land fyve poundes within one yere after the fall of the Lands that is to Anne Crosse her
34 Sister fortie shillinges and to Johane her Sister thirtie shillinges; And to Mary theire
35 Sister thirtie shillinges. Item I give two other peeces of Land lyinge in the parishe of R[u]iston unto
36 Simon Powle of Withelscome conteyning three acres the one called Colparoote the other
37 Haynes Are beying my twoe wester peeces And the same twoe peeces to have and enioye
38 ymmeadiatlie after the deathe of Johane my wife. And the same Simon is to paye out of
39 the twoe parcells of Land tenne poundes within one yere after the fall of the Land that
40 g__s to Walter Oliver of Norton fortie shillinges. And to Johane the daughter of William
41 Jeffrey late of Kyngston deceased three poundes And to her twoe other sisters fortie shillinges
42 shillinges apeece and twentie shillinges to the poore of Liddard Episcopie This to be payde
43 out of the said twoe parcells of Land by Simon aforesayed My meaning is not to taxe or
44 chardge myne Executrix with any parte of Legacey by this my will and Testament Yf god
45 doe enhables me to surrender the Land as chardged with the aforesayed Legaceys But yf
46 I dye and not Surrender I do chardge my Executrix as she shall annswere at the last day
47 to surrender all the aforesayd Landes lying in Ruiston within one monethe after my decease
48 to the aforenamed John Bowne Frannces Crosse and Simon Powle according to the
49 same intent and meaning of this my will and testament to the chardge and coste of the
50 sayd Francis and Simon yf any of theise which shall have Legacey out of my Landes
51 dye before the tyme of payment that then his or her portion shal[l ]be payd to theire next
52 kyne by the appoyntment of my Overseers And so the peace of god be with you
53 all. The Signe and Seale of William Blake the day and yere above written
54 in the presence of John Comer and Thomas Richards the younger.
According to John's will: To son William Blake all my land in the parish of Bishops Lydeard in Bishops Wood and Bishops Downe. Also one tenement in Plainsfield in the tenure and occupation of Robert Jenkins and all my land in Padnoller in the parish of Spaxton in the tenure and occupation of John Burnell.(probated 1577) and it rather looks like William ended up in Pitminster.
I rather think this is a different William Blake; he is dying in 1618. Looking at the Protestation Returns for Somerset we have: William Blake (noted as aged by the recorder) in Blagdon Tithing of Pitminster. Also in Pitminster there are John and Richard (above it is noted that he has sons William, John, Robert and Richard). There isn't a Blake living at Bishops Lydeard on the Protestation Returns of 1641-42. William doesn't mention anyone at Bishops Lydeard with the surname Blake other than his wife Johane.
At this time, I do not see how this William connects into the Humphrey Blake family or whether he does. Like the Halse Blake family there simply isn't enough early information to help connect them back another generation although in the case of the Halse family there are more wills to come.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 20 Apr 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/132 Image Reference 218/181 (images by me)
Name of testator: William Blake, Yeoman
Place: Bishops Lydeard, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 13 Jun 1618, probated 27 Sep 1618
Read: Electronic file
Condition: smudges, 17th century, bold copy
[In margin] T Willmi
[In margin] Blake
1 In the name of God Amen the thirteenth day of June in A[nn]o
2 Domini one thousand six hundred and Eighteene I William Blake of Leddiard Episcopi
3 yeoman thankes be to god at perfect memorye and calling to mynde the brevitie of mans life
4 dispose to make my last will and testament in manner and forme folowing. First I give
5 and bequeathe my Soule to Almightie god my Creator and my bodie to be buryed in the
6 Churchyarde. Item I give to St Andrewes church in Wells fouer pence. My will is that
7 Philipp Sully my kyne shall have and enjoy three acres of Land lying in the parish of
8 Hillfarrrance late in the tenure of John Leane which I boughte of Emanuel Capell and the
9 Lease belonging to the same three Acres of Land and the same guifte to commence and begynne
10 ymmediatlie after the deathe of Johane my wife. For my meaning is that the said Johane
11 shall have occupie and enioye the same three acres of Land during her naturall life And allso
12 I do further appoynte give and ordayne that the said Johane my wife shall have occupye
13 and enioye all my Land lying in the parishe of R[u]iston during her naturall life making noe
14 waste or spoyle uppon the premisses. Item I give eache one of all my godchildren one young
15 sheepe a peece to be delivered after my decease by the direction of my Overseers I doe
16 appoynte Thomas Richardes of Norton and Simon Powle of Whithelscome my overseers
17 of this my last will and testament And I give unto Thomas Richards for his paynes taken
18 fyve shillinges And to Simon Powle for his paynes taken twelve pence. All the residue of
19 my goodes and chattells I give to Johane my wife whome I make my sole Executrix of this
20 my will and testament seying me sufficient the buryal and all my debts payed Item I give
21 to John Bowne of Staplegrove one peice of Land conteyning twoe acres lying within the
22 parishe of R[u]iston called Barrowes meade beyng my yeaster peece and the same peece to have
[page 2]
23 and enioye ymmediatlie after the deathe of Johane my wife. And the same John shall
24 paye out of the saied Landes twelve poundes within one yere after the fall of the sowne
25 Lande that is to Jane the wife of Robert Elleat of R[u]iston three poundes And to Laurence
26 Elliott her sonne fortie shillinges And to Simon Brown of the same parishe fyve poundes
27 And to Johane his sister twentie shillinges. And I do appoynte into the handes of John
28 Lightefoote twentie shillinges by hym to be bestowed for the best benefitt of Thomas Brown
29 his wife and children parcell of the twelve poundes Item I give one other parcell of Lande
30 conteyning three acres called Moore meade late in the tenure of Cristofer Mathews of Stoke Mary
31 unto Frannces Crosse my servante and the same peece to have and enioy ymmeadiatlie after
32 the deathe of Johane, my wife. And the said Franncis shall paye out of the same peece of
33 Land fyve poundes within one yere after the fall of the Lands that is to Anne Crosse her
34 Sister fortie shillinges and to Johane her Sister thirtie shillinges; And to Mary theire
35 Sister thirtie shillinges. Item I give two other peeces of Land lyinge in the parishe of R[u]iston unto
36 Simon Powle of Withelscome conteyning three acres the one called Colparoote the other
37 Haynes Are beying my twoe wester peeces And the same twoe peeces to have and enioye
38 ymmeadiatlie after the deathe of Johane my wife. And the same Simon is to paye out of
39 the twoe parcells of Land tenne poundes within one yere after the fall of the Land that
40 g__s to Walter Oliver of Norton fortie shillinges. And to Johane the daughter of William
41 Jeffrey late of Kyngston deceased three poundes And to her twoe other sisters fortie shillinges
42 shillinges apeece and twentie shillinges to the poore of Liddard Episcopie This to be payde
43 out of the said twoe parcells of Land by Simon aforesayed My meaning is not to taxe or
44 chardge myne Executrix with any parte of Legacey by this my will and Testament Yf god
45 doe enhables me to surrender the Land as chardged with the aforesayed Legaceys But yf
46 I dye and not Surrender I do chardge my Executrix as she shall annswere at the last day
47 to surrender all the aforesayd Landes lying in Ruiston within one monethe after my decease
48 to the aforenamed John Bowne Frannces Crosse and Simon Powle according to the
49 same intent and meaning of this my will and testament to the chardge and coste of the
50 sayd Francis and Simon yf any of theise which shall have Legacey out of my Landes
51 dye before the tyme of payment that then his or her portion shal[l ]be payd to theire next
52 kyne by the appoyntment of my Overseers And so the peace of god be with you
53 all. The Signe and Seale of William Blake the day and yere above written
54 in the presence of John Comer and Thomas Richards the younger.
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