Will of Caleb Blake, Gentleman, Faversham, Kent - National Archives PROB 11/1850/164, probated 17 Aug 1835

The testator, Caleb Blake of Preston Street, was buried 6th August 1835 at Faversham, St Mary of Charity, Kent, and his age was entered as 64 years. The Bank of England Wills Extracts provides some detail on the disbursement of monies but no mention of Charles Cheesman.

There was a marriage for a Caleb Blake and Susanna Collier 29 Nov 1767 at Faversham. The marriage was by Licence: Caleb Blake of the Parish of St Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex a Batchelor and Susanna Collier of the Parish of Faversham a Spinster were Married in this Church by Licence (No 274) Twenty ninth day of November in the Year One thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty seven by me Richard Marsh Vicar. This Marriage was solemnized between us Caleb Blake, Susanna Collier (both signed) In the presence of Edward Smith and Robt Collier.

A quick check for trees about this family revealed that no one has published any information on this family.

A baptism was located for a Caleb Blake 10 Nov 1771 at St George Bloomsbury, Camden, Middlesex with parents Caleb Blake and Susannah Blake. There had been an earlier baptism 21 Aug 1768 for a Caleb Blake to this same couple at the same Church.

Other children baptized by Caleb Blake and Susannah Blake.

Sarah Mary Blake was baptized 1 Oct 1769 at St George Bloomsbury. She married Isaac Topping Packman 21 Feb 1790 at Faversham, Kent, England. Henry John Rush married Mary Ann Packman at Selling Kent 26 Jul 1814. Witnesses were Isaac Topping Packman, Charles Packman and Emily Packman. Mary Ann was baptized 29 Dec 1790 daughter of Isaac and Sarah Packman.

Eleanor Blake was baptized 22 May 1774 at St George Bloomsbury. She was buried 13 Dec 1776 at Faversham, Kent.

I was not able to locate any information on Charles Cheesman.

The will of Susannah Blake, mother of the testator, will be transcribed later as it is also located in Kent. She was a widow in 1828 when her will was probated.

There was a baptism for a Caleb Blake 25 Sep 1735 St George Bloomsbury son of Henry and Eleanor Blake. Interestingly enough there was a marriage for Henry Blake and Eleanor Dobson 17th Nov 1734 at Hackney, St Leonard, Shoreditch. A Henry Blake was baptized 23 Feb 1698 at St Giles, Cripplegate son of Richard and Elizabeth Blake (one notes that Caleb Blake on the marriage register for his marriage to Susanna Collier was of St Giles in the Fields, Middlesex). But there were a lot of Blake families in London in this time period.

An intense look at apprenticeships might reveal more about this family's deep roots. The London Blake families are always very very interesting. Likely this line has daughtered out as no Blake sons named for Caleb.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 8 Jul 2019
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1850/164
Testator: Caleb Blake, Gentleman
Place: Faversham, Kent
Type of Record:    Will
Date of document: 21 Jul 1828, probated 17 Aug 1835

[Margin]: Caleb Blake 40

1    This is the last Will and Testament of
2    me Caleb Blake of the Town of Faversham in the County of Kent Gentleman
3    made the twenty first day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
4    and twenty eight First, I hereby revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore
5    made and of this my last Will and Testament do constitute and appoint the
6    Reverend Henry John Rush Rector of Crowhurst in the County of Sussex Gent and
7    my friend John Payn of the Town of Faversham aforesaid Gent Merchant
8    Executors and I give and bequeath unto the said John Payn the sum of fifty
9    pounds of lawful money of Great Britain as an acknowledgement to him for his
10    trouble Also I desire that my body be interred in the new burial ground belonging
11    to the parish of Faversham that my Executors only follow me to the ground and
12    that a head foot and body stone be placed over my Grave Also I give and devise
13    all that my messuage or tenement and farm commonly called or known by the
14    Name of West Boug Farm and the several pieces or parcels of Land arable
15    Meadow pasture and Marsh thereto belonging with their and every of their
16    Rights Members and Appurtenances situate lying and being in the several
17    parcels of Boug and Murton or one of them in the said County of Kent and
18    and now in the tenure or occupation of William Ely his assigns or undertenants and
19    Also all that my messuage or tenement and farm commonly called or known
20    by the name of Fair Field and the Land and premises thereunto belonging
21    with their and every of their rights members and appurtenances situate lying
22    and being in the parish of Preston next Faversham in the said County of
23    Kent and now in the several tenures or occupations of John Chambers
24    and George Brooke Chambers their assigns or undertenants and also all that
25    my messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell with the buildings stable
26    garden and appurtenances hereunto belonging situate lying and being in the
27    Town of Faversham aforesaid on the west side of a certain Street there called
28    preston Street and also all other my real estate whatsoever and wheresoever
29    unto and to the use of my niece Mary Anne the wife of the said Henry John
30    Rush and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and
31    immediately after her decease in case the said Henry John Rush shall survive
32    her too the use of the said Henry John Rush and his assigns for and
33    during the term of his natural life for the support and maintenance of himself
34    and of all his children begotten and to be begotten on the body of my said niece
35    Mary Anne his wife and from and immediately after the decease of the
36    survivor of them the said Henry John Rush and Mary Anne his wife then
37    to the use of all and every the children and child both male and female
38    of the body of her my said Niece Mary Anne the wife of the said Henry
39    John Rush lawfully begotten and to be begotten equally to be divided between
40    them share and share alike as tenants in common and not as joint tenants
41    and of their several and respective heirs and assigns for ever Also I give and
42    bequeath all and every my household furniture plate china and linen books
43    watches jewels and trinkets unto my said niece Mary Anne the wife of the
44    said Henry John Rush to and for her own use Also I give and bequeath
45    unto the said Henry John Rush and John Payn their executors and advisors
46    the sum of one thousand pounds of lawful money of Great Britain upon trust
47    that they the said Henry John Rush and John Payn or the survivor of
48    them his executors or administrators do and shall put and place the same
49    out at interest in their or his names or name in the parliamentary stocks or
50    public funds of this Kingdom or on good mortgage securities and do and
51    shall from time to time alter and vary such stocks funds and securities as
52    they or he shall see occasion and do and shall from time to time receive
53    the dividends interest and annual products of the same sum of one thousand
54    pounds as the same shall become due and pay out apply the same for the
55    support maintenance and bringing up of my natural or reputed son Charles
56    Cheesman until he shall attain the age of twenty one years and when
57    and so soon as the said Charles Cheesman shall attain that age then do
58    and shall pay the dividends interest and annual product of so much of
59    the said sum of one thousand pounds as shall remain unapplied by value
60    of the previous hereinafter contained unto him the said Charles Cheesman by
61    equal monthly Instalments during his Life and from and after his
62    decease do and shall stand possessed of such part of the said sum of one
63    thousand pounds as shall so remain unapplied as aforesaid upon the same
64    trusts as are hereinafter declared concerning the residuum of my person[al] estate
65    provided always and I do hereby declare my Will and intention to be That
66    it shall and may be lawful to and for my said trustees or trustee at any
67    time by breaking into the said sum of one thousand pounds or the stocks
68    trusts and securities in or upon which the same shall be invested to pay and
69    apply any part thereof not exceeding the sum of One hundred pounds in
70    putting and placing out the said Charles Cheesman apprentice to any trade
71    business or employment notwithstanding he may not have attained the age
72    of twenty one years And further that when he shall have attained the age
73    of twenty one years that they my said trustees or trustee do and shall pay
74    unto him the said Charles Cheesman such further part of the said sum of
75    one thousand pounds as together with the sum that shall have been so
76    paid and applied in putting him out apprentice as aforesaid shall
77    amount to the sum of five hundred pounds and which I then give and
78    bequeath to him the said Charles Cheesman for his own use and benefit
79    Also I give and bequeath unto the Mayor Jurats and Commonalty of
80    the said Town of Faversham for the time being the capital sum of
81    six hundred pounds part of my interest or share in the joint stock of three
82    pounds per Centrum reduced bank annuities to be transferred to them
83    immediately after my decease upon trust that they the said Mayor Jurats
84    and Commonalty and their successors do and shall receive the dividends thereof
85    as they become due and pay divide and distribute one equal moiety of such
86    dividends at such times and in such manner as to them shall seem best unto
87    and equally between such of the six poor widows belonging to Mendfields
88    Almshouses in Preston Street in the said Town who shall constantly reside
89    therein and do and shall pay the remaining out equal moiety of such dividends
90    Unto the Churchwardens and Overseers of the poor of the said parish of
91    Faversham for the time being to be by them distributed among the poor of the
92    said Parish of Faversham for ever in Bread And as to all the rest and
93    Residue of my Goods Chattels ready money money in the public stocks or
94    funds or due to me on Specialities simple Contract or otherwise and all my other my
95    personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever which I do not by this
96    my Will or shall not by any testamentary dispose of specifically I give
97    and bequeath the same unto the said Henry John Rush and John Payn their
98    Executors and Administrators upon trust that they my said Executors and the
99    survivor of them his executors and administrators do and shall as soon as
100    conveniently may be after my decease sell dispose of and convert into money
101    such part of the said residuum of my said personal estate and effects as shall
102    not consist of money or securities for money and do and shall get in and
103    receive such other part thereof as shall consist of specialties debts or simple
104    Contract or that shall be otherwise due and owing to me and do and shall
105    thereby therewith and thereout pay all my just debts legacies my funeral charges
106    the costs of proving this my will and other incidental Expenses and do and
107    shall thereupon put and place the residue of the money to arise from such
108    sale and to be get in or otherwise received as aforesaid together with my
109    said ready money out at Interest in their or his names or name in the
110    parliamentary stocks or public funds of this Kingdom or on good mortgage
111    securities and do and shall from time to time alter and vary such stocks
112    funds and securities as they shall deemn expedient and do and shall from
113    time to time receive and take the dividends interest and annual proceeds of
114    all and every the said trust monies stocks funds and securities as the same
115    shall become due and pay the same into the proper hands of my said
116    niece Mary Anne the wife of the said Henry John Rush during her
117    natural Life for her own sole and separate use and benefit exclusive of
118    her present or any other taken husband and not to be subject to his debts
119    control or intermeddling for which purpose I do declare that her receipt alone
120    notwithstanding her coverture shall at all times be a sufficient discharge to my
121    said Executors for the same and from and immediately after the decease of
122    her my said niece in case the said Henry John Rush shall be then living
123    Do and shall pay the said dividends interest and annual produce of the
124    said trust monies stocks funds and securities as the same shall become due
125    unto him the said Henry John Rush during his natural life for the
126    support and maintenance of himself and of all his Children begotten and
127    to be begotten on the body of my said niece and subject to the trusts aforesaid
128    upon this further trust that they my said trustees and trustee do and shall
129    stand and be possessed of all and every the Residuum of my said personal
130    Estate and Effects and of the stocks funds and securities in or upon which
131    the same is or shall be invested To and for the only use and benefit of
132    all and every the Children and Child of her my said niece Mary Ane the
133    wife of the said Henry John Rush lawfully begotten and to be begotten
134    both male and female equally to be divided between them if more than
135    one share and share alike and if but one then wholly to that one and
136    to be paid assigned and transferred to them him or her respectively (from and
137    after the several deceases of the said Henry John Rush and Mary Anne
138    his wife) when and as they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one
139    years with benefit of accrual or survivorship in case of the death of any
140    or either of them under that age and or their respectively attaining such
141    age to become a vested and transferrable interest and the interest of their
142    respective shares to be in the meantime applied for their respective benefits and
143    in case all and every such Children and Child shall die under the said age of
144    twenty one years and without leaving any lawful Issue of either of their
145    bodies (and which Issue it is my Will and intention shall be entitled to
146    the share and shares which his her of their Father or Father’s Mother or Mothers
147    would if living be entitled to) then from and immediately after the several
148    deceases of them the said Henry John Rush and Mary Anne his wife I
149    trust that they my said trustees and trustee do and shall stand possessed of
150    and interested in all and every the Residuum of my said personal estate and
151    effects and of the stocks funds and securities in or upon which the same
152    shall be then invested To and for the only use and benefit of such person
153    and persons who shall then be the legal personal representatives of her
154    my said niece Mary Anne the wife of the said Henry John Rush of her
155    own proper blood and kindred And lastly I do hereby declare my will to be
156    that they my said Executors and Trustees and their respective executors and
157    administrators shall not be answerable for any more of the said trust
158    monies and premises or of the dividends interest or produce thereof respectively
159    than shall come to their respective hands by virtue of this my will nor for
160    involuntary losses nor the one of them for the other of them and that it
161    shall be lawful for them and each of them out of the aforesaid trust
162    monies and premises to deduct and reimburse themselves all such losses costs
163    charges and expences and a suitable and proper allowance for their journies
164    trouble absolute from home and loss of time as they or either of them shall
165    sustain expences or be put into or under by reason of the trusts hereby in
166    them reposed or in any other manner in the execution of this my Will In
167    witness thereof I the said Caleb Blake the testator have to the first four sheets of
168    this my last Will and Testament set my hand and to this fifth and last
169    sheet thereof have set my hand and affixed my seal the day the year
170    first above written Caleb Blake Signed Sealed
171    published and declared by the said Caleb Blake the testator as and for his
172    last Will and Testament (the words and to be begotten) between the first
173    and second lines of the second sheet being first interlined in the presence of us
174    who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have
175    hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses Willm Jefferys Junr Att
176    at Law Faversham Wm C Morgan Solicitor Faversham
177    Edwin Hills Clerk to Messrs Jefferys and Morgan
178    Caleb Blake The within writing contained
179    in five sheets of paper was again signed sealed published and declared by
181    the within named testator Caleb Blake as and for his last Will and
182    Testament this tenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand
183    eight hundred and thirty in the presence of us who at his request in his
184    presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names
185    as witnesses Fredk F Girand Surgeon Faversham
186    Willm Jefferys Junr Atty at Law Faversham Wm C Morgan
187    Solicitor Faversham
188    This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament
189    within written of me the within named Caleb Blake I do hereby revoke and
190    make void the legacy of one thousand pounds by my said Will given to my Executor
191    in Trust for my natural or reputed son Charles Cheesman and the proviso therein
192    contained concerning the same and in lieu and stead of such legacy I do hereby
193    give and bequeath unto him the said Charles Cheesman the sum of five hundred
194    pounds only of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to him when he
195    attains the age of twenty one years and the Interest of the said sum of five
196    hundred pounds to be in the meantime applied for and toward his support and
197    maintenance and in case he the said Charles Cheesman shall die under the said
198    age of twenty one years then the said legacy or sum of five hundred pounds shall sink
199    into and become part of the residuary of my personal Estate in and by my said Will
200    bequeathed and disposed of Also I do hereby revoke and make void the Legacy of six
201    hundred pounds three pounds per centum reduced bank annuities by my said Will given
202    and bequeathed to the Mayor Jurats and Commonalty of the Town of Faversham and
203    in lieu and stead thereof I do hereby give and bequeath unto the said Mayor Jurats
204    and Commonalty the Capital sum of two hundred pounds three pounds per centum
205    reduced bank annuities only to be transferred to them immediately after my decease
206    upon trust that they the said Mayor Jurats and Commonalty and their successors do and
207    shall waive the dividends thereof as they become due and lay out and expend the same
208    yearly and every year for ever in the Burcham of Goals and distribute the same at such
209    times and in such manner as them shall see best unto and amongst such of the
210    six poor widows belonging to Mendfields Almhouses in Preston Street in the said Town
211    of Faversham who shall constantly reside therein or otherwise do and shall lay out and
212    expend the same dividends for the benefit of the said Widows as to them the said Mayor
213    Jurats and Commonalty shall seem best Also I do hereby give and bequeath unto my
214    Housekeeper  ^original so^ Sarah Filby and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life one annuity or
215    Yearly sum of twenty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to her by two
216    Equal half yearly payments and the first of such half yearly payment to begin and
217    Be made on that day six months which shall next happen after my decease and
218    I do hereby subject and charge my personal Estate to and with the payment of the
219    Said annuity and I do hereby in all other respects ratify and confirm my said Will
220    And desire this Codicil to taken as part thereof In witness whereof I have hereunto
221    Set and affixed my hand and seal the sixth day of February in the year of our
222    Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five Caleb Blake
223    Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Caleb Blake the testator as and
224    For a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request
225    In his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names
226    As witnesses the name of “Sarah Filby” being first interlined
227    Hariot Lucy Jeritchard Wm C Morgan
228    Proved at London with a Codicil the 17th August 1835 before the Judge
229    By the oaths of The Revd Henry John Rush Glost and John Payn the Executors to
230    Whom Admon was granted they having been first sworn to wit the said Revd Henry
231    John Rush before the worshipful John Danbery doctor of Laws and Surrogate and
232    Also the said John Payn by Common duly to administer

William Dove and Jane Morgan

William Dove and Jane Morgan were the parents of Mary Dove and online records had given me a marriage for Thomas Rawlence and Mary Dove 9 Dec 1807 at Woodford, Wiltshire, England. I hesitated for ever so long to look seriously at this marriage but decided when I was writing up my 52 ancestor Challenge for my 4x great grandparents to at least write about William Dove and Jane Morgan my possible 4x great grandparents.

Enter electronic availability of Wiltshire records online at Find My Past. I had read the Woodford Parish Records and accepted the spelling of Mary's last name as Dove in the 9 Dec 1807 record of Banns for marriage with Thomas Rawlence. However Find My Past has the surname of Dear - Thomas Rawlins married Mary Dear 9 Dec 1807 at Woodford, Wiltshire, England. There isn't an original copy of the register online at this time.

As it turns out I do have a copy of this record from the Banns book:

The records on Find My Past are from the Wiltshire Parish Records Index which was created locally so I do tend to think that their knowledge of the families is greater. The surname Rawlence does leave one wondering and has left me in that state ever since I found it over ten years ago. Does the surname of Mary spell Dove or Dear - this is a different record from the actual marriage record which was used in the Find My Past Transcription.

Time will tell the correct surname of my 3x great grandmother. A few strong DNA matches with people still living in this area in England may be helpful as I inherited strongly from my Rawlings grandmother.

Jane Morgan (circa 1750s-60s - 1839?)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 37

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, Mary (unknown), Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, O'Ford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterell, Bartlett, Alderman, Shepherd, Sherwood, Elizabeth (unknown), Happerfield, Collins, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Lanham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

A true mystery woman perhaps, Jane Morgan could possibly be the Jenny Morgan baptized 21 Oct 1750 at Kingston Deverill daughter of Lazarus and Betty Morgan. This is seventeen miles from Woodford however.A name like Lazarus might have passed on one might think but this couple - William Dove and Jane Morgan married 1 Jan 1783 at St Thomas Salisbury did not have good fortune with their children with only Mary and Harry appearing to survive childhood. Plus baptisms do not always appear in the register for this family.

Also at St Martin Salisbury, Jenny Morgan daughter of Daniel and Jane was baptized 7 May 1755 (this couple lived at Salisbury, Salisbury is four miles from Woodford)). 

Moving into Dorset I found a Jenny Morgan baptized to William and Elizabeth at Pentridge 28 Oct 1753 which is just 14 miles from Woodford.

Also in Dorset at Hinton-Martell, Jane Morgan daughter of John and Elizabeth was baptized 27 Dec 1764 (Hinton-Martell is 20 miles from Woodford). 

I do not think it is possible at this time to connect Jane to her parents. Perhaps in the future I could be so lucky.

I found the burial of Jane Dove 2nd quarter 1839 at Amesbury RD. This is perhaps my 4x great grandmother. 

Ancestry of Jane Morgan:

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Ernest Edward George BLAKE (b 20 Aug 1904) - Eastleigh Hampshire England
3. Edith Bessie TAYLOR (b 1 Apr 1875) - Kimpton Hampshire England
4. Elizabeth RAWLINGS (b 19 Oct 1853) - Enford Wiltshire England
5. William RAWLINGS (b 1825) - Enford Wiltshire England
6. Mary DOVE (b c 1790) - Woodford Wiltshire England
7. Jane MORGAN

William Dove (1755 - 1829)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 36

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, Mary (unknown), Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, O'Ford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterell, Bartlett, Alderman, Shepherd, Sherwood, Elizabeth (unknown), Happerfield, Collins, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Lanham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

The Dove family was a brickwall for me for quite a while. I had found the marriage of  Thomas Rawlins/Rawlence and Mary Dove 9 Dec 1807 at Woodford but was hesitant to use it. Why did Thomas go from Enford to Woodford? But his father Jeremiah had gone from Enford to Tilshead to marry. Gradually as I had a chance to go through the parish registers for Woodford and surrounding areas I realized that there weren't any Rawlins/Rawlings/Rawlence families there and that the Thomas Rawlence marrying there was likely my Thomas Rawlins. But that brought up a new mystery why the long period before any children were born to this couple (not before 1813)?

I had an email from a descendant of a Sarah Rawlins who had been born in North America (Halifax) daughter of Thomas and Mary Rawlins (circa 1812). I have been suspicious that Thomas had been in the army during the Napoleonic Wars with his cousin George Lywood but no proof has arrived in any of the online databases thus far. I continue to hunt out that information.

Scouring the parish registers of Woodford I did find  a Robert Dove baptized 14 Apr 1793 at Woodford and buried there 6 Aug 1793 son of William and Jane Dove. Hunting around for this couple I found a marriage 1 Jan 1783 at St Thomas Salisbury, Wiltshire for William Dove and Jane Morgan. I estimated the birth of Mary Dove to be circa 1786 as the marriage with Thomas Rawlins and Mary Dove was 9 Dec 1807 at Woodford. Searching through the Woodford Registers I could not find a baptism for a Mary Dove. However, I did find a baptism for a Harry Dove 5 Jul 1789. I found a burial for another child William 21 Jul 1807 for this couple. There is also a William Dove buried at the age of 73 years 9 Sep 1829 (died 6 Sep 1829) which would give him a birth year circa 1756. He lived at Heale, Woodford at the time of his death.

I did find a baptism for William Dove 4 May 1755 son of William and Mary Dove at Woodford. I found a burial for a Mary Dove (born circa 1719) 4 Jun 1787 at Woodford.  William (father of William, likely buried 21 Apr 1779) and Mary (buried 4 Jun 1787) Dove have records for five children at Woodford:

Henry baptized 24 Nov 1751
William baptized 4 May 1755 and married to Jane Morgan 1 Jan 1783 at Salisbury
Samuel baptized 27 Mar 1757 and buried 29 Nov 1758 at Woodford
Ann buried 30 Apr 1764 at Woodford
Robert baptized 30 Apr 1763 and buried 30 Jul 1769 at Woodford

That was all that I found for the Dove family at Woodford (I have a printout of the parish registers for baptisms and burials). But I also looked at the microfilm for Woodford at Salt Lake City in 2008. At that time I also looked at the marriage register but did not find a marriage for William Dove and Jane at Woodford. There aren't any records for a Morgan family at Woodford in the set of parish registers.

I have not yet investigated Find My Past for this family. I found the burial of Jane Dove 2nd quarter 1839 at Amesbury RD. This is perhaps my 4x great grandmother. I will leave Jane for the next challenge day however as that will be her turn. There is a William Dove baptized 19 Jan 1718 at Tilshead son of Henry and Sarah Dove. Could this be the father of William baptized 1755? This William named his first son Henry.  The Tilshead is interesting as that is the location for the marriage of Jeremiah Rawlins and Sarah Tanner.

Family Search has a number of baptisms:

Henry Dove son of Henry and Sarah baptized 28 Mar 1715 at Shrewton (3 miles from Tilshead)
James Dove son of Henry and Sarah baptized 13 Jun 1716 at Tilshead
John Dove son of Henry and Sarah baptized 31 May 1717 at Tilshead
William Dove son of Henry and Sarah baptized 19 Jan 1718 at Tilshead
Thomas Dove son of Henry and Sarah baptized 27 Jun 1720 at Tilshead
Sarah Dove daughter of Henry and Sarah baptized 18 Mar 1721 at Tilshead; buried 6 Oct 1723

There is also a baptism for a Henry Dove son of Henry and Mary Dove 26 Dec 1688 at Woodford. Evidently I did not go back far enough in the parish registers in 2008!  I found a Mary Dove buried 30 Oct 1733 at Woodford and she is perhaps the mother of this Henry.

Back to Find My Past to look at Henry Dove again. There is a will for Henry Dove senior a cordwainer who lived at Hamptworth Downton and left a will probated in 1703. I shall have a look for that to see if it has been scanned (not yet available). There is a marriage for Henry Dove and Sarah Elderton in 2 May 1714 at Andover Hampshire. Could this be the Henry and Sarah at Tilshead? This marriage date fits in with the baptisms. Another marriage of interest between Henry Dove and Mary Biggs 16 Jul 1684 at Durnford (2 miles from Woodford).

Always interesting finding families that link with places and there is this Dove family going from Woodford to Tilshead and then back to Woodford (are they one and the same?). At another time I must locate the marriage registers for Woodford again and Tilshead.There is a baptism for a Henry Dove son of Henry baptized 23 Jan 1656/57 at Downton (10 miles from Woodford). This Henry married Rebecca Mowdy 28 Jul 1656 at Downton.

I started the day with William Dove baptized 4 May 1755 at Woodford Wiltshire so the results have been most interesting. Perhaps a clue that one of his children was named Harry (a nickname for Henry!) leads me back to the grandfather of William baptized 1755!

Ancestry of William Dove:

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Ernest Edward George BLAKE (b 20 Aug 1904) - Eastleigh Hampshire England
3. Edith Bessie TAYLOR (b 1 Apr 1875) - Kimpton Hampshire England
4. Elizabeth RAWLINGS (b 19 Oct 1853) - Enford Wiltshire England
5. William RAWLINGS (b 1825) - Enford Wiltshire England
6. Mary DOVE (b c 1790) - Woodford Wiltshire England
7. William DOVE (b 4 May 1755) - Woodford Wiltshire England
possibly
8. William DOVE (b 19 Jan 1718) - Tilshead Wiltshire England
9. Henry DOVE (b 26 Dec 1688) - Woodford Wiltshire England
10. Henry DOVE (b 23 Jan 1656) - Downton Wiltshire England
11. Henry DOVE

Morgan Family at Woodford, Wiltshire

The Morgan Family at Woodford may or may not be ancestral to me. Jane Morgan married William Dove 1 Jan 1783 at Saint Thomas Parish in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Their son Robert Dove was baptized at Woodford 14 Apr 1793 and buried there 6 Aug 1793. My suspicion is that Mary Dove was also their daughter but no baptism found for her. She was perhaps the Mary Dove married to Thomas Rawlins 9 Dec 1807 at Woodford. I have made no attempt to find Jane Morgan at this point in time. On the LDS website there are two possibilities one in 1755 and one in 1750.

However, I rather think I will use this Research Time to transcribe wills that we collected from Kew on our first trip there in 2010. The will I am going to transcribe I referred to in the Blog on North Molton and the Burges family there:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2011/08/north-molton-parish-registers-burges.html

I will transcribe the will on the next blog post.I will continue transcribing family wills in this time slot.

Will of Henry Buller, Bengal, East Indies - The National Archives PROB 11/1366/178, probated 3 Dec 1801

This will for Henry Buller is similar to the preceding one blogged the day before yesterday. However there was a new admon granted and the details follow. The dates are somewhat confusing and will try to sort that out. There are some subtle differences in the will and some added copy in the margin which makes this will slightly different. It is perhaps the first will written although also carries the "word" copy at the top but this has been rewritten and is not in the original hand of Henry Buller. The year of death is stated in a letter from a William John Morgan as occurring on 1 January 1800 at sea off the Cape of Good Hope.

The reason for the second probate appears in the first probate. This will was not the original official copy of the will and probate was granted on the basis of looking only at his holdings in England with the proviso that at a later date when the will became available the remainder of the will would be executed. It was somewhat confusing because both entries carry the word "Copy" at the top.

The next set of wills are from Somerset and there are eight of them:

Edward Buller, Gentleman, Nettlecombe, PROB 11/954/363, 19 Feb 1770
George Buller, Gentleman, Nether Stowey, PROB 11/1331/22, 1 Oct 1799
Jenkins Buller, Gentleman, Nether Stowey, PROB 11/1270/21, 8 Jan 1796
John Buller, Lillesdon, North Currie, PROB 11/79/212, 3 Mar 1592
Mary Buller, Spinster, Nether Stowey, PROB 11/1152/355, 31 May 1787
Sarah Buller, Widow, Hether Stowey, PROB 11/951/315, 2 Oct 1769
Thomas Buller, Gentleman, Staple Fitzpayne, PROB 11/51/16, 22 Jan 1569
William Buller, Soap Boiler, Nether Stowey, PROB 11/1137/59, 31 Jan 1786

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 6 Mar 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1366/178
Testator: Henry Buller
Place: Bengal, East Indies
Date of document: 17 Mar 1792 , probated 3 Dec 1801
Read: Electronic copy images
Document quality: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Henry
[Margin]: Buller
 [Top]: Copy

1    This is the Last Will
2    and Testament of me Henry Buller of Bengal First
3    I give and bequeath unto Henry George Buller
4    the son of Fyzunussun Formerly in my Service
5    the Sum of twenty thousand Current Rupees together
6    with my Share Subscribed for in the Tontine for
7    Five years on the Life of the said Henry George
8    Buller with the Interest dividends and proceed
9    thereof Secondly I give and bequeath unto William
10    Buller the Son of Nunny formerly my Servant the
11    Sum of Seventeen thousand Current Rupees thirdly I
12    give and bequeath unto Captain Edward Buller
13    my Brother his heirs Executors Administrators and
14    Assigns all the rest and residue of my personal and
15    Real Estate upon Condition that the said Captain
16    Edward Buller do pay therefrom Five hundred Current
17    Rupees to each of my Servants Deenoo and Jolam
18    It is my Intention that In case of the Death of
19    Henry George Buller or William Buller or of both
20    of them before they shall attain the age of seventeen
    [Page 2]
21    the Legacy or Legacies allotted to either or both of them
22    who shall die within the period above specified
23    shall go to my Brother Captain Edward Buller his
24    heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns It is
25    further my Intention that in Case of the Demise of
26    Captain Edward Buller - before this Will shall
27    take effect whatever  they  might if surviving me the
28    Testator be entitled to by it shall be equally divided
29    between his Children lawfully begotten It is my
30    anxious request that my Brother John Buller of
31    Bengal and Stephen Harris of the same will
32    take upon them the Trouble of acting as Executors
33    to this will and I do hereby accordingly hereby constitute
34    and appoint the said John Buller and Stephen
35    Harris Executors to this my last Will and
36    Testament And I request that as soon after my
37    decease as they conveniently can they will
38    by public or private sale as they shall judge most for the benefit of the Estate sell the
39    whole of  my real Estate and Goods and Chattels
40    for the Benefit of the Legatees And it is moreover
41    my earnest request that my Brother John
42    Buller will have the kindness after my demise to
43    take Henry George Buller and William Buller
44    under his particular protection and see that
45    they be properly educated and set forth unto Life
46    In Witness of the above I the said Henry
47    Buller have to this my last Will and Testament
48    set my hand and Seal this seventeenth day of
49    March in the Year of our Lord One thousand
50    seven hundred and ninety two Henry Buller
51    Signed sealed and declared by Henry Buller as
52    and for his last Will and Testament where
53    no stamp paper is to be had in the presence of
54    us who in his presence at his Request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as
55    Witnesses thereto Peter Fouchet A Seton G Foxcroft
56    In the Goods of Henry Buller Esquire deceased
57    the Seventeenth day of January 1801
58    Appeared Personally
59    Edward Buller Esquire Captain of his Majestys
60    Ship Edgar and now residing at East Stonehouse
61    in the County of Devon and made Oath that
62    On or about the twenty First day of April last
63    he received by the Post a letter from William
64    John Morgan of Cape Town in the East Indies and
65    dated Cape Town January the thirteeneth one thousand
66    and Eight Hundred wherein the said William John
67    Morgan informed him the depondent of the death
68    of his Brother Henry Buller formerly of Bengal
    [Page 3]
69    but who died at Sea near the Cape of Good Hope on the
70    first day of January One thousand and Eight
71    hundred and he further informed him that his
72    Will had been Found dated in the year One
73    thousand Seven hundred and Ninety two and
74    enclosed in the said Letter set him an attested
75    Copy of the said Will and the deponent further
76    made Oath that having viewed the paper
77    writing hereto annexed beginning "This is the
78    last Will and Testament of me" Henry Buller
79    of Bengall" and ending "In Witness whereof the
80    above I the said Henry Buller have to this
81    my last Will and Testament set my hand and
82    Seal this Seventeenth day of March in the year
83    of Our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and
84    Ninety two " and with a Notarial attestation
85    as to the authority of the same and Signed
86    by Thomas Witton as a Notary Public he
87    saith that the paper writing is the same which
88    was so Received by him enclosed in the aforesaid
89    letter and the Deponent further made Oath
90    that he verily believes that the Original Will
91    of the said deceased hath been proved by
92    the Executors or one of them in the proper
93    Court at Bengall where where the same now
94    remains and that the annexed Notarial Copy
95    of the said Will is the most authoratie Copy now
96    in England and that he is desirous of obtaining Letters
97    of Administration (with the same annexed)
98    to be Granted to him as the Residuary Legatee
99    named in the said Will for the purpose of
100    Collecting in and recovering the Effects of the
101    said deceased in this country and the Deponent
102    Lastly made Oath that John Buller the
103    Brother of the said Deceased and Stephen
104    Harris the Executors named in the aforesaid
105    Will now live and reside at Bengal aforesaid
106    as he verily believes Ed[war]d Buller Same day
107    the said Edward Buller was duly sworn
108    to the Truth of this affidavit by Virtue of the
109    Annexed Commission before me Jonathan
110    Williams Commissioner In the Presence of
111    William Foot Notary Publick
112    On the third day of December in the year of our
113    Lord one thousand Eight hundred and one adm[inistrati]on
114    with the Notarial Copy of the Will annexed of
115    all and singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of
116    Henry Buller formerly of Bengal but late of the
117    Cape of Good Hope in the East Indies Esquire
118    deceased was granted to Edward Buller the
    [Page 4]
119    Brother and Residuary Legatee named in the said
120    Will Lim[ite]d until the Original Will or a more Authoritie
121    Copy thereof should be brought into and left in
122    the Registry of the prerogative Court of Canterbury
123    but no further or otherwise having been first
124    Sworn by Commission duly to administer John
125    Buller the Brother and Stephen Harris the
126    Executors named in the said Will have been
127    first cited with the usual intimation to accept or
128    refuse the probate and Execution of the Notaries
129    Copy of the said last Will and Testament of the
130    said deceased but they not either of them in any
131    wise appeared

Will of John Blake, mariner of Stepney, Middlesex - The National Archives PROB 11/301/373, probated 4 Sep 1660

John Blake mariner probably being nursed by Elizabeth Aldridge the wife of John Aldridge also a mariner. No ideas on this John Blake and which Blake family he might belong to. Below I find the marriage in 1647 of Peeter Blake of Lymehouse mariner and Elizabeth Aleredge. This is just 13 years before this will and I am left to wonder if Peter is related to John or whether this is just a coincidence. There are actually two interesting marriage in London in this time period: John Aldridge married Elizabeth Vincent 7 Apr 1657 at Saint Margaret Westminster (M00160-1 Family Search) and John Eldridg married Elizabeth Wyvan 15 Dec 1657 at Saint Peter Pauls Wharf, London (M00137-1 Family Search). There is a John Aldridge baptized 2 Mar 1639 the son of John and Mary Aldridge at Saint Dustan, Stepney (C055760-5 Family Search).

Searching online I found the Marriage Registers for St Dunstan's Stepney and did a search for Blake edited by Thomas Colyer-Fergusson, Volume II, 1640 - 1696, Canterbury: Cross and Jackman, printers, 1899:

27 Dec 1642 George Story of Waping Smith and Elizabeth Blake, M
13 Feb 1642/43 Richard Bates of Brooke street Taylor and Mary Blake, M
18 Jan 1647/48 Peeter Blake of Lymehouse maryner and Elizabeth Aleredge, W
16 Nov 1650 John Blake of Whitehorstreet Victualler and Alice Smith of old streete, W
8 Mar 1658/59 Nicholas Harris of Shadwell Marriner and Patience Blake, M
15 Sep 1659 Peeter Nicholls of Ratcliff Marriner and Margrett Blake, M
22 Oct 1671 John Mack[intyre] of Prusans Island Waterman and Rebeka Blake, M, L.B.L.
9 Jan 1672/73 William Hardeing of Wapping Mariner and Elizabeth Blake, M
9 Nov 1675 Francis Blake of Spittlefields Mason and Magdalene Dering, M
6 Apr 1684 John Bartrum of Spittlefields Tayler and Mary Blake, S
20 May 1689 John Nicks of Wapping Bricklayer and Mary Blake of Rotherhithe in Surrey, S
20 Oct 1692 Edmund Haregate of Wapping Cordwainer and Jane Blake, W
22 Dec 1696 John Blake of St Paul Shadwell Mariner and Elizabeth Valentine of Wapping, W

I couldn't find a legend for the following letters but assume W is widow, LBL is Licence Bishop of London, S is spinster but no ideas on M yet.

The preface is interesting and I quote in part :

"In this volume the influence of the French immigration will be clearly seen by the increase of foreign names, and the growth of the parish is shown by the large number of marriages in each year.

There are numerous entries relating to the old seafaring families of Stepney, and amongst these the marriage on 23rd Feb., 1691, of Stephen Martin, the brother in law of Admiral Sir John Leake, to whom as his epitaph has it in the churchyard, "he was still more closely united by the strictest acquaintance, having been his Captain and share the same common Dangers in 20 years Wars." "

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded:  16 Nov 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/301/373
Testator: John Blake, mariner of Stepney
Place: Middlesex, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 28 Aug 1660, probated 4 Sep 1660
Read: Electronic copy images
Condition: middle English writing legible, copy clear

[Margin] T[estament] Johannis
[Margin]: Blake

1    In the name of God Amen I John Blake of
2    of Foxes Lane in the parish of Stevonheath alias Stepney in the Countie of
3    Midd[lese]x Marriner being sicke and weake of body but I thanke the Lord of per-
4    fect sense and memorie have thought it good to make frame and confirme this
5    my last will and testament in manner and forme following That is to say Im-
6    primis I commit my body to the earth out of which it had its beeing and from
7    whence through Christes death and passion and by noe other meanes or merritts
8    I have and am fully persuaded amongst the electe children of god to have a ioy-
9    full glad and glorious Resurrection my soule I commend into the hands of almigh-
10    tie god my maker and Redeemer And as touching that wages Chests clothes
11    and other estate which withall it hath pleased the Lord already to endowe mee
12    blesse mee or which at the tyme of my decease shall befound belonging due and
13    payable unto me my funerall Expences being first of all deducted and paid
14    and my debts discharged The residue thereof with every parte and parcell
15    thereof I doe fully and freely give and bequeath unto my very good friends
16    Elizabeth Aldridge the wife of John Aldridge of Foxes lane aforesaid Mar-
17    riner and to her heires and assignes for ever, And her doe I make and ordaine
18    to be the whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament In wit-
19    nes whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale dated the twentie eighth
20    daye of August Anno domini 1660 Annoqs R[egi]s Carolij secundj Angliae
21    etc decimo secundo John Blake his marke Signed sealed and delivered in
22    the presence of us John Morgan SCR Dorothie Cozar Margarett Bickly
23    her marke

Morgan family at Woodford Dorset

The Morgan family came to my attention because of the marriage of William Dove (of Woodford according to the parish register) and Jane Morgan 1 Jan 1783 at Saint Thomas, Salisbury, Wiltshire. William and Jane baptized a son Robert 14 Apr 1793 at Woodford and buried him 6 Aug 1793 also at Woodford. However, after searching the parish registers whilst at Salt Lake City I did not find any other baptisms for this family.

Mary Dove married Thomas Rawlins 9 Dec 1807 at Woodford but interestingly the priest has written the name as Rawlins in the Banns and Rawlence in the marriage registration. Since his father Jeremiah married at Tilshead I do not find it unusual that Thomas might marry at Woodford.

But I do wonder why no baptism for Mary Dove at Woodford. The priest records them both as "of Woodford" but I do not find any Rawlings in the parish other than this marriage in this time frame. There is a burial of a Mary Dove 4 June 1787 (65 years of age), a burial of a Robert Dove 30 Jul 1769, a burial of Ann daughter of William and Mary Dove 30 April 1767, a Samuel Dove was buried 29 November 1753, a Mary Dove buried 30 October 1733, a Susana Dove was buried 14 May 1717, a baptism of Robert son of William and Mary Dove 30 Apr 1764, the baptism of Samuel son of William and Mary Dove 27 March 1753, and a baptism of William son of William and Mary dove 4 May 1755.

The Dove family was at Woodford for at least the generation before William Dove married Jane Morgan in 1783 at Salisbury.Where were they from 1783 to 1793 when Robert was baptized at Woodford?

Other than sharing my finds at Woodford, I am not really solving the question as to whether this was my Thomas Rawlins at Woodford marrying Mary Dove in 1807. Definitely Thomas' wife was Mary by the baptisms of their children. I did try searching on the Chelsea Pensioner Records but did not find Thomas Rawlins there. The question is where were they from 1807 to 1823 when Jane was born at Enford (William in 1825)? Does it make sense to have this Thomas Rawlins as the husband of Mary Dove married at Woodford in 1807? If it is this Mary Dove then the likelihood of Mary being the child of William Dove and Jane Morgan is quite high given the identification of the groom as "of Woodford" in the marriage lines.

Hinxman Wills - 18 August 2009

I continued working on the Hinxman Will and have something in every line now! I started on the Inventory as well. I think perhaps it is a combination of the very poor writing and the lightness of some of the strokes that makes this particular will difficult.

I created a new Group on GenealogyWise - my Rawlin[g]s family. Over a period of 250 years the spelling changed in my line from Rawlins to Rawlings. Some lines retained the Rawlins spelling particularly in Australia. I have an interesting picture of the house of one of these Rawlins' ancestor in Wiltshire. This Rawlins family is found at Enford from 1743 on with the baptism of William 17 Nov 1743 the son of William and Mary Rawlins. They baptized six more children (5 at Enford and 1 at Netheravon). The baptism at Netheravon reads William and Mary Rawlins from Enford and it is for my ancestor (4x great grandfather Jeremiah Rawlins). I have managed to trace down 5 of these siblings and the sixth sibling (the eldest) was traced down by their descendant in Australia. She may provide the clue to where William and Mary lived. They appear to have married at Wylye 30 Sep 1741 but this is still up for debate. I spent several hours looking at the parish registers of Wylye and the parishes around Wylye long enough to determine that neither William nor Mary were of Wylye. If this is their marriage then it is William Rawlins and Mary Foord. There are Ford families at Enford but I didn't find a baptism that fits for Mary yet. I need to purchase the Enford fiche prior to the 1740s to determine that. I did have a brief look at Salt Lake City but this particular register is not overly easy to read and requires more study than I could give it at the time. I was especially interested at that time in determining if the marriage between Thomas Rawlins and Mary Dove 9 Dec 1807 at Woodford Wiltshire was my ancestor's marriage. I know that his wife was Mary and examining the registers showed that Thomas and Mary were considered to be of the parish and there were Dove families there and posible parents for Mary but her baptism was missing. William Dove and Jane Morgan had married at Saint Thomas, Salisbury, Wiltshire 1 Jan 1783 but the baptisms of their children in the Woodford register begin in 1793 with the baptism of Robert 14 Apr 1793 (he died as an infant). No further children were born to this couple at Woodford. The Dove family is found at Woodford back into the early 1700s at least.

Off to the dentist today. Our smog warning has lifted and it is very warm here today 40 degrees celsius. The dentist appointment leaves me with a tooth to cap which is fine. I would rather cap them when they are full of filling. I expect to have six caps in total and I have four already. It could be I might have one more. By flossing and cleaning in the morning and then using the new dental picks and cleaning in the evening I have managed to eliminate a lot of plaque buildup which pays its premiums when I go for a cleaning! We have a dental plan which is most helpful although I will have to pay 50% of the cap (or whatever the portion left from what the plan will pay).

We went shopping in the afternoon. I wanted to have a look at dresses for the wedding but got quickly distracted buying a new outfit for the engagement party - not too expensive actually as everything was on sale. I got a pair of slacks 25% off and a top for just $7.99 regularly $39.99. I had liked the look of them earlier but didn't want to spend $40 for something I wouldn't wear very often.

Watched the movie "Knowing" in the evening after cooking our dinner. We decided to do Kraft Dinner with deviled eggs and left over salads from our dinner yesterday. Excellent meal actually. I never liked Kraft Dinner since I was a child but have acquired a taste for it the last year or so. I think because it is an easy meal that we can just prepare in ten minutes and accompany it with a salad and hot dogs. The movie was very very interesting - scary I suppose but it had a deeper meaning which I am finding these days with a lot of the movies. The use of Biblical imagery really suited the presentation and was totally not offensive. The idea of God seeding other worlds is quite fascinating and gives some hope that our civilization could survive far into the eons. The promise of Abraham and his seed forever would thus be fulfilled. I can not think that God intended otherwise although when one looks around at the results of human habitation on the planet one wonders about the survival of the earth. Although I firmly believe that nature will eventually win and teach us how to live with the earth - something our First peoples already knew how to do before we arrived. I think being a late comer and with so few emigrant ancestors I tend to look at this differently. Having just the three Canadian born ancestors does affect one's thinking (my mother, her father and his mother) as most of my forebearers descendants are still living in England. I represent just a few transplanted lines - Routledge (and Routledge) in 1818, Gray in 1832, Pincombe (and Rew) in 1850, Buller in 1908 and Blake (and Rawlings) in 1913. The bracketed name of course represents the spouse of the ancestor who emigrated. Two came as singles - my 2x great grandfather Robert Gray from Etton and my grandmother Ellen Rosina Buller from Birmingham.

This morning I intend to continue looking at the Hinxman Will and prepare a list of items for purchase from the Hampshire Registration Office. I have several more wills that I want to acquire - Richard Blake (1522), Robert Blake (1522), Jone Blake (1528), Thomas Blake (1541) and Robert Blake (1542). These five wills (I have transcripts of two of them) may be an eye opener with regard to the name of the husband of Jone Blake who wrote her will in 1527 and was probated in 1528. She was my 13x great grandmother and the mother of Nicholas my 12x great grandfather. It still amazes me being back that far with my Blake line although published genealogies claim a connection back to the Wiltshire Blake family at Pinhills and Calne. Time will tell on that connection as I am not accepting it just because it is published. I want to see the proof for the relationship.