Will of Clementia Blake, spinster, Bristol - The National Archives PROB 11/1574/256, probated 16 Nov 1815

Another Blake family will that mentions Walcot Bath. Clementia is the daughter of William Blake who left his will in 1792 and will be transcribed later.

Clementia Blake was buried 29 Sep 1815 at St Stephen, Bristol. She was 70 years of age giving her an estimated birth year of 1745. This is a transcription by Family Search (digital folder number 004242565, image number 15).

The marriage of Mary Blake to John Marsh took place in 1778 at St James Bristol (Family Search M17286-5).

Rebecca, the sister of the testatrix, could be the Rebecca Blake christened at Bristol 21 Apr 1759 (Family Search) and the daughter of William and Rebecca Blake). More will be learned from William’s will plus is this "possibly" a descendant line of Ambrose Blake of Pinhills?

The last couple of days I am coming to realize that many of these Gloucestershire Wills belong to the Blake family of Calne descendants. When I do the will of William Blake probated in 1792 I will attempt to bring all of these wills together and create a family tree for the descendants of Ambrose as shown by the wills. Finding more information on Ambrose would be interesting but this is a difficult period in England during the Civil War and then the Commonwealth under Cromwell when parish registers were forbidden and many items unrecorded. 

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 13 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1574/256
Testator:  Clementia Blake, Spinster
Place: Bristol, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 18 Apr 1814, probated 16 Nov 1815
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Clementia
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 12

1    By the Permission of God
2    I Clementia Blake of the City of Bristol spinster being of sound and
3    disposing mind memory and understanding do this eighteenth day of
4    April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen
5    make publish declare this my last will and Testament in manner
6    following that is to say I give and devise unto Daniel Taylor
7    Haythorne of the parish of Stapleton in the County of Gloucester Esq[uie]r
8    and Mr Richard Jones of the Parish of Saint Paul in the City of Bristol
9    Taylor their heirs all that my freehold messuage or Tenements situate
10    on the East side of Saint James’s Church now in the parish of Saint
11    James in the said City now or late in the occupation of William
12    Hammings patten maker to hold the same unto the said Daniel Taylor
13    Haythorne and the said Richard Jones and their heirs for ever to the
14    use and upon the trust herein after expressed and declared of concerning
15    the same that is to say to the use of my Friend Edward Cartor of the
16    City of Bristol Carpenter with whom I now reside in trust for the said
17    Edward Carter and for his sole use benefit and for the use benefit of
18    his heirs assigns for ever and to for or upon no other use trust
19    intent or purpose whatsoever which said messuage or Tenement I
20    give to the said Edward Carter in manner aforesaid from the great
21    regard I have form for him and for his late Wife Mary Carter for
22    the many kindnesses they hath shown me Whereas the sum of two
23    hundred seventy pounds or thereabout was placed out at interest in
24    the name of Mr Jeremiah Osborne a Trustee on that occasion
25    on security of a messuage being no 17 in Kingsmead street in the
26    parish of Walcot Bath in the County of Somerset now in the occupation
27    of Adam Hevor I give the said messuage or Tenement as far as I have
28    any power or control respecting the same unto the said Daniel Taylor
29    Haythorne and the said Richard Jones upon trust for the use and
30    benefit of the said Edward Carter during his life I also give him all rent
31    that shall at my decease be due to me for the said two messuages
32    or Tenements and from and after his decease I give devise the said
33    messuage or Tenement in Kingsmead street unto and to the use of the
34    three children of my late Brother William Blake equally between
35    them and their respective heirs and assigns for ever as tenants in
36    common also I give bequeath unto the said Edward Carter all and
37    every debt and debts sum sums of money if any that may at the time
38    of my decease be due or owing from him to me on any account
39    whatsoever or it being my will and intention that he shall never be
40    sued disquieted or questioned by any person whomsoever respecting any
41    receipts payments or other transactions relative to me or my concerns
42    now in my life time and whereas my late Father William Blake
43    by his Will gave to trustees therein named the sum of three hundred
44    pounds upon trust to invest the same in an annuity for my life and
45    for my use to be secured as therein mentioned but which annuity
46    hath not been purchased and I have hitherto received only commission
47    interest on the said Sum of three hundred pounds which sum
48    and other monies due belonging to me and now in the hands
49    or power of John Marsh now or late of Bath Esq[uire] as one of the
50    Trustees of my said late Fathers Will now I give the said sum
51    of three hundred pounds unto my nephew Henry Marsh son of
52    the said John March subject nevertheless to the payment thereout
53    of all my just debts funeral Expences and the cost of proving this
54    my will upon condition that lawful interest for the said Sum
55    be duly paid to me up to the time of my decease also I give the
56    sum of one hundred pounds to each of my two sisters Rebecca
57    Mogg and Mary Marsh out of the monies due to me as my share of
58    my late Fathers residuary Estate and now in the hands of said John
60    Marsh and as to all the residue remainder of my monies and Estate no herein
61    before disposed of I give the same to the three daughters of the said Mary
62    Marsh equally between them and I do hereby constitute and appoint my
63    said Friend Edward Carter sole Exor of this my will and revoke all former wills
64    by me made and declare this only to be my last In Witness whereof I
65    have hereunto set my hand and seal the day year first above written
66    Clementia Blake Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testatrix
67    Clementia Blake as and for her last will and Testament in the presence of us
68    who in her presence at her request in the presence of each other have
69    subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto P Penton Jno Brady
70    Rd Jones
71    Proved at London 16 Novr 1815 before the Judge by the oath of
72    Edward Carter the sole Exor to whom admon was granted being sworn by
73    Comon to admr

Will of Robert Blake, Enham near Andover, Hampshire - Hampshire Record Office 1542B-06, probated 22 Jun 1542

This will with Robert Blake of Enham near Andover was a challenge. Written 28 April 1542 and probated 22 June 1542, I am most fortunate that it is in English as wills prior to the early 1540s were all in Latin.

The full transcript of this will is very revealing as I had only seen an abstract and it proved to be a very short abstract in reality.

Robert lists his sons as Robert, John, William, John, Richard and Thomas. This order is somewhat different from what I have seen in other accounts and differs from the one I published on my blog which had been created by Charlou Dolan. But she was working with an abstract.

The mention of the mill at Clatford is interesting as this property stayed in the Blake family well in the 1700s.

Robert does not identify Nicholas Blake as his brother but their mother had named her sons as Robert and Nicholas.

Will of Jone Blake, widow blogged:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/09/will-of-jone-blake-hampshire-record.html

Robert does not mention his sister Elizabeth so she has perhaps died. His wife was named Agnes and I find the reference to Richard Andrew interesting. Since he is holding money for his sons is he perhaps his brother in law? Would be interesting to discover that. There is a will for a Richard Andrew of Freefolk in Hampshire which was probated 9 Jun 1542. Freefolk is 6 miles north west from the railway station at Andover Road. His will could be quite revealing and I will think about it for a bit before ordering it as I have quite a bit on hand and it could wait for a bit.

Robert six sons leave a lot of descendants in the Andover area into the 1600s. I have not yet traced his line down and hope to do that one of these days. I do have the work that Charlou Dolan did and I have blogged it:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2011/02/robert-blake-family-at-knights-enham.html

Still working on the Probate to see if all his sons were of age at the time of writing the will. This is my line at Upper Clatford as the wife of Richard Blake was possibly Jone Blake daughter of this Robert’s eldest son Robert but could also have been William’s daughter. Richard descends from Nicholas Blake as his grandson with William being his father (Nicholas had two sons William and Stephen but have not yet found any children for Stephen).

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 2 Jan 2014
Source: Hampshire Record Office, 1542B-06
Testator: Robert Blake
Place: Enham near Andover, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 28 April 1542, probated 22 Jun 1542
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: 1542B/6

1    In the Name of god Amen the xxviij day of Ap[r]ell the yere of o[u]r Lorde m ccccc xlii I Robert Blake of
2    yeh[a]m [i]n p[ar]yshe of Andever in gud rem[em]bnce of mynde mak my testame[n]t and last wyll [i]n forme and man[ner]
3    followyng Fyrst I beque[a]th my soll to almygty god to o[u]r lady seynt mary and to all the holy c[om]pany of hevyn and
4    my body to be buryd [i]n the church lytte off Andever It[e]m I gyve to the fine church of Wychest viij d It[e]m to
5    the church of o[u]r lady [i]n Andever on[e] sheepe It[e]m to the church of yeham on[e] sheepe It[e]m to Rob[ert] my eld[e]st
6    son ij holds on[e] callyd Whyte harys and the other clarks It[e]m to John my second son I geve the holde wh[i]ch I dwellyn
7    callyd Relands It[e]m to agnes my wyff on[e] holde at penton and the on[e] halfe of all thyngs ther B[e]lo[n]gi[n]g
8    for the terme of her widewhud and the other halfe of the f[o]re sayd hold I wyll yt John my yonger son and Thomas
9    hys brother shall occupy wyth her And aft[er] her widewhude estate to Remayne holl unto the forsayd
10    John and Thomas my sones It[e]m I geve to Wyllya[m] and to Richard my yongest sones on[e] myll at clatford
11    and x li of mony lyyng [i]n the ha[n]ds of Rycharde Andrew esquire It[e]m I geve to agnes my wyff
12    ij kyne and all the husolde stuff yf she lievs wyth hee The Resydew of my godds not bequeathed I geve
13    and beque[a]th to Robert John Wyllya[m] John Thomas and Rychard my sones wh[i]ch I mak my executors
14    they to do w[ha]t the[n] for the helth of my soll as they shal thinke best Wytnes herof Nicholas Blake
15    Willya[m] Fletwode and Robert Kygall and Robert Palford Wt then Also hyt ys my Wyll th[a]t Nicholas Blake
16    Wyllya[m] Fletwode Robert Kygall and Robert Palford shall equally devyde my godds amongs my forsayd
17    chylderne and end s[u]m of them to have vj s vij d for ther labors

Will of Cicelie Beaver, Widow, of Kingsclere - The National Archives, probated 15 Jun 1619

The spelling of the surname in this will is Beaver and Cicelie Beaver widow lived at Ecchinswell near Kingsclere which is just 10 miles WNW of Basingstoke and 12 miles NE of Andover so again rather interesting as this is 1618 and my Anthony Beaver/Bever was probably born around 1680 (earlier or later) and I have no information on him prior to his marriage with Susanna Johnson 20 Jul 1710 at Upper Clatford. There are 25 Bever wills and 71 Beaver wills (5 of these overlap). At the time that I picked them I was choosing on the basis of location but glancing once again there are probably several interesting ones but they will wait for another time.

This is the sort of will that you wish all of your relatives would leave naming so many of her kinsmen and kinswomen. What a treasure for her family. I have no idea if she is related to my Bever/Beaver family at Upper Clatford and Goodworth Clatford. This is too early as Anthony Bever married Susanna Johnson 20 Jul 1710 at Upper Clatford nearly one hundred years later. Interesting though the reference to Fareley as one of my great grandfather's sisters married David Farley in 1853. Perhaps I should attempt to trace David back - I know his parents were John Farley and Mary Yeates who married 25 Jul 1822 at Andover.

Cicely only names her side of the family it would appear and does not mention any children. There is a Bever/Beaver family at Kingsclere on the IGI. I discovered the birth of an older brother to my Dinah Bever on the IGI Anthony baptized 5 Nov 1710 at Upper Clatford.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 21 Jan 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/133/693
Testator: Cicelie Beaver, widow
Place: Kingsclere Hampshire, England
Date of document: 11 Dec 1618, probated 15 Jun 1619
Read: Electronic copy images
Document quality: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Cicelie
[Margin]: Beaver

1    In the name of God Amen The eleaventh day
2    of December Anno D[o]m[ini] 1618 I Cicelie Beaver of Ecchinswell in the parish of Kingsclere
3    and countie of South[amp]ton widdowe beinge weake of Bodye but of good and perfect remembrance
4    thanks be unto God, doe ordaine and make this my last Will and Testament in manner and
5    forme followinge, utterlie frustratinge, cancellinge, and makinge voyde all former
6    wills, and testaments whatsoever heartofore by mee made First and above all things
7    I bequeath my soule unto Almightie God my maker trustinge most assuredlie to bee
8    saved by the death, passion and bloudshedinge of Jesus Christ my onlie savio[u]r and Redeemer
9    and my Bodie to be buried in the Churchyarde of Kingsclere aforesaid. Item I give and
10    bequeath to the Mother Church at Winchester fouer pence. Item I give and bequeath to
11    the parish church of Kingsclere two shillings. And to the Chappell of Ecchinswell
12    twoe shillings Item I give and bequeath to widdowe Robnnt twelve pence. Item I give and bequeath
13    to all the other poore people in Ecchinswell aforesaid fouer shillings to be bestowed at the
14    discre[t]ion of my overseers. Item I give and bequeath to everie of my Godchildren iiij pence apeece
15    Item whereas I lent unto my sister Elizabeth Helyer, the some of three pounds, longe since
16    I doe freelie give and forgive her the said Elizabeth the sayd three poundes. Item I give
17    and bequeath unto Jane Fareley my sister the wife of William Fareley, the somme of Tenne
18    poundes of lawful money of Englande, my best gowne, my best hatt, one brasse pott of
19    two gallons, one brasse kettle of fouer gallons, or upwards and one other lesser kettle
20    w[i]thout abassed, three pewter platters, one lockram sheete, and one canvas sheete, a bed
21    w[hi]ch is in her owne custodie, a feather boulster, one greene saye aprone, and one cofer
22    Item I give and bequeath to Jane Farelie, the daughter of Jane Fareley, my sister,
23    the some of Tenne poundes of lawfull money of Englande, my Fustian waistcoaste, and a
24    brasse pott neare aboute a pecke, one brasse chaffinge dish, one skillett neare aboute
25    a quarte, one payre of tonges, and Fiershovell, my best cofer, and my beste petticoate
26    Item I give and bequeath to Agnes Fareley, one other of the daughters of the said Jane
27    Fareley, my sister, the some of Tenne poundes of lawfull money of Englande, one Feather bed
28    and feather boulster, my best coverlett, my Joyned Bedstede, one brasse kettle aboute a
29    pecke, my second best Gowne, my seconde best cofer, one canvas sheete, and one Table
30    cloth neare aboute three ells. Item I give and bequeath to my sister Jane Fareley,
31    her two daughters, all my weareing linnen aparell to be equallie devided amongest them
32    Item I give and bequeath to John Fareley the sonne of the said Jane Fareley my sister
33    the some of three pounds of lawfull money of England, and one cofer Item my Will
34    and true meaninge is that the money hearein given to my sister Jane, and her children
35    shal[l ]be paid one yeare nexte after my decease yf either of them shall dep[ar]te this life before
36    the same shal[l ]be payable, I doe notwithstandinge, ordayne and appoint that he, she
37    or they soe dyinge shall have full power to give, and bequeath, or otherwise assigne
38    the portion to him, her, or them to be due, w[hi]ch shal[l ]be paid accordinglie as if the partie
39    hearein named, were lyvinge, and at the time hearein appointed. Item I give and
40    bequeath to John Lingam my kinsman, the some of Seaven poundes of lawfull money
41    of England, to be paide w[i]thin sixe monethes next after my decease, And to his daughter
42    Agnes, tenne shillings. Item I give and bequeath to John Burneface my kinsman
43    the Twentie shillings w[hi]ch he oweth mee, To John the sonne, tenne shillinges, to Mary
44    his daughter, tenne shillings, To Jane his daughter twentie shillings, And to
45    Dorothie his daughter, my goddaughter, Thirtie shillings. Item I give and bequeath
46    to John Stone th[e ]elder, the twentie shillings w[hi]ch he oweth me, and other twentie
47    shillings. And to Dorothie his daughter my kinswoman, Fortie shillings Item I
48    give and bequeath to Eedie P[en]tone my kinswoman, three poundes of lawfull money
49    of England, to be paid w[i]thin sixe monethes nexte after my decease. Item I give, and
50    bequeath to Dorothie Smyth, the wife of William Smith, x s w[i]thin three
52    monethes next after my decease w[hi]ch I will shee shall ymploye to p[ro]vide her cloathes
    [Page 2]
53    Item I give and bequeath to Walter Camber the younger Twentie shillings Item I
54    give and bequeath to William Winckworth the Twenty shillings w[hi]ch he oweth me And to
55    Ellen his weiffe Tenne shillings Item I give and bequeath to Grahame Legatt my
56    kinsman Twentie shillings Item I give and bequeath to John Stone the younger
57    Twentie shillings The residue of my goodes and chattells unbequeathed my debtes
58    legacies and funeralls discharged and paid I give and bequeath to Richard Walter
59    my kinsman, whome I doe make my sole and onelie executor of this my will and testament
60    Item I ordaine and appointe Overseers of this my will and testament to see it
61    performed and kept Nicholas Winckworth and Richarde Clemence th[e ]elder
62    And I give to them for their paines Five shillings a peece, Those bearing witnes
63    Abraham Walter John Rumboule John Penton William Winckworth John
64    Stone th[e ]elder and Walter Camber Cicely Beaver's marke
65    The sixteenth day of December Anno D[omi]ni 1618 I the above named
66    Cicelye Beaver doe adde this followinge to be p[ar]cell of my will and testament
67    And I charge my Executors to performe it Item I give and bequeath to Alice
68    Kember otherwise Camber my kinswoman Thirtie shillings Item I give and
69    bequeath to William Painter Thirtie shillings Item I give and bequeath to
70    the fouer children of Paule Stone my kinsman deceased Fortie shillings to
71    be equallie devided amongst them And my true meaninge is that the stock
72    shal[l ]be p[er]formed for them untill they shal[l ]be of the age of Twentie one yeares and the use
73    thereof towardes theyre breedinge Item I give and bequeath to Marye Pinnocke ten
74    shillings Item I give and bequeath to William Fareley my brother in lawe twentie
75    shillings Item I give and bequeath to Jane Farelie my sister Three poundes of lawfull
76    money of England above her portion formerlie given and one brasse panne, my cloke
77    and my newe red petticoate Item I give and bequeath to Agnes Fareley my kinswoman
78    Fortie shillings above her former portion and one brasse pott neare about a gallon
79    Item I give and bequeath to John Lingam the younger Tenne shillings Item I give
80    and bequeath to Nicholas Walter my kinsman Fouer poundes of lawfull money of
81    Englande If Richarde Walter shall heareafter refuse to be my Executor, then I
82    nominate Richarde Clemence and Jane Fareley my sister to bee ioynt Executors to
83    performe this my will and testament Item I give and bequeath to Alice Martin
84    Twentie shillings Item I give and bequeath to widdowe Francklin Five
85    shillinges Cicelie Beavers marke. Witnesses so are into Nicholas
86    Winckworth and Walter Camber and Ellen Francklin

Will of Thomas Blake gentleman of Saint Albans Hertfordshire - National Archives PROB 11/26/55, probated 20 Feb 1536/37

I have just one will from Hertfordshire and it is for Thomas Blake and was probated 20 Feb 1536/37. The Blake family in Hertfordshire appears at Abbots Walden in Saint Albans in the early part of the 1500s living at Abbots Walden which was part of the large monastic centre at St Albans dismantled during the late 1530s early 1540s. British History online discussing the Abbots Walden has a write up on the property mentioned below:

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43301

ADVOWSON

The church of Abbots Walden was probably granted to the monastery of St. Albans by Wulfgar with the manor, (fn. 124) and was confirmed to them by King John. (fn. 125) In 1188 the obventions from the church were assigned with the licence of Pope Clement III to the guests' prebend. (fn. 126) One mark per annum from the church of Walden was granted in 1194 to the church of St. Mary of Pré near St. Albans, (fn. 127) and in 1257 a pension of 40s. per annum paid by the vicar of Walden was assigned by the abbot to provide bread and ale for the monks and their guests. (fn. 128) Part of the tithes of Walden were assigned to the hospital of St. Julian, (fn. 129) and some seem to have belonged to the refectorar. (fn. 130) In 1513 the site of the rectory and the tithes were leased for thirty-one years to Thomas Blake, for a rent of £19 payable to the refectorar. (fn. 131) This lease was renewed in 1534, and Blake apparently transferred it to Thomas Hoo. (fn. 132) The rectory and advowson of the vicarage were granted in 1544 to the dean and chapter of St. Paul's, London, (fn. 133) and the patronage has been vested in them since. The lease of the rectory was renewed in 1621 to William Hoo for four lives, and he mortgaged it in 1623 to John Saunders, Richard Franklyn, and Richard Collett. (fn. 134) The rectory was sold with the Bury, and the great tithes are now received by the earl of Strathmore. (fn. 135)

The National Archives has under Access to Archives the Estate and family papers of the Blake family of Danesbury, Welwyn, Hertfordshire 1776 - 1924 and they are held by the Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies and a short history follows from the Access to Archives website : http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=046-dex69&cid=0#0

Administrative history:
In 1797 William Blake married Mary Nash, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Nash, and granddaughter of John Darker. By this settlement the Darker estates in Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, including the advowson of Queniboro', Leics, were settled on William and Mary, after the death of Edward Lovedon. Edward Lovedon, who died c.1821, was the second husband of Elizabeth Nash, daughter and heir of John Darker.

In 1805 Blake purchased a house in Portland Place, and in 1819 he took a lease on St. John's Lodge, Welwyn, which he subsequently purchased in 1824, and altered the name to Danesbury. He added other pieces of land to this estate, and was an enthusiastic shot and landowner. In 1826 he became a J P for Hertfordshire, and in 1836 served as High Sheriff. He was involved in the local police committee in 1843, and in negotiations about the London to York Railway in 1848.
He had eight children; of the three sons, William John was MP for Newport, 1837-1841, Frederic served in the 33rd Regiment in Ireland, Gibraltar, Canada and the Crimea, and Henry Woolaston was a partner in Boulton, Watt & Co, engineers and iron founders.
Four of the daughters were married, Mary to Baron de Biel of Germany, Ellen to John Alexander Hankey, Caroline to Henry Davidson, and Emily to Christopher William Fuller: Fanny, the unmarried sister, lived at home. William Blake died in 1852 and was succeeded by his eldest son William John Blake.

I do not know if these two lines are connected at all. William Blake married Mary Nash at Saint Mary, St Marylebone Road, St Marylebone, London, England. My thought it that this line is likely from the Blake lines in London.

There was an Edward/Edmund Blake (buried 30 June 1598 (C07210-1 Family Search)) baptizing children at Redbourn Hertfordshire in the 1570s/1580s namely (C01769-8 Family Search):

Isabell Blake baptized 20 Jun 1574
Catherina Blake baptized 1 Jun 1582

Redbourn runs adjacent to the parish of St Michaels in Saint Albans so is perhaps quite interesting.

There is a Thomas Blake baptizing children at Baldock Hertfordshire namely (C07210-1 Family Search):

William Blake baptized 23 Mar 1560
Dorathey Blake baptized Jul 1563
Agnes Blake baptized 26 Dec 1565

and a John Blake baptizing at Baldock namely(C07210-1 Family Search):

James Blake baptized Aug 1572

Baldock is interestingly enough just 11 miles south of Welwyn Hertfordshire.

There was a John Blake at Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire baptizing children namely (C07241-1 Family Search):

John Blake baptized 25 Jun 1587
Sara Blake baptized 1 Mar 1589
William Blake baptized 3 Mar 1593
Daniell Blake baptized Dec 1596

Hemel Hempstead is 6 miles NW of St Albans.

Marriages in the 1500s in Hertfordshire for Blake:

John Blake and Isabell Rolfe 31 Aug 1583 Great Gaddesden (M04738-2 Family Search)

Great Gaddesden is three miles from Hemel Hempstead.

From The Herts Genealogist and Antiquary, 1899 (William Brigg)))  (http://www.archive.org/stream/hertsgenealogis00briggoog/hertsgenealogis00briggoog_djvu.txt) :
f. 55. JOHN WAGSTAFFE. {DaL 21 Jidy 1448). Bur. at
S^ Peters, viz. ^ in primo ingressu dicti Cimiterii sub capella
ibidem de ChameU'; Benedict Edryssh chaplain; Kobt.
Andrew ; The anchorites of S^ Peters & S^ Michaels ; John
Wortyng skinner ; Lawrence West ; Edw. West ; Eustachia
dau. of my wife ; John Blake ; The convent of the friars minors
of Ware ; The office of the Bursar of S* Albans &c ; Wife
Julian & Rich. Studeley exors. (Pr. 29 Aug. 1448).

This short excerpt is interesting in that it mentions John Blake prior to 1500 in Hertfordshire namely at Ware. Ware is 15 miles ENE of St Albans, 9 miles E of Welwyn  and 14 miles SSE of Baldock.

The will itself does provide us with details on the family of Thomas. He married a widow and his estate moved into the hands of the Hoo family through his stepson Thomas Hoo. He has a cousin Gregory Warren who received half of his estate. He had a daughter Jane (deceased) and an uncle Thomas Blake married to Margaret (both deceased).

The process by which I chose a will for Hertfordshire (I choose one for each county that had early wills for the Blake family) was I picked the oldest one when there weren't very many wills:

National Archives holds six wills for Blake at Hertfordshire (including the current one being transcribed not listed below):

Will of Susannah Blake, widow of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire probated 11 Jun 1850
Will of Ezekiel Blake, Wine and Spirit Merchant of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire probated 20 Aug 1833
Will of Samuel Blake, Wheelwright of Aldenham, Hertfordshire probated 7 Jan 1724
Will of John Blake, farmer of Hatfield, Hertfordshire probated 21 Sep 1831
Will of William Blake, gentleman of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire probated 7 Jun 1803

Looking at The Visitation of Hertfordshire 1572 for the Hoo family of Paul's Walden. Maud Bardolfe first married Thomas Hoo of Paul's Walden and it was her son Thomas Hoo who married (unknown) Newman with their son Thomas marrying Lucy Brockett  and it is he who has signed the Visitation for this family.

The 1634 Visitation of Hertfordshire lists Thomas Hoo married to Lucy Brockett with their son Thomas married to Helen Perient their son William married to Susan Stermont. This William living in 1635 has filled in the Visitation and has a son Thomas then 21 years old in 1634.

I did not find any Blake entries in the Visitations for Hertfordshire.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Oct 2012
Source:  The National Archives, PROB 11/26/55
Name of testator: Thomas Blake, gentleman
Place: Saint Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated 25 Nov 1536, probated 20 Feb 1536/37
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: light text, middle English writing, 16th century
[In margin] T[estator] Thome
[In margin] Blake

1    In the name of god amen the xxv ti daye of Novembre in the yere of o[u]r lorde god a thousand
2    five hundrethe xxxvj I Thomas Blake of the towne of Saint Albans in the Countie of Hertf[ordshire]
3    gentleman of hole mynde and good remembrance lauding and praising be unto Almightie god
4    make and ordayne this my p[re]sent Laste will and testament in man[ner] and forme folowing First
5    I comende my soule unto Almightie god and to o[u][r blessed Lady and to all the holy company of
6    hevin and my bodie to be buried w[ith]in the Churche of Saint Petir in the Chapell of o[u]r Ladye
7    It[e]me I give and Bequithe to the highe aulter for my tythes forgoten xij d It[e]m to Saint Albanes
8    chryme xij d It[e]m I will that a Graveston be Bought and laide upon me It[e]m I will
9    threescore lodis of stones be laide in the hyghe weye bitwen the the Charwell Chapell and wotehall
10    It[e]m I give and bequethe unto Gregory Waren th[e ]elder my Cosen after my deceas and my wiffes
11    all the yeres of my lease and farme that I have of the monastery of Saint Albanes called Gimberds
12    Wall th[e ]appurtenancs thereto belonging on and my said wife discharginge moneys x s or so s of my
13    bonds that I am bounden in to the Abbot and Convent of the said monastery Also I give and bequethe
14    my lease and ferme called the p[ar]songe of Abbots Walden unto Thomas Hoo and to his wife and
15    unto the longer liver of them Bothe aftir my deceas and my wife And as it happen any of the
16    yeres of the said lease and ferme to be undetermyned aftir the deceas of the said Thomas Hoo and
17    his wife that then thes yeres soo undetermyned shall remayne to Thomas Hoo the younger
18    my godsonne Also I give and bequeth unto the said Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder after my deceas and my
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19    wiffes all suche farmes bushells scotells shovilles dungeforks cartes and cartladders and longe ladders
20    that belongethe to the barne after the deceas of me and my wif Alsoe I give to the said Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder my
21    grounde that I have of Stagenhoo and alsoe a close that I have By copie sometyme Willia[m] Hannswis
22    Item I will that Maude mywif aftir my deceas shal[l ]have the occupa[t]ion of the hous or tent that I
23    dwell in here w[ith]all the bedde hangingis sperwers capelles formes stoles cubberds coffers all
24    the brasse laten and pewter w[i]t[h] all other ymplements and necessaries whate so ev[er] they bee except
25    myne napery and my plate during hir lif And half the brasse and half the pewter latten before
26    expressed And twoo fetherbeddis w[i]t[h] their apparell my wife to have to give and dispose at hir
27    pleasure, the other half of the brasse pewter and latten w[i]t[h] all the bedding except the spervers
28    testers and hangingis the oon half thereof to remayne to my cosen Gregory Waren th[e ]elder
29    and the other half to Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder and Thomas Hoo the younger All houshold and
30    necessaries as is before reherced aftir the deceas of me and my wif Except before except I give to
31    my cosen Gregory Waren th[e ]elder holy to remayne to hym w[i]t[h]oute let of any man And as to the
32    disposi[c]ion of my plate masers and spones aftir my deceas I will it shal[l ]be solde, except  five m[ar]kes
33    worthe of the same plate my wif to have and to give at her pleasure And the Residue of the said
34    plate comyng to fynd a prise to singe for me and my wif my father soule and mother soule my
35    doughter Jane's soule my uncle Thomas Blake soule and Margaret his wife and all other s[hres]ten souleis
36    Item I give and bequethe xx li in money for an yerely obite to be kept w[i]t[h]in the church of Saint
37    Peter by the space of xx ti yeres aftir my deceas yerely to be kept and thereat to be expended xx s  And
38    the said preste to sing oon yere at Saint Peters in Saint Albanes and at other yere at Abbots
39    Walden and there to praye for the soules afore named Item I bequethe to Abbots Walden churche
40    five marks in money Item I will that xx li over and above the funding of a prist above said shall
41    alsoe goe to the finding of a prist to singe as is afore appoynted Item I give to Edmond Newsome
42    aftir my deceas all suche bedding brasse and pweter that I have at my barne at Abbots
43    Walden except my bedd that I lie on, the whiche bed I will remayne to the bedding of my ho[u]ses
44    that I dwell in Item I give and bequeth unto my woman s[er]vante Blanche Gowtson oon
45    fetherbed w[i]t[h] a Bolster oon paire of blanckets of lynnen oon paire of shetes oon cov[er]let that
46    which was Grayns Item I give and Bequeth 10 li to be bestowed in the hyghe weye
47    under Threfferengrove Item I give and Bequeth unto Elizabeth Penyfather at the tyme
48    of her mariage x s Item I give and Bequethe to Richard Raurrigge my s[er]vant vj s vij d Item I
49    give and Bequethe unto Thomas Catelyn when he is maried xx s and ij paire of shetis Item
50    I give and Bequethe to Thomas Hethe a cote clothe of Russet, and also to the same Thomas
51    in money vj s viij d Item I doe forgive and remyt unto William Myles and Agnes his wife vj li
52    whiche they doe owe me Item I doe forgive and remyt unto Rauf Etevyason all suche money
53    as he dothe owe me Item I give and Bequethe unto B Thomas Smythe my prist my gowne furred
54    w[i]t[h] foxe Item I give and Bequeth unto the said B Thomas a paire of shetis Item I will that Mawde
55    my wif have a paire of floxen shets to give and dispose at hir pleasure And the Residue of all my
56    napery the oon half thereof I give to Gregory Waren th[e ]elder my cosen and his children And
57    the other half to remayne to Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder and Thomas Hoo the younger Item I give and
58    bequethe unto Agnes Myles the wif of William Myles aftir my decease xx s Item I give to
59    mother Barnarde during her life xx s to be paide quarterly Item I will that all suche willes
60    bequests and legacies made by me Thomas Blake bering date any tyme before this my p[resen]t
61    laste will shall from thensforthe be frustrate voide and of none effect to all intents And this
62    my p[re]sente laste will to be in strengthe and of good effect The Residue of all my goods not
63    bequethed aftir my detts paid and this my last will executed and fulfilled I putt it to the
64    discre[c]ion of  my Executors to bestowe for my soule and for the soules of them aforenamyd, as they
65    shall thinke most beste aftir their discre[c]ion And I doe make and ordeyn myne executors to the
66    p[er]formance of this my present laste will Gregory Waren th[e ]elder Thomas Knyghton and Thomas
67    Hoo th[e ]elder gentlemen and I doe give to ev[er] oon of my said Executors for their diligent labo[ur]s
68    xx s In Witnes whereof I the said Thomas Blake to this my present laste will have putte my seall
69    the daye and yere above said Theis bering witnes John Cowley Thomas Chipwith gentleman
70    Br George Penton prist Br Thomas Smythe prist George Rufford Thomas Stawonton John
71    Spenser John Burley more and other