This rather lengthy ten page will (in the copy books!) was written by Hannah Blake, widow of William Blake whose will was blogged earlier:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/09/will-of-william-blake-esquire-of.htmlAgain, all the nieces and nephews of William and Hannah are remembered in Hannah’s will as well. Although Hannah does not mention relationships at the beginning of the will bringing that in later.
William Blake and Hannah Clench were married by licence 25 Nov 1746 at Blandford. They do not appear to have baptized any children. They were married for 47 years. Although Hannah does not mention any relationship between herself and the Clench family to whom she gives legacies, they are perhaps relatives. Some of the other names not mentioned in the will of William are also perhaps her relatives including the Soper family, the Giles family, the Edmunds family and the Vowell family. Hannah has followed her husband’s will and the legacies which he intended for his various nieces and nephews have been expressed in her will.
This family is a known collateral line of Admiral Robert Blake. William Blake was the son of the Reverend Malachi Blake who was in turn the son of the Reverend Malachi Blake, then John Blake of Pitminster, John Blake of Pitminster, William Blake of Over Stowey and Pitminster, John Blake the elder of Over Stowey and then Humphrey Blake of Bishops Lydeard and Over Stowey. John Blake the elder and Robert Blake being siblings and Robert Blake was the grandfather of Admiral Robert Blake.
Admiral Robert Blake [101] is the 2nd cousin 4 times removed of William Blake (husband of the testatrix) [525]
* Humphrey-21 Blake [1]
(Cir 1499-1558)
* Agnis [2]
( -1585)
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* John-27 (the elder) Blake [3] * Robert-28 Blake [4]
(Cir 1521-After 1576) (Cir 1523-Cir 1592)
Johan [12] Margaret Symonds [22]
( -1595) ( -1600)
Married Cir 1541 [4] Married [5]
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* William-39 Blake [18] * Humphry-43 Blake [25]
(Cir 1559-Cir 1642) (Cir 1563-1625)
Anne [84] Sarah Swithers Williams [100]
( -1644) ( -1638)
Married [21] Married 5 Oct 1597 [26]
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* John-59 Blake [88] * Admiral Robert Blake [101]
(1597-1645) (1598-1657)
Elizabeth [155]
Married [38]
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* John-86 Blake [158]
(1629-1682)
Mary Wilkins [276]
Married 20 Jun 1648 [84]
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* Reverend Malachi-112 Blake [278]
(1651-1705)
Mary Mico [414]
Married [140]
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* Malachi-139 Blake [416]
(1687-1760)
Katherine [524]
( -1760)
Married [185]
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* William Blake [525]
(1718-1793)
Names mentioned in the will:Hannah Blake, Bath, Somerset, testatrix
William Blake, Blandford Forum, Dorset, Gentleman, deceased, husband of the testatrix
William Fisher, Blandford Forum, Mercer, nephew
Reverend Henry Field, Blandford Forum
John Tice, Ware, Hertford, Surgeon and Apothecary
Thomas Fisher, Dorchester, Dorset, Grocer
Malachi Tice, Blandford Forum, Surgeon and Apothecary
Henry White, Blandford Forum, Grocer
William Wood White, Walthamstow, Essex, Esquire
Ann White, Walthamstow, Essex, Spinster, sister to William Wood White
John Clench, Bridport, Dorset, Sadler
Grace Soper, Blandford Forum, Widow
Samuel Soper, Blandford Forum, Cordwainer
Mary Soper, Blandford Forum, wife of Samuel Soper
William Giles, Blandford Forum, Shopman
Susannah Giles, Blandford Forum, wife of William Giles
Barbara Giles, daughter of William and Susannah Giles
Nancy Giles, daughter of William and Susannah Giles
Robert Clench, Blandford Forum, Barber
Eleanor Clench, Blandford Forum, wife of Robert Clench
Martha Edmunds, Blandford Forum, Widow
Samuel Vowell, Sherborne, Dorset, Grocer
Benjamin Vowell, Sherborne, Dorset, Grocer, brother of Samuel Vowell
Reverend William Blake, Crewkerne, Somerset, Dissenting Minister, good friend
Malachi Blake, son of Reverend William Blake
William Blake, son of Reverend William Blake
Downing Blake, son of Reverend William Blake
Mary Blake, daughter of Reverend William Blake
Joshau Seely Lawton, Bath, Somerset, Gentleman, good friend
Gabriel Tizzard, Servant
Sarah Baker, Blandford Forum, land owner, spinster
Robert Fisher, Blandford Forum, Postmaster
Mrs. James, Chard, Somerset, niece
Mrs. Gillibrand, Edmonton, Middlesex, niece
Mrs. Fields, Blandford Forum, niece
Susannah Budden, wife of Thomas Budden, niece
Thomas Budden the younger, Blandford Forum, Baker
William Budden, son of Susannah Budden, great nephew
William Tice, Blandford Forum, Mercer, nephew, Executor
Robert Fisher, Blandford Forum, Executor
Charles Gunning, Attorney, witness
Robert Norkett, Grocer, witness
Wa: Smith, Clerk to Mr Gunning, Bath, witness
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 4 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1235/252
Testator: Hannah Blake, widow and relict of William Blake late of Blandford Forum, Dorset
Place: Bath, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 10 May 1793, probated 28 Aug 1793
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Hannah
[Margin]: Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Hannah Blake of Blandford Forum in the County of
3 Dorset but now residing in the City of Bath in the County of
4 Somerset widow and Relict of William Blake late of Blandford
5 Forum aforesaid Gentleman deceased being weak in body but
6 of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding
7 do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and
8 Testament in manner and form following that is to say
9 after all my just debts and Funeral Expences are paid and
10 satisfied by my Executor hereinafter named I give and
11 bequeath unto William Fisher of Blandford Forum aforesaid
12 Mercer the Sum of One thousand pounds of lawful British
13 money Also I give and bequeath unto the Reverend Henry
14 Field of Blandford Forum aforesaid the Sum of One thousand
15 pounds of like lawful money Also I give and bequeath unto
16 John Tice of Ware in the County of Hertford Surgeon and
17 Apothecary the Sum of Five hundred pounds of like money
18 Also I give and bequeath unto Thomas Fisher of Dorchester
19 in the County of Dorset Grocer the Sum of One thousand
20 pounds of like money Also I give and bequeath unto
21 Malachi Tice of Blandford Forum aforesaid Surgeon and
22 Apothecary the Sum of One thousand pounds of like money
23 Also I give and bequeath unto Henry White of Blandford
24 Forum aforesaid Grocer the Sum of two hundred pounds of like
25 money Also I give and bequeath unto William Wood White of
26 Walthamstow in the County of Essex Esquire the Sum of Two
27 hundred pounds of like money Also I give and bequeath unto
28 Ann White of Walthamstow aforesaid Spinster Sister of the
29 said William Wood White the Sum of Five hundred pounds
30 of like money Also I give and bequeath unto John Clench
31 of Bridport in the County of Dorset Sadler the Sum of One
32 thousand pounds of like money all and every of which
33 Legacies I direct to be paid in Six Months next after my
34 decease Also I give devise and bequeath unto Grace Soper
35 of Blandford Forum aforesaid Widow one annuity or clear
36 yearly Sum of one hundred pounds to be paid to her by
37 my Executors hereinafter named yearly and every year
38 during the term of her natural life by four equal quarterly
39 payments that is to say on the fifth day of April the twenty
40 fourth day of June the twenty ninth day of September and
41 the twenty first day of December by even and equal portions
42 the first payment thereof to begin and be made on the first
43 quarterly day of payment which shall next happen after
44 my decease and I hereby charge all my Residuary Estate and
45 Effects
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46 Effects hereinafter given and bequeathed with the
47 payment of the said Annuity Also I give and bequeath
48 unto Samuel Soper of Blandford Forum aforesaid
49 Cordwainer and Mary his Wife one Annuity of clear yearly
50 sum of Ten pounds each to be paid to them and each of
51 them during the term of their respective natural lives by
52 four equal quarterly payments that is to say on the fifth day
53 of April the twenty fourth day of June the twenty ninth day
54 of September and the twenty first day of December by even and
55 equal portions the first payment thereof to begin and be made
56 on the first quarterly day of payment which shall next happen
57 after my decease and I hereby charge all my Residuary Estate
58 and effects hereinafter given and bequeathed with the payment
59 of the said annuitys also I give and bequeath unto the
60 Children of the said Samuel Soper and Mary his wife the
61 Sum of thirty pounds each to be paid to them and each of
62 them by my Executors hereinafter named immediately after
63 the decease of the Survivor of them the said Samuel Soper
64 and Mary his Wife and in case of the death of either of such
65 Children before their respective Legacies shall become due and
66 payable the Legacy or Legacies of him her or them so dying
67 shall be paid to the Survivors or Survivor of them equally
68 if more than one And if but one then to that one only his
69 or her Executors or Administrators Also I give and bequeath
70 unto William Giles of Blandford Forum aforesaid Shopman
71 and Susannah his wife one Annuity or clear yearly Sum
72 of ten pounds each to be paid to them and each of them
73 during the term of their respective natural lives by four
74 equal quarterly payments that is to say on the fifth day of
75 April the twenty fourth day of June the twenty ninth day
76 of September and the twenty first day of December by even and
77 equal portions the first payment thereof to begin and be made
78 on the first quarterly day of Payment which shall next
79 happen after my decease and I hereby charge all my
80 Residuary Estate and Effects hereinafter given and bequeathed
81 with the payment of the said Annuities Also I give and
82 bequeath unto Barbara and Nancy two of the Children
83 of them the said William Giles and Susannah his Wife
84 the Sum of thirty pounds each to be paid to them and each
85 of them by my Executors hereinafter named immediately after
86 the decease of the Survivor of them the said William Giles
87 and Susannah his Wife and in case of the death of either
88 of such Children before their respective Legacys shall become
89 payable the share of her so dying shall go and be paid
90 to the Survivor her Executors or Administrators Also I give
91 and bequeath unto Robert Clench of Blandford Forum
92 aforesaid Barber and Eleanor his Wife one Annuity or clear
93 yearly Sum of ten pounds each to be paid to them and each
94 of them during the term of their respective natural lives by
95 four equal quarterly payments that is to say on the fifth
96 day of April the twenty fourth day of June the twenty
97 ninth day of September and the twenty first day of December
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98 by even and equal portions the first payment thereof to
99 begin and be made on the first quarterly day of payment
100 which shall next happen after my decease and I do hereby
101 charge all my Residuary Estate and Effects herein after given
102 and bequeathed with the payment of the said Annuities Also
103 I give and bequeath unto the Children of them the said
104 Robert Clench and Eleanor his Wife the Sum of thirty pounds
105 each to be paid to them and each of them by my Executors
106 hereinafter named immediately after the decease of the
107 Survivor of them the said Robert Clench and Eleanor his Wife
108 and in case of the death of any or either of such Children
109 before their respective Legacies shall become payable the
110 share or shares of him her of them shall go and be paid to
111 the Survivors or Survivor of them if more than one in
112 equal shares and proportions and if but one then to that one
113 only his or her Executors or Administrators Also I give and
114 bequeath unto Martha Edmunds of Blandford Forum
115 aforesaid Widow one annuity or clear yearly Sum of ten
116 pounds to be paid to her during the term of her natural
117 life by four equal quarterly payments that is to say on the
118 fifth day of April the twenty fourth day of June the twenty
119 ninth day of September and the twenty first day of December
120 by even and equal portions the first payment thereof to
121 begin and be made on the first quarterly day of payment
122 which shall next happen after my decease and I hereby
123 charge all my Residuary Estate and Effects hereinafter given
124 and bequeathed with the payment of the said Annuity Also
125 I give and bequeath to the Children of her the said
126 Martha Edmunds the Sum of thirty pounds each to be paid
127 to them and each of them by my Executors hereinafter
128 named immediately after the decease of her the said Martha
129 Edmunds and in case of the death of any or either of such
130 Children before the respective Legacies shall become due the
131 share or share of him her of them so dying shall go
132 and be paid to the Survivors or Survivor of them if
133 more than one in equal share and proportions and if
134 but one then to that one only his or her Executors or
135 Administrators Also I give and bequeath unto Benjamin
136 Vowell of Sherborne in the County of Dorset Grocer and to
137 Samuel Vowell of the same place Grocer Brother of the said
138 Benjamin Vowell the Sum of Fifty pounds each of lawful
139 British money I also give to my good Friend the
140 Reverend William Blake of Crewkerne in the County of
141 Somerset dissenting Minister the Sum of Fifty pounds of
142 like money as a small token of my esteem and Friendship
143 for him to be paid him in six Months next after my
144 decease and I also give and bequeath to his four Children
145 Malachi William Downing and Mary Blake the Sum
146 of forty pounds each of like lawful money which said
147 several Sums or Legacies to his Children I likewise direct
148 to be paid at the same time as their father’s Legacy is
149 directed to be paid and it is my Will that in case any
150 or
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151 or either of them shall die before their respective Legacies
152 shall become payable it is my will that the Legacy or Legacies
153 of him her of them so dying shall be paid to the Survivors if
154 more than one in equal Shares and proportions and if but
155 one then to that one only his or her Executors or Administrators
156 I also give to my good Friend Joshua Seely Lawton of the
157 City of Bath Gentleman the Sum of Fifty pounds of like
158 money in token of my esteem and Friendship for him which
159 Legacy I direct to be paid to him in six Months next after
160 my decease and I also give to my Servant Gabriel Tizzard
161 (if living with me at my death) the Sum of one hundred
162 pounds of like money to be paid in six Months next after
163 my death and to such of my Maid Servants who shall have
164 lived with me twelve Months and who shall be living with
165 me at the time of my death the Sum of ten pounds over
166 and above such wages as shall be then respectively due to
167 them to be paid in one month next after my death and
168 whereas it was my late husband’s wish and intention that
169 all those Messuages and Tenements with the Appurtenances
170 by him purchased of Sarah Baker of Blandford Forum
171 aforesaid Spinster situate and being in Blandford Forum
172 aforesaid called or known by the name or sign of the Blue
173 Anchor should be held and enjoyed by the person or persons
174 who for the time being should hold and enjoy the Messuage
175 dwelling house and premises of my said late husband in
176 which I lately lived And whereas my said late husband
177 hath in and by his last Will and Testament given devised
178 and bequeathed the said Messuage dwelling house and
179 premises in which I lately lived unto the said William Tice
181 to hold to him for the term of his natural life and from
182 and after his decease to the said William Fisher his heirs
183 and assigns for ever and whereas the said Messuages
184 Tenements and premises so purchased of the said Sarah
185 Baker were purchased by my said late husband after he
186 had made his Will and the same being held by him for
187 the remainder of a term of Five hundred years became
188 legally vested in me as Residuary Legatee and sole
189 Executrix named in and by the last Will and Testament of
190 my said husband Now I do hereby in order to carry his
191 wish and intention into effect give devise and bequeath
192 all and singular the said Messuages Tenements Lands
193 and premises so purchased of the said Sarah Baker as
194 aforesaid unto the said William Tice to hold to him and
195 his Assigns for and during so many years of the said term
196 of Five hundred years granted in the said premises as
197 shall run out and expire in the life time of him the said
198 William Tice I give devise and bequeath the said Messuages
199 Tenements Lands and premises unto the said William Fisher
200 his Executors Administrators and Assigns for all the Rest
201 Residue and Remainder of the said term of Five hundred
202 years then to come and unexpired and whereas under and
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203 by virtue of the said last Will and Testament of my said
204 late husband I am entitled as Residuary Legatee to all my
205 late husband’s Plate China and household Goods and Chattles
206 of every sort and kind nevertheless it appearing to me by certain
207 Memorandums in the hand writing of my said late husband
208 that it was his wish and intention that certain Articles of
209 Plate China and household Goods in such Memorandum
210 contained should go and be given by me after my decease
211 unto the several persons in such memorandums mentioned
212 Now I do hereby in compliance therewith give and bequeath
213 unto the said Malachi Tice my three large Silver Castors
214 that were my late husband’s fathers four Silver Salts and
215 Salt Spoons Silver Fish Slice long Silver Spoon and my
216 late husbands fathers picture Also I give to the said William
217 Tice my Silver Tea Cadee Also I give to Robert Fisher of
218 Blandford Forum aforesaid Postmaster one pair of my best
219 Silver candlesticks and the Case of large Silver handles
220 knives and forks and six Table Spoon thereto belonging
221 and also his late Uncle Clenchs picture and also my own
222 picture and my own and my late husbands Coat of Arms
223 Also I give to the said William Fisher the other pair of my
224 best Silver Candlesticks my Case of small Silver handled knives
225 and Forks and desert Spoons thereto belonging And also my
226 late husbands picture in Gilt Frame Also I give to the said
227 Thomas Fisher my large Silver Butter Cruets and my small
228 Silver Candlesticks Also I give to the said John Tice my
229 large Silver Tankard and I give to my Niece Mrs James of
230 Chard in the County of Somerset my large Silver Cup Also I
231 give to my Niece Mrs Gillibrand of Edmonton in the County
232 of Middlesex my Silver pint two long handled Silver Spoons
233 and four Table Spoons marked on the back with a Dove Also
234 I give to my Niece Mrs Field of Blandford Forum aforesaid
235 my large Silver Salver and my set of Silver Casters Also I
236 give to my Niece Susannah Budden wife of Thomas Budden
237 the younger of Blandford Forum aforesaid Baker my Silver
238 Coffee pot and Stand also my best set of Tea Spoons and Tea
239 Tongs and my Wedding Ring and my Gold Watch And also
240 all such of my household Goods Furniture Utensils and
241 Implements of household as is or are not by me hereinafter
242 given and bequeathed that shall be in my house at
243 Blandford Forum aforesaid or that shall not by me
244 otherwise disposed of in my life time or by any Memorandum
245 Ticket or other means shewing my intention to whom I
246 would wish the same to go to or be given I give to William
247 Budden Son of my said Niece Susannah Budden a
248 Silver Watch that was my late Fathers Also I give and
249 bequeath unto the said William Tice the use of all the
250 Furniture in the best Fore Parlour of my house at Blandford
251 Forum aforesaid during his natural life and after his decease
252 then I give the said Furniture in the said Fore parlour unto
253 the said William Fisher his Executors Administrators and
254 Assigns all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Monies
255 in
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256 in the Funds Ready Monies and securities for moneys
257 Goods Chattles Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever
258 both Real and personal not herein already disposed of I
259 give devise and bequeath the same charged and chargeable
260 nevertheless with the payment of my just debts Legacies Funeral
261 expences the several Annuities hereinbefore given and
262 bequeathed and the charges of proving this my Will and the
263 expences attending the execution of the Trusts thereof unto
264 William Tice of Blandford forum aforesaid Mercer and the
265 aforesaid Robert Fisher their heirs Executors Administrators
266 and Assigns equally to be divided between them share and
267 share alike as tenants in common and not as joint tenants
268 and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint them the
269 Said William Tice and Robert Fisher joint Executors of this my
270 said Will hereby revoking all former and other Wills and
271 Testaments by me at any time heretofore made and I do hereby
272 declare this to be and contain my last Will and Testament
273 only In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and
274 Testament contained in four sheets of paper set my hand
275 at the bottom of the first three Sheets and my hand and
276 Seal to this fourth and last Sheet the tenth day of May in
277 the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety
278 three Hannah Blake Signed Sealed published
279 and declared by the said Testatrix Hannah Blake as and for
280 her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her
281 request in her presence and in the presence of each other
282 subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto the words one
283 thousand in the Legacy to Miss White being first wrote on
284 an erasure Cha[rle]s Gunning Att[orne]y Robert Norkett
285 Grocer Wa: Smith Clerk to Mr Gunning Bath
286 This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of
287 me Hannah Blake of Blandford Forum in the County
288 of Dorset but now residing in the City of Bath in the County
289 of Somerset Widow and which I desire may be taken as
290 part thereof whereas I have by my said last Will and
291 Testament bearing date the tenth day of May last given to
292 William Fisher of Blandford Forum aforesaid Mercer the Sum
293 of one thousand pounds of lawful British money to the
294 Reverend Henry Field of the same place the Sum of one
295 yhousand pounds To Malachi Tice of the same place
296 Surgeon and Apothecary the Sum of one thousand pounds
297 of like money To John Tice of Ware in the County of Hertford
298 Surgeon and Apothecary the Sum of Five hundred pounds
299 of like money and also to Thomas Fisher of Dorchester in the
300 daid County of Dorset the like Sum of one thousand pounds
301 of like money To Henry White of Blandford Forum aforesaid
302 yhe sum of two hundred pounds of like money To William
303 Wood White of Walthamstow in the County of Essex Esquire
304 yhe like Sum of Two hundred pounds of like money and
305 yo John Clench of Bridport in the County of Dorset Sadler the
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306 Sum of two hundred pounds of like money Now I do by
307 this my Codicil give to the said William Fisher the further
308 Sum of Five hundred pounds and to the said Thomas Fisher
309 the further Sum of Five hundred pounds and to the said
310 Malachi Tice the further Sum of Five hundred pounds over
311 and above their respective Legacies of one thousand pounds
312 each To the said Henry White William Wood White and John
313 Clench the further Sum of one hundred pounds each of lawful
314 money of Great Britain over and above their respective Legacys
315 of Two hundred pounds I also give to my Niece Susannah
316 Budden Wife of Thomas Budden the younger of Blandford Forum
317 aforesaid Baker the Sum of one thousand and five hundred
318 Pounds over and above any Legacy Gift or bequest I may
319 have given her by my said Will and I also give to my good
320 Friend Mrs Lawton the Wife of Mr Joshua Seely Lawton of
321 Bath the Sum of Fifty pounds of lawful British money all
322 which Legacies I direct to be paid in six Months next after my
323 decease but it is nevertheless my express direction and I do
324 hereby declare that the several and respective Legacies so as
325 aforesaid given to the said William Fisher Henry Field
326 Malachi Tice John Tice Thomas Fisher and Susannah Budden
327 either in my said Will or this my Codicil shall not be
328 considered as so much lawful money of Great Britain but
329 only as so much Stock and to be paid to them and each and
330 every of them my aforesaid Legatees either out of the three
331 per Cent Consols or the three per Cent Rank Annuities at the
332 option of my Executors Item I do hereby give to my Nephew
333 William Tice my yellow damask Bedstead Bed Bolster pillows
334 Tiebands etc thereto belonging as also the Window Curtains
335 in the same Room or belonging to the same Bed absolutely
336 for his own use I likewise give to my said Nephew William
337 Tice the free use of my Mohagany Book Case in the Best
338 Bedchamber the Iron Chest the Clock in the passage and all
339 the Fixtures of every kind and denomination now in my
340 house at Blandford Forum aforesaid for and during the
341 term of his natural life and from and after his decease to
342 my said Nephew William Fisher together with the said house
343 as specified in my late husbands will and I direct the Sum
344 of ten pounds to be distributed in bread amongst the poor of
345 Blandford Forum aforesaid on the first Christmas day that
346 shall next happen after my decease under the direction of
347 Mr Thomas Budden the younger of Blandford Forum aforesaid
348 Baker In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
349 Seal the sixth day of June one thousand seven hundred and
350 Ninety three H Blake Signed Sealed published and
351 declared by the said Testatrix as and for a Codicil to her last
352 Will and Testament in the presence of us Cha[rle]s Gunning
353 Att[orne]y Bath Wa Smith his Clerk
354 On the twenty seventh day of August 1793 appeared
355 personally Charles Gunning of the City of Bath Attorney at Law
356 and
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357 and Walter Smith of the same City recorder and by
358 virtue of their several Corporal Oaths deposed as follows
359 and first the said Charles Gunning deposed that he was
360 employed by Hannah Blake Testator of Bath widow lately now
361 deceased in ordering and preparing for the said deceased her
362 last Will and Testament hereunto annexed bearing date the
363 tenth day of May one thousand seven hundred and ninety
364 three that the deponent Charles Gunning attended the said
365 deceased on the said tenth day of May one thousand seven
366 Hundred and ninety three with the said will fairly expressed
367 which amongst other things then contained a Legacy or
368 bequest of five hundred pounds to Ann White of Walthamstow
369 in the County of Essex Spinster Sister of William Wood White of
370 the same place and also a Legacy or bequest of two hundred
371 pounds to John Clench of Bridport in the County of Dorset
372 Sadler which two Legacies or bequests were inserted in this
373 said Will agreeably to Instructions previously given by the
374 said deceased to Charles Gunning That the deponent Charles
375 Gunning on the same day read over the said Will to the said
376 deceased audibly and distinctly and she expressed herself
377 perfectly satisfied therewith in every respect there as to the said
378 Legacy to Ann White which she directed the deponent Charles
379 Gunning to alter from five hundred pounds to one thousand
380 pounds in consideration of the great attention which the said
381 Ann White had long paid to her and particularly in her
382 illness of which the said deceased then expressed a sense of
383 high obligation that in consequence of such direction from
384 the said deceased that this deponent Charles Gunning set about
385 making the desired alteration in the said Ann Whites
386 Legacy and made an erasure in the seventeenth line from the
387 top of the first sheet of the said Will upon which erasure he
388 then wrote the words one thousand meaning and apprehending
389 that he had thereby increased the said Legacy to the said Ann
390 White after which the deponent Charles Gunning wrote the
391 following words in the Clause of Attestation for the Witnesses
392 on the last Sheet of the said Will to wit the words one thousand
393 in the Legacy to Miss White being first wrote on an Erazure
394 and then the said deceased duly executed the said will in the
395 presence of the deponent Charles Gunning and the other
396 subscribing Witnesses whose names appear thereto namely
397 Robert Norkett and the said deponent Walter Smith and at
398 the time of executing the same the deponent Charles Gunning
399 is certain from the circumstances hereinbefore deposed that
400 the said deceased believed as he himself did that the said
401 Legacy of Five hundred pounds originally inserted therein
402 to the aforesaid Ann White had been erased and altered
403 into a Legacy of one thousand pounds and the said depon[en]t
404 Walter Smith deposed that he believed the same for that the
405 said deponent Charles Gunning showed to him the said
406 Deponent Walter Smith the said Erazure and alteration prior
407 to the deceased executing the said Will and bid him the said
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408 eeponent Walter Smith and the said Robert Norkett the other
409 subscribing witness take notice thereof and the said deponent
410 Charles Gunning deposed that the said deceased then believed
411 that the Legacy of two hundred pounds to the aforesaid John
412 Clench originally inserted in the said Will remained unaltered
413 She having expressed no wish or intention to increase or alter
414 the Legacy to him and that it was with a firm belief and
415 persuasion of the Will being altered by an increase of the
416 said Ann Whites Legacy and not otherwise that she was
417 satisfied therewith And the deponent Charles Gunning further
418 saith that immediately after the will was executed it was
419 Sealed up by the deponent Charles Gunning and remained
420 Sealed up until after the said deceaseds death at which time
421 and not before it was discovered by the deponent Charles Gunning
422 that he had inadvertently made the Erazure and alteration
423 in the Clause respecting the said John Clench’s Legacy instead
424 of that to the said Ann White which the deceased designed and
425 ordered to be altered for it doth now appear that the words
426 two hundred have been erased in the seventeenth line instead
427 of the words Five hundred in the next preceding line and
428 that the words one thousand have been inserted on such
429 Erazure instead of being inserted in the sixteenth line in the
430 stead of the said words of five hundred which should have
431 been there erased and in confirmation and illustration of
432 what he so deposed relative to the state of the Legacies to the
433 said Ann White and John Clench as originally inserted in the
434 said Will before any erasure or alteration took place the
435 deponent Charles Gunning doth annex hereunto a form or
436 cancelled will of the said deceased in which prior to the
437 making her last Will the deponent Charles Gunning made
438 such alterations and additions as she wished to be made
439 converting the said cancelled Will in a draught for her
440 Will and the said deponents Charles Gunning and Walter
441 Smith further depose solemnly that the said last Will of the
442 said deceased dated the tenth day of May one thousand
443 seven hundred and ninety three was transcribed and fairly
444 copied from the said cancelled Will not hereunto annexed
445 and that the Legacy inserted in the aforesaid seventeenth line
446 of the first sheet of the said Will as a bequest to the said John
447 Clench was originally a Bequest of Two hundred pounds the
448 same as that in the twenty fourth line from the top of the
449 first Sheet of the annexed cancelled Will and the same deponent
450 Charles Gunning further deposes that the Codicil to the Will
451 of the said deceased executed by her on the sixth day of
452 June last was drawn and prepared by him this deponent
453 and in the Instructions for the same received by him from
454 the said deceased she directed him amongst other things to
455 make a bequest of one hundred pounds to the said John
456 Clench in addition to the Legacy of Two hundred pounds
457 which she had bequeathed to him by the Will and the said
458 Deponent Charles Gunning further deposes that the said
459 Codicil was read over to the said deceased prior to the
460 execution
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461 execution thereof audibly whereby she well knew and
462 understood what was therein expressed of and concerning
463 the Legacy bequeathed to the said John Clench in and by
464 her Will and all other the contents of the said Codicil and
465 she declared her satisfaction with and approbation thereof
466 and the said deponent Charles Gunning lastly saith that
467 in drawing the said Codicil he made reference to the
468 aforesaid cancelled will for the Recitals mentioned in the
469 Codicil and not to the original Will itself which remained
470 Sealed up in the said deceaseds possession Char[le]s Gunning
471 Wa: Smith The said Charles Gunning and Walter
472 Smith were duly sworn to the truth of this Affidavit in
473 virtue of the Commission thereunto annexed Before me Thomas
474 Head Dowson
475 This Will with a Codicil was proved at London
476 the twenty eighth day of August in the year of our Lord
477 one thousand seven hundred and ninety three before the
478 Worshipful Maurice Swabey doctor of Laws Surrogate of
479 the Right honorable Sir William Wynne Knight also
480 doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the
481 Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by
482 the Oaths of William Tice and Robert Fisher the Executors
483 named in the said Will of the deceased to whom
484 administration was granted of all and singular the Goods
485 Chattles and Credits of the said deceased having been first
486 sworn duly to administer.
