Will of John Bradby Blake, Supra Cargo in the service of the honourable the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, Caton, China - The National Archives PROB 11/1001/313 and 11/1011/166, probated 13 Oct 1774

This is one of the wills that would not have appeared until much later as it is in my Miscellaneous Locations folder under East India. John Bradby Blake is the testator.

Looking back at John, the testator’s, mother and she was living in Speenhill Berkshire at the time of her will being written. Major houses in Speen include Speen Manor, Speen Hill Lodge and Goldwell House on the Bath road. The latter road was much favoured by wealthy Newburians of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Until commercial redevelopment in the second half of the twentieth century, it boasted several fine houses.

Interesting that Mary Blake should be living in Speen where there was a Blake family in the 1500s and 1800s. Will of James Blake, yeoman of Speen, probated 13 Mar 1807 and he mentions a daughter Jane Brown in London transcribed earlier:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/04/will-of-james-blake-yeoman-of-speen.html

and the will of William Speen, yeoman of Speen, probated 28 Jul 1552 and he mentions his son Anthony and brothers John and Richard:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/05/will-of-william-blake-yeoman-of-speen.html

Probably a coincidence but interesting nonetheless.

The spelling of the name is now confirmed to be John Bradby Blake and I will go back and correct that spelling in the earlier wills as it did rather look like Bradly. The transcription appears to be a bit disjointed towards the end. The probate has not been copied. The date of the probate given to this one was from another will. It would appear that John Blake first deposed and then at a later date John Blake and his daughter Sally Hitchin Blake deposed.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 30 March 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1001/313 and PROB 11/1011/166
Testator: John Bradby Blake, Supra Cargo in the Service of the hon[oura]ble the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies
Place: Caton, China
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 30 Nov 1772, probated 13 Oct 1774 and around the 12 Sep 1775
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Top] Canton in China November the 30th 1772
[Margin]: John Bradby
[Margin]: Blake Esq[uie]r

1    I John Bradby Blake
2    Supra Cargo in the Service of the Hon[oura]ble the united
3    Company of Merchants of England trading to the East
4    Indies do make this my last Will and Testament hereby
5    revoking a former Will made by me on the 13th day of
6    January 1767 or that that time and also the Codicil
7    thereunto annexed on or about the twenty first day of
8    December 1768 and left in the hands of my Father Also
9    hereby revoking and rendering null and void all and each
10    Will and Testament prior to the date of this present Writing
11    which I again declare to be my last Will and Testament
12    First I will and direct that all my just debts and Funeral
13    Expences be fully paid To my dear Sister Sally Hitchin Blake
14    I leave and bequeath One thousand pounds Sterling (£1000)
15    To my dear Sister Arabella Blake I leave and bequeath
16    one thousand pounds Sterling (£1000) To my dear Sister
17    Mary Tymewell Blake I leave and bequeath One thousand
18    pounds Sterling (£1000) the two first mentioned Legacies
19    to my dear Sisters Sally Hitchin Blake and Arabella Blake
20    I desire may be unto themselves respectively out of
21    the first monies that are or may be in the hands of my
22    Executor and Executrix after all just debts and discharges the
23    latter Legacy unto my dear Sister Mary Tymewell Blake to
24    be also paid in like manner unto my dear Father In Trust
25    for my said Sister until she attains the age of twenty one
26    years and in case of her death without Children before that
27    period I leave the said Legacy to be equally divided between
28    my abovementioned Sisters Sally Hitchin Blake and Arabella
29    Blake I give and bequeath to my honoured Father all my
30    Books Mathematical Instruments China paintings ChinaWare
31    Lacquer Ware and all Chinese Curiosities that I may have
32    actually purchased or sent to Europe Unless I have ordered
33    particular articles for particular persons and have specified
34    the same in Writing or otherways Except all Legacies that
35    may be annexed either to this Will or Codicils signed by me
    [Page 2]
36    of a later date than this my present Will and Testament
37    all which I direct may be first discharged the rest residue
38    and remainder of all my Estate and Effects whatsoever and
39    wheresoever both real and personal which I shall or may
40    be any ways seized possessed of interested in or intitled unto
41    at the time of my death I hereby order and direct may
42    be placed in Trust of any five persons whom my Father
43    John Blake my Mother Mary Blake my three Sisters viz
44    Sally Hitchin Blake Arabella Blake and Mary Tymewell
45    Blake may chuse to appoint each of them to appoint One
46    Trustee at their own pleasure and again respectively to
47    chuse another Trustee upon the death of the people q
48    appointed or upon their declining such Trust so that all may
49    have at all times a Trustee who is appointed
50    at the will and pleasure of each person respectively interested
51    in this Legacy This the Residue of my Estate to be either
52    placed in the public Funds Landed Estates Mortgages or in
53    any manner the majority of Trustees so appointed may think
54    proper and at their pleasure again changed renewed and
55    placed to Interest in what ever manner they may deem more
56    secure and for the General Interest of all parties concerned the
57    whole Interest or profits arising therefrom to be paid to my
58    honoured Father John Blake annually for his own use and
60    benefit during his Lifetime and in case of his death before
61    the death of my dear Mother the whole Interest or Profits
62    arising from this Trust to be paid in like manner to my said
63    dear Mother Mary Blake from the time of my Father’s death
64    during her own Life and at the death of both my Father
65    and Mother the aforementioned Capital vested in the hands
66    of the Trustees aforesaid being the Nett Residue and
67    Remainder of my Estate at the time of my death I will order
68    and direct may be by the aforesaid Trustees divided equally
69    share and share alike between my three Sisters before named
70    in this Will viz Sally Hitchin Blake Arabella Blake Mary
71    Tymewell Blake for their own use benefit and behoof
72    respectively and Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint
73    my honoured Father John Blake and my dear Sister Sally
74    Hitchin Blake Executor and Executrix of this my last Will
75    and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set
76    my hand and seal this thirtieth day of November in the year
77    of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy two at
78    Canton in China John Bradby Blake Signed sealed
79    published and declared by the Testator John Bradby Blake
80    as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of
81    us who in his presence and in the presence of each other
82    at his request have hereunto subscribed our Names as
83    Witnesses Will[ia]m Rous W[ilia]m Harrison Matt[he]w Raper Jun[io]r
84    Canton in China
85    The following particulars I mean as Codicils to a
86    Will
    [Page 3]
87    Will and Testament made by me at Canton in China dated
88    the        day of      Signed sealed and Witnessed the
89    original sent to Europe by hand the copy remaining among
90    my papers
91    1Imprimis To my Friend William Rous Esq[uie]r I leave
92    and bequeath one hundred pounds sterling (£100 Sterling)
93    Signed John Bradby Blake
94    2To my Friend William Harrison Esq[uie]r I leave and bequeath
95    one hundred pounds sterling (£100 Sterling) Signed John
96    Bradby Blake
97    3To my Friend Mr John Hogarth Surgeon and Apothecary
98    London I give and bequeath my Gold Watch made by Elliott
99    Signed John Bradby Blake
100    4To my Friend Thomas Bevan Esquire I leave and
101    bequeath my diamond Ring Signed John Bradby Blake
102    5To my Servant at the time of my death I leave and
103    bequeath all my Linnen and Wearing apparel subject however
104    to the Will and pleasure of William Harrison Esquire if he
105    does not think his behavior intitles him to them I leave
106    them to his option to give to such Servants in the Factory
107    or other persons whom he may think proper and moreover
108    should the said Mr Harrison think his behavior does entitle
109    him to a further remembrance I leave him Twenty pounds
110    Sterling if not this last Legacy to be null and void Signed
111    John Bradby Blake
112    This is a true and faithful Copy taken by me W[ilia]m
113    Harrison Canton Nov: 19th 1773
114    Oct[obe]r 12th 1774
115    Appeared personally John Blake of the parish of
116    Saint Margaret Westminster in the County of Middlesex
117    Esquire and made Oath that he is the natural and lawful
118    Father and one of the Executors named in the last Will and
119    Testament of John Bradby Blake Esquire late a Supra
120    Cargo in the Service of the Honorable the united Company
121    of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies at the
122    City of Canton in China a Batchelor deceased the said
123    original Will being now hereunto annexed and bearing date
124    the thirtieth day of November in the year of our Lord
    [Page 4]
125    Appeared personally John Blake of
126    the parish of St Margaret Westminster in the County of
127    Middlesex Esquire and Sally Hitchin Blake of the same parish
128    Spinster and being sworn upon the holy Evangelists to depose
129    the truth made Oath as follows to wit that they are the natural
130    and lawfull Father and Sister of John Bradby Blake late
131    Supercargo in the Service of the honourable the united
132    Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies
133    at the City of Canton in China Esquire deceased and that they
134    knew and were well acquainted with the manner and
135    character of handwriting and Subscription of the said deceased
136    having often seen him write and subscribe his Name and
137    having now viewed and carefully perused the paper Writing
138    hereunto annexed purporting to be and contain five Codicils or
139    Additions to the last Will and Testament of the said deceased
140    severally numbred 1 2 3 4 5 and respectively Subscribed John
141    Bradby Blake they these deponents say that they verily in
142    their Consciences believe the whole Series and Contents of this
143    said Paper Writing and the Names John Bradby Blake
144    appearing to be set and subscribed to each of the said Codicils
145    to be all of the proper handwriting and Subscription of the
146    said deceased Jno Blake Sally Hitchin Blake 8th September 1775
147    The said John Blake Esquire and Sally Hitchin Blake Spinster
148    were duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit before me
149    Geo: Harris Surrogate B[  ]t Jenner Not Publ

Will of John Blake, Esquier, Saint Margaret Westminster, Middlesex - The National Archives PROB 11/1189/132, probated 9 Mar 1790

This is the will of John Blake, husband of Mary Blake (will blogged yesterday)

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/03/will-of-arabella-blake-spinster-upton.html

and son of Captain John Blake of the Honourable East India Company (still have not found further information on this man), and father of Arabella Blake, spinster, whose will was blogged earlier:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/03/will-of-arabella-blake-spinster-upton.html

The testator is possibly the John Blake baptized 29 Aug 1713 at Saint Dunstan, Stepney and son of John Blake and possibly Mary Daberon. The supposition for this is the published registers for Westminster Abbey where a note attached to the marriage of John Blake and Mary Tymewell mentions that he was the son of Captain John Blake and Mary his wife and born at Limehouse, Middlesex 27 Aug 1713. He is then mentioned as living on Parliament Street, Westminster in his latter life. Limehouse is in the Tower Hamlets. St Dunstan Stepney is also in the Tower Hamlets.

By way of determining which John Blake is the father of the testator there is one clue in the will. He mentions the children of his nephew Blake Bradby namely James Bradby and the wife of Blake Bradby, Elizabeth Sophia. Possibly he has a sister married to unknown Bradly.

The will of John Bradby Blake is to come next and this is the brother of Arabella and son of the present testator.

I shall try to have a further look at the Honourable East India Company another time.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 March 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1189/132
Testator: John Blake, Esquier
Place: Saint Margaret Westminster, Middlesex, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 6 Mar 1781, probated 9 Mar 1790
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: John
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: Esquire

1    I John Blake of Parliament
2    Street in the parish of St Margaret Westminster in the
3    County of Middlesex Esq[uie]r being of sound Mind Memory
4    and understanding do make this my last Will and Testament
5    in manner following that is to say I will and direct that
6    my Funeral Expences and all my just debts be discharged
7    paid and subject thereto I give and dispose of my Estate
8    and Effects as follows I give unto my daughter Sally
    [Page 2]
9    Hitchin Pelly wife of Henry Hinde Pelly of Upton in the
10    County of Essex Esq[uie]r the Capital Sum of two Thousand
11    pounds old South Sea annuities I give unto my daughter
12    Arabella Blake the like Capital Sum of two Thousand pounds
13    Old South Sea Annuities I give unto my daughter Mary
14    Tymewell Blake the like Capital sum of two Thousand
15    pounds Old South Sea Anuities and my Will is that the
16    said several Capital Sums of Old South Sea Annuities
17    shall be transferred to my said daughters by my Executrix
18    hereinafter named within three Calendar Months next
19    after my death but in case I shall not be possessed of
20    old South Sea Annuities sufficient to answer the said Legacies
21    Then I will and direct that my said Executrix shall by
22    and out of my personal Estate buy so much Old South
23    Sea Annuities as will make up the deficiency I give to
24    my Wife Mary Blake and the said Henry Hinde Pelly
25    the Capital Sum of One Thousand pounds three per
26    cent Bank Annuities reduced upon Trust they they or
27    the Survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators
28    of such Survivor shall transfer assign and pay the
29    same and the Interest and dividends thereof that shall
30    not be applied for the purposes hereafter mentioned
31    unto my adopted Grandson John Joseph Blake now
32    living with me and reputed to be the Son of John
33    Bradby Blake (late a Supra Cargo at Canton in
34    China deceased) by Maria de Nosorio of Macao
35    when and if he shall live to attain his age of twenty one
36    years which will be on the seventh day of January
37    1795 but in case of his death before that age then
38    I will that the said one thousand pounds three per
39    cent Bank annuities reduced or so much thereof as
40    they shall think proper for and towards the Maintenance
41    and Education of my said adopted Grandson I give to
42    James Bradby now an Infant Son of my Nephew
43    Blake Bradby deceased the Sum of one hundred pounds
44    the same to be paid by my Executrix hereafter named
45    to Elizabeth Sophia Bradby Mother of the said Infant
46    to be applied by her for the benefit of the said Child at
47    her discretion I give to Mr John Hogarth Apothecary
48    of Vigro Lane in the parish of Saint James Fifty pounds
49    or a Ring as a Mark of Family Friendship I give to
50    Mr Bateman Robson of Lincolns Inn twenty five pounds
51    and to Mr Christopher Morris of the same place the
52    like Sum of twenty five pounds I give to the Treasurer
53    of Greenwich hospital for the time being the Sum of
    [Page 3]
54    twenty five pounds to be applied to the Fund for the benefit
55    of the Seamen in that hospital All the Rest Residue and
56    Remainder of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and
57    wheresoever whether Real or personal I give devise and
58    bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my
60    said wife Mary Blake her heirs Executors Administrators
61    and Assigns to and for her and their own use and
62    benefit absolutely for ever and I do hereby constitute
63    and appoint my said wife sole Executrix of this my
64    last Will and Testament hereby revoking and declaring
65    void all former and other Wills and Codicils by me at
66    any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be
67    my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I
68    have to this my said last Will and Testament (all of
69    my own handwriting) set my hand and Seal this sixth
70    day of March in the Year of our Lord one thousand
71    seven hundred and eighty one J Blake Signed
72    Sealed published and declared by the said Testator John
73    Blake (after the word “pounds” being interlined in the
74    fifteenth Line as and for his last Will and Testament in
75    in the presence of us who in his presence and in the
76    presence of each other have hereunto subscribed out
77    Names as Witnesses Samuel Stratt John Croft Edw[ar]d
78    Parratt
79    This Will was proved at London on the
80    ninth day of March in the year of our Lord one
81    thousand seven hundred and ninety before the worshipful
82    John Michell doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right
83    honourable Sir William Wynne Knight doctor of
84    Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative
85    Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath
86    of Mary Blake Widow the Relict of the deceased and
87    sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Admon
88    was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels
89    and Credits of the said deceased she having been
90    first sworn duly to administer