Will of Andrew Blake, Merchant at Minehead, Somerset - The National Archives 11/802/173, probated 2 Jun 1753

Always nice when wills tie together and this Andrew is descendant of the Alice Blake (widow) family so one of her two sons Andrew or William is his ancestor. Andrew (son of Alice) has mentioned a son Robert in his will blogged yesterday (and this Robert is perhaps the Robert mentioned later in this discussion who married Ann Teague in 1680). I might now be able to figure out the names of the property on the Andrew Blake will yesterday. They are difficult to read.

Mr. Andrew Blake (testator) was buried 27 Mar 1753 as I have the fiche for the parish church at Minehead.

There is a marriage at Culbone of Andrew Blake and Ann Sealy 12 Jun 1735. There is another interesting marriage 11 Sep 1740 of Andrew Blake and Ann Bastone (of Minehead) at Porlock.

I have the Fiche for the Parish Register of Minehead and extracted the following from them:

Baptisms:

1560 Blake Jone
1560 Blake John
1605 Mar 11 Blake George son of John
1609 Jan 27 Blake Thomas son of John
1632 Jan 16 Blak Johane daughter of John
1635 Jan 21 Blake John son of John and Margarett Blake
1679 May 17 Blake Mary daughter of John and Ann
1679 Jul 31 Blake James son of Elias and Joan
1680 Oct 30 Blake John son of John and Ann
1680 Dec 14 Blake Andrew son of Robert and Ann
1681 Oct 23 Blake Elias son of Elias and Joan
1682 May 16 Blake William son of William and Ann
1682 Sep 16 Blake Henry son of John and Ann
1683 May 25 Blake Thomas son of William and Ann
1683 Jun 23 Blake Andrew son of Robert and Ann
1683 Jul 29 Blake Francis son of John and Ann
1685 Sep 2 Samuell son of William (gent) and Ann
1685 Sep 7 Blake Michael son of John and Ann
1685 Mar 23 Blake Elizabeth daughter of Robertt and Ann
1686 Mar 12 Blake Ann daughter of John and Ann
1687 Jun 2 Blake Thomas son of Mr William (gent) and Ann
1688 Nov 8 Blake Sarah daughter of Mr William (gent) and Ann
1688 Mar 2 Blake Elizabeth daughter of John and Ann
1688 Mar 21 Blake Robartt son of Robartt and Ann
1690 May 26 Blake William son of Mr William (gent) and Ann
1690 Jun 26 Blake Mary daughter of Robartt and Ann
1691 May 8 Blake Michaell son of John and Ann
1691 Nov 2 Blake Susana daughter of Mr William (gent) and Ann
1693 Nov 7 Blake Elizabeth daughter of Mr William (gent) and Ann
1695 Mar 25 Blake Elizabeth daughter of William (gent) and Ann
1696 May 28 Blake Mary daughter of William (gent) and Ann
1697 Nov 20 Blake William son of William (gent) and Ann
1700 Aug 22 Blake Sarah daughter of Robert and Ann
1711 Jul 10 Blake Christopher son of Andrew and Susanna
1713 Dec 26 Blake Andrew son of Andrew and Susannah
1716 Mar 23 Blake Susanna daughter of Andrew and Susanna
1717 Jan 17 Blake Ann daughter of Henry and Ann
1718 Feb 2 Blake Robert son of Andrew and Susanna
1719 Aug 22 Blake Issabella daughter of Henry and Ann
1720 Jun 7 Blake William son of Robert and Margarett
1720 Jan 1 Blake Joana daughter of Sarah (baseborn)
1720 Oct 5 Blake John son of Henry and Ann
1720 Nov 10 Blake Sarah daughter of Mychael and Mary
1722 Oct 6 Blake Ann daughter of Robert and Margarett
1722 Nov 24 Blake Robert son of Andrew and Susanna
1724 Apr 16 Blake Elizabeth daughter of Mychaell and Mary
1726 Apr 26 Blake Elizabeth daughter of Henry and Ann
1727 Jul 20 Blake Robert son of Mychaell and Mary
1732 May 6 Blake Robert son of Michael
1735 Oct 2 Blake Thomas son of Andrew
1736 Jan 30 Blake John son of Michael and Mary
1738 Oct 18 Blake Ann daughter of Mr. Thomas
1740 Jul 22 Blake Sarah daughter of Mr. Thomas
1741 Jul 17 Blake Francis son of Mr. Andrew (junior)
1742 Mar 22 Blake Susannah daughter of Mr. Andrew (junior)
1744 May 29 Blake Susannah daughter of Andrew and Ann (Andrew junior)
1745 Apr 19 Blake Robert son of Andrew (junior)
1747 Jun 26 Blake John son of Andrew (junior)
1748 Jul 10 Blake William son of Thomas (esquire)
1749 Nov 25 Blake Ann daughter of Andrew
1749 Dec 3 Blake Elizabeth daughter of Thomas (esquire)
1752 May 16 Blake Sarah daughter of Andrew
1752 Aug 5 Blake Ann daughter of William (mariner)
1754 Apr 30 Blake Andrew son of Andrew
1754 Nov 19 Blake William son of William (mariner)
1756 Jul 1 Blake George son of William
1756 Nov 9 Blake Robert son of Andrew
1758 Feb 18 Blake George son of William and Mary
1758 Mar 29 Blake Ann daughter of Andrew and Ann
1760 Mar 12 Blake James son of William and Mary
1760 May 27 Blake Elizabeth daughter of Andrew and Nancy
1761 Mar 7 Blake Robert son of William and Mary
1762 Jul 8 Blake Sarah daughter of William and Mary
1765 Mar 31 Blake Thomas Adams son of William and Mary
1768 Jun 27 Blake Thomas Warrin son of Francis and Ann
1769 Oct 8 Blake Elizabeth Bastone daughter of Francis
1774 Nov 13 Blake Francis son of Francis and Elizabeth
1791 Jan 20 Blake Elizabeth daughter of Austain and Mary

Marriages:

1563 May 6 William Blake and Jone Headon
1566 Sep 22 William Blake and Margaret Whitfild
1583 Oct 24 George Blake and Margaret Willms
1595 Apr 29 George Blake and Tamsine Gould
1602 May 9 John Blake and Jone Tailor
1680 Apr 12 Robert Blake and Ann Teague
1710 Nov 14 David Dehaurgues and Elizabeth Blake
1714 Feb 12 John Connebeer and Elizabeth Blake
1716 Feb 26 Henry Blake and Ann Paine
1719 Aug 15 Robert Blake and Margarett Bowden
1720 Dec 27 Mychaell Blake and Mary Blake
1727 Mar 3 William Griffith and Margaret Blake
1740 Mar 24 David Preist and Susannah Blake
1751 Sep 24 William Blake (mariner) and Mary Adams
1754 Jul 11 John Deake (of Mynhead butcher) and Ann Blake of Mynhead by licence (witnesses: William Stoate, Robert Jons)
1774 May 11 Francis Blake (of Minehead, widower) and Elizabeth Bradley (of Minehead widow) licence with witnesses Thomas Squire and Susanna Blake
1777 May 23 Warren Samuel Hayman (of Minehead) and Ann Blake (of Minehead)( by licence) with witnesses Elizabeth Blake, Philip Bale, and Sarah Ann Cox.
1795 Dec 11 John Emra (Clerk of Holberton Devon) and Elizabeth Bastone Blake (of Minehead) by licence with witnesses Martha Brice and Worthington
1796 Dec 1 Joseph Rawle (of Minehead) and Elizabeth Blake (of Minehead) by licence with witnesses W Blake and C Rawle.
1810 Dec 1 Robert Blake (of Minehead) and Elizabeth Birchinsh (of Minehead) by licence with witnesses Murdoch Mackensie and Hannah Bastone.

Burials:

1562 Dec 18 John Blake
1562 Dec 29 Katherine Blake
1568 Sep 5 Alice Blake
1582 Mar 16 Agnes Blake
1596 Dec 23 Tamsyn Blacke
1596 Feb 16 George Blake
1598 Dec 21 John Blake
1604 Aug 2 John Blake son of John
1609 Mar 31 George Blake son of John
1611 Mar 29 John Blake
1611 Apr 4 Johane Blake
1611 Apr 4 John Blake
1681 Feb 2 Andrew Blake son of Robert
1682 Jun 8 William Blake son of William
1683 Apr 5 Elias Blake
1685 Jan 10 Michael Blake son of John
1686 Jul 12 Thomas Blake son of William
1687 Mar 6 George Blake (Captain)
1688 May 17 Mary Blake (widow)
1689 Mar 27 Robart Blake son of Robartt
1690 Jul 14 William Blake son of William (gent)
1690 Feb 22 Mary Blake daughter of John
1694 Jul 31 Elizabeth Blake daughter of Mr William
1695 Apr 7 John Blake
1697 May 11 Mary Blake daughter of William (gent)
1697 Aug 12 Susannah Blake daughter of William (gent)
1697 Feb 8 Elizabeth Blake daughter of William (gent)
1703 Dec 18 Sarah Blake daughter of Robert
1705 May 5 Francies Blake
1706 May 18 John Blake
1707 Feb 7 Arthur Blake (stranger)
1707 Feb 29 Ann Blake (widow)
1709 Apr 19 Frances Blake (widow)
1715 Dec 12 Christopher Blake son of Andrew
1719 Jul 9 William Blake son of William (esquire)
1721 Jul 16 Robert Blake son of Andrew
1722 Nov 27 Ann Blake wife of William (esquire)
1724 Jun 14 Ann Blake daughter of Margarett
1726 Apr 17 Elizabeth Blake daughter of Mychaell
1727 Jul 23 Elizabeth Blake daughter of Henry
1727 Aug 16 Ann Blake
1728 Sep 14 Robert Blake son of Andrew
1730 Sep 26 Robert Blake son of Mychael
1730 Dec 12 Susannah Blake wife of Andrew
1735 Nov 20 Ann Blake wife of Henry
1736 Jul 24 Alice Blake wife of Andrew
1737 Jan 7 John Blake son of Michael
1738 May 6 Ann Blake daughter of Henry
1739 May 19 Ann Blake
1739 May 20 Ann Blake (widow)
1740 Jul 26 Mrs. Sarah Blake
1742 Aug 21 Sarah Blake daughter of Thomas (esquire)
1742 Oct 16 Ann Blake daughter of Thomas (esquire)
1742 Jan 15 Henry Blake
1743Apr 8 Susannah Blake daughter of Andrew (junior)
1743 Dec 19 William Blake (esquire)
1746 Aug 26 Robert Blake son of Andrew (junior)
1749 Oct 26 Sarah Blake daughter of William (barberron)
1749 Nov 2 (no name) Blake daughter of William (barberron)
1749 Nov 19 Francis Blake son of William (barb)
1749 Mar 11 Ann Blake daughter of Andrew
1750 Sep 8 Thomas Blake (esquire)
1753 Mar 27 Mr Andrew Blake
1753 Jul 10 Mrs Mary Blake
1757 Jan 11 George Blake son of William
1759 Feb 19 William Blake son of William and Mary
1759 Mar 10 George Blake son of William
1760 Mar 18 William Blake son of William
1761 Jan 13 William Blake son of William
1761 Jun 13 Robert Blake son of William
1761 Jul 7 Frances Blake daughter of Andrew
1763 Feb 4 Elizabeth Blake daughter of Andrew and Ann
1765 Jan 8 Michael Blake
1765 Jun 8 Mary Blake daughter of Robert
1766 Aug 9 Mary Blake daughter of Robert
1766 Nov 27 Robert Blake
1768 Jun 27 Thomas Warrin Blake son of Francis
1771 Feb 26 Ann Blake
1772 Apr 16 Mr William Blake
1774 Dec 12 Francis Blake (infant)
1776 Dec 7 Isabella Blake
1783 Nov 1 Betty Blake
1785 Jul 2 Sarah Blake
1786 Feb 17 Mr. Andrew Blake
1790 May 25 Elizabeth Blake
1795 Jul 3 Ann Blake
1799 Jan 7 Anne Blake widow of Andrew
1799 Mar 7 Susannah Blake daughter of Andrew and Anne
1803 Apr 21 Francis Blake (widower)
1804 Jun 30 Robert Blake son of Andrew and Mary
1808 Jul 30 Thomas Blake (72 years old)
1809 Mar 27 Mary Blake (80 year old widow of William)
1814 Jan 25 Mary Blake widow of Robert (clothier) 80 years of age (burnt accidentally)
1814 Mar 26 Susanna Blake widow of Thomas, 86 years of age
1814 Mar 29 Robert Blake, surveyor of the Customs, 57 years of age
1825 Jun 4 Sarah Blake, 72 years of age
1827 Jul 31 Ann Blake 69 years of age

Putting families together would be rather interesting for Minehead. There are distinct lines of Blake there and I do not know if they are all related.

John Blake (and Margarett)
1605 Mar 11 George; buried 31 Mar 1609
1609 Jan 27 Thomas
1632 Jan 16 Johane
1635 Jan 21 John

John Blake (?buried 7 Apr 1695) and Ann (buried 29 Feb 1707)
1679 May 17 Mary; buried 22 Feb 1690
1680 Oct 30 John
1682 Sep 16 Henry
1683 Jul 29 Francis
1685 Sep 7 Michael; buried 10 Jan 1685
1686 Mar 12 Ann
1688 Mar 2 Elizabeth
1691 May 8 Michaell

Elias Blake (died 5 Apr 1683) and Joan

1679 Jul 31 James
1681 Oct 23 Elias

Robert Blake and Ann Teague married 12 Apr 1680

1680 Dec 14 Andrew; buried 2 Feb 1681
1683 Jun 23 Andrew
1685 Mar 23 Elizabeth
1688 Mar 21 Robartt; buried 27 Mar 1689
1690 Jun 26 Mary
1700 Aug 22 Sarah; buried 18 Dec 1703

Mr. William Blake (gent) (buried 19 Dec 1743) and Ann (buried 27 Nov 1722)

1682 May 16 William; buried 8 Jun 1682
1683 May 25 Thomas; buried 12 Jul 1686
1685 Sep 2 Samuell
1687 Jun 2 Thomas
1688 Nov 8 Sarah; buried 26 Jul 1740
1690 May 26 William; buried 14 Jul 1690
1691 Nov 2 Susana; buried 12 Aug 1697
1693 Nov 7 Elizabeth; buried 31 Jul 1694
1695 Mar 25 Elizabeth ; buried 8 Feb 1697
1696 May 28 Mary; buried 11 May 1697
1697 Nov 20 William; buried 9 Jul 1719

Mr. Andrew Blake (buried 27 Mar 1753) and Susanna (buried 12 Dec 1730)

1711 Jul 10 Christopher; buried 12 Dec 1715
1713 Dec 26 Andrew
1716 Mar 23 Susanna
1718 Feb 2 Robert; buried 16 Jul 1721
1722 Nov 24 Robert; buried 14 Sep 1728

Andrew Blake (widower) (buried 27 Mar 1753)

1735 Oct 2 Thomas; buried 30 Jul 1808

Henry Blake (buried 15 Jan 1742) and Ann Paine (buried 20 Nov 1735) married 26 Feb 1716

1717 Jan 17 Ann; buried 6 May 1738
1719 Aug 22 Issabella; buried 7 Dec 1776
1720 Oct 5 John
1726 Apr 26 Elizabeth; buried 23 Jul 1727

Robert Blake and Margarett Bowden married 15 Aug 1719

1720 Jun 7 William
1722 Oct 6 Ann

Mychaell Blake (buried 8 Jan 1765) and Mary Blake (buried 10 Jul 1753?) married 27 Dec 1720
1720 Nov 10 Sarah
1724 Apr 16 Elizabeth; buried 17 Apr 1726
1727 Jul 20 Robert; buried 26 Sep 1730
1732 May 6 Robert
1736 Jan 30 John; buried 7 Jan 1737

Mr. Thomas Blake (buried 8 Sep 1750)

1738 Oct 18 Ann; buried 16 Oct 1742
1740 Jul 22 Sarah; buried 21 Aug 1742
1748 Jul 10 William; buried 16 Apr 1772
1749 Dec 3 Elizabeth

Mr. Andrew Blake (junior) (buried 17 Feb 1786) and Ann (buried 7 Jan 1799)
1741 Jul 17 Francis; buried 21 Apr 1803
1742 Mar 22 Susannah; buried 8 Apr 1743
1744 May 29 Susanna; buried 7 Mar 1799
1745 Apr 19 Robert; buried 26 Aug 1746
1747 Jun 26 John
1749 Nov 25 Ann; buried 11 Mar 1749
1752 May 16 Sarah
1754 Apr 30 Andrew
1756 Nov 9 Robert; buried 29 Mar 1814 (surveyor of the customs)
1758 Mar 29 Ann
1760 May 27 Elizabeth; buried 4 Feb 1763
1761 Jul 7 Frances buried
William Blake (mariner) and Mary Adams (buried 27 Mar 1809) married 24 Sep 1751

1752 Aug 5 Ann
1754 Nov 19 William; buried 19 Feb 1759
1756 Jul 1 George; buried 11 Jan 1757
1758 Feb 18 George; buried 10 Mar 1759
1760 Mar 12 James
1761 Mar 7 Robert; buried 13 Jun 1761
1762 Jul 8 Sarah
1765 Mar 31 Thomas Adams

Francis Blake (buried 21 Apr 1803) and Ann Warrin?

1768 Jun 27 Thomas Warrin; buried 27 Jun 1768
1769 Oct 8 Elizabeth Bastone

Francis Blake (widower) (buried 21 Apr 1803) and Elizabeth Bradley married 11 May 1774
1774 Nov 13 Francis; buried 12 Dec 1774

Austain Blake and Mary

1791 Jan 20 Elizabeth

Looking at the station in life it would appear that Mr. William Blake (married to Ann) is the father of Mr. Thomas Blake linking those two generations.

John Blake (second from the top) is the father of Michael (with brothers Henry and Francis) and perhaps Mary Blake daughter of Robert is Michael’s wife. That Mary is a sister to Mr. Andrew linking those families if that is correct.

The two Andrew Blakes are likely father and son. Andrew, testator of this will, mentions his sons Andrew and Thomas and his daughter Susanna.

Is it possible that John (top of the list) is the grandfather of John, William and Robert (their father perhaps John) and then the children that follow belong to these three men. Dunster is very very close to Minehead and baptizing their children at Minehead could have simply been easier for whatever reason. The marriages are missing though and I must have a look at Dunster parish registers one of these days.

It is possible that the testator has been married three times with the mother of Thomas being his second wife (unnamed).

William Blake (mariner) does not appear to fit into these family lines. The link back from the later Francis is unknown. Matching these records with Dunster might answer some of those questions including the husband of Alice Blake at Dunster. Alice mentions her sons Andrew and William. Andrew Blake, butcher at Dunster, mentions his brother William and his son Robert and an unborn child at the time of his death in 1656. Robert married in 1680 to Ann Teague is the likely son of that Andrew and hence a grandson of Alice.

The land holding at Marsh (near Dunster) is mentioned in these three wills.

For all this discussion I do not know this Blake line prior to Alice Blake widow of Dunster whose will was probated in 1654. Finding the name of her husband would be extremely helpful.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 23 Sep 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/802/173
Testator: Andrew Blake, Merchant
Place: Minehead, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 4 Nov 1752, probated 2 Jun 1753
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

 [Margin]: Andrew Blake

1    In the name of God Amen
2    I Andrew Blake of Minehead in the County of Somerset
3    Merchant being weak of Body but of a sound mind
4    memory and understanding (praised be Almighty God for
5    the same) do make and ordain this my last Will and
6    Testament in manner and form following (that is to say)
7    First I recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty
8    God who gave it me and my body I commit to the Earth
9    in hopes of a joyful Resurrection to life Eternal and as for
10    such worldly substance as God hath been pleased to
11    bestow upon me I give devise and bequeath the same
12    as follows First I give and bequeath unto my son
13    Thomas Blake all those Closes or pieces of Ground
14    commonly called or known by the names of the Hay
15    Marshes Staunton Fields and the Hawkes situate lying
16    and being within the parish of Dunster for and during
17    all my Right Title and Interest therein or thereto he
18    paying unto the Lord in Fee thereof all such High Rent
19    and herriots as shall become due for the same Also I
20    give devise and bequeath unto my son Thomas Blake
21    and to his heirs forever the fee simple and inheritance
22    of two Closes or pieces of Ground lying by Landshear
23    within the said parish of Dunster and now rented of me
24    by one Robert Escott of the same place Innholder also
25    I give and bequeath unto my said son Thomas Blake
26    all my right and interest in such Ships part and shares
27    in Ships together with the Stocks Riging Implements
28    and Utensils belonging to such Ships parts and shares of Ships
    [Page 2]
29    which I shall be possessed off concerned or interested in or any
30    wise intitled unto at the time of my decease by whatsoever name
31    or names such Ships part and shares of ships shall be then called
32    or known by Also I give and bequeath unto my said son
33    Thomas Blake all the silver Plate which were his mothers or
34    that did belong unto her in her life time (one silver porringer
35    and two silver spoons hereinafter mentioned and particularly
36    described only excepted) also I give unto my said son Thomas
37    Blake the moiety or half part of all my household Goods
38    furniture and implements and utensils of household which I
39    shall be any ways possessed of interested in or intitled unto
40    at the time of my death provid always nevertheless that if
41    my said son Thomas Blake shall happen to depart this
42    life before he shall arrive or attain to his said age of twenty
43    two years that then and in such case I give devise and
44    bequeath (from the time of his death) all the aforesaid Closes
45    or pieces of Ground called by the names of the Hay Marshes
46    Staunton Fields and the Hawkes The said two Closes or pieces
47    of Ground lying by LandShare within the said parish of
48    Dunster together with all my right and interest in ships
49    and shares in Ships with the Stock and Riging to the same
50    belonging and also all the silver plate which was my said
51    son Thomases mothers and also the said moiety or half part
52    of all my household Goods and Furniture unto my beloved
53    wife Ann Blake her heirs Executors Administrators or
54    assigns forever and I do hereby order and direct that the
55    two Trustees herein after named do receive and take all
56    the rents and profits of my said Estates and all sum and
57    sums of money that shall or may become due from any
58    of the Ships of share in Ships so by me before given unto
59    my said son Thomas Blake until he shall attain the said
60    age of twenty two years as aforesaid and that they do
61    put and place out all such moneys by them received at
62    Interest to and for the use of my said son Thomas Blake
63    allowing him a competent maintenance as they in their
64    discretion shall see convenient Also I give and bequeath
65    unto my said wife Ann Blake all that my Messuage
66    Tenement or Estate called or known by the name of Silli_am
67    situate lying and being within the said parish of Minehead
68    for and during all my Right Title and Interest therein or
69    thereto Also I give unto her my said wife one silver porringer
70    and two silver spoons marked A:B:P:P:20:Ls:W:S: and
71    I also give unto my said wife the other moiety or half part
72    of all my said household Goods Furniture Implements
73    and Utensils of household all which said household goods
74    furniture implements and utensils my Will is and I do
75    hereby order and direct to be equally divided by and
76    between them my said son Thomas and my said Wife
77    share and share alike at such time as he shall attain his
78    said age of twenty two years and my Will further is
79    and I do hereby order and direct that my said wife shall
80    have the use of all and singular my said household Goods
    [Page 3]
81    silver plate furniture Implements and utensils of household
82    from the time of my decease until my said son Thomas
83    shall attain the age of twenty two years as aforesaid any
84    ghing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding Also
85    I give devise and bequeath unto my son Andrew Blake
86    and to his heirs forever all my messuages or dwelling
87    houses in Dunster aforesaid Also I give unto my daughter
88    Susannah Price one Guinea to buy her a mourning Ring
89    in Remembrance of me and I do hereby nominate and
90    appoint request and desire authorize and impower my
91    Friend Mr Thomas Leigh of Dunster and my dearly beloved
92    wife Ann Blake to be Trustees and Guardians for my said
93    son Thomas Blake until he shall attain his said age of
94    twenty two years and Lastly all the rest residue and
95    femainder of my Goods Chattels Lands Tenements personal
96    and Testamentary Estate and Effects whatsoever not herein
97    before by me given devised or bequeath I give devise
98    and bequeath unto my said dearly beloved wife Ann
99    Blake who I do hereby make constitute nominate ordain
100    and appoint whole and sole Executrix and Residuary Legatee
101    of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I
102    the said Andrew Blake the testator have to this my last
103    Will and Testament set my hand and Seal the fourth day
104    of November one Thousand seven hundred and fifty two
105    And[re]w Blake Signed sealed published and declared by the
106    said Testator Andrew Blake for and as his last Will and
107    Testament in the presence of us who at his request have
108    subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto in his presence
109    and in the presence of each other Thomas Eames Tristram
110    Trewly Arthur Matthews
111    This Will was proved at London on the second
112    day of June in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven
113    hundred and fifty three before the Right honourable Sir
114    George Lee Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or
115    Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
116    constituted by the Oath of Ann Blake widow the Relict of
117    the deceased and the sole Executrix named in the said Will
118    to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the
119    Goods chattels and Credits of the said deceased being first sworn
120    by Commission duly to administer

Will of Robert Pincombe of Bampton Devon dated 21 Mar 1702 - PROB 11/476 - Image Reference 302/274

The will of Robert Pincombe of Bampton Devon has been in my cache of Pincombe wills for several years. In his will he mentions his wife Sarah (no children and the will implies a short marriage) and his four sisters whom he names executors but does not actually name them. In the probate three of the sisters are named as executors - Elizabeth Pincombe, Maria Pincombe and Joanna Pincombe. He is likely the Robert Pincombe who married Sarah Pearse 25 Sep 1701 at Oakford Devon. Oakford is 3 miles southwest of Bampton. This also places it in close proximity to Washfield, East Anstey, Rackenford and just a little further away from  Knowstone, Molland, Rose Ash, Bishops Nympton - hence not far from North/South Molton (13 miles).

From the earlier researchers the parents of this Robert were named John Pincombe and Elizabeth Graddon who had married 9 Feb 1640 at Roborough by Torrington Devon. This John is also a son of Richard Pincombe (my ancestor) but from his second marriage to Francis Gill. John and Elizabeth Pincombe lived at Bishops Nympton and had seven children baptized at Bishops Nympton which included Johan (21 Jan 1648), John (13 Mar 1650 - 13 Dec 1673), Elizabeth (22 Apr 1655), Frances (20 Nov 1657 - 27 Oct 1658), Emotte (31 Sep 1662 - 2 Nov 1692), Grace (died 27 Apr 1670 - no baptism found), and Robert (5 Aug 1668 - died after 25 Mar 1702 and before 31 May 1704). Robert would have been 33 years old when he married. He was the only remaining son in this line John having died unmarried in 1673. I have not found any marriages for his sisters and at the time of his death two of these sisters are still living but no Maria. I have transcribed Bishops Nympton Registers and decided to do a recheck just to see if I had missed one child of this family. In that I did not have a baptism for Grace, another two sisters are a possibility with one of them dying before 1702. Certainly he does have sisters Johan and Elizabeth. Looking at the land records for Bampton may assist with this linking back. The material on the John Pincombe and Elizabeth Graddon family does come from the earlier researcher with my verifying the children using the Parish Registers.

John Pincombe does not appear to have left a will at Bishops Nympton and I am curious why his son would be at Bampton. When the opportunity arises I will search out the land records for Bampton.

The transcription of the will for Robert Pincombe at Bampton follows:

Recorded: 16 October 2011
Source: The National Archives, London, UK, PROB 11/476 - Image Reference 302/274
Place: Bampton, Devon, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 25 Mar 1702  (probated 31 May 1704)
Condition: fairly clear, light, old English writing
[in margin] [Testato]r Rob[er]ti Pincombe

1 In the Name of God Amen
2 the five and twentieth day of March Anno dom[in]i one thousand
3 seaven hundred and two I Robert Pincomb of the parish of
4 Bampton in the County of Devon yeoman being sick and weake
5 of body but of sound and perfect memory (praise be given to Almighty
6 God for the same) and knowing the uncertainty of this life on Earth
7 and being desireous to settle things in order doe make this my last
8 Will and Testament in manner and forme following: that is to
9 say first and principally I commend my soul to Almighty God
10 my Creator and Redeemer assuredly believing that I shall
11 receive full pardon and free remission of all my sins and be saved
12 by the precious death and merits of my Blessed Saviour and
13 Redeemer Christ Jesus and my body to the earth from whence
14 it was taken to be buried in such decent and Christian manner
15 as to my Executors hereafter named shall be thought meet and
16 convenient and as touching such worldly goods and Estate as
17 the Lord in mercy hath lent me my Will and meaning is
18 that the same shall be employed and bestowed as hereafter by
19 this my Will is expressed and first I doe revoke renounce frustrate
20 and make void all wills by me formerly had or made and declare
21 and appoint this my last Will and Testament Item I give
22 unto the poor of the parish of Brishford Twenty shillings to
23 remaine to their use for ever. Item I give unto Edward Crudge John
24 Heffers Mary Bryant one shilling apeice to be paid within one
25 month after my decease Item I give unto Richard Budd and
26 Dorothy Toute one shilling apeice to be paid within one month
27 after my decease Item I give unto Sarah Pincombe my wife all
28 the money Bills Bonds Morgages and all other things which did
29 of right belong to her before marriage alsoe I give unto her the sum
30 of five pounds to be paid within Twelve months after my decease
31 and what Bonds or Bill have bin taken in my name for her mony
32 since marriage I also give unto her All the rest of my Estate goods
33 chattles lands and Tenements whatsoever which do now of right
34 belong to me or which shall hereafter belong to me I give and
35 bequeath unto my four sisters to be equally divided betweene
36 them whom I doe make whole and sole Executors of this my last
37 Will and Testament utterly revokeing all other wills by me
38 ever had or made and Lastly I do nominate and appoint my
39 Unckle Davied Bedow to be a Ruler in Trust to see this my
40 last Will truly performed Robert Pincombe [signed] Sealed Signed
41 and Published in the presence of Rob[er]t Norris John Gardner
42 W[illia]m Hugars

I do not know yet how he is related to Davied Bedow whom he names as Uncle. His father's sister Kathern Pincombe married John Eame 1 May 1630 at Bishops Nympton and his father's second sister Mary married John Sanders 7 Jul 1634 at Bishops Nympton. His mother Elizabeth Graddon's parents are not yet known to me and possibly one of her sister's married into the Bedow family. In that I am mostly interested in the Pincombe family, I would do this collateral line to verify that Robert Pincombe who left a will at Bampton was the son of John Pincombe and Elizabeth Graddon (just to remind myself of that in the future!). But I will not be doing that anytime soon unfortunately. Robert must, for a while, remain unproven for his line of descent although it is certainly interesting how well this does fit in to the existing information including the earlier study which has been both right and wrong with some of the lines traced.

His remembering the parish of Brishford is rather interesting. Is this likely Brushford which is nine miles from Roborough?  I need to check this area out to see where the Graddon family lived as John Pincombe and Elizabeth Graddon were married at Roborough by Torrington. But again it is within a ten mile radius of where many Pincombe families lived also. But I wonder if the parish itself will answer a few questions and will investigate that later.

If he is indeed descended from John Pincombe and Elizabeth Graddon then he would be my half first cousin 9 times removed. Interesting all the relationships that ensue from the study of genealogy.

I continue with my charting of the Blake family marriages through the 110 years from 1841 to 1950 and I have now completed slightly more than 25% of the Registration Districts. Next project will be the births (and burials) to relate them to the marriages whereever possible. Then I can start to move backwards in time.

As well I am back to entering our library into Library Thing. With nearly 3000 items entered I am unbelievably about to start entering the larger portion now. But it does include as well as books all of our VHS tapes, DVDs, music CDs and my genealogy CDs and fiche. I still have all of my husband's genealogy material to enter and that is huge and where I am at now. I am trying for one bookshelf a day and there are about 20 bookcases (mostly six shelf) to enter still. I would like to accomplish the entry of all material by the spring so will have to try to keep at my shelf a day as it works into our schedule. There are days when I am completely distracted by genealogy and I fail to accomplish the other items that need doing.


Who would have ever thought I could become so distracted by genealogy? It has been an interesting journey these last eight years now since I first took on the Pincombe Family Profile for George DeKay (my fourth cousin) who was chairing the project for the Delaware-Westminster History Books now published. I have met an incredible number of third and fourth cousins who probably see me as this extremely distant relative whereas they are my closest kin aside from my own personal family (both married and childhood). It is interesting how one ends up viewing genealogy.