Will of James Blake, Yeoman, Honiton Devon - The National Archives PROB 11/1817/22, probated 8 Jun 1833

James Blake is the testator living at Honiton and he mentions his daughter Mary married to William Allen and his daughter Betsy (deceased) married to Nathaniel Bishop. [Perhaps a return to normalcy on my part as I am back to transcribing wills!]

Marriage of Mary Blake and William Allin celebrated 19 Jan 1806 at Honiton on Otter, Devon.

Marriage of Betsy Blake and Nathaniel Bishop celebrated 12 Aug 1804 at Honiton on Otter, Devon. Children of Nathaniel and Betsy named in the will: Eliza married to John Husey, Nathaniel Bishop, Margaret married to John Barrett and James Blake Bishop. Marriages found in Family Search ((Family Search M05114-1).

Eliza Bishop married John Browne Hussey 13 May 1828 at Honiton on Otter
Margaret Bishop married John Barrett 17 Jan 1832 at Honiton on Otter
Nathaniel Bishop married Matilda Bustard 3 Jul 1834 at Honiton on Otter
James Blake Bishop married Elizabeth Notley 20 Oct 1835 at Honiton on Otter

I did find an online website (sources not listed unless you register) for the Nathaniel Bishop/Betsy Blake family providing a few details. Namely: http://www.familycentral.net/index/family.cfm?ref1=6284:133&ref2=6284:134

Betsy Blake is listed as the daughter of James Blake and Isabella Kitchen. She was baptized 25 Jan 1781 at Honiton. Her grandparents were listed as William and Elizabeth Blake and James and Aquila Kitchen. The children of William and Elizabeth Blake as listed as Mary Blake (b 6 May 1750), Elizabeth Blake (b 8 Sep 1751), James Blake (b 14 Oct 1753), Thomas Michel Blake (b 2 May 1756), William Blake (b 28 May 1758), Jane Blake (b 25 May 1760 and 13 Mar 1763). The children of Nathaniel Bishop and Betsy Blake are listed as Eliza (b 21 Aug 1804 at Honiton), Nathaniel Bishop (b 15 Dec 1807 at Honiton), Margaret (b 19 Jan 1810 at Honiton) and James Blake Bishop (b 25 Mar 1811 at Honiton with his marriage to Elizabeth Notley added 20 Oct 1835 at Honiton).

This information gives a possible age for James Blake (b 14 Oct 1753) and will probated 8 Jun 1833 with his last Codicil written (2)1 May 1833 giving him a likely age of 80 years of age. William his father would have likely been born by 1730 and is possibly the William Blake who married Elizabeth Michell and is especially given that one of the children of William and Elizabeth was named Thomas Michel Blake. The marriage took place 29 Jan 1748 at Ottery Saint Mary, Devon which is only six miles southwest of Honiton. Unfortunately there aren’t any wills for William Blake at the PCC for this area of Devon nor did I find one on the Devon Genuki Consolidated Wills.

Interesting information on this Blake line at Honiton and likely Ottery Saint Mary.

Page two of the will was blurred somewhat at the top and difficult to read. Perhaps in the future I will try to read once again but for the moment the gist of the will is sufficient and no names are missing.


Chopping Knife Inn is one of the lost pubs of Devon. It was built by 1774 and then known as The Rolling Pin with the name The Chopping Knife becoming the usual name by 1843 (and obviously by 1833 as James mentions it in his will). The website for Lost Pubs Project: http://closedpubs.co.uk/devon/honiton_choppingknife.html . There is a coin depicted for this pub on the webpage which reads White (perhaps the White family were later occupying this inn).

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 9 Jul 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1817/22
Testator: James Blake
Place: Honiton, Devon, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 21 Aug 1832, probated 8 Jun 1833
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: James
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 18

1    This is the last Will and Testament of me
2    James Blake of Honiton in the County of Devon yeoman First I give and devise unto
3    Sarah the daughter of Nathaniel Bishop of Honiton aforesaid Innkeeper the sum of
4    thirty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executors hereinafter
5    named when she shall attain the age of twenty one years I give and bequeath unto my
6    daughter Mary the wife of William Allen all my household goods and Furniture now in
7    my occupation and also I give devise and bequeath unto my said daughter Mary the
8    wife of the said William Allen all that Messuage or Tenement situate in Honiton
9    aforesaid called the Chopping knife Inn with the Garden Fields and appurtenances hereto
10    belonging now in the occupation of Hannah Oak as Tenant thereof and the said Field
11    called Bakers Plot in the occupation of Benjamin Trim as Tenant thereof To hold
12    the same with the appurtenances thereto belonging immediately after my decease unto
13    my said daughter Mary her executors administrators and assigns for and during all
14    my Estate and Interest therein to and for her own use and benefit I give devise and
15    bequeath unto the said Nathaniel Bishop and Henry Hawker of Buckewell in the
16    said County Feltmonger two hundred and seventy pounds Stock now three and half per
17    cent Consols Upon Trust that they the said Nathaniel Bishop and Henry Hawker or
18    the survivor of them his executors administrators and assigns do and shall pay and apply
19    the Interest dividends and produce thereof from time to time to the same shall
20    become due and payable unto the proper hands of my said daughter Mary the wife of
21    the said William Allen for her sole and separate use for and during the term of her
22    natural life, the same to be independent of her said husband and not to be subject or liable
    [Page 2]
23    to his debts control contracts engagements and the receipt and receipts of my said daughter
24    Mary shall be good and sufficient discharge and discharge to the person and persons who
25    shall pay the same ______________________
26    do ____ such receipt or receipts as shall be _______ be received
27    provided and I do hereby declare that ______ my said daughter Mary the wife of the
28    said William Allen shall ______ after my death ____ of any Monies to put
29    herself ______ in the said sum or _____ for her wants or necessities should so
30    require the same I do hereby authorize and empower my said Trustees or the survivor
31    of them his Executors or administrators should they think it right and necessary so to be
32    and they should consider it would be for her benefit notwithstanding my said limitation
33    to her for her natural life only to sell out and dispose of all or any part of the said two
34    hundred and seventy pounds stock third and half per cent consols and to pay the same to
35    my said daughter Mary the wife of the said William Allen to and for her own use and
36    benefit and after the decease of my said daughter Mary Upon trust that the said
37    Nathaniel Bishop and Henry Hawker or the survivor of them his executors or
38    administrators shall and do stand possessed of said interests in whatever should remain
39    of the said two hundred and seventy pounds Stock three and half per cent Consols In trust
40    for all and every the children of my said daughter Mary who shall be living at the
41    time of her decease and do and shall divide and pay the same equally between them
42    share and share alike at their respective ages of twenty one years if more than one
43    and if there shall be but one Child then to such only one his or their executors
44    administrators and assigns at the age aforesaid and as to for and concerning all the
45    Residue and Remainder of my Goods Chattels and other Monies and Securities
46    for Money personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and of what nature or kind soever the
47    same may be not by me hereinbefore given and bequeathed my debts legacy and funeral
48    expences being first paid thereout and I do hereby charge the same with the payment
49    thereof I give and bequeath the same unto the said Nathaniel Bishop and Henry Hawker their
50    executors administrators and assigns upon such trusts nevertheless as hereinafter
51    mentioned expressed and declared that is to say upon trust that they the said Nathaniel
52    Bishop and Henry Hawker or the survivor of them his executors or administrators
53    do and shall after payment of the before mentioned legacy and my debts and funeral
54    expences do and shall account for and pay and apply all such Monies equally between my
55    Grandchildren Eliza the wife of John Hussey Nathaniel Bishop Margaret the wife of
56    John Barrett and James Blake Bishop the children of my late deceased daughter Betsy
57    Bishop to and for his her and their own use and benefit his her and their executors
58    administrators and assigns as soon as convenient to my said Trustees after my decease
59    provided also and my will is and I do hereby direct that my said Trustees or the survivor
60    of them his executors or administrators shall not be answerable or accountable for the
61    receipts acts disbursements or default of the other of them or for any more of the
62    trust Monies then shall come to his or their hand or hands respectively but each of them for
63    his own receipts acts disbursements and defaults only and also that they my said trustees
64    and the survivor of them his executors or administrators shall by with and out of
65    my said trust estate and effects be reimbursed satisfied and paid all costs charges damages
66    and expences which they or either of them shall or may pay bear sustain be at or
67    put into in or about the execution of the trusts hereby in them reposed or of their
68    lawful acting therein and I do hereby make nominate constitute and appoint the said
69    Nathaniel Bishop and Henry Hawker Executors of this my will hereby revoking
70    all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be my
71    last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament
72    contained in three sheets of paper to the first and second sheet thereof set my hand
73    and to the last my hand and seal this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord
74    one thousand eight hundred and thirty two James Blake Signed
75    Sealed published and declared by the said James Blake the Testator as and for and to
76    be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed
77    our names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator and of each other
78    Thos Maunder Sophia Maunder
79    This
    [Page 3]
80    This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me James Blake of
81    Honiton in the County of Devon Yeoman bearing date the twenty first day of May one
82    thousand eight hundred and thirty three and which I desire may be annexed to and
83    considered and taken as part thereof whereas I have in and by my said will given and
84    bequeathed unto Nathaniel Bishop Henry Hawker two hundred and seventy pounds
85    stock now three and half per cent consols Upon trust as therein mentioned for my daughter
86    Mary the wife of William Allen Now I do hereby revoke the said bequest as given as
87    aforesaid and instead thereof I do hereby give devise and bequeath unto the said
88    Nathaniel Bishop and Henry Hawker two hundred pounds Stock now three and half
89    per cent consols upon the same trusts to and for my said daughter Mary the wife of
90    William Allen and to and for the same purposes as declared in and by my said will
91    respecting the said sum of two hundred and seventy pounds Stock now three and half
92    per cent consols hereby by this codicil revoked and I do hereby confirm in every other
93    respect my said will In witness whereof I the said James Blake have to this Codicil
94    set my hand and seal the day and year first above written James Blake
95    Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator James Blake as and for a
96    Codicil to be annexed to this last Will and Testament and to be taken as part thereof in
97    the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in the presence
98    of the said Testator and of each other Thos Maunder Sophia Maunder
99    Proved at London with a Codicil 8th June 1833 before the Judges by the
100    oaths of Nathaniel Bishop and Henry Hawker the Executors to whom admon was
101    granted being first sworn by Commission duly to adm[inister]

Will of William Buller of Exeter - The National Archives PROB 11/1541/14, probated 1 Feb 1813

It always pleases me when I can tie wills together and this third will following the will of William Buller, Surgeon and Mary Buller, Widow both of Honiton does just that. This is William, the eldest son of William Buller and his wife Mary and within his will are references that take me back to both of these wills. By this time Ann Buller has married Robert Pearce and there are three children John Buller Pearse, Maria Pearse and Ann Pearse. He mentions Elizabeth Maynard and Janet Bradbord. A nice linking will but I, at this time, have no ideas on the parentage of William Buller. Living in the Honiton area they are both close geographically to the Buller family in Somerset and the Buller family in Exeter and other parts of Devon.

Elizabeth Buller Maynard married Thomas Colyer at Honiton in 1784 (Boyd's Marriage Index - Find my Past).

Anne Buller married Robert Pearce 4 Dec 1780 at Honiton On Otter, Devon.

William must have drifted away from his family. His father mentioned that he had been very well educated and set up in business and the results of his labour show in his benevolence towards his siblings' children. One nephew has been named and he is John Buller Pearse leaving one to wonder if John Buller (son of William and Mary) did not survive. The three daughters have married and Ann is widowed with three children John Buller Pearse, Maria Pearse and Ann Pearse, Elizabeth has perhaps died although her daughter is mentioned and has married a Thomas Colyer and they live in America, Mary Broadford/Bradford has one daughter Janet whom William also mentions. Although the link between William Buller, Surgeon is somewhat tentative, the link between Mary Buller, widow and William is proven with the mention of the married names of his sisters.

The parentage of William Buller, Surgeon is not known by me.

http://www.familydeeds.org/DT17.php is a rather interesting document that is a transfer of mortgage. The actual document may pertain to these wills but especially the date and two of the signers namely,  4 Jan 1780 and the two signers Richard Buller Surgeon of Honiton in the County of Devon and Robert Pearse also Surgeon of Honiton in the County of Devon. They are friends of one of the signers Thomas How. The document is for sale for £4.25 but the actual content doesn't actually interest me. It is just interesting to see these two names in this time period. Richard Buller was a son of William Buller Surgeon and Robert Pearse was the name of the husband of Ann Buller. 

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 10 Feb 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1541/14
Testator: William Buller
Place: Exeter, Devon, England
Date of document:  16 Sep 1811, probated 1 Feb 1813
Read: Electronic copy images
Document quality: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: William
[Margin]: Buller

      I William Buller now
1    residing in the City of Exeter do make this my Will and Testament
2   I give and bequeath unto my Sister Ann Pearse and unto
3    my Nephew John Buller Pearse and unto my esteemed
4    friend the Reverand J Douglas one thousand pounds on trust
5    that they place out the same on good security either on a
6    Mortgage of land or on Government Security as they may
7    Judge expedient and pay the interest thence ensuing to
8    my Niece Maria Pearse during her life the same to be
9    independant of the debts contract or Engagement of any
10    person whom she may hereafter marry and at her decision
11    the said principal sum of one thousand pounds to be
12    disposed of as she may or will direct I give and bequeath
13    unto my said trustees above named the farther sum of
14    one thousand pounds on trust for the use and benefit
15    of my Niece Ann Pearse to be secured and paid in like
16    manner as above directed respecting her Sister Maria
17    Pearse I give and bequeath unto my said trustees above
18    named the farther sum of one thousand pounds for
19    the use and benefit of my Niece Janet Bradford to be
20    secured and paid in like manner as above directed for my
21    other Nieces during her life but in case she should dye
22    without issue only one moiety thereof to be at her disposal
23    by will the other moiety to revert to my residuary Estate
24    I give and bequeath unto my said trustees above named
25    the farther sum of Five hundred pounds In trust for the
26    use and benefit of Ann Brott daughter of my late Niece
27    Margaret Brott to be secured and paid in like manner
28    as above directed for my Niece during her life and at
29    her decease to be disposed of as she may by will direct
30    and whereas Thomas Collier who married my
31    Niece Elizabeth Maynard and now resides in America
32    is indebted to me for his bond dated the ninth day of Feb[uar]y
33    1789 for the sum of three hundred and twenty pounds
34    I give and bequeath the said bond to my trustees above
35    named in trust for the use and benefit of his wife the s[ai]d
36    Elizabeth Collier during her life and at her decease to
37    be disposed of as she may by will direct I give and bequeath
38    to my trustees above named the farther sum of Five
39    hundred pounds in trust for the use and benefit of my
40    said Niece Elizabeth Collier in case she should return
41    to reside in England the interest thereof to be paid to
42    her during her life and at her decease the said principal
43    sum to be by her will disposed of to such child or
44    children as she may have but if she should die
45    without any surviving issue the said principal sum
46    to revert to my residuary Estate I bequeath unto my
47    Sister Ann Pearse the use of such part of my household
48    furniture as she may chuse to retain during her life and
49    the residue to be divided between her daughters Maria
50    and Ann in such time in manner and proportion as she may
51    In expedient I desire that no part of my household
52    furniture be disposed of by auction or sale and all the
53    residue of my Estate and Effects of what nature or kindsoever
54    I give and bequeath unto my Nephew John Buller
55    Pearse except such part thereof as I may otherwise dispose of
    [Page 2]
56    of by Codicil annexed to this my will and testament
57    and I hereby constitute and appoint my Sister Ann
58    Pearse and my Nephew John Buller Pearse Ex[ecut]ors
59    of this my will written with my own hand this sixteenth
60    day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand
61    Eight hundred and Eleven William Buller
62    I William Buller do make this Codicil to this my will
63    I bequeath unto my faithful servant Mary Blate one hundred
64    pounds towards purchasing an annuity for her life
64    and all the Furniture of the room on the attic story which
66    she is accustomed to occupy as her Bedchamber and
67    all such part of my wearing apparel as is suitable and
68    ten Guineas for suitable mourning
69    In the goods of William Buller deceased
70    January 27th 1813
71    Appeared personally James Townsend of
72    Honiton in the County of Devon Gentleman and
73    Thomas Maunder of the same place Gentleman
74    and made oath they knew and were well acquainted
75    with William Buller late of the City of Exeter Esquire
76    deceased for some time previous and up to the time of his
77    death and also with his manner and character of
78    handwriting and subscription having several times
79    seen him write and subscribe his name and having
80    now carefully perused the paper writing hereunto
81    annexed purporting to be and contain the last will
82    and testament with a Codicil of the said deceased the
83    said will beginning thus I William Buller now
84    residing in the City of Exeter ending thus written with
85    my own hand this sixteenth day of September in the
86    year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred
87    and Eleven and thus subscribed William Buller and
88    the said codicil beginning thus I William Buller
89    do make this Codicil ending thus and Ten Guineas
90    for suitable mourning they further made oath
91    that they verily and in their consciences believe the
92    whole series and contents as well of the said will as
93    of the said Codicil to be of the proper handwriting
94    and subscription of the said deceased Jas Townsend
95    Thos Maunder Same say the said James Townsend and
96    Thomas Maunder were duly sworn to the truth
97    hereof before me Richard Lewis Cornet
98    Proved at London on the 1st February 1813 before the Judge by
99    the oath of John Buller
100    Pearse the Nephew and one of the Executors having been first
101    sworn by Commission duly to administer power reserved
102    to Ann Pearse Widow the Sister and other Executor.
103    Proved at London with a Codicil of 8th January 1823 before
104    the Judge by the Oath of Ann Pearse Widow the Sister and
105    other Executor to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted having
106    been first sworn by Com[missi]on duly to admi[niste]r