Will of Stephen Blake, Gentleman, Watminster, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/220/567

Stephen Blake is the testator and he is of Warminster, Wiltshire.

There is still a Stephen Blake in Warminster and it would be interesting to discover if he is descendant of this gentleman from the 1600s.

The Will of Stephen Blake, yeoman of Warminster probated 22 Jun 1566 was blogged earlier:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/11/will-of-stephen-blake-yeoman-of.html

However his sons are named Richard, William, Henrie, David and William the younger. But interesting to find the forename Stephen there in the 1500s. The Wiltshire record office does have wills the following wills at Warminster for the Blake family which I have not yet blogged:

P1/B/697    Inventory, will, copy will    1702    Blake, William    Grocer    Warminster   
P2/B/1089    Will    [1688]    Blake, William    Gentleman    Warminster   
P2/B/463    Account, administration bond, inventory    1626    Blake, Henry        Warminster   
P2/B/47    Administration bond    1571    Blake, Henry        Warminster   
P2/B/634    Inventory, will    1639    Blake, John    Yeoman    Warminster   

At some point I shall acquire these and see if they are helpful. There are a number of early Wiltshire Wills already blogged from Warminster. Search on the label “Warminster” to find them.

Stephen nominated his son William as a Feeoffe in 1649 and this could be the bond which is mentioned in the will below. He has at least four daughters as his executors and overseers are all his sons in law namely, John Gawen, John Milton, William Corbett alias Davis and James Blatch.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 23 Dec 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/220/567
Testator: Stephen Blake, Gentleman
Place: Warminster, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 16 Apr 1651, probated 17 Feb 1651/52
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Test: Stephani
[Margin]: Blake

1    In the name of God Amen I Stephen Blake of War-
2    mister in the County of Wiltes Gent being not soe sick in body as unsettled of
3    my Mortality eidlt that I must lay downe this my Earthly Tabernacle to put
4    on an heavenly that shall never fade doe therefore for the quiet of my soule and
5    settleing that Estate which God hath lent mee doe make this my last will and Testa-
6    ment in manner following first I resigne my soule into the hands of the divine
7    donor not doubting but at the enlargement thereof out of this earthly prison it shall
8    possesse a happy residence in heaven with God and his holy Angells through the merits
9    of my most blessed Saviour Christ Jesus Next my body that earthly Truncke
10    I commit to his bed of darknes the blinde wombe of the Earth the Common
11    receptacle of all flesh with full persuasion that at the last day when the general
12    summons of all Flesh shall bee the Earth opening and yielding her dead it shall
13    rise and be reunited to my soule within the Celestiall Spheare and there to triumphe
14    With the blessed that rest from their labours And for that portion which God hath
15    lent mee for a tyme and which at his appointed tyme I must leave I dispose of it
16    in manner following First I give and bequeath unto the poore people of War-
17    mister the summe of Twenty shillings Item I doe give and bequeath unto my Con-
18    sorte and welbeloved wife Elizabeth Blake the summe of Forty shillings Item
19    I doe give and bequeath unto all my Children the summe of Twenty shillings
20    a peece Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandchildren Elizabeth Blatch and
21    Mary Blatch the summe of Fifty shillings a peece And to all the rest of my
22    Grandchildren that are and shalbe borne before my decease the summe of
23    Twenty shillings a peece All which sayd legacies before given my will and
24    meaning is shall be paid by my Executors hereafter named within six moneths
25    after my decease Item I do give and bequeath unto John Gawen and unto John
26    Milton my sonnes in Lawe the summe of one hundred pounds which wilbe due in
27    from William Blake my sonne by virtue of a bond bearing date the eleventh day
28    of January one thousand sixe hundred forty sixe to there that the sayd John
29    Gawen and John Milton may out of the same satisfie and pay the Legacies before
30    men[t]ioned All the rest of my goods and Chattells whatsoever I doe give and
31    bequeath unto the sayd John Gawen and John Milton whome I doe make my sole
32    and only Executors And I do desyre my loving sonne in lawe William Corbett
33    al[ia]s Davis and James Blatch to bee my Overseers to whome I give Twenty
34    shillings a peece In wittnes whereof I the sayd Stephen Blake have sett my
35    hand and seale the sixteenth day of April A[nn]o dom[ini] one thousand sixe hundred
36    fifty one Stephen Blake Signed sealed and published in the presence of
37    John Wadman Signed Willi: Clarke
38    This Will was proved at London before Sir Nathaniell Brent Knight
39    doctor of laws and Master or Keeper of the Prerogative Court the seaventeenth
40    day of February in the yeare of our Lord God (English style) one thousand sixe
41    hundred fifty one by the Oathes of John Gawen and John Milton the Executors
43    therein named To whome Administration of all and singular the goods chattells
44    and debts of the sayd deceased which any manner of way concerne the same will
45    Was graunted and committed They being first legally sworne by virtue of a Com-
46    mission in that behalf Issued forth well and faithfully to Administer the same

Will of Sarah Blake, Baker of Winslow, Buckinghamshire - The National Archives, PROB 11/1458/282, probated 30 Apr 1807

Sarah Blake is the wife of John Blake, Baker at Winslow whose will was blogged 25 Apr 2013. Her will was probated eight years earlier than that of her husband John Blake. I do not known when John died. He had named his wife as his executor but his eldest daughter Susannah as heir at law probated the will. Neither John nor Martha, the other two children were 21 years of age.

There isn't any new information on this Blake family in this particular will. She has not described herself as a widow nor does she mention her husband's name. I suspect he has died prior to the making of this will.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Apr 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1458/282
Testator:  Sarah Blake, Baker
Place: Winslow, Buckinghamshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document:  29 Jan 1807, probated 30 Apr 1807
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Sarah
[Margin]: Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Sarah Blake of Winslow of the County of Bucks
3    Baker being of sound Mind Memory and understanding
4    (praised be God for the same) do make and publish
5    this m y last Will and Testament in manner and
6    form following First I give and bequeath unto my
7    Son John Blake the Sum of Seventy pounds of
    [Page 2]
8    good and lawful Money of Great Britain to be
9    paid him by my Trustees hereinafter named
10    when he shall attain the age of Twenty one
11    years Also I give unto my said son John Blake
12    one Bed one Bolster two pillows two Blankets
13    one pair of Sheets one Bed quilt one Bedstead
14    and Curtains one Silver Table Spoon Six Silver Tea
15    spoons his fathers Clothes Box and Watch one
16    pair of Silver buckles one pair of Silver Shirt
17    Buttons one Gold Ring and the Birdan standing
18    up Stairs Also I give and bequeath unto my two
19    daughters Susanna Blake and Martha Blake
20    all the Residue and Remainder of my personal
21    Estate or Estates of what Nature or kind soever
22    they may be at the time of my decease after my
23    just debts and Funeral Expences are paid
24    and discharged Share and Share alike as well as
25    can be to be paid them by my Trustees hereinafter
26    named when they shall attain the age of twenty
27    one years And Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute
28    and appoint William Richardson of Thornborough
30    Mills or his house of Thornborough in the said County of Bucks Miller and George
31    Jones of Winslow in the said County of Bucks
32    Yeoman joint Trustees to this my last Will and
33    Testament hereby revoking and making void all former and other
34    Wills by me at any Time heretofore made and to
35    declare this to be my last Will and Testament
36    only In Witness whereof I the said Sarah Blake
37    the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament
38    set my hand and Seal this twenty ninth day of
39    January One thousand eight hundred and seven
40    Sarah Blake Signed sealed published and
41    declared by the within named Testator to be her
42    last Will and Testament in the presence of us who
43    have hereunto subscribed our Names in the
44    presence of the Testator and in the presence of
45    each other Robert Corbett Tho: Rawbone
46    This Will was proved at London the
47    thirtieth day of April in the year of our Lord
48    One thousand eight hundred and seven before the
49    Right honorable Sir William Wynne Knight doctor
50    of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the
51    prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted
52    by William Richardson and George Jones the Executors
53    according to the tenor of the said Will to whom
54    administration was granted of all and singular
55    the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased
56    the said William Richardson having first made
57    a solemn and sincere declaration or affirmation
58    according to act of Parliament and the said
59    George Jones having been first sworn by Commission