Will of John Blake, Gentleman of Christchurch, Hampshire, National Archives PROB 11/541 Image Reference 212/211, probated 21 Aug 1714

This will precedes yesterday's will in that John Blake is the father of William Blake testator which appears in yesterday's blog. This will be the last Blake will for as much as a couple of weeks as I must return to some early Routledge documents that I have on hand. My cousin Thomas Routledge is writing a book and I had promised to transcribe some documents for him. A couple of months ago I became very very busy and it slipped my mind but Thomas has reminded me! Therefore I will be back to the Routledge family of Eskdale Ward Cumberland England working on about a dozen documents which I will post here as well.

The Blake family of Christ Church does appear in the Visitations. William Blake who died in 1606 lived at Hubborn, Hampshire and he had a son John who also lived at Hubborn and in 1660 was 64 years of age (hence born circa 1596 and would have been ten years old when his father died). This John was married to Susanna Emberley (daughter of Nicholas Emberley of Christchurch) and they had at least two children: John b c 1630 and Susanna married to Henry Hopkins (Burgess of the Burough of Christ Church). John was was a Captain of Foot under the command of Colonel Fleming (and in 1686 Mayor of Christ Church) married Sarah Preston (daughter of Henry Preston of Burton, Christ Church). John and Sarah had at least one child also John who lived at Legore, Parish of Milton, Hampshire and he was approximately 33 years of age in 1686 (b c 1653) and married to Dorothy Blake (daughter and sole heir of Stephen Blake of Legore, Hampshire). They had five children Dorothy b c 1673, John b c 1674, Sarah b c 1681, Stephen b c 1683, and William b c 1685 (died 20 Dec 1744). The Visitation has been signed by John Blake in 1686 at the Kings Arms in Lindhurst 25 Jul 1686. This John is the Testator in this will.  Probate was given to his wife Dorothy and sons Stephen and William although I have not yet transcribed the Probate.

Dorothy (wife of John) was also a Blake; daughter of Stephen Blake of Legore, Milton, Hampshire (near Christ Church) but I have not yet been able to determine the lineage of Stephen Blake.

I wonder which Blake family; are they descendant of the Wiltshire Blake family? William was a Mercer but it was a time when the most profit lay in cloth so I can not say that just because he was a Mercer he might be related to the Andover Blake family. Other than Richard Blake at Andover and his line, the rest were gentlemen farmers. Hubborn is an area in Christ Church looking at the Post Office Directory for the Borough of Southampton by William Cooper (1834), Southampton: Fletcher, Forbes and Fletcher. Interesting that the furtherest back William Blake died in 1606 the same year as William Blake at Eastontown. However, William at Eastontown did not have a son John.

In the Blog on Henry Blake's will http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2011/02/henry-blake-of-christchurch-and-his.html written 18 Feb 2011, there is some information on Hubborn. The Hampshire Record Office does hold a number of wills for Blake members at Hubborn including the will of John Blake husbandman at Hubborn who left his will in 1613, William Blake husbandman leaving a will in 1585. The Blake family at Andover does not really appear at Andover until the early 1500s and the earliest wills may be Richard Blake who left a will in 1522 naming his brother  Thomas and his wife Executor (this is a will that I need to order from Hampshire Record Office). Jone Blake left a will in 1527 naming her children Robert, Nicholas and Elizabeth but neglected to name her husband at Andover. I am wondering if Richard is the husband of Jone since he is at Enham.

Back to Christchurch and Robert Blake leaves his will in 1547 naming his sons Richard (eldest and executor), William, Thomas the elder, Thomas the younger and Elizabeth.  Is this the family on the Visitation? This keeps reminding me that I need to transcribe the 30 odd Wiltshire Blake wills that I have on hand. Personally my feeling is that the Christchurch family is descendant of the Calne Wiltshire Blake family.

Once again the yDNA study of the Blake family is an interesting way to look at your Blake line. Movement in the British Isles as people migrated from one area to another for various reasons happened early as well as now. For instance, my great grandparents Blake were from two different counties (Blake from Upper Clatford Hampshire and Knight from Turnworth Dorset). yDNA tells you about your deep ancestry. My line at Upper Clatford testing my brother is I2a2b which is said to be a very ancient British Isles haplogroup. My father was born at Eastleigh Hampshire (near Southampton) in 1904 with his father born at Upper Clatford in 1875.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 17 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/541 Image Reference 212/211
Place: Christchurch, Hampshire, England
Testator: John Blake, Gentleman of Christchurch, Hampshire
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 25 May 1714,  probated 21 Aug 1714
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, bold text

[In margin] Tes[tat]or Johannis Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    This is the Last Will and Testament of me John Blake of
3    Sanborne within the parish of Christ Church in the County of
4    South[amp]ton Gentleman as followeth (that is to say) and chiefly I
5    commend my Soul to the Mercy of Almighty God thro[ug]h the merits
6    of my Saviour Christ Jesus and my body I commit to the Earth
7    and my Worldly Estate I dispose of in manner following (viz [a vi]t)
8    I give to the Poor of the Parish of Christ Church aforesaid Forty
9    shillings to be disposed of att my Grave by my Executors herein
10    after named. Item I give to my Grandson John Garret Blake
11    and to my Grand daughter Jane Blake Son and Daughter of
12    my Son John Blake the Summe of One hundred pounds a peice
13    of Lawfull Money when they shall respectively attaine the
14    age of one and Twenty years. Item I give to my Son John
15    Blake the Summe of One hundred pounds of like money to be
16    paid within one year after my decease Item I give to my daughter
17    Dorothy Slade the summe of One Hundred pounds of like
18    money to be paid within One year after my decease. Item I
19    give to my Grand daughter Sarah Slade and to my Grand Son
20    Nicholas Slade the Summe of fifty pounds a peice of like money
21    and to my Grand daughter Susannah Slade the Summe of one
    [Page 2]
22    hundred pounds of like money to be paid them respectively
23    at their attaining the age of one and Twenty years or days of
24    Marriage which shall first happen and in case of either of
25    their deaths to the Survivors and Survivor of them. Item I give
26    devise and bequeath unto my Son Stephen Blake his heirs Execu[to]rs
27    and administrators all and Singular my Lands Tenements and
`    hereditaments situate lying and being within the Tythings of
29    Street Burton and Bure within the Parish of Christ Church afores[ai]d
30    (except Colgills Hamm) Item I give to my Grand children Stephen
31    Richard and John Blake sons of my said Son Stephen the Summe
32    of one hundred pounds apeice of like Lawfull Money to be paid to
33    them at their attaining their respective Age of One and Twenty
34    years and in Case of either of their deaths to the Survivors and
35    Survivor of them. Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Son
36    William Blake his heirs Executors and Administrators all and
37    Singular my Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments
38    Scituate lyeing and being within the Burrough of Christ Church
39    in the Said County of South[amp]ton together with Colgills Hamm and
40    the Close or Plott of Ground in the Possession of Joseph Jeanes
41    with the rights members and Appurtenances thereof but in case
42    my said son William shall happen to dye without any other
43    Issue of his body lawfully begotten besides his now daughter
44    Then my will is and I do give devise and bequeath all and
45    Singular the Said Premisses so devised to him his heirs Executors
46    and Administrators unto my Son Stephen Blake his heirs Executors
47    and Administrators upon Condition nevertheless that he or
48    they pay unto my Said Son William Blake the Summe of Two
49    hundred pounds of Lawfull money when She Shall attaine her
50    full age or be Married which shall first happen. Item I give
51    to my said Grand daughter Elizabeth Dorothy Blake the further
51    Summe of One hundred pounds of like Money to be paid her
52    at her attaining her full age or Marriage which shall first
53    happen. Item I give to the Churchwardens of the Parish of Christ
54    Church aforesaid Forty Shillings to be paid at my Funeral
55    to the use of the Repaires and beutifying the Said Parish Church
56    all the residue of my Good and Chattells and Estate whatsoever
57    not herein before devised I give to my Loveing Wife and my
58    Said Sons Stephen and William equally to be divided between
59    them and make and appoint them joint Executors of this my
60    Last Will and Testament hereby revokeing all former and other
61    by me made and declareing this only to be my Last In Wittness
62    whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seale this five and
63    Twentieth day of May in the year of Our Lord Christ one Thousand
64    Seven hundred and fourteen John Blake Signed Sealed
65    and declared by the Said John Blake to be his Last Will and
66    Testament in our presence who Subscribes Our names in his
67    presence in the Lodging Room of him the said John Blake att
68    Sambborne aforesaid, the words (Garret. Item I give to my Son
69    John Blake the Summe of One hundred pounds of like money
70    to be paid within One yeare after my decease Sarah Slade
71    apeice) being First interlined in the above Written Will
    [Page 3]
72    Ja: Coffin, Tho: Coffin, William Whichre

Henry Blake of Christchurch and his will of 10 Jul 1594 and probated 15 Oct 1594

 There are four wills at the National Archives for the Blake family at Christchurch including the will of Henry Blake of 10 Jul 1594 and probated 15 Oct 1594 and the other three are the wills of William Blake, mercer, Elizabeth Blake widow and Samuel Blake brandy merchant (dated 8 Mar 1745, 12 May 1752 and 13 Feb 1812 respectively). I  have not read the last three having only transcribed the will of Henry Blake thus far. The Hampshire Record Office holds some early Blake wills at Christchurch - Robert Black (Blacke) 1547, Richard Blake husbandman 1559, Richard Black (Blacke) 1565, William Blake husbandman 1585, Margaret Blake widow (Hubborn) 1592, Agnes Blake widow 1607, John Blake husbandman (Hubborn), 1613,  Mary Blake widow 1636, John Blake senior yeoman (Hubborn) 1660. The Blake family continues (particularly at Hubborn well into the 1700s (as far as I have checked thus far) at Christchurch. I have not made a decision on the Black/Blacke entries that I find. Possibly it is a freestanding name but occasionally the Blake name is spelled that way in the Parish Record when it is obviously a member of the Blake family.

The oldest will at Christchurch is that of Richard Blake husbandman in 1559. William Blake husbandman leaves a will in 1585. We then jump to wills for individuals living at Hubborn, Christchurch and continuing John Blake husbandman at Hubborn, Christchurch leaves a will in 1613 and the Blake family continues at Hubborn at least into the 1700s which is as far as I have checked thus far. I wonder if Richard Blake husbandman in 1559 was also at Hubborn.

An Auction Ad appeared in 1812 which has some information on Hubborn:

ARABLE LAND, containing by estimation 10 acres, situate at Hubborn, in the parish of Christchurch, now in the occupation of the proprietor, Mr. Nicholas Verge. - The premises are admirably adapted either for the purposes of husbandry or building; they command extensive views of the sea, Isle of Wight, Needles, and surrounding country; and a brook of fine water runs through the whole. There are two Brick-Kilns on the Estate, in full work, and abundance of excellent clay. (Salisbury and Winchester Journal, Monday, June 8, 1812 - http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dutillieul/ZOtherPapers/S&WJ8June1812.html).

 The will of Agnes Blake widow in 1607 is perhaps the wife of Henry Blake (he mentions her name is Agnes) and no special location is given other than Christchurch in the Hampshire Record Office online catalogue. By the will Henry and Agnes do not have any living children. Instead this is a will that mentions siblings, other relatives and friends. Placing Henry in the Blake family of the 1500s will be a challenge I suspect. Henry is a name that occurs in the Blake family near Calne, Wiltshire in the 1300s and 1400s. There was also a Henry Blake baptizing children in 1622 at Andover. It would be interesting to read the will of Agnes Blake widow in 1607 in case it reveals more information about this particular Blake family. At the moment though they are an orphan Blake family at Christchurch although he has a sister Amy. Henry mentions a Joseph Blake (no relationship stated but he wants to help provide for the upbringing of the children of Joseph)  in his will and that his sister is Amy Fuller and that she has children. The Fuller family receive one quarter of his property. The will of Henry follows:
 

Recorded: 17 February 2011

Source: The National Archives PRO 11/84, Kew, London, UK, #303/265 (images by me)

Place: Christchurch, Hampshire, England

Testator: Henry Blake

Type of Record: Will

Dated: 10 Jul 1594 and probated 15 Oct 1594

Read: Electronic copy

Condition: scan, smudges, old English writing good, contrast medium

T[estator] Henri Blake

1    In the name of God amen The tennth daye of Julie Anno
2    dom[in]i millesimo quingentesimo nonagesimo quarto. I Henry Blake of Christchurche
3    in the countie of South[ampton] sicke in bodie but of good and perfect memorye thankes be to
4    god do ordaine and make this my last will and testamente in manner and forme
5    followinge, first and principallie I give and bequeath my soule into the handes of
6    almightie god my maker and redeemer, and my bodie to be burieth in the Churche or
7    Church yard of Christchurch aforesaid. Item, I give to my parishe churche two busshells
8    of wheate, Item to the Cathederall church of winchester twelve pound. Item I give unto
9    Roberte Tymer halfe my leafe of the meadowes after the decease of my wife. Item I give
10    to his sonn Henrye Tymer a quarter of my _oate with such furniture as to the same
11    belongeth. Item I give to my godsonn Henry Lea two sheepe and a silver spoone to be
12    delivered within the monthe after my decease. And a cowe after the decease of my wife
13    Item I give to Henry Pilgrim a sheepe and a stears bullock after the decease of my
14    wife. Item I give to the rest of my godchildren or every of them five pence Item I
15    give to Richard Heliar a steare Bullocke and an heifer bullocke and two sheepe to be
16    delivered after the decease of my wife Item I give to Elizabeth Clarke alias Vincente a
17    sheepe and a bullocke to be delivered at her marriage Item I give to Josephe Blake all
18    my wearinge apparrell, my best gowne and my best cloake excepted, and a sacke
19    of Barley, and two busshells of wheate and two bushells of Pit to be delivered th[e ]one
20    halfe at the month, and the other halfe the next yeare followinge Item I give to the
21    said Josephe Blake halfe the pickers and of Pit and an half of Barley about __westos
22    Item I give to Josephe Blakes children one bullocke amongst them, towardes theire
    [Page 2]
23    bringing up and a cowe after the death of my wife. Item I give to Agnes Heliar
24    my wife's goddaughter a bullocke of two years oulde. Item to Agnes Parker my wyve's
25    goddaughter a silver spoone Item I give to John Goddiers children to each of them a
26    lambe Item I give to John Newman a busshell of wheate Item I give to my sister
27    Amye Fuller and her children the fourth parte of my corne and cattle, a brasse pott
28    a platter and a pottenger a candlesticke and a bedstead to be delivered after the
29    decease of my wife Item I give to the poore people to be delivered at my buriall fourtie
30    shillinges and other fortie shillings more to be delivered after the decease of my wife
31    at the discrecion of my overseers All the rest of my goodes both moveable and immoveable
32    my debta and funeralls dischardges I give and bequeath unto Agnes Blake my
33    wife whom I make and appoynte my full and whole executrix Item I doe appoint
34    and ordaine my overseers my trustie and wel[l ]beloved in Christ William Lea Clearke
35    Thoms Packe and John Neale and I doe give to everie of them for theire paines
36    to be taken herein five shillinges

 Joseph Blake sounds like he might be a relative in that he has given him most of his wearing apparel. Henry Blake's will is interesting in that it mentions so many friends at a time when family would probably be considered to be the "first taker" of one's estate. The will of Agnes Blake in 1607 would be quite interesting is suspect and perhaps reveal more about this family.

I continue proofreading the Parish Registers at Upper Clatford. I became somewhat distracted looking at wills for a couple of days. I find reading microfilm can be hard on the eyes day after day so tend to move about to other things on occasion. In this case, it proved to be a most worthwhile exercise transcribing the will of Nicholas Blake.

I also transcribed the will of James Blake of Knights Enham and St George Bloomsbury Middlesex written 3 January 1727 and probated 8 July 1734. When I transcribed the Knights Enham parish register I thought I would find many Blake families there because that was where Nicholas and Robert Blake lived in the 1500s. They were the patriarchs of the two rather large Blake families in the Andover area in the 1500s so it was rather a surprise to find that by the very late 1600s there were very few Blake families attendant at the Knights Enham Church although they continued to remember the Church there in their wills. I have not yet worked through the possibilities for the parentage of James Blake but will do that later. His will proved to be an extremely interesting one and indeed it was contested and required two people who were familiar with his writing to enter proof of its legitimacy. Having once thus been determined the widow of James Blake, named Executrix in the will, renounced administration and inheritance both for herself and for her six daughters. There are a number of entries (margin) that lend to the suspicion that James Blake died perhaps in debt and his creditors were attempting to recover their debts from the property at Knights Enham. It was not resolved until 1790 as there had been an Indenture on the property in 1706 which left legal ownership in some doubt. It will make for interesting reading later once I have clarified some of the text (the notes in the margin are somewhat difficult to read). I will try to resolve the parentage of James but other than trying to find the marriages of his six daughters I will not trace this family any further down since my one name study looks solely at the Blake surname. In the case of my own personal family it will terminate with me since I too have married out of the Blake family.

I may transcribe the other three Blake wills at Christchurch or I may move on to other Hampshire wills closer to Andover. Curiosity drove me to look at Christchurch and the answer may lie in discovering more about the Wiltshire Blake family that gradually moved down towards Salisbury then to the New Forest area. To do that I need to transcribe the 30 odd wills that I have for the Wiltshire Blake family most located near Calne. Once I have finished looking at Hampshire wills then I shall move on to Surrey, Middlesex and London where the Blake family at Eastontown moved. I may be able to better understand why Richard Blake of the Tower Ward (Blog of 14 and 15 February 2011)  moved there from Eastontown. It was his cousins who also lived in Surrey/London/Middlesex. He is mentioned in the Visitation of London of 1633. I wonder what sort of tragedy happened between the Visitation in 1633 and his burial in 1644 at Andover. In the Visitation it is mentioned that he has two sons but no children (and no wife) are listed in his will. Is it the same Richard one might ask? Well his will clearly places him in the family of Richard Blake and Jone Blake of Andover.