Will of Michael Blake, husbandman, Rockford, Ellingham, Hampshire - Hampshire Record Office - 1593B-08, probated 23 Sep 1593

Michael Blake, the testator, is a husbandman at Rockford in Ellingham and he mentions only his daughter Margaret and his wife Margery. Is he the father of Michaell Blake who leaves his will in 1659 already blogged:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/01/will-of-michael-blake-yeoman-rockford.html

A very interesting will with the inventory attached. I obtained this copy from Family Search and the specifications for obtaining this copy are: Film number - 186725, Call number - E-859, Type of Record - Will, Date - 25 Sep 1593, Name - Michael Blake, Location - Rockford, Ellingham, Hampshire, England and Number on Film - 70. Thank you very much to Family Search for providing this service.

Checking British History on line for Rockford in Ellingham does not add any information to this Blake family other than that he must have been a tenant farmer. In the writing of the will the year is named as 1593 although most parts of Britain were still using the Julian Calendar but he is living close to the coast and the large port at Christ Church.


The probate still needs some work and I will return to it as my Latin improves.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 12 Jan 2014
Source: Hampshire Record Office – 1593B-08
Testator: Michael Blake, husbandman
Place: Rockford, Ellingham, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 8 Mar 1593, probated 23 Sep 1593
Condition: 16th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: 1593B-08

1    In the name of God Amen the viij th daye of March in the 
2    yere of our Lord god One Thowsand five hundred Fower score
3    and Thirteene I Michaell Blake of Rockford in the p[ar]ishe of
4    Elingham in the countye of South[ampton] husbandman beying
5    sick in boddye but thankes be to god perfect in mynd and
6    memorye doe make this my last will and Testament in
7    manner and Forme Following First I bequeath my soule into
8    thandes of All mightie god my maker and redeemer and my
9    boddye to be buryed in the p[ar]ishe church yard of Elingham
10    It[e]m I gyve and bequeath unto my daughter Margarett one
11    heifer of Three yeres of Age da the residewe of my goods
12    and cattells astoeth moveable as unmovable I gyve unto
13    Margery my wyfe whome I make my whole Executor of this
14    my last will and Testament Witnesses hereunto Phillipp
15    Hyde Henry Dymock and Stephen Wyseman
16    Probatum fuit testa[ment]um suprascriptum
17    in tei pema ______ William
18    Say ar[ch]tarij _______ etc xxxij th dit
19    Septembrej Anno domini 1593 _____
20    juris domi bonop etc Margerie Blake relicta
21    et Executrix reli nominat etc de
22    bene etc ______ etc meap
23    __________ iure administrand
24    _____________
25    She____ vol fina
26    de Ellingham etc ipo
    [Page 2]
27    1593
28    Michael Blake
29    rei etc CCiiige
    [Page 3]
30    The Inventory of all the goods and cattells of
31    Michaell Blake late of Rockford in the county
32    of South deceased praysed and valued the
33    xiij th daye of Aprill in the xxxv th yere of
34    the raigne of our Soveraigne Lady Elizabeth
35    by the grace of god Queene of England
36    Fraunce and Ireland defender of the faithe
37    etc By Phillipp Hyde of Rockford
38    aforesaid yeoman Henry Dymock
39    of Rockford aforesaid yeoman and
40    Stephen Wiseman of the same place
41    husbandman
43    It[e]m Two kyen and Fower boollocke             v li x s
44    It[e]m Two horses                                    xx s
45    It[e]m iiij sheepe and iij Lambes                    xvi s
46    It[e]m iij pyggs                                     x s
47    It[e]m a cart a Bull and ij eylhes                   x s
48    It[e]m five Acres of whete                           xxxiij s iiij d
49    It[e]m Two coverlets A peir of shetes                vj s viij d
50    a Blankett and a Boulster
51    It[e]m ij Beddsteedes and ij cofers                  iij s iiij d
52    It[e]m one bord w[i]th all other Tree              iij s iiij d
53    vessel about the house
54    It[e]m a brasse pott a brasse kyttle                        xij d
55    iij platters iij sawcers A peir of
56    cottrells and a broch
57    It[e]m A sweerd dagger and a halberd                 v s
58    It[e]m iij hennes and A cock                                xij d
59    It[e]m all his weyring apparel                       vj s viij d
60    S[u]m total                                    xi li vj s viiij d iiij d

Will of Michael Blake, Yeoman, Rockford, Ellingham, Hampshire - The National Archives PROB 11/299/430, probated 19 Jul 1660

This Blake family at Ellingham is somewhat of a mystery. Ellingham is 18 miles west of Southampton. Michael Blake, testator, was buried 5 Apr 1659 at Ellingham. There is another will for Michael Blake of Ellingham which was probated in the Winchester Court in 1593. Since Michael, in the will below, mentions that he is ancient than he is perhaps the son of this Michael whose will was probated in 1593 although he does not mention him by name only his daughters. But given that property was often entailed and there wasn’t a need to mention a single son inheriting than that could be the reason.

The farm house at Rockford is a Grade II building dated 17th century and thus could be the home of Michael Blake in 1659 when he died. Look at the aerial view.

http://gohistoric.com/places/rockford-farmhouse-ellingham-harbridge-ibsley

A search of the catalogue at the Hampshire Record Office did reveal an inventory for a William Blake of Ellingham in 1702 which I might look at some time but no will listed.

Ellingham is 1.7 miles from Ringwood, 9 miles from Downton, Wiltshire, 15 miles from Laverstock and Ford, Wiltshire, and 17 miles from South Newton, Wiltshire.

The present testator identifies his wife as Avis, his son as Thomas, his daughters as Sarah and Avis Sanders and his grandchildren as Michael Russel and Michael Blake.

The next will is for the likely father of Michael Blake the present testator.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 11 Jan 2014
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/299/430
Testator: Michael Blake, Yeoman
Place: Rockford, Ellingham, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 1 Apr 1659, probated 19 Jul 1660
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Michael
[Margin]: Blake

1    In the name of God Amen The first day of April in the
2    yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred Fifty  nine I Michaell Blake
3    of Rockford in the parish of Ellingham and county of South[amp]ton Yeoman anc-
4    jent in body but thancks bee to God of perfect memorie doe make and ordaine this
5    my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following first and principally
6    I give and bequeath my soule into the hands of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ
7    my onely Creator and Redeemer and my body to bee buried in the yard of the parish
8    Church of Ellingham Item I doe give unto my wife my Lease at Gorley in the
9    parish of Ibsley Iteme, I doe give unto my daughter Sarah the house and orchard thereof
10    of the stand in the wood thereof dureing the terme of ye Lease And I doe give unto
11    my daughter Sarah forty pounds to bee paid unto her two yeares after my decease
12    Item I doe give unto my daughter Avis Sanders widow tenne poundes Item I doe
13    give unto my grandchild Michaell Rusell tenne poundes Item I doe give unto my
14    grandchild Michaell Blake five poundes Item I doe give unto my sonne Thomas
15    Blake two table boards ands cupboard and chest after my wife’s decease And the rest
16    of all my household goods I doe give unto my two daughters after my wife’s decease to
17    bee equally within dores divided betweene them fairlie And I doe make Avis my wife my sole
18    Executrix of all the rest of my goods and Chattells and monies of this my last Will
19    and Testament Michaell Blake his marke Signed Sealed in the presence of us
20    Katherine Coles Thomas Hide
21    This will was proved at London the nineteenth day of July in the yeare of
22    of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and sixty Before his Right H[on]orable
23    William Mericke doct of Lawes Master Keeper or Comissary of the Prerogative
24    Court of Cant lawfully Constituted by the oath of Avis Blake the Relict of the
25    said deceased, sole Executrix named in the said Will To whome Admon of all
26    and singular the goods chattels and debts of the said deced was graunted She being
27    First by commission sworne truly to Administer the same according to the tenore and
28    effect of the said Will