Basement cleaning day

 Yesterday the  main floor did get cleaned a little later in the day than usual but it is complete except for washing the floors that are linoleum and the stairs which are wooden. Today it is the basement and the Robot is doing its chore. I always check it first now to ensure it is fully charged. That is our duty as the caretaker of robots; to maintain them and keep them well appointed to do the task they are assigned. 

I did glance at the next of the last two matches to do and it is an interesting one mostly because of what is not there.  It only matches my sister and is a good Rawlings matches including at X match at FT DNA but it should also have myself in the one length (there are three interesting lengths in this match). Why am I missing, that is very unusual with FT DNA. Both are original kits with FT DNA Family Finder testing two years apart. But the interesting part is that my kit uploaded from Ancestry does match my sister so it does tell me that there is a difference in the two years with the chip used to test in those time frames. So I do match as proven with the Ancestry (taken into Gedmatch by the owner)  matching the FT DNA result. I will likely complete those two matches today and as I approach the end of the month I will start to think about using CoPilot from my new Microsoft purchase of Microsoft yearly software as I move on from Microsoft 2016. I meant to upgrade it many times but just never got to it. But now the desire to work with AI necessitates my moving on. But first I will check all the databases for anything new in the last month in terms of large matches. 

I can feel a huge cohesion developing in Canada these days as we forge ahead with our Arctic protection with the global warming affecting the accessibility to the many deep water ports in the north that belong to Canada. The ability to alter how trade moves between continents is about to take place. Really it should be a friendlier world with so much to gain from co-operation but rogue nations continue to plague that ability and create difficulties that do not need to exist in the human picture. That they exist pose the greatest threat to humanity yet really. People are too selfish that demonstrate this rogue attitude in the world. It is all about them and nothing about humanity in particular. 

I am slowly getting used to this Google takeover of FitBit which I believe they own in terms of aggressive chatter directed at the user. I have managed myself these 80 years and intend to continue doing so until I cannot. However, it is collecting the data in a way that I used to look at having collected it myself so that is probably handy. We will see but I have no interest in the Premium package as it takes up too much of my time to look at and decide it is interesting. My exercise is done on the fly so to speak. I come to a point where I decide to exercise and prefer that as it doesn't interrupt my day. At the moment I need to get my 250 steps for this hour and will stop and do it and then return to writing my blog.   

So what do I actually hope to create with my large matches file (nearly 4400 lines and includes all of the chromosomes 1 to 23)? The intent is to bring together all of my known information simply drag it into a Legacy chart and then add what I find in terms of known matches and the cousin knowledge unknown matches to see how far back this information can take me. Then all the Blake wills that help to fill in the missing items from the 1400s on will be rolled in to this chart and I will have my genealogical chart from 1400 (or earlier if the material I have warrants their addition) to probably the end of the 1800s and into the early 1900s. My father was born in 1904 and likely I will include him as a child of Samuel George Blake my grandfather born in 1875. That should work for anyone looking at the chart as the census pretty much helps everyone in my Blake line with placing themselves into the correct sibling descent with Samuel or into the John Blake family (baptized 1799) and the father of Edward Blake (born 1845) who was the father of Samuel. I do have known descendants of Thomas (father of John baptized 1799) who was baptized in 1767 and the first generation of this Blake line at Upper Clatford with his father being Joseph Blake (baptized 1730 at Andover) and the son of Thomas Blake (baptized 1709 at Andover) and the son of Thomas Blake (baptized 1685 at Andover) and the son of John Blake (baptized 1649 at Andover) and Elizabeth (unknown) with John being the son of William Blake (baptized 1615 at Andover) and Ann Hellier. William (baptized 1615) was the son of William Blake and Dorothy Madgwick and William was the son of Richard Blake and Jone Blake with this Richard the son of  William Blake and Elizabeth (unknown) and the son of  Nicholas Blake married to Margaret Blake and the wills preceding Nicholas will support this furtherance back in time to Richard Blake and then Robert Blake and potentially the John Blake found at Knights Enham in the early 1300s having likely adopted his wife's surname as his own surname. So an interesting trip for sure. It fits in with what my grandfather told me although this seven year old going on eight but not quite there has a somewhat hazy memory of some of that information prior to Joseph. Forenames all jumbled but Nicholas stood out very prominently. 

Time to check on the vacuum it has had its hour to do the rugs.  

Working on GedMatch

 First sibling completed and into the second sibling. I have changed the methodology that I was using and this will be a quicker study but I had to do the long form first just to make sure I was seeing everything that I wanted to see. I am looking for items that upset the apple cart primarily. Making sure that nothing exists that proves I am incorrect in my thinking. That of course is a mirage in many ways because the number of people who have tested their autosomal DNA remains small looking at a global existence. However, I just happen to be lucky to only have ancestry from the British Isles back into the 1400s as far as I can tell. But the Parish Registers certainly show my lines back into the 1500s some as early as the first registers in 1538 so I feel somewhat confident that I am capturing a true picture of my heritage since it includes the data for four other siblings and we all match in such a way that we are all descendant of our parents without a doubt. 

The interesting part in all of this is the desire and consistent updating of the ethnicity of these five siblings by the various testing companies. They keep drilling down deeper and deeper into areas of the British Isles where I have proven ancestry. The occasional sudden shift like from southern Dorset to Lancashire in the 1800s was already known to me by word of mouth. A huge 80 year old birthday party for Charles Butt in his native Dorset called home so many of those descendants and this being an endogamous group it was huge and remains very large around the world.  My grandfather was five years old at that time but he clearly remembered going to the party and seeing all those cousins. 

Why did my grandfather recount these stories to me? Why choose a child of five years of age or perhaps even less as I can always remember him telling me stories. He would repeat those stories ad infinitum throughout our time together. Being the child I was though, adoring him completely, I listened and never said you already told me. I just loved listening to him tell me his stories of his life in the country of his birth. But the cause was his discovery of a book in the local Library written about the Blake family of Galway, Ireland. He wanted us to know that we were descendant of the Blake family of Andover and Upper Clatford where he was born. That was very important to him. Coincidentally in the latter part of the 1800s people came from America (Blake descendants) trying to find out more about Nicholas Blake of Knight Enham nr Andover who had been given a different family line by Horatio Gates Somerby (a fraudulent American genealogist who wrote stories for people in the United States about the Blake family that were incorrect (and there were other families who received the same makeover)). 

So I continue my pursuit of data that could point to something contrary to what I have put together thus far. This recent email from a descendant of the Hinxman family of Upper Clatford is interesting as he is on site there and looking at documents that might well interest me since there was a marriage between a Blake female and a male Hinxman way back in 1610 at Andover.  Elenor Blake (daughter of Richard Blake and Jone (Blake) Blake) married Joseph Hinxman 10 Dec 1610 at St Mary Andover. A very distant relationship (I estimate that Eleanor is my 9th great grandaunt). So yes I will be looking keenly at anything he does send me as this is a difficult time in the records coming into the 1630s/1640s/1650s as Cromwell had taken over the government of England and suspended the Parish Registers. However, some brave souls recorded them anyway and that included William Blake of Andover (and Foxcott) who married Ann Hellier 5 Sep 1644 at St Mary Andover and recorded the baptisms of three children at Penton Mewsey near Andover and at St Mary Andover itself. It is the linchpin in my thoughts with regard to the descent of my Blake line that eventually moved from Andover to Upper Clatford with the marriage of Joseph Blake to Joanna King 8 Jun 1757 at Upper Clatford All Saints. 

Tea all drank and now the solitaire puzzles to do. It is a good way to really jumpstart my brain in the morning. Another working day ahead of me; cleaning all done for this week.  

Prayers continuing for our beautiful world. Special prayers for the souls of the two pilots who died in the accident at LaGuardia Airport. Continuing prayers for those in hospital recovering from the same accident.  

Will of William Blake, Esquire, City of Bristol, Gloucestershire, The National Archives, PROB 11/1213/141, probated 14 Jan 1792

I mentioned the marriage of a William Blake to Rebecca Milles 12 Jun 1754 at Duloe, Cornwall in the following blog.
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/04/1248-blake-family-gloucestershire-notes.html

Also mentioned in this blog the baptisms of a son Richard 1 Dec 1760 at Bristol, a son William 3 Dec 1757 and a daughter Rebecca 21 Apr 1759 all at Bristol to William and Rebecca Blake. Only the baptism of Mary is missing. Judging by the coat of arms on the memorial table for Richard Blake husband of Anne Augusta Blake (formerly Hayward), this line uses the same coat of arms as the Blake family of Calne.

A relook at the marriage records now online for Cornish parishes does not reveal this marriage mentioned above (the marriage is listed in Ancestry as William Blake and Rebecca Blakey 12 Jun 1754 at Duloe).  Find My Past, however, does list this as the marriage of William Blake and Rebecca Milles at Duloe 12 Jun 1754 (and a second reference has the surname of Rebecca as Blakey). But why not listed on the marriage records for Cornish parishes transcribed by the online parish clerks? That does appear somewhat confusing.

Who is this William Blake and how does he relate to the other members of the Ambrose Blake family in Gloucestershire or does he come down from another line also related to the Blake family at Calne?

Names mentioned in the will:

William Blake, Esquire, Bristol, testator
John Smith, tenant
Richard Blake, (married), son, child of first marriage
William Blake, (married), son, child of first marriage
____ Coriton Esquire, landlord
James Blake, son, child of second marriage
Mr Higgins, brazier, tenant
Mrs Hellier, tenant
John Marsh, Esquire, son in law
Clementia Blake, daughter, child of second marriage
Mr Hall, tenant
Mr Jeremiah Osborne, trustee (not for this testator)
Benjamin Pike, coach painter, tenant
Rebecca Mogg, daughter, wife of Jacob Mogg the younger
Jacob Mogg, the younger, gentleman, son in law
Mrs Tyler, tenant
Mr Jenkins, tenant
Mary Marsh, daughter, wife of John Marsh, Esquire
Maria Marsh, grand daughter
Carolina Marsh, grand daughter
Henry Marsh, grandson
Harriott Marsh, grand daughter
Mr Biggs, tenant
Mr Room, tenant
Mr Whitby, artist
____ Crattle
Mrs Dean, tenant
Mrs Blake, tenant
Joseph Dyer, distiller, tenant


Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 12 May 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1213/141
Testator:  William Blake, esquire
Place: Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 21 Mar 1791, probated 14 Jan  1792
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: William
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: Esq[uie]r

1    The Last Will and Testament
2    of me William Blake of the City of Bristol Esquire made
3    the twenty first day of March one thousand seven
4    hundred and ninety one (that is to say) Whereas I
5    am seized or possessed of two Estates part of the Manor
6    of Salcomb Regis in the County of Devon which I hold
7    by Copy of Court Roll of the Dean and Chapter
8    of Exeter for Lives and Widowhoods consisting of
9    Messuages or Tenements and Lands part whereof is
10    in my own possession and other part let to John
11    Smith I give the said Copyhold Estates with their
12    Rights and appurtenances to my Son Richard Blake
13    To hold to him for his life and the life of his widow
14    according to the Custom of the said Manor and
15    after his decease I give the said Estates with their
16    Rights and appurtenances to my Son William Blake
17    To hold to him for his life and the life of his widow
18    according to the said Custom of I give and devise unto
19    my said Son Richard all and singular my Messuages
20    Lands and hereditaments called Hole in the parish
21    of Saint Veep in the County of Cornwall part
22    whereof is Freehold and other part Leasehold held of
23    _______ Coriton Esquire for ninety nine Years
24    determinable with lives To hold to my said Son
25    Richard his heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns
26    for all my Estate Term or Terms and Interest therein
27    respectively I give and devise to my Son James all those
28    three Messuages or Tenements adjoining and Garden
29    Ground behind the same with their appurtenances
30    situate in a place called Turnagain Lane leading from
31    Saint James’s Churchyard in Bridewell Bridge in the
32    parish of Saint James and City of Bristol in the
33    occupations of Mr Higgins Brazier and others and also
34    all that Messuage or Tenement with its appurtenances
35    situate on the East Side of Saint James’s Church
36    Yard in the Occupation of Mrs Hellier To hold to my
37    said Son James his heirs Executors Administrators and
38    Assigns for all my Estate and Interest therein respectively
39    and I acquit release and discharge my Son James
40    his heirs Executors and Administrators and also his Estate
41    and Effects Real and Personal from all claims and
42    demands which I my heirs Executors or Administrators
43    can or may have on him or them I give to my
44    Son Richard and Son in Law John Marsh Esquire
45    three hundred pounds upon Trust that they or the
46    Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators do
47    and shall best the same in an annuity for the
48    life and for use of my daughter Clementia Blake
49    the said annuity to be secured on Land and made
50    payable to her and her assigns by quarterly payments
51    and until such annuite shall be purchased to place
52    out the said Sum of three hundred pounds on Land
53    or Government Security in the Joint Names of my
54    said Trustees and the Interest or Dividends ensuing
55    their from shall be paid to my said Daughter I
56    give and devise to my said Daughter Clementia her
57    heirs and assigns a freehold Messuage or Tenement
58    situate on the East Side of Saint James’s Church
    [Page 2]
60    Yard in the occupation of Mr. Hall Whereas the
61    Sum of two hundred and seventy pounds or thereabouts
62    which was placed out at Interest in the Name of
63    Mr Jeremiah Osborne a Trustee on that occasion
64    on Security of a Messuage in Kingswood Street
65    Bath now or late in the occupation of Benjamin
66    Pike Coach painter the possession of which is since
67    surrendered up to the Mortgagee also the Rents
68    received for the use of my said Daughter Clementia
69    It is my Will as far as I have any power or
70    Controul respectring the same that the Principal and
71    Interest Money due and to grow due therein shall
72    be had and received by my Executors hereinafter
73    named and paid to my said Daughter for her
74    use and benefit I give to my said Daughter
75    Clementia ten pounds per Annum during her life
76    to be paid to her and her assigns by my Son
77    Richard out of the Interest Money on his Bond
78    of Five hundred pounds given by him to me and
79    my Will and intention is that the before mentioned
80    devised and bequests to my Son James and Daughter
81    Clementia are upon Condition that each of them
82    shall hold and enjoy the same in full compensation
83    and discharge of any Claims or pretended Claim by
84    any of them upon me my heirs Executors or Admors
85    in respect to or by virtue of any Deed of Settlement
86    by me entered into for the benefit of the Children
87    or Issue of my first Marriage or otherwise and that
88    my said Son James and Daughter Clementia shall
89    on request to them made by my Executors Execute good and
90    valid Releases and Discharges in the Law to them
91    and also my Estate of all claims and demands
92    against me and my Estate upon any account
93    whatsoever and upon refusal so to do my devise and
94    bequest to them severally made and appointed by
95    this my Will shall be void and what is herein
96    given and devised to each of them I give and
97    devise to my said Son Richard and Son in Law
98    John Marsh To hold to them their heirs Executors
99    Administrators and assigns equally share and
100    share alike I give to the said Richard Blake
101    and John Marsh Five hundred pounds to be by
102    them or the Survivor his Executors or Administrators
103    vested in the publick Funds or on Land Security
104    in their Names In Trust to pay the dividends or Interest
105    thereof to my Daughter Rebecca wife of Jacob
106    Mogg the younger Gentleman during her life separate
107    from her present or any future husband and her
108    Receipt along from time to time shall be a
109    sufficient discharge for the same and after her
110    decease In Trust to pay and divide the said Sum
111    of Five hundred pounds equally between the Issue
    [Page 3]
112    or Children of my said Daughter Rebecca at their
113    respective ages of twenty one years and in case of
114    the Death of either of them before attainment to
115    such age to the Survivors or Survivor of them and
116    in default of such Issue to such person or persons
117    said Daughter notwithstanding her Coverture shall
118    by Deed or Will give limit direct or appoint I give
119    to my said Daughter Rebecca Mogg ten pounds
120    per Annum During her life to be paid to her and
121    her Assigns by my Son Richard being the remainder
122    of the Interest Money on his said Bond of Five
123    hundred pounds and after the decease of the said
124    Clementia Blake and Rebecca Mogg I give the
125    Principal Sum of Five hundred pounds secured by
126    such Bond to my Son Richard his Executors or
127    Administrators I give and devise to my Son in Law
128    John Marsh a Freehold Messuage with inclosed
129    pieces of Garden Ground in Front of the said
130    Messuage and used therewith and appurts thereto
131    belonging situate in Dove Street in the Parish
132    of Saint James in the County of Gloucester wherein
133    I now Dwell Also a Freehold Messuage in Duke
134    Street near Kings Square Bristol in the occupation
135    of Mrs Tyler also a Messuage in Dowry Square
136    in the parish of Clifton in the said County of
137    Gloucester in the occupation of Mr Jenkins which I
138    hold for the remainder of a term of one thousand
139    Years To hold the said three Messuages with their
140    Appurtenances to the said John Marsh and his
141    Assigns for life and after his decease I give and
142    devise the same three Messuages Garden Ground
143    and Premises with their appurtenances unto my
144    Daughter Mary Wife of the said John Marsh
145    and her assigns for her life then keeping upholding
146    maintaining the said Messuages and premises
147    and each and every of them in good tenantable
148    repair and after the decease of the Survivor of them
149    the said John Marsh and Mary his Wife I give
150    and devise the Messuage in Dove Street with its
151    appurtenances to my Grand Daughter Maria
152    Marsh her heirs and Assigns and I give and
153    devise the said Messuage in Duke Street with its
154    appurtenances unto my Grand Daughter Carolina
155    Marsh her heirs and Assigns and I give the said
156    Messuage in Dowry Square with its appurtenances
157    to my Grandson Henry Marsh his Executors
158    Administrators and Assigns for all my Estate term
159    and Interest therein I give and devise to my
160    Grand Daughter Harriott Marsh her heirs and Assigns
161    my moiety or half part of a Freehold Messuage
162    or Tenement with the Appurtenances situate in
    [Page 4]
163    Charles Street in the parish of Saint James aforesaid
164    in the Occupation of Mr Biggs and also my Moiety or
165    half part of a Messuage or Tenement with the Appurts
166    in Pipe Lane in the parish of Saint Augustine in
167    the City of Bristol in the occupation of Mr Room
168    which premises last mentioned are Leasehold and
169    held of the Feoffees of Saint Mary Redcliff parish
170    Lands determinable with lives to hold to my said
171    Grand Daughter Harriott her Executors Administrators ans Assigns
172    for and during all my Estate term and Interest therein
173    I give all my Books in my Dwelling house in Dove
174    Street to my Sons Richard and William Blake I give my
175    Silver Cup and Cover given me by Mr Corsers
176    Executor to my Son William I give the Rest of my
177    Plate to my daughters Mary Marsh and Rebecca
178    Mogg and my Son Richard Blake I give my China
179    in the House in Dove Street to my Daughter’s Mary
181    Marsh and Rebecca Mogg I give to my said Daughter
182    Mary Marsh my Portrait Drawn by Mr Whitby I give the
183    Household Goods and Implements of household and
184    other things appertaining thereto in my house at
185    Sidmouth in the County of Devon to my Son William
186    Blake I give the household Goods and Implements
187    of household and other things appertaining thereto
188    and my Books in my house at Egypt near Sidmouth
189    to my Son Richard Blake I give to my Nephews
190    Charles Blake Forty pounds I give to my now Servant
191    Maids three Guineas each and to my Servant Boy two
192    Guineas I give to the said Richard Blake and John
193    Marsh Fifty pounds to be applied for the benefit of
194    _______ Crattle by annual payments of ten pounds
195    I give and devise to the said Richard Blake and John
196    Marsh one fourth part of the Sugar house and
197    Dwelling house in Redcliff Street in the City of Bristol
198    part hold or Lease under the Chamber of the said
199    City as Feoffees of Forsters Alms houses and other
200    part under the Feoffees of Saint Thomas parish
201    Lands lately occupied by Mrs Dean and Blake as
202    Sugar house And now by Joseph Dyer Distiller together
203    with a Moiety of all the utensils Materials and
204    appurtenances used in carrying on the Sugar Refining
205    Business and one half of the Erections that now remain
206    there and also all my household Goods (except what
207    is herein otherwise disposed of in my house in Dove
208    Street aforesaid Also my three Shares in the Bristol
209    Fire office also my Bank Stock of two thousand three
210    hundred and sixty five pounds in the Four per cents also
211    my two hundred pounds Short Annuities and all and
211    singular other my Estate and Effects Real and personal
213    whatsoever and wheresoever after payment of my just
214    Debts Funeral Expences and discharges incident to whit trust
215    To hold to them the said Richard Blake and John Marsh
    [Page 5]
216    their heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns
217    Upon Trust to sell transfer dispose of and receive
218    the same and every part thereof and the Moneys
219    arising by such Sale transfer disposition and Receipt
220    to pay and divide as hereinafter mentioned (that is to
221    say) One sixth part to my Son William one sixth part
222    to my Daughter Mary Marsh One sixth part to
223    my Daughter Rebecca Mogg one sixth part to my
224    Son Richard Blake one sixth part to be divided equally
225    between my Son James and Daughter Clementia
226    Blake and the remaining sixth part to be divided
227    equally between my Grand Children Son or Sons and
228    Daughters of my Son William Blake And I hereby
229    nominate and appoint the said Richard Blake and
230    John Marsh Executors in Trust of this my Will and
231    revoking all other Wills by me made do declare this
232    to be my last In Witness whereof I have to this my
233    last Will and Testament contained in Five Sheets of
234    paper to the first four Sheets thereof set my hand
235    and to this fifth and last Sheet my hand and
236    Seal the Day and year above written Willm
237    Blake Signed Sealed Published and Declared
238    by the above named William Blake the Testator
239    as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence
240    of us who in his presence at his request and in the
241    presence of each other have hereunto subscribed
242    our Names as Witnesses The word “three” being interlined
243    instead of five in the fourth line from the Bottom of
244    the first Sheet hereof Richard Milles Susan Milles
245    Fenwick Bird
246    This Will was proved at London the
247    fourteenth day of January in the year of our Lord
248    one thousand seven hundred and ninety two before the
249    Right honorable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor
250    of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the
251    Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted
252    by the Oaths of Richard Blake the Son of the deceased
253    and John Marsh the Executors named in the said
254    Will to whom Administration was granted of all and
255    singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said
256    deceased having been first sworn (by Commission) duly
257    to administer.

Joseph Blake (1730 - 1767)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 2

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

This week's ancestor challenge is one of my great finds. I could remember my Grandfather talking about his ancestral line and knew my way backwards from his father Edward to his father John to his father Thomas and then I thought I remembered that his father was Joseph. But I wasn't sure. I bought the parish register fiche for Upper Clatford (and Andover, Abbots Ann, and Kimpton) in 2008 but prior to that I had found on the BVRII from the LDS that there was a Joseph Blake married to a Joanna King  8 Jun 1757 at Upper Clatford. This was the only Blake marriage at Upper Clatford in this time frame and my grandfather thought his families had been at Upper Clatford for a very very long time. In essence he was correct some of his lines have been in the Upper Clatford area for centuries and centuries back to the beginning of the parish registers there.

However the LDS didn't at that time carry all the Andover information for the children of the children of Joseph and Joanna. Buying the parish records for Upper Clatford was such a good idea. I found my Grandfather's baptism (including his date of birth although I already owned the birth registration anyway) readily but did not find my father's which was a surprise although in retrospect I could remember that my father had said he was baptized at Kimpton (and it was there in the records in 1904). I also found the baptism for Edward my great grandfather in 1845, then his father John's baptism in 1798. Then back to 1767 for the baptism of Thomas - John's father. Thomas was baptized posthumously as his father died five months earlier and just two weeks apart from his son Thomas who was then six years old. Now that was a surprise as Grandpa had not mentioned that I am fairly sure. He had mentioned a number of baby deaths in Thomas' children and that had stuck in my mind. So probably he did not know that there had been two babies named Thomas.

Back to Joseph and the reward for buying the parish register fiche was discovering that Joseph Blake was of Andover as noted by the priest and not of the parish of Upper Clatford (Joanna was the daughter of Thomas King and baptized at Upper Clatford but more on Joanna later). One has to be quite careful with this Joseph Blake. There was a Joseph Blake in this time frame who was educated at Oxford and I knew that this was not my Joseph although they shared a similar time frame and location and eventually I discovered they had common ancestry several generations back.

I learn a little about Joseph from Thomas King's will in 1762:

In the Name of God Amen. I Tho[ma]s King of

Upp[er] Clatford in the county of Southampton, Farmer being sick and weak in

Body but of sound and perfect mind and memory do this twenty ninth day of September

in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and sixty two make and

ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner following. ....And as for my temporal 

Estate I give and Bequeath in manner following

Item I give and Bequath to Mary Blake – daughter of John Blake of Abbotts

Ann malster one guinea Item to Tho[ma]s Blake son of Joseph Blake of

Upp[er] Clatford Six and thirty shillings Item to Ann Blake Daughter of the

said Joseph Blake Six and Thirty Shillings to be paid by my Executor

herein after named within one month after my decease All the rest of my

estate with Reall and personal goods Chattels stock and household there of what

nature or kind soever or thereever I give to my son in Law Joseph Blake

and I do  nominate and appoint the said Joseph Blake sole Executor of this

my Last Will and Testament. And so revoke all former Wills by me heretofore

made and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness thereof

I the said Thomas King have hereunto set my hand and seal the day

and year first above Written   The mark of  X Tho[ma]s King

Signed ......                                             

[signed] William Deo

[signed] Richard Gould

[signed] Jos[eph] Niends                                           

The 15^th Day of March 1763

Joseph Blake the Sole Executor named in the above written Will ....

Thomas only mentions one of his two grandchildren in the will. Thomas is an infant at the time of writing (the first Thomas who died in 1767). A number of people connect to this first Thomas even though they have his death date in 1767. Some have written to me and I have given them the correct linkage. I wonder if it is because he wants to remember both of his grand daughters and more on that towards the end of this story.

Thomas also only mentions his son in law although his daughter Joanna is living and will have three more children.  His daughter Mary was married to John Blake and she was buried at Abbots Ann. The memorial stone is very difficult to read and her burial was in February but the year is not distinct. However he didn't mention his daughter Joanna who was alive so not particularly illuminating. 

Thomas King was married to Mary Carter and the parents of Joseph were Thomas Blake and Ann Carter. Research on the Carter family has led me to Richard Carter and Elizabeth Musprett who married 4 Aug 1701 at Andover and baptized two daughters at Andover Mary 27 Feb 1711 and Ann 18 Nov 1713. Although the distance between Upper Clatford and Andover is short the Blake family lived at the north end of Andover closest to Penton Mewsey and one wonders how they all met in retrospect. John Blake was in Abbots Ann before he married Mary King although they married at Upper Clatford as well 15 Dec 1753. What prompted these two Blake males to marry the daughters of Thomas and Mary Carter at Upper Clatford?  John was older than Joseph; probably born around 1714 and likely the son of Robert Carter and Elizabeth Russell of Abbots Ann (formerly of Penton Mewsey and before that Andover!). 

Joseph was baptized 21 Oct 1730 at Andover the son of Thomas Blake and Ann Carter who were themselves married 8 Dec 1728 at Penton Mewsey. I have struggled with this set of marriage lines but now feel confident for reasons outlined earlier in my blog that indeed Joseph's father Thomas is the Thomas who married Ann Carter. In 1734 the infant Thomas Blake (son of Thomas and Ann Blake) and his mother Ann are buried at Penton Mewsey the 22 Dec 1734 and the 20 Dec 1734 respectively. The baptism of Thomas Blake (father of Joseph) was 4 May 1709 at Andover the son of Thomas Blake and Mary Spring and they were married 6 Nov 1708 at Andover and Thomas is the only child baptized to them. Thomas (father of Thomas) was buried 29 Jan 1714 at Andover and Mary (Spring) Blake was buried 2 Apr 1734 also at Andover. It is curious that Ann and Thomas were buried at Penton Mewsey but perhaps There is a Blake plot there although the parish registers do not go back this far unfortunately. Thomas (buried 1714) was baptized 21 Feb 1685 at Andover. His parents were John and Elizabeth Blake (Elizabeth's birth surname is unknown even after eight years of searching for it) and their marriage is not in the parish registers for Andover (likely they married around 1683/4 as their first child was baptized 6 Feb 1684 and buried 15 Feb 1684 at Andover (old calendar). John\s baptism was recorded by his father William 10 May 1649 in the Andover Parish Registers but this Blake family lived at Penton Mewsey. John was the second son of William Blake and Ann Hellier who were married 5 Sep 1644 at Andover. The older brother William remains unknown at this time but could he be the father of Robert Blake who married Elizabeth Russell at Andover 15 Jul 1694?

I had not thought of that before so is a new avenue to explore for the Blake family at Abbots Ann. 

Joseph died young at 37 years of age just  two weeks before his son Thomas who had been baptized 29 Mar 1761 at Upper Clatford. No mention of the cause of death for either of them but there were measles epidemics at this time in Upper Clatford as mentioned in the story on John Coleman. 

My ancestry including Joseph Blake:

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Ernest Edward George BLAKE (b 2 Oct 1904) - Eastleigh Hampshire England
3. Samuel George Blake (b 10 Feb 1875) - Upper Clatford Hampshire England
4. Edward Blake (b 2 Jan 1845) - Upper Clatford Hampshire England
5. John BLAKE (b 25 Feb 1799) - Upper Clatford Hampshire England
6. Thomas BLAKE (b 25 Oct 1767) - Upper Clatford Hampshire England
7. Joseph BLAKE (b 21 Oct 1730) - Andover Hampshire England
8. Thomas BLAKE (b 4 May 1709) - Andover Hampshire England
9. Thomas BLAKE (b 21 Feb 1685) - Andover Hampshire England
10. John BLAKE (b 10 May 1649) - Andover Hampshire England
11. William BLAKE (b 9 Aug 1615) - Andover Hampshire England
12. William BLAKE (b c 1580s) - Andover Hampshire England
13. Richard BLAKE (b c 1550s) - Eastontown Hampshire England
14. William BLAKE (b c 1510s - 1520s) - Knights Enham Hampshire England
15. Nicholas BLAKE (b c 1490s) - Knights Enham Hampshire England
16. Richard BLAKE (husband of Jone who left a will in 1527 naming her children and his will of 1522) - Knights Enham Hampshire England
17. Robert BLAKE (left his will in 1521, he was elderly, possibly b c 1450s)  - Enham Hampshire England

Will of William Blake the elder, Gent, Eastontowne, Hampshire - Hampshire Record Office 1645A-05, probated 21 Nov 1645

The testator is William Blake the Elder of Eastontowne. Looking at the will of Nicholas who was a younger brother of William Blake the Elder of Eastontowne I am trying to decide if I have placed this William in the right family. Nicholas left his will in 1642 where he named his nephew William (son of William Blake the elder of Eastontowne) and his five children. If I am correct and this is William Blake married first to Anne Tutt then the present testator only mentions his children and makes no mention of grand children. Mind you his second wife Dorothy is having a child at the time of the writing of this will so perhaps his thoughts are far from grandchildren to be sure! His date of death is given in the inventory as 21 Oct 1645.

Names mentioned in the will:

William Blake, the elder, Eastontowne, testator
William Blake, eldest son of the testator
Alice Hellier, daughter
Robert Blake, son
Thomas Blake, son
William Blake the younger, son
Dorthy Blake, daughter
Nicholas Blake, son
Jeane Blake, daughter
Dorcas Blake, daughter
Rachel Blake, daughter
Dorothy Blake, wife
Mr. William Gold, overseer, friend
Mr. John Pope, overseer, friend, Andover
M Couche, witness
John Sewell, clerke, witness

Nicholas, brother of the testator, in his will which is blogged:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/05/will-of-nicholas-blake-gentleman-of.html

Perhaps the most important item I learn from this will is that William does not mention a son Richard. Mind you Richard Blake died in 1622 so it would not be odd that he was not mentioned if he was his son but it is the age difference that is intriguing. Richard when he died had grandchildren. If William was his father it is amazing that he is still having children. To be the father of Richard (married circa early 1580s) he would have had to be born by at least the early 1540s which would make him over one hundred years of age. This will does rather cinch the argument and definitely Richard Blake married to Jone Blake and leaving his will in 1622 is not the son of the present testator.

Nicholas in his will above talks about his brother as if he is still living which he is according to this will. William, however, is not helpful. He doesn’t really mention anyone other than his own children thus making it more difficult to place him. But putting his will together with the will of Nicholas does give credence to the thought that this is William who first married Anne Tutt and then later married Dorothy (unknown) and that they had a second family. By reading the will it does appear that William, Alice Hellier, Robert and Thomas are older and have probably already received their portions. William the younger and Dorothy appear to be the oldest of the second marriage and their legacys are dependent on each other or separate depending on whether or not they both survive. Then the four younger children are linked together but if both William and Dorothy die then they will inherit the lot with the unborn child already taken care of if he/she survives.

The Inventory is very extensive and most interesting as is the single item showing how much money is owed to this William. What he is giving the younger children is really a very small inheritance given the amount of money that is owed to William. 

Nicholas in his will refers to his brother at Eastontowne and his nephew at Eastontowne. He refers to his cousin Joseph Hinxman senior, his son Joseph Hinxman junior and William Blake of Andover and Richard Blake his son and he calls them all cousin. They could be his cousins in two different ways 1. Jone Blake (the mother of William Blake of Andover) and wife of Richard Blake would be his maternal aunt (if Richard is a brother of his father William which is my thought). Or 2. William (father of the testator) had a brother Richard in which case Richard would be his uncle with wife Jone Blake. Jone Blake is perhaps a grand daughter of Robert Blake (brother of Nicholas who was the father of William Blake and grandfather of William Blake married to Margaret Hibberd (parents of the testator)).

All in all a good will to have purchased and transcribed. The father of the testator was the largest inheritor from his father’s will and it would be great to find the will for the eldest brother John.

Thomas Blake Junior is a bit of a mystery as one of the appraisers.The inventory is out of order as page 3 precedes page 2. Changing it is a task that I will assign to later!

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 3 Feb 2014
Source: Hampshire Record Office, 1645A-05
Testator: William Blake the Elder, Gent
Place: Eastontowne, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 18 Jul 1644, probated 21 Nov 1645
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: 1645A-05

1    In the name of God Amen I William Blake the Elder of Eastontowne w[i]thin the parish of Andever in the County of
2    South[ampto]n gent: being in hea[l]th of body and of p[er]fect memory I thank my god But for the better settling of my Estate and
3    p[re]paring my soll for god doe make this my last Will and Testament the eighteenth day of July in the yeare of
4    o[u]r Lord god one thousand six hundred fowerty and fower hereby revoking all former Wills in manner and forme following
5    First I bequeathe my soule into the hands of my most mercifull god and my body to the earthe And as concerning
6    my temporall estate First I give to the Church of Andever ten shillings It[e]m to the poore of Andever twenty
7    shillings It[e]m to the poore of Knights Enham five shillings both w[hi]ch legacyes to the poore to bee bestowed by the
8    discretion of my Executrix hereafter named It[e]m I give to my eldest son William twelve pence It[e]m to my daughter
9    Alice Hellier twenty shillings It[e]m to my son Robert twelve pence It[e]m to my son Thomas twenty pounds It[e]m
10    to my son William the younger three score pounds to bee payde him when he shall attayne the age of one
11    and twenty years It[e]m to my daughter Dorothy three score pounds to be payde her at one and twenty years of age
12    or w[it]hin sixe moneths after hir marriage such shall first happen It[e]m I give to my son Nicholas and my
13    three daughters Jeane Dorcas and Rachel each of them forty pounds a peece to be payde unto them
14    at theyre respective ages of one and twenty years or w[it]hin six moneths after theyre respective marriages
15    and if any of them dye before the tyme limited for the payment of theyre legacyies then his, her or theyre
16    legacyes to be equally devided amongst the survivors of my fower last named children It[e]m whereas my Wife
17    is nowe greate w[i]th child I give unto that child that shalbe borne sixty pounds And my Will is if my
18    son William dye before the younger dye before his his legacy becom due then his sayde legacy to bee payde
19    to his sister Dorothy and if my daughter Dorothy dye before hir legacy becom due then to he and
20    remayne to hir brother my son William the younger And if they bothe happen to dye then theyre
21    por[t]ions to remayne to bee equally devided amongst theyre yonger brethren and sisters It[e]m my Will
22    is that all the sev[er]all legacyes shalbe payde out of such debts as nowe are or hereafter shalbe owing unto me
23    from my son William the elder and others at the tyme of my decease All the rest of my moveables money
24    plate goods Cattell and Chattells whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my welbeloved wife Dorothy
25    whome I make Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament And I desyre my welbeloved
26    friends Mr William Gold and Mr John Pope of Andever to be overseers of this my last Will
27    and testament desyreing them to give theyre best assistance and advise to my sayde Executrixe
28    to see this my last will p[er]formed fir those paynes as a testimony of my love to them
29    I give to each of them tene shillings six pence to buy them a payre of gloues In witness
30    that this is my last will and testament I have herunto set my hand and seale the day
31    and yeere first above written
32    Will[ia]m Blake
33    Memorand that the above named
34    William Blake did publish and declare
35    that this sheate of pap[er] dothe conteyne
36    his last will and testament in the p[re]sence
37    of us  M Couche
38    John Sewell Clerke
39    _____________ Posi
40    xxi me die mensis Novembris Anno
41    d[om]ini 1645
43    Probatum fuit humoi testa[mentum] in ____ forma Coram venti viro Willmo Trussell
44    Cliro Archi Magro Substitito etc Comssa adne Dorothea Blake vid relict
45    ac unisie Executrici in humoi testam[en]to nominat et constitute de bene etc deg
46    Solvent debita eg legata etc Jurat p Sohr uxta etc Salvo Jcore cinscunqz
47    Oblig ipsa vul et
    [Page 2]
48    An inventory taken the Eight of Novemb[e]r of all the goods and chattles of
49    William Blake the elder of Eastontowne in the p[ar]ishe of Andever
50    deceased this life the 21 of Octob[e]r 1645
51            £         s          d
52    Imprimis     first 11 burr    1         5          0
53    In the Scullery    # 7 kivers    0         10       16
54        # 1 ______    0          2          6
55        # 1 poudringe Tobe    0          2          0
56        # 1 tonbole    0          0          6
57        # 1 Stone silve    0          5          0
58        # 3 Stones    0          3          0
59        # 2 hanging shelfes    0          1          0
60    In the Wourke house    # for a hatchatt some agers and divers
other small thinges    01        0          0
61    In the Lower Chambers    # 1 beadstead w[i]th a cord and matte
# 1 feather bead bolster 2 blancetts
one cover bed:    4          0          0
62    In the L_ne
lennen + chamb[er]    # 1 feather bead w[i]th a bolster coverbead
# 2 blancets 1 beadsteed w[i]th cords    3         10         0
63        # 1 presse one side bead 1 chaire
1 long stoule 1 deaske    1           0         0
64    Over the parler    # 2 Joyne beadsteeds w]i]th cords one
feather bead 2 bolsters 3 cover lides 1 blancett    4           0         0
65        # 1 Truckell beadsteede w[i]th cord    0           5         0
66        # 1 Chisracke side Table 2 paire
of Courtin rods 1 side Cobert 1 box    0          10        0
67    In the Little Parler    # Two Joyne beadsteeds w[i]th mats and cords
1 troucke bead stead w[i]th mat and cord    1            5        0
68        # 4 feather beads and one downe and feather
boulsters and 1 Downe boulster 2 blancots
3 coverlides and feather pillows 5 courtines
w[i]th roads    14         10       0
69        # one windoe courtin a ir[on] rode    0            2        0
70        # one feather bead 1 bolster 2 blancots 1 coverlide
one paire of courtines and vallines worked
1 orringe Carpitt w[i]th brousheinge 2 Cobert coushinges    5      0      0
71        # one orridge coverlide    2            0        0
72        # one paire of greene courtines worked    1           0         0
73    [Total 127         1           61 [Total page 2] 40         1         6
    [Page 4]
74        # one troukell beadsteed one floucke bead one
feather boulster one blancott one coverlide    1         0          0
75        # one chaifeing dishe 1 chaire two tobes
one iron racke 2 heateinge vates one wine
sheet 2 sive dogges one trivitt one barre    2          0          0
76        # one stand one corne line one whilbarrow
one hand barrowe hoopes ten    0          10        0
77        # one butt[e]r cheirne 2 milke pannes and 3 chisvats    0  6  6
78        # 300 faggotts and a sartane stacke of ledgwoode  1  0    0
79        # 11 small trees    1           0         0
80        # hogges 9 and 3 shuts    5          10        0
81        # Ludders 3 kyo stocke 2 pronges 2    0          6          0
82        # wheate 28 busheles
                # barley 24 busheles
                # hay 30 lod
                # Strawe 1 loade    7          15        0
83        # 2 Cowe raucke one wall bocett chaire and tumbler  0    7   7
84        # one horse w[i]th harnis fitting to worke    01     0     0
85        # 24 sheepe    6           0         0
86        # kine 5    12         0         0
87        # younge heafer    4          0          0
88        # half a 100 of bares    0          5          0
89        # one charrett    0          5          0
90        # one paire of billose    0          0          6
91        # 4 b[ushell] of pease    0         10         0
92        # harrows ________    0          5          0
93    In the halle    # one longe table bord one round table board
6 Joyne Stooles one courtin and courtin rod    1          0          0
94        In the buttry 2 Coberts    0         5          0
95        In the sculler 2 Sifters and 3 Stands    0        10         0
96              In the best chamber one Standing beadsteed
w[i]th a teaster over, w[i]th matt cord and cortine
roads one trouckell beadstead 2 winder
courtines and courtin roads one side cobert
one little table w[i]th cupbert under one
great shealt in the chamber over
the kitchinge one Standinge beadsteed w[i]th
a matt and cords and teaster over, in the maids
chamb[e]r 2 standing bead steeds one Chest of
armor one malte querne    4         10         0
97    [Total page 4]        50       5          0
98 [Total all pages]            127       1         6
    [Page 3]
99        # 1 paire of shire courtines ande vallines    1      0      0
100        # 1 p[aire] of vallines    0           5         0
101        # my cosen William Blake cloathes of all sorts    4      0      0
102    L[i]nnon    # one diep Cobert Cloath 1 locram cobert
cloath 1 Lennen Table Cloath w[i]th 12 napkines    1          10        0
103        # one fine paire of hollon Sheets one paire
more of hollon sheets one dozen of drop
napkins one drop table cloath w[i]th 12 nap-
kines one fine longe towel 3 paire of fine
hollon sheets 7 paire of canvas sheets    5          0          0
104        two paire of ordinary pillowbees 12 ordinary
napkins 3 canvis table cloathes    0         14        0
105        # one paire of gold seales    0          3          0
106        # 3 great cheasts 3 greate coffers
4 troncks and one deaske    1         0           0
107        # 47 peaces of Pauter of all Sorts    2          0          0
108        # 4 pawter chamber pots 2 flaggones 2 pawt[er]
candlesticks and one band pott of pawt[er]    1          0          0
109        # 13 brasse panes 5 brasse kittles 1 little furniss
5 brasse pots 1 posnett and 2 skillets    8          0          0
110        # 1 limbitt w[i]th a great brasse pott    1         0           0
111        # 4 great Spitts 1 little Spitt 2 greate
driping pannes 1 lattin driging panne    1         0           0
112        # one cleaver one minsinge knife 1 beife
pricers 1 basting ladle 1 skimmer two pott
heuckes 3 cottrelles one feander 2 paire of Anyornes    1          0          0
113        # 3 croft bees 2 gaisslles one gome    1         5         0
114        # one fire pane and tonges and toasting ir[on]    0     5      0
115    In the greate Parler    # one table bord 2 Chaires 7 Joynt Stooles
one sid cobert    01       10        0
116        # one bible and one book of common prayer    0      5     0
117        # one courtine road w[i]th courtine and one seuttle    0  8    0
118    Intre    # 5 stalles of bees    1          5          0
119    Buttry    # one safe frieing panne and slicr 2 gridders    0     10      0
120        # one warmeing panne and one morter and pestell    0     10      0
121        # 2 poudring tobes one ringer and searche one
lantorne one peacke one boushell 4 trayes    0          15        0
122        # 2 pasti peiles 1 paire of reaters
2 paire of scales w[i]th waites one cheese racke
7 sheleves one fire forke 4 tobes 1 still
3 louckes 2 seives and one rudder and forme and 20 trenchers    1     10     0
123    [Total page 2]        30         15       0

124    Item    debts owed to the sayd deceased upon specialtyse otherwise    1049     10       0

[Appraisers]
Thomas Blake Jn
John Tomkins
       ttt
    his marke