Will of Agnes Blake, Charleton, Hampshire, England - 4 Apr 1617 and probated 5 May 1617

 This will was quite interesting. There is an inventory which I decided not to transcribe as it would not add anything to my research. But the Probatum revealed that her husband’s name was Robert and he was of Andover. So well worth the time and effort.

I should be able to place her and her relationship to the Thurman family would be anticipated with Robert Blake of Andover being her husband. Her maiden name is now known (Garle) as she identified John Garle of Chute as her brother. Sometimes a will can be a surprise as I did not expect to find anything helpful for the Andover Blake family with an Agnes Blake of Charlton widow’s will.

I may have to rethink these wills for the Diocesan Court - they will provide useful information for sure but the idea of publishing them with a Creative Commons License may disappear since the first one I am already not doing the Inventory as it does not provide any useful material and will take me a bit of time to transcribe it. I will add them to the Blake material held by the Guild of One Name Studies for sure as an electronic book. 

So a good beginning on this work and I shall try to do a few a week. It is awhile since I transcribed any wills. I need to put my efforts to the grindstone and just work away at this and not get distracted. A lovely walk up to the store today but the sidewalks are really very busy; much easier to go when I usually go when school is in and people are working. 

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 6 May 2025
Source: Hampshire Record Office 62475_3730550019_4556-00000
Testator: Agnes Blake
Place: Charlton, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 4 Apr 1617, probated

[Wrapper]:

1    Memorand[um] that about the fowerth daie of Aprill
2    in the yere of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and
3    seventeene Agnes Blake of Charllton in the parish of Andever
4    in the countie of South[ampton] widowe beinge of p[er]fect memorie thanks
5    be to God did declare her last Will and Testament nuncupative
6    in manner and forme as followeth First shee bequeathed her
7    soule in the hands of the almightie and her bodie to Christian
8    buriall Item shee gave unto her brother John Garle of
9    Chute five shillings I[e]tm shee gave unto William Sweataple
10    her godsonne a brasse pan a candlestick and a chest I[e]tm
11    shee gave unto Murqerie Thurman her
12    little brasse pann It[e]m shee gave unto Agnes Drue her
13    god daughter the bed w[hi]ch shee laye upon w[i]th the furniture
14    upon yt Item shee gave unto five poore weomen viz[a vi]t
15    Margaret Framich widowe Sibill Carick Mary Rutt widowes
16    Johane Sam and Agnes Thurman widowe for their paines
17    vj d a peece Item more unto shee gave more unto Johane Sam her Russet
18    gowne It[e]m more unto Marie Rutt her old peticote It[e]m shee
18    gave unto Margaret Swetaple her best kercheife her
19    best partlett and her hollan aperon It[e]m shee gave unto
20    Marie Foster a hollan partlett and a lokrom aperon It[e]m
21    shee gave unto Johane Drue a hollan p[ar]tlett and her best gowne
22    and her best hatt It[e]m shee gave unto Johane Foster a
23    p[ar]tlett w[i]th cutt worck strippes It[e]m shee gave unto Jane
24    Foster a greene lace aperon It[e]m shee gave unto Gillian
25    Drue her best petticote and a lynsey wolsey wascote The
26    rest of all her goods she gave unto Robert Drue to have
27    all and paie all
28    Declared and pronounced
29    In the p[re]sence of
30    William X (his mark) Sweataple  Aliced Foster (signed mark)
31    Johanne Foster (signed mark)
32    Margaret Framich (signed mark)
33    Sibill  X (her mark) Carrick
34    Probatum fuit h[uius]modi test[ament]um noncupative in cor[am] forma prob[atum]
35    Rasphum Barlow Archim Archinatus Winton 5 die
36    Maij Anno d[omi]n[o] 1617 Commissa [etc] fuit admi[nistraci]o bonor[um] omniu[m] e[tc]
37    dic[ti] de fuit Robto Drue iurat etc sonal__ saluoau_d
38    _______________
39    Roberto Drue Supradict[us] ________
40    _______ Rob[er]tus de Andever husband:
41    de Petrus Payne de ____ ____
43    Yeoman
44    Wrapper
45    1617
46    Agnes Blake viz [a vi]t
47    de Andever
48    de Charleton
49    5 die Maij 1617
50    An Inventorie of the goods and chattels of
51    Agnes Blake of Charleton widowe deceased taken by us
52    Edward Thurman of Charleton aforesaid gent, Willm Sweatyaple
53    of the same yeoman and Richard Twyne of the same yeoman
54    the second day of may in the xv th yeare of the raigne of
55    ye Sov[er]aigne Lord James by the grace of god King of England
56    France and Ireland defende[r] of ye fayth etc and of
57    Scotland the fiftieth
58    In the chamb[er]
59    etc (the inventory is in good shape but I will not transcribe it)

Time marches onward and progress on the Siderfin book

 Yesterday was devoted heavily to working on the Siderfin Book. I have more or less completed the third generation with a few loose ends I am still working on. It had a major stumbling block as James Sanders had Robert Siderfin (son of William Sidervin and Wilmot Foster) dying in 1612 but there is a will in 1627 for a Robert Siderfin naming his children and sister's child. There isn't a will in 1612 for a Robert Siderfin. His age in 1627 would be estimated at 87 which was a very long lived life at that time. The estimated 1540 year of birth was based on his parent's likely marriage in 1534-5 given the indenture that was created as the marriage portion for Wilmot (Foster) Siderfin by her father John Foster and Robert appears on the Muster Roll of 1569 although he could have been as young as 16 perhaps so that year of birth could be 1540 to 1544 which would then give him an estimated age at death of 83. The baptisms of his children begin in the 1580s which has him as rather older when his children were born and has been a challenge in my thoughts but there isn't an inkling of the maiden surname of his wife Christian or their date of marriage. The will of 1627 names his children and grandchildren as well as the child of his sister (except for a Mary/Marie mentioned in the will as a daughter but one child Elizabeth is missing from the will and she married James Nurcombe 30 Sep 1616 at Luxborough and has a death date of 1668 on Sander's Pedigree Chart. He does mention his granddaughter Johanne Couch (daughter Christian married William Couch 3 Jun 1616 at Luxborough). The records are definitely thin on the ground in this time period and the parish registers for Luxborough in the 1500s have been "eaten" making them rather difficult to read but the name Siderfin does rather stand out where it exists fortunately. 

Today I continue with the Third Generation and hopefully moving onto the Fourth Generation. The size of Robert's family makes this a rapidly expanding family and I will do the Fourth Generation as four separate charts - namely one for each of the three sons leaving a large family - namely William, Robert and Thomas - and one for the overall family including the daughters of Robert. I have not done the task of working the table down for the daughters as being a one-namer the second that one changes their surname I may or may not record the first generation although generally I do not but in this case I will attempt to bring the line down a couple of generations if that is possible (in this case there is the Couch family, the Nurcombe family and perhaps one other as I have not discovered if the youngest daughter Jane married - she is mentioned in the will regarding her marriage portion). Mary remains a bit of an enigma since there is a Mary in the will but not an Elizabeth! Mary Elizabeth would have been a common name as the female children were often given the name Mary along with another forename and the boys were often given Joseph along with another surname but not perhaps as often as the forename Mary is given. We are now into the times of Queen Elizabeth when the Anglican Church was becoming more prominent in England with Elizabeth as Supreme Governor (Queen Mary returned the Church of England to its former position as part of the Church of Rome and the Pope as Head of the Church). 

I will do some shifting of text so that all of the text dealing with the Second Generation is part of that section. There is still more text to go through in the Third Generation portion. When I first read "The Siderfin Family of West Somerset" book by James Sanders I was quite pleased with all the material but I can see where my changes will make it more readable and less of an historical tome of events in the Siderfin Family brought together with subtitles of the most eventful happenings in the Family over a period of three hundred years. 

Reading the news today and once again are the Nazis Putin and his enablers going to be able to hold the world ransom so that it can steal Ukraine? The threat of nuclear war has forever been bandied about over the seventy seven years of  my life. We will probably need nuclear weapons in our future if only to move asteroids out of the way of the planet but threatening us constantly with global annihilation is just a childish two year old way of saying I want it and if I can not have it then I will destroy everything. Russia, as a country, has a unique and beautiful history over the thousands of years of its existence. Too bad that the psychopathic Nazis Putin and his enablers have a goal that is untenable in the modern world. We can not let brutes run our world; we all lose because today it is Ukraine but what is it tomorrow? Give Ukraine the equipment that it needs to push the Russians back to the borders established at the end of the Soviet Union. No one asked the Soviet Union to wage wars that caused its bankruptcy and the break up of the Soviet Union. Millions of people were freed from enslavement behind an Iron Curtain when the Soviet Union collapsed; this war will come if Russia does not get out of Ukraine - they can not unilaterally hold an illegal referendum without the United Nations being part of it to declare it a free election and then claim that land as part of Russia. Armageddon looms again and the way to God is through Jesus and the path is through the New Commandments not some wishy washy statements made by a corrupt Rasputin like Patriarch Kirill. If he cared about the Russian Orthodox Church and the millions of adherents in Russia he would support Ukraine's right to be free. But it is all about power and money and his own glory and so he treats the Russians like serfs and tells them lies to get them to go to war against their blood; their cousins and neighbours. We must not lose the beauty of the words that Christ brought to us. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. The second is like onto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; There is none other commandment greater than these. One of the great mysteries of the Russian Orthodox Church is their belief that one faithful person with one icon can rebuild the sacred Russian Orthodox Church which has its roots deep in the Christianity created by Christ Himself. There can be wicked people Russia - remember Rasputin - support Ukraine not the Nazis Putin and his enablers who have taken over your government. Russia belongs to the Russian people not the Nazis Putin and his enablers.

Newfoundland and Dorset/Devon

My siblings and myself (5 in total thus far) have quite a few matches with people whose families emigrated to Newfoundland in the past 300 years from Dorset and Devon. Some of these matches end up looking like 2nd to 4th cousin but in reality are more distant than that since I can not match them up with my known lines. As it turns out, I know my lines in Dorset and Devon back at least to my 4x and 5x great grandparents and further in quite a few of these lines.

Some of these surnames Butt, Jeanes and others are showing up on a regular basis. The Butt line I find especially interesting as a Butt researcher (research below attributed to this researcher for the most part) has traced our mutual lines back to Robert Butt who married Susan Cantrell (baptized 18 Aug 1585 at Winterborne Stickland) 13 Apr 1607 at Winterbourne Stickland, Dorset. This couple baptized eight children at Winterborne Stickland or other as mentioned below:

William Butt baptized Sep 1610
Jane Butt baptized 17 Dec 1611
Francis Butt baptized 27 Feb 1613 and buried 13 June 1623 at Winterborne Stickland
Robert Butt baptized 22 Sep 1616
Simon Butt baptized 27 Jun 1619
Thomas Butt baptized 31 Mar 1622 at Winterborne Houghton
John Butt baptized 28 Nov 1624
Francis Butt baptized 18 Feb 1626

Thomas Butt appears to be my ancestor and he married Elizabeth (unknown). Thomas was buried 16 Jun 1668 at Winterborne Stickland and his wife was buried 15 May 1687 at Winterborne Stickland. They baptized two sons at Winterborne Stickland:

William baptized 24 Aug 1665
Thomas baptized 10 Dec 1667

William, my likely ancestor, married Elizabeth Lemon 27 Jul 1696 at Winterborne Houghton and they baptized five children at Winterborne Houghton:

William Butt baptized 28 May 1697
Mary Butt baptized 15 Nov 1700
Elizabeth Butt baptized 3 Jun 1702 and buried 3 Jun 1702 at Winterborne Houghton
Thomas Butt baptized 5 Nov 1704 and buried 6 Nov 1704 at Winterborne Houghton
 John Butt baptized 14 Apr 1707

My likely ancestor William married Susanna Foster (baptized 10 Dec 1696 at Winterborne Stickland) 31 Jan 1729 at Winterborne Stickland. William Butt was buried 29 Jun 1774 at Winterborne Stickland and Susanna (Foster) Butt was buried 17 Feb 1775 at Winterborne Stickland. They baptized five children at Winterborne Stickland:

Robert Butt baptized 15 Feb 1731 and buried 3 Mar 1731 at Winterborne Stickland
William Butt baptized 6 Jan 1732
Susanna Butt baptized 6 Sep 1734
John Butt baptized 6 May 1736
Martha Butt baptized 16 Jun 1738

My likely ancestor John Butt married Mary Rolles (baptized 15 Apr 1740 at Wimbourne Minster) 9 Aug 1762 at Winterborne Clenstone. John Butt was buried 6 Jan 1820 at Winterborne Stickland and Mary (Rolles) Butt was buried 4 Mar 1811 at Winterborne Stickland. They baptized six children at Winterborne Stickland or other as mentioned below:

Sarah Butt baptized 19 Nov 1765
Joseph Butt baptized 24 Jun 1766
John Butt was baptized 11 Dec 1771 and buried 15 Sep 1772 at Winterborne Stickland
John Butt baptized 10 May 1776 at Winterborne Clenstone
Deborah Butt baptized 8 Jun 1783
William Butt baptized 18 Nov 1786

At this point my research is added into the research of this earlier researcher (and indeed I have verified all the dates above in the records now available online). My ancestor John Butt (baptized 10 May 1776) married Jean O'Ford (baptized 27 Jun 1773 at Milton Abbas) 14 Oct 1800 at Winterborne Stickland. John Butt was buried 6 Jan 1850 at Winterborne Stickland and Jean (O'Ford) Butt was buried 3 Feb 1848 at Winterborne Stickland. They baptized seven children at Winterborne Stickland or other as noted below:

Charles Butt baptized 25 Dec 1801
George Butt baptized 16 Oct 1803
Joseph Butt baptized 11 Aug 1805 at Winterborne Clenstone
Robert Butt baptism not located
Maria Butt baptized 18 Feb 1810 at Winterborne Clenstone
Bethaniah Butt baptized 5 Apr 1811 and buried 26 Nov 1811 at Winterborne Stickland
Stephen Butt baptized 12 Oct 1815

All of the lines of these siblings have been traced down by me mostly well into the 1900s thus leading me to deduce that the Butt family which we (my siblings and I) match in Newfoundland must be descended from the earlier branches of this family.

The Winterborne villages in Dorset all lie within a few kilometres of each other. It is a very quiet beautiful piece of Dorset and when we visited there was a low hanging haze over the valley looking down from the Church of St Nicholas at Winterborne Clenstone. Rolling fields stretched away in all directions from this high point. Has it changed very much? I suspect a good deal in some ways as there were more people in this area when my ancestors were there in the 1700s and 1800s and into the early 1900s. The wars perhaps changed that a lot but along with that the mechanization of agriculture rendered all those workers to be no longer needed in the agricultural industries of this area.

Maybe one of these days I will be able to discover our matches with the many Newfoundland families in our kits. Endogamy probably plays a part making the matches seem closer.

Charles Butt was a Methodist Preacher along with his agricultural duties. My grandfather knew this great grandfather of his but mostly from a distance as Charles lived at Turnworth near the end of his life. He did however spend some time with his then over 80 year old great grandfather and shared with me a little of this man who was born in 1801. Amazing the span of years that represents. My grandfather was born in 1875 and I was born in 1945 so I had the opportunity as a child of 8 years of age (the year my grandfather passed away) to listen to stories of a man who lived at the beginning of the 1800s (144 years before I was born). My grandfather liked to talk about how life had changed from then to when he died in 1953.

Will of Anne King, widow, Upton Gray, Hampshire - The National Archives PROB 11/629, probated 2 May 1729

Just over 70 years later, a second will by Anne King widow at Upton Gray. Notably this family was also in London.

Mary, one of her daughters, was married to Luke Imber 28 Jan 1723 at Micheldever. It is 18 miles from Upton Gray to Micheldever (and interestingly enough 14 miles to Andover Hampshire).

The testator has a daughter named Anne and a son named James.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 27 Feb 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/629
Name of testator: Anne King
Place: Upton Gray, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 1 Aug 1728, probated 2 May 1729

[In margin] T[estamentu]m Anne King

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Anne King widow and Relict of Thomas King late of Upton
3    Gray in the County of South[amp]ton being in perfect health but knowing
4    the uncertainty of this mortal life do hereby make and declare
5    this to be my last will and Testament first I commend my soul to the
6    hands of almighty God and my body I commit to the Earth to be
7    decently buryed at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named
8    and as to my worldly Estate I give and dispose thereof as followeth
9    that is to say first I give and bequeath to my daughter Anne King
10    the several Goods and things mentioned in a paper writing or
11    Schedule hereunto annexed and I hereby make constitute and
12    appoint my Son James King to be my full and sole Executor of
13    this my last Will and Testament to whom after my just Debts and
14    funeral Expences are paid and discharged I give all my personal
15    Estate whatsoever In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my
16    hand and seal this first day August one thousand seven hundred
17    and twenty eight Anne King signed sealed and delivered in the
18    presence of Mary Tothill Saray Foster
19    Whereas in and by my last Will dated the first day of
20    August 1728 I have given and bequeathed several things as in
21    a schedule thereunto annexed which are as follows that is to
22    say I give to my daughter Anne King the part of my Goods as
23    followeth a sett of red Curtains in a Trunk wherein is a Callicoe
24    quilt and Counterpane of her own and in a Chest there is two
25    parcels of Linnen in two bags the one is for my daughter Anne
26    King and the other for my daughter Mary Imber and there is
27    standing in a Flaskett in the store Room at my Son King’s house
28    in the Soke at Winchester four pewter dishes Eight puter plates
29    one pye plate one large kettle one little kettle a good skillet that
30    holds about two quarts one little pott and led one large Bell mottie
31    portie and mortar one Tea board one Dutch Oven Table which
32    things I also give to my daughter Anne King I also give to my
33    daughter Anne King the part of my Goods which I have at Upton
34    Gray which is the old Trunk with all the Linnen as is in it one
35    Featherbed and some Blankets and a thick quilt and one Bolster
36    and a Rose Stool I also give to my daughter Anne King the nine
37    Cane Chairs that stand at my Son Imbers and likewise the fourred
38    Chairs there and I give to my two daughters Anne King and
39    Mary Imber all my wearing Clothes to be by them equally divided
40    betwixt them and a half three and twenty pence I give to my
41    daughter Imber witness my hand this 15th of February one thousand
42    seven hundred and twenty Eight Anne King
43    Appeared personally James King of the parish of St
44    James Garlick hithe London Gentleman and being sworn
45    upon the holy Evangelists of God to depose the truth did swear
46    and depose as followeth that he is the natural and lawful son
47    of Anne King late of the parish of St James Garlick hythe aforesaid
48    widow deceased and sole Executor and Residuary Legatee named
49    in the Will of the said deceased and that he this deponent well knows
50    and is acquainted with the Character and manner of hand writing
51    of the said deceased and this deponent having now seen a paper
52    writing purporting a Testamentary Schedule or Codicil of the said
53    deceased beginning thus “whereas in and by my last will dated
54    the first day of August 1728” and ending thus “witness my hand this
55    15th of February one thousand seven hundred and twenty eight”
56    and subscribed thus Anne King he this deponent doth in his
57    conscience verily believe the names Anne King subscribed at the
58    foot or bottom of the said schedule is of the proper handwriting
59    of the said Anne King deceased James King 28 Aprilis
60    1729 Juratio fuit dictus Jacobus King super veritati hujno attestis
61    toram me J Andrew Surr
62    Probatum fuit hujusmodi Testamentum apud London
63    coram venerabili viro Johanne Andrew Legum Doctore Surrogato
64    venerabilio et Egregij viri Johannis Bettesworth Legum Doctoris
65    Curia prerogative Cantuariensis Magistri Custodis sive Commissarij
66    legitime Constitute secondo die mensis Maij anno domini Millesimo
67    septingentesimo vicesimo nono Jura mento Jacobi King filij dicte
68    defuncta et Executoris in dicto Testamento nominat Cui Commissa
69    fuit administration omnium et singulorum bonorum jurium et Creditorum
70    dicta defuncti de bene et fideliter administrando eadem ad Sancta
71    dei Evangelia Jurat

Will of Christopher Blake, Felmonger, Bourne, Lincolnshire - The National Archives PROB 11/721, probated 18 Nov 1742

Christopher Blake the testator names his son Christopher Blake in his will. His wife is named Bridget Blake.

Interestingly, Bourne is in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire (Butterwick is also in this area). The earlier will of 1566 for John Blake at Butterwick should certainly be considered looking at Christopher Blake although nearly two hundred years later.

Children baptized to Christopher Blake at Bourne (Find My Past):

Charles Blake baptized Mar 1718
Christopher Blake baptized 27 Dec 1722
Elizabeth baptized 6 Apr 1724; buried 3 Jan 1736
Mary Blake baptized 26 Oct 1726
Bridget Blake baptized 13 Nov 1728

A Christopher Blake is listed as a Master Fellmonger on the Apprenticeship documents for Bourne Lincolnshire in 1730. (Find My Past)

There was a burial for Mrs Blake 11 Jul 1743 at Bourne. There is a burial for Christopher Blake 14 Sep 1749 at Bourne Lincolnshire.  (Find My Past)



Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 21 Jan 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/721
Name of testator: Christopher Blake, Felmonger
Place: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated 20 Oct 1742, probated 18 Nov 1742

[In margin] Testam[ent] Christopher Blake

1    In the name of god Amen
2    I Christopher Blake of Bourne in the County of Lincoln
3    Felmonger being sick in Body but of sound and disposing
4    mind and memory praised be God do make and ordain this
5    my last Will and Testament as follows I give and bequeath
6    to my Wife Bridget Blake the furniture of my best parlour
7    and also one annuity of Six pounds payable every year unto
8    my said Wife for her Life at Two Equal payments in the year
9    that is to say at Lady Day and Michaelmas the first payment
10    to be made at the first of these days next happening after
11    my decease the said Yearly Sume or annuity to be paid by
12    my Executor as hereafter mentioned Item all the Goods Chattells
13    Credits and Personal Estate I give and bequeath unto Mr
14    John Pare of Bourn aforesaid by Trust that he pays the
15    said Annuity in the first place to my said Wife my just debts
16    being first paid and the residue thereof the said John Pare
17    to be accountable for unto my Son Christopher Blake at his
18    age of one and Twenty years soe my said Son giving proper
19    security to the good liking of the said John Pare to pay the
20    said annuity to my said Wife for her Life as aforesaid and
21    then I appoint my said Son Sole Executor and Residuary Legate
22    of this my Last Will and Testament the said John Pre being paid
23    all charges and Expences in and about the Execution of this my Will
24    hereby revoking all former Wills by me made Witness my hand and
25    seal this twenty sixth day of October one Thousand Seven hundred
26    and Forty Two Christopher Blake his Mark Signed sealed published
27    and declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and
28    Testament in the presence of us Mrs Foster William Phillips
29    This Will was proved at London on the Eighteenth
30    day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven
31    hundred and Forty Two before the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth
32    doctor of Laws and Master keeper or Commissary of the prerogative
33    Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of John pare the
34    Executor named in the said Will to whom was granted administration
35    of all and singular the Goods Chattells and Credits of the said deceased
36    being first sworn by commission duly to administer the same

John Butt (1776 - 1850)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 7

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, unknown, Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, Durnford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterel, Bartlett, Alderman, Ann (unknown), Sherwood, unknown, Habberfield, Collings, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Canham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

John Butt is one of my ancestors that I knew for quite a long time and possibly for much longer than I really realize. His eldest son Charles was known to my grandfather as a child. Charles was a Methodist Lay Preacher and an agricultural labourer. He lived to be 86 years old and it was his 80th birthday party at Turnworth that my grandfather remembered. Quite likely this was the furtherest that my grandfather had ever been away from home at Upper Clatford. He never really mentioned that but he remembered his great grandfather Charles who could tell him about life in England from the early 1800s on.

John Butt was baptized 10 May 1776 at Winterborne Clenstone. That was the main reason that I took on OPC for Winterborne Clenstone way back in 2007. He was the son of John Butt and Mary Rolles who were themselves married 9 Aug 1762 at Winterborne Clenstone. This John had been baptized 6 May 1736 at Winterborne Stickland and was the son of William Butt and Susanna Foster and they had been married 31 Jan 1729 at Winterborne Stickland. I was unable to trace back further from this point until I met a cousin at Genes Reunited and she had been into the Dorset Record Office and traced the family back much further. The father of this William Butt was also a William Butt and he was married to Elizabeth Lemon. They were married at Winterborne Houghton 27 Jul 1696 and their eldest son William had been baptized 28 May 1697 at Winterborne Houghton. The father William had been baptized 24 Aug 1665 at Winterborne Stickland the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Butt.  Thomas was baptized 31 Mar 1622 at Winterborne Houghton the son of Robert Butt and Susan Cantrell who were themselves married 13 Apr 1607 at Winterborne Stickland. Richard Cantrell the father of Susan had been buried 15 Dec 1591 Winterborne Stickland.

We traveled through the Winterborne Valley when we visited England in 2008. There was a light mist over the valley and the hills roll away from you into valleys. It was a beautiful sight standing on the knoll where the church of St Nicholas stands in Winterborne Clenstone. I was too new to genealogy to really learn as much as I would now from such a visit. I did photograph a number of the memorial stones in the small cemetery just above the Winterborne (a small river) and at the base of the hill away from the Church. The Church is a Heritage building and used for services only a couple of times a year. It is in beautiful condition and looks out loftily over the valleys and hills that surround it.

Richard Cantrell is my 10th great grandfather and the furtherest I have information for this line back.  No ideas on the father of Robert Butt my 9x great grandfather. I do not know a lot about this family although I believe they were always agricultural labourers working in this Winterborne Valley. Robert and Susan had eight children - 7 sons and 1 daughter. I have trace downs for several of the sons - Simon, Thomas and John. They remained in this beautiful valley until the mills of Lancashire beckoned some of them away in the mid 1800s and Charles (my 3x great grandfather)'s brothers went off to Australia (George and Stephen and there are thousands of descendants there) and Canada (Joseph and there are thousands of descendants here). Charles and Robert remained in England and I have lately met an ancestor of Robert's line on My Heritage. Charles had two sisters with Bethaniah dying as an infant and Maria married to James Vacher.

John Butt (1776-1850) married Jean Durnford 14 Oct 1800 at Winterborne Stickland. Jean was the daughter of Thomas Durnford and Mary Ball and for me this line remains a brickwall. Jean was baptized at Winterborne Stickland 29 Sep 1771.

There isn't a lot of information on this Butt family other than my small bit of family lore but they have spread far around the world. Surprisingly one of my mother's best friends Teresa Butt was actually my father's third cousin but he didn't know that although may have suspected it from the surname. Joseph Butt had emigrated to Canada with his wife Sarah Arnold (Charles and Joseph had married Arnold sisters). Then three of Charles' children married three Knight siblings making this quite a combination of double and triple cousins! No one, other than myself, though have tested their atDNA to my knowledge thus far. Although I do have five people on my Family Finder with the Arnold surname but none with the Butt surname.

Charles' daughter Louisa was one of my known ancestors as my father knew of Louisa (she died before he was born) probably from his great grandfather Samuel Knight whom he knew as a child. Samuel and Louisa were married 7 Sep 1849 at Winterborne Stickland and I visited their memorial stone in 2008 at St Mary the Virgin parish Church in Turnworth Dorset. Their eldest daughter Maria Jane was my great grandmother and she married Edward Blake at Upper Clatford. They had twelve children and the eldest daughter Louisa Mary lived with her grandparents at Turnworth, married there and looked after Samuel until he died. My grandfather Samuel was Maria Jane's second son.

Ancestry of John Butt

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Ernest Edward George BLAKE (b 20 Aug 1904) - Eastleigh Hampshire England
3. Samuel George BLAKE (b 10 Feb 1875) - Upper Clatford Hampshire England
4. Maria Jane KNIGHT (b 27 Jan 1849) - Turnworth Dorset England
5. Louisa BUTT (b 27 Jan 1827) - Winterborne Stickland Dorset England
6. Charles BUTT (b 21 Dec 1801) - Winterborne Stickland Dorset England
7. John BUTT (b 10 May 1776) - Winterborne Clenstone Dorset England
8. John BUTT (b 6 May 1736) - Winterborne Stickland Dorset England
9. William BUTT (b 10 Dec 1696) - Winterborne Houghton Dorset England
10. William BUTT (b 24 Aug 1665) - Winterborne Houghton Dorset England
11. Thomas BUTT (b 31 Mar 1622) - Winterborne Houghton Dorset England
12. Robert BUTT (b c 1570) 

It does seem like a long way to go back in an agricultural labourer's family and I really have no ideas on this family back into the 1600s. Were they always labourers or did they at one time farm and being younger sons did not inherit any leases or the like so had to make their own way in the world? They did it very well and the Butt family is huge around the world. A couple of years before I started into genealogy (2001 I think) there was a Butt family reunion in England. I would dearly have loved to attend that reunion and perhaps one day there will be another!

Will of Sarah Blake, widow, Maldon, Essex - The National Archives PROB 11/1708/416, probated 27 Feb 1826

Locating the husband of Sarah Blake was not possible initially as he was not named in the will.

Her niece Elizabeth Simpson, married to William Woolley Simpson, was also not found although I did find the Will of her husband and they were living at Montagu Place Russell Square Middlesex as well as his being an Auctioneer at Bucklersbury London. It is a short will which leaves everything to his wife Elizabeth; will dated 12 Oct 1847 and probated 9 Dec 1847.

The marriage of Mr John Wyatt Lee of Maldon, Essex to Ann Dunkin (daughter of John Dunkin Esquire of Woodham Mortimer) at Woodham Mortimer 17 October 1805 (Find My Past).

One of the names of the great nephews of Sarah Blake is William Staddon Blake Lee and googling this name reveals a William Staddon Blake who lived in St Mary Woolnoth and St Mary Woolchurch, London. He was in 1795 one of the churchwardens.

There is a will for William Stadden Blake of Change Alley in the City of London, Engraver. He mentions his wife Sarah Blake. His will was probated 10 November 1814. His will was written 2 Nov 1795. I will transcribe his will next. It is interesting sometimes how one can discover more about individuals who leave their wills. I did find the baptism of William Stadden Blake son of William and Fanny Blake of Saff[ron]hill, St Andrew Holborn, 14 Jan 1747 (Ancestry.ca). Cornhill is approximately 1 mile away from Saffron Hill.

Names mentioned in the will:

Sarah Blake, testatrix, Maldon, Essex
Francis Maria Lee, executrix, sister, Maldon, Essex
John Rowe, tenant, Change Alley, Cornhill, London
George Turney, tenant, Change Alley, Cornhill, London
Elizabeth Simpson, niece, Bucklersbury, London
William Woolley Simpson, Auctioneer, husband of Elizabeth, Bucklersbury, London
John Wyatt Lee, nephew
Thomas Lee, son of John Wyatt Lee, great nephew
David Stringlet, tenant, Great Totham, Essex
John Dunkin Lee, son of John Wyatt Lee, great nephew
William Staddon Blake Lee, son of John Wyatt Lee, great nephew,
Samuel Willett, executor, Barnards Inn, Middlesex, gentleman
George May, executor, Maldon, Surgeon
Mary Lee, daughter of John Wyatt Lee, great niece
Nancy Lee, daughter of John Wyatt Lee, great niece
Joanna Dunkin Lee, daughter of John Wyatt Lee, great niece
Elizabeth Frances Lee, daughter of John Wyatt Lee, great niece
Emma Lee, daughter of John Wyatt Lee, great niece
Robert Clarke, Little Totham, Essex, Farmer
Hannah Fanks, Castle Street, Southwark Bridge
Ann Cotter, wife of Joseph Cotter, Great Totham, Essex
Joseph Cotter, Great Totham, Essex, husband of Ann, Innholder
Elizabeth Sly, Purleigh, Essex
Elizabeth Goddard, residing with Lady Julia Howard
Ann Goddard, sister of Elizabeth Goddard
Elizabeth Foster, servant
Mary Wood, servant to Francis Maria Lee
Hannah Ruggles, residing with the testatrix
Betsy Stotherd, witness
Wm Wright, witness, Sol[icito]r Maldon
Z: W: Digby, witness, Clerk to Wm Wright

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 6 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1708/416
Testator: Sarah Blake, Widow
Place: Maldon, Essex, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 10 Jun 1825, probated 27 Feb 1826
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Sarah
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 27

1    In the Name of God Amen I
2    Sarah Blake of Saint Mary Islington in the County of Middlesex but me residing
3    at Maldon in the County of Essex Widow being of sound mine memory and
4    understanding (praised be God for the same) do make publish and declare my last
5    Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) in the first place I direct
6    all my just debts Funeral and Testamentary Expenses to be paid off and discharged
7    by my Executrix and Executors hereinafter appointed from and out of my personal
8    Estate And I give devise and bequeath unto my Sister Francis Maria Lee of Maldon
9    aforesaid Spinster all those my two Leasehold Messuages or dwellinghouses with the
    [Page 2]
10    outbuildings and appurtenances thereto respectively belonging being Numbers 16 and 18 in
11    Change Alley Cornhill in the City of London now in the occupations of John Rowe
12    and George Turney To hold the same unto the said Francis Maria Lee her Executors
13    Administrators and Assigns to and for her and their own absolute use and benefit for the
14    residue of my Estate Term and interest therein respectively And I also give and bequeath
15    unto my said Sister Francis Maria Lee all my Principal Money Stocks of Funds
16    standing in my Name in the Long Annuities in the Books of the Governor and
17    Company of the Bank of England to and for her own absolute use and benefit and direct
18    the same to be paid or transferred to her within six months next after my decease
19    and I give and bequeath unto my Niece Elizabeth Simpson Wife of William Woolley
20    Simpson of Bucklersbury in the said City of London Auctioner the Sum of two thousand
21    pounds Stock part of the money Stock or Trust standing in my name in the new four
22    per cent Annuities to and for her own absolute use and benefit and direct the same
23    to be paid or transferred to her within six Calendar months next after my decease but
24    in case she shall happen to depart this life in my lifetime hereby the said Legacy
25    would lapse then I give and bequeath the said two thousand pounds Stock in the
26    now four per cent Annuities unto the said William Woolley Simpson absolutely
27    and direct the same to be paid or transferred to him within six Calendar months
28    next after my decease And I give and bequeath unto my Nephew John Wyatt Lee
29    the Legacy or Sum of One thousand pounds and direct the same to be paid to him
30    within six Calendar Months next after my decease to and for his absolute use and
31    and benefit And I give and devise unto Thomas Lee Son of the said John Wyatt Lee All
32    that my Messuage or dwellinghouse with the Outbuildings Yards Gardens and the
33    several pieces or parcels of Land thereto belonging containing by Estimation thirty
34    acres (be the same more or less) with the Appurtenances (part Freehold and part
35    Copyhold) situate and being in the parish of Great Totham in the said County of
36    Essex now in the occupation of David Stringlet To hold the same unto the same
37    Thomas Lee his heirs and Assigns for ever And I give and bequeath unto John
38    Dunkin Lee another Son of my said Nephew John Wyatt Lee All those my ten
39    shares (of One hundred pounds each) of and in the Capital Stock of a certain Company
40    called or known by the Name of the West Middlesex Waterworks Company and direct
41    that the same shall become vested in and be paid or Assigned and transferred to him
42    when he shall attain the Age of twenty one Years and the Interest dividends and
43    produce thereof in the meantime I direct to be paid to his Father the said John
44    Wyatt Lee to be applied by him for and towards his maintenance benefit and
45    Education and I give and bequeath unto William Staddon Blake Lee another Son
46    of the said John Wyatt Lee All and every my shares (being about twenty one in number
47    of and in the Capital Stock of a certain Company called the London Dock Company And
48    also all my shares and Interest or Interests in the Capital Stock of a certain Company
49    called the Waterloo or Stand Bridge Company and direct that the same respectively shall
50    become vested in and be paid or Assigned and transferred to him when he shall attain the
51    age of twenty one years And the Interest dividends and produce thereof respectively in
52    the meantime I direct to be paid to his Father the said John Wyatt Lee to be applied
53    by him for and towards his maintenance benefit and education provided always And
54    in case either or both of them the said John Dunkin Lee and William Stadden Blake
55    Lee shall happen to depart this life under the Age of twenty one years then I give and
56    bequeath the shares of the Stock of him of them so dying unto all his or their surviving
57    Brothers and Sisters in equal shares and proportions share and share alike and in
58    case there shall be but one Survivor then I give and bequeath the whole to such
60    only Surviving Child to and for his or her own absolute use and benefit and direct that
61    such accruing share or shares shall become vested in and be paid to assigned and
62    transferred to them him or her as and when they severally attain the Age of twenty one
63    Years and the Dividends Interest or produce thereof in the meantime I direct to be paid
64    to the said John Wyatt Lee to be by him applied for and towards their his or her
65    maintenance benefit and Education and I give and bequeath unto my Sister the said
66    Francis Maria Lee Samuel Willett of Barnards Inn in the said County of Middlesex
67    Gentleman and George May of Maldon aforesaid Surgeon the Sum of two thousand
    [Page 3]
68    five hundred pounds upon trust that they the said Francis Maria Lee Samuel
69    Willett and George May or the Survivors or Survivor of them or the Executors or Admors
70    of such Survivor do and shall lay out and invest the same in their his or her own
71    names or name in some or one of the public Stocks or Funds or upon Government or
72    Real Security at Interest and from time to time to call in alter and transpose such Stocks
73    Funds and Securities as they she or he shall think fit and proper and do and shall pay the
74    Interest dividends and annual produce thereof as and when the same shall become due
75    and be received into the proper hands of the said John Wyatt Lee to be by him applied
76    for and towards the maintenance benefit and Education of his daughters Mary Lee
77    Nancy Lee Joanna Dunkin Lee Elizabeth Frances Lee and Emma Lee until they
78    shall severally and respectively attain the age of twenty one years and Marry with
79    the consent of my said Trustees or Trustee for the time being or the majority of them
80    or until such time or period as they shall (from any other cause than marriage)
81    severally cease to be maintained and supported by and at the Expence of the said John
82    Wyatt Lee their Father And when and as they shall severally and respectively attain
83    the age of twenty one Years and marry with such Consent as aforesaid or as and
84    when they shall (from any other cause than Marriage) severally cease to be
85    maintained and supported by their said Father then I do hereby declare and direct that
86    that the said Francis Maria Lee Samuel Willett and George May or the
87    Survivors or Survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor
88    shall stand and be possessed of the said Sum of two thousand five hundred pounds
89    or the Stocks Funds and Securities in or upon which the same shall be laid out and
90    invested as aforesaid in trust for and to pay or assign and transfer the same unto the
91    said Mary Lee Nancy Lee Joanna Dunkin Lee Elizabeth Frances Lee and Emma
92    Lee in equal shares and proportions share and share alike to and for their
93    respective absolute use and benefit nevertheless I do hereby declare my Mind and Will
94    to be that the said several and respective shares shall become vested in the said daughters
95    of the said John Wyatt Lee as and when they severally attain the age of twenty one
96    years notwithstanding the payment thereof is postponed till the time of their
97    marriage or (from any other cause) ceasing to be maintained and supported by
98    their said Father provided always and I do hereby further declare and direct that if
99    any one of more of them the said Mary Lee Nancy Lee Joanna Dunkin Lee Elizabeth Frances
100    Lee and Emma Lee shall happen to depart this life under the Age of twenty one
101    Years then the share or shares of her or them so dying shall go accrue and belong
102    to the Survivors of them in equal shares and in case of only one Survivor then the whole
103    shall go and accrue to such Survivor and shall vest in and be paid or assigned and
104    transferred to them or her at the same time or times and be subject to the same
105    contingency as is hereinbefore declared or expressed relative to her or their original
106    share or shares and the dividends and Interest thereof in the mean time shall be
107    paid and applied for their benefit as aforesaid And I give devise and bequeath unto
108    my Friend the said Samuel Willett All those two Leasehold Messuages or dwelling
109    houses with the Outbuildings Yards Gardens and Appurtenances thereto belonging
110    being Numbers 29 and 30 in Queens Row Walworth in the County of Surrey To
111    hold the same unto the said Samuel Willett his Executors Administrators and
112    Assigns to and for his and their own absolute use benefit and disposal for the
113    residue of my Estate Term and Interest therein respectively and I also give and
114    bequeath unto the said Samuel Willett the Legacy or Sum of One hundred pounds
115    and I give and bequeath unto my Friend the said George May the Sum of Fifty
116    pounds and I give and bequeath unto my Friend Robert Clarke of Little Totham
117    in the said County of Essex Farmer to Hannah Fanks of Castle Street Southwark
118    Bridge to Ann Cotter wife of Joseph Cotter of Great Totham aforesaid Innholder
119    and to Elizabeth Sly of Purleigh in the said County of Essex the Sum of Five Guineas
120    each as a token of my respect for them and I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth
121    Goddard now residing with Lady Julia Howard the Sum of nineteen Guineas
122    and I give and bequeath to Ann Goddard the Sister of the said Elizabeth Goddard
123    the Sum of Five Guineas and I give and bequeath unto my Servant Elizabeth
124    Foster the Sum of ten Guineas and I give and bequeath unto Mary Wood the
    [Page 4]
125    Servant of my said Sister Frances Maria Lee the Sum of Five Guineas all which said
126    several last mentioned Legacies I will and direct shall be paid to the said several and
127    respective Legatees thereof within one Calendar months next after my decease and I
128    give and bequeath unto Hannah Ruggles now residing with me all my Clothes and
129    Linen And I give and bequeath unto my said Sister Francis Maria Lee All and
130    singular my ready money and Securities for Money debts and the rest and residue of
131    my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever to and for her own absolute use benefit
132    and disposal And I hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Francis Maria
133    Lee Samuel Willett and George May Executrix and Executors of this my Will And
134    do hereby declare my Will to be that my said Trustees and Executrix and Executors and
135    and their respective Executors and Administrators shall be charged and Chargeable
136    respectively for such monies only as they respectively shall actually receive by virtue
137    of this my Will notwithstanding their or any of their giving or signing or joining
138    in any receipt or receipts for the sake of Conformity And that no one or more of
139    them shall be answerable or accountable for the acts receipts neglects of defaults of
140    the others or other of them but each and every of them for her and his own acts
141    receipts neglects and defaults only and that they or any or either of them shall not
142    be answerable or accountable for any Banker Broker or other person with or to
143    whom or in whose hands any part of the said Trust monies shall or may be
144    intrusted paid or deposited for safe custody or otherwise in the Execution of the
145    Trusts of this my Will nor for the rise or fall in the price or value of Stocks or the
146    insufficiency or deficiency in Title or value of any Security and Securities in or upon
147    which the said Trust monies or any part thereof shall be laid out or invested nor
148    for any other loss of misfortune which may happen to the same trust monies
149    or any part thereof except the same shall happen by or through his her or
150    their own respective wilful act neglect or default and also that it shall be
151    lawful for my said Trustees and Executrix and Executors and their respective
152    Executors and Administrators by and out of the monies which shall come to
153    their hands by virtue of the trusts aforesaid to retain to and reimburse themselves
154    respectively and also to allow their respective Co Trustee and Executrix and Executor or respective Co Trustees and Executrix and Executors
155    All Costs Charges damages and Expenses which they or any or either of them shall
156    or may pay sustain or be put unto in the Execution of this my Will and the trusts
157    hereby in them reposed and I hereby revoke and make void all former Wills by me
158    at any time heretofore made and declare this alone to be and contain my last
159    Will and Testament In witness whereof I have to this  my Will contained in five
160    Sheets of paper set my hand and Seal to wit my hand to the four preceding sheets
161    and my hand and Seal to this fifth and last sheet hereof the tenth day of June in
162    the Year one thousand eight hundred and twenty five Sarah Blake
163    Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Sarah Blake as and for her last Will
164    and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto at her request in her
165    presence and in the presence of each other Subscribed our names as Witnesses
166    Betsy Stotherd Wm Wright Sol[icito]r Maldon Z: W: Digby his Clerk
167    Proved at London 27th February 1826 before the Worshipful Jesse Addams d[octo]r of Laws
168    and Surr[ogate] by the Oaths of Frances (in the will written Francis) Maria Lee Spinster the
169    Sister Samuel Willett and George May Esq[uie]rs the Ex[ecuto]rs to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted
170    being first Sworn duly to adm[iniste]r

Will of John Blake, freeholder, Penton Mewsey, Hampshire - Family Search, Film 186889, catalogue J-153, number 14, probated 8 Apr 1611

This will of John Blake, freeholder, Penton Mewsey was also acquired from Family Search using their Photoduplication form and it is Film 186889, catalogue designation J-153, year of event  8 Apr 1611 (proven) and number on film 14.

John identifies his family members as Andrew Foster son in law, Silvester Pearce son in law, Robert Seward son in law, his daughter Jane Achwoe, William Trewlove his grandson, Thomas Miles son in law, son is John Blake, Marie Blake his granddaughter (daughter of John), Margarit his wife, Christopher Blake his grandson (son of John) and Jone Blake his grand daughter (daughter of John). Unfortunately the parish registers for Penton Mewsey are only available from the late 1640s on.

I did blog the Blake records at Penton Mewsey a couple of days ago:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/02/blake-family-at-penton-mewsey.html

Is this John the son of the Thomas Blake who left his will in 1597 and was blogged:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/02/will-of-thomas-blake-penton-mewsey.html

Thomas has named his daughters as Elizabeth Crowch, Agnes Blake and Alice Blake and his son as John. He does not mention any grand children. Thomas would have been somewhat elderly since his father likely died in 1542 which makes him over 55 years and likely closer to 60 or more since he is the third last child.

In 1611 John is likely in his 40s and he has just one son John (with a son Christopher at the time of writing his will) and many daughters of whom he only names one Jone/Jane Achwoe. This John Charlou Dolan has as a grandson to Robert Blake who left his will in 1542 at Enham.

There is still a Blake family at Penton Mewsey with their own company C Blake and Sons Ltd at 72 Vigo Road Nursery, Andover SP10 1HP and they are florists. I find this fascinating as my father owned his own business as do my brothers. I wonder if they are descendants of Robert Blake and how much knowledge they have of the Blake family at Penton Mewsey. Although I have traced my line down from Nicholas to Richard to William to William to John to Thomas to Thomas to Joseph who married Joanna King at Upper Clatford, I still leave my mind open to the possibility that the reason Thomas buried his wife and infant son at Penton Mewsey was because that was his home parish (also true of William his great grandfather who lived at Penton) although in general this line was living at Andover up to the marriage of Joseph Blake.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 11 Feb 2014
Source: Family Search, 186889-J-153-14 or Hampshire Record Office, 1611A-013
Testator: John Blake, freeholder,
Place: Penton Mewsey, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 20 Feb 1610, probated 8 Apr 1611
Condition: 16th century English, legible copy


1    In the name of god Amen The twentie day of Februarie in the
2    eight yeare of raigne of king James over England I John Blake freeholder of Penton
3    mewsey in the County of South[ampton] and within the diocese of Winchester sicke
4    in bodie but of readie and p[er]fect remembrance do herein make and ordeyne my ve
5    rie last will and testament as followeth first I com[n]end my soule and
6    body to gods mercie in Jesus Christ for my eternall salvation and my bodie to
7    Christian burial Touching my worldly goodes I do thus give and bequeath them
8    It[e]m I give and bequeath unto Andrewe Foster my sonne in Lawe tenne
9    sheepe neither of the best nor worst Also to him one sacke of barlie
10    to be paid unto him within one quarter of a yeare after my decease Al
11    so I give to two of his children one sheepe a peece It[e]m I give and
12    bequeath to Silvester Pearce my sonne in lawe my hyffer nowe
13    in his keeping and one sacke of barlie to be paid unto him within one quar
14    ter of a yeare after my decease and one sheepe to his child now borne
15    or else iiijs iiijd in monie at my Executors choice It[e]m I give to Ro
16    bert Seward my sonne in laws first child now borne yf he
17    live five yeares after my decease tenne shillings in monie and then
18    to be paid to ye said child It[e]m I give to my daughter Jane Achwoe
19    for terme of hir natural life and one moneth after to hir execu
20    tor or assigne all that part of my house in Penton abovesaid where
21    in she doth now dwell keeping the same in due reparations and
22    paying the yearelie rent specified upon the last lease and granted
23    from mee of the same It[e]m I give and bequeath unto William
24    Trewlove my daughter Jones sonne x s in monie and j sheepe to be
25    paid unto him within one yeare after my decease It[]e]m I give and
26    bequeath unto eche one of the children of Thomas Miles my
27    sonne in law now borne a sheepe or else x s shillings in mo
28    nie amongst them at my executors choice It[e]m I give to Ma
29    rie Blake the daughter of my sonne John Blake my best coffer
30    my best cubbard ij pottengers and a platter one brasse pot my
31    greatest kittle and my cowe or else in steed of the cow xxxiii s
32    iiij d in monie to be paid unto hir after the decease of Margarit
33    Blake my now wedded wife and not before and I do ordeyne that ye
34    use of all these thinges bequeathed unto ye said Marie shall re
35    maine unto ye said margarite my wife so long as she liveth
36    It[e]m I give to Xopfer John Blakes sonne iij s iiij d and to his daugh
37    ter Jone iij s iiij d to be paid unto them within one quarter of an
38    yeare after my decease All the rest of my goodes cattle and chattels
39    whatsoever yet unbequeathed I give and bequeath unto mar
40    garit Blake my wife whome I make sole Executor of this my
41    last will and testament except ij bushels of barlie w[hi]ch I give
43    to my daughter Jone Achwoe above named
44    Witnesses herunto viz[a vi]t that
45    he verafied was of perfecte
46    memorie and confermed this his
47    laste Will in his life John _____
48    John Heffeild
49    Hugh Hiller
50    John Blacke
51    Probat[um] fuit test[amentum] pred in cor[am]
52    forma per meum Raphaum Wal
53    lon Archi winton etc octavo
54    Ap[ri]lis 1611 Commissiq[ue] fuit
55    Admi[nistrat]o Bonor[um] etc margarete
56    Relicte die def[unct]i executrici
57    soli nominat etc
    [Page 2]
58    witnesses to this will are
59    John Dobson minister
60    Richard Carie John
61    Blake and John Bides
    [Page 3]
62    A true Inventorie of all the goodes and cattle or John
63    Blake freeholder of Peniton Mewsey in the county
64    of South[ampton] deceased the first day of March anno
65    1610 taken a prised by John Blake and Hugh
66    Hiller inhabitants of Peniton above named
66    Imprimis his apparell    xx s       
67    It[e]m his bedding vidz ij paire of sheetes coverlet j blanket j bowlster and j boowden bedsteddle all being verie old and neare worne    xx s       
68    It[e]m ij coffers    iiij s iiij d       
69    It[e]m his brazen vessel j pot and iij little small kittels    x s       
70    It[e]m his pewter vessel vj old platters and pottengers w[i]th a brazen candlestick and j salt seller    iij s iiij d       
71    It[e]m his triene and wodden vessel iiij old tubs and j kines    v s       
72    It[e]m in wheat and barlie in the barne    xl s       
73    It[e]m wheat sowed iij halves    xx s       
74    It[e]m j old cowe    xxxiij s iiij d       
75    It[e]m xxiij sheepe    v l       
76    It[e]m in wod    xij d       
77    It[e]m in hoggues dead and alive    xx s       
78    It[e]m j hatchet    vj d       
79    It[e]m j forme j borde
The table is a standard    xij d       
80    It[e]m j cubbard    ij s   
81    It[e]m of debt due to him    viij l   
82    It[e]m one heyffer    xvj s   
83    Summe total       
84    is xxij li xvj s x d       

Calendar of Letters and Papers relating to the Affairs of the Borders of England and Scotland (edited by Joseph Bain) Volume 1, 1560-1594

I decided to type out this particular section as I want to extract the Routledge names and places mentioned herein. I find when I type it I retain more of the information than just reading it. Calendar of Letters and Papers relating to the Affairs of the Borders of England and Scotland (edited by Joseph Bain) Volume 1, 1560-1594. Pages 120 - 128. I have several of these entries which will be interesting for the Routledge family.

197. (End of 1583)  Thomas Musgrave to Burghley, on the Border Riders

Because I understand that your honour is not well acquainted with the names of the waters and the dwelling places of the riders and ill doers both of England and Scotland, "I beinge animated by your lordshipes late curtesyes and inquisitions, have made boulde to present this platt both of theire names, dwellynges and allyaunces, one with another, trusting your lordship will accepte my dutye towarde your selfe and good will to my cuntrey, not takinge uppon me to doe any thinge as a good clarke, for that I have not applyed my mynd to so good an exersyes, but have bene traned in service, for defence of her Majesties poore people, that my father had the credyte and charge of, in which I have spente a great part of my tyme, not without the losse of my bloode, and manye troblesome travels and dangers, but with the losse of my deare frendes and companyons which have bene cruelly murdered by the rebellyous Scottes. Maye it please therefore your lordship to understand, that the ryver called Lyddall, is a fayre ryver, and hath her course douine Lyddisdall, soe as the dale hath the name of the ryver. The ryver is all Scottishe, untill it come to Kyrsopp foote, planted with Ellotes untill it come neare Wheatoughe towre, then the Armestronges inhabit it on bothe sydes, untill it come to Kyrsopp foote, where it takes the dyvysion of the realmes from Kyrsopp - then the Armestronges have the one syde, and the Englishe Fosters the other syde, soe it desendes by the Harlowe on the one syde and the Haythawyt on the other, and runeth into the ryver called Eske. Kyrsopp is a smale becke and desendes from the wast grounde called Kyrsope heade. It devydes the realmes from the meare dyke untill it meat with Lyddall, and is from the head unto the foote without habitacion, and at the foote of it is the fortes. Black Leven water is a littell brooke, and so is Whyt Leven the lyke, and are not in anie place a myle and a halfe dystant one from an other, and are inhabyted with the Nyxons, untill it come to a place called the Blackdobs, and then the Rutligis dwell on bothe the sydes of it, untill it come to a place called the Lukkins of Leven, then it desendes Sowpert, wheare the Taylors have it, then it desendes the boundes of Sopert, and is inhabyted with Graymes called the Graymes of Leven, and runeth into the ryver of Eske at Gorthe Storys howse called the Lard. Eske is a fayre ryver, and cometh through Esdall, and is Scottishe, inhabyted with Battesons of Esdell, untill it come neare a place called the Langhalme castill and meateth with the water called Use, which waters and dales are both my Lorde Maxwells untill it come to Canonby Kyrke, and then the Armestronges and Scottishe Graymes have it untill it meete the ryver of Lydall at the Mote skore, where Fargus Grayme his howse standes. Then it taketh the devysyon of the realmes untill it come to a place called Morton rigge where Will of Kinmont dwelleth; then there is a mere dyke that goeth to a ryver called Sarke, then is Eske Englishe on both sydes and Sarke ryver devydes, and there are Graymes on both sydes, the one English, the other Scottishe untill it come to Gretnay, where it meteth Eske and both rune to Bownus and soe take the sea. I shall therefore sett downe the Ellottes of the head of Lyddall as my skyle will afforde, that your lordship maye know the better when their deedes shall come in question.

The Ellottes of Lyddisdall:
Robin Ellot of the Reddhughe, cheife of the Ellotes; Wille Ellot of Harskarth his brother; Gebbe Ellott his brother; Arche Ellot his brother; Gawan Ellot his brother; Hobbe Ellot of the Hewghus; John Ellot his brother; Adam Ellot of the Shaws; Arche Ellot called Fyre the brayes; Gybbe Ellot of the Shaues; Gorth Simson; Martin Ellot called Rytchis Martyn. All theise are Robin Ellotes brethren, or his men that are daly at his commandement. The grayne of the Ellotes called the Borneheedes: Joke Ellot called Joke of Ramsgill; Hobbe Ellot called Curst Hobbe; Addam Ellot called Condus; Arche Ellot called Arche of Hill; Joke Ellot of the Hill; Joke Ellot called Halfe loges. The grayne of the Ellotes of the Parke: Sims John Ellot of the Parke; Will Ellot, gray Wille; Hobbe Ellot called Scotes Hobbe; Jeme Ellot of the Parke; Jeme Ellot called gray Wills Jeme; Hobbe Ellot called Hobbs Hobbe. The grayne of Martyn Ellot of the Bradley hyghe in Lyddal: - Martyn Ellot of the Bradley; Sime Ellot his sonne; Gowan Ellot called the clarke; Hobbe Ellot his brother; Arche Ellot his brother; Joke Ellot called Copshawe; John Ellot of Thornesope; Will Ellot of the Steele; Dand Ellot of the Brandley; John Ellot of the same; Seme Ellot of Hardin. All theise Ellotes and manie more of them are at Robin Ellotes commandment and dwell betwixt the Armytage in Lyddisdall and Whethough towre - fewe of them marryed with Englishe women.

The Lord of Mangerton and his frendes, and their allyaunces with England:
Seme Armstronge lord of Mangerton marryed John Fosters daughter of Kyrsope foot, and hath by her issue; Joke Armestronge called the Lordes Joke dwelleth under Denyshill besydes Kyrsope in Denisborne, and maryed Anton Armestronges daughter of Wylyave in Gilsland; John Armestronge called the lordes John, marryet Rytche Graymes sister called Meadope, and he hathe two sonnes ryders in England. Joke his eldest sonne marryed Hobbe Fosters daughter of Kersope alyes; Thome Armestronge called the lordes Tome, dwelleth on a place called Hyghe Morgarton, not marryed with Englande. Runyon Armestrong called the lordes Runyon, dwelleth in a place called the Thornythaite. Rowye Armestronge called the lordes Rowye, dwelleth in Tarrassyde, and marryed oulde Archer Graymes daughter. Seme Armestronge called yonge Seme, dwelleth on the Flates nere Margerton, and marryed Rowye Fosters doughter called Robins Rowye. Thom Armestronge called Sims Thom, dwelleth in the Demayne Holme by Lendall syde, and maryed Wat Storyes daughter of Eske, called Wat of the Hove ende. Dik Armestronge of Dryup, dwelleth nere Hyghe Morgarton, and his wyfe is a Scottishe woamen. Joke Armestronge of the Caufeld dwelleth on the Cawfeld, not marryed in England. Gorthe Armestronge of the Bygams dwelleth on the Bygams, and marryed Will of Carl(i)lles daughter. All theise are the Lorde of Morgertons unckles, or unckles sonnes at the farthest.

The Armestronges of the Howse of Whetaughe Towre:
Lance Armestrone the olde lord of Whetaughe; Sime Armestronge the yonge lord his sonne; Andrewe Armestronge called the ladyes Andrewe; Arche Armestronge his brother; Frauncis Armestronge his brother; John Armestronge, called John of Whetaugh; Hobbe Armestronge his sonne, marryed Jeme Fosters daughter of the Stangerth syde; Joke Armestronge his brother; Rynyon Armestronge called Gaudee; Rynyon Armestronge called Rynyon of Twedon; Hector Armestronge of the same; Joke Armestronge of the same. All theise, and more that I cannot call to remembrance are the lord of Whethaugh his sonnes and brothers sonnes.

Hector Armestronge of the Harlawe and his frendes and allyes, Hector Armestronge called ould Hector; Hector his sonne called yonge Hector, marryed Fargus Graymes daughter. Wille Armestronge called Hectors Wille; Thome Armestronge called Hectors Tome; Andrewe Armestronge of the Harlawe; Patton Armestronge of the Harlawe; Alexander Armestronge called the Gatwarde, marryed Gawins Wille Fosters daughter.

The Armestronges of Melyonton quarter and theire allyes with England: Arche Armestronge called Rynyons Arche; Gorthe Armestronge sonne to Rynyon; Sime Armestronge, called Whetlesyd, marryed two English women - the fyrst was Robin Fosters daughter, the other Thome Graymes daughter called little Thome. Aby Armestronge sonne to Rynyon; Will Armestronge called Will of Powterlampert; Gorthe Armestronge called yonge Gorthe of Arkyldon, marryed Will of Radhall doughter; Rynyon Armestronge his brother; Martyn Armestronge his brother; Dave Armestronge of Whetlesyd; Andrewe Armestronge of Kyrkton; Hector Armestronge of Chengles; Thome Arnestronge his brother marryed Gourth Routlishe daughter of Shetbelt. Elle Armestronge his brother, marryed John Fosters daughter of Krakrop. Eme Armestronge his brother; Arche Armestronge his brother; Riche Armestronge called Carhand; Thome Armestronge called old Thome of Chengles; Abye Armestronge called Thoms Abye; Arche Armestronge his brother; Rynyon Armestronge his brother.

The Armestronges of the Langholme and theire allyes with England: Creste Armestronge goodman of the Langholme castell, marryed Robbye Graymes sister called Robbe of the Feild; John Armestronge of the Hollus, marryed Water Graymes sister of Netherby. Creste Armestronge of Borngles marryed Gorthe Grames daughter called Thomas Gorthe of Eske; Hector Armestronge of the Stobbam; Rich Armestronge called Ekkes Riche.

The Armestronges that came of the offspringe of Ill Wills Sandy, Ebye Armestronge the goodman of Waddusles; Wille Armestronge his eldest sonne dwelleth in England, and enjoyeth that land that Kinge Henry the Eight gave old Sand Armestronge; Dave Armestronge his brother; Sande Armestronge his brother; Creste Armestronge called Sandes Creste; Creste Armestronge his sonne, and other two sonnes whose names I knowe not. Wille Armestronge called Kynmont, marryed Hotchane Grames daughter, sister to Hot(c)hans Ritche. Joke Armestronge his sonne; Gorthe Armestronge his brother; Frauncis Armestronge his brother; Thome Armestronge his brother; Rynyon Armestronge called Sandes Rynyon; Thome Armestronge his sonne; Arche Armestronge, called Sandes Arche; Forge Armestronge called Sandes Forge; Joke Armestronge called Castills; Joke Armestronge, called Walls; Dave Armestronge, called Dave of Kannonby, marryed Patyes Gorthes Grams doughter. Wille Armestronge his brother; Jeme his brother; John Armestronge called Skinabake; Thome Armestronge of Rowenborne; Gorthe Armestronge of the same, marryed Jeme Taylors daughter of Harper hill.

Thus have I come downe Lyddell with the Ellotes and Armestronges alonge the Scottishe syde, and I will goe forward downe Eske syde so far as it is Scottishe, and I will goe on to Gratney to the sea, and then come back to the Englishe syde, and so goe downe agayne, that your honor maye be the more parfyte howe they dwell one agaynst the other.

The Urwens and theire alleyaunce with England downe to the Rad Kyrcke.
The Lord of Graynay marryed Forgus Grams doughter. Watt Urwen of Gratney hill marryed Robin Fosters doughter. Riche Urwen of Greatney hill; Edward Urwen of Gratnaye. Mongo Urwen marryed William Grames doughter of Levne. Will Urwen of Sarke bridge marryed Littell Thome Graymes doughter. Will Urwen of Readhall. Edward Urwen of Kyrke Patrick. Edward Urwen of the Banshaue marryed oulde Riche the Grames doughter of Netherby. Creste Urwen his sonne. Will Urwen of Kyrkconill; Jefrey Urwen of the Bonshawe; Edward Urwen called yonge Edward, marryed Robbe Grames doughter of the Fald. Gorthe Urwen of the Bonshawe; John Urwen called the Dukes John.

Heare endes the waters ande goe into the sea. And nowe that I have made an ende of the Scottishe syde of the water, I wil begin at Kyrsope, and so down Lyddall agayne.

The Fosters of Kyrsope and Lyddall, and theire alleyaunce with Scotland:
Frauncis Foster of Kyrsopefoote marryed Martyn Ellotes doughter of the Bradley. Hobb Foster of Kyrsope leys marryed Will Fosters daughter of Grena in Liddisdaill. Rowe Foster marryed Sandes Creste Armestronges doughter. Will Foster called Will of the Closse; Joke Foster of the same; Jeme Foster of the Staugo(r)thsyde; Will Foster of the Rone; John Foster his sonne marryed John Armestronges doughter of Whethaughe. Andrewe Foster his brother; Arche Forster his brother; Joke Foster of the Neuk; Andrew Foster of the same; John Foster of the same; Edward Foster of the same; Gorthe Foster of the Stangerthsyde; Andrewe Foster of the same; Jeme Foster called Adams Jeme; Will Foster of the Rotter forde; John Foster his sonne; Davy Foster of the Rotter forde. Theise Fosters dwell all juste agaynst the Armestronges , and deare neighbours. Nowe I will come to the Ruttligis that dwell within them, and then I will on with Soupart and the Graymes till I come to Bownus.

The Ruttligis and there alleyaunce with Scotland which is but little, for that they are every mans praye:
John Rutledge of the Cructborne, slayne by the Scottish ryders. Gerrey his sonne; Addame Rutledge of the Neteclughe; Anton Rutledge of the same; Andrew Rutledge of the same; Dikes Rowe Rutledge; Jeme Rutledge of the Neuk; Jeme Rutledge of the Stubbe; Jeme Rutledge called yonge Jeme; Jarre Rutledge of the Stubbe; Thome Rutledge of Todhills; Allane of the same; Dike Rutledge of the Baley heade; Thome Rutledge of the same. All theise dwell in a place called the Bale, within the Fosters. More Rutlidges dwell downe the water of Levne. John Ruttlidge of the Black Dobs; Nicoll Rutlidge his brother; Andrewe Rutlidge called Black stafe; Gourthe Rutledge of Sletbeke; Jeme Ruttlidge of the same; Will Ruttlidge of Comcrauke; Riche of the same; Johne of the same; Jeme Rutledge of the same; John Ruttlidge of Troughed; Riche Rutlidge of the same; John Rutlidge of the same; Allan Rutlidge his brother; John Dodshone, slayne by the Scottes; Willi Rutlidge of the Lukknes. And manie more that I omyt for tedyousnes to your honor.

Within the Ruttligis, dwell the Nyxons on both the Levens.
Cleme Nixon of the Hole of Levne; Arche Nixson of Kendall; Hobbe Nyxon called Malles Hobbe; John Nixon Daves John; thome Nixon Henryes Thome; Arche Nixon Wates Arche; Will Nyxon called Beksword; Cudde Nyxon Blankirtluges; Will Nyxon called Byntaby; Cleme Nixon Charles Cleme; Hector Nyxon of the Shate; John Nyxon of the same; John Nyxon Crestes John; Jenkins Ady Nyxon; John Nixon, Wills John; John Nyxon of the Parke.

Within the Nyxons dwell the Nobles, Taylors, some of the Grames, and a fewe Storyes, and are hard by the Howse of Bewcastell.

Hobbe Noble; Anthon Noble; Jeme Noble; Arche Noble of the Eshecrofte; Will Noble of the Crew, murthered by old Whethaugh; Monge Noble; Dike Noble; Gourth Noble; Addame Noble of the Stokasted; Will Taylor of the Graynes; Thom Taylor of the same; Robin Story of the same; Addam Storye of Pelahill; Will Storye of the same; Nicholl Smison; Will Smison slayne; Jenkin Smison; John Rutlidge of Kemorflat; Will Rutlidge of Kyrkbekmouthe; John Makrobin; Arche Scot; John Noble of the Saughes. Theise all dwell within the demayne of Bewcastell.

The Belbank, and it is within the Rutliges and is next unto Gylslande.

Hector Noble; Cleme Rutlidge of the Kyll; Jenkyn Rutlidge of Belbanke; Will Rutlidge of Nunsclughe; Arche Poudam; Thome Poudam; Gorth Rutlidge of Mastthorne; Edde Poudam; Gorthe Poudam; Jenkyn Poudam; Creste Poudam; Dave Poudam; Alexander Poudam; Will Foster of the Lynehalme; Allayne Foster of the same. Theise joyne all uppon Gylslande, my lorde of Arrundalls land; howe be it the furthest parte of Lyddisdall and the furthest parte of Bewcastell are not distant xvj myles, so as the ryders may by night easely come to anie parte of it, and doe theire accustomed evill deedes, and be at theire owne howses longe before daye. They may, as there use is, go x of xij myles further into the cuntrey, either upon my lorde of Arrundalls landes or Christopher Dacres, and make a spoyle, and be at home before daie. Heare your honor maye see howe the Fosters inhabit uttermost, the Rutliges next them, and the Nixons next them, and next the howse of Bewcastell the Nobles and others, as I have sett downe before. So I will pas on to Soupart and downe the water on oure English syde; and within Soupart standes Hethersgill, all Hethringtons, almost to Carlill, beinge my lady Knevetes grounde and William Musgraves, and hath there Skalby castell, a strong howse and a fayre, very well set for a captayne to lye in - yet it is not kept by anie souldyars, not skantly anie dweller in it.

Soupart, and the Taylors that dwell there.
Sim Taylor; Jerre Taylor, Gibs sonne; Joke Taylor; John Taylor called Chefton; Cudde Taylor called Pottes Cudde; John Taylor called Shanke; Will Rutlidge of the Lukins; Will Rutlidge of the Sinke heade. Thus farr goeth Bewcastell parte of Souport, and the other halfe is inhabyted with Taylors and belonges to William Musgrave, therefore I over pas theire names.

Heare I will note unto your honor, of the Grames and how they did fyrst inhabit the water of Eske; for within the memorye of man yet beinge, they had no land there, but the Storyes had it and the right thereof, for my old Lorde Daker havinge made a wardein rode, was by Englishmen betrayed, and Scotland had intelligence of his cuminge before he came, and was ready for him, so as he and all the cuntrey was in great perill. My Lorde Dakers, suspectinge olde Riche Grame, did apprehend him, and thought to have executed him for that cause; it was his fortune to eskape out of the pryson, and in short tyme made him selfe cleare of that fact - for he did apprehand the deed doer, beinge a Story. The Storyes, fearinge my lorde Dakers fury, fled and lefte the cuntrey, and went into Northumberland to a place called Killum, where they yet dwell and are a great surname. They beinge gone, Rich Grayme, Fergus his brother, and theire brethren, did devyde theire groundes amongest them, and are growen to a hughe companie of men, that came of thes fyve brethren of the Grames as followeth:

Rich Grame of Netherby and his sonnes, his sonnes sonnes, and their allyaunces with Scotland.
Dik Grame called Riches Dik; Water his sonne marryed Robbe of the Faldes daughter; Dave his brother marryed the larde of Meskyrshin his daughter; Will Grame his brother; Sime Grame his brother; Will Grame second sonne of old Riche, mrryed his fryst wyfe, the larde of Mangertons daughter, and hath nowe Robin Ellotes sister of Lyddisdall; Joke Grame his sonne called Black Joke; Forge Grame his brother; Riche Grame his brother, marryed Wat Bells doughter; Frauncis Grame his brother; Robbe Grame his brother; Frauncis Grame his brother marryed Will Bells doughter; Arche Grayme his brother; Thomas Grame his brother, called coseninge Thomas; Joke Grame his brother called gallotes Joke; Sim Grame his brother; Gorth Grame sonne to old Rich did become Scottishe, and dwelleth at the Red kyrke in Scotland, and was marryed with the Hamiltons. He had by her yssue as followeth: Riche Grame, he marryed A(r)thor of Carlills daughter; Wat Grame his brother; Gorth Grame his brother; Creste Grame his brother; John Grame his brother. Theise and a nomber more that I cannot calle to memorye, came of old Rich of Netherby, besydes his doghter sonnes, which altogether be more than a hundreth men besydes women.

Fergus Grame, and those that came of him:
Will Grame, Arthor Grame, theise were both condemned of wilfull murder, and in the rebellion were loused, one by my Lorde Scroup, the other by Sir Simon Musgrave but shortly after Wille Grame was slayne. Arthor was not askt for anie more, and dwelt on his fathers landes at the Mote, and marryed the larde of Newbye daughter, and hath by her iiijer sonnes not yet men. Riche Grame there brother marryed Allen Baytes doughter in Esdall and hath iiijor or v sonnes by her, and not yet men. Gorth Grame his brother marryed Jokke Bells daughter, and hath by her children. Frauncis Grame his brother marryed Edward Urwens doughter of the Bonshawe, and is become Scottishe and dwelleth in Cannonby, sworne denyzant to the Kinge; Jokke Grame called Sandhills his brother; Crest Grame his brother; Hobbe Grame his brother.

Thome Grame brother to Rich and his yssue:
Dave Grame of the Baukehead; Gorth Grame, called Thomas Gorthe; Creste Grame his brother; Arch Grame his brother. Gorth Grame marryed Will of Kynmontes syster, and Thomas Carlton that seketh all the dispyte agaynst me, marryed his doughter - so his wyfes frendes will come on the daie to him and her, and spoyle on the night as they go home - and this my lorde Scrup doth suspect in Charleton. Jokke Grame Gorthes sonne; Sand Grame his brother.

Hutcheon Grame and other brethren, and his issue:
Andrew Grame marryed Dave Jonstons doughter in Anerdall; Robbe Grame his brother marryed Edward Urwens doughter of the Bonshawe; Arthor Grame his brother; Riche Grame Andrewes brother, marryed Addame of Carlells doughter in Anerdall.


John Grayme called the Brayd, another brother, had yssue:
Rytche Grame called Medhopp, and marryed Edward Urwens sister of Kyrke Patrick; Will Grame his brother, marryed the larde of Gratney his sister. Jokke Grame called Braddes Jokke; Jokke Grame of Medope marryed Edward Urwens doughter of Bonshawe; Sime Grame his brother; Forge Grame his brother; Frauncis Grame his brother; Jokke Grame his brother.

Will Grame called Will of Carlill an other brother and his yssue:
Arthor Grame of Carlill is Scottishe, and dwelleth by the Red kyrke in Scotland. Forge Grame, called Forge of the Nunery, his brother, dwelleth on the grounde Kinge Henry gave his father; Wille Grame his brother, called Will of Rose-trees; Gorth Grame his brother, called Gorth of Carlill.

Will Grame of the Fald, an other brother of old Riches of Netherby and his issue:
Robbe Grame of the Fald marryed the larde of Hawmans his doughter; Will of the Fald his brother marryed Hector Armestranges doughter of the Harlowe; Gorth Grame of the Fald.

The Grames of Levne, which are great ryders and ill doers to both the realmes:
Dike Grame called Blacke Dike; Will Grame his sonne; Robbe Grame his sonne; Wat Grame his sonne. John Grame of West Linton; Andrew Grame of the Mill; Gorth Grame Parsalls Gorth; Thome Grame son to Alyes Wille; Rany Grame; Humfray Grame; Jorthe Grame, Patyes Jorthe; Will Grame called Dikes Will; Dik Grame of the Woodes; Thome Grame called Markes Thome; Will Grame called Stanyston ryge; Pett Grame called Thomas Payt; Gorth Grame his brother; Rich Grame of Randelenton. These are of Eske: Gorth Grame of Peretree; Jokke Grame his sonne; Will Grame of the Peretree; Forge Grame of Gravockhall; Blake Jokes Jone Grame.

The cross frendes and varyaunces, one surname with an other:
The Ellotes with the Fenykes; The Armestronges, Grames, and Urwens with the Musgraves; the Grames with the Bells; the Grames with the Maxwells; the Armestronges with the Robsons of Tendall; the Fosters with Je(d)worth Forrest; the Taylors with the Armestronges.

The wast groundes that are west of Bewcastell, which I estimate is broad xviij myles from Whyt Levne head to the hed of Kylder water; and from Kersope hed to the head of Cokket water is further to my judgment. When Leddisdall people make anie invacions to the Fenwickes, they goe without Bewcastell x or xij myles, and goe by the Perlfell without the Horse heade nere Kelder, and so alonge abone Chepchase. When they goe to the water of Tyne, they goe by Kyrsopp head, and without the Gele Crage and by Tarnbek and Bogells Gar and so alonge by the Spye Crage, and the Lampert, and come that waye.

Thus your lordshipe may see the vewe of our lawles people, who are growne to suche strengthe as almost non dare offende them, they are a people that wilbe Scottishe when they will, and Englishe at theire pleasure; they kepe gentlemen of the cuntrey in feare, care not what evill accions they take in hand, and by theise allyaunces her Majesties horses that should serve the realme are transported into Scotland, the poore are oppressed, for where they owe displeasure they drawe theire plates and veynes theire purpos untill they have made it sure, and bringes in Scotshmen to do execucions of theire pretence, and make them selves clere of those crymes, that theire brothers, sonnes, sisters children, and other nere kynsfolke and allyaunce doe. The poore crye out and are glade to sell their levinges to them that oppres them, for what it pleaseth them to gyve. I my selfe have sene the Grames assayle my Lord Scrup being wardin, and have put him and the gentlemen of the cuntrey in great perill, and manie of his companie hurte, yet never anie execucion done for it, but all remytted and forgeven, besydes manie other heighe crymes done, and never anie that loste his lyfe for whatsoever they did. Hardly deare anie gentleman of the cuntrey be of any jury of lyfe and death yf anie of them be indyted, as the justices of that circuit can testefie, they are growne so to seke bloode, for they will make a quarrell for the death of theire grandfather, and they will kyll any of the name they are in feade with. So I (my good lord), ame banyshed my cuntrey for feare of my lyfe, and from my place of service, where I have served this x yeres, and I doe but report my doinges to the gentlemen and trewe people of the cuntrey, and my behavyour to my neighbours. And seinge my lord, I ame banished from my frendes and forst to stande on my gard in land of pease, havinge tyed my selfe to all the Queenes lawes which they dare not answer, my onely trust resteth in your honor to be my helpe, trustinge your lordship will pittie my estate and my olde fathers, and I shalbe bounde daly to pray to God for your good health longe lyfe and incresce of much honor.And what I shall take in hand, I hope my lord and master the Earle of Warwick, and his brother, my lord of Hunsdon and my lord presydent of the north, will gyve theire wordes for me. Thus I have shewed my diligence towardes your lordship: hopinge to have perdone for my rashe presumpsion to your lordship, I gyve over to troble your lordship, prayinge the Almightie to preserve your lyfe health and honor longe in this realme of England." Signed: Thomas Musgrave.

*West Tyvidale answereth to the English W.March.
Est Tyvedale answereth to the Midle March.
In West Tyvydale: Lard of Buckclugh, a Scott. Lard of Bedoroule, a Trumboll. Lard of Bon Jedwath, a Dowglass.
In Est Tyvydale: Lard of Cesford, a Carr. Lard of Craynston, a Carr.
"In Lyddisdaile: The cheff ruler is the Lord Bothwell, to whom the Armitag, whereof James Carr is kepar."

19 pp. Addressed at the head: "To the right honorable and my singuler good lord, the Lord Burleigh lord Heigh Treasorer of England."

Routledge Family of Bewcastle, Cumberland and the Bond for Liddesdale, 1543

Returning for a short time to the Routledge Family of Bewcastle, Cumberland and I managed to partially transcribe a bond that was taken in 1543 by a number of residents of Liddesdale to ensure their loyalty to King Henry VIII. This bond includes as one of the 16 individuals who agreed to stand as pledge of their loyalty Joke Routledge. In 1543 he is not listed as the Laird of the Routledge Clan but by 1583 he is so named. Thomas, my cousin, would like to discover where Joke Routledge lived in order to ascertain just which Routledge branch were Laird of the Clan as in later years there wasn't a reference to anyone as being Laird of the Routledge Clan and thus we remain as leaderless so to speak. Although Thomas Routledge has kindly stepped into the breach and taken over the duties of "head" of the Routledge Clan. Tom lives in England and has been very busy accumulating a vast amount of information on the Routledge Clan:

http://www.everymansprey.com/

which you should visit if you are interested in your Routledge Family History.

The document is below as I have transcribed it thus far (it still needs a lot of work but I will move forward in the documents and work on the next ones that he has sent to me):

Transcriber - Elizabeth Kipp
Transcription Date - 21 May 2012
Document Read - XVIII, Pt II. 137 folio 32 page 209, page 210
Location of Document - The National Archives, Kew, London, England
Date of Document - 6 Sep 1543

Title: Copye of the Bonde for the Leddesdalle
1    M[emorandu]m that in h[i]s kynge his ma[jes]ties casstell gardyn at carlisle The
2    Sext day of septembre In the xxxvth yeare of his hyghnes most gra
3    cious Reigne, Thomas  Harmstrang Lord of Mayngerton x[o]p[h]ofer
4    armestrange  called Laird cystell perey armestrange archbald
5    armestrange Sym armestrang called Reid Sym dobs armstrange
6    Renyan Harmstrang Wyll armestrang called wyll of the gyngles
7    davy armestrange called davy the lady of sym armestrange whyntyn
8    Soy yngrys armstrang  Joke Routlege crysty armstrang John son
9    Arche armstrang hew son georg forster of grenole And cristy
10    armstrange whyntyn son p[er]sonallie have appeared afore Sir Thomas
11    Wharton kinges deputie wardane of the west ma[r]ches for and west
12    scotland and tht hayth  sworyd the Solemyne oathe uppon the
13    gelide _______shisties to the said deput[ie] warden in the marche and on
14    behalf of the kyngs ma[jes]tie his most ____ sov[er]eigne Lord __hsyng
15    and _______ they by the sayd oathe and ______ ____ of all s________
16    __ _yraishe that as well as sayd thomas harmestrang x[o]pofer arms
16    trange bengey armstrang allan armstrang doby armstrang
17    arche armstrang georg foster cristy harmstrang then foes kyn
19    frends and clannes whos names or expressed in a cedall unto
20    this p[re]sent bond annexede at all others ther kyn frends and clannes
21    shall from henseforth trewlie and loyallie as most obyedient and
22    set most farr a mynd to all these powers sorte and myght ____ the
23    kyng his ma[jes]tie my lord wardan his hyghnes seide offecers or
24    offecers of the ____ for the tym beyng as all tymes and as all
25    commandments And for the assurances of that said _____ to be trewly
26    and loyally don in ____ as afore and for the true p[er]formance of
27    the sayng and the said thomas armsetrang x[o]per armstrang porry
28    armstrang archbald armstrang Sym armstrang petor armstrang
29    Ringey armstrang well armstrang davy armstrang sey armstrang
30    georg armstrang Joke Routlege cristy armstrang arche armstrang
31    georg foster and crysty armstrang hath named and cypoyised
32    sextyn psanes as to say Roy armstrang son to thom the lard archbalde
33    armstrang x[o]pofer son alexander armstrang wyll of the Gingles by
34    arche armstrang than of the marches son olyvar armstrang son to olyvar
35    sym armstrang son to andrew of bakstangill jefry armstrang
36    Roger son sandy armstrang hughy son jefry routleg
    [Page 2]
37    ____ son georg foster Sh___ armstrang Ringey son hobby armstrang davy
38    the lady son John armstrang archie of Jonston son and monyte armstrang
39    archy son ____ tyen of coowopdall ____ of iiij _____ to lye at pled
40    ges in the ______ liste or ____ shall plesse the kyng his
41    ma[jes]tie his hyghnes most honourable _____ or his of[fec]ers said off[ece]rs
42    or _____ for the tym beyng to assyne and appoynte ______
43    them ____ lyke payn as afore it the said pledges shall trewly Re
44    mayn at trew yf pledges ____ ____ they shalbe appoynted and not the
45    _____ frend clens ____ speciall  ly___ of the kyng his ma[jes]tie
46    his hyghnes most honorable _____ his graces said offecers
47    or offecer for the tym beyng In wetnesse whereof the aforsaid thomas
48    armstrang larde of mayngerton x[o]pofer armstrang perry armstrang
49    archbald armstrang sym armstrang robert armstrang Ringey armstrang
50    wyll armstrang davy armstrang sym armstrang hugye armstrang
51    Joke routlege cristie armstrang arche armstrang georg foster
52    and cristie armstrang to this p[re]sent  bond hath put there
53    sealle and subscribed the saym as there ___ hands the day
54    and yere above said
55    Tho[mas] Whartton


In a publication:

'Henry VIII: September 1543, 6-10', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 18 Part 2: August-December 1543" the following information was obtained on this document:

6 Sept. 137. Liddisdale.

Memorandum that, in the castle garden at Carlisle, 6 Sept., 35 Hen. VIII., Thos. Harmstrang lard of Mayngerton, Chr. Armstrang called Braide Crystell, Paton Armstrang, Archibald Armstrang, Sym Armstrang called Reide Sym, Ector Armstrang, Renyan Harmstrang, Wyll Armstrang called Wyll of ye Gyngles, Davy Armstrang called Davy ye Lady, Sym Armstrang Whyntyn son, Yngrye Armstrang, Joke Routlege, Cristy Armstrang John son, Arche Armstrang Hew son, George Forster of Grenow and Cristy Armstrang Whyntyn son, personally, before Sir Thos. Wharton, deputy warden of the West Marches, took solemn oath that they, "their sons, kin, friends and clannes whose names are expressed in a schedule unto this present bond annexed," and all other their kin, friends, and clannes will henceforth serve the King and his officers of the Marches; and appointed sixteen persons (named, with their fathers' names and abodes) to lie in pledge for this. Signed : Thomas Whartton.

Copy, pp. 2. Headed Copye of the bande for ye Leddesdalles.   From: 'Henry VIII: September 1543, 6-10', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 18 Part 2: August-December 1543
 

As you can see there are lots of blanks and I continue to work on the document.