Will of Edward Blake, Plumber and Glazier, Walcot, Somerset - Somerset Record Office, B744, 152/639

Edward Blake, Plumber, Walcot is the testator of the will to follow. There have been a couple of wills for this family blogged and I have had the assistance of one of the descendants of the Blake family at Walcot. Thank you very much to him for adding to the history of this Blake line.

Looking at Mary Mason’s website http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/wills.htm

I found a list Index of Somerset Wills 1812-1837

Code  Name  Year  Place  Trade  Box/Folio

B743  Blake Ann  1831  Ashbrittle  Widow  07/897

B744  Blake Edward  1836  Walcot  Plumber  152/639

B745  Blake Hannah  1838  Compton Dundon  Widow  152/101

B746  Blake James  1845  Bedminster  Gent.  208/244

B747  Blake Joan  1828  Bicknoller  Widow  73/750

B748  Blake John  1833  Bath  Publican  113/190

B749  Blake John  1846  Nether Stowey  Innkeeper  216/339

B750  Blake John  1853  Nether Stowey  Yeoman  254/696

B751  Blake Richard  1842  Winsford  Yeoman  184/1046

B752  Blake Robert  1814  Minehead  Gent  9/500

B753  Blake Robert  1857  Combe St. Nicholas  Yeoman  271/1200

B754  Blake Susannah  1823  Wiveliscombe  Spinster  45/692

B755  Blake Thomas  1824  Compton Dundon  Lab.  48/314

which included the will of Edward Blake 1836 at Walcot Plumber in Box/Folio 152/639. Possibly there is a slight error as Edward wrote his will in 1837.

When I check the Somerset Record Office site they refer to two indexes both of which I have on fiche. I need to extract the Blake information from those indexes.

Returning to the Will of Edward Blake written 14 October 1837. In his will he mentions his brother John and his two daughters Elizabeth Jennings (deceased) and Emma Keyes.

I did find a burial for Emma Keyes (infant 14 months) at Walcot 10 Feb 1837 buried at St Swithin. No parents were named. There was also a burial for Elizabeth Jennings 19 Feb 1835 at the age of 42 buried at St Swithin Walcot (year of birth circa 1793). No other details available.

My contact has mentioned to me that Edward Blake was born circa 1759 and lived until 1838 (Free BMD lists him as dying in March quarter 1838). My contact has read through the parish records for Wootton Basset, Wiltshire and found that Edward Blake (senior) had three sons George, Robert and John (from two marriages) but a son Edward is not shown in the registers. More on that later.

I have already transcribed the will for George Blake, Plumber at Walcot.

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/10/will-of-george-blake-plumber-and.html

George mentions only his wife Hester by name and his children as minors. His will was probated 3 Apr 1829. I mention that I was unable to find Hester in the census in this blog and my correspondent kindly supplied that information in an earlier email:

“I visit your site from time to time and I see you have reached my "Walcot Plumbers"  - George, Edward, & Hester etc etc.
You say no sign of Hester in 1841 - she's a widow so look in Cricklade with her daughter Mary Lansdown and in 1851 she's back in Walcot as a lodger in the home of Anthony Summer. She died 22/12/1857.  If you pursue this family in Walcot/Bath it is inevitable sooner or later you will meet the brick wall - I have and others have as well. The secret is :- although they are very much Bath people right through the 19th cent prior to this, George Blake (husband of Hester) was born in Wootton Bassett  in Wiltshire.  In fact there were Blakes there way back to the 1700's - in the 1702 census there were five Blake families there. Basically, there were two branches of Blakes in Walcot in the 19th cent  both coming from Edward of Wootton Bassett. One branch Edward was a plumber operating from Dover Terrace and the other was George operating from Lower East Hayes who did a bit of plumbing but was also glazier, tiler etc. None of the family
 were grocers but one of George's sons William Blake was an upholsterer.”

Also a clipping from a Bath street directory helps to link these two men:

Further proof comes from a poor law examination:

“The following testimony is provided by John Blake [senior] about his son, John Blake [junior] to allow the Examiners to decide in which parish John Blake [junior] should receive parish relief. John Blake [junior] seems to have moved from Avebury parish in Wiltshire to Bath around 1808, (to judge from the dates provided by the settlement examination) to be apprenticed to his father’s two brothers George and Edward Blake, who were resident at Dover Terrace, Walcot. This family can be identified as the founders of the Blake Brothers business in Walcot.”

Poor law records for Avebury parish are held at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre.

In the will Edward is referring to his brother John with regard to an annuity perhaps as a recompense for having John (John’s son) as an apprentice. I need to do some more looking up in the Bath directory to learn more about the Blake family at Walcot but I greatly appreciate all this information coming from a descendant of this Blake line.

There is one will for a Blake family at Wootton Basset in the Wiltshire Wills online – Richard Blake, Yeoman, 1800. P3/1800/25 As the correspondent has mentioned though there were a number of Blake families in Wootton Bassett. Of interest Wootton Bassett is just 6 miles from Wroughton, six miles from Swindon, eight miles from Ashton Keynes, 9 miles from Avebury and 9 miles from Calne.

 Correcting an error on my part posted earlier, George Blake married Hester Miller who was from Wroughton. They married in St Mary's Chapel Walcot|:

No. 806. George Blake of this parish a Bachelor and Esther Miller of this Parish a Spinster were Married in this Chapel by Banns this twenty-seventh Day of August in the Year One thousand seven hundred and ninety eight by me Gains Barry Curate.

Details for Hester Miller also from my correspondent: daughter of George Miller and Betty. Baptized on the 8th December 1769 at Wroughton, Wiltshire. Her sister Jane was baptized on the same day.

Thank you very much for the correction. Information most gratefully received.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 3 Dec 2013
Source: Somerset Record Office
Testator: Edward Blake, Plumber and Glazier
Place: Walcot, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 14 Oct 1837
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

1    This is the last Will and Testament of me Edward
2    Blake of the Parish of Walcot in the County of Somerset Plumber First I
3    direct all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid and
4    satisfied I Give unto my Brother John Blake an Annuity of two pounds
5    per Annum to be paid to him quarterly during his natural Life by my Executrix
6    herein after named I Give the Sum of three Shillings Weekly and every Week unto
7    and towards the maintenance of the Children of my late Daughter Elizabeth
8    Jennings for and during and until the youngest of such Children shall attain the age
9    of fourteen Years and to be paid and applied by my said Executrix for the benefit
10    of such Children accordingly. And subject thereto and charged therewith. I Give
11    Devise and Bequeath All and singular my Estate and Effects whatsoever and
12    wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever which shall or may belong to me
13    at the time of my Death Unto and to the use of my Daughter Emma Keyes (the
14    Wife of John Keyes of Bath Carpenter) her Heirs Executors Administrators and
15    Assigns for her and their own absolute benefit for ever. And I nominate and
16    appoint the said Emma Keyes sole Executrix of this my Will  And I hereby
17    revoke and make void all former Wills and Codicils by me at any time
18    heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal
19    this fourteenth day of October in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight
20    hundred and thirty seven – The Mark and Seal X of Edward Blake The
21    Testator Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the
22    said Edward Blake the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament
23    in the Presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of
24    each other have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses the same having been
25    previously read over and explained to the said Testator W B Lidiard Bath
26    Thomas Evans 2 Brunswick St S Frederick Billington 8 Dover
27    Place Bath

Will of Susanna Blake, Wife of Humphry Blake of Bridgwater, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/236/13, probated 17 Sep 1653

Susanna Blake is the testatrix and Humphry Blake of Bridgwater was her second husband according to the Portbury Blake site (http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/admiralreport.htm). Her first husband was William Sealy and her maiden name was Horwood. She mentions the names of her children from the first marriage namely Samuel Sealy, Elizabeth Sealy, John Sealy and William Sealy.

Her children by Humphry Blake claimed from the Portbury Blake site:

Humphry born circa 1633 and died 1664
William baptized 11 Apr 1634 and married to Mary Sellick
Sarah baptized 3 Apr 1636 and married to (unknown) Doble
Anne born circa 1638 and married to the Reverend John Norman
Robert born circa 1639 at Bridgwater and married to Wilmot (unknown)

But if you then look at the Abstracts of Somerset Wills blogged:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/abstracts-of-blake-somersetshire-wills.html

William Sealey, of Bridgwater, Somerset, Merchant. Will dated 27 Mar 1644, proved 10 May 1646, by Susan Sealey, widow. My wife Susan. My eldest son William Sealey, my 2nd son Alexander, my 3rd son John, [and etc]; 4th son Samuel. My daughters Joan [and etc]; Susan, £100 each. Overseers, my father in law Mr. Alexander Horwood, my brother in law Mr. John Horwood. My brother Mr. Edward Sealey. My brother in law Mr. Humphry Blake.

There does seem to be a discrepancy as this is the Susanna Sealy mentioned as the wife of Humphry and her will fits with her husband’s will except in the naming of the daughters although Elizabeth might be included in the etc. He names his father in law and brother in law as does Susanna the present testator. The date of her first husband’s will was 1644 thus leaving in doubt that she was the mother of these children. Interesting that there is the discrepancy in names as Sara is the name of Humphry’s wife rather than Susanna and William does name Humphry Blake as his brother in law. Perhaps this is a case of a sister in law and a sister being mixed or perhaps Humphry’s first wife died and he married his wife’s sister in law.

This seems particularly plausible in that the will of William Sealey, Mercer, of Bridgewater and father of William Sealey above also from the Abstracts of Somerset Wills:

William Sealey, Mercer, of Bridgewater, Somerset. Will dated 18 Feb 1632, proved 24 Mar 1633 (Old Style), by Joan the relict. My sons in law, John Devenish, clerk, & Humphry Blake. My brother Edward Sealey, [and etc] Bartholomew Safford, clerk, Trustees.

Plus Susanna in the attached will mentions her former mother in law as being Joane (mother of her husband William Sealy).

I went back to the will of Humphry Blake of Saint Giles Cripplegate to add this information on the inconsistency to that will as well where Sara is mentioned as the wife of Humphry.

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/11/will-of-humphrey-blake-gentleman-of.html

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 13 Nov 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/236/13
Testator: Susanna Blake, Wife of Humphry Blake
Place: Bridgwater, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 10 Jan 1652, probated 17 Sep 1653
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Susanna Blake

1    Susanna Blake wife of
2    Humphry Blake of Bridgwater in the County of Somersett beinge weake of
3    body but of sound memory and perfect understanding did by and with the
4    Consent of the Sayd Hymphry her husband make and declare her Last Noncu
5    pative will and Testament The Tenth day of January one thousand six
6    hundred Fifty and two as Followeth First Shee gave and bequeathed unto
7    her Sayd husband for Terme of his life That Chattle Lease of foure and
8    twenty Acres of Land in Puriton which hee formerly gave unto her in
9    marriage which Land Chattle Lease togeather with all her goods Wares house
10    holdstuffe Chattles And t__ Shee had dureing her Widdowhood made over
11    in Trust to her Father Master Alexander Horwood And her brother Master
12    John Horwood To the use of her Last will and Testament The remainder of
13    the Sayd Chattle Lease after her Sayd husbands death that shee gave unto Samuell
14    Sealy her Sonne and his assignes And if the Sayd Samuell should dye
15    before hee attaine the full age of one and twenty yeares Then to the use
16    of all her Children equally amongst them Alsoe Shee gave unto her Sayd
17    husband her best bed perfourmed And both the rings gownes and Silver Tonkin
18    which hee first gave her freely in marriage Further She gave unto her
19    daughter Elizabeth Sealy That hundred pounds now in her brother Horwoods
20    hands which her Father gave onto her as part of her portion Item She gave
21    unto her Sonne John Sealy her Barne in the Castle Baily Item Shee gave
22    unto Elizabeth Keyes her best greene Apron Item by her will Shee appointed
23    all her goods and Chattles Wares householdstufe and Troce or barge to bee
24    Sold after her death for the payment of her debts And the Legacies
25    And the portions given by the will of William Sealy her first
26    husband unto her Children To bee duely payd And that the overplus
27    of all her Sayd goods and Chattles Should bee equally devided amongst
28    all her Children Item her desire will and declaration was That her
29    Sayd husband Humfrey Blake whose Faithfulnes and fitness in that
30    behalf Shee much acknowledged should bee her Executor Tooke this her
31    last will and Noncupative Testament performed and executed aswell
32    for the Satisfaction of the debts and Sommes of monie Shee acknowledged
33    to owe unto him As alsoe for the payment and Satisfaction of all
34    her other iust debts And alsoe that the respective portions given unto
35    her Sayd Children by her Sayd First husbands Will Togeather with the
36    overplus of all her Sayd goods and Chattles might be effectually
37    made good and payd unto them All which particulers were plainely
38    and effectually declared by the Sayd Susanna Blake The day and yeare
39    first above written In presence of us whose names are underwritten
40    Memorandum She alsoe gave unto her Sonne William Sealy all
41    those implements of the house which were Left unto his Father by Joane
42    Sealy his mother which came unto the Sayd Susanna Blake by her
43    first husbands will Elizabeth Keyes who attesteth all the particulars
44    except the portion of one hundred pound to her daughter Elizabeth
45    Sealy Phillip Roode to all the particulars
    [Page 2]
46    This will was proved at Westminster The Seaventeenth
47    day of September in the yeare of our Lord god Accordinge to the Computa[t]ion
48    of the Church of England one thousand Six hundred Fifty and three
49    Before the Judges for probate of Wills and granting Administrations
50    Lawfully Authorized by the oath of Humfrey Blake husband of the Sayd
51    deceased And Sole Executor named in this Last will and Testament
52    of the Sayd deceased To whom was committed administration of all
53    and Singular the goods Chattles and debts of the Sayd deceased
54    hee the Sayd Humfrey Blake beinge first Sworne by virtue of a Com-
55    mission well and truly to Administer the Same