Looking at Wiltshire Wills

I discovered yesterday that Dad's Cookies sold in Canada are actually made here.  That is good news as they are my favourite cookie.

To the best of my knowledge I have collected all the Blake Wiltshire Wills although will also check to see if there are more available from earlier but I think I have them all. All of these wills have been blogged by me and I generally put in anything that I found of interest when I blogged the will.

 Martyn/Martin/Marten (9.5 miles sw of Salisbury, 32 miles from Calne)

William Blake 1545 / Agnes Blake 1563 - Lived at Marten, Wiltshire. From the two wills their children appear to be John, Elizabeth, Agnes and Alys. Since I follow only the male line John is the one of interest.

John Blake 1582 / Elizabeth Blake 1583 - Lived at Marten, Wiltshire. John is the son of William and Agnes above and he and his wife had daughters so this line daughtered out. Marten is south of Salisbury so it is difficult to say that this is a line coming down from Calne or a line coming across from Hampshire or up from Christchurch/Southampton. But no one in the male Blake line is descendant of this couple. 

South Newton (19 miles WSW of Andover, 30 miles S of Calne).

The Blake family at South Newton continues from the 1500s  to the present. A freehold in Stoford (close to South Newton) was purchased by Henry Blake (between 1693 and 1704) and in 1704 Henry passed it to John Blake and John sold it in 1720 (British History Online). Could this be the Calne Blake family? Certainly Henry was a forename in the Blake family of Calne at the time of the destruction of the family home at Pinhills in 1643. But there were Blakes at South Newton in the 1500s.

Dental appointment interrupted my day and I am getting older as I found that I needed a long rest after that appointment. 

Last night heavy snow which we definitely need but it looks like it could be 40 cm so a fair amount but we are headed towards March when we do get our heaviest snows. 

Today more work on the Wiltshire/Hampshire/Berkshire/Dorset Blake wills. It is a number of years since I transcribed all of the Wiltshire wills and likely the same for the rest. It is good to have the blogs to review though as I put quite a bit of time into each one pulling out available data at the time. 

I am still thinking that I should write an article on the Blake yDNA for the Guild Journal in hopes of attracting more testers as finding one with a proven paper trail back to the Calne Blake family could prove interesting. I still need to find the work I did on the French yDNA. I remember doing it and not that long ago and I did find some interesting details when I did it I recall. 

The new ethnicity reports that My Heritage has created - Ethnicity Estimate v2.5: The Long-Awaited Improved DNA Ethnicity Model are now available and most interesting. There was also an Ancient Report which I did find very interesting as it located my grandfather Blake as a Western Hunter Gatherer in the British Isles very early on. Intriguing really and we do have to listen to these stories by peoples who lived in places for a very long time. Their knowledge base is huge and often so detailed as it was passed down through the families (and I do realize now in my old age that that was exactly what my grandfather was doing - passing it on because we were so far from where my Blake family lived in England).  As my brother next older to me in age and I met through the last 15 years of his life from 2007 on we met regularly (three to four times a year) in London (my home town) where we talked about our family and especially he was interested in the yDNA. It all sort of came together after my mother passed away. She had reminded me of my intense interest in DNA as a child and certainly it did drive me towards Chemistry at University. But she had also talked to him about DNA and that people were testing so the combination came together not long after she passed as we started emailing each other and then I spotted the Sorenson Genomics Testing and mentioned it and he was keen. In all Edward, my brother and I tested our DNA with Sorensen Genetics and I just started to collect all the data that came forward. At that time there were a couple of matches with Doug and other Blake descendants primarily in Australia as I recall but also in the United States. They did not carry it forward into FT DNA as that offer was suggested and I did do that with all three of our tests and then so much testing since on all of the kits. I must go in and have a look at my siblings also on My Heritage and Edward for the new ethnicity reports. It is amazing how differently we all inherited from our four grandparents - me especially as I am totally different from everyone except my brother next in age to me but younger. He and I are the most similar but he still does not match me that closely. Interesting how that happens - I simply inherited a very large percentage from my paternal grandmother and none of them did. I was around 36% ?/Rawlings and they all tend to be in the neighbourhood of 12 to 18% with all of them inheriting strongly in the Blake line. The same in the maternal line with me inheriting quite strongly in the Buller line and a number of them inherited in the Taylor line (which does have Irish matches) and then in the Pincombe they inherited far more than I did with me inheriting strongly in the Routledge/Gray side. I think it is mostly Routledge for me as my Scot percentage tends to look like it is a generation closer than actual. So always very interesting. My Heritage is growing rapidly and I still have not done the work of inserting all my new matches into my database to work on the phasing of my grandparents and great-grandparents which I liked to update every year but it is now three years since I made a big update. The reality is that it was really the DNA (and my cousin wanting the Pincombe Profile for his book) that brought me into genealogy finally in 2003. I did have the experience though through the years of helping Edward at the repositories as he searched for his family's records both in Ontario and then in the New England States. It took us simply everywhere in New England and then to Utah to the Family History Library and to the Allen Country Library in Indiana as well as the Library of Congress in Washington. I have seen so many of these repositories including of course NEHGS and NYGBS where we spent many days going through their collections. Our very first trip to the United States to discover information was in 1973 I think. We had exhausted all the information at the Ontario Archives and Library and Archives Canada by then. Then there was Kew in London, England - a fantastic resource which I occasionally toy with the idea of going and spending a bit of time there. But you can buy scanned records from them which at 79.5 years of age works very well for me.

Tea finished and the day is ahead of me.

 

Will of Barnard Blake, Esquire, of Westerham, Kent - The National Archives, PROB 11/1366/131

The testator, Barnard Blake, was buried 26 Nov 1801 at Westerham. The age was mentioned as 70 years. He served an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker with John West, St Paul Covent Garden Middlesex. His father was named William Blake. Bernard Blake was baptized at Westerham 1 Nov 1731 son of William Blake.

Bank of England Wills Extracts Folio 27206 21 Apr 1807 which is an adjustment to the will below.  There is the sum of £1500. Annuities in the names of Master Marmaduke Lewis of Farmingham Kent. Richard Board of Westerham Kent. Alexander Roby of Bush Lane Merchant. Barnard Blake of Shipbourne Kent Gent.

Folio 27272 has a second extract. There is also the sum of £1500. Annuities in the names of The Reverend Marmaduke Lewis of Farmingham. Rev Richard Board of Westerham.

The Reverend Marmaduke Lewis is deceased as appears by Probate dated 8th August 1806 these Annuities are therefore at the Disposal of the Survivors in the respective Accounts. Registered 12th Nov 1806.

Barnard Blake married Ann Lewis 19 Feb 1760 at Barking, Essex. Ann was buried 24 May 1776 at Westerham. Susan Blake, their daughter, was baptized 26 Oct 1764 and buried 19 Apr 1765. Penelope Rebecca Blake, their daughter was buried 26 Jun 1773. There was a marble monument which can be seen on gravestone photos

https://www.gravestonephotos.com/public/gravedetails.php?grave=339598

A very sad tale is recounted in the will as Barnard asked to be buried in the same vault as his wife and children.

Barnard Blake was likely the son of William Blake and Rebecca Brooker who married 11 Feb 1728 at Westerham, Kent. Rebecca was buried 24 Jun 1789 at Westerham as the widow of William). William may have been buried 28 Jan 1771. They baptized the following children at Westerham:

Sarah Blake was baptized 9 Dec 1729
Thomas Blake was baptized 18 Dec 1730 (there was a Thomas Blake buried 29 Dec 1730)
Bernard Blake was baptized 1 Nov 1731
Rebecka Blake was baptized 29 Jun 1733
Mitchell Blake was baptized 12 Apr 1735 (there was a Mitchell Blake buried 25 Aug 1736)
Elizabeth was baptized 22 Nov 1736
William Blake was baptized 17 Nov 1738 (there was a William Blake buried 1 Sep 1792)
Edmund Blake was baptized 19 Mar 1740 (there was an Edmund Blake buried 6 Sep 1756)
Dorithy Blake was baptized 28 Feb 1742
Mary Blake was baptized 20 Feb 1743
Anne Blake was baptized 22 Jun 1747 (there was an Ann Blake buried 12 Jan 1791)
Jane Blake was baptized 22 Jun 1747
Alice Blake was baptized 11 Apr 1749
Penelope Blake was baptized 4 Jun 1751

Dorothy Blake married Peter Tow 6 Jul 1782 at Westerham. Two of their children are mentioned in the will below: Barnard Tow and Mary Ann Tow.

A William Blake married Mary Humphery 5 Aug 1765 at Westerham and described as William Blake junior.

I couldn’t locate parents for William Blake marrying Rebecca Brooker at Westerham.

There are still another 24 wills for the Blake family in Kent. Perhaps something will show up in another will that will link this family back.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 7 Jul 2019
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1366/131
Testator: Barnard Blake, Esquire
Place: Westerham, Kent
Type of Record:    Will
Date of document: 14 Apr 1801, probated 2 Dec 1801

[Margin]: Barnard Blake, Esquire

1    This is the Will of me
2    Barnard Blake of Westerham in the County
3    of Kent I desire to be decently buried in the same
4    Vault in the Church of Westerham as my late
5    dear Wife and Children are buried at the
6    discretion of my Executor herein named and I do
7    direct him to place a marble Monument in
8    memory of my said family not to exceed Fifty pounds
9    in Value I give and bequeath to Rich[ar]d Packham
10    of the Parish of Wrotham in the County of
11    Kent Esq[uie]r and to Renwill Oldaker of the
12    Parish of Barking in the County of Essex
13    Gentleman and to their heirs and to the heirs
14    of the Survivor of them all my freehold and
15    copyhold Estates in the parish of Westerham in
16    the County of Kent with all other my real
17    Estates wheresoever and whatsoever upon
18    Trust to receive the rents and profits thereof
19    And pay the same to my three Sisters share and
20    share alike for and during their natural lives
21    and to the live of the longest liver of them and from
22    and after their decease I give the same to my
23    Nephew Thomas Deane his heirs and assigns
24    and I do recommend my said Trustees to permit
25    my Sister Dorothy to occupie all the premises
26    I have in my occupation in Westerham at
27    the yearly Rent of Fifteen pounds during her
28    natural life likewise I recommend to my said
29    Trustees to permit my Sister Mary to occupie
30    at the present rent she pays three pounds a year
31    during her life for all the premises she now
32    has I give to my Sister Dorothy all such
33    Furniture and plate as was my late Aunt _____
34    and I do give her also the use of all this my
35    Furniture in my house if she choses to occupie
36    it during her life and after her decease I give
37    The same to my Nephew Thomas Deane I
38    give to my said Sisters Ten pounds Each to
39    William Langridge Sarah Wallis Barnes
40    Martin five pounds Each to any servants that
41    are with me and have been with me
42    one full year Five pounds
43    each and my Wearing apparel to the poor of
44    Westerham Five pounds To such has have
45    Received no alums therefrom all the rest of my
46    personal I give to my above named Trustees
47    to receive the Interest therefrom and pay the
48    same to my said three sisters during their
49    natural lives and to the Survivor of them and
50    after the death of such Survivor I give to my
51    niece Martha Oldaker the sum of two hundred
52    pounds to Nephew William Blake three hundred
53    pounds to my niece Mary Blake one hundred
54    pounds to my Nephew Barnard Tow five hundred
55    pounds to my Niece Mary Ann Tow one hundred
56    pounds to my Niece Penelope Butler one hundred
57    And Fifty pounds to the Reverend Marmaduke
58    Lewis Fifty pounds to Jno Werham Lewis Esqr
59    twenty pounds to my above named Trustees
60    Ten pounds Each to all other my Nieces and
61    Nephews Five pounds each all the rest of my
62    said personal Estates whatsoever give to my said
63    Nephew Thos Dean and I do make him Sole
64    Executor of this my Will dated this fourteenth
65    day of April one thousand Eight hundred and
66    one Barn[ar]d Blake Signed Sealed
67    published and declared by Barn[ar]d Blake to
68    be his last Will and Testament in presence
69    of us who at his request and in presence of
70    each other have subscribed our Names as
71    Witnesses thereof Sah Diplock Mary Payton
72    Thomas Coleman
73    This Will was proved at London the
74    second day of December in the year of our Lord
75    One thousand Eight hundred and one before
76    the Worshipful John Sewell doctor of Laws
77    and Surrogate of the Right honorable Sir
78    William Wynne Knight doctor of Laws Master
79    Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court
80    of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath
81    of Thomas Deane the Nephew and Sole Executor
82    named in the said Will to whom Administration
83    was granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattles
84    and Credits of the said deceased having been first
85    sworn duly to administer

Living DNA results for my brother

Living DNA results came in for my brother. We are the least alike thus far of us seven siblings and fortunately for me he has been willing to be tested here and everywhere (and I have done so!). I expect his results to show a strong southern England setting and good percentages along the eastern coast of England. That was completely fulfilled but I was surprised not to see any Scotland but he does have a Cumbria component which is our Routledge line and they are far removed from the Scottish Highlands having come to the Cumbria area in the 1400s. I also thought he would have a north western European component that would be Germanic rather than Scandinavian. His results follow and I compare them to my results.

 Area                                                       my brother             me

Europe                                                      98.9%                100%

Great Britain and Ireland                         95.9%                   96.5%

South Central England                            23.9%                   31.7%

Southeast England                                  18.8%                      7.2%

Devon                                                      13.4%                     14.6%

Central England                                       0%                          14.6%

North Yorkshire                                     11.6%                         3.5%

South England                                       11.5%                         2.7%

Lincolnshire                                            7.7%                         2%

Northumbria                                             5.5%                         4%

North West England                                  0%                           3.5%

Cumbria                                                  2.2%                           0%

South Yorkshire                                      1.2%                           5.4%

Southwest Scotland and Northern Ireland   0%                        4.8%

Northwest England                                  0%                             3.5%

Aberdeenshire                                         0%                             2.5% 


Europe (North and West)                        3%                              3.5%

Germanic                                                  3%                             0%

Scandinavia                                              0%                             3.5%

 Asia (South)                                         1.1%                            0%

Southern Central Asia                           1.1%                            0%


The first item that pretty much defines our family is the Great Britain and Ireland percentage. My result is 96.5% and my brother's result is 95.9%. Given that our father, three of our grandparents and all of their known ancestors were born and lived in England probably not surprising. Our fourth grandparent - maternal grandfather  John Routledge Pincombe - was born in Canada but his father William Robert Pincombe was born in England (Devon) and his mother Grace Gray was born in Canada and she was our first born Canadian ancestor. However both of her parents (Robert Gray and Elizabeth Mary Ann Routledge) were born in England (father in East Riding of Yorkshire and mother in Cumberland).

The North and West Europe component that each of us have remains somewhat of a mystery. I have 3.5% Scandinavian and my brother has 3% Germanic. Looking at 3% of our DNA the rough estimate would be a 3x great grandparent or 2 4x great grandparents. This is an interesting thought actually. For most of our lines I know the 3x great grandparent's place of birth, who they married and when/where they died. But there are a few exceptions - one is my maternal grandmother's father's grandfather - Christopher Buller. I think he is English but I have no proof. His death registration/burial registration does not give any clues in 1832. I have never found his birth/baptism in London, England where he lived his entire life (actually Bermondsey just south of the Thames in his adulthood). His wife Mary Beard I can trace back a number of generations in the Bermondsey area. The other exception is my maternal grandmother's mother's parents and grandparents. But this line is more likely to be Irish/Scot than Scandinavian or Germanic. We do have a number of matches with people who currently live in Germany and always have and I must have a look to see if my brother actually has more of these matches than I do. In general though these matches are with people having a Jewish ancestry and endogamy is probably playing a part in all of that as I suspect our possible Jewish ancestor converted to Church of England back in the 1400s (first appears in Anglican Church records) or earlier. 

The Devon results for both of us at 13.4% for my brother and 14.6% for me are very reasonable given the matches to our Pincombe lines that we share in common. We have been most fortunate to have half a dozen and more of our Pincombe cousins test ranging from 3rd cousin to 4th cousin. Their testing has enabled the phasing of our grandparents DNA which is progressing and helpful with new matches. Our Pincombe line was at Bishops Nympton from the late 1590s to the present and prior to that the line was at North Molton (East Buckland and Filleigh) back to 1485. Prior to that is not firmly proven although some researchers have placed this family in western Cornwall and others in Herefordshire. They came to North Molton with Lord de la Zouche following the Battle of Bosworth Field in which Lord Zouche was attainted for supporting Richard III.

The South Central England results with 23.9% for my brother and 31.7% for me were also an expected result. South Central England includes Wiltshire and Somerset (as well as Hampshire) and the matches which we have thus far point to my having inherited strongly from my paternal grandmother whose lines were from Wiltshire predominantly although she, herself, was born in Kimpton, Hampshire. Plus I have strong matches with my 2x great grandmother (my maternal side) who was born at Selworthy, Elizabeth Rew (daughter of John Rew and Elizabeth Siderfin) but married her Pincombe husband at Bishops Nympton and my brother does not match the Somerset cousins for the most part. My brother inherited strongly from his paternal grandfather which is primarily Hampshire and perhaps gives some evidence with his South eastern percentage that the Blake families at Andover were indeed all related as one line of this family went to Surrey and then London in the latter part of the 1600s.

Southeast England which includes London and Surrey was the home of my 3x great grandfather Christopher Buller's wife Mary Beard. The Beard family can be found back into the 1600s in the Bermondsey area. Henry Beard (Mary's father) was a tanner and he had married Elizabeth Hemsley and her family is likely from the North Yorkshire/Northumberland area back a couple of generations (Elizabeth was born in 1742 at St Mary Newington daughter of Matthew Hemsley and Mary Coal. But my brother's portion at 18.8% is much larger than would be expected from 4x great grandparents and the only other London line is of course Christopher Buller himself. Hence I am suspicious that Blake is also showing up in this area with its roots in Andover.

No Central England for my brother and again not a surprise as he has very few matches with our Buller and Welch cousins. Henry Christopher Buller married Anne Welch in 1838 at Edgbaston, Warwickshire. He the son of Christopher Buller and Mary Beard and Anne the daughter of William Welch and Sarah Cheatle. In this choice he received more Pincombe-Gray then Buller-Taylor from our mother. William Robert Pincombe having married Grace Gray (family from East Riding of Yorkshire and Cumberland) my maternal great grandparents.

North Yorkshire was 11.6% for my brother and only 3.5% for me. Our Sproxton family likely hailed from North Yorkshire (Ann Sproxton (daughter of Richard Sproxton and Ann Harland married 1753 Great Driffield) married John Cobb 1782 at Lund and they were the parents of Elizabeth Cobb who married Robert Gray 1806 at Lund and their son Robert Junior emigrated to Canada and was the father of Grace Gray. The percentage is high however and I suspect there is also Hemsley in that mix.

South England is primarily Hampshire where our father was born (Ernest Blake born 1904 at Eastleigh) and all of his Blake line mostly from Upper Clatford and all pretty much within a few kilometres of Andover going back in time although Elizabeth Lambden (Elizabeth married Isaac Farmer 1789 at Andover; Ann Farmer married John Blake also at Andover in 1823 (parents of Edward Blake my great grandfather)'s father was likely from Berkshire. For the most part though the Blake line and the families that married into Blake were from Andover or closeby. My brother inherited strongly from my paternal grandfather and that shows up strongly in his matches. He is at 11.5% and I am at 2.7% and I suspect some of mine is from the Dorset area where our great grandmother Maria Jane Knight was born (she married Edward Blake at Upper Clatford in 1870) as I have very good Knight matches.

As with myself, Lincolnshire is partly an unknown. Close to London as I get back into the 1700s there are some unknowns in my lines. My brother was 7.7% and myself at 2%. Certainly he inherited strongly from the Gray family and as I work my way back in the East Riding of Yorkshire there are lines coming in that I have not yet discovered.

Northumbria at 5.5% for my brother and 4% for me is perhaps some of our Routledge ancestry (2 of my 3x great grandparents Thomas Routledge and Elizabeth Routledge (2nd cousins) married in 1785 at Bewcastle Cumberland). There is also my Hemsley family likely from this area and 5x to 6x great grandparents.

Cumbria at 2.2% for my brother and 0% for me is very likely this Routledge family as well. Although I do have matches with our Routledge cousins and my brother does not thus far only two have tested.

South Yorkshire at 1.2% for my brother and 5.4% for me is perhaps again the Gray family who lived at Etton and places within about a 10 kilometre radius of Etton.

Not unexpected, my brother shows no Irish or Scottish. He does not have a lot of matches compared to a multitude of Irish/Scot matches for myself. Northwest England at 0% for my brother and 3.5% for myself, Southwest Scotland and Northern Ireland and 0% for my brother and 4.8% for myself, and Aberdeenshire at 0% for my brother and 2.5% all point to our possible Irish/Planter Scot ancestry. He has very few matches with people of known Irish/Scot ancestry. This is of course our unknown line. My maternal grandmother's mother was Ellen Taylor born at Birmingham and we of course share her mitochondrial DNA (H11a2a1, relatively uncommon although there are probably slightly less than one million people who share it on the planet today!) which does point to Ayrshire/Argyllshire Scotland in the Blood of the Isles Database. Matches with the colony in the Carolinas founded by the Rev William Martin and his six shiploads of colonists in 1772 was from County Antrim and a number of matches with our mitochondrial DNA are found with people who descend from this group of colonists.

Scandinavian (3.5% for myself) and Germanic (3% for my brother) are somewhat mysterious as I do not have any known ancestors born in these two areas. But I have many many Scandinavian matches (and some German). My brother has few Scandinavian but many German matches. Perhaps it is fairly ancient and has just managed to be passed down through the ages relatively intact but through whom is the question and one which I look at in depth with each new close match that is from Scandinavia or the Germanic Countries.

Very pleased with these results as well from Living DNA. Looking forward to their matching. I have also shared one set of another brother's results and one set of another sister's results for the matching. Now that I have these results I will do a write up for Living DNA as they have requested feedback.

Will of Peter Bodkin otherwise Peter Bodkin Blake, Town of Galway, Ireland - The National Archives PROB 11/1232, probated 4 May 1793

Peter Bodkin Blake’s will is below and the remainder of the files are letters that he wrote (annexed as codicils) and reading through them the only comments that prove to be interesting are the references to Sir Walter Blake (10th Baronet). These references do not add anything to my knowledge of the Blake family at Galway. I have only transcribed the original will, one codicil of six and the probate.

There are a number of Bodkin-Blake marriages in the Blake family at Galway.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 15 Feb 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/1232
Name of testator: Peter Bodkin otherwise Peter Bodkin Blake
Place: Town of Galway, Ireland now residing in England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 7 May 1787, probated 4 May 1793

[In margin] Peter Bodkin otherwise Peter Bodkin Blake

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Peter Bodkin commonly called Peter Bodkin Blake of
3    the Town of Galway in the Kingdom of Ireland but
4    now resident in England Gent do make this my last
5    Will and Testament in my own handwriting in
6    manner following that is to say Declaring that I
7    am a Protestant having duly conformed to that
8    Religion in the said Kingdom of Ireland I order
9    that my Body may be decently buried in the Parish
10    wherever I may die and as to such worldly Substance
11    as God has Pleased to bless me with I hereby dispose
12    of the same in manner following my just debts
13    and Funeral expence being first paid (that is to say) I
14    Give unto my Brother Francis Bodkin one shilling I
15    give unto William Greny Son to Thomas Greny of
16    Greginore in the County of Galway in Ireland deceased
17    my Bed and every thing else of mine which shall be
18    in my apartment in the said Town of Galway I
19    Give unto my Nephew and Niece Nicholas Brown and
20    his Sister Jane Brown one shilling each I Give unto
21    my two Nephews Ambrose Bodkin and Hyacinth Bodkin
22    of Kilbroge in the County of Galway in Ireland one
23    hundred pounds each of English money to be paid to
24    them respectively without Interest by my Executors herein
25    after named at their respective ages of twenty one
26    years but not sooner than two years next after my
27    decease and I direct that in case either of my said
28    two Nephews Ambrose and Hyacinth Bodkin shall
29    die before he shall attain the age
30    of twenty one years or sooner than two years next
31    after my decease the share of him so dying shall go
32    to the survivor of them payable also without Interest
33    at the age of twenty one years but not sooner than
34    two years next after my decease and in case both
35    my said Nephews shall die under the said age of
36    Twenty one years or sooner than two years next
37    after my decease I do give the said two several sums
38    of one hundred  and one hundred pounds unto my
39    worthy friend William Pollard of St Swithins Lane
40    London Merchant to whom I owe infinite obligations for
41    the Singular Services he has rendered to me I Give
42    unto my said Nephew Hyacinth Bodkin his heirs
43    Executors and administrators my two Leasehold houses
44    in the West Sabbt of Galway the one in the occupation of
45    Bartholomew Kelly and the other in the occupation of
46    Thomas Bursee he paying the Rent reserved by and
47    performing the covenants on the Tenant or Lessees part
48    contained in the Lease under which I hold the same
49    I Give unto Mr John Cologan of London Merchant
50    one of the Parties in trade with the said William
51    Pollard One hundred pounds Sterling to be raised and paid
52    to him within two years next after my decease and
53    I direct that the said Legacies to my Nephews Ambrose
54    and Hyacinth Bodkin and John Cologan amounting
55    together to three hundred pounds Sterling shall be
56    raised when payable by Sale of One hundred and
57    forty two pounds of the Capital Stock of the English
58    United East India Company which shall be standing in
59    my Name at my decease and the deficiency that may
60    be to make up or compleat the said sum of three hundred
61    pounds I direct that the same shall be raised out of
62    the Dividends of my said East India Stock which shall
63    become due after my decease and as to the residue of
64    the said East India Stock I direct the same shall continue
65    Standing in my Name so long as the said East India
66    Company shall exist and that the dividends to arise
67    thereby During the life of the said William Pollard
68    shall be received by him for his own use and after his
69    death the said dividends shall belong to such persons
70    as he shall by Will direct and in default of such
71    direction to his Executors or Administrators I direct that
72    the sum of three per cent Consolidated English Bank
73    Annuities which shall be standing in my name at my
74    decease shall continue standing therein during the existence
75    of the said Fund and that the dividends to arise thereby
76    during the life of my good friend Mr James Cooper the
77    other partner in trade with the said William Pollard
78    shall be received by him the said James Cooper for hi
79    own use and after his death the dividends of the said
80    Bank Annuities shall belong to such persons as he
81    shall by Will direct and in default of such direction then
82    to his Executors or Administrators I Give unto my said
83    Nephew Ambrose Bodkin his Executors and Administrators
84    a debt due from Richard Martin of Galway or Kentville
85    in the County of the Town of Galway aforesaid which
86    stand Secured by a Bond and Warrant of Attorney dated
87    respectively the Twenty second of January One thousand
88    Seven hundred and Eighty one to me for One hundred
89    and Twenty three pounds two shillings Sterling with all
90    the Interest that may be due thereon at the time of
91    my decease and as to all the residue of my Estate and
92    Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature
93    or kind soever as were real or personal I Give devise
94    and Bequeath the same unto the said William
95    Pollard his heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns
96    and to and for his and their own use and benefit
97    and in case the said John Cologan William Pollard
98    and James Cooper or any or either of them shall
99    refuse or decline to accept of any or either of the
100    Legacies and Bequests in this my Will give to
101    them as aforesaid then it is my will and desire and
102    I do hereby Give and Bequeath such of the said
103    Legacies as shall be so refused unto the Treasurer for
104    the time being of Greens Hospital to be applied by
105    him towards the support of the Seaman belonging to
106    the said Hospital and I do hereby constitute and appoint
107    the said William Pollard and James Cooper Executors of
108    this my Will and in case they shall both refuse
109    or decline the Execution of this my Will
110    then I appoint the Treasurer for the time being of
111    the said Hospital Sole Executor of this my Will
112    and revoking all former Wills by me at any time
113    heretofore made I do publish and declare this to
114    be my last Will and Testament in Witness whereof
115    I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Seventh
116    day of May One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty
117    Seven Peter Bodkin Blake Signed Sealed
118    published and Declared by the said Peter Bodkin Blake
119    the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in
120    the presence of us who in his presence at his request
121    and in the presence of each other have thereto set
122    our Names as witnesses thereto Iona Thompson
123    J[onathan] Bugg Sarah Grant
124    Messrs Cologan Pollard and Hooper Galway the 30th May 1791
125    Gentleman I received your most esteemed favour of 9th
126    July last you insist I should let you know the
127    charge on the Bill on Curly It was wrote on the
128    protest thereof 6 shillings and 6 pence Irish making 6 [shillings]
129    English money with which I debit account I am
130    heartily sorry for the death of our mutual very good
131    friend Mr John Thompson Tis well he sent you my
132    Will previous to his death I am glad you think any
133    alteration I Will by Letter make in said will is binding
134    according to Law I beg you’l open and read said Will
135    Hyacinth Bodkin ye younger Brother of Ambrose
136    Bodkin mentioned in said will died in Dublin in Sep
137    last aged about 19 years and a half owing to his folly
138    and debauching and his Mother giving him too much
139    money tho he had a very strong constitution and the
140    older Brother Ambrose Bodkin came of age the 12th
141    Feby last who has a weak constitution yet he
142    follows as debauched a life as his said Brother
143    therefore tis thought he will  not live many years
144    unfortunately he take pleasure in boasting he can
145    bear drinking 3 or 4 bottles of wine after dinner
146    which he frequently does Soon after he came of age
147    I wrote him a Letter stating how I had a demand
148    to his and formerly my deceased Fathers Estate of £500
149    pds or by my giving Credit for £200 I received from my
150    Father for my age of 17 years to my age of 21 years in small payments in
151    that there remained at least 800 pds due to me as
152    the remainder of my childs portion this letter was
153    delivered to him by my Sister in Law his Mother who
154    thought my demand just and reasonable he did not give
155    her or to me a satisfactory answer therefore he shall
156    get no Legacy by me I hereby order desire and will that
157    the two hundred pounds sterling and everything else
158    which I willed and ordered for my Nephews Ambrose
159    and Hyacinth Bodkin in my said Will be given to Mr
160    William Pollard one of the Executors to my said Will
161    or to his issue or heirs payable in like manner as I
162    had ordered and willed it to be paid to my said
163    Nephews Ambrose and Hyacinth Bodkin I beg you’l
164    not answer this Letter directed to Galway for fear your
165    Letter should be opened by mistake as I would chuse
166    to keep this affair secret I intend soon to go to
167    Dublin from where I will write in form to Mr
168    William Pollard and to Mr James Cooper Executors to
169    my said Will I now write you this alteration in my
170    said will for fear death or my accedance should
171    happen me in my journey to Dublin I have this
172    day drawn a Bill on you at 21 days sight in
173    favour of the Right honourable David Larouche and Co for
174    £57 pounds which I entreat you’l please to honor
175    being on account of one years dividends due to me
176    last Xmas on my £512 pds etc India Stock and also on
177    my £500 pds Stock in the Bank Consolidated Annuities
178    I hope the dividends continued at 8 per cent on the
179    India Stock notwithstanding the great War at present
180    in the East Indies my next Letter to you or to the
181    Executors of my last Will I hope will be soon from Dublin
182    In the Interim I am most affectionately Gentleman
183    your most obedient humble Servant Peter Bodkin Blake
184    P.S. I say the Bill I have drawn on you this Day is
185    for fifty Seven pounds Sterl: Galway the 30th May
186    1791 Peter Bodkin Blake
187    This Will was proved at London with Six
188    Codicils the Fourth day of May in the year of our Lord
189    One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety three before the
190    Worshipful John Fisher Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the
191    Right honorable Sir Willian Wynne Knight and also Doctor of
192    Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative
193    Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of
194    William Pollard and James Cooper Esquires two of the
195    Executors named in the Fourth Codicil to whom Administration
196    was Granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and
197    Credits of the deceased having been first sworn duly to
198    administer power reserved of making the like Grant to
199    John Cologan Esquire the other Executor named in the
200    fourth Codicil when he shall apply for the same

Will of Robert Blake, woollen draper and wine spirit dealer, Bristol, Gloucestershire - The National Archives PROB 11/2192/296, probated 17 Jun 1854

Robert Blake is the testator. He mentions his wife Harriet Blake and his son Joseph Hammond Blake. The baptism of Joseph Hammond Blake 16 Nov 1836 at Saint Nicholas, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England son of Robert and Harriet Blake.

On 8 Feb 1858 Joseph Hammond Blake (son of Robert Blake) married Mary Frances Holmes at St Andrew Holborn, Middlesex. On his marriage registration Joseph is listed as an architect.

Joseph H Blake (14 years) is found on the 1851 census at School in Clevendon.

In 1861 Joseph H Blake is on the census at Lee, Lewisham, London and he is a surveyor and 25 years of age born in Gloucestershire. His wife is Mary, 30 years, and she was born in Kent.

In 1871 Joseph H Blake is on the census at Lewisham, London, 34 years of age, Civil Engineer born at Gloucester and he is a civil engineer. His wife is Mary F Blake and she is 33 years of age born at Eltham.

In 1881 Joseph H Blake still at Lewisham, London, 45 years of age, no occupation, born at Gloucester, Gloucestershire and his wife Mary F, 50 years born at Eltham, Kent.

A rather interesting 1841 census for this family. At Cheltenham Road, Bristol and in the united parishes of St James and St Paul. Joseph Hammond 45, woolen draper, born in Gloucestershire; Cather Hammond 46, born in Gloucestershire, Robert Blake, 30, Spirit dealer, born in Gloucestershire, Harriet 30, born in Gloucestershire and Joseph Blake 5, born in Gloucestershire.

No ideas on the parentage of this Robert Blake. Could he be the son of Robert and Gwina Blake?

However, my cousin Thomas is reminding me that he is needing the transcription of some of the Routledge material so I need to return to working on that material for a couple of weeks or so.  I will complete to the end of the PCC Blake wills for Gloucestershire and then return to Routledge. Then I will begin to work on the wills of Bristol Diocese for Blake. There are 37 wills between the dates of 1546 and 1851. These wills will hopefully fill in some of the missing information.

The Gloucestershire Blake family has proven to be most interesting especially with the likely link back to the Blake family at Calne.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 9 May 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/2192/296
Testator:  Robert Blake, woollen draper and wine spirit dealer
Place: Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 14 Sep 1853, probated 17 Jun 1854
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Robert
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 6

1    This is the Last Will and Testament
2    of me Robert Blake of the City of Bristol Woollen Draper and Wine and
3    Spirit Dealer I will and direct that all my just debts funeral expences and the
4    charge of proving this my Will shall be fully paid and satisfied by my Executrix
5    hereinafter named I give devise and bequeath unto my dear Wife Harriet
6    Blake all my furniture plate linen and china Also I give devise and bequeath
7    unto my Wife those two houses with gardens and outbuildings belonging there-
8    unto known by the name of No 1 and 2 Gloster Villas Cheltenham Road Also I
9    give unto my Wife the stock fixtures and lease of my Woollen Warehouse No 2
10    Dolphin Street Bristol Also I give the stock of Spirits Wines and book debts of my
11    Spirit Stores No 3 Dolphin Street charging the last named stock with the sum of
12    two shillings and sixpence per week to be paid unto Mary Thomas late Servant in
13    my employ for her life I give unto my Son Joseph Hammond Blake two
14    policies on the life of James Thomas Martin Esq[ui]er for Eight hundred pounds
15    one No 2011 in the Asylum Office Exchange Bristol for the sum of Five hundred
16    and fifty pounds without participation of profits due Nov[embe]r 9th annual premium
17    £10.6.3 and the other in the Equitable Office London No 4500 for Two hundred
18    and fifty pounds with participation in profits now value Two hundred and
19    ninety three pounds 15/. Annual premium £5.18.0 due Oct[obe]r 8th I also charge
20    the Stock and Business of the Spirit Stores with those two sums of £10.6.3and £5.18.0
21    making Sixteen pounds 4/3 to be paid annually I also charge the said Stock and
22    Business with Twenty pounds per annum to be paid by quarterly instalments
23    unto my Son before named while he continue a minor I give devise and be-
24    queath unto George Willis Beebee now in my employ and if he continue to be
25    at my decease and if not unto my Son Joseph Hammond Blake a house
26    garden and outbuildings known by the name of No 2 Albert Buildings
27    Catherine Place Stokes Croft Bristol now in the occupation of Mrs Perry sub-
28    ject nevertheless to the mortgage, ground rent or other debts that may be
29    chargeable thereon I give unto my Wife All my Residuary Estate and
30    appoint my Wife Harriet Blake Trustee and Executrix of this my Will And
31    hereby revoking all former Wills to declare this to be my last Will and Testa-
32    ment In witness whereof The said Robert Blake the Testator have to this
33    set my name this fourteenth day of September One thousand eight hun-
34    dred and fifty three Robt Blake Signed and declared by the said Robert
35    Blake the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of usq
36    present at the same time who in his presence at his request and in the presence
37    of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
38    Luke Arnold Thomas Pope Arnold
39    Proved at London 17th June 1854 before the Judge by the Oath of Harriet
40    Blake Widow the Relict the sole Executrix to whom Admon was granted
41    having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer

Will of John Blake, Kings Enham, Hampshire - Family Search film 186872, catalogue A-294, number 62, probated 16 Apr 1572

John Blake of Kings Enham identifies himself as the brother of William Blake, Robert Blake and Richard Blake. The appraisers refer to him as John Blake of Knights Enham. He identifies his children as Robert the elder, Robert the younger, John, Christopher, Jone the elder and Jone the younger, Dorothy and Margaret. Dorothy is the only daughter that he mentions as being under 21 years of age. Christopher is under 18 years of age. His wife is named Alice.

This is again a will from Family Search, Film  186872, Catalogue A-294, number 62.

Charlou Dolan has defined this family of John Blake as follows:

Robert Blake the Elder born after 1551 and died before 1605
Robert Blake the Younger born after 1551 and died before 1619
John Blake born after 1551 and died before 1605
Christopher Blake born after 1556 and died before 1614
Jone Blake
Jone Blake born after 1552
Margaret Blake born after 1551
Dorothy Blake born by 1561 and died before 1633.

Robert Blake in his will of 1542

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/01/will-of-robert-blake-enham-near-andover.html

identifies his children as Robert, John the elder , William, John the younger, Richard and Thomas. Possibly this John does not mention his brothers John the younger and Thomas because they are living at Penton Mewsey on property of their own. He appears to be the first of the brothers to die. He is over 30 years of age because his father died in 1542 and he is the second eldest so at least ten years older than that. Charlou saw all of this John’s children as minors but I am not of that opinion actually. I do not think you can really say except for the two identified as being under 21 and under 18 years of age. I am curious if one of the Jone Blake entries is the wife of Richard Blake of Andover (my ancestors)

I wonder if William Blake the elder/senior is cousin to the testator (son of Nicholas Blake who left his will in 1547, William died in 1582).

Trying to put these individuals into some sort of timeline if one considers that Richard Blake is the husband of one of the Jone Blake. William (supposed grandson of Richard and son of Nicholas) died in 1582 and does not mention any grandchildren. All of his children appear to be 21 years of age in that he does not mention any guardianship. Likely he has grandchildren certainly his father Nicholas mentioned that William had children in his will of 1547 so William was at least 21 by the mid 1540s so born before his grandmother died in 1527 and his possible grandfather Richard in 1522.

Was Nicholas the oldest or was Robert? Jone mentions Nicholas first in her will and if he was the oldest (and now that I have read Paul Reeds take on the will of Richard I am no longer locked into the notion that Robert was the eldest) then Robert’s children may have been younger than their cousin William. So I am somewhat satisfied with my thoughts on this will and I am proceeding to the next will for these brothers. Thomas’s will, youngest of the children of Robert who left his will in 1542 is likely the Thomas Blake at Penton Mewsey leaving his will in 1597. That leaves Robert, William, John the younger, and Richard and the will of John the younger is perhaps the next will to be blogged. I am ambivalent as to whether the will of John at Penton Mewsey in 1593 is John the younger but Charlou Dolan has the will of John in 1587 at Knights Enham as John the younger.

I have again included the inventory as they are most interesting. I will likely be reviewing all of these wills a number of times and could find small changes to the text over time.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 21 Feb 2014
Source: Family Search Film 186872, Catalogue A-294, number 62 or Hampshire Record Office 1572A/07
Testator: John Blake
Place: Kings Enham, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 28 Mar 1572, probated 16 Apr 1572
Condition: 16th century English, legible copy

[Wrapper]: Johannis Blake de Kings Enham

1    In the name of God Amen The xxviij th daie of marche in the yeare of o[u]r Lord God 1572 I John Blake of Kings Enham
2    in the p[ar]ishe of Andov[er] w[i]thin the Countie of South[amp]t[on] being Sick in bodye but thancks be gevin unto Almightie
3    God in good and p[er]fect Remembrance doe make and ordaine this my Last will and Testament in man[ner] and fourme
4    ensuyinge First I Commit my Soule into the hands of Almightie god through Jesus Christ my Savioure
5    according to his holye woorde And my bodye to be buryed in the Churche yarde of Andov[er] to the will and pleasure of god
6    It[em] I give to the mother Churche of winchestere vj d It[em] I give to Andovere Churche iij s iiij d It[em] I give to the churche
7    of Knights Enham ij s It[em] I give to the poor people of Andover ij s It[em] I give to the vicar xij d It[em] I give to Robert Blake
8    the yo[u]nger my Sonn[e] one cowe, xx ti sheep to runn at leet, half a quart[e]r of Barley and half a quart[e]r of wheat to be
9    delyverid at michelm[a]s aft my decease It[em] I give to John my Sonn[e] one Cow, xx ti shepe, half a quart[e]r of Barley
10    and half a quart[e]r of wheat to be delyverid then also It[em] I give to Chrystover Blake my Sonn[e] one yong Cow, xx ti
11    sheep, half a quart[e]r of Barley and half a quart[e]r of wheat to be delyverid him when he is xviij ters years of age
12    It[em] to Jone Blake my daught[e]r one Cowe, xx ti sheep, one quart[e]r of wheat, one quart[e]r of Barley and four pounds
13    of currant Englishe money to be delyverid her at the daie of her maryage It[em] I give to dorythie my daughter
14    one Cow, xx ti sheip, one acre of wheat and one acre of Barley to be delyverid her when she is xxj ti yeares of
15    age, It[e]m I give to Jone my daught[e]r the yonger one bullock, xx ti sheep, one acre of wheat and one of Barley to be
16    delyverid her at the daie of her maryage It[em] I give to Margaret my daught[e]r one Cow, one bullock xx ti sheep
17    one acre of wheat and one of Barley, and my wyfe or ells my Sonn[e] Robart sen[ior] to have the use of the farme to fund
18    her, and use her honestlye, and yf they will not then I desire my overseers to appoint her to some other honest
19    man and to have the aforesaid Legacie w[i]th her to use her reasonably It[em] I give to Willm Blake my brother
20    v s It[em] my will is that yf any of my children decease before they be of Lawfull age, the same legacies
21    to be equally devidid amongst the Rest It[em] I give to each of my god Childrin iiij d It[em] I give and Bequeath
22    to Robart Blake my eldest Sonn[e] half my Carts, ij of my best horses, ij of my best kine, iiij or of my
23    best hogs xl ti sheep to runn at leate, and the p[ro]ffitt of the same yearly so th[a]t he wilbe a guyde to his
24    mother in her husbandrye and busyness and do her true service until suche tyme as he happen to marrye
25    and then to have hit and use hit as pleasithe him The rest of all my goods and Catailes moveable
26    and unmoveable not gevin nor bequethed I give and bequeath to Alice Blake my wyfe whom I make
27    and ordene my Sole Executrix to pay all my deabts and dischardge all Legacies by me so gevin
28    and bequethid And my overseers I desire to be Willm Blake thelder and Robart Blake my brother
29    I will to eache of them for their paines v s witnesses to this my last will and Testament
30    Edward Richards, Thom[a]s Haywood Willm Martin Thom[a]s Golding Willm Golding John Blake
31    p[ar]son of Knights Enham and he to have for his paynes v s It[em] mother Farnell and Thom[a]s Haiwood to have such of each iiij d
32    It[em] I doe owe unto Richard Blake my brother  x li x s vi d
33    Probatum p[er] iurium s[upra]scri[ptum] ______
34    cora[m] _____ Archici etc xvj
35    die Ap[ri]lis An[no] 1572
36    Comissaqu[e] fuit Admi[nistrato] executris
37    sup[ra]script[um]
    [Page 2]
38    An Inventorye made the viijth daie of Aprill
39    in the yeare of o[u]r Lorde god 1572 of all the goods
40    Catailes moveable or unmoveable of John Blake
41    of Knights Enham in the p[ar]ishe of Andover w[i]thin
43    the Countie of South[amp]t[on] Lately deceased in
44    the year of o[u]r Lord god aforesaid praysid by
45    Willm Blake sen[io]r Edward Thurman Roberte
46    Blake Edwarde Abbott and John Blake p[ar]son
47    Inp[ri]mis in the hall A table bowrde, A round table bourde, A fowrme, one Cubbard iiij or cusshins ij chaires, iij or platters, v potingers, iij saucers iij salt sellers, one chaphing dishe, v ca[n]delsticks one Andiron ij pothangings and the hangings about the hall one basin ij iron barres    xxix s v d   
48    It[em] in the kitchin iiij or Bras potts, iiij or bras kettills one frying pan, ij broches, one pothook    xvij s iij d   
49    It[em] in the Chamber, one fether bed ij fether bolsters, one flock bolster, iij Coverletts ij blancketts ij Testos, iiij or pair of sheets iij table clothes, iij pillowbers, ij pillows ij coats, ij pair of hosin, one dublett, iij shirts iij great chests, one cap one hatt ij coffers    lx s vj d   
50    It[em] one pair of shoes, and one pair of boots and speeres bridell and Saddill    v s   
51    It[em] iij Bedsteads one standing bedsted ij dosin of trenchers xij spoones, ij be of sever, xij dishes    xj s viij d   
52    It[em] ij sawes, iiij or rip hokes one Iron beam w[i]th other olde Iron stuff    vj s viij d   
53    It[em] in the barne by estyma[t]ion v quarters of wheat    iij li xiij s iiij d   
54    It[em] of Barley x quarters    iij li vj s viij d   
55    It[em] of Pie iij bz    iij s iiij d   
56    It[em] ij Iron bound carts    j li viij s iij d   
57    It[em] iiij or horses    l li   
58    It[em] the harness belonging to the same w[i[th wood roops and cart lynes    xxj s   
59    It[em] one Iron bar, one prong, ij bills and one ax, ij plowes, and plow gear, ij pair of plow irons others    xvij s   
60    It[em] of malt viij bz and ij bz meale    xij s   
61    It[em] iiij or barrels, iij _omells, iij pipes one a yruting vate, iiij kivers w[i]th other olde tubbes and ij bucketts    xij s vij d   
62    It[em] vij kine ij bullucks    vij li xiiij s   
63    It[em] of mothers, yewes, and teggs viij xx xvj    xx li x s viij d   
64    It[em] xij hogs great and small    xxxij s   
65    It[em] of wheat and futches xxxv acres    x li xv s   
66    It[em] of Barley, sarim  iiij or acres    xiij s iiij d   
67    It[em] iiij or calves    x s   
68    It[em] iij geese vj henns, ij cocks x ducks and malerds    viij s   
69    It[em] the woode and the ladders    xiij s iiij d   
70    It[em] in money    xx s   
71    It[em] in horse meat    xiij s iiij d   
72    It[em] one bread grate, one ladill, one busshell iij seeves, one seed leep    xx d   
73    It[em] xij acres of otes and peas in    xl s   
74    It[em] vij hogs hanging at Roust    xl s   
75    Sum total    lxxij li xj s x d   

Will of William Blake, Tailor, Trowbridge, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/1871/19, probated 5 Jan 1837

William Blake, Tailor, Trowbridge, Wiltshire is the testator. He has written his will in 1813 and it was not probated until 1837. He names his wife Jane and his children as Ann, Maria, Harriet, John, Charles and James. There is a Charles Blake, tailor at Trowbridge who leaves his will in 1802 and this will is available. It could prove to be interesting for this family – could he perhaps be the father of William Taylor, the testator?

Just at a quick glance, I did find Charles Blake tailor 41 years and born in Wiltshire at St Peter Marlborough on the 1841 census with wife Margaret 41 years, son Frederick 15 years, neither born in Wiltshire and Harriet 10, Ebenezer 6 both born in Wiltshire. Moving forward to 1851 also at St Peter Marlborough I find Charles Blake, 51 years, tailor and draper born at Trowbridge with his wife Margaret also 51 born at Newgate Kent with son Frederick 25, tailor’s apprentice and born at London, Middlesex.

On the 1871 Census I did find Margaret, head, widow, 71 years, private income and her son Ebenezer, unmarried, 36 years of age, Chemist (master) living at Marlborough Wiltshire.

The will of Charles Blake P31/1/10/285 1867 tailor at Marlborough and this will has been scanned so another future purchase likely which might provide more information on this particular family.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 1 Jan 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1871/19
Testator: William Blake, Tailor
Place: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 2 Nov 1813, probated 5 Jan 1837
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: William
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 8

1    This is the Last Will and Testament
2    of me William Blake of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts Tailor I give devise and
3    bequeath unto my Wife Jane all that my Freehold Tenement or dwellinghouse together
4    with the outhouses and appurtenances thereunto belonging situate and being near the
5    Market Place in Trowbridge aforesaid and wherein I now reside to hold to her my
6    said Wife for and during the term of her natural life she keeping the same in
7    tenantable repair and condition Also I give and bequeath unto my said Wife all
8    and singular my Personal Estate Chattels and Effects household Goods and Furniture
9    of every description debts monies and securities for money which I may die possessed
10    of To hold to her my said Wife for and during her natural life for her own sole use
11    and enjoyment subject nevertheless to the payment of my just debts funeral expences
12    and the expence of proving my said Will and seeing the same carried into effect and
13    from and immediately after the decease of my said Wife I give devise and bequeath
14    my said Freehold Tenement or dwellinghouse and premises before mentioned together
15    also with the whole of my said personal Estate and Effects as aforesaid unto my two
16    good Friends Samuel Cook of the City of Bristol and Philip Caddy of Trowbridge
17    aforesaid Grocer upon trust that they or the survivor of them or the heirs executors
18    or administrators of such survivor do and shall cause the same and every part thereof to
19    be sold either by Public Auction of Private sale for the best of most money that
20    can or may be had or gotten for the same and the money to arise therefrom (subject
21    to the payment of my just debts and funeral expences as aforesaid) do and shall
22    pay and equally divide amongst and between my daughters Ann, Maria and
23    Harriet and my Sons John Charles and James or such of them as shall be then
24    living share and share alike but in case either of my said Sons and Daughters before
25    named should happen to die before my said Wife and leaving issue of his her or
26    their body or bodies lawfully begotten then upon trust to pay and apply the share of
27    him her or them so dying unto such his her or their respective issue whether male
28    or female equally between them share and share alike and if only one such child then
29    to such only Child as they my said trustees or the survivor of them his heirs ex[ecut]ors
30    or administrators shall in their discretion think fit and proper and it is my will
31    and desire that my said trustees or either of them shall not be answerable or
32    accountable for any more of the trust monies or estate than shall actually come to
33    his own hands respectively and not the one for the other of them but each of them
34    for their own acts receipts deeds and wilful defaults only and that they shall and may
35    reimburse themselves out of the trust monies which shall respectively come to their
36    hands all such costs charges and expences as they or either of them may be put to under
37    and by virtue of the trusts hereby in them reposed And lastly I hereby nominate
38    constitute and appoint my said Wife Jane and the said Samuel Cook Executrix
39    and Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former and
40    other Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I have to this
41    my Will contained on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal the second day of
43    November one thousand eight hundred and thirteen Wm Blake
44    Signed Sealed published and declared by the said William Blake the Testator
45    as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and
46    in the presence of each other at his request have subscribed our names as Witnesses
47    thereto the word “they” having been first interlined Wm Guley Thomas Martin
48    Henry Crabb
49    Proved at London 5th January 1837 before the Judge by the Oath of Jane
50    Blake widow the Relict the surviving Executor to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted having
51    been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer

Will of James Blake, Gentleman, Preshute, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/1733/290, probated 8 Dec 1827

The will of James Blake or Preshute, Wiltshire answers a lot of questions raised by an earlier will probated in the name of Elizabeth Blake spinster of Preshute which was blogged:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/11/will-of-elizabeth-blake-spinster.html

Baptismal Records for Lambourne, Berkshire are available online from a rootsweb site (from 1560 to 1837 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pbtyc/Den/Lambrn/Index.html):

Elizabeth Blake daughter of William baptized 3 Oct 1613 of Lambourne
Henry Blake son of Henry and Elizabeth baptized Apr 14 1738
John Blake son of Henry and Elizabeth baptized 21 Oct 1739
William Blake son of Henry and Elizabeth baptized 30 Aug 1742
Mary Blake daughter of Henry and Elizabeth baptized 30 Aug 1742
William Blake son of Henry and Elizabeth baptized 19 Jan 1745/46
Elizabeth Blake daughter of Henry and Elizabeth baptized 11 Jan 1746/47 of Woodlands
Sarah Blake daughter of Henry and Elizabeth baptized 23 Jun 1751
Henry Blake son of James and Elizabeth baptized 6 Aug 1774

Lots of Elizabeth Blake entries and from the earlier will she was born in 1781 and there isn’t a baptism that fits for her at Lambourne, Berkshire.

From Find My Past James was buried 3 Aug 1827 at Preshute St George and he was 74 years of age (date of birth circa 1753). He doesn’t mention being married but could he be the father of Henry baptized 6 Aug 1774 at Lambourne? Could he be an unlisted son of Henry and Elizabeth baptizing children between 1738 and 1751 at Lambourne and baptized elsewhere?

Also from Find my past the marriage of James Blake of Hungerford yeoman and widower 2 Sep 1773 to Elizabeth Green of Wokingham a spinster with bondsman John Grasingham a vintner at Wokingham.

Find my past again lists a James Blake son of John and Elizabeth baptized at Burbage 20 Mar 1753, James Blake son of Isaac and Mary baptized 5 Apr 1752 at Warminster St Denys, James Blake son of Thomas and Elizabeth baptized at South Newton 5 Apr 1754 and James Blake son of Mr John and Mary baptized at Laverstock 18 Apr 1755. These are several other possibilities so not possible to pin this baptism down at this time. But the Lambourne records are interesting.

Names mentioned in the will:

James Blake, testator, Gentleman, Preshute
Mr Edward Francis, relation and friend, Gracechurch Street, London
Miss Elizabeth Blake, cousin, Preshute
Miss Maria Brewer, friend, Preshute
Captain David Price, tenant, Marlborough
John Spackman, retired servant, Marlborough
John Brown, executor, trustee, gentleman, Marlborough
Thelwall Maurice, executor, trustee, gentleman, Marlborough, husband of Ann Maurice
William Brown (Ruddle in the probate), executor, trustee, gentleman, BroadHinton
Mrs Ann Maurice, wife of Thelwall Maurice, Marlborough
Miss Ann Francis, relation
Mr William Francis, relation
Miss Phillippina Brewer, friend
Mr Henry Smith, Stock Farm
Mr Charles William Valentine Smith, brother of Mr Henry Smith
Martha Blissett Maurice, daughter of Thelwall and Ann Maurice
James Maurice, son of Thelwall and Ann Maurice
Elizabeth Davidson
George Madgwick Davidson, Esquire, husband of Elizabeth
Mrs Francis, Lambourne
Mr William Spicer
Mrs Mary Spicer
Mr William Edward
Mrs. Martha Edward
Mr Davison
Mrs Davison
Mr Richards
Mrs Richards
Mr Edward Francis
Mrs Edward Francis
Mr William Francis
Mrs William Francis
Mr Martin
Mrs Martin
Mrs Edward, Reading
Mr T Edward, Reading
Miss Mary Cousins
Mrs Mary Halcomb
Mrs Sarah Nalder
Mrs Mary Sanfear
Mr John Woodman
Mr John Eyre
Mr Thomas Merriman, Marlborough, solicitor
Miss Elizabeth Smith, relation
John Maurice, witness
James R White, clerk to Mr Merriman, witness
J Bullock, witness

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 10 Dec 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1733/290
Testator: James Blake, Gentleman
Place: Preshute, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 11 Jan 1826, probated 8 Dec 1827
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: James
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: Esquire
[Margin]: 57

1    This is the Last Will and Testament of me James Blake of
2    of the Parish of Preshute in the County of Wilts Gentleman first I give and devise
3    all my Freehold Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments situate at
4    Lamborne in the County of Berks unto my Relation and Friend Mr Edward
5    Francis of Gracechurch Stre[e]t London to hold to him his heirs and assigns for ever
6    I give and devise unto my Cousin Miss Elizabeth Blake and to my Friend Miss
7    Maria Brewer and to the Survivor of them all my right of holding term Estate
8    and Interest of and in the Messuage or dwellinghouse in which I now reside
9    called Plough Cottage with the Garden Meadow and appurtenances thereto belonging
10    to hold the same to them the said Elizabeth Blake and Maria Brewer for and
11    during all such Estate term and Interest as I shall be possessed of therein at the time
12    of my decease subject nevertheless to the Rents Covenants Conditions and agreements and or which I now hold or at the time of my decease I shall hold the same also I give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth
13    Blake and Maria Brewer and to the Survivor of them one annuity or clear yearly
14    Rent charge of thirty pounds to be issuing and payable out of and which I have purchased
15    upon all that Messuage or dwellinghouse with the Yards Gardens and appurtenances
16    situate in Kingsbury Street in Marlborough now in the occupation of Captain David
17    Price with all usual powers of distress and entry and perception of the Rents and profits
18    in case of nonpayment of the said annuity or any part thereof and I direct that the
19    same shall be payable to them during their joint lives to and for their joint use
20    and mutual benefit and from and after the decease of either of them I direct that the
21    same shall be paid and payable to the Survivor of them during her life to and
22    for her sole use and benefit and I direct that the said annuity shall be paid
23    and payable to the said Elizabeth Blake and Maria Brewer or to the Survivor
24    of them by the person or persons for the time being entitled to the said dwelling
25    house and premises by equal half yearly payments without any deduction or abatement
26    whatsoever with a proportional part of such half yearly payment to be paid to the
27    Executor of administrators of the Survivor of them the said Elizabeth Blake and
28    Maria Brewer up to and inclusive at the day of the decease of such Survivor provided
29    and I declare that in case the said Maria Brewer shall marry during the lifetime
30    of the said Elizabeth Blake that then all the share estate and Interest of the said Maria
31    Brewer of in and to the said dwelling house called Plough Cottage with the Meadow
32    and appurtenances and also of in and to the said annuity of thirty pounds shall
33    immediately thereupon cease and determine and the same share estate and Interest
34    of the said Maria Brewer shall thenceforth belong to and become the sole in
35    property of the said Elizabeth Blake and in case the said Maria Brewer shall
36    marry after the decease of the said Elizabeth Blake then the same shall sink
37    into and form part of my Residuary Personal Estate hereinafter disposed of I give
38    devise and bequeath unto my late Servant John Spackman the cottage or tenement
39    situate in Kingsbury Street aforesaid now in his occupation together with the use
40    of the household Goods and Furniture in the same Cottage during the term of
41    his natural life and I give and devise unto John Brown of Marlborough aforesaid
42    Gentleman Thelwall Maurice of the same place Gentleman and William
43    Brown of Broadhinton in the said County of Wilts Gentleman all and every my
44    Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments subject only to the annuity hereinbefore
45    given to the said Elizabeth Blake and Maria Brewer and the life estate of the
46    said John Spackman and all the rest residue and remainder of my real Estate
47    and Leasehold Estate whatsoever and wheresoever to hold the same unto and to
48    the use of the said John Brown Thelwall Maurice and William Brown
49    their heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the nature and
50    quality of the said several Estates upon the trusts and to and for the ends intents
51    and purposes and under and subject to the powers provisoes and declarations in
52    hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the same that is to say
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53    upon trust to permit and suffer Mrs Ann Maurice the Wife of the aforesaid Thelwall
54    Maurice to have receive and take the Rents Issues and profits thereof during the
55    term of her natural life she keeping the same in a good and sufficient state of
56    tenantable repair and from and immediately after her decease upon trust to
57    permit and suffer the said Thelwall Maurice and his assigns to have receive
58    and take the Rents issues and profits thereof to and for his own use during
59    the term of his natural life provided he shall remain single and unmarried
60    he keeping the same in a state of good and sufficient repair and from and
61    immediately after his decease or second marriage upon trust for all and every
62    or any one or more of the Children of the said Ann Maurice at such age or
63    ages time or times and in such parts shares and proportions manner and form
64    and with under and subject to such conditions charges restrictions and limitations
65    ever for the benefit of such Children some or one of them or their issue as the
66    said Mrs Maurice by her last Will and Testament in writing or such writing
67    in the nature thereof to be by her signed and published in the presence of
68    and attested by three or more credible Witnesses shall direct limit or appoint and
69    in default of such direction limitation or appointment and as far as any such
70    if incomplete shall not extend the same shall be upon trust as soon as it
71    conveniently may be after the decease of the Survivor of them the said Thelwall
72    Maurice and Ann Maurice or the second marriage of the said Thelwall Maurice as aforesaid to make Sale and absolutely dispose of all and singular my said
73    Residuary Real Estate and my said Leasehold Estate or such part or parts thereof
74    whereof no such appointment as aforesaid shall have been made either by a
75    Public Auction or private Contract for the most money and best price that
76    can be reasonably had and gotten for the same and I direct and declare that
77    my said trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the executors
78    and administrators of such Survivor do and shall in the first place deduct pay
79    and satisfy out of the monies which shall arise from such Sale or Sales the costs
80    charges or expences attending such Sale or Sales or in any manner incident
81    to the execution of the trusts hereby in them and him reposed and do and
82    shall stand possessed of and interested in the clear residue of the same monies
83    and also of and in the clear yearly proceeds rents and profits of the same my
84    hereditaments and premises until such Sale or Sales thereof shall be completed
85    upon trust for all and every or any one or more of the Children of the said
86    Ann Maurice at such age or ages time or times and in such shares and
87    proportions manner and form and with under and subject to such conditions
88    charges restrictions or limitations over for the benefit of such Children some
89    or one of them or their issue as the said Ann Maurice shall in her last
90    Will and Testament in writing or any writing purporting to be her last
91    Will and Testament in writing or any writing purporting to be her last Will
92    and Testament in writing or any writing purporting to be her last Will and
93    Testament direct or appoint and in default of such last mentioned direction
94    or appointment and as  far as any such shall not extend upon trust for all
95    and every the Children of the said Ann Maurice who either have attained or
96    shall attain the age of twenty one years and to be divided between or among
97    them in such shares as tenants in common but no Child taking under any
98    appointment to be made in pursuance of any of the powers hereinbefore given
99    to the said Ann Maurice shall be entitled to any share of the unappointed part
100    of the said trust Estate monies or premises without bringing his or her appointed
101    share into hotchpot and accounting for the same accordingly and whereas I have
102    in my possession and stand indebted to the Estate of my late relation Miss Ann
103    Francis deceased in the sum of two hundred and thirty pounds the interest
104    of which was left to me for life by her Will and on my decease the principal
105    was bequeathed between her Sisters but as no Security or memorandum may
106    be found to identify the same I think it proper to mention the circumstance
107    here and I desire my Executors to pay the said sum also I give and bequeath
108    unto the aforesaid Edward Francis the sum of five hundred pounds and beg
109    he will accept my best thanks for the many attentions he has shown me I give
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110    and bequeath unto my Relation Mr William Francis Brother of the said
111    Edward Francis the sum of five hundred pounds I give and bequeath unto my
112    Friend Miss Phillippina Brewer the sum of two hundred pounds also I give
113    and bequeath unto the aforesaid Thelwall Maurice the sum of five hundred
114    pounds and to his said Wife Ann Maurice the sum of two hundred pounds also
115    I give and bequeath unto Mr Henry Smith of Stock Farm the sum of five
116    hundred pounds and to his Brother Mr Charles William Valentine Smith the
117    sum of two hundred pounds which said several legacies I direct shall be paid
118    but without Interest within twelve Calendar months next after my decease
119    also I give and bequeath unto the aforesaid Elizabeth Blake the sum of one
120    thousand pounds and to the aforesaid Maria Brewer the sum of two hundred
121    pounds which said last mentioned legacies I direct shall be paid within six
122    Calendar months next after my decease but without Interest and free from
123    legacy duty which shall be paid by my executors out of my Personal Estate
124    also I give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Blake for her life the use of the
125    following articles of plate viz [a vit] my Silver Tea pot and Stand Tea Caddy Sugar
126    Basen Cream Ewer my best coffee pot Fish knife punch Ladle and punch
127    Stainer one pair of Gravy Spoons one dozen of Table Spoons one dozen of
128    desert Spoons two dozen or tea spoons my Soup Ladle and my four Sauce Ladles one
129    pair of Sugar Tongs and four round Salts with the spoons belonging to them
130    and after her decease I give the same unto the said Maria Brewer for her
131    life if she shall so long continue unmarried and from and immediately after
132    the decease or marriage which ever shall first happen I give the same
133    unto Martha Blissett Maurice daughter of the said Thelwall and Ann
134    Maurice absolutely all the rest and residue of my plate and Trinkets of every
135    kind I give unto the said Ann Maurice to and for her sole use and absolutely benefit
136    and I give unto the said Elizabeth Blake my poney and poney carriage
137    and harness and when such poney shall become useless from age or
138    otherwise I request that he may be killed and buried and not sold and thereupon
139    I direct my executors to purchase another fit poney for the said Elizabeth
140    Blake out of my personal Estate also I give unto James Maurice Son of the
141    said Thelwall and Ann Maurice my gold Watch with its Chain and Seals
142    Also I give unto the aforesaid Ann Maurice the Table Clock and Mahogany
143    Table and Mahogany Wardrobe in my Bed Room and the Mahogany folding
144    dressing Table now in the Bed Room of the said Elizabeth Blake I give
145    unto Elizabeth the Wife of George Madgwick Davidson Esquire my Encyclopedia
146    Britannia and I give to the said Elizabeth Blake all my Beer Wine Spirits
147    and Liquors of every description and I give to the said Elizabeth Blake for her
148    life all the remainder of my household Goods and Furniture books Linen
149    China Glass articles of Furniture implements of household and Utensils of
150    every description in and about Plough Cottage aforesaid not herein specifically
151    disposed of and from and after her decease I give the same and every part thereof
152    unto the aforesaid Maria Brewer during the term of her natural life if she
153    shall so long continue unmarried and from and immediately after her decease
154    or marriage which ever shall first happen I give the same and every part
155    thereof unto the aforesaid Ann Maurice for her sole use and benefit also I give
156    unto my Servant the aforesaid John Spackman all my Woollen Wearing apparel
157    for his own use I give unto all my domestic Servants living with me at the
158    time of my decease decent mourning and I direct my said executors to present
159    mourning Rings to the following persons viz [a vit] Mrs Francis of Lamborne
160    the said Ann Maurice Phillippina Brewer Maria Brewer Elizabeth Blake
161    Mr William and Mrs Mary Spicer Mr William and Mrs. Martha Edward
162    Mr and Mrs Davison Mr and Mrs Richards Mr and Mrs Edward Francis
163    Mr and Mrs William Francis Mr and Mrs Martin Mrs Edward of Reading
164    Mr T Edward of Reading Miss Mary Cousins Mrs Mary Halcomb Mrs
165    Sarah Nalder Mrs Mary Sanfear Mr John Woodman Mr John Eyre and
166    Mr Thomas Merriman and I request each of my said Executors to accept
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167    of a Ring also I give and bequeath unto the aforesaid John Brown Thelwall
168    Maurice and William Brown all my monies and Securities for money and all
169    the rest residue and remainder of my Goods Chattels rights credits personal Estate
170    and Testamentary estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever not hereinbefore
171    specifically disposed of upon trust that they my said trustees and the Survivors and
172    Survivor of them his executors and administrators do and at their and his discretion
173    sell and dispose of and convert into money either by public auction or private contract
174    such part or parts of my said personal Estate as shall not consist of money and
175    I will and direct that my said trustees and trustee for the time being shall stand
176    possessed of my said monies and personal Estate in trust in the first place to pay
177    and discharge thereof all my Funeral expenses and the charges of proving this my
178    Will and in the next place to pay and satisfy all such debts as shall be owing by me
179    at the time of my decease or which shall afterwards accrue due and all such costs
180    costs charges and expences as shall be occasioned by or be incidental to the trusts
181    created by this my Will and after full payment of the several matters and things
182    aforesaid and also of the legacies hereinbefore bequeathed upon further trust that
183    they my said trustees and the Survivors and Survivor of them his executors or
184    administrators do and shall set apart and appropriate thereout and lay out and
185    invest in their or his names or name in the parliamentary Stocks or public Funds
186    of Great Britain or on Real Security of Securities in England at Interest such a
187    principal sum of money as at the time of investing the same will produce by
188    the dividends Interest or annual produce thereof the clear annual sum of one
189    hundred pounds and do and shall stand possessed of the same sum so to be invested
190    as last aforesaid and of the Securities for the same In trust to pay the dividends
191    Interest and annual produce thereof as and when the same shall become due
192    and payable unto the aforesaid Elizabeth Blake and her assigns for her life and from
193    and immediately after her decease In trust to appropriate or layout and invest such a
194    competent and sufficient part of the said principal sum as will at the time of such
195    appropriation or investment produce by the dividends Interest and annual produce
196    thereof the clear annual sum of forty pounds and do and shall stand possessed thereof
197    and of the Securities for the same In trust to pay the dividends Interest and annual
198    produce thereof as and when the same shall become due and payable unto
199    the aforesaid Maria Brewer and her assigns for her life provided she shall
200    remain single and unmarried in addition to the annuity of sixty pounds
201    hereinafter given to her In trust and as to the remainder of the said principal
202    sum and the Stocks Funds and Securities for the same I direct that the same
203    shall immediately on the decease of the said Elizabeth Blake sink into and
204    form part of my Residuary personal Estate and from and immediately after the
205    decease of the Survivor of them the said Elizabeth Blake and Maria Brewer
206    or the marriage of the said Maria Brewer after the death of the said Elizabeth
207    Blake I direct that the whole of the said principal sum and the Stocks Funds
208    and Securities for the same shall sink into and form part of my residuary
209    personal Estate hereinafter disposed of and upon further trust that they my said trustees
210    and trustee do and shall set apart and appropriate and lay out and invest in
211    manner aforesaid such further sum or sums of money as at the time or respective
212    times of investing the same will produce by the dividends Interest or annual
213    produce thereof the several annuities of yearly sums next hereinafter mentioned
214    and directed to be paid thereout and do and shall stand possessed of the same
215    and of the dividends Interest and produce thereof upon the trusts following that
216    is to say In trust to pay to the aforesaid Maria Brewer  or her assigns an annuity
217    or clear yearly sum of sixty pounds during her natural life and to pay to my
218    Relative Miss Elizabeth Smith an annuity or clear yearly sum of twenty
219    pounds during her natural life which said last mentioned annuity I direct shall
220    be paid into the proper hands of the said Elizabeth Smith and that her receipt
221    alone shall be a sufficient discharge for the same and that the same shall
222    not be subject or liable to the control or intermeddling of any husband with
223    whom she may hereafter intermarry and I direct and declare that the
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224    said annuities shall be respectively paid by four equal quarterly payments on
225    the twenty five day of March the twenty fourth day of June the twenty ninth
226    day of September and the twenty fifth day of December in every year the first of
227    payment thereof respectively to be made on such of the said last mentioned days
228    as shall happen next after my decease provided always and I will and direct that
229    when and as each of the aforesaid annuities or annual sums shall determine
230    by the death of the person or persons to whom such annuities respectively are
231    made payable and all the arrears of the said annuities so determining shall have
232    been discharged up to the day of the decease of the annuitant or respective
233    annuitants then a proportionable part of the monies Stocks Funds and Securities
234    to be set apart and appropriated for the Security of the same annuities shall sink
235    into and become part of my Residuary personal Estate notwithstanding the other
236    or others of the same annuitants may be still living I do not by this my Will
237    leave any annuity to the aforesaid John Spackman as I have sufficiently
238    explained my wishes with regard to him to the aforesaid Mrs Maurice and
239    Elizabeth Price Blake and I am fully assured that such my wishes will be punctually
240    complied with by them and as to for and concerning all the rest residue and
241    remainder of my personal and Testamentary estate and effects whatsoever and
242    wheresoever not hereinbefore specifically bequeathed or disposed of upon trust that
243    they my said trustees and trustee for the time being do and shall lay out and
244    invest the same in the parliamentary Stocks or public Funds of Great Britain
245    or upon some Real Security or Securities in England and stand and be
246    possessed thereof upon and for such and the same trusts and intents and purposes
247    as are hereinafter expressed and declared or referred to touching or concerning any
248    monies which may arise from Sale of any part of my said Freehold or Leasehold
249    Estates during the lifetime of the said Ann Maurice provided always and
250    my Will is and I declare that in case my personal Estate shall prove insufficient
251    to pay and satisfy my debts and also all the pecuniary legacies and to supply a
252    sufficient Fund for paying the annuities hereinbefore by me given all my
253    legacies and annuities shall abate proportionably except the legacies and
254    annuities hereinbefore given to or provided for the said Elizabeth Blake and
255    Maria Brewer which I direct shall be paid without any deduction it being
256    my intention that my Real Estate shall in no wise be chargeable there with
257    provided also and I further declare that my said trustees and the Survivors and
258    Survivor of them and the heirs executors and administrators of such Survivor
259    during the lifetime of the said Ann Maurice with the consent and
260    approbation to be testified in writing under her hand and Seal shall and
261    may absolutely sell and dispose of and grant and convey all or any part of
262    the said Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments so devised to
263    them in trust as aforesaid to any person or persons whomsoever and either
264    by public auction or private contract for such price or prices as to her shall
265    seem reasonable free and absolutely discharged from the uses ad trusts
266    hereinbefore created concerning the same except as to the aforesaid charged
267    thirty pounds for the benefit of the said Elizabeth Blake and Maria
268    Brewer and I do hereby declare that on any Sale of the said Messuages Lands
269    Tenements and hereditaments or any part or parts thereof under any of the
270    power or authorities for that purpose contained in this my Will that the
271    receipt and receipts of them the said John Brown Thelwall Maurice and
272    William Brown or the Survivors or Survivors of them or the last executor
273    or administrators of such Survivor alone without the concurrence of any
274    other person whomsoever shall be a sufficient discharge or discharges at all
275    times to any purchaser or purchasers and that such purchaser or purchasers
276    shall not afterwards be required or liable to see to the application of or be
277    answerable for the loss misapplication or nonapplication thereof or of any part
278    thereof provided always nevertheless and I do hereby further direct that the
279    surplus of the monies which shall arrive from such Sale or Sales after payment
280    of the expences attending the same shall from time to time with all
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281    convenient speed be laid out and invested by my said Trustees or trustee at Interest in
282    the public Funds or on Real Security or Securities in England upon such and the
283    same trusts ends intents and purposes as are hereinbefore declared or expressed concerning
284    the said hereditaments which shall be so sold or as near thereto as circumstances
285    will admit of provided also and I hereby declare that the several legacies bequests
286    rights or Interests hereby given to or in trust for the said Ann Maurice are so
287    given by me and intended for her sole use and that the same shall not be
288    subject or liable to the debts control or engagements of her present or any
289    future husband but that the same shall at all times be paid into and
290    consent by her own hands or to the hands of the person or persons she may by
291    writing from time to time but not by way of anticipation appoint and I appoint
292    the aforesaid John Brown Thelwall Maurice and William Brown
293    Executors of this my Will for the purposes hereinbefore expressed and I give devise
294    and bequeath unto the said John Brown Thelwall Maurice and William
295    Brown their heirs executors administrators and assigns respectively according to
296    the nature of my estate and Interest therein all and singular the Freehold
297    and Leasehold Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments of in or to which
298    either in my own right or otherwise howsoever I am seized possessed interested
299    or in anywise entitled either as mortgagee for my own benefit or for any trust
300    stake or Interest for the benefit of any person or persons whomsoever to the
301    end and intent that they or the Survivors or Survivor of them and the heirs
302    executors administrators and assigns of such Survivor may have a complete
303    power of obtaining conveying and transferring the said Messuages Lands
304    Tenements and hereditaments respectively and may be also entitled to perform
305    the trusts upon which the same respectively are held and receive any sum
306    or sums of money which is or are or shall or may hereafter become due
307    upon the Security of the same or any part thereof provided also and I further
308    declare that in case the said John Brown Thelwall Maurice and William
309    Brown or either of them or any trustees or trustee to be appointed under this
310    present provision shall die or become unwilling or unable to act in the
311    aforesaid trusts before the same shall be fully executed and performed then
312    and as often as the same shall happen I direct the said John Brown
313    Thelwall Maurice and William Brown or such of them as shall be
314    then living or willing to act and capable of acting and after the decease
315    of the Survivor the acting trustees or trustee for the time being or the heirs
316    Executors or Administrators for the time being of the last acting trustee
317    under this my Will to nominate any fit person or persons to supply the place
318    or places of the trustee or trustees respectively so dying or becoming unwilling
319    or unable to act as aforesaid and immediately after every such appointment
320    the trust Estate monies and premises shall be assigned converted and
321    transferred to and in such manner that the same may vest in such
322    trustee or trustees jointly with the surviving or continuing trustee or
323    trustees or in such new trustee or trustees solely as the case may require
324    and I direct that such new trustee or trustees shall exercise all the powers and
325    authorities whatsoever hereinbefore contained in the same manner to all
326    intents and purposes as if he or they had been appointed a trustee or trustees by
327    this my Will and I further direct that my said trustees hereby appointed and to
328    be appointed as aforesaid and each and every of them their heirs Executors
329    administrators and assigns shall severally and respectively be charged and
330    chargeable only with such monies as they severally and respectively shall
331    actually receive by virtue of the trusts hereby in them reposed notwithstanding
332    he or they respectively shall give or sign or join in giving or signing any
333    receipt or receipts for the sake of conformity and also that any one or more
334    of the said trustees shall not be answerable or accountable for the others or
335    either of them but each and every of them only and respectively for himself
336    and themselves and his and their own acts neglects receipts and defaults and
337    that they or any of them shall not be answerable or accountable for any
338    loss misfortune or damage which may happen to my trust Estate in the
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339    execution of the aforesaid trusts or in relation thereto except the same shall
340    happen by or through his or their own wilful default respectively and than and
341    in such case such person singly be answerable for his own neglects and
342    defaults only and further that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said
343    trustees and trustee for the time being by and out of the monies which shall
344    shall come to their respective hands under the trusts of this my Will to claim
345    and reimburse unto and for themselves respectively and to allow to such other all
346    the costs charges damages and expences to which they respectively shall or may
347    suffer sustain and be put into in or about the execution of the aforesaid trusts
348    or in relation thereto In Witness whereof I the said James Blake the testator
349    have to this my last Will and Testament contained in nine sheets of
350    paper set my hand and Seal that is to say my hand to the first eight sheets
351    thereof and my hand and Seal to this ninth and last sheet hereof this eleventh
352    day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
353    twenty six Ja[me]s Blake Signed Sealed published and declared by the said
354    James Blake the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the
355    presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the sight and presence
356    of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto John
357    Maurice Mr J Marlborough Mr Merriman Marboro Gent James R White
358    Clerk to Mr Merriman
359    Whereas since the making and publishing of the foregoing Will
360    my late Servant John Spackman hath departed this life now I do hereby
361    give and bequeath unto the before mentioned Elizabeth Blake all my
362    wearing apparel both Linen and Woollen and all other kinds for her own
363    use and benefit and in all other respects I confirm my said Will In Witness
364    whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this thirteenth day of October
365    1826 Ja[me]s Blake Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said
366    James Blake as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the
367    presence of us J. Bullock Tho B Merriman both of Marlboro’ Gent[lemen]
368    Proved at London with a Codicil 8th Dec 1827 before the Judge by the
369    oaths of Thelwall Maurice and William Ruddle (in the Will written William
370    Brown) the Ex[ecut]ors to whom adm[inistrati]on was granted being first sworn by Com[missi]on
371    duly to adm[iniste]r power reserved to John Brown the other Ex[ecut]or