Continuing with Early Chancery Proceedings

 I did spend yesterday reviewing all of my datasets that pertain to the Pencombe/Pincomb/Pyncomb family of North Devon to ensure that I had added in all occurrences of the surname in the Devon area and not ignoring individual Devon references that were out of the North Devon area that I do tend to concentrate on. In fact I had collected all of them. But it was a good idea to check. 

I remain with my thought which I shared with the AI that the reference to John Lord Zouch in the 1620 Visitation of Devon was primarily to say where and when their Pencombe/Pincomb/Pyncomb family line originated in Devon and attaching it to John Lord Zouch a not unusual designation given the presence of the Zouch family as Lord of the Manor in days past which was probably considered to be a recognized individual. By stating that they arrived with Lord Zouch that supported their ability to settle in this area at this time. I suspect if one thinks it is difficult to emigrate to a new place in this time period it was very difficult in 1486 I strongly suspect. It is possible that John Pencombe arriving at North Molton in 1486 had no idea that a Roger de Pencombe had lived at Bonelegh (Bondleigh) in the early 1300s or that a John de Pencomb' had been an Assessor for the 1332 Lay Subsidy of Devon for Mollond (Molland)  (this is 150 to 200 years later).  England now has a Tudor King having defeated Richard III at Bosworth Field in 1485. It was the AI that suggested (and I agree actually) that I should observe if there is a continuous line of Pencombe/Pencomb' in Devon since I did find this surname in the times mentioned above. It is good research to eliminate possibilities. Therefore I continue in these days to read through the Early Chancery Proceedings working backward from the end of the reign of Richard III. I will read forward into Henry VII but first I want to get back to the 1100s and see if there is anything that would add to the information I already have on the Pencomb family in Herefordshire mostly living at Bromyard although also Pencombe much earlier. I will have then done due diligence such as I can and feel satisfied with my result. 

The intent on my part was always to start the genealogical tree at John Pencombe in 1486 living in North Molton; however finding some of this earlier information told me that I should consider looking at this material not so much to trace the line back further but rather to clarify perhaps if this is actually the same family. We are in a time of change as the English did not have surnames when the Normans arrived in England with William the Conqueror and selection of a surname could have been duplicated by unrelated people quite readily. I do have a good chapter on the Pencombe family of Herefordshire but for completeness I should attempt to find all the information that is available to me readily. I do need to complete the latin transcription of the Inquisition Postmortem for John de Pencomb with a son Thomas born circa 1350 and Thomas appears later in other documents in the 1390s as mentioned. I do not however have a link to a John Pencombe descendant of this Thomas and arriving at Northmolton in 1486 - one notes he would likely be a grandson or great grandson of this Thomas. But it is interesting that this family uses the forenames John, Thomas, William over the time period that I have found them in Herefordshire (very common in the early Pincombe family but also common in the rest of England for sure) whereas a Roger de Pencombe is at Bonelegh (Bondleigh) Devon in the early 1300s. 

Another aspect of this yDNA study aside from the excitement gained from having five members all matching and known to be descendant of the two sons of John Pencomb (1486 arriving in Northmolton), is the Pincombe one-name Study actually includes the spellings Pincombe and Pinkham. Members of the very large American Pinkham family do not match the yDNA results of the Pincombe family which includes one of my third cousins who lives in the United States and one of my fifth cousins who lives in Australia (matches but not part of the yDNA study).  The other four members of the study that do match my third cousin are descendant of Thomas Pencombe or John Pencombe sons of John Pencombe. Indeed the two individuals who started up this study are both surnamed Pinkham and unfortunately the one member from England did not test his yDNA before he passed away. My thought on this I will share at a later date because I think the answer may well lie in Roger de Pencombe at Bonelegh (Bondleigh)  and his selection of the surname in his line was pure chance that he chose Pencombe perhaps or an ancestor did that. Dr. Richard Pinkham, the other member of the original Pincombe study lived in Gloucestershire but his work as a physician did take him into Devon where he interviewed many Pincombe members and they shared their family trees with him. I have all of that work that he did. He did not know his line fitting into the other lines in Devon/Somerset/Gloucestershire and London/Surrey where the Pincombe family still does live. 

Continuing with my reading as I hope to get through this Book 2 and into Book 1 which takes me back as far as those records exist. I will then pick up Book 3 and read forward to see if there are any records in that section. The index which I have is from 1385-1467 and has one Pencomb listed in this index so I thought I would try to locate it. It is a slow process although the scanning of the books is excellent on Internet Archive. My Pincombe family was in general from Devon for the most part but also Somerset but going back through the generations in Devon with surnames: Rowcliffe, Charley, Pearse, Manning, Harvey, Hobbs, Stanbury, Quythers, Vicary, Tapp, Blackmoore, Upcott, Thomas, Saunders, Bray, Whetstone, Snow, Burges so am taking advantage of all the Devon results as I move my way back. I am also looking at Hereford. I find that I need to just concentrate on one line though when I do something like this and the odds of having to repeat for another county; hard to tell but I am a here and now person.  

Although the idea of a combined book was discussed the main problem is the size of the Pinkham family in the United States and I am not going to do that research as an earlier book would need to be brought up to date. But the Pinkham family would definitely be a huge section of a combined book so I think it is better to do two books and I hope that over time that does happen with the Pinkham family of the United States. My Pincombe line did not arrive in Canada until 1850/51 with my ancestor's brother arriving at Genesee New York in 1835 and his descendants still live in the United States but in other areas of the United States. The other difficulty is the Pincombe family in north west Devon did use the Pinkham spelling when they moved to London some of them and also it was used in West Devon adding that complication to the mix although in general the surname tends to be spelled Pincombe these days and Pinkham is much less common than it was in the late 1700s and early 1800s in England.  There is at least one other tester in this line that came to the United States in the 1700s and is one of the matches with my cousin (his line is known and he does fit into the descendants of the North Molton line as far as can be determined (yDNA results)). 

 Woke up in the night contemplating the records that I have reviewed and still have to do. A quick walk about and back to bed. Still need another few hours of sleep before contemplating a new day. It is Sunday now and Church in the morning. 

Dear Father hear and bless thy beasts and singing birds and guard with tenderness small things that have no word. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.  

Harvey and Charley family

 I decided to type the book "The Romance of the Charley Family" since it was published in the 1930s and now out of print and copyright. It is really just for my own purpose anyway. I read the book perhaps ten years ago when I bought it from a small bookstore in Somerset online. My Charley family is illusive. The priest entering the name of Mary Charly/Charley was misread as Charlie leading me astray initially way back when I first found the marriage registration on Ancestry. I was also very new to genealogy and I knew her name was verbally Charly/Charley/Charlie because my mother knew her line back a considerable distance when I was a child having learned it from her father and other family members. My mother would actually be thrilled with everything I have found out about her family but I never knew of her interest in genealogy until I moved away with my husband to Ottawa. Then in her weekly letters she started mentioning some of the things that she was doing and there it was; the occasional trip to the Family History Library and talking about her discoveries. At the time I was not really very interested in genealogy from that perspective. It did take the advent of personal DNA testing to bring me into that fold!

I read through the foreword as I was typing the author mentioned that her great aunt Emma Charley of Blakeney, a sister to her grandfather George Charley, had a daughter who married a Harvey. That of course sent me into Find My Past and I found Emma Charley the daughter of James Charley and Emma Virgo at Blakeney Gloucestershire in the Non-Conformist Register. On the census in 1841 with her brother George three years younger. By 1841 Emma the eldest had six siblings younger than her. I found Emma's marriage to William No[a]kes at Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire December quarter 1856. Frank Charley Nokes was born Dec quarter 1859 at Bromsgrove. Rosa Clara Nokes was born Mar quarter 1864 at Bromsgrove.  Ernest William Nokes was born Jun quarter 1866 at Bromsgrove. Laura Emma Nokes was born Jun quarter 1868 at Bromsgrove. Kate Maud Nokes was born Mar quarter 1870 at Bromsgrove. 

One of these daughters married into the Harvey family. Laura Emma Nokes married Frank William Harvey Sep quarter 1892 at Bromsgrove. Most of the Charley lines in this book are tracing back to the 1840s when they arrived in Gloucestershire during the Irish Famine times and they were from Northern Ireland. 

Looking back at my Harvey and Charley families; my Harvey family was at Merton Devon where Andrew Rowcliffe married Joan Harvey 8 Jun 1720. Their son Philip married Martha Pearse 9 Apr 1760 at South Molton. Their daughter Elizabeth Rowcliffe married Robert Pincombe 7 Jun 1803 at Bishops Nympton. It was Robert Pincombe's mother Mary Charly that had married John Pincombe 8 Nov 1767 at Bishops Nympton. This Mary Charly is likely the daughter of Richard and Joan Charley born circa 1738 at Combe Martin, Devon. The Devon Charley family was in the Combe Martin area from at least 1699 on as Nutcombe Farm near Combe Martin was in their hands at that time. There does appear to have been a problem with alcohol in the family and the family suffered losses at various times due to that. The family crest that they used is similar to the one used by the then present Belfast Northern Ireland family and the belief is that they came from Belfast before 1699 to this area of North Devon. A DNA study of the Charley family would certainly be interesting. I just found it interesting to see similar names in the two families. I missed that on the first read through. Of my five siblings, the ones that have Irish in their ethnicity as tested by the various companies also have larger and more Pincombe matches than say myself where I have mostly English ancestry with some Scot, some Swedish and Northern European but the English is prominent around 70 to 80%. My Pincombe matches tend to be the smallest comparing me to my four siblings that have tested. DNA does really simplify genealogy to some extent!

Will of Robert Blake, Mariner, Barnstaple, Devon - The National Archives PROB 11/1566/154, probated 10 Mar 1815

Robert Blake, testator, was a Mariner living in Barnstape, Devon. He is perhaps the Robert Blake baptized 27 Jul 1744 at Barnstaple son of John and Susanna Blake. Although his will was duly probated and listed in the Index to Death Duty Registers, I did not find his burial.

Likely his daughter Ann Blake was baptized 6 Nov 1765 at Barnstaple daughter of Robert and Ann.
A Susanna Blake was baptized 24 Jan 1773 at Barnstaple daughter of Robert and Ann. Susanna was buried 2 Oct 1775 at Barnstaple.
Possibly his daughter Jenny (Jane) Blake was baptized 28 Jul 1776 at Barnstaple daughter of Robert and Ann.
A Susanna Blake was baptized 15 Apr 1781 at Barnstaple daughter of Robert and Ann.

A Robert Blake married Ann Dimon 23 Oct 1764 at Barnstaple. The records on Find My Past do not mention if he was a Mariner. 

Ann Blake married Charles Jordan 6 Aug 1786 at Barnstaple.
Jane Blake married Walter Gribble 11 Oct 1797 at Barnstaple.
Susanna Blake married John Pearse 13 Jan 1804 at Barnstaple.

I do not normally trace down the children of Blake unless their father was a Blake. That includes me as it turns out since my husband’s surname is Kipp.

Two sons were born to a Robert and Ann (Dimon likely in the case of John) Blake and baptized at Barnstaple:

John Dymon Blake was baptized 8 Nov 1767
George Blake was baptized 17 Dec 1768

I did not locate any burials for John Dymon Blake or George Blake.

I did not find a reasonable marriage for the possible parents of Robert Blake, John and Susanna Blake.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 4 Jan 2020
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1566/154
Testator: Robert Blake, Mariner
Place: Barnstaple, Devon
Type of Record:    Memorandum
Date of document: 27 Apr 1804, probated 10 Mar 1815

[Margin]: Robert Blake 39

1    I Robert Blake of Barnstaple in the County of
2    Devon Mariner do make my last Will and Testament in manner
3    following that is First I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jane
4    wife of Walter Gribble of Barnstaple aforesaid Mariner the Sum of
5    twenty pounds of lawful British Money Current in England to be
6    paid her by my Executrix hereinafter mentioned within one Month
7    next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter
8    Susanna Wife of John Pearse of Barnstaple aforesaid Mariner
9    the one fourth part of the Brigantine Jupiter together with the
10    one fourth part of her Stores Rigging and Stock and all my right
11    Title Property and Interest I have in the said Brigantine Jupiter
12    to be delivered to my said daughter Susanna Pearse by my Executrix
13    hereinafter mentioned immediately after my decease Item I give
14    and bequeath unto my two daughters Jane Gribble and Susanna
15    Pearse and unto my two sons in law Walter Gribble and John
16    Pearse a Suit of Mourning each to be provided by my Executrix
17    herein after mentioned immediately after my decease Item I give
18    and bequeath unto my Grandson Robert Gribble my Watch and
19    Silver Buckles to be delivered to him by my Executrix when
20    he attains his age of twenty one years or before as to her shall
21    seem meet Also I further order and direct that my Executrix do
22    maintain educate and bring up my said Grandson Robert Gribble
23    until he shall attain his age of fourteen Years and then I give and
24    bequeath my said Grandson Twenty pounds of lawful British
25    money to bind him out as an Apprentice and for finding him
26    apparel during his Apprenticeship which Sum to be paid by my
27    Executrix and she to bind him to such Master or Mistress as she
28    shall approve of Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anne
29    Jordan All that Messuage Tenement or dwelling house situate in
30    Well Street wherein I now reside and which I hold for the
31    remainder of a Term of Sixty Years by and under the Feoffees of
32    the Long Bridge of Barnstaple aforesaid to hold the same with
33    all and singular its appurts unto my said daughter Anne Jordan
34    for and during her natural life or until her second Marriage
35    and from and immediately after her decease or second Marriage
36    which shall first happen Then I give and bequeath the said
37    Messuage Tenement or dwelling house with its Appurts unto my
38    daughter Susanna Pearse during the then rest residue and the
39    remainder of the said Term of Years that may then be to come
40    and unexpired I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Anne
41    Jordan the moderate use of all my household Goods plate Bed
42    and Table linens and Furniture of every description whatsoever
43    during her natural life or until her second Marriage and from
44    and immediately after her decease or second Marriage which shall
45    first happen I give and bequeath all my said household Goods
46    and Furniture Plate Bed and Table Linen as aforesaid unto my
47    two daughters Jane Gribble and Susanna Pearse equally between
48    them share and share alike Item I give and bequeath unto John
49    Dennis of Barnstaple aforesaid Ironmonger and John Baker of
50    the same place Tanner and to the Survivor of them and to the
51    Executors Admors and Assigns of such Survivor All such Sum
52    and Sums of Money as I now or may hereafter have laid out placed
53    or vested in the Stocks Funds or upon Government Security or
54    Securitys and all and every or any which Stock Funds or Government
55    Security or Securities shall and may be from time to time or at any
56    time by and with the Consent and Approbation of my daughter
57    Anne Jordan alter or transferred assigned and disposed of and the
58    monies thereby arriving again invested and placed out upon new
59    or other Security or Securities Stocks Funds or Government Security
60    or Securities as to them the said John Dennis and John Baker or
61    the Survivor of them or the Exors Admors and Assigns of such Survivor
62    shall seem meet (by and with the Consent and Approbation of
63    my daughter Anne Jordan during her natural life or until her second
64    marriage that is that they the said John Dennis and John Baker
65    and the Survivor of them and the Exors Admors and Assigns of such
66    survivor do and shall from and immediately after my decease during
67    the natural Life of my daughter Anne Jordan or until her second
68    marriage which shall fir happen pay all the dividends Interest
69    and annual produce of all such Sum or Sums of Money as shall
70    or may be invested or placed in the Stocks Funds or on Government
71    Security or Securities (as the same shall become due) into the hands
72    of my said daughter Anne Jordan or into the hands of such person
73    or persons as she shall by any Note in Writing to be by her signed
74    with her own hand from time to time direct and appoint and from
75    and immediately after the decease or second Marriage of my daughter
76    Anne Jordan which shall first happen Then and as for and concerning
77    all such Sum or Sums of Money as placed or invested in the Stocks
78    Funds or on Government Security or Securities as aforesaid shall or
79    may be invested or placed And also all such dividends or annual
80    produce as shall happen to be then due and owing In Trust for
81    One Moiety or half of all such dividends and annual produce of
82    all such Sum and Sums of Money be invested or placed as aforesaid
83    for my daughter Jane wife of Walter Gribble during her natural life
84    and from and immediately after her decease In Trust that they the
85    said John Dennis and John Baker and the Survivor of them and the
86    Exors Admors and Assigns of such Survivor shall and do from and
87    immediately after the decease of my daughter Jane Gribble pay assign
88    transfer and make over the Moiety or one half of all such capital
89    Stock Funds or Government Security or Securities wherein or upon
90    which the same shall or may be invested or placed together with all
91    such dividends or annual produce as may then happen to be due
92    after the decease of my daughter Jane Gribble to all and every of her
93    Children then living equally between them share and share alike but
94    if one Child only shall be then living then to such only Child and to
95    his or her Exors Admors or Assigns but if one or more of my daughter
96    Jane Gribble’s Children shall die before my daughter Jane Gribble
97    leaving Issue lawfully begotten then the Issue of such her Child or
98    Children so dying to be entitled to the Share or Share of his her or
99    their parent or parents so dying as aforesaid and from and immediately
100    after the decease or second Marriage of my daughter Anne Jordan
101    which shall first happen Then as for and concerning the other Moiety
102    or one half of the dividends or annual produce of such Sum and
103    Sums so invested or placed in the Funds Stocks or upon Government
104    Security or Securities as aforesaid In Trust that they the said John
105    Dennis and John Baker and the Survivor them and the Exors
106    Admors and Assigns of such Survivor do and shall from thenceforth
107    during the natural Life of my daughter Susanna Pearse pay the other
108    Moiety or one half of all such dividends or annual produce thereof
109    (as the same shall become due) into the hands of my daughter
110    Susanna Pearse during her natural life and from and immediately
111    after her decease In Trust that they the said John Dennis and John
112    Baker and the Survivor of them and the Exors Admors and Assigns
113    of such Survivor shall from and immediately after the decease of my
114    said daughter Susanna Pearse pay assign transfer and make over the
115    other Moiety or one half of all such Capital Stocks Funds or Government
116    Security and Securities wherein or upon which the same shall or may
117    be invested or placed together with all such dividends or annual
118    produce as may then happen to be due after the death of my said
119    daughter Susanna Pearse to all and every of her Children then living
120    equally between them share and share alike but if one Child only
121    shall be then living then to such only Child and to his or her Exors
122    Admors or Assigns But if one of more of my daughter Susanna
123    Pearse’s children shall die before his her or their Mother leaving Issue
124    lawfully begotten then the Issue of her Child or Children so dying to be entitled to the share or shares of his her or their parent or parents so dying as
125    aforesaid But if either of my Children Jane Gribble or Susanna Pearse
126    shall die without Issue lawfully begotten Then In Trust that they the said
127    John Dennis and John Baker and the Survivor of them and the Exors
128    Admors and Assigns of such Survivor shall from and immediately after
129    the decease of either of them so dying without Issue pay assign
130    transfer and make over such the Moiety of her as dying without Issue
131    of all such Capital Stock Funds or Government Security or Securities as
132    aforesaid together with all such dividends or annual produce as may
133    then happen to be due to all and every of the Children of the Survivor
134    of them then living equally between them share and share alike if
135    but one Child then living then to such only Child and to his or her
136    Exors Admors and Assigns Item all the rest residue and remainder
137    of my Good Chattels personal and testamentary Estate and Effects
138    whatsoever and wheresoever and of what kind or Sort soever after the
139    payment of my just debts Legacies and Funeral Expences) I give and
140    bequeath the same and every part and parcel thereof unto my daughter
141    Anne Jordan and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my
142    said daughter Anne Jordan whole and sole Executrix of this my last
143    Will and Testament But in case my said daughter Anne Jordan shall
144    marry or intermarry again after my decease then from and immediately
145    on such second Marriage taking place or effect I then nominate constitute and
146    appoint my two daughters Jane Gribble and Susanna Pearse joint and
147    Sole Executrixes of this my last Will and Testament immediately on
148    such second marriage and I hereby revoke and make void all former
149    and other Will and Wills by me at any time or times heretofore made
150    and Lastly I hereby declare that they the said John Dennis and John
151    Baker or either of them or their or either of their Exors Admors or
152    assigns shall not be charged with or accountable for any more Monies
153    Estate or Effects than he or they shall respectively receive by Virtue of
154    this my Will nor the one of them for the other nor for the acts deeds
155    receipts defaults or disbursement for one for the other but each of
156    them for his own Acts deeds receipts defaults or disbursements
157    and that it shall be lawful to and for each of them my Trustees
158    and the Survivor of them and the Exors Admors and Assigns of such
159    survivor in the first place by and out of the Trust Estate to deduct
160    and reimburse him and themselves all such loss Costs Charges and
161    Expences as they or either of them shall sustain expend or be
162    put at for or by reason of the Trust hereby in them reposed or
163    in the management thereof In Witness whereof I the said Robert
164    Blake the Testator to this my last Will and Testament contained
165    in this and the three preceding Sheets of paper have set my hand
166    and my hand and Seal to this last Sheet the twenty seventh day
167    of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
168    and four Robert Blake Signed sealed published and
169    declared by the said Robert Blake the Testator as and for his
170    Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto
171    subscribed our Names as Witness in his presence and at his request
172    and in the presence of each other Samuel Lee W Westelley
173    Whereas I Robert Blake of Barnstaple in the County of
174    Devon Mariner ave made my last Will and Testament in writing
175    bearing date the twenty seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one
176    thousand eight hundred and four Now by this Codicil to my said
177    Last Will and Testament I do give and devise all that my Messuage
178    or dwellinghouse with the outhouses Curtilage and Garden and other
179    appurts thereunto belonging situate lying and being in Barnstaple
181    aforesaid in a certain Street there called Silver Street and now in the
182    several occupations of William Watts and John Pearse (and which
183    I lately purchased of Mr John Hodge) unto my daughter Ann
184    Jordan *in my said will named and unto her heirs and assigns for
185    ever and I hereby ratify and confirm my said Will and all the Gifts
186    Devises Bequests Matter and Things therein contained (whereby
187    altered) And I do hereby decare this Writing to be a Codicil to my
188    said Will and direct it to be accepted and taken as part thereof as
189    fully as if the same had been actually inserted therein and also
190    direct it to be annexed thereto In Witness whereof I the said
191    Robert Blake have to this Codicil to my said last Will and Testament
192    set my hand and Seal this fifth day of March in the Year of
193    our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven Robert Blake
194    Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Robert
195    Blake as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the
196    presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our Names as
197    Witnesses thereto in his presence at his request in the presence of each other Robert Westacott
198    Robert Yeo John Foller
199    Whereas I Robert Blake of Barnstaple in the County
200    of Devon Mariner have made and duly executed my last Will
201    and Testament in writing bearing the twenty seventh day of April
202    in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four and
203    have also made and duly executed a Codicil annexed thereunto bearing
204    date the fifth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand
205    eight hundred and seven and whereas by my said Will I have
206    given and bequeathed unto my daughter Jane the then Wife but
207    now Widow of Walter Gribble of Barnstaple aforesaid Mariner
208    the Sum of twenty pounds to be paid her by my Executrix thereinafter
209    mentioned within one Month next after my deceae Now I do hereby
210    revoke and make void the said Legacy of twenty pounds so made and
211    bequeathed by my said Will unto my said daughter Jane Gribble
212    in as far as concerns the time and manner of payment of the same
213    and instead thereof I do will and direct that the said Sum of
214    twenty pounds shall be paid to my said daughter Jane Gribble
215    by my said Executrix in my said Will mentioned in weekly Sums
216    after the rate of two shillings a week until the whole Sum of twenty
217    pounds be fully paid the first weekly payment of two shillings to commence
218    and be made within one week next after my decease And I do ordain
219    and declare this present Writing to be a second Codicil to my said Will
220    and that the same shall be annexed thereto and taken part thereof
221    and do confirm my said Will and former Codicil in every particular
222    thereof that is not hereby altered In Witness whereof I have to this
223    Codicil set my hand and Seal the seventh day of October in the
224    year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen Robert
225    Blake Signed sealed published and declared by the said Robert
226    Blake as and for a Codicil to be annexed to his last Will and Testament
227    in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our Names as
228    witnesses thereto in his presence at his request and in the presence of
229    each other William Gribble William Henry Thorne
230    Proved at London with two Codicils 10th March 1815 before the
231    Judge by the Oath of Anne Jordan Widow the daughter and sole
232    Executrix to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn by
233    Comm[issi]on duly to administer

Will of Arthur Garland Blake, Esquire in the Civil Service of the Honorable the East India Company of Madras, East Indies - The National Archives PROB 11/1568, probated 3 Apr 1815

Arthur Garland Blake, the testator, was baptized 16 Aug 1779 at St Marylebone son of Arthur and Anne Susanah (Garland) Blake and he died 30 Nov 1813 in India. Arthur Blake (Esquire) married Anne Susannah Garland at St George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey 11 Feb 1775 (Ancestry).

Children baptized by Arthur and Anne Susannah (Garland) Blake:

Arthur Garland Blake baptized 16 Aug 1779 at St Marylebone
Edward Parker Blake baptized 9 Aug 1782 at St  Marylebone

There is a Bill listed at the National Archives: Durnford v Bunbury C12/690/6:

[C1799 D13].

Short title: Durnford v Bunbury.

Document type: bill only.

Plaintiffs: Andrew Montague Isaac Durnford and wife.

Defendants: Henry [Bromley] Lord Montfort, Sir Charles Bunbury, Robert Ladbrooke, William Mainning, John Proctor Anderdon, Sir Patrick Blake, James Henry Blake, Arabella Blake, Arthur Blake, Arthur Garland Blake, Edward Blake, Thomas Hodges and wife, Marianne [Bromley] Lady Montfort, Henry Bromley, Peggy Shea, Margaret Shea, Henrietta Shea, Mark Anthony Blake, George Blake, Charlotte Ritta, James Ritta, Robert Brookes, Sarah Cocksedge, Stair Stewart and John Basher.

The Blake members listed in this bill are likely interesting and include: Sir Patrick Blake, James Henry Blake, Arabella Blake, Arthur Blake, Arthur Garland Blake, Edward Blake, Mark Anthony Blake, and George Blake. Edward Blake is a brother to Arthur Garland Blake and their father was Arthur Blake (Arthur being a son of Andrew Blake and Marcella French).

Sir James Henry Blake (3rd Baronet) was the son of Sir Patrick Blake (1st Baronet) and Annabella Bunbury. He was the brother of Sir Patrick Blake and his wife Annabella Blake.

Sir Patrick Blake was married to Annabella Bunbury and father of Sir Patrick Blake, Sir James Henry Blake and Annabella Blake. His siblings were Christopher Blake (died in 1780), Edward Blake (died in 1763), Frances Barbara Blake, Mary Anne Blake and Arthur Blake. Frances Barbara Blake married Thomas Hodges. Marianne, Lady Montfort and married to Thomas Bromley is the same Mary Anne Blake. Her son was Henry Bromley, 3rd Baron Montfort.

The father of Sir Patrick Blake, Christopher Blake, Edward Blake, Arthur Blake, Frances Barbara Blake and Mary Anne Blake was Andrew Blake and he was married to Marcella French.

This is the Galway Blake family. Andrew is a 9th great grandson of Richard Caddell alias Blake.

There is a lot of information on these families online.

A write up of Arthur Garland Blake appears ina webpage online:

http://edurnford.blogspot.ca/2014/12/421-andrew-montague-durnford-m-barbara.html

Arthur Garland Blake was on the Civil Service of East India Company and he went to Cambridge Adm. pens. (age 17) at CAIUS, 1796. S. and h. of Arthur, of Langham, Suffolk. School, Charterhouse. Scholar, 1796-8. Entered the E.I.C. Service. Assistant in the Public Department at Colombo, 1799; to the Collector at Guntoor, 1800; under the Collector at Chicacole, 1802. Registrar to the Judge of the Zillar of Guntoor, 1803; to the Judge of the Provincial Court, Northern Division, 1806. Assistant Judge at Masulipatam, and Collector of Rajahmundry, 1812. Died Nov. 30, 1812, at Rajahmundry. (Venn, II. 130; Madras Civil Servants; G. Mag., 1813, I.)

Neither Arthur nor his brother Edward appear to have any descendants.

The will of their mother Anne Susannah (Garland) Blake was probated  at Surrey in 1816 and written the 4 Feb 1809. I will transcribe this will and blog it following the will of Edward Blake published on the 4th of February 2017.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 2 Feb 2017
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/1568
Name of testator: Arthur Garland Blake
Place: in the Civil Service of the Honorable the East India Company of Madras, East Indies
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 22 Jun 1813, probated 3 Apr 1815

[In margin] Arthur Garland Blake
[Top] In the Supreme Court of Judicature of Madras

1    Be it known to all Men that
2    on the twenty second day of June Anno domini 1813 the two
3    several testamentary paper writings of Arthur Garland
4    Blake Esquire in the Civil Service of the honorable the East
5    India Company under their precidency of Fort Saint George
6    deceased (two Copies of which are hereunto annexed) were
7    exhibited and proved before this court and administration of
8    all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits to the deceased in
9    any wise and belonging was and is hereby committed to Edward
10    Parker Blake Esquire entitled to act as Executor under the said
11    Testamentary paper writings being first sworn well and truly to
12    administer the same etc pay the lawful debts of the said
13    deceased and the Legacies in the said testamentary paper
14    writings contained as far as the Goods Chattels and Credits of
15    the said deceased shall extend and the Law requires and also to
16    exhibit into the same court a true and perfect Inventory of all and
17    singular the said Goods Chattels and Credits and also a just
18    account of all the Effects of the said deceased when he shall
19    be thereto lawfully required Given under the Seal of the
20    said Court at Madras aforesaid the twenty fifty day of June
21    1813 John Shaw Depy Regster
22    I Arthur Garland Blake
23    of the honorable East India Company’s Civil Service do hereby
24    set aside all and every the Will Codicil or other Testamentary
25    writing executed by me and do declare my Brother Edward Parker
26    Blake of the honorable East India Company’s Civil Service to
27    be the sole Executor of my property as well real and hereditary
28    as personal I therefore will and bequeath to him the whole of
29    my property of whatever nature it may be written in
30    Masulipatam this twenty fourth day of July in the year of our
31    Lord one thousand eight hundred and five Arthur G Blake
32    Witnesses hereunto W G Pearse, Thos Alexr Oakes, Hugh Spotteswood
33    I Arthur Garland Blake do confirm this testamentary
34    writing this twentieth day of October in the Year of our Lord
35    one thousand eight hundred and ten requesting at the same time
36    of my dear Brother Edward Parker Blake to make over to my
37    Brother the Interest arising from my share of our Charge on Sir
38    Patrick Blake Baronet West India property for his sole use and
39    benefit during his life Arthur G Blake
40    Examined Compared and carefully collated with the original
41    Testamentary paper writings proved in the Supreme Court of
42    Judicature at Madras and attested to be true copies John Shaw
43    Depy Regr
44    On the 3rd April 1815 admon with Will and Codicil annexed of the Goods of Arthur Garland
45    Blake late of the honorable East India Companies Civil Service on
46    the Madras Establishment at Rajah Mund__ in the East Indies Esquire
47    deceased was granted to Anne Susanah Blake one of the lawful
48    attornies of Edward Park Blake the sole Exor according to the
49    tenor of the said Will and Codicil for the use and benefit of the said
50    Edward Parker Blake now residing at Guntoor in the East Indies being
51    first sworn duly to admr

Philip Rowcliffe (1721 - 1802)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 42

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

Philip Rowcliffe was baptized 4 Apr 1721 at Merton the son of Andrew Rowcliffe and Joan Harvey who were themselves married 8 Jun 1720 at Merton. Philip married Martha Pearse 9 Apr 1760 at South Molton and their daughter Elizabeth (baptized 20 May 1777 at Bishops Nympton) married Robert Pincombe  7 Jun 1803 at Bishops Nympton.

Philip and Martha had four children, two baptized  at Bishops Nympton:

Philip born circa 1767 and married Joan Rock 2 May 1803 at Mariansleigh (descendants of this family also emigrated to Canada and were known to my Pincombe ancestors)

George baptized 9 Jul 1774

Elizabeth baptized 20 May 1777

William  born circa 1780

Even now looking more than 10 years later for an actual baptism for the other two children I do not find one for Philip or for William.


Philip was the son of Andrew Rowcliffe and Joan Harvey who were themselves married 8 Jun 1720 at Merton. They baptized five children at Merton:

Philip baptized 4 Apr 1721 and married to Martha Pearse 9 Apr 1760 at South Molton, buried 22 Mar 1802 at South Molton
Mary baptized 30 Apr 1723 and married to William Smale 9 Dec 1754 at Merton
Elizabeth baptized 16 May 1727 and married to Thomas Fraine 25 Jul 1763 at Merton
William baptized 9 Mar 1730 and married to Elizabeth Spare 22 Feb 1764 at Merton, buried 12 Jul 1811 at Merton (82 years of age)
Andrew baptized 11 Jun 1732 at Merton and married to Wilmote Leverton 28 Oct 1766 at Merton

Thinking about these two lines of Smale and Fraine I have never attempted to trace them down so perhaps I will look at that for Philip's siblings. Plus I have not really noted the descendants of Philip, my ancestor, other than my own line. I think that I will create a Rowcliffe tree in Legacy.

The Rowcliffe family is rather interesting Andrew Rowcliffe was likely the Andrew baptized September 1761 at Merton son of Andrew and Mary Rowcliffe. Andrew is likely the Andrew buried 3 Feb 1687 at Merton. Linking this family back to the known Rowcliffe family in Devon has not been accomplished by me. I have gathered a little information however on this family at Merton as I have the Parish Registers for Merton. They begin rather late in 1693

The ancient family of Rowcliffe was found at Yarnscombe which is eight miles from Merton. William Rockley of Yarnscomb married Jone Bagbeare of Bagbeare and they had four sons and one daughter:

Thomas Rocliff of Yearnscomb married to Christian Horne and this is the line that is recorded in the Visitations of Devon 1620. I do not find my Andrew in that line and suspect that he was not descendant of Thomas.

George Rowcliffe living in 1555 and buried by 1620 had two daughters

John Rowcliffe had three sons

Aldered Rowcliffe had four sons

Emme married to unknown

There is a will for Samuell Rowcliffe, yeoman of Merton, probated 24 Jun 1657 which is a must read and will transcribe for this blog post. At a quick glance he has sons named George, Richard and Samuell and a daughter Jone. No mention of Andrew is this will. Could he be a son of George, Richard or Samuell? Of note, George is a forename that was used in the Rowcliffe family along with Philip and William.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Date: 18 October 2015
Source: National Archives of the UK - PROB 11/265/584
Testator: Samuell Rowcliffe, Yeoman
Location: Merton, Devon
Date of Will:  25 Nov 1650, Probated 24 Jun 1657

1.   In the name of God Amen
2.   I Samuell Rowcliffe of the Parish of Merton in the Countie of
3.   Devon Yeoman being att present in perfect health and sound of
4.   memorie and minde (thankes be unto Almightie God) doe make
5.   and ordaine this to be my last Will and testament in manner
6.   and forme following Imprimis I recommend my Soule unto the
7.   hands of Almightie God my Maker and Creatour of whome I have
8.   to finde mercie and forgivenes of my sinnes in and through the merritts
9.   of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer And I bequeath my Bodie
10. to Christian buriall in the parish Church of Merton aforesaid whensoever it
11. shall please God to call me out of this miserible World Item I give and bequeath
12. unto my Wife Jane the Tableboard which stands in my hall and the
13. bord Bedstead and the furniture thereunto belonging which is in the
14. under Roome adioyning unto the Hall and the Ammory which stands in
15. the saide Roome and all the fyrewood which shall happen to be in my
16. Towne place att the time of my decease Which promisses my will is
17. she shall inioy upon Condition that she suffer my Children to inioy the proffitts
18. of my Tenement one Quarter of a yeare after my decease and thereto
19. have her dett of them during that time and not otherwise Item I give
20. and bequeath unto my daughter Jane Thirtie pounds lawfull English
21. monie to be paid her within one yeare after my decease Itemn I give
22. and bequeath unto my daughter Joane Thirtie pounds lawfull English
23. monie to be paid her within one yeare after my decease Item I give and
24. bequeath unto my Sonne George Tenn pounds lawfull English monie to
25. be paid him within one yeare after my decease Item all the rest of my goods
26. and Chattells not herein by me given and bequeathed as aforesaid both
27. moveable and immoveable I give and bequeath unto my Sonns Richard
28. and Samuell ioyntly and equallie whome I make and ordaine Executors
29. of this my last Will and Testament Item my will is that if it please
30. God anie or either of my three Children herein first named shall happen
31. to decease unmarried Then the Legacie by me given to the partie soe
32. deceasyng to be distributed to the Survivour or if two of them happen to decease
33. as aforesaid Then theire Legacies to be given to the Survivour of my
34. Three Children first in  theise presents named In Witnesse of the promisses
35. I doe publish this to be my last Will and Testament And have hereunto
36. sett my hand and Seale The five and twentith day of November An[n]o
37. domini One Thousand Six hundred Fiftie The Signe of Samuell
38. Rowcliffe Teste Thomas Bennett The Signe of Phillip Rowcliffe
39. The Signe of Thomas Upcott
40. Whereas I have by my Lifetime
41. already paid and secured to be payd The marriage portion of my
42. daughter Jone within mentioned my will is That all that Legacies
43.  with mentioned by me bequeathed unto her shall cease and be utterly void
44. from her and remaine due unto my Executors within mentioned And this I
45. doe hereby declare to be my Will and intent In witnesse whereof I have hereunto
46. subscribed The two and twentith day of March One thousand Six hun-
47. dred Fiftie two The Signe of Samuell Rowcliffe In the presence of Thomas
48. Bennett The signe of Thomas Upcott
49. This Will was proved att London The
50. Fower and Twentith day of June In the yeare of our Lord God
51. the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred Fiftie and Seaven
52. before the Judges for probate of Wills and granting Administrations
53. lawfully authorized by the oathes of Richard and Samuell Rowcliffe
54. the Sonns and Sole and only Executors named in the above written Will
55. To whome Administration as all and singular the goods and Chattells and
56. deceased was granted and Committed they being first Legally sworne
57. by vertue of a Commission truly and faythfully to administer the same.

Interesting to find a Phillip Rowcliffe mentioned as a witness although not mentioned in the body of the will. Could Andrew be a son of this Phillip Rowcliffe in that he does name a son Philip? The wills for the Rowcliffe family were mostly lost in the Second World War with the bombing of the Devon Record Office.

There are four other wills that I will transcribe also at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

1. Thomas Rowcliffe yeoman of Kings Nympton probated 5 Jul 1658

Kings Nympton is just 11 miles from Merton and 6 miles from Bishops Nympton making it a rather interesting will to read as well.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Date: 18 October 2015
Source: National Archives of the UK - PROB 11/279/169
Testator: Thomas Rowcliffe, Yeoman
Location: Kings Nympton, Devon
Date of Will:  10 Mar 1657, Probated 5 Jul 1658

1.    In the name of God Amen
2.    the Tenth day of March in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six
3.   hundred fiftie and seaven I Thomas Rowcliffe of Kingsnimpton in
4.   the County of Devon Yeoman being sicke of bodie but of good and perfect
5.   memory thanckes be to God And Calling to remembrence the uncertaine
6.   Estate of this transitorie Life and that all flesh must yeeld unto death
7.   when it shall please God to Call doe make constitute ordaine and declare
8.   this my last Will and testament in manner and forme following revo-
9.   king and annulling by theise presents all and every Testament and
10. Testaments Will and Wills heretofore by me made and declared either
11. by word or by writing and this to be taken only for my last Will and Testam[en]t
12. and none other And first being sorrie from the bottome of my hart for
13. my sinns past most humbly desiring forgivenes for the same give and
14. Committ my soule unto Almightie God my Saviour and Redeemer
15. In whome and by the merritts of Jesus Christ I trust and believe assuredly
16. to be saved and to have full remission and forgivenes of all my sinns
17. And that my soule with my Body att the generall day of resurection shall
18. rise againe with ioy and through the merritts of Christ death and passion
19. possesse and inheritt the Kingdome of heaven prepared for his Flock and chosen
20. child my Bodie to be buried in such place where it shall please my Executor
21. hereafter named to appoynte and for the settling of my Temporall Estate
22. and such Goods Chattells and debts as it hath pleased God farr above my
23. deserts to bestowe upon mee I doe order give and dispose the same in manner
24. and forme following First I will that all those debts I owe in right or in Con-
25. science to anie manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and
26. truly Contented and payd or desired to be paid within Convenient time
27. after my decease by my Executor hereafter named Item I give and bequeath
28. unto Christopher Lymbre Elizabeth Lymbre and Marian Limbre Sonne
29. and daughters of Christopher Limbre deceased Thirtie pounds a peece
30. to each of them to be paid within one yeare after my decease (that is
31. to say) Tenn pounds a peece to every of them the said Christopher Elizabeth
32. and Maryan above the Twenty pounds a peece given them by their sayd
33. by theire said Father  Christopher Limbre Item I give and bequeath
34. unto Mary Limbre daughter of the aforesaid Christopher Limbre and
35. Isott Tipper daughter of Anthonie Tipper deceased by vertue of anie Lease
36. or Leases all the right Estate title terme and interest that I now have of and
37. in a Certaine Tenement Called or Commonly knowne by the name of
38. East heale situate lying and being in kingsnymptom aforesaid to be held
39. by them ioyntly during the terme of theire naturall lives yeelding and
40. paying yearely and everie yeare unto Elizabeth Rowcliffe my now Wife
41. the Summe of tenn pounds by fower even and equall portions the said terme
42. to Commence and beginne immediatelie from and after my decease and
43. if shall happen that the said Mary Limbre and Isott Tipper shall die
44. before Elizabeth my Wife my will is that my Land being the Sixth part
45. of the abovesaid Tenement called East Heale be charged with the above said
46. annuitie of tenn pounds a yeare hereby given and bequeathed unto Elizabeth
47. my said Wife Item I give and bequeath unto the aforesaid Mary Lymebere
48. and Isott Tipper the Inheritance of my Land in Eastheale aforesaid being
49. the Sixth part of the said Tenement (that is to say the said Inheritance
50. to the longest liver of either of them the said Mary Limbre and Isott Tipper
51. and to the heires of the Survivour of them for ever Item I give and bequeath
52. unto Ananias Kelly Frances Kelly Agnes Elyanor Joane Elizabeth and  
53. Sarah Kelly Sonne and daughters of John Kelly deceased the Sume of
54. Six shillings and Eight pence a peece to every of them to be paid within one yeare
55. after my decease Item whereas I have alone since given and bequeathed my
56. said Tenement unto Mary Limbre and Isott Tipper presently after my
57. death it is now my will and testament that my said Wife Elizabeth shall
58. have the use and proffitts of all the said Tenement for the terme of two
59. yeares after my death for the payment of my debts and Legacies anie
60. thing in this my will and Testament mentioned in anie wise not with-
61. standing Item I give and bequeath unto the poore of the parish of Kingsnympton
62. aforesaid the summe of twenty shillings to be imployed for them as a
63. stock Item I give and bequeath unto Daniell Rowcliffe William and Thomas
64. Rowcliffe Sonnes of William Rowcliffe deceased six shillings and Eight pence
65. a peece to every of them to be paide within one yeare after my decease and
66. alsoe I give and bequeath unto Anthony Tipper sonne of Anthony Tipper
67. deceased the summe of six shillings and Eight pence to be paid likewise within
68. one yeare after my decease Item all the rest of my goods and Chattells
69. not hereby disposed of moveable and immoveable I doe give and bequeath
70. unto Elizabeth my Wife whome I doe hereby constitute and appoynte to be
71. my lawfull and sole Executrix witnesse my hand and Seale the day
72. and yeare above said in presence of those whose names are hereunder
73. written the marke of Thomas Rowcliffe Witnesses hereunto Jenner Smith
74. witnes John Thorne John Cole Lewes Steeven
75. This will was proved in London the
76. fifth day of the Month of July in the yeare of our Lord God
77. One thousand six hundred Fiftie and Eight before the Judges for probate
78. of Wills and graunting Administrations lawfully authorized by the
79. oath of Elizabeth Rowcliffe the Relict and sole and onlie Executrix
80. named in the above written last Will and testament of the deceased
81. To whome Administration of all and Singular the goods Chattells
82. and debts of the said deceased was graunted and Committed she
83. being first legally sworne by vertue of a Commission truly and
84. faythfully to administer the same

Looking into Find My Past there are a number of interesting Rowcliffe entries at Kings Nympton including this family mentioned in the will above - father William Rowcliffe with sons Daniel, William and Thomas. Eastheale is mentioned in this will and will try to figure out if Little Heale where the Rowcliffe family lived near Bishops Nympton is associated with this property. The answer is no. Little Heale is close to Bishops Nympton and East Hele is north of Kings Nympton just below the highway to the west of South Molton.

2. Thomas Rowcliffe yeoman of Burrington probated 17 Aug 1653 PROB 11/228/447

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Date: 18 October 2015
Source: National Archives of the UK - PROB 11/228/447
Testator: Thomas Rowcliffe, Yeoman
Location: Burrington, Devon
Date of Will:  25 Nov 1650, Probated 17 Aug 1653

1.    In the name of God Amen I Thomas Rowcliffe of
2.    Burrington in the Countie of Devon yeoman being perfect memory doe publish
3.   declare and sett fourth this my last Will and Testament in manner and
4.   forme following Imprimis I give and bequeath my Soule unto Almightie God
5.   my Creator and my body to Christian Buryall Item I give and graunt
6.   deed and bequeath unto Latice my daughter all that messuage tenement
7.   lands meadowes pastures feedings commons of pasture in both Hetherleigh Moor
8.   and Totte and herbe garden thereunto belonging with theappurtenances in the present
9.   possession and occupation of Allexander Taylder or his assignees or assigne Scituae
10. lying and being within the foresaid parish of Hatherleigh and alsoe all that
11. Messuags Tenements Lands Meadows Pastures feedings and hereditaments common
12. of pastures in Hatherleigh Moor with thappurtenancs now in the tenure and
13. occupation of ____ Hatch gent or his assignees or assigne To have and to
14. hold the said Messuage Tenement Cottage and other the premisses with thappurtenances
15. now in the Tenure of Alexander Taylder imeadiatly from and after the
16. death or decease of Agnes Taylder daughter of the sayd Allexander Taylder
17. for and during the Terme of one and Twenty yeares from this time ensueing
18. fully to be constituted and ended by and under the year by rent of twenty eight
19. shillings and foure pence to be paid quarterly by equall porcions to be
20. devided and by and under the  repairing sustaining and mayntaininge
21. of all and Singular the said demised premisses in all needfull and necessary
22. reparations during the terme hereby granted And Alsoe the said Messuage
23. Tenement and premisses together with comons of Pastures in
24. Hatherleigh Moor with all and Singular thappurtances now in the tenure
25. and possession of _____ Hatch Imeadiatly following and after the death
26. decease or any other determination of Mary the now Wife of the sayd
27. Hatch and George Stablake Sonne of John Stablake late of Hatherleigh
28. deceased for and duringe the like terme of one yeare fully to be contracted
29. and ended by and under the yearly renting seaventeene shillings of lawfull English
30. money to be paid quarterly by equall portions to be devided by and under the
31. reparing sustaining and mainteyninge of all and Singular the said last Demised
32. premisses with needfull and necessary reparations when and another shall
33. require provided allwaies and my Will and meaneing is that if my sonne John
34. Rowcliffe who is my heire apparent doe  att any time within the time of two
35. yeares before he shall accomplish his age of one and twenty yeares Well and truly
36. Consent Satisfie and paye or Cause to be paid unto the said Latecia my
37. daughter and his sister soe much Current English money as shall accomplish make
38. of all and compleate upp the issues and proffitts which shall be payd and wherby
39. made. All payments Taxes and demands being deducted the Sum of one hundred pounds
40. out of the sayd Messuage Land and Tenement hereby mentioned to be Granted
41. shall be frustrated made voyd and discontinued to all intents and purposes Item
42. I give bequeath devise and Allott out Fortye pound to be Bestowed upon and in
43. some Messuage Land or Tenement for the use and behoofe therein expressed that is to
44. saye for the lives of Joane my Wife John Rowcliffe my Sonn and Latecia my
45. daughter and my Will is that the said Joanne my Wife is to enioy the Whole Estate
46. for and during her Naturall life provided allwaies that if the sayd Forty pound
47. be not bestowed in ___ within the space of three yeares after my death According as
48. that is above expressed that then my Will is that the sayd Somme of Forty pounds
49. shall be imployed for the best bennefitt of my Soone and Daughter for their
50. better Maintenance Item I give to Margeret Rowcliffe my Sister three pounds
51. To be paid Within two yeares after my death Item I give to Elizabeth Rowcliffe
52. my Sister three pounds to be paid to her Within two yeares after my death Item
53. I give and bequeath unto Arthur Rowcliffe my Brother three pounds to be paid
54. lhim Within the space of two yeares after my death Item I give and
55. bequeath unto John Rowcliffe my Sonne my best brasse pott Item I give
56. and bequeath unto Latecia my daughter my best brasse pann Item I give and
57. bequeath and doe alott twenty pounds to be Imployd for the best Bennifitts
58. ______ maintenance of my two children during their minoritye
59. and for what sums of money shall be left at the end Twenty pounds after
60. such time to my children shall be to gett them Maintenance my Will and
61. Meaninge is that the same shall be to and for the ______ sett and behoofe
62. of John Rowcliffe my Sonne wholly And I doe desir Arthur Rowcliffe and John
63. Delbridge to have the ordering putting fourth and employing the sayd summe of
64. twenty pounds for the best benefitt of my sayd Children And to be Trustees for that
65. purpose in the best manner they may Item I give to Thomas Delbridge my
66. Freind Twenty shillings to be paid within two years after my death
67. Item All the Rest of my goods and Chattells not before herein given and bequeathed
68. I give and bequeath unto Joane my Wife and her I doe make my whole and
69. sole Executrix to doe my desir paid my Legacies discharged and my Funerall
70. expenses freed Provided alwayes and my Will and Meaning is that in Case
71. that Joane my Wife shall Marry Within one and twenty yeares after my
72. death that then all such goods Chattells and moneys which shall be left and remayne
73. after such time as my debts Legacies and Funerall expences being paid and discharged
74. shall be to and for the use benefitt and behoofe of my two children John and Latecia
75. And the Survivor of them And I doe desire Arthur Rowcliffe my Brother and John
76. Delbridge to see how my last Will duly performed observed for wittnesse I the sayd
77. Thomas Rowcliffe to here unto sett my hand and Seale the eight day of June in
78. the yeare of our Lord God one Thousand Six hundred Fiftie and two the signe of
79. Thomas Rowcliffe Sealed Signed and declared and published in the presence of us
80. Henry underdowne the signe of John Alford the signe of William Penecott
81. of Burrington Arthur Rowcliffe
82. This Will was proved at Westmynster before the Judges for Probate of Wills and
83. granting Amons the 17th day of August 1653 by the oath of Joan Rowcliffe
84. Sole Executrix within named in the said to whom was committed Admon of all and Singular
85. the goods Chattells and debts of the sayd Thomas deceased she being first Sworne by Commission
86. duly to Administer the same.

This will also very interesting gives me a small family tree with Thomas the testator having a brother Arthur and a sister Margaret and his children Leticia and John. He is likely the Thomas Rowcliffe son of John Rowclyffe and Lattice Isaac who were themselves married  4 Feb 1600 at Atherington. I found three baptisms for this couple:

Catorne Rowclyffe baptized 22 May 1603 at Burrington
Margaret Rowclyffe baptized 3 Oct 1605 at Burrington
Elizabeth Rowclyffe baptized 24 Jan 1607 at High Bickington

There is an Ann Rowclyffe married to William Hearing 2 Jul 1638 at Burrington


3. George Rowcliffe yeoman of Bishops Nympton probated 28 Nov 1849 PROB 11/2103/230

Continuing on with the last two wills and this next one is for George Rowcliffe yeoman of Bishops Nympton and he is the son of  Philip Rowcliffe and Martha Pearse and hence my 3x great granduncle. He was baptized 9 Jul 1774 at Bishops Nympton and buried 11 Oct 1849 at South Molton.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Date: 18 October 2015
Source: National Archives of the UK - PROB 11/2103/230
Testator: George Rowcliffe, Yeoman
Location: Bishops Nympton, Devon
Date of Will:  2 Jan 1841, Probated 28 Nov 1849

1.   This is the last Will and Testament
2.    of me George Rowcliffe of Bishops Nympton in the County of Devon
3.   Yeoman I give devise and bequeath unto my Nephews John Rowcliffe and
4.   George Rowcliffe late of Woolfardisworthy in the said County Yeoman (Sons
5.   of my Brother William Rowcliffe and their respective heirs executors admin-
6.   istrators and assigns All those my messuages tenements mills and farms
7.   commonly called  or known by the names of Bridge Mole Mills Little Heale
8.   Mole Park and West Silcombe situated lying and being in the several
9.   parishes of Rose Ash and Bishops Nympton in the said County of
10. Devon or one of them And also all other my freehold copyhold and
11. leasehold messauges lands tenements and hereditaments and real estate
12. situated in the parishes of Rose Ash and Bishops Nympton aforesaid and
13. elsewhere And also All my Goods Chattles and Personal Estate
14. and Property whatsoever and wheresoever Subject nevertheless to and
15. charged with the payment of all my just debts the expences of my
16. funeral and of proving this my Will To hold the same (subject and
17. charged as aforesaid) unto and to the use of my said Nephews John
18. Rowcliffe and George Rowcliffe as Tenants in Common and not adjoint
19. Tenants and their respective heirs executors administrators and assigns
20. for ever And I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said nephews
21. John Rowcliffe and George Rowcliffe Executors of this my last Will
22. and Testament And lastly I hereby revoke and make void all other Wills
23. by me heretofore made In witness whereof I the said George Rowcliffe
24. the Testator have hereunto subscribed and set my hand and seal this
25. second day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
26. hundred and forty one George Rowcliffe Signed Sealed
27. Published and Declared by the said George Rowcliffe the Testator as
28. and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the
29. same time who at hios request in his presence and in the presence of
30. each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
31. J G Heard  James Pearse  J Galliford
32. This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament
33. of me George Rowcliffe of Bishops Nympton in the County of Devon
34. Yeoman which will is dated the second day of January One thousand
35. eight hundred and forty one I give and bequeath unto my niece Betsey
36. Elworthy wife of Richard Elworthy of Bratton Fleming the sum of two
37. hundred pounds for her own separate use for which her receipt along
38. shall be a good discharge I direct the same sum to be paid by my
39. Executors in my said Will monies out of my residuary estates at the
40. end of twelve months after my death and which I charge with the
41. payment thereof I ratify and confirm my said Will in every respect
42. except so far as the same is hereby altered and I direct this Codicil
43. to be annexed thereto and taken as part thereof In witness whereof
44. I have hereto set my hand this twenty seventh day of August One
45. thousand eight hundred and forty nine The Mark of George
46. Rowcliffe Signed by the said George Rowcliffe the Testator as and
47. for a Codicil to be annexed to and taken as part of his Will in the
48. presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his
49. presence and in the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our
50. names as Witnesses J Galliford Wm Oram Jr
51. Proved at London with a Codicil 28th November 1849
52. before the Judge by the Oath of John Rowcliffe the Nephew one
53 of the Executors to whom Admon was granted having been
54. first sworn by Comon duly to administer. Power reserved of
55. making the like grant to George Rowcliffe the Nephew also the
56. other Executor when he shall apply for the same.

This was rather interesting about Betsey Elworthy as she was a daughter of Robert Pincombe and Elizabeth Rowcliffe (and my 3x great grandparent). Betsey and Richard Elworthy were to emigrate to Canada in 1855.  George, the testator, is 75 years of age at his death. Philip, his eldest brother is still living as is William father of George and John the legatees. Elizabeth Rowcliffe Pincombe died in 1823. This is a rather interesting family as the father of the testator Philip (and my 4x great grandfather) was 39 when he married and 56 when my 3x great grandmother was born. He was 81 years of age when he was buried 22 Mar 1802 at South Molton. His wife Martha Pearse was fifteen years younger than he was. The eldest son of Philip and Martha also Philip is the line that emigrated to Huron County by 1851. I haven't done any work on this family to determine when they did arrive. The next will is for Philip Rowcliffe.

4. Philip Rowcliffe gentleman of Mariansleigh probated 2 May 1851 PROB 11/2133/117

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Date: 18 October 2015
Source: National Archives of the UK - PROB 11/2133/117
Testator: Philip Rowcliffe gentleman
Location: Mariansleigh, Devon
Date of Will:  1 Jun 1848, Probated 2 May 1851

1.   This is the last Will and Testament
2.   of me Philip Rowcliffe of Mariansleigh in the County of Devon
3.   Gentleman I give and bequeath unto my   daughter Charlotte Rowcliffe
4.   and my Nephews John Rowcliffe and George Rowcliffe sons of my brother
5.   William Rowcliffe their executors administrators and assigns the sum of five
6.   hundred pounds upon the following trusts viz as to and concerning One
7.   hundred pounds upon the following trusts for my Son John Rowcliffe for his
8.   own use and as to and concerning the sum of one hundred pounds other
9.   part thereof Upon trust for my grand children John Rowcliffe James
10. Rowcliffe and George Rowcliffe (children of my said Son John) to be
11. equally divided between them as tenants in common and in case any or
12. either of my said Grandchildren shall be under the age of twenty one
13. years without having been married then Upon trust for the other or other
14. of my said Grandchildren and if more than one in equal shares and as to and
15. and concerning the sum of two hundred pounds (other part of the said sum
16. of five hundred pounds Upon trust to permit and empower my said daughter
17. Charlotte Rowcliffe to receive the annual income of the said sum or other
18. stocks funds and securities whereon the same shall be invested for the term
19. of her natural life And after her death then as to the said sum of two
20. hundred pounds and the stocks funds and securities or upon which
21 same shall be invested Upon trust for all the children of my said Son
22. John Rowcliffe to be equally divided between them as tenants in common
23. and if any of them shall die under the age of twenty one years without
24. having been married then Upon trust as to as well the share
25. originally limited under this Executory Trust to any and every child
26. so expired for the others or other of the same children and if more than
27. one in equal shares and as to and concerning the sum of one hundred
28. pounds the residue of the said sum of five hundred pounds and the stocks
29. funds and securities in or upon which the same shall be invested Upon
30. trust to permit and empower my daughter Betsey Buckingham to receive
31. the annual income of the said sum of One hundred pounds or the stocks
32. funds and securities in or upon which the same shall be invested for
33. the term of her natural life and after her death then as to the same
34. sum of One hundred pounds and the said stocks funds and securities
35. Upon trust for the child if only one and if more than one all the children
36. of my said daughter Betsey Buckingham to be equally divided
37. between them as Tenants in Common if any or eith of them
38. shall die under the age of twenty one years without having been
39. married Then upon trust as to as well the share originally limited
40. under the prepreceding trust as the share or shares eventually limited
41. under this Executory trust to any and every child so dying for the others or
42. other of the children of my said daughter Betsey Buckingham and if
43. more than one in equal shares I empower my said Trustees to invest
44. the said sum of five hundred pounds or so much and such parts or part
45. thereof as shall remain in their hands in their her or his names or name
46. in or upon any of the public stocks funds or securities of the United
47. Kingdom or in or upon any real or other good securities or security at
48. interest with liberty for the said trustees or trustee in their her or his dis-
49. cretion to vary and transpose the investments from time to time for any
50. other investment of the preceding description I give and bequeath
51. All my Goods Chattels and Personal Estate whatsoever (subject to
52. the payment of my debts my funeral and testamentary expences and
53. the said legacy or legacies unto my said daughter Charlotte Rowcliffe her
54. executors administrators and assigns for her and their own use I
55. appoint my said daughter Charlotte Rowcliffe Executrix of this my
56. Will and I revoke all other Wills by me made in Witness whereof
57. I the said Philip Rowcliffe the Testator have hereunto subscribed and
58. set my hand and seal this first day of July One thousand eight hun-
59. dred and forty eight Philip Rowcliffe proved declared published
60. and declared by the above name Philip Rowcliffe (the Testator) as and
61. for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us (present at the
62. same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of
63. each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
64. James Pearse South Molton Devon F Hartnoll Jr
65. Proved at London 2nd May 1851 befrore the Judge by the Oath of
66. Charlotte Rowcliffe Spinster the daughter the sole Executrix to whom Admon
67. was granted having been first sworn by Common duly to administer.

Again this is my third great granduncle. He married Joan Rock 2 May 1803 at Mariansleigh. The three children identified in the will:

Charlotte baptized 26 Dec 1804 at Bishops Nympton
John baptized 22 Oct 1810 at Rose Ash (he emigrated to Canada, was married twice and I have 15 children in total for him)
Betsy born at Rose Ash circa 1812 and married to Joseph Fairchild Buckingham 4 Apr 1831 at Mariansleigh.

The descendants of John with some born in Huron County (Usborne) and the rest in England would be my fifth cousins. I should do a bit of tracing down in these families as it could be accounting for some of my Canadian matches. John had an enormous family.

Solving my Rowcliffe line back before Andrew does not appear to be readily done. Interesting that there is a Philip Rowcliffe at Merton when Samuel signs his will in 1650. Andrew, the father of my Philip Rowcliffe would perhaps have been born between 1640 and 1660.  He is likely the Andrew Rowcliffe who was buried 3 Feb 1687 at Merton. Is Philip a brother to Samuel the testator in the first will transcribed above?

Find My Past has the following rather interesting entries for the Rowcliffe family at Merton between 1560 and 1640:

Will for Andrew Rowcliff 1687 Court of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple
Burial for Andrew Rowcliff 3 Feb 1687
Burial for Samuel Rowcliff 2 Jan 1687
Will for Samuel Rowcliff  1692 Court of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple
Burial for George Rowcliffe 27 Nov 1697
Burial for William Rowcliffe 10 May 1716

Both of these wills are lost in the bombing of the Record Office at Exeter unfortunately. Proximity is always interesting but can not assume this is all one family. If you then enter just Devon into the search engine for Rowcliffe on Find My Past between 1560 and 1640 there are 281 results but most wills for this family were lost in the bombing.

A search on Rowcliffe looking for something written earlier on the family and I disovered this book which is at the Devon Record Office presumably with the closure of the WestCounty Record Office:

White, D.M. A family record. Landford: The Author [1996] 1 vol: ill, maps, ports. [Raymond: Chapter on Routleff/Rowcliff/Rowtcliffe family of Devon] [Westcountry Studies Library sx929.2/ROU]

I have sent a note to the Devon Record Office and to the Devon research group on rootsweb to see if I might be able to discover more about this book.

In the meantime I can see my Rowcliffe line just so far and the rest is hidden to me but perhaps revealed one day.

Ancestry of Philip Rowcliffe:

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Helen Louise PINCOMBE (b 18 Oct 1916) - Westminster Township Middlesex County Ontario Canada
3. John Routledge PINCOMBE (b 10 Sep 1872)- Lobo Township Middlesex County Ontario Canada
4. William Robert PINCOMBE (b 11 Jun 1837)- Molland Devon England
5. John PINCOMBE (b 5 Jul 1808)- Bishops Nympton Devon England
6. Elizabeth (Betty) ROWCLIFFE (b 20 May 1777) - Bishops Nympton Devon England
7. Philip ROWCLIFFE (b 4 Apr 1721) - Merton Devon England
8. Andrew ROWCLIFFE (pre 1687)
perhaps
9. Andrew ROWCLIFFE

Martha Pearse (1736 - 1798 or 1802)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 11

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, unknown, Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, Durnford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterel, Bartlett, Alderman, Ann (unknown), Sherwood, unknown, Habberfield, Collings, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Canham, 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

Martha Pearse, my 4x great grandmother, married Philip Rowcliffe 9 Apr 1760 at South Molton and their daughter Betty (baptism) and Elizabeth (as an adult) was baptized  20 May 1777 at Bishops Nympton and married Robert Pincombe 7 Jun 1803 at Bishops Nympton. Martha had three siblings all male Philip (baptism unknown) but married to Joan Rock 2 May 1803 at Mariansleigh and their son John Rowcliffe married Eliza Brown at Mariansleigh with their eldest daughter Elizabeth marrying Richard Pincombe (from Beaford, Devon) 4 Dec 1851 in Usborne Township, Huron County, Ontario, Canada). A descendant of that family wrote to me asking how her Pincombe line fitted into mine but I am still working on that (father of Richard was William and mother Mary but thus far I have not found any linkage). It turned out we were related through the Rowcliffe family! George Rowcliffe, the second brother was baptized 9 Jul 1774 at Bishops Nympton and buried at South Molton 11 Oct 1849 and is said by some to be the father of Philip Rowcliffe who married Susanna Brown 16 Sep 1828 at Kennerleigh. Their son John died in Victoria British Columbia 6 Mar 1921. However the death duty index of 1849 has John (likely brother of George) as executor. The third brother William does not appear in the Parish Registers of Bishops Nympton with a baptism but he is likely the William Rowcliffe buried 6 Dec 1854 at South Molton. It is unknown whether he married.

Martha was the daughter of Philip Pearse and Grace Hobbs who married 7 Apr 1728 at South Molton. They had five children:

Philip baptized 19 Jan 1728 at South Molton
Grace baptized 19 Feb 1730 at South Molton
Philip (twin) baptized 8 Jul 1733 at South Molton
Martha (twin) baptized 8 Jul 1733 at South Molton and buried 7 Jul 1734 at South Molton
Martha baptized 23 Jan 1736 at South Molton.

There are two Martha Rowcliffes buried at South  Molton 7 Jan 1798 and 26 Mar 1802. Perhaps now several years since I found this information I can determine which one is my Martha. But it is still impossible to tell which one is my Martha. Philip Rowcliffe was buried 22nd Mar 1802 at South Molton.

Philip Pearse (father of Martha) was baptized 12 Nov 1703 at South Molton the son of John Pearse and Martha Quythers. All of this information to follow I extracted from the Parish Registers of South Molton which I have on fiche.  John Pearse and Martha Quythers were married 9 May 1686 at South Molton. They baptized six children at South Molton:

Roger 2 Oct 1686
Hannah 31 Jan 1687/88
Alice 22 Apr 1690
Mary 9 Mar 1692/93
Elizabeth 21 May 1700
Philip 12 Nov 1703

I have not made any attempt to follow the other children through the Parish Registers to date but will have a quick glance at Find My Past.

Roger likely buried 11 Jan 1694/95 at South Molton
Hannah possibly married (2 marriages at South Molton in the 1720s - a mite late but perhaps)
Alice possibly buried 7 Jun 1691 at South Molton
Mary possibly buried 28 Mar 1694 at South Molton or possibly married in the 1720s
Elizabeth nothing particularly found

John Pearse (married 1686 at South Molton) is likely the John Pearse baptized 14 Apr 1660 at South Molton and the son of Robert Pearse and unknown. This Robert Pearse is likely baptized Mar (no date given) 1631 at South Molton and the son of Robert Pearse and Elizabeth Dickes who were themselves married 13 Jun 1629 at South Molton. This Robert is possibly the son of John Pearse baptized 25 Jun 1602 at South Molton. There is a notation after John's name in the register "glovier." There is a marriage which I just found of Johannis Pearce and Anna Powle 6 Jul 1601 at South Molton. Missed my first go through the register about 6 years ago.

But I am still unable to find the marriage of a Robert Pearse father of John Pearse baptized 14 Apr 1660. However this is the time when Parish Registers are often missing information for instance births were recorded in this register during the Commonwealth but no marriages found yet by me.

The likely ancestry of Martha Pearse:

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Helen Louise PINCOMBE (b 18 Oct 1916) - Westminster Township Middlesex County Ontario Canada
3. John Routledge PINCOMBE (b 10 Sep 1872)- Lobo Township Middlesex County Ontario Canada
4. William Robert PINCOMBE (b 11 Jun 1837)- Molland Devon England
5. John PINCOMBE (b 5 Jul 1808)- Bishops Nympton Devon England
6. Elizabeth (Betty) ROWCLIFFE (b 20 May 1777) - Bishops Nympton Devon England
7. Martha PEARSE (b 23 Jan 1736) - South Molton Devon England
8. Philip PEARSE (b 12 Nov 1703) - South Molton Devon England
9. John PEARSE (b 14 Apr 1660) - South Molton Devon England
10. Robert PEARSE (b Mar 1631) - South Molton Devon England
11 Robert PEARSE (b 25 Jun 1602) - South Molton Devon England
12 John Pearse

Noted on my webpage the following information re the Pearse family in this part of Devon:

 There is a John PEARSE on the Protestation Returns for Bishops Nympton in the 1640s (this would need to be John Pearse b 28 Apr 1605 if it is him). The 1723 Loyalty Oaths list: Benjamin Pearse at Lapford, Edward Pearse of Combe Martin, Samuel Pearse of Ashwater, Jonathan Pearse of Warrington, Edward, John and Gideon Pearse of Holsworthy, John Pearse of Chittlehampton, John Pearse of Morebath, John Pearse of Northam, Richard Pearse of Hartland, Michael Pearse of Chulmleigh, Philip Pearse of Bickleigh, Robert Pearse of Hartland, William Pearse of Shebbear, and William Pearse of Broadclyst. The Pearse family is very large in Devon (I have only listed a few of the members signing the Loyalty Oath in 1723).

A redo of the lookups in South Molton proved to be interesting and I remain rather convinced that this is my line of Pearse. Finding the marriage of Robert circa 1650s would be interesting as I have managed to locate all the wives for this family other than the wife of Robert baptized 1631. My mother did know of Martha Pearse although I can not now remember what she may have said about Martha just that the mother of Elizabeth Rowcliffe had been Martha Pearse.

Will of Thomas Blake, Gentleman, Wishford, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/1477/316, probated 30 Apr 1808

Although I am coming close to finishing Wiltshire, this will of Thomas Blake at 615 lines has slowed me down somewhat. There are still three wills to complete so will likely finish very early in January. I need to work on the Blake Newsletter as well today and tomorrow.

Determining the ancestry of this Thomas Blake is somewhat of a puzzle. This Thomas is mentioned with respect to other wills in the New Sarum area. Namely he was the deponent giving witness to the handwriting and subscription of Margaret Blake:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/12/will-of-margaret-blake-widow-new-sarum.html

her husband, John Blake, and his will was blogged:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/12/will-of-john-blake-gentleman-new-sarum.html

But John does not mention Thomas Blake in his will.

Thomas does not mention any Blake relatives in his will except for his sister Mary married to William Dredge and their children - Mary, John, William, Ann, Thomas and Solomon. I did not yet determine if Francis Gregory was married to Ann. Mary at the time of writing the will is unmarried, John and William both have children, Thomas is mentioned just one time and Solomon is not mentioned although one of the children of William is also named Solomon.

From the British History online website:

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=115439

A small estate in Steeple Langford later called KINGSTON'S was possibly that in 1242–3 assessed as 1/10 knight's fee and held by John de Campeny. (fn. 103) John of Kingston held it in 1291. (fn. 104) It passed to Nicholas Kingston (d. c. 1323), who left a wife Anstice and as heir a brother John. John forfeited his lands as a contrariant but on the return to England of Queen Isabella in 1326 he re-entered by force. (fn. 105) The estate passed with Little Corsley manor in Corsley to his son Thomas and to Thomas's son Sir John (fl. 1383), and perhaps with that manor in the Kingston family until the death of Mary Kingston, wife of Thomas Lisle, in 1539. (fn. 106) It belonged to John Brimsden in 1560 (fn. 107) and probably to Thomas Brimsden of Steeple Langford in 1587. Thomas Brimsden of East Stowell in Wilcot held it in 1599 (fn. 108) and 1632, (fn. 109) and in 1652 his son Thomas (d. 1685) settled it on himself and his wife Anne (d. 1711). (fn. 110) Thomas's son Thomas married Eleanor Blagden (fn. 111) and Kingston's passed to a spinster Eleanor Brimsden, presumably the youngest Thomas's daughter and heir. In 1713 and 1717 Eleanor held it jointly with Edward Blagden (fn. 112) (d. 1730) of Keevil, (fn. 113) who was evidently her heir or assign. By 1733 it had passed to Edward's relict Anne Blagden (d. 1769) (fn. 114) and in 1770 was sold by her daughters Anne and Eleanor Blagden to Thomas Blake (fn. 115) (d. 1808). Blake devised Kingston's, 62 a. and pasture rights, to his niece Mary Dredge (d. 1816), wife of George Smith, for life, and to his grandnephew John Dredge (d. 1812), whose son Solomon Dredge held it from 1816 (fn. 116) to his death in 1856. Dredge's heirs were his sister Anne (d. 1858), wife of William Blake, and nephew J. J. Marshall. (fn. 117) Francis, Lord Ashburton, bought the estate, a moiety from Marshall in 1867 and a moiety from Anne Blake's trustees in 1868, (fn. 118) and added it to Steeple Langford manor.

From the National Archives website:

Wiltshire and Swindon Archives

Wishford Manor Farm

Reference     1785
Covering dates     1803-1820
Held by     Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
Extent     1 file
Source of acquisition     E. Keady, Esq
Creators     Wishford Manor Farm, Wiltshire

Contents:
Farm Account Book
[no title]  1785/1  1803-1820

Contents:
Farm account book for Wishford Manor Farm, giving details of farm management, tenancies, sheep, stock and harvest accounts, with notes on the weather, crop practices, songs, poems and extracts from the wills of Thomas Blake and Solomon Dredge.

The contents of this catalogue are the copyright of Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
Rights in the Access to Archives database are the property of the Crown, © 2001-2013
The records described on this page are held by Wiltshire and Swindon Archives

Thomas identifies his sister as Mary Blake married to William Dredge and baptisms for this couple at Great Wishford (C15228-1):

John baptized 10 Oct 1739
William baptized 1743
Ann baptized 18 Jan 1744
Thomas baptized 5 Jan 1747
Solomen baptized 22 Mar 1751

William Dredge (bachelor, cheeseclothmaker, 27 years of Wishford) married Elizabeth Snow (spinster, 30 years, of Wishford) with William Fricker Clothier Salisbury bondsman, 28 Nov 1770.

Names mentioned in the will:

Thomas Blake, testator, gentleman, Wishford
John Dredge, nephew
John Dredge, grand nephew (son of John Dredge)
John Rowden, friend, trustee
Solomon Dredge, nephew, executor, trustee
William Dredge, grand nephew (son of William Dredge)
William Dredge, nephew
James Willis, tenant, South Newton
Jane Blake, tenant, South Newton
John Thomas, tenant, South Newton
Rebecca Matthews, grand niece (daughter of John Dredge)
Elizabeth Down, grand niece (daughter of John Dredge)
Mary Dredge, niece
Harry Dredge, grand nephew (son of William Dredge)
Elizabeth Waldron late Elizabeth Gregory
William Waldron, husband of Elizabeth Waldron
Richard Down, occupier
Francis Gregory
William Gregory (son of Francis Gregory)
Rebecca Gregory (daughter of Francis Gregory)
Frances Dredge, grand niece (daughter of John Dredge)
Thomas Moody, land owner, deceased
Louisa Dredge, great grand niece (daughter of Frances Dredge)
Mary Dredge, great grand niece (daughter of Frances Dredge)
John Newton, land owner
Sarah Gregory, (daughter of Francis Gregory)
Richard Sweetman, servant
Mary Woodland
George Woodland, husband of Mary Woodland
Richard Dawkins, Close of Salisbury, Gardener
Mary Batten, servant
Ann Gregory (daughter of Francis Gregory)
Jno Swayne, witness
J B Pearse, witness
W Lowdry, witness
William Dredge, father of nephews John, William and niece Mary
Mary Dredge, wife of William Dredge and likely Mary Blake
Robert Dawkins, Netton
Polly Gregory (grand daughter of Francis Gregory)
Eliz: Gregory (daughter of Francis Gregory and mother of Polly)
Sarah Dredge
Thomas Dredge (husband of Sarah Dredge)
Richard Munday, land owner
George Down (husband of Elizabeth Down)
George Rowden, appearer, Great Wishford, yeoman
John Eve, appearer, Great Wishford, yeoman
Peter Harrison, Commissioner
William Doucher, notary public

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Dec 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1477/316
Testator: Thomas Blake, Gentleman
Place: Wishford, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Dec 1802, probated 30 Apr 1808
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Thomas
[Margin]: Blake

1    This is the Last Will
2    and Testament of me Thomas Blake of Wishford in
3    the County of Wilts Gentleman First I will and direct
4    that all my just debts Legacies Funeral and
5    Testamentary Expences be fully paid and satisfied
6    by my Executor hereinafter named I give and devise
7    to my Nephew John Dredge all and every and every
8    my Freehold Messuages or Tenements Lands and
9    hereditaments with the appurtenances situate and
10    being in the Borough of Wilton in the said County
11    of Wilts to hold the same unto the said John
12    Dredge and and assigns for and during the Terme of
13    his natural life and from and immediately after
14    his decease I give and devise the said Messuages or
15    Tenements Lands and heredit[ament]s to John Dredge Son
16    of my said Nephew John Dredge and his heirs
17    for and during the Term of his natural life without
18    Impeachment of Waste and after the determination
19    of that Estate then I give and devise the said
20    Freehold premises to my Friend John Rowden and
21    Nephew Solomon Dredge and their heirs during
22    the life of the said John Dredge the Son upon trust
23    to support and preserve the Contingent Estates
24    hereinafter limited from being defeated and for
25    that purpose to make entries as there shall be
26    occasion and from and immediately after the decease
27    of the said John Dredge the Son then I give and
28    devise the said Messuages or Tenements Lands and
29    heredits to the heirs of the Body of the said John
30    Dredge the Son lawfully to be begotten and in
31    default of such heirs then I give and devise all
32    and Singular the said Freehold premises unto
33    William Dredge Son of my said Nephew William
34    Dredge and to his heirs and assigns for ever I
35    also give to my said Nephew John Dredge my two
36    Leasehold dwelling houses with the Gardens and
37    Appurt[enance]s thereunto belonging situate and being in
38    the parish of South Newton in the said County
39    of Wilts now in the occupation of my Tenants
40    James Willis and Jane Blake and also my Leasehold
41    orchard in South Newton aforesaid now in the
43    occupation of my Tenant John Thomas which
44    said dwelling houses Gardens and Orchard are
45    part of my Estate called Lawes hereinafter mentioned
46    to hold the same unto my said Nephew John
47    Dredge and his assigns for so many years of my
48    Term therein as shall run out and expire during
49    his natural life and from and after his decease
50    I give the said dwelling houses Gardens and
51    orchard with the appurt[enance]s unto my said Nephew
52    Solomon Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
    [Page 2]
53    Assigns for all the remainder of my Term and
54    Estate therein then to come and I give and bequeath
55    my Estate called Lawes situate at South Newton
56    and Stowford (except such part and parts thereof as
57    are hereinbefore given to my said Nephew John Dredge
58    for his life as aforesaid) unto my said Nephew Solomon
59    Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
60    the remainder of my Term Estate and Interest therein
61    subject nevertheless to and charged and chargeable
62    with the payment of the several and respective
63    annuities yearly Rents or Sums next hereinafter
64    mentioned and I give and bequeath to my said
65    Nephew John Dredge and his assigns for and during
66    the Term of his natural life one annuity clear yearly
67    Rent or Sum of Ten pounds unto his daughter
68    Rebecca Matthews and her assigns during her life
69    one annuity clear yearly Rent or Sum of Ten pounds
70    and to his daughter Elizabeth Down and her assigns
71    during her life one annuity clear yearly Rent or
72    Sum of Ten pounds which said several life annuities
73    yearly Rents or Sums I will and direct shall be
74    Issuing and payable out of that part of my said
75    Estate called Lawes’s as is hereinbefore given to my
76    said Nephew Solomon Dredge and to be paid and
77    payable unto the said annuitants respectively
78    quarterly on the four most usual times of payment
79    in the year that is to say Michaelmas Christmas
80    Lady day and Midsummer the first payment of the
81    same respectively to be made on such of the said
82    days of payment as shall next happen after my
83    decease and I do hereby charge and subject the said part of my
84    said Estate called Lawes’s so given to my said
85    Nephew Solomon Dredge as aforesaid with and to
86    the payment of the said several annuities yearly
87    Rents or Sums accordingly and my will is that in
88    case the said annuities yearly Rents or Sums any or
89    either of them or any part thereof shall be behind
90    or unpaid by the space of Twenty days
91    next over or after either of the aforesaid Feast
92    wherein the same is hereinbefore directed to be paid
93    as aforesaid then and so often it shall and may be
94    lawful for my said Nephew John Dredge and the
95    said Rebecca Mathews and Elizabeth Down or such
96    of them to whom any arrears shall be due and
97    their respective assigns to enter upon all and every or
98    any part of the said premises charged with the said
99    several and respective annuities as aforesaid and distrain
100    for the same or for so much thereof as shall
101    be so in arrear and all Costs and Charges occasioned
102    by nonpayment thereof I give and devise my Freehold
103    Messuages or Tenements Farm Lands and hereditaments
104    with the appurtenances situate and being at Steeple
105    Langford
    [Page 3]
106    Langford in the said County of Wilts unto the said
107    John Rowden and to my Nephew William Dredge
108    and their heirs for and during the natural life
109    of my Niece Mary Dredge upon Trust and to the
110    Intent and purpose that they the said Trustees or
111    the Survivor of them or the heirs of such
112    Survivor do and shall receive and take the Rents
113    Issues and profits thereof and pay the same as
114    the same shall from time to time become due
115    and be paid unto my said Niece Mary Dredge to
116    and for her own proper use and benefit and not
117    to be subject to the debts Controul or Intermeddling
118    of any husband she may take and her own receipt
119    and receipts notwithstanding Coverture and which
120    sole or covert to be from time to time good and
121    Sufficient discharge and discharges to the person
122    paying the same and from and after the
123    determination of that Estate I give and devise the
124    said Messuages or Tenements Farm Lands and
125    heredit[ament]s at Steeple Langford aforesaid to the said
126    John Rowden and Solomon Dredge and their
127    heirs during the life of my said Niece Mary
128    Dredge upon Trust to support and preserve the
129    Contingent Estates hereinafter limited from being
130    defeated and for that purpose to make entries
131    if there shall be occasion and from and
132    immediately after the decease of the said Mary
133    Dredge then I give and devise the said Messuages
134    or Tenements Farm Lands and heredit[ament]s to the heirs
135    of the Body of my said Niece Mary Dredge
136    lawfully to be begotten and in default of such
137    heirs then I give and devise the said last mentioned
138    hereditaments and premises unto John Dredge Son
139    of my said Nephew John Dredge and his heirs
140    for and during the Term of his natural life
141    without Impeachment of waste and after the
142    determination of that Estate then I give and
143    devise the said heredit[ament]s and premises last mentioned
144    to the said John Rowden and Solomon Dredge and
145    their heirs during the life of the said John Dredge
146    the Son upon Trust to support and preserve the
147    Contingent Estates hereinafter limited from being
148    defeated and for that purpose to make entries
149    as there shall be occasion and from and immediately
150    after the decease of the said John Dredge the Son then
151    I give and devise the said heredits and premises
152    to the heirs of the Body of the said John Dredge
153    the Son lawfully to be begotten and in default
154    of such heirs then I give and devise the said
155    heredits and premises unto William Dredge Son of
156    my said Nephew William Dredge and to his heirs
157    and assigns for ever I give to my said Nephew
158    William
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159    William Dredge all that my Leasehold Estate
160    called Austins’s situate at Newton aforesaid with its
161    rights members and appurt[enance]s to hold the same
162    unto my said Nephew William Dredge his Executors
163    Adm[inistrat]ors and assigns for all such Term Interest and
164    Estate as I may have to come therein to come at
165    the time of my decease I give to Harry Dredge Son
166    of the said William Dredge my several Leasehold
167    Estates situate at Stapleford in the said County of
168    Wilts to hold the same unto the said Harry
169    Dredge and his Assigns for so many years of
170    my Term Terms Estate Estates and Interests as I
171    shall have to come therein respectively at the
172    time of my decease as shall run out and expire
173    during his natural life and from and after his
174    decease I give the said several Leasehold Estates
175    for all the remainder of my Term Terms Estate
176    Estates and Interests therein respectively unto and
177    amongst all and every his Children equally share
178    and share alike if more than one as Tenants in
179    Common but if only one such Child shall be
180    living at the time of his decease then I give the
181    said last mentioned premises to such only Child
182    his or her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
183    the remainder of my Term Terms Estate Estates
184    and Interests therein respectively and in case the
185    said Harry Dredge shall happen to die without
186    leaving any Child of his Body lawfully begotten
187    then I give the said Leasehold Estate situate at
188    Stapleford aforesaid unto William Dredge another
189    Son of my said Nephew William Dredge his
190    Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder
191    of my Term Terms Estate Estates and Interests
192    therein respectively and I give to the said William
193    Dredge Son of my said Nephew William Dredge
194    my Leasehold Estate called Caffels situate at
195    Wishford aforesaid in a certain place there called
196    Lotmore and also my three Leasehold Tenements
197    adjoining or near adjoining to the houses and
198    Buildings belonging to the said Estate called
199    Caffels to hold the same unto the said William
200    Dredge the Son his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
201    for all the remainder of such Term Terms and
202    Estates as I shall have therein at the time of
203    my decease I give the Leasehold Messuage or
204    Tenement called Soodders situate at the said place
205    called Lotmore with the Garden and Appurt[enance]s as
206    now in the occupation of William Waldron unto
207    Elizabeth the Wife of the said William
208    Waldron late Elizabeth Gregory and her assigns for
209    the Term of her natural life if my Term and
210    Estate shall so long continue therein and after her
211    decease
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212    decease to my Nephew Solomon Dredge his
213    Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder
214    of my term therein then to come and I give the
215    Messuage or Tenement at Lotmore aforesaid with
216    the Garden and appurt[enance]s as now in the occupation
217    Richard Down also called Sooders unto William
218    Gregory son of Francis Gregory and his Assigns
219    for the Term of his natural life if my Term
220    and Estate shall so long continue therein and
221    from and after his decease I give the same to my
222    said Nephew Solomon Dredge his Executors
223    Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder of my
224    Term Estate and Interest therein I give one of
225    the two dwelling houses belonging to my Leasehold
226    Estate at Wishford aforesaid called Brown’s late
227    Moodys situate at a place called Townsend (that
228    is to say) the house called the upper Tenement
229    with the Garden and appurt[enance]s thereto belonging
230    unto Rebecca Gregory daughter of Francis Gregory
231    to hold the same to the said Rebecca Gregory her
232    Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder
233    of my Term therein and I give the other
234    dwelling house with the Lands and appurt[enance]s
235    belonging to the said Estate called Brown’s
236    (late Moody’s) unto the said Francis Gregory to
237    hold the same unto the said Francis Gregory and
238    his Assigns for the Term of his natural life if
239    my Estate and Interest therein shall so long continue
240    and from and after his decease I give the said
241    last mentioned house and Lands belonging to the
242    said Estate called Brown’s late Moodys with the
243    Rights members and appurt[enance]s thereto belonging to his
244    daughter the said Rebecca Gregory her Executors
245    Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder of my
246    Term therein then to come I give to Frances Dredge
247    daughter of my said Nephew John Dredge all that
248    my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement Estate and Land
249    situate at Wishford aforesaid near the said place
250    called Lotmore and which I lately purchased of the
251    personal Representatives of Thomas Moody deceased
252    to hold the same unto the said Frances
253    Dredge and her Assigns for and during the Term of
254    her natural life if my Term and Estate therein shall
255    so long continue and from and after her decease I
256    give the said last mentioned Leasehold Messuage or
257    Tenement Estate and Lands unto Louisa Dredge
258    daughter of the said Frances Dredge for the Term of
259    her natural life and provided she dies leaving Issue
260    of her Body lawfully to be begotten then I give
261    and bequeath the said Leasehold Messuage or
262    Tenement Estate and Lands from and after her
263    decease unto her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
264    for
    [Page 6]
265    for all the remainder of my Term therein to
266    come and in case the said Louisa Dredge shall
267    happen to die without leaving any Child or Children
268    as aforesaid then I give the said Leasehold Messuage
269    or Tenement Estate and Lands last mentioned unto
270    Mary Dredge the other daughter of the said Frances
271    Dredge her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the
272    remainder of my Term Interest and Estate therein
273    then to come I give and devise all those my two
274    Freehold Estates situate at South Newton aforesaid
275    called Butts and Randalls with the houses orchards
276    Lands and heredit[ament]s thereunto belonging unto the
277    said John Dredge Son of my said Nephew John
278    Dredge for and during the Term of his natural life
279    without Impeachment of waste and after the
280    determination of that Estate then I give and devise
281    the said Freehold Estates called Butts and Randalls
282    with the house orchard Lands and heredit[ament]s thereunto
283    belonging belonging unto the said John Rowden and
284    Solomon Dredge and their heirs during the life of
285    the said John Dredge the Son upon Trust to support
286    and preserve the Contingent Estate hereinafter
287    limited from being defeated and for that purpose to
288    make entries as there shall be occasion and from
289    and immediately after the decease of the said John
290    Dredge the Son then I give and devise the said
291    Freehold Estates called Butts and Randalls to the
292    heirs of the Body of the said John Dredge the Son
293    lawfully to be begotten and in default of such heirs
294    then to the said William Dredge Son of my said
295    Nephew William Dredge and to his heirs and
296    Assigns for ever also I give to the said John Dredge
297    Son of my said Nephew John Dredge and his
298    Assigns for and during the natural life of his
299    Father John Dredge one annuity clear yearly Rent
300    or Sum of Ten pounds to be Issuing and payable
301    out of my Leasehold Estate called Waglands
302    hereinafter mentioned by equal half yearly
303    payments that is to say at Lady Day and
304    Michaelmas Day the first payment thereof to
305    begin and be made on such of the said days as
306    shall happen next after my decease and I do
307    hereby charge and subject the said Leasehold called
308    Waglands with and to the payment of the said
309    annuity yearly Rent or Sum accordingly and my will
310    is that in case the said annuity yearly Rent or
311    Sum or any part thereof shall be behind or
312    unpaid by the space of Twenty days days next
313    over or after either of the aforesaid days wherein
314    the same is hereinbefore directed to be paid as
315    aforesaid then and so often it shall and may
316    be lawful for the said John Dredge the Son
317    and
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318    and his Assigns to enter upon all of any part of
319    the said premises charged with the said annuity as
320    aforesaid and distrain for the sum or for so
321    much thereof as shall be so in arrear and
322    all Costs and Charges occasioned by Nonpayment
323    thereof and I give and bequeath my said
324    Leasehold Estate called Waglands situate at
325    Wishford aforesaid the Rights Members and Appurt[enance]s
326    thereto belonging unto my Nephew Solomon Dredge
327    to hold the same unto the said Solomon Dredge
328    his Executors Adm[inistrator]s and Assigns for all the
329    remainder of such Term Interest and Estate as I
330    shall have to come therein at the time of my
331    decease subject nevertheless to and charged and
332    chargeable with the payment of the said annuity
333    yearly Rent or Sum of Ten pounds unto the said
334    John Dredge the Son and his Assigns during the
335    life of his said Father John Dredge as aforesaid and
336    not longer I give to the said Solomon Dredge all
337    that my Leasehold Estate late John Newtons situate
338    at a certain place in Wishford aforesaid called Cobbs
339    Mile with its rights members and appurt[enance]s except
340    the dwelling house Garden and appurt[enance]s thereunto
341    belonging to hold the same unto the said Solomon
342    Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
343    the remainder of my Term Interest and Estate
344    therein and I give the said excepted dwelling house
345    Garden and appurt[enance]s to Sarah Gregory daughter of
346    the aforesaid Frances Gregory and her Assigns for
347    the Term of her natural life if my Term and
348    Interest shall so long continue therein and from and
349    after her decease I give the said last mentioned
350    dwelling house Garden and apurt[enance]s unto the said
351    Solomon Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
352    for all the remainder of my Term Interest and
353    Estate therein then to come Also I give unto the
354    said Solomon Dredge all that my Leasehold Estate
355    situate at Wishford aforesaid called Munday with
356    its rights members and appurt[enance]s except the
357    dwelling house Gardens and appurt[enance]s thereto
358    belonging now in the occupation of my Servant
359    Richard Sweetman To hold the same unto the
360    said Solomon Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and
361    Assigns for all the remainder of the Term
362    Interest and Estate which I shall have to come
363    therein and I give the said excepted dwelling
364    house and Garden last mentioned with the appurt[enance]s to Mary
365    Woodland Wife of George Woodland and her Assigns
366    for and during the Term of her natural life if
367    my Term and Interest shall so long continue
368    therein and from and after her decease I give
369    and bequeath the same unto the said Solomon
370    Dredge
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371    Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
372    the remainder of my Term Interest and Estate
373    therein then to come also I give to the said Solomon
374    Dredge all that my Leasehold Messuage Tenement
375    or dwelling house wherein I now reside at Wishford
376    aforesaid with the Lands and apurt[enance]s thereunto
377    belonging called the Scone living to hold the
378    same unto the said Solomon Dredge and his
379    Assigns for and during the Term of his natural life
380    if my Estate and Interest shall so long continue therein
381    and from and after his decease then I give and
382    bequeath the said Messuage Tenement or dwelling
383    house with the Lands and appurt[enance]s thereunto belonging
384    called the Scone living unto such one or more of
385    his Children as he the said Solomon Dredge shall
386    in and by his last Will and Testament give limit
387    and appoint the same and in default of such Will
388    Gift limitation and appointment then unto the
389    Eldest Son of the said Solomon Dredge lawfully to
390    be begotten as shall be living at the time of his
391    decease and to his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for
392    all the remainder of my Term therein then to come
393    and if no such Son then to the Eldest daughter
394    of the said Solomon Dredge lawfully to be begotten
395    as shall be living at the time of his decease
396    and to her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
397    the remainder of my Term therein then to
398    come and in case my said Nephew Solomon Dredge
399    shall happen to die without leaving any Son or
400    daughter lawfuly to be begotten then I give the
401    said last mentioned Messuage or Tenement or
402    dwelling house with the Lands and appurt[enance]s
403    unto the said Louisa Dredge daughter of the said
404    Frances Dredge her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
405    for all the remainder of my Term therein then
406    to come I give and bequeath to the said John
407    Rowden William Dredge and Solomon Dredge Seven
408    hundred pounds Eighteen Shillings and Nine pence
409    Capital Stock now standing in my Name in the
410    three per Centum Consolidated Bank Annuities with
411    the Interest and dividends due and growing due for the
412    same at the time of my decease upon Trust and to
413    the Intent and purpose that they the said John Rowden
414    William Dredge and Solomon Dredge or the Survivors
415    or Survivor of them their or his Executors or Adm[inistrat]ors to
416    and shall stand possessed of the said Stock and
417    receive and pay the Interest and dividends as shall
418    from time to time arise and be made thereof unto
419    the said Louisa Dredge and her Assigns for and
420    during the Term of her natural life to and for
421    her own proper use and benefit and not to be
422    subject to the debts Controul or Intermeddling of any
423    husband
    [Page 9]
424    husband she may take and her own receipt and
425    receipts notwithstanding Coverture and whether sole
426    or Covert to be from time to time good and
427    Sufficient discharge and discharges for the same
428    and provided the said Louisa Dredge shall die
429    leaving Issue of her Body lawfully to be begotten
430    then from and after her decease I give and bequeath
431    the said Capital Stock and the Interest and dividends
432    then due and growing due for the same unto her
433    Executors and Adm[inistrat]ors and in case the said Louisa
434    Dredge shall happen to die without leaving any
435    Child or Children as aforesaid then I give the said Seven
436    hundred pounds Eighteen Shillings and Nine pence
437    Capital Stock three per Centum Consolidated Bank
438    Annuities with the Interest and dividends due and
439    growing due for the same at the time of her
440    decease unto the said Frances Dredge Mother of the
441    said Louisa Dredge if she shall be then living
442    to and for her own proper use but if she shall
443    be then dead then to her daughter the said
444    Mary Dredge her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns I give
445    and bequeath to Richard Dawkins of the Close of
446    Salisbury in the said County of Wilts Gardener the
447    Sum of Two hundred pounds To my Servant Mary
448    Batten if she shall be living with me at the time
449    of my decease the Sum of one hundred and fifty pounds
450    and to Ann Gregory daughter of Frances Gregory if
451    she shall be also living with me at the time of
452    my decease the Sum of one hundred pounds which
453    said several Legacies I hereby Will and direct shall
454    be paid by my Executor hereinafter named within
455    twelve Months next after my decease and as
456    for and concerning all the rest residue and
457    remainder of my Monies Securities for Monies Stock
458    in husbandry and all and Singular other my
459    Estate whatsoever and wheresoever both real and
460    personal I give devise and bequeath the same
461    unto my said Nephew Solomon Dredge to hold
462    the same unto the said Solomon Dredge his
463    heirs Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for ever or
464    for and during all such Term Terms Estate Estates
465    and Interests as I shall have therein respectively
466    at the time of my decease and I make Nominate
467    Constitute and appoint the said Solomon Dredge whole
468    and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament
469    hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me
470    at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I
471    the said Thomas Blake the Testator have to this
472    my last Will and Testament contained in this and
473    the Seven other Sheets of paper hereunto annexed
474    to the first Seven Sheets thereof set my hand and
475    my hand and Seal to this eighth and last Sheet
476    this
    [Page 10]
477    this Sheet this Twenty third day of December
478    in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred
479    and two Thos Blake Signed Sealed published
480    and declared by the said Thomas Blake the
481    Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in
482    the presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed
483    our Names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of
484    the said Testator and of each other Jno Swayne
485    J B Pearse  W Lowdry
486    Whereas I have gave all my Freehold
487    Estate at Steeple Langford to my Executors In Trust
488    for Mary Dredge of Wishford daughter of
489    William and Mary Dredge my Will is that
490    they do pay her but six pounds every quarter
491    of a year and if she do Marry then the whole
492    of the Estate to go to my Executor during Mary
493    Dredges life Thos Blake July 25 1805
494    Whereas I have gave to Harry Dredge
495    on my Will all my two Leasehold Estates at
496    Sureton in the parish of Stapleford my will is
497    that my Executor Solomon Dredge shall have
498    the Estate paying Harry Dredge twelve pounds
499    a year half yearly as long as my Interest shall
500    so long continue in the Estate Thos Blake Decr 26
501    1805 if he sells his right in the Estate it is
502    to be paid no longer
503    I give to Richard Dawkins Son of Richard
504    Dawkins of Salisbury Fifty pounds I give to all
505    the Children of Robert Dawkins of Netton that
506    be living at my decease Twenty pound each to
507    be paid in twelve Months after I give to Francis
508    Gregory all the three houses at End late Newtons
509    for his life and the Land after his decease I give
510    the Dower House to his Grand docter Polly
511    Gregory dafter of his dafter Eliz Gregory for
512    her life I give to Sarah Dredge Wife of Thos
513    Dredge the house late Richard Mundays for
514    her life if she do not mary Thos Blake Jan
515    21 1807
516    Whereas I have on my will gave to
517    Eliz: Down wife of George Down of Newton
518    Ten pounds a year for her life in an Estate
519    late at Newton if my Interest shall so long
520    continue my will is she shall have but five
521    pounds
    [Page 11]
522    pounds a year and Rebeckah Mathews to have
523    the other five pound a year the other five pound
524    a year paid her during my Interest on the
525    Estate to be paid half yearly June 26 1807 Thos Blake
526    Appeared Personally
527    John Rowden of Great Wishford in the County of
528    Wils Gentleman George Rowden of Great
529    Wishford in the said County of Wilts Yeoman
530    and John Eve of Great Wishford in the said
531    County of Wilts Yeoman and made oath that
532    they know and were well acquainted with
533    Thomas Blake late of Wishford in the County of
534    wilts Gentleman deceased and also with his
535    manner and Character of handwriting and
536    Subscription having seen him write and write and
537    Subscribe his Name and having with care and
538    attention viewed and observed the paper writing
539    hereunto annexed bearing date the Twenty fifth day
540    of July One thousand Eight hundred and five and
541    purporting to be a Codicil to the last Will and
542    Testament of the said deceased bearing date the
543    Twenty third day of December one thousand Eight
544    hundred and two and which said Codicil begins
545    thus “whereas I have gave all my Freehold Estate”
546    ends thus “during Mary Dredges life” and thus
547    Subscribed Thos Blake July 25 1805 they these
548    appearers do say that they verily and in their
549    Consciences believe the whole series and contents
550    of such Codicil beginning ending and Subscribed
551    as aforesaid to be all the handwriting and
552    Subscription of the said Thomas Blake deceased
553    John Rowden George Rowden John Eve on the
554    Twenty third day of April in the year of our
555    Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eight the
556    said John Rowden George Rowden and John Eve
557    were sworn to the Truth of the above affidavit
558    before me Peter Harrison Commissioner in the
559    presence of Will: Doucher Not. Pub.
560    Appeared Personally
561    George Rowden of Wishford in the County of Wilts
562    Yeoman and John Eve of Wishford in the said
563    County of Wilts Yeoman and made oath that they
564    know and were well acquainted with acquainted
565    with Thomas Blake late of Wishford in the County
566    of Wilts Gentleman deceased and also with his
567    manner and Character of handwriting and Subscription
568    having seen him write and write and Subscribe his
569    name and having with care and attention viewed
570    and
    [Page 12]
571    and observed three several Codicils to the
572    last Will and Testament of the said deceased
573    bearing date the Twenty third day of December
574    in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight
575    hundred and two and which said three several
576    Codicils bear date the Twenty sixth day of
577    December one thousand Eight hundred and five
578    the Thirty first day of January One thousand
579    Eight hundred and Seven and the Twenty sixth
580    day of June one thousand Eight hundred and
581    Seven the first of which said Codicils begins
583    thus “whereas I have gave to Harry Dredge” ends
583    thus “it is to be paid no longer” and is thus
584    Subscribed Thos Blake Decr 26 1805 the second
585    begins thus “I give to Richard Dawkins “ ends
586    thus “if she does not Marry” and is thus Subscribed
587    Thos Blake Jany 31 1807 the Third begins thus
588    “whereas I have on my will” ends thus “to be
589    paid half yearly” and is thus subscribed June
590    26 1807 Thos Blake They these appearers do
591    say that they verily and in their Consciences
592    believe the whole series and Contents of the
593    said recited Codicils beginning ending and
594    Subscribed as aforesaid to be all of the proper
595    handwriting and Subscription of the said Thomas
596    Blake deceased George Rowden John Eve
597    on the Twenty third day of April in the
598    Year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred
599    and Eight the said George Rowden and John
600    Eve were sworn to the truth of the above
601    affidavit before me Peter Harrisson Commissioner
602    in the presence of Willm Doucher Not Pub.
603    This Will was proved at
604    London with four Codicils the Thirtieth day of
605    April in the year of our Lord one thousand
606    Eight hundred and Eight hundred and Eight
607    before the Right honorable Sir William Wynne
608    Knight doctor of Laws Master or Commissary of
609    the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
610    Constituted by the Oath of Solomon Dredge the
611    sole Executor named in the said Will to whom
612    Administration was granted of all and Singular
613    the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said
614    deceased he having been first sworn by
615    Commission duly to administer