Will of Joseph Blake, Esquire, Berkley County, Province of South Carolina now South Carolina, United States of America - The National Archives PROB 11/792, probated 20 Feb 1752

The testator, Joseph Blake, is descendant of a known Blake line. His grandfather Captain Benjamin Blake was a brother of Admiral Robert Blake.

Admiral Robert Blake [101] is the Granduncle of Colonel Joseph-117 Blake [319]

                                Common Ancestor

                               * Humphry-43 Blake [25]
                                   (Abt 1563-1625)
                      * Sarah Swithers formerly Williams [100]
                                  (          -1638)
                               Married 5 Oct 1597 [26]
                                         |
                     ---------------------------------------------------------
                     |                                                                |
                     |                                                                |
     * Captain Benjamin-66 Blake [111]         * Admiral Robert Blake [101]
                      (1614-1689)                                              (1598-1657)
           Elizabeth Blake [191]
             (          -1676)
               Married  [50]
                     |
                     |
          * Joseph-94 Blake [196]
                (1663-1700)
          Elizabeth Axtell [316]
                (1663-1725)
          Married 6 Dec 1698 [98]
                     |
                     |
     * Colonel Joseph-117 Blake [319]
                (1700-1751)

Joseph Blake (the testator)  married Sarah Lindrey 16 Jun 1720 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Their children were all born in South Carolina.

Rebecca born circa 1721, married Ralph Izard circa 1741 and died circa 1762

According to the article published in the South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Society and blogged earlier today, this family continued at least to 1900 in the southern United States and perhaps descendants of this family are still living today. Finding a descendant of this family would greatly assist in determining the haplogroup of the Blake family of Somerset.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Jan 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/792
Name of testator: Joseph Blake Esquire
Place: Berkley County, Province of South Carolina
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 18 Dec 1750, probated 20 Feb 1752

[In margin] Joseph Blake Esquire

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Joseph Blake of Berkley County in the Province of South Carolina
3    do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner
4    and form following Imprimis I will that my whole Estate be kept
5    together until it raises the Sum of two thousand Pounds Sterling
6    Money of Great Britain and One thousand Pounds Proclamation
7    Money or the Value thereof in the currency of this Province
8    Exclusive of the Maintenance of my Sons Daniel Blake and
9    William Blake and my daughter Ann Blake and other necessaries
10    and charges on the Estate to the time that the said Sum is cleared
11    Item after the said Sums of two thousand pounds sterling and
12    one thousand pounds proclamation money is cleared then I will
13    that the said Sums be kept at Interest and the Interest to be
14    applied towards Educating and Maintaining my Sons Daniel Blake
15    and William Blake and daughter Ann Blake until they at age
16    several and I will that as they severally arrive at age One
17    thousand Pounds Sterling Money or the Value thereof in the
18    currency of this Province be paid unto my Son Daniel Blake the
19    like Sum of one thousand Pounds Sterling to my Son William
20    Blake and the remaining Sum of one thousand Pounds Proclamation
21    Money to my daughter Ann Blake Item after the aforesaid Sum
22    is raised then I give devise and bequeath unto my Son Daniel
23    Blake and his heirs for ever the Plantation I now live on
24    called Newington and a tract of Land on the Cypruss Swamp lying
25    between the Lands of Mr James Postell and Barnaby Brandford
26    part of which I purchased of Mr James Postell deceased the
27    Remainder I took up of the King and that part of my Land on
28    Charles Town Neck which lies between the High Road and Cooper
29    River and Fifteen hundred Acres of Land to be taken out of my
30    Lands on Cumber River between Mrs Londson’s Line and the
31    Land I bought of Colonel William Bull the Line to run
32    towards Calf Pen Savanah as far back as will take in the
33    Quantity of fifteen hundred acres and a Plantation containing
34    five hundred ninety seven acres in two Tracts bounding on Mrs
35    Donings and Mrs Drake to the North East and to the Dr West
36    on Mrs Donings Mrs Sacheveralls and Doctors Brisbanes to the
37    S West on a tract of Land which was formerly Mr Dowses but now
38    mine and on Mr Days to the S East on Mr Richard Sparings Item
39    I give and bequeath unto my Son William Blake and to his heirs
40    for ever my Plantation containing more or less on Wadmelaw
41    River and New Cut commonly called Plainsfield lying between
42    the Lands of Mr John Atchinson and Mr Fuller and that part of
43    my Land on Charles Town Neck that lies between the High Road
44    and Ashly River bounding on Mr Cadsdens Mr Hunts and Mr
45    John Humes and two Tracts of Land lying between Mr Atchinsons
46    and Mr Stobols one tract containing two hundred and thirty acres
47    the other Seventy six and two Tracts of Land containing four
48    hundred and forty acres purchased of Stephen Dowse by Mrs
49    Jennis bounding on Mr William Elliott Mr John Drayton and Mr
50    Graves to him and his heirs for ever I give devise and bequeath
51    unto my love daughter Rebecca Izard to her and her heirs for
52    ever a tract of Land containing one thousand eight hundred and
53    seventy three acres in my Granville County on the Lead of Coosaw
54    Hatchers and Chili Phinaswamp bounding on James Therrs to the
55    N West and an Island on Port Royal River in Granville County
56    commonly called Catt Island containing four hundred acres to her
57    and her heirs for ever I give devise and bequeath unto my loving
58    daughter Ann Blake to her and her heirs for ever One thousand
59    acres of Land to be laid out by my Executors and Executrix on
60    the calf Pen Savanah to be taken out of my Lands on Cumber on
61    the head of the said Tracts and an Island containing two hundred
62    and eighty six acres of Land in Granville County on the North
63    East side of Port Royal River and on all other sides on Marshes
64    and Creeks out of the said River to her and her heirs for ever
65    Item I give all my Real Estate (that is not already given
66    devised or bequeathed) unto my two Sons Daniel Blake and William
67    Blake to them their heirs or assigns Item I give all my
68    household Goods and Plate to be divided between my two Sons
69    Daniel Blake and William Blake and my daughter Ann Blake to each a third Item
70    I give unto my son Daniel Blake my coach and harness and
71    Plinne Thorn his Wife Betty Molly and all their children
72    which they have or shall have Item I give unto my Son
73    William Blake Wally Johnny Molatto Peter Sirol Inda and all
74    their Children which they have or shall have Item I give unto
75    my daughter Ann Blake Lampset Nanny Patty and Molly
76    child of Hannah and all their Children which they have or
77    shall have Item I give all the remainder of my Personal
78    Estate (not already given devised or bequeathed) unto my
79    four Children Rebeccah Izard Daniel Blake William Blake
80    and Ann Blake to be equally divided between my four Children
81    in four equal parts and in case any of my three Children
82    Daniel Blake William Blake or Ann Blake should happen to die
83    without heirs and before they arrive to the Age of Twenty one
84    years then his hers or their shares to go to my daughter Izard
85    and the Survivor of the Survivors of the three in equal shares (that
86    is to say) In Case one dies then to be divided in three shares one
87    share to my daughter Izard and two shares between the Survivors
88    and so in proportion in case a greater number dies and in
89    Case my daughter Rebecca Izard should die before me or
90    before the death of any of my Children before age or
91    Marriage then I will that the Children of my said Rebeccah
92    Izard shall have the same share as if she was alive at the
93    contingency she would have had Lastly I do hereby nominate
94    and appoint my love daughter Rebeccah Izard my Son
95    Daniel Blake and my Son Ralph Izard Executrix and Executors
96    of this my last Will and Testament and Guardians to my
97    Children until they arrive at the age of Twenty one years and I
98    do give them Power to borrow as much of the Income of their
99    Estate as they shall think proper on their Education and likewise to
100    Improve the Estates of my said Children either by putting
101    Money at Interest buying Slaves or any other way they shall
102    judge most advantageous and I do hereby ratify and confirm this
103    to be my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former
104    Wills In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal
105    this Eighteenth day of December Anno Domini 1750 Joseph Blake
106    Signed Sealed and Published in the presence of us Jacob Molte
107    William Roper Alexander Rigg
108    Secretarys Office The foregoing writing of two Sheets of paper is a true copy from the Original
109    Will of the Hon[oura]ble Joseph Blake Esquire deceased Exam. And certified by Wm Pinckney Dep[u]ty Sec[reta]ty
110    11 February 1752
111    Appeared personally John Ouldfield of South Carolina
112    Planter at present residing in the City of London and William
113    George Freeman of South Carolina aforesaid at present also
114    residing in the City of London Gentleman and being Sworn on
115    the holy Evangelists to depose the truth made Oath each for
116    himself as follows That they very well know William
117    Pinckney deputy Secretary of the Province of South Carolina
118    aforesaid and are well acquainted with his Manner and Character
119    of handwriting having several times seen him write and having
120    more carefully viewed the Memorandum or certificate wrote at
121    the end of the Copy of the last Will and Testament of Joseph
122    Blake late of Berkley County in the Province of South
123    Carolina Esquire deceased bearing date Eighteenth day of
124    December anno domini 1750 and hereto annext which said
125    Memorandum or certificate is contained in the following Words to
126    wit Charles Town So Carolina Secretarys Office The foregoing
127    Writing of two Sheets of Paper is a true copy from the Original
128    Will of the honourable Joseph Blake Esquire deceased
129    examined and Certified per Wm Pinckney Depty Secty they these
130    appearers do severally say that they do verily believe the
131    whole contents of the said Memorandum or Certificate and the
132    said Name and Words Wm Pinckney Depty Secty thereto
133    Subscribed to be all of the proper handwriting of the said
134    William Pinckney Deputy Secretary of the said Province of
135    South Caroline aforesaid Jno Ouldfield Wm Geor Freeman
136    same day the said John Oldfield and William George Freeman
137    were Sworn to the truth of this affidavid before me Robt Chapman
138    Surrogate Present Hen: Stevens sr p
139    This Will was proved at London before the Worshipful
140    Robert Chapman doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right honourable
141    Sir George Lee Knight also doctor of Laws Master Keeper or
142    Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
143    constituted on the Twentieth day of February in the Year of our Lord
144    One thousand seven hundred and fifty two by the Oath of Daniel
145    Blake Esquire the Son of the deceased and one of the Executors
146    in the said Will named to whom administration was granted of
147    all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased
148    being first Sworn duly to administer Power reserved of making
149    the like Grant to Ralph Izard and Rebecca Izard his Wife the other
150    Executors named in the said Will when they or either of them shall
151    apply for the same The Letters of Administration of the Goods
152    of the said deceased heretofore to wit in the Month of September
153    last granted to John Nickleson the Curator or Guardian lawfully
154    assigned of the said Daniel Blake and also of William Blake Minors
155    two of the natural and lawful Children of the said deceased as well
156    for the use and benefit of the said Minors as of the said Rebecca
157    Izard and also of Ann Blake Spinster a Minor the other natural
158    and lawful Children of the said deceased then residing at South
159    Carolina aforesaid until one of the said Minors should attain the Age
160    of Twenty one Years or untill the Original Will of the said decease
161    if he made any should be brought into the Registry of the
162    Prerogative Court of Canterbury being first brought in voluntarily
163    and declared to be ceased and expired as by the Acts of the said
164    Court more fully appears

John Blake, yeoman, Butterwicke, Holland, Lincolnshire - The National Archives PROB 11/38

John Blake of Butterwicke, Lincolnshire, is the testator. He names his sons George Blake and Rauf Blake and his daughters Jenett Blake, Alice Gybson, Kathryn and Johane. His wife is unnamed. He separates the daughters into two sets for some reason – Jenett by herself and then Alice, Kathryn and Johane are often listed together. He names Peter Gybson, John Pysshe, George Pysshe and Peter Pysshe and they are perhaps grandsons.

Checking on Find My Past a simple search of Blake and Lincolnshire yields 6897 records with 1652 births/baptisms, 1,490 deaths and 1,546 marriages/divorces. There are 9 Wills and Probate (all from the 1800s).

Family Search has 269 results for Blake between 1500 and 1566 although none for any of the family members listed in the will.

His property appears extensive but tends to be small plots of land around the Butterwicke area in Lincoln.

Freston mentioned in the will is perhaps Frieston in modern spelling.

The probate is to come; still working on that as it is an unusual one.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 17 Jan 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/38
Name of testator: John Blake, yeoman
Place: Holland, Lincolnshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated 1 Feb 1555/6, probated 2 Nov 1556

[In margin] Testam[ent] Joh[ann]is Blake

1    In dei nomine Amen The first daye of Februarie yn the yere of our
2    Lord god one Thousande five hundredth fiftie and five I John Blake of Butterwicke
3    in the parish of Holland in the Countie of Lincoln yoman being in then prefect of
4    deed mynde and perfect remembrance (thanckes be to Almightie god) do make this my laste
5    Will and Testament in manner and forme following First I bequeath my soule to Almightie
6    god my maker and redeemer and my bodie to be buried in the Churchyarde of Butterwicke
7    aforesaid and for my mortuary as the Lawes of this Realme shall price Item I bequeath
8    to the High Aulter of Butterwicke vij d Item to the churche werk of Butterwicke vj s vij d
9    Item to the churche of Lincoln xj d Item I bequeath to Jenett Blake my doughter
10    Twentie pounds of Lawfull money of England to be paide to her by myne Executour at
11    suche tyme as she shall require the same after my decease Item I bequeath to my said
12    doughter Jenet the Bedd that I lye oon standing three Brasse pottes two of the Best
13    except 1 six pewter t[um]blers that is to saye three of the best and thre of the seconde _____
14    my best p___d two of my best kyne one payre of lynnen sheets and one payer of hardy
15    Item I will that George Blake and Rauf Blake my sonnes have my lease that I have
16    of Mr Frotherby during the yeres that I have yet to come equallie to Be divided betwixt
17    them Item I give to Peter Gybson John Pysshe George Pysshe and Peter Pysshe to either
18    one of them one _earling Item I bequeath to Alice Gybson my doughter twentie marks of Lawfull
19    money of England to be paid to her hoosbande by myne Executor yf so be the soofficient be given to
20    her as John Gybson his father dyd promys or els this my yssie to be made and yf no son produced
21    _______ and it is my very Last Will (that if the said John Gybson have given as unto my said doughter
22    her soofficient according to his promys Then I will the said twentie marks shalbe paide by myne
23    Executors unto the saide Thomas Gybson within two yeres next after my decease) Item I bequeath to
24    George Blake my sonne one Browne mare one Iron graye mare two yonge geldings suche as Rauff
25    my sonne will appoynte to Sixe mylch kyne and three pounds six shillings and eight pence of
26    Lawfull monye of England to bye hym aplinghe and ____ ______ The residue of all my goodes
27    and chattels Iron plate and wode money in this my last will and testament not given nor Bequeathed
28    I give and Bequeath to Rauf Blake my sonne whom I ordyne and make of this my last will and
29    Testament my sole Executor
30    This is the laste Will and testament of me
31    the above named John Blake made the daie and yere abovesaide for and concernyng the dispossing
32    of all my Landes tenements and hereditaments within the Countie of Lincoln or els where within the
33    Realme of Englande First I will and Bequeath to George Blake my sonne my house in the C[ount]ie and with
34    one acre grounde that yt standed on one berin  ___ corn grounde that yt standeth on two acres
35    half acre a Rode of grounde lying there that I Bought of Mr Fotherby And one acre ____ that
36    Lease of theroft of John Gylbert Item three rodes of Acrall lande of the same grounde that hath
37    and crose three acres of Arrable land lyeinge in Lyversell one acre in Crowne Acres halfing one at
38    Jordey Iscott  and more at Gendomes one acre called _tting Rigg one acre in Ortand  three rodes in
39    Chert north Landes and further on Bothe sides on the waye thre rodes in Looster shallbe one acre helde
40    ____ five rodes in short co__st horses three rodes in Gostreet two acres butting of the Indith waye
41    and three Acres of woode in Frieston To have and to holde the said messuages _____ all and singular
42    other the premises and thappurtenances unto the said George and his assignes during his life naturall
43    and after his decease I will that thene half thereof remayne to Rauff my sonne and to the h[ei]res of his
44    bodie Lawfully begotten And also I will that theother half of the premises after the decease of my
45    said sonne George shall remayne to Kathryn Alice and Johane my doughters equallie to be
46    divided amongst them and to the right heires of their bodies lawfully begotten Item I give
47    to Rauf Blake my sonne all my Lande that I bought within Leversey that is to saye Lande
48    under and pasture with theappurtenances Item one acre in Boyholm lying in Butterwicke
49    two several places five acres in Bradycrose elevyn acres of performed grounde in Derthalm
50    that I bought of Robert Lawes and John Colson oon acre and a half of lande that lyeth at
51    Putter well three acres inground two acres and half in Boollyrn half oon
52    acre at Hopcote hall four acres and three rodes at Butterwicke Ingapp and four acres that
53    lieth in the dale To have and to hold the said premises and every parcell thereof and thappurtenances
54    unto my said sone Rauf and to the heires of his bodie lawfully begotten And for default of suche
55    yssue to remayne to my said doughters Kathryn Alice and Johane and to their heires and assignes
56    for ever Item I give to Jenet Blake my doughter my house in the North end of Butterwicke called
57    Bille House with the grounde that it standeth on To have and to hold to her and to her heires of her
58    bodie lawfully begotten and for the default of suche Issue to remayne to Rauf my sonne and to the heires
59    of his bodie lawfully begotten And for default of suche office to remayne to Kathryn and Alice
60    my doughters and to their heires and assignes forever In witness whereof to this my last will and
61    Testament I have subscribed my name and sette my hand the daye and yere above written
62    in the presence of Richard Dowse of Frieston Willyam Bower of the same James Pollynson of
63    of the same William Ketchin of Butterwick Richard Cooke Vicar of the same parishe
64    and other more John Blake