Will of Jenkins Buller, Gentleman of Nether Stowey - The National Archives PROB 11/1270/21, probated 8 Jan 1796

Jenkins Buller the testator is the son of Edward and Sarah Buller baptized 25 May 1732. Jenkins Buller buried 8 Oct 1794 (62 years of age). His parents were Mr Edward Buller married to Mrs Sarah Jenkins 12 Jun 1729 at Crowcombe (the Mr. and Mrs. denoting gentry). Their children were as follows:

Mary Buller daughter of Edward and Sarah baptized 2 Sep 1730
Jenkins Buller son of Edward and Sarah baptized 25 May 1732
Richard Buller son of Edward and Sarah baptized 17 May 1734; buried 3 Sep 1735
Richard Buller son of Edward and Sarah baptized 12 Jan 1737
Elizabeth Buller daughter of Edward and Sarah baptized 12 Jan 1737

Meandering through the Somerset Record Office Catalogue I found a document (DD\AH/2/5/1 (C/2270) Marriage Settlement between William Silke and Anne Buller and it states that Edward, Gregory and Anne Buller are all siblings (20 Jun 1732).

Richard Jenkins Poole was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth baptized 27 Dec 1770. Their daughter Sarah was baptized 17 Aug 1764. Thomas Poole and Elizabeth Buller were married 18 Jul 1763 and all of these services took place at Nether Stowey.  I did not find a marriage for his older sister Mary or his brother Richard.  There was a Mary Buller buried 23 Sep 1785 and several burials for a Richard Buller at Nether Stowey.

This particular family has daughtered out it would appear as Jenkins Buller has left no heirs and his brother Richard is not mentioned in the will. The nephew inheriting the largest part of the property is Richard Jenkins Poole which does perhaps tell the story. His father Thomas Poole was a tanner and he became quite prominent in Nether Stowey.

Is it possible to determine the parents of Edward Buller father of Jenkins and looking at the Nether Stowey Records :

Edward Buller son of Richard and Jane baptized 6 Jan 1691

appears to be the only Edward Buller baptized there. The father being Richard is interesting. Certainly Jenkins was named for his mother's family and then the naming of the second son as Richard could perhaps lead us back to Richard Buller and Jane Dyer married 6 Feb 1689. There were three Buller families in this time period at Nether Stowey - Richard and Jane; George and Sarah,  and Gregory and Jane. Were these three men brothers - no we know from the marriage agreement that only Edward and Gregory are brothers to Anne who married William Silke 13 Jul 1732 at Nether Stowey? The Visitation for the Buller family still does not come down far enough to link these men back to the Lillesdon Buller family. John Buller who married Elizabeth Rogers and died 12 Jan 1592 (there is an Inquisition Post Mortem which I may just look at the next time we are at Kew) which might assist but he is listed as having sons George (son and heir born circa 1549), John, Robert, Benjamin and Richard. There is still a gap of 50 plus years since Gregory, Richard and George would likely have been born between 1660 and 1670 or earlier so not likely the sons of the above mentioned five brothers. Plus there are other lines coming down on the Visitation that do not extend as far as this particular one. One can see my dilemma as to which line my Christopher Buller belongs or was he descendant of the Warwickshire Buller family?

An interesting set of wills that is not exactly answering my question but does point out that the Buller family of Liddesdon other than Alexander Buller who moved to Cornwall has not been investigated to any great degree.

Children of these three couples baptized at Nether Stowey:
John Buller son of Gregory and Jane baptized 9 Jul 1690
Edward Buller son of Richard and Jane baptized 6 Jan 1691
Thomasin Buller daughter of Gregory and Jane baptized 12 May 1692
Sarah Buller daughter of Richard and Jane baptized 17 Nov 1692
Gregory Buller son of Gregory and Jane baptized 6 Jun 1694
Richard Buller son of Richard and Jane baptized 20 Dec 1694
George Buller son of George and Sarah baptized 22 Aug 1695
Elizabeth Buller daughter of Gregory and Jane baptized 26 Oct 1696
Jane Buller daughter of Richard and Jane baptized 3 Oct 1697
Richard Buller son of Gregory and Jane baptized 18 Aug 1698
Jane Buller daughter of Gregory and Jane baptized 24 Jan 1700
Anne Buller daughter of Richard and Jane baptized 8 May 1701
Sarah Buller daughter of Gregory and Jane baptized 22 Jul 1702
James Buller son of Gregory and Jane baptized 27 Jul 1704
Constance Buller daughter of Richard and Jane baptized 28 Mar 1705

An interesting entry in the marriage register at Nether Stowey:

Richard Bullar and Thomasine Gogan of Chedsey married 5 Oct 1654

and one of the daughters of Gregory is named Thomasine.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 8 Mar 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1270/21
Testator: Jenkins Buller, Gentleman
Place: Nether Stowey, Somersetshire
Date of document: 28 Dec 1792, probated 8 Jan 1796
Read: Electronic copy images
Document quality: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Jenkins
[Margin]: Buller

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Jenkins Buller of Nether Stowey in the County of
3    Somerset Gentleman do make publish and declare theis
4    my last will and Testament in manner and form following
5    (that is to say) first I desire that I may be decently
    [Page 2]
6    Interred if possible on a Sunday in manner following
7    I desire that three pounds and three shillings may
8    be expended in a Coffin and second that the Clergyman
9    of the said parish and the apothecary may attend
10    my funeral and that each of them may have a
11    handsome black wede hat band and a pair of the
12    best Gloves each hatband and Gloves to cost twenty
13    shillings I desire that the six following persons
14    may carry me to Church (if they are to be p___ced)
15    if not any other Men in the payment of the Coffin maker Thomas
16    Cussons David Murray Thomas Verrier Francis Fry
17    and Morris Coles each of them together with the
18    Clerk to have a wede hat band and a pair of
19    good Gloves each hat band and Gloves to cost ten
20    shillings and six pence I desire that the sexton
21    for the Grave and bell may have seven shillings
22    and six pence in money and that my Executor
23    herein after named do give twelve pair of Men's and
24    twelve pair of Women's Gloves to such persons as
25    he may think fit I Give to my Niece Sarah
26    Poole my Gold watch and Seals I Give and Devise
27    unto my Nephew Richard Jenkins Poole his heirs and
28    assigns all that my freehold Messuage or Tenement
29    with the Lands and hereditaments thereto belonging
30    commonly called or known by the name of Chalkoce and
31    also all that my other Messuage or Tenement and
32    hereditaments adjoining or near to the said last
33    mentioned Messuage and premises commonly called Seagers
34    and also all that my one undivided fourth part or
35    share the whole in four equal parts or shares
36    divided of and in all that tenement with the Lands
37    hereditaments and premises thereto belonging commonly
38    called Four heirs ground and also all that my other Tenem[en]t
39    with the Lands hereditaments and premises thereto belonging
40    commonly called or known by the name of Freemans
41    Tenement together with all and singular the appurtenances to the
42    same premises respectively belonging all which properties are
43    situate lying and being in the parish of Spaxton in the said
44    County To hold all and every the above mentioned Messuages or
45    Tenements Lands hereditaments and premises with their several and
46    respective rights Members and appur[te]nants to the said Richard Jenkins
47    Poole his heirs and assigns for ever subject and charged nevertheless
48    to and with the payment of the sum of seven hundred
49    pounds and I do hereby expressly order and direct that the
50    said sum of seven hundred pounds shall be raised and
51    levied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease out
52    of the said Freehold Messuages or Tenements and hereditaments
53    before devised to the said Richard Jenkins Poole and be
54    applied by my Executor herein after named as far as the
55    the same will extend towards the payment of my just debts
56    also I give and bequeath unto the said Richard Jenkins
57    Poole all that copyhold piece of Ground commonly called
    [Page 3]
58    Popham's ten acres situated within the parish of Stogursey
59    in the said County To hold the same to the said
60    Richard Jenkins Poole his Executors Administrators and
61    Assigns for and during all the Estate and Interest I may have
62    therein at the time of my decease I give and bequeath
63    unto my said Niece Sarah Poole her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors
64    assigns all these my two Leasehold Tenements Closes of land
65    and premises with the appurtenances thereto respectively
66    belonging commonly called or known by the several names
67    of Marlpits and Scores situate lying and being within the
68    parish of Nether Stowey aforesaid To hold the same unto
69    her the said Sarah Poole her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and assigns
70    for and during all the Estate right title terms or terms and
71    Interest I may have of all or to the same premises
72    respectively at the time of my death but subject
73    nevertheless and charged to and with the payment of the
    and to be charged with the said sum of two hundred pounds and the
74    sum of two hundred pounds shall be raised and levied
75    as soon as conveniently may be after my decease out of
76    my said Leasehold Tenements so devised to the said Sarah
77    Poole as aforesaid and be applied as far as the same
78    will extend towards the payment of my just debts I
79    Give and bequeath for and towards the support of the
80    Sunday Schools established in the said Parish of Nether
81    Stowey the sum of ten shillings and six pence per annum
82    to be paid by my Executor yearly and every year so
83    long as the instruction shall continue I give and bequeath
84    the like sum of ten shillings and six pence per annum
85    towards the support of a benefit Society or poor Mans
86    Chist lately established in the said parish of Nether
87    Stowey to be likewise paid by my Executor yearly and
88    every year so long as the said benefit Society shall
89    continue undissolved and as to for and concerning all and
90    every other my Freehold and Leasehold Messuages Ten[ement]s
91    Lands hereditaments and premises whatsoever and where
92    soever situate whereof I now and or shall or may
93    at the time of my decease be any wise seized
94    possessed of or entitled unto either in possession reversion
95    remand or expectancy or otherwise have power together with
96    all other my personal and Testamentary Estate and Effects what
97    soever and wheresoever not herein before disposed of after
98    payment of my just debts provided the said several
99    sums herein before charged on and to be raised out of
100    my said Freeholds
101    and
    [Page 4]
102    and Leaseholds Estates and applied as far as the same
103    sums will extend towards the accomplishment thereof
104    should prove insufficient to discharge then funeral expences
105    and Legacies I Give and Devise and bequeath the same unto
106    my Nephew Thomas Poole the younger his heirs Executors
107    Adm[inistrat]ors and assigns To hold the same unto the said Thomas
108    Poole the younger his heirs Executors Adm[inistrato]rs and assigns
109    for ever and I do hereby make ordaine Constitute and
110    appoint the said Thomas Poole the younger Sole Executor
111    of this my Will In Witness whereof I the said Jenkins
112    Buller the testator have to this my last and Testament
113    comprized in or written on three sheets of paper to
114    the two first sheets set my hand and to this third and
115    last sheet my hand and Seal the eighth day of
116    September in the year of our Lord One thousand
117    Seven hundred and ninety five Jenkins Buller
118    Signed Sealed published and declared by the said
119    Jenkins Buller the Testator as and for his last will and
120    Testament in the presence of us who at his request in
121    his presence and in the presence of each other have
122    subscribed our names as witnesses thereto Tho[ma]s Price
123    David Murray Jos R Poole
124    This Will was proved at London on the eighth
125    day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand
126    seven hundred and ninety six before the Right Honorable
127    Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper
128    or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury
129    lawfully Constituted by the oath of Thomas Poole the
130    younger the Nephew of the deceased and Sole Executor
131    named in the said Will to whom administration was
132    Granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits
133    of the said deceased having been first sworn by Commission
134    duly to administer

Will of James Buller, mariner, Macao, East Indies - The National Archives PROB 11/1166/279, probated 13 Jun 1788

The will of James Buller at Macao, East Indies is an interesting read. Life must have been very hard in these areas in this time period. No idea if Joseph Buller his natural son survived. He does name his father as the Reverend James Buller of Tytherington, Gloucestershire. From the Parish Registers of Gloucestershire in Thornbury there is a marriage of the Rev James Buller, MA to Jane Gummersall (married by license 5 Mar 1764 Family Search M05783-2). Thornbury district includes the parish of Tytherington. It is near Bristol.

Perhaps he is descendant of the Lillesdon Somerset Buller family so a most interesting find. Unfortunately his father has not left a will that was probated by the PCC. There are two wills at Tytherington in the Gloucestershire Archives. One is for an Elizabeth Buller and it was probated in 1831 and a second for a Jane Buller probated in 1800. Tempting to order the will by Jane Buller as she is perhaps the third wife of the Reverend James Buller mentioned in the will of his son.

Three births/baptisms were found to James and Jane Buller at Tytherington:

Robert Buller baptized 22 Feb 1767
Anna Buller baptized 4 Feb 1772
Polly Buller born 14 Aug 1769, baptized 17 Sep 1769

An interesting find in that the Buller family that remained at Lillesdon is not traced down at least I haven't found any trace of them although as I write this I realize I have never checked the Visitations for the Buller family in these areas.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 6 Mar 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1166/279
Testator: James Buller, Mariner
Place: Macao, East Indies
Date of document: 18 Nov 1773, probated 13 Jun 1788
Read: Electronic copy images
Document quality: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: James
[Margin]: Buller

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I James Buller at Macao Mariner being in a
3    perfect state of mind blessed be God for it but of a
4    weak state of Body maketh this my last Will and
5    Testament that is to say First my Soul I leave to God
6    who gave it me hoping to find mercy and forgiveness
7    for all my Transgressions from my blessed Saviour and
8    Redeemer Jesus Christ my Body I request may be put
9    in the Ground in as plain a manner as possible
10    avoiding all unnecessary Expences I then leave and
11    bequeath unto my son Joseph Buller one half of
12    what Sum or Sums I die possessed of or whatever may
13    will to me after my death leaving it entirely to the
14    discretion of my Executors who I shall hereafter named
15    to advance whatever Sum or Sums they think sufficient
16    for his education bringing up in the protestant Religion
17    and securing whatever Sum may be left him in the
18    safest manner they think best and at the age of twenty
19    two to pay him the whole Sum I have left him Item
20    I leave and bequeath unto the mother of my son
21    Joseph Buller whose name is Molly her Freedom and
22    six hundred current Rupees to be put in the Company's
23    Cash and the Interest of it to be paid in Monthly
24    Item I leave and bequeath unto my Sister Elizabeth
25    Buller one fourth part of what Sum or Sums I die
26    possessed of and request it might be sent her as soon
27    as possible she is to be heard of at one Mr Finneys
28    Fish Street Soho London Item I leave and bequeath
29    unto Mrs Jane Birks at Laleham one fourth part
30    of what Sum or Sums I die possessed of and request it
31    might be sent her as soon as possible If my Son Joseph
32    Buller should die before he arrives at the age of
33    twenty two I then request the Sum I left him to be sent to
    [Page 2]
34    Europe to my Sister Elizabeth If Mrs Birks should die
35    before what I have left her comes to hand I leave
36    it to Mr Thomas Birks Surgeon at Laleham aforesaid
37    but should both of them be dead and any child or
38    children living of theirs I leave it amongst them but
39    in case of no children I leave it to my sister Elizabeth
40    If my sister Elizabeth Buller should die before what
41    I have left her comes to hand and she has any child
42    or children living I then leave it to be equally
43    divided amongst them but in case she is dead and no
44    children living and my son Joseph Buller living I request
45    the whole Sum be paid to him but in case of his death
46    I request the Sum be paid and divided equally amongst
47    the children of my Father the Reverend Mr James Buller
48    of Tytherington in Gloucestershire that might be living by his
49    third wife in case all his children by his third wife is dead
50    I then leave it to my next heir at law I leave my
51    Friend Mr David Macplaison at Madras one hundred
52    Rupees for a Ring I leave my Friend Mr Math:
53    Gunning at Calcutta one hundred Rupees for a Ring
54    I leave Mr and Mrs Punitz my Sons Godfather and
55    Godmother at Calcutta fifty Rupees each I leave my
56    friend Mr William Dalrymple who at present is at
57    Macao one hundred Rupees for a Ring and I hereby
58    appoint Mr William Dalrymple and Mr Mathew
59    Gunning my whole and sole Executors of this my last Will
60    Signed at Macao Nov[embe]r18th 1773 James Buller
61    Witness A Ramsay, John Fry, James Gray a true
62    Copy Cha: Sealy Reg[istra]r
63    On the thirteenth day of June in the Year of our
64    Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight ad[ministrati]on
65    with the Will annexed of all and singular the Goods
66    Chattells and Credits of James Buller late of Macao in
67    the East Indies a Bachelor deceased was granted to
68    Elizabeth Buller Spinster the natural and lawfull sister
69    and next of kin of the said deceased having been first
70    sworn duly to administer William Dalrymple and Mathew
71    Gunning the Executors named in the said will dying
72    without taking upon them the Execution thereof and
73    no Residuary Legatee being named in the said Will

Will of John Blake, husbandman of South Newton - SWRO P2/2 Reg/186A, probated 6 Feb 1553/54

Another John Blake in the parish of South Newton Wiltshire is testator and the year is 1553/54 (new style) with the will written the 25 Dec 1553 and probated at the end of the year 1553 but in new style this is written 6 Feb 1553/54 since February switched in the new style from being at the end of the year to being the second month of the year. At the top there is a number 186 and this will is in a book rather than a loose sheet of parchment.

On a first read through I wondered if this was the same John Blake as wrote his will in 1546 as he is married to Edyth but he has only two sons Thomas and John. This John Blake of South Newton husbandman has a large family including a sister Maria Graye and daughters Margery, Agnes, Elisabeth, Alys, Christian and Maryan and then sons Walter, Gylys, William, Edward and Robert. The witnesses to the will include John Blake the elder, John Blake the younger and with this John Blake testator there were a lot of John Blakes living in this particular area it would appear. Since this man lives in South Newton and has a son Robert I am left to wonder if Robert is the carpenter mentioned in the John Blake will of 1546. 

This John is a husbandman though so is leasing land and from the earlier will post there is quite a bit of land for common grazing. He would appear to be wealthier than the last John Blake will dated 1546 as he has costly items to give to his children. Silver was an expensive item in those days. No ideas on his age; he doesn't mention that any of his children are married but he also doesn't say they are not married. He doesn't appoint guardians for the underage children which might be a clue that he is older.

Every new will provides new information and new questions to tantalize the brain. There is a burial of a John Blake 11 Aug 1553 on Family Search (B39064-5) but no place mentioned nor the age of the person.

Edythe is his second wife as she has four children herself. He returns all the goods that she had at marriage to her. A couple of words were new to me in this will and I have not really felt that what I have transcribed is other than the exact letters found in the text but some are missing as indicated by a variable type line marking above the word which does not show in this text. I shall watch for this particular wording and correct it later if I am able to discover it.

This will has really stirred my curiosity with respect to the Blake families in South Newton. Are they descendant of the Calne Blake family? The Pedigree Chart only shows the lines that are on the Visitation and there could be many Blake lines missing from that chart even back into the 1400s and 1500s when the Chart has only one Blake line entered. Finding when the earliest records for Blake are in South Newton will be the next step as I work my way through the wills. At the National Archives that appears to be the purchase of property at Stofford by Henry Blake in the 1600s.

The wills seem to be tracing the fortunes of the Blake family in South Newton and they do appear to be accumulating some wealth. 

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 17 Oct 2012
Source:  Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office P2/2 Reg/186A
Name of testator: John Blake
Place: South Newton, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 25 Dec 1553, probated 6 Feb 1553/54 (new style)
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: 16th century, middle English, clear copy (few smudges)
[Header] Testam[ent] Johis Blake de Southe Newton   186

1    In the name of god amen the xxv th day of December
2    the yere of o[u[r lord god m ccccc liij And the Fyrst yere of the Reyngn
3    of Mary by the grace of god quene of England France Ireland
4    defend[e]r of the feythe etc I John Blake of the p[ar]eshe of Southe Newton
5    in the Countie of Wylts[hire] husbandman beyng of good and p[er]fyte memorye
6    but yet sycke in body do make this my testament contaynyng my last
7    wyll in man[ner[ and forme folowyng First I gyve and bequeathe my sowle
8    to Almyghtie god And my bodye to be buryed in the churche yerd of
9    Southe Newton a foresayde It[e]m I gyve and bequeathe to my said p[ar]eshe
10    churche of South Newton xx d It[e]m to the Cathedrall church of
11    Sa[lisbur]y viij d. It[e]m to Wyssheforde brydge xii d It[e]m to my syster Maria
12    Graye one akre of wheate and an other of barley. It[e]m to my dawght[er]
13    Margery v shepe and a payre of sylv[er] croks It[e]m to my dowghter Agnes
14    v shepe and a pyncase It[e]m to my dowghter Elisabeth a payre of beads
15    w[i]t[h] silv[er] garrdyes and v shepe It[e]m to my dowghter Alys A gyrdell
16    w[i]t[h] silv[er] hoks and v shepe It[e]m to my dowghter Christian a sylv[er]
17    croke and a coffer and v shepe It[e]m to my dowghter Maryan a sylv[er]
18    pyn and v shepe. It[e]m to my son walter a masar ij silv[er]sponns a
19    table bo[ar]d a cow and v shepe It[e]m to my son Gylys a bullocke an Akre
20    of wheate and an other of barley and the best yron barr'[?] and v shepe It[e]m
21    It[e]m to my son Will[ia]m a bullocke and v shepe It[e]m to my son Edward
22    one bullocke and v shepe and one Flocke bedd It[e]m to my wyfes iiij
23    cheldren iiij lambes It[e]m to Robert Fry a Cupbo[ar]d It[e]m to my wyfe a
24    ffetherbedd And all the pewter and brass that was hers before It[e]m to my
25    son Robert Blake the other Fetherbedd and all my workyng tolys and my Cart
26    horse w[i]t[h] all the woll that is uppon yt And an yron barr' wall[?] Also
27    my sylv[ere]d sponys and all my weryng rayment my brass pewter and lattyn
28    and my befold[?] w[i]t[h] all other treey[?] vessells as they shall thynke best to be
29    stowed yt a mongest my chylderen as I put my trust in them that ys to
30    say walter graye and John Kyngman whom I make ov[er]seers of this my
32    last will and testament to se yt trewly p[er]formed and fulfylled And they
33    shall have for ther labo[u]rs 20 s betwyxt them It[e]m to B Will[ia]m Toppying my
34    goostly Father vii s The Residwe of all my goods moveable and unmoveable
35    not gyven nor bequeathed I gyve and bequeathe un to Edythe my wyfe and
36    to Robert Blake my son whom I make myne executors the one as farforthe
37    as the other to dispose for the heleht of my sowle And all Christe[ns] Also I
38    wyll that all the forsaid shepe to be delyv[er]ed at shere tyme w[i[t[h] the wooll
39    uppon ther backs Thes keping witness John Blake th[e ]elder John Blake the
40    young[er] and John Makerell