Robert Blake the testator is known. He is the son of Robert and Elizabeth Blake. Robert’s will was probated yesterday:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/10/will-of-robert-blake-gentleman-ash.html
I have written away to see if I can get more information on the Cridland family from the person who runs the Cridland one name study at the Guild. I will wait for that information if any before commenting further on this will. Noticing that this will brings together a lot of property that has been mentioned in earlier wills.
From another researcher who has sent me a copy of the will of Sarah Chappell widow of James Chappell. Sarah Cridland married James Chappell in Milverton by licence 20 Dec 1767 (he was a widower) and Sarah was buried in Milverton 12 Jul 1809 aged 69 years with James having been buried in Milverton in 1794 aged 62 years. Elizabeth/Betty the daughter of Sarah and James Chappell, according to this researcher, married Thomas Tutton Kynfton of Westbury in 1797.
Thank you very much to the researcher for sharing this information with me.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1097/437
Testator: Robert Blake, Esquire
Place: Ash Prior, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 22 Aug 1782, probated 5 Dec 1782
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Robert
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: Esq[uie]r
1 This is the last Will and Testament
2 of me Robert Blake of Ashpriors in the County of Somerset
3 Esquire which I make and publish for the disposal of all my
4 Worldly Substance Estate and Effects whatsoever in manner and form
5 following (that is to say) First I give and devise unto my dear Wife
6 Frances Blake all my Messuages Lands Tenements and heredit[ament]s
7 situate and lying in the several Parishes of Stawley and Ashbrittle
8 in the said County of Somerset To hold the same with their several
9 and respective Rights Members and Appurtenances unto her my
10 said Wife Frances her heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give and
11 devise unto my said Wife Frances Blake all my Messuages Lands
12 Tenements and hereditaments situate and lying in the Parish of
13 Milverton in the said County of Somerset To hold the same with their
14 Rights
[Page 2]
15 Rights Members and Appurtenances unto my said Wife Frances
16 her heirs and Assigns for ever Subject unto all and every incumbrance
17 or incumbrances affecting the same Also I give devise and bequeath
18 all and every my Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments
19 situate lying and being in the several Parishes of Ashpriors
20 aforesaid Halse Huish Langport either Stowey Stogursey and
21 elsewhere in the said County of Somerset not herein before devised
22 unto her my said Wife Frances and her Assigns for and during
23 the term of her natural life or with respect to such parts or
24 so much thereof as are held for any long term or terms of
25 years absolute for and during so many years of such term or
26 terms as shall run out and expire in the natural life time of
27 her my said Wife without impeachment of or for any manner
28 of waste and with full power to commit waste She and they
29 paying thereout unto my Brother John Blake of Halse aforesaid
30 Surgeon and his Assigns one Annuity clear yearly Rent or
31 Sum of thirty pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain
32 clear of all deductions whatsoever during the term of his natural
33 life by half yearly payments the first payment to begin and
34 be made at the end of the first six Calendar Months next after
35 my death to whom I do hereby give devise and bequeath the
36 same with a power of distress in him my said Brother in case
37 of non payment as in cases of rack Rent And from and after
38 the death or decease of her my said Wife I give and devise the
39 same Messuages Lands Tenements hereditaments and Premises
40 unto him my said Brother John Blake and his Assigns for
41 and during the term of his natural life or with respect to such
42 parts thereof as are held for any long term or terms of years
43 absolute for and during so many years of such term or terms as
44 shall run out and expire in the natural life time of him my
45 said Brother he and they committing no wilful waste spoil or
46 destitution to or on the said Premises or any part thereof
47 and taking therefrom proper and sufficient Timber and other
48 materials for the necessary repairs only of the Premises and
49 from and after the death or decease of the Survivor of them
50 the said Frances Blake and John Blake I give devise and
51 bequeath all and every the same Messuages Lands Tenements
52 and hereditaments unto my kinsman John Cridland of
53 Milverton aforesaid Gentleman and James Chappell of the same
54 place Gentleman To hold the same with their several and respective
55 Rights Members and Appurtenances unto the said John Cridland
56 and James Chappell their heirs and Assigns with respect to such
57 parts and so much thereof as are Freehold or Fee Simple and unto
58 the said John Cridland and James Chappell their Executors
59 Administrators and Assigns with respect to such parts and so much
60 thereof as are held for any long term or terms of years absolute
61 for and during all such Estate or Estates term or terms and
62 Interest as shall be therein then to come and unexpired Upon
63 Trust that they the said John Cridland and James Chappell
64 and the Survivor of them and the heirs Executors Administrators
65 and Assigns of such Survivor do and shall as soon as conveniently
66 may be after the several deaths or deceases of my said Wife and
[Page 3]
67 Brother either at publick Auction or by private contract and in
68 such manner as they shall think best and most convenient sell and
69 dispose of all and singular the said Premises with their several and
70 respective Appurtenances to the best purchaser or purchasors that
71 can or may be had or gotten for the same and grant release
72 convey and assure the same Premises respectively unto the purchaser
73 or purchasors thereof his her or their heirs Executors Administrators
74 and Assigns accordingly And upon this further Trust and Confidence to
75 pay and divide the Monies arising by such Sale or Sales unto and
76 equally amongst them the said John Cridland my kinswomen Sarah
77 Wife of the said James Chappell Elizabeth Cridland Levinia Cridland
78 and Charlotte Cridland Children of my Uncle Richard Cridland of
79 Milverton aforesaid Gentleman the Children of my kinswoman Frances
80 the late Wife of Robert Pearce of Milverton aforesaid grocer and
81 my kinsman Robert Blake of Cooks Court Carey Street London
82 Gentleman and their respective Executors Administrators and Assigns
83 share and share alike the Children of the said Frances Pearce and
84 their Representatives to be entitled to one seventh part only the same
85 as I intended for their Mother had She been living provided always
86 and it is my express Will that the acquittances and Receipts of my
87 said Trustees and the Survivor of them and the heirs Executors
88 Administrators and Assigns of such Survivor for the Monies arising by
89 such Sale or Sales aforesaid of my several Estates Lands and Premises
90 aforesaid to the several persons who shall become the purchasors
91 thereof respectively by virtue of or under this my Will shall be good
92 and sufficient discharges in the Law for the same to the said several
93 purchasors their respective heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns
94 and that such purchasors shall not be liable to look to the
95 application of their purchase Money or be any ways answerable
96 or account[t]able for any loss of misapplication thereof provided
97 and it is my Will and meaning and I do hereby order and
98 direct that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said Trustees
99 their respective heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns in the
100 first place to direct retain reimburse and satisfy themselves
101 respectively out of the said Trust Estate and Premises or any part
102 thereof not only for all Jouries and attendances but also all
103 such Costs Charges and Expences as they or any or either of them
104 shall or may bear pay sustain or be put into for or by reason
105 or means or on account of the several Trusts hereby in them
106 reposed or in the execution thereof and that they my said Trustees
107 their respective heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns shall
108 not be chargeable with or answerable for any more Monies than
109 they shall actually receive or shall come to their respective hands
110 by virtue of this my Will neither they shall be accountable for or
111 chargeable with the Acts of each other but each of them for and
112 with his own respective Acts only Also I give unto my Father in Law
113 Thomas Cridland my Uncle the said Richard Cridland my
114 Brother in Law Thomas Cridland the younger my Aunt Susanna
115 Spurway and my Aunts Sarah and Betty Cridland one Mourning
116 Ring each to be delivered to them as soon as may be after my death
117 by my Executrix hereinafter named Also I give unto all my Servants
118 that shall be living with me at the time of my death one years
[Page 4]
119 Wages to be paid them within one year next after my Interment
120 by my said Executrix And lastly all the rest and residue of my
121 Goods Chattels Rights Credits personal and Testamentary Estate Substance
122 and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever after payment of my just
123 Debts Legacies and Funeral Expences I give will and bequeath unto
124 her my said Wife Frances Blake whom I make and constitute sole
125 Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all
126 former Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof
127 I the said Robert Blake the Testator have to this my last Will
128 and Testament comprised in or written on three Sheets of paper set
129 my hand to the first two Sheets and my hand and Seal to this
130 third and last Sheet thereof the twenty second day of August in the
131 year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two
132 Rob[er]t Blake Signed Sealed published and declared by the
133 said Robert Blake the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament
134 in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and also
135 in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses
136 thereto John Southey Joseph Hill Edward Bryant
137 This Will was proved at London the fifty day of
138 December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
139 and eighty two before the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert Doctor
140 of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court
141 of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Frances Blake
142 Widow the Relict of the deceased and sole Executrix named in the
143 said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular
144 the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased She having
145 been first sworn by Commission duly to Administer.
Showing posts with label Huish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Huish. Show all posts
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Will of Robert Blake, Gentleman, Ash Prior, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/804/495, probated 29 Nov 1753
The testator is the Robert Blake baptized 24 May 1710 at Ash Prior the son of John and Sarah Blake. He is also the brother of Joseph Blake whose will was blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/10/will-of-joseph-blake-ash-prior-somerset.html
Their sister Betty married Richard Cridland and the Cridland family is mentioned in the will below. Also Susannah his sister who is 17 years younger than he is and in 1752 when the will is written is only 25 years of age and the need to provide her with the money from his father’s will has resulted in his taking out a mortgage. Robert is then 42 years of age so was 37 when his first son was born. Baptism of Robert Blake son of Robert and Elizabeth Blake 21 Jan 1747 at Ash Prior, Somerset. Baptism of John Blake son of Robert and Elizabeth Blake 12 Nov 1752 at Ash Prior, Somerset.
The parents of Robert the testator and Joseph his brother along with the other children baptized to this couple Mary 17 Jan 1706; buried 15 Nov 1722, Betty 22 Feb 1714, Anne 12 Jul 1717, Sarah 2 May 1720 and Susannah 11 Feb 1727 were John Blake and Sarah Uppam (of Ash Prior) and they were married 15 Jan 1705 at Bicknoller (5 miles west of Overstowey). Unfortunately nothing is known of this John. Was he related to the family at Overstowey (Bicknoller is just 5 miles from Overstowey).
There is a webpage with the poor law rate for 1659, 1688, 1693, 1705, 1717, 1718, 1771, 1787 and 1819:
http://www.paulhyb.homecall.co.uk/parishes/bickcw.txt
Blake entries include:
1771 Mr John Blake late Dobels
1771 Thos Blake Williamses
1787 Mr Blake for Woolson
1787 Mr Blake for Dobles
1819 Joan Blake at Woolston (for herself)
1819 George Blake (Wm Sully owner) Bottom at ?
Perhaps that answers my question somewhat as there are no entries for Blake at Bicknoller before 1771. Why did John Blake and Sarah Uppam marry at Bicknoller? A mystery.
Another interesting comment that John Blake of Lower Weacombe (near Bicknoller) by will dated 1716 left £100 to provide clothing for the poor. This is a will that would have been most interesting but is not the will of John Blake married to Sarah Uppam. I wonder if this will still exists in some form since it is mentioned in British history online:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=117147
Bicknoller is part of the larger parish of Stogumber. We know that Richard Blake married to Grace Napcot had property at Stogumber and they had two sons John and Richard. Richard left his will which was probated in 1666 and he was married to Ann Jessop; blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/10/will-of-richard-blake-gentleman.html
This John died in 1716 and the last child of John and Sarah Blake was born/baptized in 1727 (Susannah) so not the correct John for this family.
Working through now and going back to the will of Robert Blake yeoman of Halse as this family in the will below also has property at Halse:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/10/will-of-robert-blake-yeoman-of-halse.html
is the John son of Robert in this will the father of this Robert? Once I get all these wills done then I will start to enter all the material into Legacy and see if I can find any linkages back to the Humphrey Blake family at Overstowey.
I am beginning to wonder if my information gathering is getting too huge for me to keep it all straight in my mind. I think I am reaching that point but would like to finish Somerset before I start to bring these wills together in a more rigorous fashion.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 28 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/804/495
Testator: Robert Blake, Gentleman
Place: Ash Prior, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 4 Feb 1752, probated 29 Nov 1753
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Robert
[Margin]: Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Robert Blake of Ash Pryors in the County of Sommerset
3 Gent do this fourth day of February One Thousand Seven
4 hundred fifty and two make this my last Will and Testament
5 as followeth Imprimis I Give devise and bequeath unto my
6 Good Friends John Fraunces of Coombflorey in the County aforesaid
7 Esquire and Tho: Cridland of the same place and county Gentleman
8 and to the survivor of them and to the heirs and Executors
9 of Such Survivor all my Lands Tenements and hereditaments
10 Both real and personal situate lying and being in the parishes
11 of Ash Pryors Halse Storgursey and Stowey and also all that
[Page 2]
12 Estate which I lately purchased of the Bishop of Bath and Wells lying
13 and being in the parish of Huish all which lands and Tenements are in
14 the County aforesaid and all Such as are in any other place whatsoever
15 and all my estate and interest therein Subject however to the Sum of
16 Nine hundred and thirty pounds and to Mr Cridland of Coombflorey Sen[io]r
17 on a Mortgage to him of all my Estates Real and personal in the parish
18 of Halse in the County aforesaid which Sum of Nine hundred and thirty
19 pounds I borrowed of him the said Mr Cridland as well to pay my said
20 Sister Susanna Blake her portion as also to purchase two lives of the
21 Bishop of Bath and Wells on my Estate at Huish and my Will is
22 that my Sister Susannah be paid her portion of Five hundred
23 pounds at the end of Six Months from the date of the notice I Gave
24 her of the payment of it which will be on the 25th of July next there
25 being in the hands of Mr Cridland five hundred pounds part of
26 the Mortgage Moneys for that purpose as will appear by a
27 declaration of his in my custody and also Subject to the payment
28 of all other my just debts and Legacies and I do hereby charge
29 all my Lands Tenements personal Estate and hereditaments with
30 the payment of the same Upon Trust nevertheless that the said
31 John Fraunceis and Tho: Cridland and the Survivor of them do
32 receive the rents and profits thereof and pay out of the same
33 unto my Wife Elizabeth the Sum of Forty pounds per annum
34 by quarterly payments during her natural Life On Condition
35 however that my said Wife doth relinquish her right and title
36 to all dower of Such Lands as She is dowable of which right if
37 she refuses to relinquish then and in such case my Will is that
38 the above charge of Forty pounds per annum payable to my Wife
39 and all other Sums hereinafter mentioned to be payable to her
40 shall be absolutely void nor Shall She have any benefit thereof
41 and also allow my Son Robert Blake for his education and
42 maintenance as much as they my Trustees shall think fit
43 until he arrives to the age of twenty One and when he attains
44 that age then my Trustees to be seized of all my before
45 mentioned Lands Tenements personal Estate and hereditaments
46 to the use of my said Son Robert and the heirs Male of
47 his Body lawfully begotten and for want of heirs Males of
48 his Body so begotten then to the issue Female of his Body
49 lawfully begotten and for want of such issue then to my
50 Trustees and to the Survivor of them and to the heirs and
51 Executors of Such Survivor Upon Trust that they permit my
52 Brother Joseph Blake to receive the rents and profits of all
53 my above mentioned Estates for and during the Term of Ninety and
54 nine years or for Such part of the Term as Shall run out in
55 his life time and from and after the Term aforesaid or Such
56 number of years as Shall expire in his life time then to my
57 Trustees aforesaid the Survivor of them the heirs and Executors
58 of Such Survivor to be Seized to the use of the heirs Males of the
59 Body of my said Brother lawfully begotten and for want of
60 heirs Males to the issue Female of my Said Brother lawfully
61 begotten and if he dies leaving no issue behind him then my Said
62 Trustees and the Survivor of them to be Seized to the use of the said John
63 Cridland and Richard Cridland Sons of Richard Cridland of Milverton
[Page 3]
64 Gent their heirs Executors and Assigns forever not as joint Tenants but
65 as Tenants in Common but my intention and Will is that if my Wife
66 happens to be with Child at the time of my death that Such Child shall if my
67 Son Robert dyes without issue inherit all my before mentioned Lands
68 Tenements personal Estate and hereditaments in the same manner and
69 with the same Limitations as my son Robert Blake is to inherit by this
70 Will and I do hereby give Such Child with which my Wife shall be
71 ensient at the time of my death Five hundred pounds to be paid
72 when Such Child Shall attain the age of Twenty One as also twenty
73 pounds per annum to be paid Quarterly for its maintenance and
74 education which Sum of Five hundred pounds and also Twenty pounds
75 per annum my Said Trustees and the Survivor of them are to raise out
76 of my Estates before mentioned by Sale Mortgage Lease or otherwise
77 but if my Wife is not with Child at the time of my death then my
78 Will is that Ten pounds per annum more to be added to the Forty pounds
79 before directed to be paid to my Wife making in the whole Fifty pounds
80 which sum my Trustees are to pay her Quarterly as long as she lives
81 and if my Said Son Robert Blake shall happen to dye without issue
82 and living his Mother than then and from that period of time my
83 Will is that Ten pounds per annum more be added to the Fifty pounds
84 above mentioned making in all Sixty pounds which Sum my
85 Trustees and the Survivor of them are to pay in manner and form
86 aforesaid and in case the Sum of Sixty pounds or any part thereof
87 Shall be behind and unpaid by the Space of two Months is Shall
88 be lawful for my said Wife Elizabeth to enter on such part of
89 my Lands and Tenements as I can charge with the payment
90 of the said Sixty pounds and take them into her own possession
91 until the said Sum of Sixty pounds or any part thereof be
92 satisfied and paid and I do will that my Wife shall have the
93 Great Parlour hall and Little parlour of my house with Chamber
94 over and also the best Garden and Green Courts until my
95 Son Robert comes to the age of Twenty One and I do hereby
96 devise the Guardianship of my Son to my Trustees and the
97 Survivor of them and I do hereby charge all my Real
98 and Personal Estate for the indemnification of my Trustees
99 from all charges they or either of them may be put to in the
100 execution of the Trust hereby reposed in them and I do also will
101 that my Quick and dead Stock be Sold by my Trustees aforesaid
102 whom I make Executors of this my last Will Rob[er]t Blake
103 Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Robert Blake
104 the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence
105 of us who Subscribed our names as Witnesses in the presence of
106 the said Robert Blake and at his request Edward Bryant
107 Upton Manning Rob[er]t Coles
108 Whereas my Son John was not born at the time of
109 making my above Will and thereby no provision was made for
110 him now my Will further is and I do hereby order my Trustees
111 above named to raise the Sum of Six hundred pounds out of any
112 or all the Estates above mentioned by Sale Mortgage or Lease
113 and also the farther Sum of Twenty pounds per Annum the
[Page 4]
114 Sum of Six hundred pounds to be paid him when he shall attain
115 the age of Twenty One and the said Sum of twenty pounds to be paid
116 him Yearly for his Maintenance and Education until he shall attain
117 that age and then the Sum of Twenty pounds per Annum to cease and
118 in case my Son Robert dies without issue of his Body lawfully
119 Begotten that then my Son John shall inherit all my Real and
120 personal Estates in the Same manner as his Brother was to inherit
121 Rob[er]t Blake Signed Sealed published and declared to be a Codicil
122 to the above Will in the presence of us who subscribed our Names
123 in the Testators presence and at his request Geo: Farewell Edw[ar]d
124 Bryant Upton Manning
125 This Will was proved at London with a Codicil annexed
126 the Twenty Ninth day of November in the year of Our lord One
127 Thousand Seven hundred and fifty three before the Right honourable
128 Sir George Lee Knight doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary
129 of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the
130 Oath of John Fraunceis Esquire and Thomas Cridland the Executors
131 named in the said Will To whom Administration was granted of all and
132 Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased being first
133 Sworn by Commission duly to administer the same.
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/10/will-of-joseph-blake-ash-prior-somerset.html
Their sister Betty married Richard Cridland and the Cridland family is mentioned in the will below. Also Susannah his sister who is 17 years younger than he is and in 1752 when the will is written is only 25 years of age and the need to provide her with the money from his father’s will has resulted in his taking out a mortgage. Robert is then 42 years of age so was 37 when his first son was born. Baptism of Robert Blake son of Robert and Elizabeth Blake 21 Jan 1747 at Ash Prior, Somerset. Baptism of John Blake son of Robert and Elizabeth Blake 12 Nov 1752 at Ash Prior, Somerset.
The parents of Robert the testator and Joseph his brother along with the other children baptized to this couple Mary 17 Jan 1706; buried 15 Nov 1722, Betty 22 Feb 1714, Anne 12 Jul 1717, Sarah 2 May 1720 and Susannah 11 Feb 1727 were John Blake and Sarah Uppam (of Ash Prior) and they were married 15 Jan 1705 at Bicknoller (5 miles west of Overstowey). Unfortunately nothing is known of this John. Was he related to the family at Overstowey (Bicknoller is just 5 miles from Overstowey).
There is a webpage with the poor law rate for 1659, 1688, 1693, 1705, 1717, 1718, 1771, 1787 and 1819:
http://www.paulhyb.homecall.co.uk/parishes/bickcw.txt
Blake entries include:
1771 Mr John Blake late Dobels
1771 Thos Blake Williamses
1787 Mr Blake for Woolson
1787 Mr Blake for Dobles
1819 Joan Blake at Woolston (for herself)
1819 George Blake (Wm Sully owner) Bottom at ?
Perhaps that answers my question somewhat as there are no entries for Blake at Bicknoller before 1771. Why did John Blake and Sarah Uppam marry at Bicknoller? A mystery.
Another interesting comment that John Blake of Lower Weacombe (near Bicknoller) by will dated 1716 left £100 to provide clothing for the poor. This is a will that would have been most interesting but is not the will of John Blake married to Sarah Uppam. I wonder if this will still exists in some form since it is mentioned in British history online:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=117147
Bicknoller is part of the larger parish of Stogumber. We know that Richard Blake married to Grace Napcot had property at Stogumber and they had two sons John and Richard. Richard left his will which was probated in 1666 and he was married to Ann Jessop; blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/10/will-of-richard-blake-gentleman.html
This John died in 1716 and the last child of John and Sarah Blake was born/baptized in 1727 (Susannah) so not the correct John for this family.
Working through now and going back to the will of Robert Blake yeoman of Halse as this family in the will below also has property at Halse:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/10/will-of-robert-blake-yeoman-of-halse.html
is the John son of Robert in this will the father of this Robert? Once I get all these wills done then I will start to enter all the material into Legacy and see if I can find any linkages back to the Humphrey Blake family at Overstowey.
I am beginning to wonder if my information gathering is getting too huge for me to keep it all straight in my mind. I think I am reaching that point but would like to finish Somerset before I start to bring these wills together in a more rigorous fashion.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 28 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/804/495
Testator: Robert Blake, Gentleman
Place: Ash Prior, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 4 Feb 1752, probated 29 Nov 1753
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Robert
[Margin]: Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Robert Blake of Ash Pryors in the County of Sommerset
3 Gent do this fourth day of February One Thousand Seven
4 hundred fifty and two make this my last Will and Testament
5 as followeth Imprimis I Give devise and bequeath unto my
6 Good Friends John Fraunces of Coombflorey in the County aforesaid
7 Esquire and Tho: Cridland of the same place and county Gentleman
8 and to the survivor of them and to the heirs and Executors
9 of Such Survivor all my Lands Tenements and hereditaments
10 Both real and personal situate lying and being in the parishes
11 of Ash Pryors Halse Storgursey and Stowey and also all that
[Page 2]
12 Estate which I lately purchased of the Bishop of Bath and Wells lying
13 and being in the parish of Huish all which lands and Tenements are in
14 the County aforesaid and all Such as are in any other place whatsoever
15 and all my estate and interest therein Subject however to the Sum of
16 Nine hundred and thirty pounds and to Mr Cridland of Coombflorey Sen[io]r
17 on a Mortgage to him of all my Estates Real and personal in the parish
18 of Halse in the County aforesaid which Sum of Nine hundred and thirty
19 pounds I borrowed of him the said Mr Cridland as well to pay my said
20 Sister Susanna Blake her portion as also to purchase two lives of the
21 Bishop of Bath and Wells on my Estate at Huish and my Will is
22 that my Sister Susannah be paid her portion of Five hundred
23 pounds at the end of Six Months from the date of the notice I Gave
24 her of the payment of it which will be on the 25th of July next there
25 being in the hands of Mr Cridland five hundred pounds part of
26 the Mortgage Moneys for that purpose as will appear by a
27 declaration of his in my custody and also Subject to the payment
28 of all other my just debts and Legacies and I do hereby charge
29 all my Lands Tenements personal Estate and hereditaments with
30 the payment of the same Upon Trust nevertheless that the said
31 John Fraunceis and Tho: Cridland and the Survivor of them do
32 receive the rents and profits thereof and pay out of the same
33 unto my Wife Elizabeth the Sum of Forty pounds per annum
34 by quarterly payments during her natural Life On Condition
35 however that my said Wife doth relinquish her right and title
36 to all dower of Such Lands as She is dowable of which right if
37 she refuses to relinquish then and in such case my Will is that
38 the above charge of Forty pounds per annum payable to my Wife
39 and all other Sums hereinafter mentioned to be payable to her
40 shall be absolutely void nor Shall She have any benefit thereof
41 and also allow my Son Robert Blake for his education and
42 maintenance as much as they my Trustees shall think fit
43 until he arrives to the age of twenty One and when he attains
44 that age then my Trustees to be seized of all my before
45 mentioned Lands Tenements personal Estate and hereditaments
46 to the use of my said Son Robert and the heirs Male of
47 his Body lawfully begotten and for want of heirs Males of
48 his Body so begotten then to the issue Female of his Body
49 lawfully begotten and for want of such issue then to my
50 Trustees and to the Survivor of them and to the heirs and
51 Executors of Such Survivor Upon Trust that they permit my
52 Brother Joseph Blake to receive the rents and profits of all
53 my above mentioned Estates for and during the Term of Ninety and
54 nine years or for Such part of the Term as Shall run out in
55 his life time and from and after the Term aforesaid or Such
56 number of years as Shall expire in his life time then to my
57 Trustees aforesaid the Survivor of them the heirs and Executors
58 of Such Survivor to be Seized to the use of the heirs Males of the
59 Body of my said Brother lawfully begotten and for want of
60 heirs Males to the issue Female of my Said Brother lawfully
61 begotten and if he dies leaving no issue behind him then my Said
62 Trustees and the Survivor of them to be Seized to the use of the said John
63 Cridland and Richard Cridland Sons of Richard Cridland of Milverton
[Page 3]
64 Gent their heirs Executors and Assigns forever not as joint Tenants but
65 as Tenants in Common but my intention and Will is that if my Wife
66 happens to be with Child at the time of my death that Such Child shall if my
67 Son Robert dyes without issue inherit all my before mentioned Lands
68 Tenements personal Estate and hereditaments in the same manner and
69 with the same Limitations as my son Robert Blake is to inherit by this
70 Will and I do hereby give Such Child with which my Wife shall be
71 ensient at the time of my death Five hundred pounds to be paid
72 when Such Child Shall attain the age of Twenty One as also twenty
73 pounds per annum to be paid Quarterly for its maintenance and
74 education which Sum of Five hundred pounds and also Twenty pounds
75 per annum my Said Trustees and the Survivor of them are to raise out
76 of my Estates before mentioned by Sale Mortgage Lease or otherwise
77 but if my Wife is not with Child at the time of my death then my
78 Will is that Ten pounds per annum more to be added to the Forty pounds
79 before directed to be paid to my Wife making in the whole Fifty pounds
80 which sum my Trustees are to pay her Quarterly as long as she lives
81 and if my Said Son Robert Blake shall happen to dye without issue
82 and living his Mother than then and from that period of time my
83 Will is that Ten pounds per annum more be added to the Fifty pounds
84 above mentioned making in all Sixty pounds which Sum my
85 Trustees and the Survivor of them are to pay in manner and form
86 aforesaid and in case the Sum of Sixty pounds or any part thereof
87 Shall be behind and unpaid by the Space of two Months is Shall
88 be lawful for my said Wife Elizabeth to enter on such part of
89 my Lands and Tenements as I can charge with the payment
90 of the said Sixty pounds and take them into her own possession
91 until the said Sum of Sixty pounds or any part thereof be
92 satisfied and paid and I do will that my Wife shall have the
93 Great Parlour hall and Little parlour of my house with Chamber
94 over and also the best Garden and Green Courts until my
95 Son Robert comes to the age of Twenty One and I do hereby
96 devise the Guardianship of my Son to my Trustees and the
97 Survivor of them and I do hereby charge all my Real
98 and Personal Estate for the indemnification of my Trustees
99 from all charges they or either of them may be put to in the
100 execution of the Trust hereby reposed in them and I do also will
101 that my Quick and dead Stock be Sold by my Trustees aforesaid
102 whom I make Executors of this my last Will Rob[er]t Blake
103 Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Robert Blake
104 the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence
105 of us who Subscribed our names as Witnesses in the presence of
106 the said Robert Blake and at his request Edward Bryant
107 Upton Manning Rob[er]t Coles
108 Whereas my Son John was not born at the time of
109 making my above Will and thereby no provision was made for
110 him now my Will further is and I do hereby order my Trustees
111 above named to raise the Sum of Six hundred pounds out of any
112 or all the Estates above mentioned by Sale Mortgage or Lease
113 and also the farther Sum of Twenty pounds per Annum the
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114 Sum of Six hundred pounds to be paid him when he shall attain
115 the age of Twenty One and the said Sum of twenty pounds to be paid
116 him Yearly for his Maintenance and Education until he shall attain
117 that age and then the Sum of Twenty pounds per Annum to cease and
118 in case my Son Robert dies without issue of his Body lawfully
119 Begotten that then my Son John shall inherit all my Real and
120 personal Estates in the Same manner as his Brother was to inherit
121 Rob[er]t Blake Signed Sealed published and declared to be a Codicil
122 to the above Will in the presence of us who subscribed our Names
123 in the Testators presence and at his request Geo: Farewell Edw[ar]d
124 Bryant Upton Manning
125 This Will was proved at London with a Codicil annexed
126 the Twenty Ninth day of November in the year of Our lord One
127 Thousand Seven hundred and fifty three before the Right honourable
128 Sir George Lee Knight doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary
129 of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the
130 Oath of John Fraunceis Esquire and Thomas Cridland the Executors
131 named in the said Will To whom Administration was granted of all and
132 Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased being first
133 Sworn by Commission duly to administer the same.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Will of Thomas Blake, Gentleman, Plymtree, Devon - The National Archives PROB 11/1032/77 - probated 6 Jun 1777
Thomas Blake, the testator, lived at Plymtree, Devon. According to Genuki in 1850 William Blake Esquire was one of the larger landowners there. Indeed Thomas bequeaths all of his property to William (possibly an ancestor of the William Blake in 1850) Blake his brother.
John Marks was perhaps married to Elizabeth (Betty) Blake since he is brother in law to Thomas Blake. Thomas does not mention a wife. Robert Marks was baptized 4 Feb 1766 at Pitminster son of John and Betty Marks. John Marks was baptized 1 Jul 1761 at Pitminster son of John and Betty Marks.
I did find baptisms for Trull online (home of Mr. William Blake, brother to the deceased):
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Trull/BapTru_B1.html
Blake Elizabeth 24 Jun 1689 d Robert
Blake Joan 14 Apr 1691 d Robert
Blake Edith 06 May 1695 d Robert
Blake Mary 06 Apr 1697 d Robert
Blake Elizabeth 10 Apr 1711 d Thomas/Elizabeth
Blake Thomas 13 Jan 1712 s Mr Thomas (deceased)/Mrs Elizabeth
Blake Thomas 28 Jun 1763 s Mr William, Cutsey
Blake William 11 Jun 1766 s Mr & Mrs Blake of Cutsey
Blake Betty 09 Aug 1769 d Mr & Mrs Blake of Cutsey
Blake Betty 03 Dec 1794 d William/Betty
Blake William 19 May 1797 s William/Betty, bn 31 Jan 1797
Blake Thomas 02 Feb 1802 s William/Betty, bn 22 Apr 1801
Blake William 29 Jan 1830 s William/Mary, Cutsey, gent
Blake Thomas 11 Jul 1831 s William/Mary, Cutsey, gent,bn 05 Jun 1831
Blake William 11 Jul 1831 s William/Mary, Cutsey, gent
Blake Elizabeth 24 Sep 1834 d William/Mary, Cutsey, gent
Blake Mary 30 Dec 1835 d William/Mary, Cursey, gent
Blake Robert 29 Jun 1890 s Sarah Ann, domestic servant
Marriages for Blake family members at Trull:
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Trull/MarTru_Bl.html
Blake Elizabeth Thomas Cogan 18 Sep 1705
Blake Joan James Osmond 03 Mar 1708
Blake Margaret John Baker 24 May 1709
Blake Charlotte Edward Long 12 Feb 1843
Blake Mary James Burston Corner 20 Oct 1864
Burials for Blake family members at Trull:
Blake Elizabeth 22 Nov 1698
Blake Margaret 17 Apr 1705
Blake Robert 16 Feb 1710 Mr, Pitminster
Blake Thomas 19 Aug 1712
Blake Elizabeth 01 Feb 1736 Mrs
Blake Mary 07 Oct 1743
Blake Richard 11 Jul 1748
Blake Betty 14 Jun 1785
Blake Betty 10 Jan 1798
Blake William 11 Jan 1811
Blake Thomas 16 Feb 1813 12 Cutsey
Blake William 12 Sep 1826 60 Cutsey
Blake William 13 Apr 1832 2 2yr 3mn, Cutsey
Blake Betty 26 Nov 1840 70
Blake William 14 Jan 1864 66
Blake Mary 19 Sep 1876 70
Blake Thomas 09 Nov 1880 49 Cutsey
Cutsey is a hamlet in the Parish of Trull. Cutsey House is listed as a Grade II Building. The Blake family can be found as early as 1710 in the records at Cutsey with the mention in the 1710 will of Robert Blake of Pitminster (he was married to Margaret Thomas). Looking this record up on the online catalogue of the Somerset Record Office lead me to DD|CH/120/4 which covers the sale of a piece of land to Robert Blake of Pitminster in 1709 and then the purchase of this land by Richard Blake of Angersleigh (the testator Thomas Blake of Plimtree was the eldest son of this Richard Blake and this was the house called Harpers and the meadow in 1760). I can not find anyone who has traced this family down online from Richard.
From the will, Thomas, the testator, has a brother William of Trull who lives at Cutsey from the records above.
I then was lucky to find a write up by a descendant of this William Blake’s son William.
http://wendys-questionable-public-musings.blogspot.ca/2011/12/2-december-2011-tracing-family-history.html
William I believe had two siblings – older brother Thomas and younger sister Betty. William was younger than the testator of this will, Thomas, and with the naming of children the same in each generation it is somewhat confusing. However from the records above for Trull this does seem to fit in well. William Blake (baptized 11 Jun 1766 (died 2 Sep 1826 and married to Betty Farrant) was listed as “of Cutsey, Trull and Plymtree, Devon.” This fits with the will as this William would have inherited both his father’s property and his uncle Thomas’ property (the testator). Older brother Thomas does seem to be missing and isn’t mentioned in the writeup.
I am now quoting from the webpage mentioned above: William Blake and Betty Farrant “had only one surviving son ……. William Blake, who was baptised in Trull on 30 January 1797 and died on 9 January 1864. He was married to Mary Thomas, who died on 18 September 1876, aged 70. It is their grave (I would imagine they are buried there) that forms one of the three graves in the group in the churchyard at All Saints Church, Trull. They had four children (…….. Thomas, (another) William Blake (who died at 2), Elizabeth, who lived at Dipford (built by her father years before when he retired there and left Cutsey in the hands of Thomas) and their final child, Mary Blake.
Thomas Blake of Cutsey, Trull (Grave 1 in All Saints Church Grave Yard) with his wife, Eleanor. Thomas Blake then inherited Cutsey from his father (William). Thomas died when he was 49, but his wife was to live to the ripe old age of 83. (Gravestone 1 at All Saints Church above.) As a result of them apparently having no children, Eleanor moved out of Cutsey to "Broadlands", where she lived until her death.” At this point Cutsey following the death of Thomas’ sisters would move from the Blake family to the Clatworthy which the article mentions.
This clarifies the descent of the properties mentioned in the will to William Blake. Now to take the family back in time. William Blake and Thomas (the testator) Blake were brothers and sons of Richard Blake as mentioned in the document in the online catalogue at the Somerset Record Office website.
Records from the National Archives fonds for the Blake Family of Trull:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=168-ddct&cid=-1#-1
These papers were donated by the descendants of one of the sisters of Thomas Blake mentioned above who inherited Cutsey when Thomas had no descendants.
DD\CT/12 - 1667: Plot of ground at Socke (Pratt family). Thomas Blake living at Plymtree in 1760.
DD\CT/14 – 1709: Messuage at Ashcombe, Marke Family (documents relating to litigation)
DD\CT/18 – 1707-1883: Agreement previous to marriage of John Baker of Shepton Mallet, clothier, and Elizabeth Blake of Angersleigh, spinster, 1746; inventory of Robert Blake of Pitminster, 1711, and receipts for legacies, etc., under his will, 1711-29; appointment of guardians for Thomas Blake, 1749; releases, bonds, etc., 1707-87; account of the personal estate of Thomas Blake of Cutsey in Trull, etc., 1881-83.
DD\CT/30 – 1777-1794: Notebook with a few pages only used containing notes of timber measured, remedies (animals) and occasional memoranda, probably kept Wm. Blake of Plymtree; the notebook originally belonged to William Pratt in 1734.
DD\CT/50 – 1624-1737: Land called Lanes Meadows, 1624-1644 (Hancock and Thomas families of Trull), and 1731-1737 (Blake family); the 18th century deeds also relate to a messuage and 2a (not described). Settlement previous to marriage of Richard Blake and Mary Buncombe, both of Trull, 1732, also relates to buildings on the East side of the hall of the messuage called Lower Harpers (parents of the testator).
DD\CT/52 – 1709, 1717-1762: Documents relating to Blake Taunton Deane property in the tithing of Woodland in the hundred of Holway, including surrender previous to the marriage of Wm. Blake of Trull and Betty Long of Pitminster, 1762 (brother of the testator). Earliest document is bond relating to 15a in the tithing of Rumwell sold by Thomas Blake to Peter Risdon of Trull.
DD\CT/54 – 1696-1768: Higher and Lower Harpers/Harpus in Angersleigh and Trull respectively and leashold land held under the Gale Famnily; agreement and postnuptial settlement, Blake/Buncombe, 1732, relating to the fgirst named properties – abstract of title to Higher Harpers, reciting from 1611.
DD\CT/55 – 1583-1762: Parsons Field acquired by Richard Blake of Trull in 1747.
DD\CT/57 – 1671-1718: Release of dower by Elizabeth Blake, widow, of Halse to son Robert, 1671; mortgage by Robert Blake of Trull of messuage and 30 a., late parcel of manor, 1688; settlement previous to marriage of Robert Blake and Joan, daughter of Faithfull Cape, clerk, all of Halse, 1718, relating to moiety of house and 10a.
DD\CT/57A -1707: Articles of agreement previous to marriage of Robert Blake of Trull and Margaret Durstone of Pitminster relating to her Taunton Deane lands in various tithings in the hundred of Poundisford.
DD\CT/58 – 1789-1818: Settlement previous to marriage of John Ashford, jun., of Broad Clyst [Devon] and Betty, daughter of William Blake of Plymtree, 1789 relating to capital messuage and farm called Lymbury with associated papers.
DD\CT/60 – 1712-1827: Probate and other copies of wills and letters of admon (all Blake): Thos., 1713 (admon). Eliz. 1735, Mary, 1755 (admon), Wm. 1826, pr. 1827, all of Trull, Robt. of Pitminster, 1709, pr. 1712, Thos. of Angersleigh, 1763, pr. 1767, Thos. o Plymtree, 1777.
DD\CT/63 – 1698-1787: Miscellaneous personal papers, receipts for legacies, bonds, release to trustees, appointment of guardian, including inventories of Robert of Pitminster, 1711, and Thomas of Trull, 1712, and a schedule (by rooms) of furniture lent my mother (? By Thomas Blake), 1711. Are Robert Blake and Thomas Blake brothers with Robert father of Robert Blake of Halse and Thomas being the father of Richard of Trull (father of the present testator)?
DD\CT/70 – not dated, post 1703: Draft answers to bill of complaint of Edward Musgrave by Robert and Margaret Blake, Margaret Thomas, et al. arising out of will of Bottolph Thomas, father and husband respectively of the two last named (Margaret).
DD\CT/80 – early 20th century: Scraps of notes, in pencil, about the Blake family 18 – 19 century. (Since these documents were passed to the Somerset Archive and Record Service by the Clatworthy family (author of the webpage above on the descendants of William Blake of Trull) I would suspect they do not contain anything further back than what was used in the webpage but if I am ever in Taunton I shall check on that!)
Names mentioned in the will:
Thomas Skinner, Bridgewater
John Mathews, Lessee at Tyes
Mr. William Blake of Trull, brother to the testator
John Marks, Pitminster, tanner, brother in law
Robert Marks, son of John above, nephew
John Marks, son of John above, nephew
Mr. William Pratt, gentleman of Plimptree, cousin (deceased)
Mrs. Joan Pratt of Willand, Devon (widow of William above?)
Mr. John Pratt of Willand, Devon (son of Mrs. Joan Pratt), gentleman
Mrs. Dorothy Pratt of Willand, Devon (wife of Mr. John Pratt)
Betty Pratt of Willand, Devon (daughter of John and Dorothy)
Ann Hicks Pratt (daughter of John and Dorothy)
William Buncombe of Pitminster, gentleman, cousin
Alexander Meaddock, yeoman, of Angersleigh, tenant
Alice Wier, maidservant
Betty Lock, maidservant
John Stileham, manservant
John Walker, servant
Robert Richards, servant
John Eveleigh, apprentice
Thomas Always, apprentice
John Leaman, apprentice
Mary Hellier
(Old) John Richards
James Huish and his wife of Cullompton, gentleman
Mr. Wright, sellor
Bernard Wright, witness
John Critchett, witness
John Tucker, witness
This is perhaps the line of the son of John Blake the elder who was buried 10 Dec 1576 at Overstowey Somerset. He was the eldest son of Humphrey Blake who was buried 28 Dec 1558 at Overstowey. John’s brother Robert (married to Margaret Symonds) was a merchant at Bridgewater and grandfather of Lord High Admiral Robert Blake.
John Blake the elder and his wife Johan had seven children some of whom lived at Pitminster.
His son William was buried 13 Jun 1642 at Pitminster and William and his wife Anne had seven children namely Robert married to Sara Wicham 3 Mar 1616 at Pitminster, Grace buried 5 Jan 1622 at Pitminster, Eme buried 27 Jul 1593 at Pitminster (an infant), William married Agnes Band (the American Blake family at Boston claims this particular line), John, Anne married to Thomas Bidgood 24 Nov 1629, and Richard.
His daughter Alice married James Richard 2 Oct 1569 at Overstowey but both were buried at Pitminster (Alice 17 Aug 1585).
An interesting will that may help with linking families in the future.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 17 Aug 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1032/77
Testator: Thomas Blake, Gentleman
Place: Plymtree, Devon, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 10 Mar 1777, probated 6 Jun 1777
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Thomas
[Margin]: Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Thomas Blake of the parish of Plymstree
3 In the County of Devon Gentleman make this
4 my last Will and Testament in manner following
5 whereas I have contracted and agreed to and
6 with Thomas Skinner of Bridgewater in the
7 County of Somerset Farrier for the purchase of the
8 Fee Simple and Inheritance of all those Closes or
9 parcels of Land called Sock Close and Pines Close
10 part of an Estate called Tyes The Field or Close
11 called the Hay Downs the Field called Langlands
12 the Long Beat Land, the South Down and Clarkes
13 Meadow part of an Estate called Clarkes and also
14 the Court Garden and West Plott thereunto
15 belonging which I now Rent of the aforesaid
16 Thomas Skinner also the dwelling house and Orchard
17 part of the said Estate called Tyes now in the
18 possession of one John Matthew all which said
19 premises are situate within the said parish of
20 Plimstree for the price of Sum of seven hundred
21 pounds, and have lent the said Thomas Skinner the
22 sum of three hundred pounds upon his Bond before
23 a Fine could be levied and a good Title made New I
24 do hereby order and direct that my Brother William
25 Blake of Trull in the County of Sommerset aforesaid
26 Gentleman as soon as a good Title can be made to the
[Page 2]
27 aforesaid premises do carry the said Contract into
28 execution and pay the Residue of the said seven
29 hundred pounds the purchase Money upon proper
30 conveyances being executed by him by the said
31 Thomas Skinner I give devise and bequeath unto
32 John Marks of the parish of Pitminster in the
33 County of Sommerset aforesaid Tanner my Brother
34 in Law All that my Messuage or Tenement called
35 Harpers situate lying and being in the parish of
36 Angersley in the said County of Sommerset To hold
37 to him and his assigns for and during the term of
38 his natural Life and after his decease I give and
39 devise the same unto his Son my Nephew Robert
40 Marks his heirs and assigns forever But in case my
41 said Cousin Robert Marks shall happen to dye in the
42 life time of his said Father then and in such case I
43 give devise and bequeath the said Estate called
44 Harpers after the death of my said Brother in
45 Law John Marks unto his Son my Nephew John
46 Marks his heirs and assigns for ever also I give and
47 bequeath unto my aforesaid Cousin John
48 Marks the Sum of Five hundred pounds over and
49 above the Sum of two hundred pounds given and
50 bequeathed unto him in and by the last Will and
51 Testament of my late cousin Mr William Pratt
52 of Plimptree aforesaid Gentleman deceased to be
53 paid him when he shall have attained his age of
54 twenty one years Also I give and bequeath unto
55 my aforesaid Nephew Robert Marks the Sum of
56 Seven hundred pounds to be paid him when he
57 shall have attained his age of twenty one years
58 also I give and bequeath unto my Cousin Joan
59 Pratt of the Parish of William in the County of
60 Devon aforesaid Widow, and unto my Cousin John Pratt
61 of the same place Gentleman her Son and unto
62 Dorothy his Wife and unto my Cousin Betty Pratt and
63 Ann Hicks Pratt her daughters the Sum of ten pounds
64 each to be paid unto them respectively within six
65 months after my decease Also I give and bequeath unto
66 my Cousin William Buncombe of the parish of
67 Pitminster aforesaid Gentleman and unto his Wife the
68 sum of ten Guineas each to be paid unto them
69 respectively within six Months after my decease also
70 I give and bequeath unto my Tenant Alexander
71 Meaddock of Angersley aforesaid yeoman and unto
72 his Wife ten Guineas each to be paid unto them
73 respectively within six Months after my decease as a
74 reward for their care industry and honest behavior
75 ever since they were my Tenants Also I give and
76 bequeath unto my servant Maid Alice Wier the
77 sum of ten pounds to be paid her within one
[Page 3]
78 month after my decease Also I give her a suit of
79 Mourning throughout Also I give unto my Servant
80 Maid Betty Lock the Sum of Five pounds to be paid
81 her within one Month after my decease Also I give
82 her a Suit of Mourning throughout Also I give and bequeath
83 unto my Man Servant John Hileham the Sum of Five
84 pounds and unto my Servants John Walker and Robert
85 Richards one Guinea each if living with me at the
86 time of my death and to my apprentices John Eveleigh
87 Thomas Always and John Seaman ten Shillings each
88 and to Mary Hellier if living with me at the time of
89 my death half a Guinea and to the Old John Richards I
90 give five Shillings to be paid unto them respectively
91 within one Month after my decease Also I give and bequeath
92 unto each and every of my day Labourers at husbandry
93 the Sum of Five shillings each to be paid unto them
94 respectively within one week after my decease Also I give
95 and bequeath to the Churchwardens of Angersley
96 twenty Shillings To the Churchwardens of the parish
97 of Trull Forty Shillings To the Churchwardens of the
98 Parish of Plimptree the Sum of three pounds to be
99 paid unto them respectively within one Month after my
100 decease to be by them distributed unto and among the
101 poor of their several and respectively parishes in
102 such parts share and proportions as they shall respectively
103 think meet and proper Also I give and bequeath unto
104 James Huish of Cullompton Gentleman a Mourning
and a hatband and belt of the best Sattyn Also I give and bequeath unto Mrs. Huish his Wife a mourning ring of a Guinea Value
104 Ring of a pound value ^ and a Book and Script of the
106 best Lattin and I do hereby request the said Mr Huish
107 and his Wife to attend my Corps to the Grave Also I
108 give devise and bequeath unto my aforesaid Brother Mr
109 William Blake his Executors Administrators and Assigns
110 all that my Leasehold Estate called Pi[r]swell in the
111 Parish of Kentisbear Also I give devise and bequeath
112 unto my said Brother William Blake his heirs and
113 assigns all those my several Messuages or Tenements
114 called Green End, Crosses, Tyes, Chases, Hawkinses, Mays
115 Mutters my part of Weaver Estate and the Regalcy
116 lately purchased of Mr Wright and all other my Lands
117 and hereditaments of what nature or kind soever situate
118 within the said Parish of Plimstree To hold to my
119 said Brother his Heirs and Assigns forever Also I
120 give devise and bequeath unto my aforesaid Brother
121 William Blake all these my several Messuages or
122 Tenements situate in the aforesaid parish of Trull in
123 the County of Sommerset called Harpers Lows Meadow
124 Herrings House and Orchard Lower Harpers Lanes Meadows
125 and all other my Messuages Lands Tenements and
126 hereditaments in the aforesaid Parish of Trull such
127 parts thereof as I am seized in Fee I give devise and
128 bequeath unto my aforesaid Brother William Blake his
129 heirs and assigns for ever and such part thereof as it
[Page 4]
130 only Leaselives I give devise and bequeath unto him his
131 Executors administrators and assigns and all the Rest Residue
132 and Remainder of my Goods Chattells Estate and Effects of
133 what nature or kind soever after the Residue of the
134 purchase is paid to Thomas Skinner as aforesaid and my
135 debts Legacies and Funeral Expences are fully paid and
136 satisfied I hereby give and bequeath the same unto my
137 aforesaid Brother William Blake who I hereby make
138 constitute and appoint whole and sole Executor and residuary
139 legatee of this my Will and I do hereby subject and charge
140 all my said Estates as well in the parish of Plimptree
141 as in the parish of Trull with the payment of my just
142 debts and Legacies and I do hereby revoke and make void
143 all former and other Wills by me heretofore made In
144 Witness whereof I the said Thomas Blake have to this
145 my last Will and Testament written on three Sheets of
146 paper to the two first Sheets have set my hand and
147 to the last sheet my hand and seal this tenth day of
148 March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
149 hundred seventy and seven Tho Blake
150 Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator
151 Thomas Blake as and for his last Will and Testament in
152 the presence of us who at his request and in his presence
153 and also in the presence of each other have subscribed
154 our names as Witnesses hereunto after the interlineation
155 of the Words also “I give her a Suit of Mourning throughout
156 one Guinea each if living with me at the time of my
157 death” in the second sheet Bernd Wright John Critchett
158 John Tucker
159 This Will was proved at London the sixth day of
160 June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
161 and seventy seven before the Right Worshipfull Sir George
162 Hay Knight doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary
163 of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted
164 by the Oath of William Blake the Brother of the deceased
165 and sole Executor named in the said Will to whom
166 administration of all and singular the Goods Chattells
167 and Credits of the said deceased was granted having been
168 first sworn by Commission duly to administer
John Marks was perhaps married to Elizabeth (Betty) Blake since he is brother in law to Thomas Blake. Thomas does not mention a wife. Robert Marks was baptized 4 Feb 1766 at Pitminster son of John and Betty Marks. John Marks was baptized 1 Jul 1761 at Pitminster son of John and Betty Marks.
I did find baptisms for Trull online (home of Mr. William Blake, brother to the deceased):
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Trull/BapTru_B1.html
Blake Elizabeth 24 Jun 1689 d Robert
Blake Joan 14 Apr 1691 d Robert
Blake Edith 06 May 1695 d Robert
Blake Mary 06 Apr 1697 d Robert
Blake Elizabeth 10 Apr 1711 d Thomas/Elizabeth
Blake Thomas 13 Jan 1712 s Mr Thomas (deceased)/Mrs Elizabeth
Blake Thomas 28 Jun 1763 s Mr William, Cutsey
Blake William 11 Jun 1766 s Mr & Mrs Blake of Cutsey
Blake Betty 09 Aug 1769 d Mr & Mrs Blake of Cutsey
Blake Betty 03 Dec 1794 d William/Betty
Blake William 19 May 1797 s William/Betty, bn 31 Jan 1797
Blake Thomas 02 Feb 1802 s William/Betty, bn 22 Apr 1801
Blake William 29 Jan 1830 s William/Mary, Cutsey, gent
Blake Thomas 11 Jul 1831 s William/Mary, Cutsey, gent,bn 05 Jun 1831
Blake William 11 Jul 1831 s William/Mary, Cutsey, gent
Blake Elizabeth 24 Sep 1834 d William/Mary, Cutsey, gent
Blake Mary 30 Dec 1835 d William/Mary, Cursey, gent
Blake Robert 29 Jun 1890 s Sarah Ann, domestic servant
Marriages for Blake family members at Trull:
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Trull/MarTru_Bl.html
Blake Elizabeth Thomas Cogan 18 Sep 1705
Blake Joan James Osmond 03 Mar 1708
Blake Margaret John Baker 24 May 1709
Blake Charlotte Edward Long 12 Feb 1843
Blake Mary James Burston Corner 20 Oct 1864
Burials for Blake family members at Trull:
Blake Elizabeth 22 Nov 1698
Blake Margaret 17 Apr 1705
Blake Robert 16 Feb 1710 Mr, Pitminster
Blake Thomas 19 Aug 1712
Blake Elizabeth 01 Feb 1736 Mrs
Blake Mary 07 Oct 1743
Blake Richard 11 Jul 1748
Blake Betty 14 Jun 1785
Blake Betty 10 Jan 1798
Blake William 11 Jan 1811
Blake Thomas 16 Feb 1813 12 Cutsey
Blake William 12 Sep 1826 60 Cutsey
Blake William 13 Apr 1832 2 2yr 3mn, Cutsey
Blake Betty 26 Nov 1840 70
Blake William 14 Jan 1864 66
Blake Mary 19 Sep 1876 70
Blake Thomas 09 Nov 1880 49 Cutsey
Cutsey is a hamlet in the Parish of Trull. Cutsey House is listed as a Grade II Building. The Blake family can be found as early as 1710 in the records at Cutsey with the mention in the 1710 will of Robert Blake of Pitminster (he was married to Margaret Thomas). Looking this record up on the online catalogue of the Somerset Record Office lead me to DD|CH/120/4 which covers the sale of a piece of land to Robert Blake of Pitminster in 1709 and then the purchase of this land by Richard Blake of Angersleigh (the testator Thomas Blake of Plimtree was the eldest son of this Richard Blake and this was the house called Harpers and the meadow in 1760). I can not find anyone who has traced this family down online from Richard.
From the will, Thomas, the testator, has a brother William of Trull who lives at Cutsey from the records above.
I then was lucky to find a write up by a descendant of this William Blake’s son William.
http://wendys-questionable-public-musings.blogspot.ca/2011/12/2-december-2011-tracing-family-history.html
William I believe had two siblings – older brother Thomas and younger sister Betty. William was younger than the testator of this will, Thomas, and with the naming of children the same in each generation it is somewhat confusing. However from the records above for Trull this does seem to fit in well. William Blake (baptized 11 Jun 1766 (died 2 Sep 1826 and married to Betty Farrant) was listed as “of Cutsey, Trull and Plymtree, Devon.” This fits with the will as this William would have inherited both his father’s property and his uncle Thomas’ property (the testator). Older brother Thomas does seem to be missing and isn’t mentioned in the writeup.
I am now quoting from the webpage mentioned above: William Blake and Betty Farrant “had only one surviving son ……. William Blake, who was baptised in Trull on 30 January 1797 and died on 9 January 1864. He was married to Mary Thomas, who died on 18 September 1876, aged 70. It is their grave (I would imagine they are buried there) that forms one of the three graves in the group in the churchyard at All Saints Church, Trull. They had four children (…….. Thomas, (another) William Blake (who died at 2), Elizabeth, who lived at Dipford (built by her father years before when he retired there and left Cutsey in the hands of Thomas) and their final child, Mary Blake.
Thomas Blake of Cutsey, Trull (Grave 1 in All Saints Church Grave Yard) with his wife, Eleanor. Thomas Blake then inherited Cutsey from his father (William). Thomas died when he was 49, but his wife was to live to the ripe old age of 83. (Gravestone 1 at All Saints Church above.) As a result of them apparently having no children, Eleanor moved out of Cutsey to "Broadlands", where she lived until her death.” At this point Cutsey following the death of Thomas’ sisters would move from the Blake family to the Clatworthy which the article mentions.
This clarifies the descent of the properties mentioned in the will to William Blake. Now to take the family back in time. William Blake and Thomas (the testator) Blake were brothers and sons of Richard Blake as mentioned in the document in the online catalogue at the Somerset Record Office website.
Records from the National Archives fonds for the Blake Family of Trull:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=168-ddct&cid=-1#-1
These papers were donated by the descendants of one of the sisters of Thomas Blake mentioned above who inherited Cutsey when Thomas had no descendants.
DD\CT/12 - 1667: Plot of ground at Socke (Pratt family). Thomas Blake living at Plymtree in 1760.
DD\CT/14 – 1709: Messuage at Ashcombe, Marke Family (documents relating to litigation)
DD\CT/18 – 1707-1883: Agreement previous to marriage of John Baker of Shepton Mallet, clothier, and Elizabeth Blake of Angersleigh, spinster, 1746; inventory of Robert Blake of Pitminster, 1711, and receipts for legacies, etc., under his will, 1711-29; appointment of guardians for Thomas Blake, 1749; releases, bonds, etc., 1707-87; account of the personal estate of Thomas Blake of Cutsey in Trull, etc., 1881-83.
DD\CT/30 – 1777-1794: Notebook with a few pages only used containing notes of timber measured, remedies (animals) and occasional memoranda, probably kept Wm. Blake of Plymtree; the notebook originally belonged to William Pratt in 1734.
DD\CT/50 – 1624-1737: Land called Lanes Meadows, 1624-1644 (Hancock and Thomas families of Trull), and 1731-1737 (Blake family); the 18th century deeds also relate to a messuage and 2a (not described). Settlement previous to marriage of Richard Blake and Mary Buncombe, both of Trull, 1732, also relates to buildings on the East side of the hall of the messuage called Lower Harpers (parents of the testator).
DD\CT/52 – 1709, 1717-1762: Documents relating to Blake Taunton Deane property in the tithing of Woodland in the hundred of Holway, including surrender previous to the marriage of Wm. Blake of Trull and Betty Long of Pitminster, 1762 (brother of the testator). Earliest document is bond relating to 15a in the tithing of Rumwell sold by Thomas Blake to Peter Risdon of Trull.
DD\CT/54 – 1696-1768: Higher and Lower Harpers/Harpus in Angersleigh and Trull respectively and leashold land held under the Gale Famnily; agreement and postnuptial settlement, Blake/Buncombe, 1732, relating to the fgirst named properties – abstract of title to Higher Harpers, reciting from 1611.
DD\CT/55 – 1583-1762: Parsons Field acquired by Richard Blake of Trull in 1747.
DD\CT/57 – 1671-1718: Release of dower by Elizabeth Blake, widow, of Halse to son Robert, 1671; mortgage by Robert Blake of Trull of messuage and 30 a., late parcel of manor, 1688; settlement previous to marriage of Robert Blake and Joan, daughter of Faithfull Cape, clerk, all of Halse, 1718, relating to moiety of house and 10a.
DD\CT/57A -1707: Articles of agreement previous to marriage of Robert Blake of Trull and Margaret Durstone of Pitminster relating to her Taunton Deane lands in various tithings in the hundred of Poundisford.
DD\CT/58 – 1789-1818: Settlement previous to marriage of John Ashford, jun., of Broad Clyst [Devon] and Betty, daughter of William Blake of Plymtree, 1789 relating to capital messuage and farm called Lymbury with associated papers.
DD\CT/60 – 1712-1827: Probate and other copies of wills and letters of admon (all Blake): Thos., 1713 (admon). Eliz. 1735, Mary, 1755 (admon), Wm. 1826, pr. 1827, all of Trull, Robt. of Pitminster, 1709, pr. 1712, Thos. of Angersleigh, 1763, pr. 1767, Thos. o Plymtree, 1777.
DD\CT/63 – 1698-1787: Miscellaneous personal papers, receipts for legacies, bonds, release to trustees, appointment of guardian, including inventories of Robert of Pitminster, 1711, and Thomas of Trull, 1712, and a schedule (by rooms) of furniture lent my mother (? By Thomas Blake), 1711. Are Robert Blake and Thomas Blake brothers with Robert father of Robert Blake of Halse and Thomas being the father of Richard of Trull (father of the present testator)?
DD\CT/70 – not dated, post 1703: Draft answers to bill of complaint of Edward Musgrave by Robert and Margaret Blake, Margaret Thomas, et al. arising out of will of Bottolph Thomas, father and husband respectively of the two last named (Margaret).
DD\CT/80 – early 20th century: Scraps of notes, in pencil, about the Blake family 18 – 19 century. (Since these documents were passed to the Somerset Archive and Record Service by the Clatworthy family (author of the webpage above on the descendants of William Blake of Trull) I would suspect they do not contain anything further back than what was used in the webpage but if I am ever in Taunton I shall check on that!)
Names mentioned in the will:
Thomas Skinner, Bridgewater
John Mathews, Lessee at Tyes
Mr. William Blake of Trull, brother to the testator
John Marks, Pitminster, tanner, brother in law
Robert Marks, son of John above, nephew
John Marks, son of John above, nephew
Mr. William Pratt, gentleman of Plimptree, cousin (deceased)
Mrs. Joan Pratt of Willand, Devon (widow of William above?)
Mr. John Pratt of Willand, Devon (son of Mrs. Joan Pratt), gentleman
Mrs. Dorothy Pratt of Willand, Devon (wife of Mr. John Pratt)
Betty Pratt of Willand, Devon (daughter of John and Dorothy)
Ann Hicks Pratt (daughter of John and Dorothy)
William Buncombe of Pitminster, gentleman, cousin
Alexander Meaddock, yeoman, of Angersleigh, tenant
Alice Wier, maidservant
Betty Lock, maidservant
John Stileham, manservant
John Walker, servant
Robert Richards, servant
John Eveleigh, apprentice
Thomas Always, apprentice
John Leaman, apprentice
Mary Hellier
(Old) John Richards
James Huish and his wife of Cullompton, gentleman
Mr. Wright, sellor
Bernard Wright, witness
John Critchett, witness
John Tucker, witness
This is perhaps the line of the son of John Blake the elder who was buried 10 Dec 1576 at Overstowey Somerset. He was the eldest son of Humphrey Blake who was buried 28 Dec 1558 at Overstowey. John’s brother Robert (married to Margaret Symonds) was a merchant at Bridgewater and grandfather of Lord High Admiral Robert Blake.
John Blake the elder and his wife Johan had seven children some of whom lived at Pitminster.
His son William was buried 13 Jun 1642 at Pitminster and William and his wife Anne had seven children namely Robert married to Sara Wicham 3 Mar 1616 at Pitminster, Grace buried 5 Jan 1622 at Pitminster, Eme buried 27 Jul 1593 at Pitminster (an infant), William married Agnes Band (the American Blake family at Boston claims this particular line), John, Anne married to Thomas Bidgood 24 Nov 1629, and Richard.
His daughter Alice married James Richard 2 Oct 1569 at Overstowey but both were buried at Pitminster (Alice 17 Aug 1585).
An interesting will that may help with linking families in the future.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 17 Aug 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1032/77
Testator: Thomas Blake, Gentleman
Place: Plymtree, Devon, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 10 Mar 1777, probated 6 Jun 1777
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Thomas
[Margin]: Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Thomas Blake of the parish of Plymstree
3 In the County of Devon Gentleman make this
4 my last Will and Testament in manner following
5 whereas I have contracted and agreed to and
6 with Thomas Skinner of Bridgewater in the
7 County of Somerset Farrier for the purchase of the
8 Fee Simple and Inheritance of all those Closes or
9 parcels of Land called Sock Close and Pines Close
10 part of an Estate called Tyes The Field or Close
11 called the Hay Downs the Field called Langlands
12 the Long Beat Land, the South Down and Clarkes
13 Meadow part of an Estate called Clarkes and also
14 the Court Garden and West Plott thereunto
15 belonging which I now Rent of the aforesaid
16 Thomas Skinner also the dwelling house and Orchard
17 part of the said Estate called Tyes now in the
18 possession of one John Matthew all which said
19 premises are situate within the said parish of
20 Plimstree for the price of Sum of seven hundred
21 pounds, and have lent the said Thomas Skinner the
22 sum of three hundred pounds upon his Bond before
23 a Fine could be levied and a good Title made New I
24 do hereby order and direct that my Brother William
25 Blake of Trull in the County of Sommerset aforesaid
26 Gentleman as soon as a good Title can be made to the
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27 aforesaid premises do carry the said Contract into
28 execution and pay the Residue of the said seven
29 hundred pounds the purchase Money upon proper
30 conveyances being executed by him by the said
31 Thomas Skinner I give devise and bequeath unto
32 John Marks of the parish of Pitminster in the
33 County of Sommerset aforesaid Tanner my Brother
34 in Law All that my Messuage or Tenement called
35 Harpers situate lying and being in the parish of
36 Angersley in the said County of Sommerset To hold
37 to him and his assigns for and during the term of
38 his natural Life and after his decease I give and
39 devise the same unto his Son my Nephew Robert
40 Marks his heirs and assigns forever But in case my
41 said Cousin Robert Marks shall happen to dye in the
42 life time of his said Father then and in such case I
43 give devise and bequeath the said Estate called
44 Harpers after the death of my said Brother in
45 Law John Marks unto his Son my Nephew John
46 Marks his heirs and assigns for ever also I give and
47 bequeath unto my aforesaid Cousin John
48 Marks the Sum of Five hundred pounds over and
49 above the Sum of two hundred pounds given and
50 bequeathed unto him in and by the last Will and
51 Testament of my late cousin Mr William Pratt
52 of Plimptree aforesaid Gentleman deceased to be
53 paid him when he shall have attained his age of
54 twenty one years Also I give and bequeath unto
55 my aforesaid Nephew Robert Marks the Sum of
56 Seven hundred pounds to be paid him when he
57 shall have attained his age of twenty one years
58 also I give and bequeath unto my Cousin Joan
59 Pratt of the Parish of William in the County of
60 Devon aforesaid Widow, and unto my Cousin John Pratt
61 of the same place Gentleman her Son and unto
62 Dorothy his Wife and unto my Cousin Betty Pratt and
63 Ann Hicks Pratt her daughters the Sum of ten pounds
64 each to be paid unto them respectively within six
65 months after my decease Also I give and bequeath unto
66 my Cousin William Buncombe of the parish of
67 Pitminster aforesaid Gentleman and unto his Wife the
68 sum of ten Guineas each to be paid unto them
69 respectively within six Months after my decease also
70 I give and bequeath unto my Tenant Alexander
71 Meaddock of Angersley aforesaid yeoman and unto
72 his Wife ten Guineas each to be paid unto them
73 respectively within six Months after my decease as a
74 reward for their care industry and honest behavior
75 ever since they were my Tenants Also I give and
76 bequeath unto my servant Maid Alice Wier the
77 sum of ten pounds to be paid her within one
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78 month after my decease Also I give her a suit of
79 Mourning throughout Also I give unto my Servant
80 Maid Betty Lock the Sum of Five pounds to be paid
81 her within one Month after my decease Also I give
82 her a Suit of Mourning throughout Also I give and bequeath
83 unto my Man Servant John Hileham the Sum of Five
84 pounds and unto my Servants John Walker and Robert
85 Richards one Guinea each if living with me at the
86 time of my death and to my apprentices John Eveleigh
87 Thomas Always and John Seaman ten Shillings each
88 and to Mary Hellier if living with me at the time of
89 my death half a Guinea and to the Old John Richards I
90 give five Shillings to be paid unto them respectively
91 within one Month after my decease Also I give and bequeath
92 unto each and every of my day Labourers at husbandry
93 the Sum of Five shillings each to be paid unto them
94 respectively within one week after my decease Also I give
95 and bequeath to the Churchwardens of Angersley
96 twenty Shillings To the Churchwardens of the parish
97 of Trull Forty Shillings To the Churchwardens of the
98 Parish of Plimptree the Sum of three pounds to be
99 paid unto them respectively within one Month after my
100 decease to be by them distributed unto and among the
101 poor of their several and respectively parishes in
102 such parts share and proportions as they shall respectively
103 think meet and proper Also I give and bequeath unto
104 James Huish of Cullompton Gentleman a Mourning
and a hatband and belt of the best Sattyn Also I give and bequeath unto Mrs. Huish his Wife a mourning ring of a Guinea Value
104 Ring of a pound value ^ and a Book and Script of the
106 best Lattin and I do hereby request the said Mr Huish
107 and his Wife to attend my Corps to the Grave Also I
108 give devise and bequeath unto my aforesaid Brother Mr
109 William Blake his Executors Administrators and Assigns
110 all that my Leasehold Estate called Pi[r]swell in the
111 Parish of Kentisbear Also I give devise and bequeath
112 unto my said Brother William Blake his heirs and
113 assigns all those my several Messuages or Tenements
114 called Green End, Crosses, Tyes, Chases, Hawkinses, Mays
115 Mutters my part of Weaver Estate and the Regalcy
116 lately purchased of Mr Wright and all other my Lands
117 and hereditaments of what nature or kind soever situate
118 within the said Parish of Plimstree To hold to my
119 said Brother his Heirs and Assigns forever Also I
120 give devise and bequeath unto my aforesaid Brother
121 William Blake all these my several Messuages or
122 Tenements situate in the aforesaid parish of Trull in
123 the County of Sommerset called Harpers Lows Meadow
124 Herrings House and Orchard Lower Harpers Lanes Meadows
125 and all other my Messuages Lands Tenements and
126 hereditaments in the aforesaid Parish of Trull such
127 parts thereof as I am seized in Fee I give devise and
128 bequeath unto my aforesaid Brother William Blake his
129 heirs and assigns for ever and such part thereof as it
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130 only Leaselives I give devise and bequeath unto him his
131 Executors administrators and assigns and all the Rest Residue
132 and Remainder of my Goods Chattells Estate and Effects of
133 what nature or kind soever after the Residue of the
134 purchase is paid to Thomas Skinner as aforesaid and my
135 debts Legacies and Funeral Expences are fully paid and
136 satisfied I hereby give and bequeath the same unto my
137 aforesaid Brother William Blake who I hereby make
138 constitute and appoint whole and sole Executor and residuary
139 legatee of this my Will and I do hereby subject and charge
140 all my said Estates as well in the parish of Plimptree
141 as in the parish of Trull with the payment of my just
142 debts and Legacies and I do hereby revoke and make void
143 all former and other Wills by me heretofore made In
144 Witness whereof I the said Thomas Blake have to this
145 my last Will and Testament written on three Sheets of
146 paper to the two first Sheets have set my hand and
147 to the last sheet my hand and seal this tenth day of
148 March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
149 hundred seventy and seven Tho Blake
150 Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator
151 Thomas Blake as and for his last Will and Testament in
152 the presence of us who at his request and in his presence
153 and also in the presence of each other have subscribed
154 our names as Witnesses hereunto after the interlineation
155 of the Words also “I give her a Suit of Mourning throughout
156 one Guinea each if living with me at the time of my
157 death” in the second sheet Bernd Wright John Critchett
158 John Tucker
159 This Will was proved at London the sixth day of
160 June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
161 and seventy seven before the Right Worshipfull Sir George
162 Hay Knight doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary
163 of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted
164 by the Oath of William Blake the Brother of the deceased
165 and sole Executor named in the said Will to whom
166 administration of all and singular the Goods Chattells
167 and Credits of the said deceased was granted having been
168 first sworn by Commission duly to administer
Monday, June 27, 2011
Will of John Roland, 6 Jun 1702
I transcribed the will of John Roland and it read about the same as my first read through. No new information on his family other than his cousin was Martha Huish. He does not identify his sister other than her forename Mary and he is remembering her child. However, put together with the other documents from the Surrey online catalogue it does prove to be quite interesting. I keep hoping to find something about my Christopher Buller (aka Christy Buller) and one of these days I suspect something will come to the forefront.
The other fascinating part of all this is that it is his own handwriting entirely. His refusal to waste money is quite fascinating as well.
Date: 27 June 2011
Document: Will
Source: The National Archives # 192
Date of document: 6 Jun 1702 (buried 23 Oct 1702, probate 10 Nov 1702)
Author: Johannis Roland
Relationship: 7x great grandfather
Location: Morden, Surrey, England
Document quality: 17th century English, bold, own handwriting
[In margin] T[esta]m[ent] Johannis Roland
1 This is the Last Will and
2 Testament of me John Roland of Moreden in the County of Surrey
3 being written off with my own hand Wherein First I commend
4 my soul into the hands of Almighty God in hope of his acceptance
5 into Glory And my body I commit to the Earth to be privately
6 yet decently buryed without any manner of pomp or ostentation by
7 my Executors herein after named where about my will is that they
8 shall not spend above the summe of thirty pounds And I doe desire
9 that my body may be layd as near to the body of my sonn John deceased
10 as may be in the Parish Church of Moredon aforesaid if I shall dye
11 at Moredon or within tenn Miles thereof otherwise where I shall
12 happen to dye I will that all my debts be justly paid And I doe
13 give and bequeath unto my cozen Martha Huish the summe of five
14 pounds and unto my sister Marys daughter the summe of three pounds
15 and tenn shillings and to the poor of the parish of Moredon aforesaid
16 the summe of forty shillings And my desire is that my loveing wife and
17 such of my daughters as shall be unmarryed at the time of my decease
18 shall live together in my house at Moredon aforesaid dureing the
19 life of my said wife or untill such daughters shall be marryed my
20 said wife maintaining such daughters But notwithstanding their
21 marriage my desire is that my wife shall live there and have the
[page 2]
22 reasonable use of the furniture thereof dureing her life Yet in case
23 only that she continues herself a widdow soe long not otherwise All
24 my reall and personall Estate what soever and wheresoever whether the
25 same be in my owne name or in any other persons I give devise and
26 bequeath unto such of my daughters as shall be unmarryed at the
27 time of my decease and unto their heires Exec[utor]s Adm[inistrator]s and assignes
28 paying thereout unto such of my daughters as shall be then marryed
29 by and with my consent soe much moneys as shall amount to make
30 all such daughters portions equall as near as may be And in case
31 all my daughters be marryed I give and devise the same in manner
32 as aforesaid to such daughters only as shall be marryed by and
33 with my consent my expresse meaning being that such of my daughters
34 who shall be marryed in my life time without my consent shall have no
35 part of my reall or personall Estate And I doe make my daughters
36 Martha and Hanna Esec[utor]s of this my Will And I doe appoint my
37 good friend and neighbour Mr. Peter Batt (haveing noe Male
38 relation whatsoever of my owne family to intrust Overseer of this
39 my last Will desireing him to be assistant to my wife and Exec[utor]s in their
40 affaires and for this trouble or rather a Token of my respects to him
41 I give him two twenty shilling peices of broad Gold And I doe
42 revoke all former wills by me heretofore made And in witness
43 whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this sixth day of June
44 in the yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and two John
45 Roland [signed] signed sealed and published as the last Will and Testament of
46 the said John Roland in the presence of us and by me subscribed in
47 his presence the same day and yeare James Braley [signed] Thomas Cope [signed]
48 Elizabeth Braley [signed]
The other fascinating part of all this is that it is his own handwriting entirely. His refusal to waste money is quite fascinating as well.
Date: 27 June 2011
Document: Will
Source: The National Archives # 192
Date of document: 6 Jun 1702 (buried 23 Oct 1702, probate 10 Nov 1702)
Author: Johannis Roland
Relationship: 7x great grandfather
Location: Morden, Surrey, England
Document quality: 17th century English, bold, own handwriting
[In margin] T[esta]m[ent] Johannis Roland
1 This is the Last Will and
2 Testament of me John Roland of Moreden in the County of Surrey
3 being written off with my own hand Wherein First I commend
4 my soul into the hands of Almighty God in hope of his acceptance
5 into Glory And my body I commit to the Earth to be privately
6 yet decently buryed without any manner of pomp or ostentation by
7 my Executors herein after named where about my will is that they
8 shall not spend above the summe of thirty pounds And I doe desire
9 that my body may be layd as near to the body of my sonn John deceased
10 as may be in the Parish Church of Moredon aforesaid if I shall dye
11 at Moredon or within tenn Miles thereof otherwise where I shall
12 happen to dye I will that all my debts be justly paid And I doe
13 give and bequeath unto my cozen Martha Huish the summe of five
14 pounds and unto my sister Marys daughter the summe of three pounds
15 and tenn shillings and to the poor of the parish of Moredon aforesaid
16 the summe of forty shillings And my desire is that my loveing wife and
17 such of my daughters as shall be unmarryed at the time of my decease
18 shall live together in my house at Moredon aforesaid dureing the
19 life of my said wife or untill such daughters shall be marryed my
20 said wife maintaining such daughters But notwithstanding their
21 marriage my desire is that my wife shall live there and have the
[page 2]
22 reasonable use of the furniture thereof dureing her life Yet in case
23 only that she continues herself a widdow soe long not otherwise All
24 my reall and personall Estate what soever and wheresoever whether the
25 same be in my owne name or in any other persons I give devise and
26 bequeath unto such of my daughters as shall be unmarryed at the
27 time of my decease and unto their heires Exec[utor]s Adm[inistrator]s and assignes
28 paying thereout unto such of my daughters as shall be then marryed
29 by and with my consent soe much moneys as shall amount to make
30 all such daughters portions equall as near as may be And in case
31 all my daughters be marryed I give and devise the same in manner
32 as aforesaid to such daughters only as shall be marryed by and
33 with my consent my expresse meaning being that such of my daughters
34 who shall be marryed in my life time without my consent shall have no
35 part of my reall or personall Estate And I doe make my daughters
36 Martha and Hanna Esec[utor]s of this my Will And I doe appoint my
37 good friend and neighbour Mr. Peter Batt (haveing noe Male
38 relation whatsoever of my owne family to intrust Overseer of this
39 my last Will desireing him to be assistant to my wife and Exec[utor]s in their
40 affaires and for this trouble or rather a Token of my respects to him
41 I give him two twenty shilling peices of broad Gold And I doe
42 revoke all former wills by me heretofore made And in witness
43 whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this sixth day of June
44 in the yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and two John
45 Roland [signed] signed sealed and published as the last Will and Testament of
46 the said John Roland in the presence of us and by me subscribed in
47 his presence the same day and yeare James Braley [signed] Thomas Cope [signed]
48 Elizabeth Braley [signed]
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