Decision on the publication of the Blake Family of Andover book

Writing up the Blake Newsletter yesterday I came to a decision on the publication of the Blake Family of Andover book.  I decided to give a fairly long explanation to my decision which I wrote up in the Newsletter this time. Published on the website for the Blake yDNA study at FT DNA. 

I have also been debating with myself just how widely this book would circulate and I have pretty much made the decision that the original complete book will be in the library of the Guild of One-Name Studies (I am member #4600 studying BLAKE and PINCOMBE) and they have their rules for access. I will publish a less inclusive book with a Creative Commons License and that will be available for download from my website (as with the other books it will be freely circulated). I will also send copies to other repositories that are used by many genealogists. The logic in not publishing the entire book is mainly because I do not feel that there is a huge benefit other than from a historical point of view which is best dealt with in an academic environment and at this point in my life (80 years of age) I do not see myself going back to school for any reason as I have too much that I want to do and most of it is writing and I have always been like that. Hence I would not feel that I had academically challenged the book sufficiently to publish it in its full form but will place it as I said with the Guild and they have their own rules for use and distribution which I feel are very academically sound. The preface itself will state that I have not had sufficient access to documents to really justify publishing this particular version of the book so one must take it as my considered thoughts and opinions at that time in my life when I finally do put it into the library at the Guild of one-name Studies. 

Yesterday was a good working day and I completed the second siblings matches in common and will work on the third one today. I also want to really get into the re-phasing of my grandparents which entails getting the crossover points completed using the Living DNA data. There are a few matches that I have labeled suspicious because I can  not see the DNA results I can not see where the small match is and hence have not included it in the final database although I have  noted it. The DNA results certainly point to the path back from myself to my father to his father to Edward Blake (his father) and then to John Blake (his father) and further back to Thomas Blake born at Upper Clatford and the son of Joseph Blake. All of this is in the Parish Registers as well. Joseph is mentioned as being of Andover in the same Upper Clatford Parish Registers. Having transcribed the Andover Parish Registers from their beginnings to the mid 1700s I have also located a Joseph Blake son of Thomas Blake baptized in 1730 by a Thomas Blake (his father) and a baptism is in the Parish Records at St Marys for a Thomas Blake baptized in 1709 son of John Blake. This is an incredibly small family although John Blake (last mentioned) had a large family Thomas has only one son recorded in the Parish Registers and another line very often attached to this Thomas is incorrect I believe. The second Thomas has two sons but one died as an infant leaving Joseph the sole descendant of Thomas/Thomas in that line. 

An email from a fellow researcher in England brought the will of John Blake, malster, Abbotts Ann into thought once again :

Recorded: 12th February 2008
Source: Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester, # 1797A/008
Testator: John Blake, malster
Place: Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 27 Apr 1792, probated 18 Jan 1797

In the name of God Amen, I John Blake of Abbotts Ann
in the County of Southampton formerly Malster calling to mind the Mortality of my
Body and that it is appointed for all Men once to die do make and ordaine this my last
Will and Testament in manner and forme following that is to say principally
and first of all I give and bequeath my Soul into the hands of God that gave it hoping
for the pardon of all my Sins for the alone Merritts sake of my blessed Redeemer Christ
Jesus and for my Body I commend it to the Earth to be Burried in a decent manner
at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named nothing doubting but I shall receive the as
same again by the mighty power of God at the General Resurrection of the Dead and as
touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life
I give desire and bequeath of the same in the following Manner Imprimis I give
and bequeath unto my Kindsman William Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good
and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item
I give and bequeath unto my Kindswoman Mary Gilbert the sum of Ten pounds of
good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor hereafter named
Item I give and bequeath unto my Sister Elizabeth Russel the sum of five pounds of
good and Lawful money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named I
also give unto my Sister Elizabeth Russel the sum of five pounds yearly during her Life
to be paid unto her half yearly if Demanded and to be paid by my Executor here after
named Item I give and bequeath unto Joseph Russel the Elder the sum of Ten pounds
of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item
I give and bequeath unto Joseph Russel the younger the sum of Ten pounds of good and
Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give
and bequeath unto Thomas Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain to be paid by my Executor hereafter named Item I give and bequeath unto
Luke Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid
by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Sarah Russel Daughter
of Joseph and Elizabeth Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Mary
Russel Daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful
Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath
unto Elizabeth Russel Daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Russel the sum of Ten pounds
of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kindsman George Marshman all my household
Goods and Furniture except the Bed and Furniture in the parlor Chamber Item I give and
bequeath unto Elizabeth Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain Item I give and bequeath unto Robert Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good
and Lawful money of Great Britain Item I give and bequeath unto Mary Marshman
the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain Item I give and bequeath
unto Ann Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain Item
I give and bequeath unto George Marshman the younger the sum of Ten pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain Item I give and bequeath unto Charles Blake the Elder the sum of Ten
pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named
Item I give and bequeath unto James Blake the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money
of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto
Robert Blake the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid [by] my
Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Charles Blake the younger the
sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here
after named Item I give and bequeath unto Chivrel [Sacheverall] Blake the sum of five pounds of good
and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item
I give and bequeath unto John Blake the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto William Blake
of Andover the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my
Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Blake of Up[per] Clatford
the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor
here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Ann Blake the sum of five pounds of good and
Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named I also give unto Ann Blake
the Bed and Furniture belonging to the same in the Chamber over the Parlour and a Sute of Mourning
Item I give and bequeath unto Ann Blake the sum of five pounds yearly to be paid unto her
during the Lease of Lives that has in the Living that I Bought and no Longer to be paid unto her half
yearly if demanded to be paid unto her so long as she keeps herself unmarried  Item I give
and bequeath unto Thomas Holmes the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain
to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto the poor Inhabitants
of the parish of Abbotts Ann the sum of Ten pounds to be given amongst them the first old
Christmass Day after my Decease to be paid unto them by my Executor here after named Item I give
and bequeath unto the poor Inhabitants of the parish of Up[per] Clatford the sum of five pounds
to be given amongst them the first old Christmass Day after my Decease to be paid unto them
by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto F__ Beavers the sum of three
guineas to be Divided between them Share and Share alike Item I give and bequeath unto
Charles Blake and his Three Elder Sons all my Wearing Apparel both Woollen and Linnen
to be equally Divided between them Share and Share alike my Will this that my Legacies has
to be paid unto my Legatees in Six Months after my Decease to all them that has arrived
to Eighteen years of age, my Legatees that has  not arrived to Eighteen years of age yearly
Interest has to be paid unto them at the rate of five p[e]r Cent And I do hereby constitute make
and ordaine my Kindsman George Marshman my only and Sole Executor of this
my last Will and Testament And I do hereby revoke and disanull every forme Will
before this time by me made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will
and Testament In Witness whereof I have here unto sett my hand and Seal
this Twenty Seventh Day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Ninety – two

Signed Sealed published and Declared by the above
Named John Blake for and as his last Will                                                    John Blake [signed]
And Testament and in the presence of us
The Witnesses Tho[mas] Overton [signed] – John Prince [signed]

[Page 3]

A Codicil or Schedule to a Will, made after a Will is Sealed

Be it known unto all Men by these presents. That I John
Blake of Abbotts Ann, in the County of Southampton formerly
Malster have made and declared that my last Will and Testament
in writing bearing date, the Twenty Seventh day of April, in the
Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-two,
I the said John Blake, do by these presents, contained in this
Codicil, confirm and ratify my said last Will and I do give and
bequeath unto Ann Blake, the Chamber over the Parlor to sleep
in, and part of the House wherein I now dwell to live in, during the
time shee keeps herself unmarried, and during the Life of
Jno Matons Wife, of Abbotts Ann, her Life being in the Living
and in the said Dwelling House, and my Will and Meaning is that this
Codicil, or Schedule be colcomed and adjudged to be part and parcel
of my Will and Testament and that all things herein contained
and mentioned, be faithfully performed in as full and ample
Manner, in every Respect, as if the same were declared and
set down in my said Will, In Witness whereof I the said
John Blake, have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Twenty
Sixth day of July, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Ninety-two
Signed, Sealed published, and Declared                    John Blake [signed]
By the above named John Blake aforesaid as
His Codicil or Schedule and in the
Presence of us
Witnesses        John Maton [signed]
                        John Prince [signed] 

The reference in this will to William Blake of Andover and Thomas Blake of Upper Clatford (brothers) and Ann Blake (their sister) is interesting as the surname would tend to make one think they are closely related to the John Blake writing the will and indeed the relationship is more likely on the side of the wives/mothers of these individuals.  At the time it was an interesting distraction as I worked my way backwards. I think they do share a common ancestor in Robert Blake of Enham who left his will in 1521. But more on that later but the relationship is distant cousinship and he does not mention them as his kinsmen. 

Today a working day and an exercise day and I rather think I will do rowing and running this morning and weight lifting this afternoon since no hard frost yet. Yesterday was run/jog and yoga along with of course my waking up exercises!

Solitaire puzzles next as my tea is cooling. Good to have the Blake Newsletter completed. The next one is technically H11 1st of November and then Pincombe 1st of December. That completes the year although these newsletters (unless they include parish register transcriptions) will be short. The books have priority at the moment. 

 

 

 

King family of Upper Clatford and area and the Will of John Blake, malster at Upper Clatford

We collected a number of King family wills whilst we were at Kew. One set of my 4x great grandparents was Joseph Blake and Joanna King. Joanna's father was Thomas King. Although I do have his will it hasn't let me separate his King line from the other King lines at Upper Clatford and area.

In my study day on the King family I will work on these particular wills. I know that Joanna and Joseph were first cousins with their mothers being Ann Carter and Mary Carter daughters of Richard Carter and Elizabeth Musprett who were married 4 Aug 1701 at Andover, Hampshire, England. Mary was baptized 27 Feb 1710 at Andover and buried 13 Apr 1744 at Upper Clatford (she was married to Thomas King 10 Jan 1727 at Upper Clatford). Ann was baptized 18 Nov 1713 at Andover and buried 20 Dec 1734 at Penton Mewsey (she was married to Thomas Blake 8 Dec 1728 at Penton Mewsey).

Another Blake family becomes involved with this grouping in that Thomas and Mary King had three daughters Mary King who married John Blake 15 Dec 1753 at Upper Clatford, Elizabeth King who died as an infant and Joanna King who married Joseph Blake 8 Jun 1757 at Upper Clatford (my 4x great grandparents). John Blake left a will at Abbots Ann where he was a maltster and it is published on my webpage and inserted below to bring my mind back again to these family lines that I want to work on with regard to my King family line and the Blake line that John is descended from as that was unknown to me but I have written in the past on my blog that I believe he is the son of Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2011/01/charles-blake-at-abbotts-ann.html

My week has flown by too quickly as I had planned on transcribing one of the King wills yesterday on my blog but instead I will summarize my research plan for my next King research day. The will of John Blake, malster at Abbots Ann is below. The will refers to my ancestor Thomas Blake at Upper Clatford. John does not mention that he is his nephew. The Ann Blake who is mentioned is Thomas' sister and has been looking after her uncle. Ann returned to Upper Clatford after the death of Thomas' wife in childbirth in 1815. Thomas Blake's mother had remarried in 1781 (her husband died in 1767) and the farm of her father/husband and that of Thomas Collins her second husband were combined. The older brother of Thomas was in Andover at the time of writing the will and I am still working on this section of my family. I believe that the father of Joseph Blake married a second time but still looking for records to substantiate that. William has perhaps returned to Andover to take over the shop that his grandfather Thomas had not sure about that. Thomas was born posthumously five months after the death of his father Joseph. To the best of my knowledge Thomas and his second wife Hester Stephens (married 9 Feb 1751 at Andover) did not have any children. Thomas (grandfather) was buried 13 Jan 1767.

Recorded: 12th February 2008
Source: Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester, # 1797A/008
Testator: John Blake, malster
Place: Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 27 Apr 1792, probated 18 Jan 1797
Read: Paper copy
Condition: photocopy, smudges, modern English writing very good, contrast good

In the name of God Amen, I John Blake of Abbotts Ann
in the County of Southampton formerly Malster calling to mind the Mortality of my
Body and that it is appointed for all Men once to die do make and ordaine this my last
Will and Testament in manner and forme following that is to say principally
and first of all I give and bequeath my Soul into the hands of God that gave it hoping
for the pardon of all my Sins for the alone Merritts sake of my blessed Redeemer Christ
Jesus and for my Body I commend it to the Earth to be Burried in a decent manner
at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named nothing doubting but I shall receive the as
same again by the mighty power of God at the General Resurrection of the Dead and as
touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life
I give desire and bequeath of the same in the following Manner Imprimis I give
and bequeath unto my Kindsman William Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good
and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item
I give and bequeath unto my Kindswoman Mary Gilbert the sum of Ten pounds of
good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor hereafter named
Item I give and bequeath unto my Sister Elizabeth Russel the sum of five pounds of
good and Lawful money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named I
also give unto my Sister Elizabeth Russel the sum of five pounds yearly during her Life
to be paid unto her half yearly if Demanded and to be paid by my Executor here after
named Item I give and bequeath unto Joseph Russel the Elder the sum of Ten pounds
of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item
I give and bequeath unto Joseph Russel the younger the sum of Ten pounds of good and
Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give
and bequeath unto Thomas Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain to be paid by my Executor hereafter named Item I give and bequeath unto
Luke Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid
by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Sarah Russel Daughter
of Joseph and Elizabeth Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Mary
Russel Daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful
Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath
unto Elizabeth Russel Daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Russel the sum of Ten pounds
of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kindsman George Marshman all my household
Goods and Furniture except the Bed and Furniture in the parlor Chamber Item I give and
bequeath unto Elizabeth Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain Item I give and bequeath unto Robert Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good
and Lawful money of Great Britain Item I give and bequeath unto Mary Marshman
the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain Item I give and bequeath
unto
[Page 2]

Ann Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain Item
I give and bequeath unto George Marshman the younger the sum of Ten pounds of good and lawful Money
of Great Britain Item I give and bequeath unto Charles Blake the Elder the sum of Ten
pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named
Item I give and bequeath unto James Blake the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money
of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto
Robert Blake the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid [by] my
Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Charles Blake the younger the
sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here
after named Item I give and bequeath unto Chivrel [Sacheverall] Blake the sum of five pounds of good
and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item
I give and bequeath unto John Blake the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto William Blake
of Andover the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my
Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Blake of Up[per] Clatford
the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor
here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Ann Blake the sum of five pounds of good and
Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named I also give unto Ann Blake
the Bed and Furniture belonging to the same in the Chamber over the Parlour and a Sute of Mourning
Item I give and bequeath unto Ann Blake the sum of five pounds yearly to be paid unto her
during the Lease of Lives that has in the Living that I Bought and no Longer to be paid unto her half
yearly if demanded to be paid unto her so long as she keeps herself unmarried  Item I give
and bequeath unto Thomas Holmes the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain
to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto the poor Inhabitants
of the parish of Abbotts Ann the sum of Ten pounds to be given amongst them the first old
Christmass Day after my Decease to be paid unto them by my Executor here after named Item I give
and bequeath unto the poor Inhabitants of the parish of Up[per] Clatford the sum of five pounds
to be given amongst them the first old Christmass Day after my Decease to be paid unto them
by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto F__ Beavers the sum of three
guineas to be Divided between them Share and Share alike Item I give and bequeath unto
Charles Blake and his Three Elder Sons all my Wearing Apparel both Woollen and Linnen
to be equally Divided between them Share and Share alike my Will this that my Legacies has
to be paid unto my Legatees in Six Months after my Decease to all them that has arrived
to Eighteen years of age, my Legatees that has  not arrived to Eighteen years of age yearly
Interest has to be paid unto them at the rate of five p[e]r Cent And I do hereby constitute make
and ordaine my Kindsman George Marshman my only and Sole Executor of this
my last Will and Testament And I do hereby revoke and disanull every forme Will
before this time by me made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will
and Testament In Witness whereof I have here unto sett my hand and Seal
this Twenty Seventh Day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Ninety – two

Signed Sealed published and Declared by the above
Named John Blake for and as his last Will                                                    John Blake [signed]
And Testament and in the presence of us
The Witnesses Tho[mas] Overton [signed] – John Prince [signed]

[Page 3]

A Codicil or Schedule to a Will, made after a Will is Sealed

Be it known unto all Men by these presents. That I John
Blake of Abbotts Ann, in the County of Southampton formerly
Malster have made and declared that my last Will and Testament
in writing bearing date, the Twenty Seventh day of April, in the
Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-two,
I the said John Blake, do by these presents, contained in this
Codicil, confirm and ratify my said last Will and I do give and
bequeath unto Ann Blake, the Chamber over the Parlor to sleep
in, and part of the House wherein I now dwell to live in, during the
time shee keeps herself unmarried, and during the Life of
Jno Matons Wife, of Abbotts Ann, her Life being in the Living
and in the said Dwelling House, and my Will and Meaning is that this
Codicil, or Schedule be colcomed and adjudged to be part and parcel
of my Will and Testament and that all things herein contained
and mentioned, be faithfully performed in as full and ample
Manner, in every Respect, as if the same were declared and
set down in my said Will, In Witness whereof I the said
John Blake, have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Twenty
Sixth day of July, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Ninety-two
Signed, Sealed published, and Declared                    John Blake [signed]
By the above named John Blake aforesaid as
His Codicil or Schedule and in the
Presence of us
Witnesses        John Maton [signed]
                        John Prince [signed]

12 lines after Will and before
meaning and interlined

[Page 4]

On the 18th Day of January 1797 George Marshman
The Executor within named in the Will hereunto appoint was duly Sworn well
and faithfully to administer and at the same
Time made Oath that the Goods Chattels personal
Estate and Effects of the Deceased did not amount
To one Thousand Pounds at the Time of his Decease
As he verily believes

Before me

John Woodburn, Clerk

[On the side]
A Codicil or Schedule
To Mr John Blake’s Will

Blake family at Abbotts Ann in 1568

Transcribing Parish Registers is just always so meaningful. I have looked at Abbotts Ann before (probably four years ago now) and I missed the baptism of Thomas to Robert Blake 2 September 1568. Whether there will be more entries for Blake remains to be seen but finding them at Abbotts Ann is very interesting. Now who is this Robert baptizing children at Abbotts Ann? Is he the son of Robert Blake and brother to Nicholas Blake? This Robert Blake (brother to Nicholas) left a will in 1542 which I have not yet transcribed. I actually need to acquire it and hope to do that one of these days. I hadn't expected to find someone so early on but the earlier the better actually.

Checking Abbotts Ann wills reveals:

1533B/28  Will of Simon Prince (Prynce) of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire  1533
1629A/44  Will and inventory of William Kidgell (Kiggill) of Little Ann, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire  1629
1685A/054  Will and inventory of John Kidgell of Little Ann, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1685
1720A/062  Will of Richard Kidgell (Kidgel) of Little Ann, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1720
1729A/113  Will of Robert Prince of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1729
1753A/077  Will of James Prince of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1753
1760B/32  Will of James Prince of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, innkeeper ('innholder')  1760
1806A/059  Will of William Marshman of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1806
1815A/53  Will of George Marshman of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, Farmer  1815

All of which could provide information on the Mary Prince who married Charles Blake in 1736 at Abbotts Ann and the Jane Gilbert who married Charles Blake in 1761. Jane Gilbert is descendant of the Kidgell family. The Marshman family is rather interesting as I rather think this is the kindsman mentioned in John Blake (1796)'s will.

However, I deviate from 1568 but it does rather excite my mind to discover that there was a Blake family early at Abbotts Ann. That this time frame is good for a grandson of Robert Blake brother to Nicholas Blake. Interestingly nothing is known about Robert the eldest son of Robert Blake except he may have left a will at Andover

1522B/04  Will of Robert Blake (Blayke) of Knights Enham, Hampshire  1522
1542B/06  Will of Robert Blake of Enham, Andover, Hampshire  1542
1545B/022  Will of Robert Blake of ?Wallop Street, Lockerley, Hampshire  1545
1547B/006  Will of Robert Black (Blacke) of Christchurch, Hampshire  1547
1554U/03  Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Street, Lockerley, Hampshire  1554
1593A/009  Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Dibden, Hampshire, shipwright  1593
1601B/08  Will of Robert Blake of Knights Enham, Hampshire, husbandman  1601
1605A/07  Will of Robert Blake of Andover, Hampshire, victualler  1605

This list of wills for Robert Blake from 1522 to 1605 is an especially interesting one. I have transcribed the will of Henry Blake at Christchurch earlier and perhaps Robert Black (Blacke) is his ancestor. Did the name become Blake; were they originally Blacke? yDNA testing might help to solve the riddle of Andover and the Blake families there. Who leaves the will in 1522 - which Robert is this? Robert, brother to Nicholas, leaves a will in 1542 at Enham. The Lockerley Robert Blake is also a mystery and I have some of their wills to work on later but this is the earliest one and I do not have it either. Dibden is near Southampton and no idea on whom this Robert Blake is. The Robert Blake leaving a will at Enham in 1601 though is most interesting as is the Robert leaving a will at Andover in 1605 and a victualler. The Robert Blake family carried on this victualler type of business through the 1600s - is John a descendant of this family?

Back to transcribing now that I have a few thoughts in my mind about the Blake family that could be here at Abbotts Ann in the mid 1500s. The road to Abbotts Ann comes up through the Wallops so that getting to Abbotts Ann was probably not all that difficult; certainly as we drove up the highway through the Wallops towards Andover none of the small villages that dot the area to the south and west of Andover seemed very far away from each other. Stunningly beautiful countryside which reminded me of Ontario. I see why my grandfather was comfortable living in London Ontario; going out in the countryside was very much like living in Upper Clatford. Especially as we lived right on the outskirts of London when I was a child. Going to the end of our block and looking to the south was all farm land with just a couple more streets of houses. Now looking south London is solid right to the 401 highway.

Upper Clatford

I have the Manor Papers for Upper Clatford but have not yet attempted to transcribe them. First of all they are in Latin and my latin skills are very weak. I need to improve them before I take on these Manor Papers. That being said I can see the name John Blake there and it is the 19th year of the Reign of Elizabeth I (1577). It is John Blake senior who is mentioned. This is a bit of a mystery because it isn't until William Blake (probate 1606) that we see Upper Clatford mentioned in the wills of the Blake family. William Blake in his will mentions that he has purchased the property at Upper Clatford from Walter Waight and William in his will passes this land to his son Thomas. By the beginning of the Parish Register though there do not appear to be any Blakes at Upper Clatford. The only records:

Baptisms
Blake     Annie     daughter     Blake     John     1635     December     28
Blake     Abraham     son     Blake     John     1637     March     4
Blake     Katheren 1678     July     2
Blake     Mary     daughter     Blake     Mr. Peter     Ann     1679     March     24
Blake     Peetar     son     Blake     Peetar     Ann     1686     August     10

Burials
Blake     Ann     daughter     Blake     John     1640     August     30
Blake     Elizabeth     1660     August     15

Marriage
Blake     John     Abbotts Anne     Kinge     Mary     Upper Clatford 1753    December    5

The marriage of course being considerably later and rather interesting as it is John Blake malster who left a will in 1796 which has proven to be an interesting tool in the search for Blake lines. 

The John Blake senior is likely the son of Robert Blake; brother to Nicholas Blake. I really need to read the entire section to have some understanding of why he is in the Manor Pages at Upper Clatford. There is also mention of a William Blake and a Robert Blake. Robert Blake brother to Nicholas had six sons: Robert, John the elder (who has died by this time), William, Thomas, Richard and John the younger. John the younger does have a son John who would be an adult at this time thus giving rise to John the younger becoming John Blake senior. Once I can read it; it will make a nice addition to the Blake family in the Andover area. Every little bit helps to understand this family.

In Elizabeth 27th year of reign (1585), the manor book lists William Blake, Edward Blake and Peter Blake. The Penton Mewsey parish registers list:

Marriages
Blake    Peter    Clatford    Noyes    Ann    Penton Mewsey        1677    June    26
Blake    Peter    Penton Mewsey    Godfrey    Ann    Upton            1677    June    26

At a much later date though, I need to read the manor book to see if the Blake family is consistently at Upper Clatford in the 1500s right up to Peter Blake marrying Ann Noyes at Penton Mewsey in 1677.

A little more pondering on John Blake at Abbotts Ann. The will does not clearly state that the Mary Marshman (Marshmont) is a sister to John. It states only that William Marshman is his "kindsman." Mind you Mary Marshman is not mentioned - she would be quite elderly by 1796 (baptized 21 Dec 1702 and married 1727). My Thomas, William of Andover and Ann living at his house are his niece and nephews (through marriage to his wife Mary King Blake but he doesn't note them as "kin").  That leads me to think that the ones mentioned as kindsman are his own blood relations. Would one refer to the children of one's sister as "kindsman" or "kindswoman." In the case of Elizabeth married to Joseph Russell he refers to her as his sister but presumably she is still living. Need to find baptisms for an Elizabeth, a Joseph Russell and the children of this couple. Another correspondent has sent me some information from Kings Somborne and I hope to pursue that at a later date.

Elizabeth Blake daughter of Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell

Noted yesterday the death of an Elizabeth Blake in 1713 at Andover. If this was the daughter of Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell born in 1695 then she would have been 18 in 1713. Robert and Elizabeth were still baptizing children and they could have had another Elizabeth. Need to look for that possibility and still no baptism for Charles Blake who married Mary Prince at Abbots Ann in 1737. However, John Blake malster at Abbots Ann fits nicely into this family with his birth in 1714 (he was 82 when he died in 1796). A sister Mary married William Marshman (Marshmont) in 1727 and that fits into this family. The other researcher mentioned yesterday found a marriage with Edward Gilbert of a Mary Marshmont in 1752 at Abbots Ann. There is a Mary Gilbert mentioned in the will.

I still feel that the language of the will shows a closer relationship between Charles Blake and the testator than between my Blake family at Upper Clatford. Sorting through the data, this John is my 3x great grandfather Thomas Blake's uncle by marriage. His mother Joanna King and John's wife Mary King are sisters and daughters of Thomas King. This is a good find and collaborates my earlier thinking that the language of the will was that of an uncle towards his niece and nephews. Helpful but not a direct "blood" tie.

Unraveling the mysteries presented in John Blake's will may help to solve the mystery of the parentage of Charles Blake and it comes closer to fruition I rather think. Ever since I found the will at the Hampshire Record Office and transcribed it I felt it was a key to my family lines at Upper Clatford. Although I am still just back to 5x great grandfather Thomas King and his wife Mary Carter who married 10 Jan 1728 at Upper Clatford, I now have the link between this family and the Blake family at Abbots Ann. I now know that Joanna wife of Joseph Blake and Mary wife of John Blake were sisters. What other information will the will provide me personally? The mention of the Beaver family is interesting as well. It is a descendant of the Beaver family that marries Thomas Blake son of Joseph and Joanna Blake - Sarah Coleman whose grandmother was Dinah Bever. Is the notation in front of Beavers "The"? Very difficult to tell and her married name was Coleman - why would he have referred to the children of Dinah as "The Beavers"?  At this time there were three of them still living and he leaves three guineas! The father of Sarah had died in 1780. Why would John remember this family. The father of Dinah Beaver was Anthony Beaver and mother was Susanna Johnson. Likely the father of Susanna was Roger Johnson and this was an old family at Upper Clatford.

I continue working on the transcription of the Upper Clatford Parish Register 1 with the burials and I have completed to the beginning of 1708 with 600 burials from the beginning of the Registers (1570).  The same families continue at Upper Clatford that have been there from the beginning of the Register. The King family is very large but I have not yet located a Thomas that could be my ancestor. I have not yet located a Carter that could be my ancestor either. The only Carter on the Hearth Tax is Thomas. But there are more Carter families there baptizing children:  Henry and Elizabeth, John and Jane, William and Jone, and Thomas and Elizabeth. Perhaps they live closeby in a smaller village but baptize their children at Upper Clatford.

I am still trying to decide if I have accumulated enough evidence to say that the Thomas Blake who married Ann Carter at Penton Mewsey 8 Sep 1728 are my 5x great grandparents and the parents of Joseph Blake baptized at Andover 21 Oct 1730. The death of Anne Blake and her burial 20 Sep 1734 along with the burial of her son Thomas 22 Sep 1734 at Penton Mewsey is rather revealing. The baptism of Thomas 19 Sep 1734 at Andover (son of Thomas (Ann is not listed)) whereas Joseph is baptized as the son of Thomas and Ann also at Andover also leads one to think this is the same family. Also given that grandfather John was baptized at Penton Mewsey although the baptism is entered into the Andover Parish Register. I feel now that I can accept this marriage as correct between Thomas Blake and Ann Carter. The next mystery to solve for me is the Carter family. Are Mary Carter mother of Joanna King and Ann Carter mother of Joseph Blake related? Are Joanna and Joseph first cousins?

Are Richard Carter and Elizabeth Musprett the parents of Ann Carter?; they are baptizing an Ann 13 Nov 1713 at Andover. They baptize four daughters at Andover: Elizabeth (b 22 Apr 1702), Sarah (b 21 May 1703), Mary (b 27 Feb 1711), and Anne (b 13 Nov 1713) as well as Richard (b 13 Dec 1704), Thomas (b 15 Jun 1707), Josiah (b 21 Dec 1708),  John (b 26 Apr 1717). The names are interesting with respect to Mary Carter who married Thomas King and their children were named Mary, Elizabeth and Joanna. Ann Carter married to Thomas Blake did not have any daughters. Given that Ann died in 1734 you might have expected to see Mary (Carter) King call a child Ann but the next two girls are named Elizabeth and Joanna. Interesting though to look at names. Richard Carter and Elizabeth Musprett named their first son Richard and their first daughter Elizabeth. I will investigate to see if Richard might be the son of Thomas Carter though given that the second son is named Thomas. The second daughter was called Sarah so could investigate Elizabeth Musprett having Sarah as her mother. Interestingly there is an Elizabeth Musprat baptized 20 Feb 1682 at Andover the daughter of Thomas Musprat.

Sacheverell as a forename

The forename Sacheverell occurs in the Charles Blake family. The earlier reference to this name is in the Robert Blake - Elizabeth Russell family. One of their sons carries this forename and I have found his baptism at Penton Mewsey in 1710. This is the time period where baptisms are missing for the Robert Blake - Elizabeth Russel family. There are children baptized up to 1702 and then from 1710 on but 1703 to 1709 does not show sny baptisms at Andover. This is the likely time period for the baptism of Charles Blake and possibly John Blake at Abbotts Ann. John is elderly when he writes his will in 1792 (probated in 1797). I do not have his marriage. I know that his wife had the forename Mary and that they had one child at least a daughter Mary.

Mary Blake is mentioned in Thomas King's will of 1762. That is one of the big mysteries of the will of John Blake and Thomas King. Why are they remembering each other's children in their respective wills? Why does John Blake give money to the Church at Upper Clatford?

The will is actually a tremendous find for the Charles Blake family as it links them to John Blake although he doesn't define the relationship but the language he uses leaves one thinking that he might be an uncle passing on his personal possession because he doesn't have a son. His daughter died in the early 1780s probably in childbirth and no other child of his own is mentioned. I assume there was just one child although need to check the register thoroughly for that to be for sure.

Of interest though he only mnentions the children of Charles first marriage to Jane Gilbert. That is a mystery as well if Charles was his nephew. Did one of his sisters marry a Gilbert? The marriage of Mary Blake to William Marshman is very interesting as he describes these as his close kin (his sister's children perhaps. This makes me think I am on the right track thinking that John is a son of Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell.

Charles Blake at Abbotts Ann

Descendants of the Charles Blake family at Abbotts Ann are the Blake family from whom I hear most often. The mention of Charles Blake in the Abbotts Ann register in 1737 with his marriage to Mary Prince 4 Sep 1736 is the first one that I have been able to decipher thus far as the first Blake entry. Parish Register 8 at Abbotts Ann is very difficult to read (not sure why it is labeled 8 but it is for the years 1561 to 1740 on two fiche). I intend to transcribe it but have not done so yet. There is a need to do so to see if in the very light faint printing there is any sign of Blake. It is 94 pages in total. The early part of the register (1500s to the mid 1600s) is actually not too bad and I simply haven't investigated it to see if there are any Blake members prior to 1700. I just haven't had a need to transcribe it yet. A quick glance at the first decade of 1700 reveals few entries and this is where I would hope to find the "missing" Blake baptisms for Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell(m 15 Jul 1694 Andover) because Andover has:

Blake Sarah daughter Blake Robert Elizabeth 1696 March 10
Blake Joannah daughter Blake Robert Elizabeth 1700 February 12
Blake Mary daughter Blake Robert Elizabeth 1702 December 21
Blake Edward son Blake Robert Elizabeth 1711 August 12
Blake Thomas son Blake Robert Elizabeth 1714 July 2
Blake Jane daughter Blake Robert Elizabeth 1717 July 22


The gap between 1702 and 1711 is very suspicious. One would wonder if they have moved from Andover to some other place and then returned. The baptisms and burials in this time frame appear to be quite complete for Andover (a reasonable number of entries at a consistent rate).

Working backwards which is the best way in genealogy, I am looking for a John Blake who was a malster at Abbotts Ann, had a wife Mary and a daughter Mary. Daughter Mary married Thomas Holmes 16 Sep 1780. Possibly she was his only daughter - still to be determined. We visited their gravestones at St Mary the Virgin Church in Abbotts Ann in 2008 and their site is quite easy to find and the graves are most legible. She possibly died in childbirth. She is likely the Mary Blake baptized at Abbotts Ann 13 Aug 1756 and daughter of John and Mary Blake. That would fit in with the will of Thomas King where he mentioned her in 1762.

All of these Blake families at Abbotts Ann appear to be involved one way or another perhaps through the Blake or Gilbert or Carter families. That is yet to be determined. I need now to decide if I move to Abbotts Ann to transcribe or Penton Mewsey. Penton Mewsey is smaller and it too may provide clues as there were a number of Blake families in Penton Mewsey and I have a couple of wills there as well. Penton Mewsey it continues to be once I am up to 1757 at Andover (that is really the direction that I need to go in at this point). I managed to reach 1753 in the baptisms today (11,538 baptisms as of 30 Jun 1753 since the beginning of these parish registers). There are a number of Blake baptisms but they are no longer of interest in the descendancy of Charles Blake or my own ancestor Joseph Blake. It is more to assure that I know every Blake event up to 1757 at Andover that I continue to read the registers and especially I need to read the burials.

I have not yet transcribed the Poor Law Rates at Abbotts Ann that I collected in 2008 at Salt Lake City. A read through yields the following information (and I did look earlier with some notation in my blog back in 2009).

Poor Law Rates - Abbotts Ann

1727 - Robert Blake Churchwarden and assessed 1 s Poor Rate
1728 - Robert Blake assessed 1 s Poor Rate
1729 - Robert Blake Churchwarden and assessed 1 s 1 d Poor Rate
1732 - Robert Blake assessed 3 s 2 d Poor Rate for Coles
1732 - Robert Blake assessed 1 s 1 d Poor Rate for Morrants
1735 - Robert Blake assessed 3 s 2 d Poor Rate for Coles
1735 - Robert Blake assessed 1 s 1 d Poor Rate for Morrants
1746 - Edward Blake assessed Poor Rate for Brewers
1746 - Charles Blake assessed 5 d Poor Rate for Morrants
1747 - Edward Blake assessed 8 d Poor Rate for Brewers
1747 - Charles Blake assessed 5 d Poor Rate for Morrants
1751 - John Blake assessed 5 d Poor Rate for Morrants
1754 - Edward Blake assessed 1 s 4 d Poor Rate for Coles
1754 - Charles Blake assessed 1 s Poor Rate for Stows
1758 - Edward Blake assessed 1 s 4 d Poor Rate for Coles
1758 - Charles Blake assessed 1 s Poor Rate for Stows
1760 - Charles Blake assessed 1 s Poor Rate for Stows
1812 - Ann Blake assessed 1 s 12 d Poor Rate

Although there is absolutely no proof (a will for Robert Blake would be helpful) it would appear that Robert Blake held leases which were then acquired by Edward Blake and Charles Blake (and John Blake for a short period). There is an Edward Blake son of Robert Blake baptized at Andover 12 Aug 1711. There are missing years in this family at Andover when you would have thought they would be having children namely 1703 to 1710. Is Charles a son of Robert? That is the real question. Is John a son of Robert as well and is this the John who wrote the will in 1792 which was probated in 1797 at Abbotts Ann? The reference to Russell family in John's will is very interesting. Robert's wife was Elizabeth Russell.

John's will transcription: http://www.kipp-blake-families.ca/Will-John-Blake-1797-AbbotsAnn.pdf

Although I would like to still collect more proof I would hypothesize that Charles, Edward and John are all brothers and sons of Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell. Continuing to look at the names in his will - Marshman, Gilbert and Russell may reveal the marriages of the daughters of Robert and Elizabeth Blake - Sarah, Joannah, Mary and Jane.

Indeed Mary Blake married William Marshmont (according to the IGI) 2 April 1727 at Old Alresford (this has been mistranscribed and should probably be Abbotts Ann). Is Marshmont Marshman? His kinsman was listed as William Marshman and there are a number of other Marshman members mentioned. The other daughters/sisters I will continue to investigate once I read the Abbotts Ann registers.

These wills at Winchester HAM (Hampshire Record Office) would help us to understand the Robert Blake family at Andover.

1522B/04 Will of Robert Blake (Blayke) of Knights Enham, Hampshire 1522

1542B/06 Will of Robert Blake of Enham, Andover, Hampshire 1542

1545B/022 Will of Robert Blake of ?Wallop Street, Lockerley, Hampshire 1545

1554U/03 Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Street, Lockerley, Hampshire 1554

1601B/08 Will of Robert Blake of Knights Enham, Hampshire, husbandman 1601

1605A/07 Will of Robert Blake of Andover, Hampshire, victualler 1605

1620A/009 Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Kings Enham, Andover, Hampshire, yeoman 1620

1662B/08 Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Fyfield, Hampshire, gent 1662

I believe that Hampshire Record Office will permit Photographing of the wills. That is a project in the back of my mind but it will be at least two years hence from now.

For everyone who has read through this long debate, I am left with the strong impression that Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell are the parents of the Blake family which moved to Abbotts Ann in the 1720s from Andover where the last child was baptized there in 1717. I wonder if they were at Abbotts Ann or Penton or other places nearby Andover from 1703 to 1710 because they did not baptize any children at Andover in this time period.

However, all said and done I have not yet determined where Thomas Blake, William Blake and Ann Blake fit into this scenario (they are my ancestral line - Thomas is my 3x great grandfather). They live at Upper Clatford. Thomas Blake (likely father of Joseph Blake (father of Thomas, William and Ann Blake aforementioned)) is not a brother to Charles, Edward and John. He is the son of Thomas Blake who married Mary Spring 1708 at Andover and was their only child apparently as no other children are baptized at Andover by this couple and Thomas (not an infant) is buried in 1714. Unless they moved about and baptized children elsewhere and, of course, I can not know that. Unfortunately there are no wills, no poor rate at Andover for Thomas Blake. What did he do for a living? I think perhaps he was a draper or something like that but time will tell on that one. Ann Blake was to inherit under the will with some restrictions but it would appear that Ann Blake ends up on the property after all that was mentioned in John Blake's will.

Thais Opera

My husband and I like to attend the Opera and yesterday the MET production in digital format at SilverCity of Thais was exceptional. Since it started at 12 noon and we were there at 11:30 a.m. to get good seats, a good part of the day was spent "at the opera." We treated ourselves to a bag of popcorn which we haven't done for a long time and munched away quietly during the opera.

In terms of genealogy I didn't really accomplish a lot. I answered some queries online from my ancestry subscription - the query re Blake generated another email and Charles Blake has proven to be an elusive but popular ancestor. I think most of my queries about Blake have dealt with Charles. His marriage at Abbots Ann to Mary Prince in 1737 is the first entry for him at Abbots Ann. The Prince family are farmers (freehold) so a fairly substantial family for the time. Their only son Charles as well married into the Gilbert family which is also a substantial family in the area. But who is this Charles? He is mentioned in the will of John Blake malster at Abbots Ann in 1797 (along with my ancestor Thomas Blake (3x great grandfather)). I can trace my Blake line back through Upper Clatford to Andover and to the beginning of the Register where the first baptism for this family (thus far I am still transcribing the earliest register) is William (b 9 Aug 1615) and son of Richard. I suspect the earliest baptisms were kept in a register now long lost which was probably in a chapel at Eastontown where this family lived. Richard is the son of William who is the son of Nicholas (all this by wills). But there is never a Charles in this family. There is a Robert Blake family at Andover as well and I am still working on this line. They appear to be descended from the Blake family at Knights Enham (Robert is a popular name in that line) and there is a marriage of a Charles Blake and Jane Framtan at Andover 2 Oct 1687 (who is this Charles?). No baptisms for this couple thus far in my looking. Then there is the marriage in 1737 at Abbots Ann of Charles Blake and Mary Prince. One would suspect that Charles is from the established Blake family in the area to have been accepted into the Prince family. Charles Blake and Jane Framtan would have been the right age to be parents of this Charles. But on top of all that John Blake at Abbots Ann, the malster, making the interesting will wasn't baptized at Abbots Ann and no idea where he was baptized (likely in 1714 by his gravestone). My 5x great grandfather Thomas was baptized in 1709, Charles was likely baptized around 1710-15, and John in 1714. Could they be brothers and all sons of Thomas Blake (b 21 Feb 1685) who married Mary Spring 6 Nov 1708 at Andover? Thomas was buried 29 Jan 1714. His widow Mary did not remarry. She was buried 2 Apr 1734 at Andover. Why are they not in the Andover Parish Register although I haven't transcribed line by line yet so can not really say they are not there yet but they do not appear in the IGI as Thomas b 1709 does. As I read the will John makes the same legacy to all of the grandchildren of Thomas and Charles (he doesn't have any grandchildren as his only daughter to survive infancy died at 24). He remembers his sister's children (Elizabeth married a Russel, another unknown married a Marshman possibly and sister Mary married a Gilbert. He leaves his personal belongings to just the children of Charles' Blake first marriage (he does not list the children of Charles' second marriage). I suspect that is because this family has lost their lease on what was a Gilbert farm. Lovely will with so many interesting names but it leads to so many new questions as wills often do!

The other big question that stays in my mind is that Thomas (b 1685) had 10 siblings - John b 1684; d 1684, Thomas is next, Margaret b 1689, John b 1689; d 1729, Richard b 1691; d 1694, Elizabeth b 1693; d 1693, Elizabeth b 1695, William b 1698, Anne b 1701; d 1705, Joseph b 1702; d 1784, Anne b 1705; d 1711. I have the will for Joseph, and his sisters Margaret and Elizabeth (they do not marry) and Joseph's only son Joseph is buried in 1746 as a child. But interestingly he lives at Penton Mewsey which is where my Thomas (b 1709) married Ann Carter. These wills do not mention Thomas' great grandchildren. Who is the John? Is he the father of John at Abbots Ann? That is one of my thoughts actually other than his being descended from Robert Blake's line at Knights Enham. Anyone reading this blog who is interested in Charles Blake might like to pursue the Blake family at Penton Mewsey; I am slowly working through the Registers. I think I know who the earliest Blake is there but still really working on that.

A few queries on Bishops Nympton as well to answer. I still have a large query to deal with but will leave it to the New Year. I appear to be almost fully recovered from my bout of illness - just my bruised ribs to finish recovering. My energy level is coming back as well. Soon we will be out skiing and snowshoeing plus if the cold snap continues the canal will freeze and we will be ice skating on our 8 km skating rink.