Another Sunday and Blake work yesterday

Another Sunday in Easter - the Fourth Sunday and Church is online in Southwark. My Buller family lived in Bermondsey and attended St Mary Magdalene (also the Beard family as Christopher Buller married Mary Beard at All Hallows Barking by the Tower, London, 30 Dec 1794 (I think it might have been a runaway marriage although Mary was 27 and Christopher was 31 when they wed)) until sometime in the early to mid 1820s. Christopher Buller had been at St Olave as a young man and he was buried there along with Mary (Mary in 1806 and Christopher in 1832). I think perhaps the Church of St Mary Magdalene was the church of the Beard family but Christopher and Mary baptized their children at St Mary Magdalene where Henry Beard married Elizabeth Hemsley 31 Mar 1766. This is a fascinating family and eventually I will get to writing them up but they will be difficult. Perhaps I should be doing it now but God willing my brain will still manage to get around all of that material (plus my latin needs to improve greatly and I work at that every day (at least two times and usually three every day). It is marvelous having Duolingo - works perfectly for me. I also am working on my French but I am fairly efficient at reading but need to improve my spoken French and after one year (September 2025) I will pick up my German once again as it is mostly scientific and it would be interesting to speak a less restricted German. Why, no idea but I am enjoying it because I am a life long learner for sure. Breakfast next and then to Church online in Southwark. We walked and walked the streets of Southwark where the Buller and the Beard family lived. It was fantastic. The Church of St Mary Magdalene was beautiful but had been damaged during the Second World War but a very dedicated group of people are working on its renewal. There are so many churches that I could send money to in England but I have concentrated on the Cathedral here and about 66% of my tithe goes to PWRDF and the other 34% goes to general costs.  

The service was quite wonderful; the homily amazingly perfect to my thoughts of the readings in this time. We have evil war ongoing for those who claim to be the only ones that are perfect in God's image namely Iran with their syncophants  Hamas, Houthis, Hezbollah and for some reason the Russians. They are all terrorists and must clean themselves from the inside for they are satanists. Thank you again for welcoming me from an ocean away to be part of this wonderful Anglican Service which included a young woman of Presbyterian background and someone from Ireland. So many young people as part of the service; the Church needs the youth as always to carry forward the word of God to the next generation.

Whilst working on Blake yesterday, I decided to have a look at the early Wiltshire wills of the Blake and Baynard families. It was an interesting trip actually and at first glance the Wiltshire Blake family wills did not mention the Andover Blake family in the 1500s and 1600s. I transcribed the Baynard family wills as well but I did not see that they mentioned Blake other than Henry at Pinhill. Diana, Princess of Wales, is  descendant of the Baynard family through the Montagu family.  

Diana, Princess of Wales and hence Prince William are descendant of this Baynard family (Mary Baynard and James Montague). Their son James Montagu married Diana Hungerford 30 May 1671 and their son James Montague married Elizabeth Eyles. Their son John Montagu married Sophia Wroughton 15 Dec 1748 and their son George Montagu married Charlotte Wroughton 9 Oct 1783. It was their daughter Georgiana Montagu who married Vice Admiral Sir John Gore 15 Aug 1808 in London. Their daughter Anne Frances Gore married 1st Earl Howe, Richard William Penn Curzon 9 Oct 1845 at Great Witley in Worcestershire. Their daughter Lady Mary Anna Curzon-Howe married 2nd Duke of Abercorn, James Hamilton 7 Jan 1869 in London. Their son James Albert Edward Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn married Lady Rosaline Cecilia Caroline Bingham 1 Nov 1894 in London. Their daughter Lady Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton married Albert Edward John Spencer the 7th Earl Spencer 26 Feb 1919 in London. Their son Edward John Spencer the 8th Earl Spencer married the Honourable Frances Ruth Burke Roche and these two were the parents of Lady Diana Frances Spencer. 

Interestingly the Andover Blake line from which Diana, Princess of Wales, follows:  Thomas Blake and Eleanor Hall were the twelfth generation back from Diana, Princess of Wales and Thomas was the son of John Blake married to Margaret Blake (her father not known to me for sure although a Pedigree chart mentions William Blake of Eastontown for both John and Margaret and there were not two by the records!). This John was the son of William Blake of Eastontown and William's father was Nicholas Blake of Enham (The Andover Blake family - William Blake (d 1582) did have a daughter Margaret but her husband was surnamed Jarvis - William left an extensive will). Returning to Thomas Blake and Eleanor Hall and their son Thomas Blake married Dorothy Mayowe and their daughter Mary Blake married William Newland. Mary Newland married Isaac Manley, MP. Their daughter Dorothy Manley married William Gore, MP and their son was Colonel John Gore who married Bellamira Munbee and their son Vice Admiral Sir John Gore married Georgina Montagu in 1808 (and the descent continues as above). Their daughter Anne Francis Gore married Richard William Penn Curzon, the 1st Earl Howe. Their daughter Lady Mary Anna Curzon-Howe married James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn. Their son James Albert Edward Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn married Lady Rosaline Cecilia Caroline Bingham. Their daughter Lady Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton married Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer. Their son Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer married the Honourable Frances Ruth Burke Roche. Their daughter was Lady Diana Frances Spencer married to now HRH Charles III, King of England. 

Does this prove the descent from the Andover Blake Family?, it does but there is a particular item which has chosen to display what I believe is an incorrect ancestry for William Blake at Eastontown. More proof  continues to arise. Is Diana descendant of the Calne Blake family, absolutely the mother of Mary Baynard married to James Montague was Anne (Blake) Baynard daughter of Robert Blake and Margret (Inglefield) Blake. This Robert was the son of Robert Blake and Avice (Wallop, Malweyn) Blake.  I did read again the Baynard family wills in this time frame of the 1500s/1600s to see if there is any mention of Blake cousins but did not find any comment other than referring to Henry Blake at Pinhills their cousin. The Baynard family did have Blake first cousins - Roger Blake and Mary (Baynard) Blake had three sons - Thomas, Robert and John (and three daughters). Perhaps it was the refusal of Henry Blake to accept a title for which Charles II destroyed the Blake family home at Pinhills near Calne. Members of the Baynard family were knighted. No ideas on that; I just think it is interesting in a learning way looking back sometimes at how life flowed in centuries past. Living in the fishbowl takes a very significant part out of your life (namely your privacy!). The dedication of this Family of Windsor has been and continues to be incredible.

The wills (date blogged)

Roger Blake     4 Jan 2013

Philip Baynard     5 Jan 2013

Henry Baynard     6 Jan 2013

Edward Baynard     7 Jan 2013

Benjamin Baynard     10 Jan 2013

Sir Robert Baynard     16 Jan 2013

Edward Baynard     17 Jan 2013

Charles Blake      26 Nov 2013

Edward Blake     28 Nov 2013

Mary Blake (Roger's widow)     4 Dec 2013

James Blake      6 Dec 2013

James Blake     11 Dec 2013

John Blake     12 Dec 2013

The Blake wills are for the Wiltshire Blake family.

Visitations of Blake families in Somerset and Wiltshire

There are two extant Visitations of which I am aware that refer to the Blake family in Somerset. I have included the two below but there are another four where a female Blake member has married into another family mentioned in the Visitations.

The Supplement to the Visitation of Somerset in 1623 has added to it at a later date a coat of arms which include the arms of the Blake, Dorrant, Billett and Williams families although there was a word description of the arms that headed up the Visitation. Robert Blake and his wife Margaret daughter of Symonds are the first family in the Visitation with their son Humphrey Blake of Planchfield, Somerset with his wife Sarah daughter and coheir of Humphrey Williams of Wales. Then the children of Humphrey and Sarah are listed, 1 Robert Blake, General at sea died in August 1657 and honorably interred in Henry the 7 Chapel the 4 Sep 1657 (bachelor), 2 Humphrey brother and heir, 3 William Doctor of Physics, 4 George, 5 Nicholas, 6 Benjamin, 7 Alexander,  and a sister married to Burridge. This Supplement is unsigned.

 The Visitation of Somerset 1672 has an entry for Blake of Bridgwater. Again the coat of arms are identified but only the Blake coat of arms is mentioned: Arg., a chevron between 3 garbs sa., a mullet for a difference. The first entry is for Robert Blake of Bridgwater in County Somerset, Gentleman, will probated 1592; married to Margaret daughter of Symonds (her will probated 1600) and had issue. The second entry is their son Humphry Blake of Bridgwater Gent married Sarah daughter and coheir of John Williams of Pawlett in County Somerset Gent and had issue. The next entries are the children of Humphrey (four are mentioned which include 1 Humphry eldest son  married Sarah daughter of William Cely of Bridgwater and had issue Humphry and William; 2 Nicholas (to follow), 3 Beniamin Blake of Bridgwater Gent 3rd Son aet 50 anno 1670 married Elizabeth daughter of Sidrach Blake of Stepney in County Middlesex (relict of Timothy Wilson) and had issue. The next entries are the children of Beniamin and Elizabeth namely Sidrach son and heir aet 18 anno 1672, Beniamin 2nd son, Sarah and Elizabeth; 4 Alexander Blake 4th son. The next major entry is Nicholas Blake (identified as the 2nd son of Humphry Blake and Sarah Williams above and he married Jone daughter of John Question of Dunstar in County of Somerset. This Visitation is signed by Ben Blake and Nic Blake.

I have the 1565 and the 1623 Visitations of Wiltshire with one being a purchased CD and the other a download from Internet Archive.

The Blake and Baynard family are intertwined in this time period and I will recount the Baynard family first. I have mentioned their wills in other blogs as I was trying to learn more about the Blake family with the Baynard wills at that time.

Baynard of Lackham have their arms listed and the line begins with Edmond Baynard of Essex county marrying Elianor daughter and heir of Sir John Blewett of Lackham Wiltshire. The Baynard line continues down to Phillip Baynard of Lackham, Esquire, (3rd great grandson of Edmond Baynard above). Phillip married Jane daughter of Nicholas Stukeley of Aston, Devon and they had two children mentioned Robert, son and heir (he married Anne Blake daughter of Robert Blaake of Cawne, Wiltshire) and daughter Mary married to Roger Blaake of Pynhilles, Wiltshire (son of Robert Blaake of Cawne, Wiltshire).

The Visitation of Wiltshire, 1565, has Blake of Hilcott as the heading with arms: Argent, a chevron between three garbs Sable, a crescent for difference. Robert Blaake of Cumberford, Wiltshire, Esquire married Avys daughter of Wallop of Hampshire County and by her had issue, Gilbert and Alexander, died both sans issue; Robert; and John; Elizabeth; Alys; and Jone. Next entry is son Robert Blaake of Cawne, Wiltshire (3rd son and heir of Robert) married Margerett daughter of Sir Thomas Englefeild of Englefeild, Berkshire and by her had issue Roger son and heir; Ann married to Robert Baynard of Lackham,, Wiltshire. The next entry is for Roger Blaake of Cawne, son and heir of Robert, married Mary daughter of Philip Baynard of Lackham and by her had issue, Thomas son and heir; Robert, 2nd son; John, 3rd son; Sibell, married to Henry Bull of county Wiltshire; Jone, married to Anthony Goddard of Hartham, Wiltshire, gent; Mary, married to Edward Langrige of Langrige, Southampton (now Hampshire), gent. The next entry is for Thomas Blaake of Pynnell, Wiltshire, son and heir or Roger, married Edyth daughter of Thomas Jvy of West Keinton, Wiltshire, Esquire and by her hath issue Roger, son and Heir; Michell; Gyles; Francis; and others. Continuing to the next entry for Robert Blaake of the Borough of Cawne, second son of Roger and brother of Thomas, married Alis daughter of Robert Smyth of Lacocke, Somerset, and had issue; Roger, son and heir; Anthony, second son ; Jone and Marye. The last entry is for John Blaake of Hilcott, Wiltshire, third son to Roger and brother to Thomas and Robert married Jone, daughter of Clarke of Shawe, Wiltshire and at this time of recording they do not have any children.

I have the wills for many of these Blake men but have yet to transcribe them. A future project as I slowly withdraw from my earnest pursuit of all my lines to concentrate on Blake and Pincombe. Observing the above Visitation one can see that a number of Blake males are being mentioned but not traced down. This Visitation does offer another clue looking at the Rolfe family of Enford. Sara Blake daughter of John Blaake of Essingborne, Hampshire married William Rolfe. This John is a rather interesting individual. Who is this John Blake? Is he the grandson of Roger Blake married to Mary Baynard? There isn't a William mentioned as a son of Roger although a pedigree chart at the Wiltshire Office records such a son William married to Avis Ripley. Is this Esseborne Manor which is located between Andover and Newbury? Was there an earlier manor house where there is now a Hotel called Esseborne Manor Hotel? At a later time this is referred to as Essingham/Effingham. There is also a place in Surrey called Effingham (near Dorking).

The Visitation of Wiltshire, 1623, has an extensive Baynard family record which includes once again Robert Baynard of Lackham, son and heir, will probated 12 Oct 1537 and married to Anne daughter of Robert Blake of Calne, Wiltshire and Mary Baynard marrying Roger Blake of Phinhills in Calne, Wiltshire. This is a three page Visitation with lots of information on the Baynard family. The Blake family Visitation is 1.25 pages long but equally full of information and again the arms: argent, a chevron between three garbs sable; a crescent for a difference. The chart begins with Robert Blake of Quemberford, Wiltshire, Esquire married to Avis daughter of Wallop, Southampton (now Hampshire) County with children: daughters Elizabeth, Alice and Joane and sons 1. Gilbert; 2. Alexander (both sans issue); 3. Robert of Calne, Wiltshire married to Margaret daughter of Thomas Inglefield, Berkshire; 4. John, of Nether Wallop, Southampton and Calne died 2 Mar 1503/4 seized of Pynnelles; Inq postmortem 20 Oct 1504, Will probated 24 Apr 1504 married first to unknown and had two daughters Alice married to John Dauntesey and Joan married to Thomas Wroughton and married second Margaret, widow of John Dauntsey of West Lavington (children not mentioned). The line continues with Robert (2nd son) married to Margaret Inglefield and their children Roger Blake of Calne, Wiltshire, Esquire; will probated 16 Nov 1557 married to Mary daughter of Phillip Baynard of Lackham, Wiltshire, Esquire and daughter Anne married to Robert Baynard, Lackham, Wiltshire, Esquire. The children of Roger Blake and Mary Baynard are then listed: Sibell wife of Henry Bull, Wiltshire; Jone wife Anthony Goddard of Hartham, Wiltshire; Mary wife of Edward Langrige, Southampton; John Blake of Hilcott, Wiltshire (has three sons) married to  Joane Clarke, of Shaw, Wiltshire; Robert, 2nd son, of Calne, Wiltshire married to Alice daughter of Robert Smith of Lacocke, Wiltshire with children 1. Roger, 2 Anthony, 1 Joane and 2 Mary and Thomas Blake, 1st son, of Pennells, Wiltshire, Esquire married to Edith daughter of Thomas Ivye of West Keinton, Wiltshire, Esquire. The children of Thomas and Edith are the next generation listed: sons Giles, Francis and Roger Blake of Pennells, son and heir, married Wraxed daughter of John Gastrill of Tadbery Graynes, Gloucestershire. The children of Roger and Wraxed are listed with elizabeth married to Powell Clishold, Francis married to Phill Bull/Butt of chipnam, Wiltshire; Roger 2nd son, 30 years of age, and Henry Blake of Pennells, Wiltshire, living 1623 and married 1 Francis daughter of Francis Pigott of Collweeks, Buckinghamshire with daughter Joane age in 1623 and married second to Abigall daughter of Henry Stringer of London with children Henry son and heir 6 years in 1623, Roger 2nd son age 5 in 1623, Abigall 2nd daughter aged 1 year in 1623.

Obviously the linkage that appears to be between the Wiltshire and Somerset Blake families is further back then 1565 and land records will need to be explored to really understand any relationship between these families.