King family of Upper Clatford and area and the Will of John Blake, malster at Upper Clatford

We collected a number of King family wills whilst we were at Kew. One set of my 4x great grandparents was Joseph Blake and Joanna King. Joanna's father was Thomas King. Although I do have his will it hasn't let me separate his King line from the other King lines at Upper Clatford and area.

In my study day on the King family I will work on these particular wills. I know that Joanna and Joseph were first cousins with their mothers being Ann Carter and Mary Carter daughters of Richard Carter and Elizabeth Musprett who were married 4 Aug 1701 at Andover, Hampshire, England. Mary was baptized 27 Feb 1710 at Andover and buried 13 Apr 1744 at Upper Clatford (she was married to Thomas King 10 Jan 1727 at Upper Clatford). Ann was baptized 18 Nov 1713 at Andover and buried 20 Dec 1734 at Penton Mewsey (she was married to Thomas Blake 8 Dec 1728 at Penton Mewsey).

Another Blake family becomes involved with this grouping in that Thomas and Mary King had three daughters Mary King who married John Blake 15 Dec 1753 at Upper Clatford, Elizabeth King who died as an infant and Joanna King who married Joseph Blake 8 Jun 1757 at Upper Clatford (my 4x great grandparents). John Blake left a will at Abbots Ann where he was a maltster and it is published on my webpage and inserted below to bring my mind back again to these family lines that I want to work on with regard to my King family line and the Blake line that John is descended from as that was unknown to me but I have written in the past on my blog that I believe he is the son of Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2011/01/charles-blake-at-abbotts-ann.html

My week has flown by too quickly as I had planned on transcribing one of the King wills yesterday on my blog but instead I will summarize my research plan for my next King research day. The will of John Blake, malster at Abbots Ann is below. The will refers to my ancestor Thomas Blake at Upper Clatford. John does not mention that he is his nephew. The Ann Blake who is mentioned is Thomas' sister and has been looking after her uncle. Ann returned to Upper Clatford after the death of Thomas' wife in childbirth in 1815. Thomas Blake's mother had remarried in 1781 (her husband died in 1767) and the farm of her father/husband and that of Thomas Collins her second husband were combined. The older brother of Thomas was in Andover at the time of writing the will and I am still working on this section of my family. I believe that the father of Joseph Blake married a second time but still looking for records to substantiate that. William has perhaps returned to Andover to take over the shop that his grandfather Thomas had not sure about that. Thomas was born posthumously five months after the death of his father Joseph. To the best of my knowledge Thomas and his second wife Hester Stephens (married 9 Feb 1751 at Andover) did not have any children. Thomas (grandfather) was buried 13 Jan 1767.

Recorded: 12th February 2008
Source: Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester, # 1797A/008
Testator: John Blake, malster
Place: Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 27 Apr 1792, probated 18 Jan 1797
Read: Paper copy
Condition: photocopy, smudges, modern English writing very good, contrast good

In the name of God Amen, I John Blake of Abbotts Ann
in the County of Southampton formerly Malster calling to mind the Mortality of my
Body and that it is appointed for all Men once to die do make and ordaine this my last
Will and Testament in manner and forme following that is to say principally
and first of all I give and bequeath my Soul into the hands of God that gave it hoping
for the pardon of all my Sins for the alone Merritts sake of my blessed Redeemer Christ
Jesus and for my Body I commend it to the Earth to be Burried in a decent manner
at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named nothing doubting but I shall receive the as
same again by the mighty power of God at the General Resurrection of the Dead and as
touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life
I give desire and bequeath of the same in the following Manner Imprimis I give
and bequeath unto my Kindsman William Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good
and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item
I give and bequeath unto my Kindswoman Mary Gilbert the sum of Ten pounds of
good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor hereafter named
Item I give and bequeath unto my Sister Elizabeth Russel the sum of five pounds of
good and Lawful money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named I
also give unto my Sister Elizabeth Russel the sum of five pounds yearly during her Life
to be paid unto her half yearly if Demanded and to be paid by my Executor here after
named Item I give and bequeath unto Joseph Russel the Elder the sum of Ten pounds
of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item
I give and bequeath unto Joseph Russel the younger the sum of Ten pounds of good and
Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give
and bequeath unto Thomas Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain to be paid by my Executor hereafter named Item I give and bequeath unto
Luke Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid
by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Sarah Russel Daughter
of Joseph and Elizabeth Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Mary
Russel Daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Russel the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful
Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath
unto Elizabeth Russel Daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Russel the sum of Ten pounds
of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kindsman George Marshman all my household
Goods and Furniture except the Bed and Furniture in the parlor Chamber Item I give and
bequeath unto Elizabeth Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain Item I give and bequeath unto Robert Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good
and Lawful money of Great Britain Item I give and bequeath unto Mary Marshman
the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain Item I give and bequeath
unto
[Page 2]

Ann Marshman the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain Item
I give and bequeath unto George Marshman the younger the sum of Ten pounds of good and lawful Money
of Great Britain Item I give and bequeath unto Charles Blake the Elder the sum of Ten
pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named
Item I give and bequeath unto James Blake the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money
of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto
Robert Blake the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid [by] my
Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Charles Blake the younger the
sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here
after named Item I give and bequeath unto Chivrel [Sacheverall] Blake the sum of five pounds of good
and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item
I give and bequeath unto John Blake the sum of Ten pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great
Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto William Blake
of Andover the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my
Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Blake of Up[per] Clatford
the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor
here after named Item I give and bequeath unto Ann Blake the sum of five pounds of good and
Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executor here after named I also give unto Ann Blake
the Bed and Furniture belonging to the same in the Chamber over the Parlour and a Sute of Mourning
Item I give and bequeath unto Ann Blake the sum of five pounds yearly to be paid unto her
during the Lease of Lives that has in the Living that I Bought and no Longer to be paid unto her half
yearly if demanded to be paid unto her so long as she keeps herself unmarried  Item I give
and bequeath unto Thomas Holmes the sum of five pounds of good and Lawful Money of Great Britain
to be paid by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto the poor Inhabitants
of the parish of Abbotts Ann the sum of Ten pounds to be given amongst them the first old
Christmass Day after my Decease to be paid unto them by my Executor here after named Item I give
and bequeath unto the poor Inhabitants of the parish of Up[per] Clatford the sum of five pounds
to be given amongst them the first old Christmass Day after my Decease to be paid unto them
by my Executor here after named Item I give and bequeath unto F__ Beavers the sum of three
guineas to be Divided between them Share and Share alike Item I give and bequeath unto
Charles Blake and his Three Elder Sons all my Wearing Apparel both Woollen and Linnen
to be equally Divided between them Share and Share alike my Will this that my Legacies has
to be paid unto my Legatees in Six Months after my Decease to all them that has arrived
to Eighteen years of age, my Legatees that has  not arrived to Eighteen years of age yearly
Interest has to be paid unto them at the rate of five p[e]r Cent And I do hereby constitute make
and ordaine my Kindsman George Marshman my only and Sole Executor of this
my last Will and Testament And I do hereby revoke and disanull every forme Will
before this time by me made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will
and Testament In Witness whereof I have here unto sett my hand and Seal
this Twenty Seventh Day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Ninety – two

Signed Sealed published and Declared by the above
Named John Blake for and as his last Will                                                    John Blake [signed]
And Testament and in the presence of us
The Witnesses Tho[mas] Overton [signed] – John Prince [signed]

[Page 3]

A Codicil or Schedule to a Will, made after a Will is Sealed

Be it known unto all Men by these presents. That I John
Blake of Abbotts Ann, in the County of Southampton formerly
Malster have made and declared that my last Will and Testament
in writing bearing date, the Twenty Seventh day of April, in the
Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-two,
I the said John Blake, do by these presents, contained in this
Codicil, confirm and ratify my said last Will and I do give and
bequeath unto Ann Blake, the Chamber over the Parlor to sleep
in, and part of the House wherein I now dwell to live in, during the
time shee keeps herself unmarried, and during the Life of
Jno Matons Wife, of Abbotts Ann, her Life being in the Living
and in the said Dwelling House, and my Will and Meaning is that this
Codicil, or Schedule be colcomed and adjudged to be part and parcel
of my Will and Testament and that all things herein contained
and mentioned, be faithfully performed in as full and ample
Manner, in every Respect, as if the same were declared and
set down in my said Will, In Witness whereof I the said
John Blake, have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Twenty
Sixth day of July, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Ninety-two
Signed, Sealed published, and Declared                    John Blake [signed]
By the above named John Blake aforesaid as
His Codicil or Schedule and in the
Presence of us
Witnesses        John Maton [signed]
                        John Prince [signed]

12 lines after Will and before
meaning and interlined

[Page 4]

On the 18th Day of January 1797 George Marshman
The Executor within named in the Will hereunto appoint was duly Sworn well
and faithfully to administer and at the same
Time made Oath that the Goods Chattels personal
Estate and Effects of the Deceased did not amount
To one Thousand Pounds at the Time of his Decease
As he verily believes

Before me

John Woodburn, Clerk

[On the side]
A Codicil or Schedule
To Mr John Blake’s Will

Will of Elizabeth Blake, widow of Martin - SWRO P2/6 Reg/90D, probated 7 Apr 1583

Elizabeth Blake is widowed with three daughters, Agnes married to John Gerrett, Margaret and Katherine. They live at Marten as did Agnes Blake (blog: http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/10/will-of-agnes-blake-widow-marten-swro.html)  with her son John and daughters Elizabeth and Syblye. This is twenty one years after Agnes Blake wrote her will. It will be interesting reading all these wills to see if I can put the families together in these villages in Wiltshire. The will of Elizabeth's husband John will be transcribed in about a week.

I found it interesting that Margaret the youngest daughter is listed as an executor as I always thought it was necessary to be 21 to be an executor but this will is from 1583 and it could be that juris prudence had not moved along quite that far with regard to age of executor. Perhaps it was sort of like lease on lives where you choose very very young people to be the individuals named in a lease to give that lease its longest run.

At Martin there was Allenford Farm and Tidpit a tything in the parish of Martin.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 17 Oct 2012
Source:  Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office P2/6 Reg/90D
Name of testator: Elizabeth Blake, widow
Place: Marten, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 30 Mar 1583, probated 7 Apr 1583
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: 16th century, middle English, clear copy (few smudges)
[Margin] Blake vid

1    In the name of god Amen, the xxx th day of March in the xxv th yere of
2    the reigne of o[u]r most gracious Sov[er]eigne Lady Quene Elizabeth etc
3    I Elizabeth Blake of Marten w[it]h[i]n the countie of Wiltes[hire] widde[w]
4    beinge sicke in body but of good and p[er]fecte memory, thanks be unto god
5    doe ordayne and make this my last will and testament in mann[er] and forme
6    folowinge viz [a vi]t First I bequeth and comytt my sowle into t[he ]hands
7    of Christ Jesus my only Savior and redem[er] And my body to be
8    buried in the churche yard of Marten aforsaid It[e]m I geve unto o[u]r
9    Lady Churche in Sa[lisbur]y vij d. And to o[u]r owne p[ar]ishe churche xij d
10    And to the poore people of Marten aforsaid three busshells of
    [Page 2]
11    barley It[e]m I geve and bequeth to my daughter Agnes Gerrett one brasse pott
12    and a littell barrell Item I geve and bequethe to my daughter Margarett Blake
13    fiftene sheepe one cowe and a bullocke Item unto my sonne in lawe John Garrett
14    upon condition that my execut[o]rs or their assigne or assignes shall or may
15    well quietly and peaceably w[i]thout any lawfull lett deniall  disturbance
16    contradiction eviction or evictions of him the said John Gerrett or Agnes
17    his wife or of any other p[er]son or p[er]sons whatsoev[er] by his or their assent
18    consent means knowledge surrender instigation or p[re]curement have
19    holde occupye useup possesse and enioy from the hower of my deathe unto the
20    feast of St Michaell Th[e ]archangell then next and [im]mediatly ensuinge
21    fully to be comple and ended All the corne w[hi]ch is alredy sowen and w[hi]ch hereafter
22    may be sowen unto the hower of my death aforsaid, in or upon the arrable
23    land p[er]tyninge or belonginge unto thes messuags or tent[ement]s nowe in
24    my teanure and holdinge Together w[i]th all and sing[u]ler the p[ro]ffitts
25    comodities and advantags unto the said corne so sowen and to be sowen in
26    mann[er] and forme aforsaid and to ev[er]y p[ar]te and p[ar]cell thereof  belonginge
27    or in any wise app[er]teyninge, I geve and bequethe one horse and one
28    payre of horse shwes and the dunge carte as he is and one
29    pillowe and two dishes and the blacke lynded heyse Item I geve
30    and bequeth unto my maide Isbut fower busshells of barley
31    And to Mother Bayly one peticote. Item I make and ordayne
32    my wel[l ]beloved in Christ George Weiks and John Prince to
33    be my ov[er]seers of this my last Will and Testament gevinge the[m]
34    xij s apice for their paynes All the rest of my goods moveable
35    and unmoveable unbequethed and not geven (my debts paid my body
36    buried my fun[er]all expenses discharged) and all things conteyned in
37    this my last will and testament duly p[er]formed levied and executed
38    accordinge to the trewe purporte and playne meaninge there (in
39    all things) I geve and bequeth unto Margarett Blake and
40    Katheryn Blake my daughters whom I make my full and
41    whole executrixs Also I will that George Weits and John
42    Prince shall have the governance of my daughter M[ar]gerett and of her
43    portion. Th[o]se bearinge Witnes Richard Wall Clerk George Weiks
44    and John Prince

Return to genealogy!

Over a month on the Olympics and Paralympics and now back to genealogy. I have accomplished a little on the 1837 - 1950s marriages for the Blake family and am well into working on Devon marriages having completed Tavistock with just Tiverton, Torrington, Totnes, and Wellington Som remaining to be looked up in the census. Next county is Dorset and with the overlap between counties there is always a little done on the next county before I begin (Axminster and Chard are completed in Dorset already). For some areas I am quite lucky finding the couple on the following census but some I can simply not distinguish adequately to determine the appropriate couple from the marriage lists on Free BMD.

I had a number of interesting emails to which I will respond more fully. New people testing for both the Pinkham/Pincombe and the Blake/Bleake yDNA studies. Every new tester helps to add to the information on these two families. I am drifting away from my other family lines although answered a rather long email on the Routledge family the other day. It rather intrigued me as it was a John Routledge marrying an Isobel Scott. Not in my Oakshaw family lines but interesting none the less. A few other non one name studies queries as well to which I responded fully at the time knowing that I would not come back to them later. The Blake and Pincombe families do tend to occupy 95% of my genealogy time these days.

My fingers are itching to get back to working on the Abbots Ann fiche. I feel as if there might be answers to some of the Blake questions on the Abbots Ann family there. It is possible that someone will test for that family in the near future which should prove to be interesting. Published histories on this family link them back through my Thomas Blake and Mary Spring but I can find only one baptism for this couple at Andover namely their son Thomas and my ancestor. He was the father of Joseph Blake who later married his cousin Joanna King and moved to Upper Clatford. It is possible that this Thomas remarried when Joseph was about 8 or 9 and possibly this was the time when he moved to Upper Clatford to help his uncle Thomas King on his farm. I am a bit suspicious about that. Thomas King had three daughters (two survived) and one married Joseph Blake (my ancestor) and the other married John Blake, malster at Abbots Ann who left this wonderful will that I am still working through with regard to the kinsmen/kinswomen that he mentioned. There is a mystery in that will as he only mentions the children of the first wife of Charles Blake (Jane Gilbert) and not those of the second wife (Hannah Powell). I think Charles (married to Mary Prince) was a brother to this John but can not yet prove that. Charles is on land that was previously occupied by Robert Blake who was likely the father of John and definitely was the father of Edward but was he the father of Charles. I think he was. I need to try to discover more proof for this relationship.

Were Joseph Blake and John Blake who married the two King sisters related? Now that is a good question. I am suspicious that John is descendant of Robert Blake brother to Nicholas Blake from whom Joseph Blake is descended but they would be already about seventh cousins at that time.  I am sure they would not have been aware of their relationship plus I am still toying with the idea that there were several Blake families at Andover that may or may not belong to the same yDNA line. That remains to be proven and only more people testing with ties back to the Wiltshire/Hampshire Blake families can help to prove these lines.

The nights are shortening rapidly now and I can begin to work on my fiche easily as the sun has changed its trajectory. I find it hard to work in the summer (although could easily move it all down to the basement) but perhaps one needs a long break from transcription every year and lots of fresh air gardening! A bit of a dreary day outside thus far but our outside cleanup is slowly getting completed. Just the patio stones to raise and panels at the front of the house to paint (stucco). The gardens to clean up as well and the drought has given us not quite as good a harvest of vegetables although still lots of broccoli, tomatoes and carrots to eat up before winter descends. We grew new grass at the front this past couple of weeks where we had repaired the brickwork along the laneway both sides. Backbreaking work that but looks great now that it is done. Just need to blacktop the driveway with sealant and we are finished with that.

We are in the national news with the road collapsing just at our exit and we have driven over that spots thousands of times. I can remember when they put the enormous tile in when they first widened the highway out here twenty plus years ago. It carried away the water from one of the tributaries of Green's Creek. The bed of the road literally dropped away and a car fell into it. Fortunately the driver managed to get out relatively unscathed.

Will of William Blake, Gentleman of Portsmouth, Hampshire, National Archives PROB 11/1644 Image Reference 136/135, probated 15 Jun 1821

Two wills that fit together is always a nice find. This William is the father of Arthur who left his will dated 1838 and probated in 1841. The one clue that really connects them is the individual to whom William the father has given a mortgage and that Arthur forgives him the interest owed to him from that mortgage at the time of Arthur's decease. Arthur did not marry and so his father's legacies now will go to the grandchildren. There must be a story connected to Arthur but the will doesn't reveal it to us. Why he is living with the Mitchell family? Even by 1821 he appears to not be living with his father. Perhaps the marriage of William to Mary is a second marriage as they have a daughter under 21 when the will was written. It was also three years before Arthur's will was probated.

William's (testator) sister Ann Blake married (unknown) Smith and a search of the LDS website reveals a few possible marriages.

Henry Sherman Fennell married Ann Smith 4 Jun 1815 at Saint Thomas Parish Church, Portsmouth.More work on this will later as I put the wills together of family members.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 14 May 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/1644 Image Reference 136/135
Place: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Testator: William Blake, Gentleman of Portsmouth, Hampshire
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 3 Jan 1820, probated 15 Jun 1821
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: image, small script, contrast medium, probably in his own handwriting

[In margin] William Blake 24

1    This is the last Will and Testament
2    of me William Blake of Portsmouth in the county of Hants Gentleman
3    made whilst in an indifferent state of health but of sound and disposing
4    mind memory and understanding to hereby, I give devise bequeath and
5    bequeath dispose of all my real and personal estate and effects in manner following
6    that is to say I give and devise unto my wife Mary and to my son in law Richard
7    Batchelor of Portsmouth aforesaid Surgeon and my friend William
8    Prince of the same place Hatter and to the survivor of them and his heirs
9    all those my two messuages or dwelling houses with the appurtenances
10    there to belonging situate and being at Buckland in the parish of Portsea
11    in the said County was occupied by Mr. Hoffmister and Mr. Saunders and
12    also all that my messuage or dwelling house situate in Fredrick Street
13    in Portsea aforesaid No 18 occupied by Mrs Balfour sublett to a charge
14    of two hundred pounds now existing on such said messuage and
15    premises and chargeable therewith To hold the same three messuages
16    subject and chargeable therewith To hold the as aforesaid to my said
17    wife Mary the said Richard Batchelor and William Prince and
18    to the survivor of them and his or her heirs upon trust nevertheless
19    to permit my son said Arthur Blake to receive the writs of the said
20    messuage and Premises from and after the expiration of twelve
21    calendar months from my decease for his life and immediately after
22    his decease or in case my said son shall die leaving a wife and child
23    or children Then In trust to retain the rents of my said three messuages
24    and premises and pay the same unto the widow of my said son Arthur
25    for her life and after her decease upon trust and I devise the said three
26    messuages and premises unto all and every the child or children of my
27    said son lawfully begotten if more than one as tenants in common
28    and if but one than to such only child his or her heirs and assigns
29    for ever but in case my said son should die without having a
30    wife or child or children lawfully begotten then I give and devise
31    the said three messuages and premises unto my sister Ann Smith of
32    Portsea aforesaid widow for her life and after her decease I give and
33    devise the said three messuages unto the children of the said Ann
34    Smith living at her decease their heirs and assigns for ever as tenants
35    in common and not as joint Tenants I give and devise unto Charlotte
36    White Butler of Portsea aforesaid spinster and to her heirs and
37    assigns for ever all that my messuage or dwelling house situate
38    in Daniel Street in Portsea aforesaid and lately occupied by my
39    mother in law Francis Blake deceased but now by the said
40    Charlotte White Butler and I give and bequeath the principal
41    sum of eight hundred pounds now secured to me on mortgage of an
42    estaate on Oyster Street in Portsmouth aforesaid belonginge to Mr
43    Joseph Puelman unto my said wife Mary and the said Rich[ar]d
44    Batchelor and William Prince upon trust and confidence
45    nevertheless that they my said trustees or the survivors or survivor of them
46    or the executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall
47    after twelve calendar months from my decease call in one
48    hundred pounds principal money part of the said sum of eight
49    hundred pounds and when received upon trust and I direct sixty
    [Page 2]
50    pounds par thereof to be paid to my said sister Ann Smith
51    for her own use with the interest to accrue from twelve
51    calendar months next after my decease twenty pounds other part
52    thereof to her son John Smith of Portsea aforesaid Shipwright and
53    twenty pounds remaining part thereof unto her daughter Ann
54    Fennell wife of Henry Fennell of Portsea aforesaid Labourer and
55    also upon further trust to receive the interest of the remaining sum of
56    seven hundred pounds every three calendar months if payment can
57    be so obtained and to pay the same when and as borrowed unto my
58    said son Arthur Blake for his life and after his decease upon
59    trust to pay the interest of the said sum of seven hundred pounds
60    other part thereof unto the widow of my said son Arthur for her
61    life and immediately after her decease then In trust and I give the
62    said sum of seven hundred pounds unto all and every the children of
63    my said son Arthur living at the time of the decease of his said widow
64    in equal shares and proportions but in case my said son should
65    die leaving only a widow and without child or children then I direct
66    my said trustees to pay the interest of four hundred pounds only part
67    of the said sum of seven hundred pounds to my said sons widow
68    for her life and the remaining sum of three hundred pounds I
69    hereby direct them to pay to my two Grandsons in law William
70    Cunningham Batchelor and Richard Batchelor sons of my son
71    in law William Cunningham Batchelor late of Portsmouth afor[esai]d
72    Merchant and in case my said son Arthur should die without
73    leaving either a widow or child or children then after his decease I
74    give and bequeath the said sum of seven hundred pounds in
75    manner following that is to say four hundred pounds part thereof
76    to my said daughter Ann Blake for her own use and one hundred and
77    fifty pounds to each of my said Grandsons in law the said William
78    Cunningham Batchelor and Richard Batchelor and in case of the decease
79    of my said daughter Ann Blake under the age of twenty one years
80    I give and bequeath twelve hundred pounds stock five percent Ann[uitie]s
81    under the power reserved in my marriage Settlement and now standing
82    in the joint names of myself John Whitlow and Harrison Deacon in
83    manner following I give and bequeath six hundred and forty
84    pounds stock part thereof unto my son in law and my three daughters
85    in law namely the said Richard Batchelor Sarah Batchelor Mary
86    Batchelor and Elizabeth Batchelor in equal shares and proportions
87    to and for their own use and benefit absolutely and one hundred and
88    sixty pounds stock other part of the said twelve hundred pounds
89    stock I give and bequeath unto my said two Grandsons in law
90    William Cunningham Batchelor and Richard Batchelor
91    equally share and share alike and the remaining four hundred
92    pounds stock I hereby give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary
93    Blake and to the said Richard Batchelor and William Prince their
94    executors administrators and assigns upon trust and confidence that
95    they my said trustees or the survivor of them or the executors or
96    administrators of such survivor shall and do permit and suffer my
97    said son Arthur to receive and take the dividends and interest thereof
98    for his life and from and immediately after his decease then  I give
99    and bequeath the sum of two hundred pounds part thereof to the
100    children of my sister Ann Smith widow equally share and share
101    alike and the remaining sum of two hundred pounds I give and
102    bequeath unto and equally between my said son in law and three
103    daughters in law namely Richard Batchelor Sarah Mary and
104    Elizabeth Batchelor to and for their own use and benefit and I give
105    and bequeath unto my said trustees the said Richard Batchelor
    [Page 3]
106    and William Prince the sum of ten pounds each as a
107    compensation for the care and trouble they will be put to in the
108    execution of the trusts hereby in them reposed to be paid  them
109    at the expiration of fifteen calendar months next after my decease
110    and I give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary all my household
111    Goods and furniture of household plate linen and China together
112    with all my ready money securities for money debts rents and interest
113    and money due and owing to me and to grow due and accrue then to me
114    from twelve calendar months next after the day of my decease and
115    all the residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects of
116    what nature the same shall consist at my decease and not
117    hereinbefore by me disposed of subject nevertheless to the payment
118    of my just debts funeral expences and the costs of proving this my
119    will I give to her my said wife for her own use and benefit absolutely
120    and I authorize and fully empower my said trustees or the survivor
121    of them and his or her heirs to sell and dispose of my said three
122    freehold messuages and premises hereunto first by me herebefore devised
123    or any or other of them by public or private sale as they he or she may
124    think most advantageous and on sale of such my said real estate
125    or any part thereof I direct that the receipt or receipts of my said
126    trustees or the survivors or survivor of them shall be a good and
127    sufficient discharge to a purchaser or purchasers thereof and on sale
128    as aforesaid to plan the consideration money arising there from in
129    the public stocks or funds of this Kingdom or on good real security
130    on the trusts aforesaid and it is my will that my said trustees or the
131    survivors or survivor of them shall from time to time as often as
132    they shall think proper alter and change the securities on which
133    the said trust monies or any part  thereof are now or shall hereafter
134    be placed out and from time to time as often as they shall think
135    fit again the place the same out upon Government or other good
136    real sufficient security or securities in such manner as they shall
137    think most beneficial and it is my will and meaning that my said
138    trustees or either of them shall not be liable to make good any
139    loss of losses that shall happen in the execution of the trusts
140    mentioned in this my will unless the same shall appear to
141    happen by or through their or either of their wilful neglect or
142    default nor shall either of my said trustees be answerable or
143    accountable for the acts deeds receipts or disbursements of the
144    other of them but each of them shall be answerable for his and
145    her own separate acts deeds receipts and disbursements only and I
146    hereby direct that my said trustees shall reimburse themselves out
147    of my said estate and effects all necessary costs charges and expences
148    whatsoever that they or either of them shall be put into in the
149    execution of this my will or the trusts hereby in them reposed
150    and lastly I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said
151    wife Mary and my son in law the said Richard Batchelor
152    and William Prince my trustees executrix and executors of this
153    my last will and testate testament and hereby revoke and make
154    void all former and other will and wills by me at any time
155    heretofore made and do declare this only to be said testament my last will and
156    testament In witness whereof I the said William Blake the
157    testator have to this my last will and testament the whole whereof
158    is contained in five sheets of paper set my hand and seal that is to
159    say may hand to the first four sheets hereof and my hand and seal
160    to this fifth and last sheet thereof this third day of January in the
161    year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty W[illia]m Blake
162    [seal] Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Blake
    [Page 4]
163    the Testator as and for his last will and Testament on the day
164    of the date in the presence of us who at his request in his presence
165    and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as
166    witnesses hereto W[illia]m Glendening Sol Portsea W[illia]m Allen James Garrate
167    Proved at London 15th June 1821 before the Judge by the oaths
168    of Mary Blake widow the Relict Richard Batchelor and William
169    Prince the executors to whom administration was granted having
170    been first sworn duly to administer

Blake family at Abbotts Ann in 1568

Transcribing Parish Registers is just always so meaningful. I have looked at Abbotts Ann before (probably four years ago now) and I missed the baptism of Thomas to Robert Blake 2 September 1568. Whether there will be more entries for Blake remains to be seen but finding them at Abbotts Ann is very interesting. Now who is this Robert baptizing children at Abbotts Ann? Is he the son of Robert Blake and brother to Nicholas Blake? This Robert Blake (brother to Nicholas) left a will in 1542 which I have not yet transcribed. I actually need to acquire it and hope to do that one of these days. I hadn't expected to find someone so early on but the earlier the better actually.

Checking Abbotts Ann wills reveals:

1533B/28  Will of Simon Prince (Prynce) of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire  1533
1629A/44  Will and inventory of William Kidgell (Kiggill) of Little Ann, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire  1629
1685A/054  Will and inventory of John Kidgell of Little Ann, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1685
1720A/062  Will of Richard Kidgell (Kidgel) of Little Ann, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1720
1729A/113  Will of Robert Prince of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1729
1753A/077  Will of James Prince of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1753
1760B/32  Will of James Prince of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, innkeeper ('innholder')  1760
1806A/059  Will of William Marshman of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, yeoman  1806
1815A/53  Will of George Marshman of Abbotts Ann, Hampshire, Farmer  1815

All of which could provide information on the Mary Prince who married Charles Blake in 1736 at Abbotts Ann and the Jane Gilbert who married Charles Blake in 1761. Jane Gilbert is descendant of the Kidgell family. The Marshman family is rather interesting as I rather think this is the kindsman mentioned in John Blake (1796)'s will.

However, I deviate from 1568 but it does rather excite my mind to discover that there was a Blake family early at Abbotts Ann. That this time frame is good for a grandson of Robert Blake brother to Nicholas Blake. Interestingly nothing is known about Robert the eldest son of Robert Blake except he may have left a will at Andover

1522B/04  Will of Robert Blake (Blayke) of Knights Enham, Hampshire  1522
1542B/06  Will of Robert Blake of Enham, Andover, Hampshire  1542
1545B/022  Will of Robert Blake of ?Wallop Street, Lockerley, Hampshire  1545
1547B/006  Will of Robert Black (Blacke) of Christchurch, Hampshire  1547
1554U/03  Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Street, Lockerley, Hampshire  1554
1593A/009  Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Dibden, Hampshire, shipwright  1593
1601B/08  Will of Robert Blake of Knights Enham, Hampshire, husbandman  1601
1605A/07  Will of Robert Blake of Andover, Hampshire, victualler  1605

This list of wills for Robert Blake from 1522 to 1605 is an especially interesting one. I have transcribed the will of Henry Blake at Christchurch earlier and perhaps Robert Black (Blacke) is his ancestor. Did the name become Blake; were they originally Blacke? yDNA testing might help to solve the riddle of Andover and the Blake families there. Who leaves the will in 1522 - which Robert is this? Robert, brother to Nicholas, leaves a will in 1542 at Enham. The Lockerley Robert Blake is also a mystery and I have some of their wills to work on later but this is the earliest one and I do not have it either. Dibden is near Southampton and no idea on whom this Robert Blake is. The Robert Blake leaving a will at Enham in 1601 though is most interesting as is the Robert leaving a will at Andover in 1605 and a victualler. The Robert Blake family carried on this victualler type of business through the 1600s - is John a descendant of this family?

Back to transcribing now that I have a few thoughts in my mind about the Blake family that could be here at Abbotts Ann in the mid 1500s. The road to Abbotts Ann comes up through the Wallops so that getting to Abbotts Ann was probably not all that difficult; certainly as we drove up the highway through the Wallops towards Andover none of the small villages that dot the area to the south and west of Andover seemed very far away from each other. Stunningly beautiful countryside which reminded me of Ontario. I see why my grandfather was comfortable living in London Ontario; going out in the countryside was very much like living in Upper Clatford. Especially as we lived right on the outskirts of London when I was a child. Going to the end of our block and looking to the south was all farm land with just a couple more streets of houses. Now looking south London is solid right to the 401 highway.

Elizabeth Blake daughter of Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell

Noted yesterday the death of an Elizabeth Blake in 1713 at Andover. If this was the daughter of Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell born in 1695 then she would have been 18 in 1713. Robert and Elizabeth were still baptizing children and they could have had another Elizabeth. Need to look for that possibility and still no baptism for Charles Blake who married Mary Prince at Abbots Ann in 1737. However, John Blake malster at Abbots Ann fits nicely into this family with his birth in 1714 (he was 82 when he died in 1796). A sister Mary married William Marshman (Marshmont) in 1727 and that fits into this family. The other researcher mentioned yesterday found a marriage with Edward Gilbert of a Mary Marshmont in 1752 at Abbots Ann. There is a Mary Gilbert mentioned in the will.

I still feel that the language of the will shows a closer relationship between Charles Blake and the testator than between my Blake family at Upper Clatford. Sorting through the data, this John is my 3x great grandfather Thomas Blake's uncle by marriage. His mother Joanna King and John's wife Mary King are sisters and daughters of Thomas King. This is a good find and collaborates my earlier thinking that the language of the will was that of an uncle towards his niece and nephews. Helpful but not a direct "blood" tie.

Unraveling the mysteries presented in John Blake's will may help to solve the mystery of the parentage of Charles Blake and it comes closer to fruition I rather think. Ever since I found the will at the Hampshire Record Office and transcribed it I felt it was a key to my family lines at Upper Clatford. Although I am still just back to 5x great grandfather Thomas King and his wife Mary Carter who married 10 Jan 1728 at Upper Clatford, I now have the link between this family and the Blake family at Abbots Ann. I now know that Joanna wife of Joseph Blake and Mary wife of John Blake were sisters. What other information will the will provide me personally? The mention of the Beaver family is interesting as well. It is a descendant of the Beaver family that marries Thomas Blake son of Joseph and Joanna Blake - Sarah Coleman whose grandmother was Dinah Bever. Is the notation in front of Beavers "The"? Very difficult to tell and her married name was Coleman - why would he have referred to the children of Dinah as "The Beavers"?  At this time there were three of them still living and he leaves three guineas! The father of Sarah had died in 1780. Why would John remember this family. The father of Dinah Beaver was Anthony Beaver and mother was Susanna Johnson. Likely the father of Susanna was Roger Johnson and this was an old family at Upper Clatford.

I continue working on the transcription of the Upper Clatford Parish Register 1 with the burials and I have completed to the beginning of 1708 with 600 burials from the beginning of the Registers (1570).  The same families continue at Upper Clatford that have been there from the beginning of the Register. The King family is very large but I have not yet located a Thomas that could be my ancestor. I have not yet located a Carter that could be my ancestor either. The only Carter on the Hearth Tax is Thomas. But there are more Carter families there baptizing children:  Henry and Elizabeth, John and Jane, William and Jone, and Thomas and Elizabeth. Perhaps they live closeby in a smaller village but baptize their children at Upper Clatford.

I am still trying to decide if I have accumulated enough evidence to say that the Thomas Blake who married Ann Carter at Penton Mewsey 8 Sep 1728 are my 5x great grandparents and the parents of Joseph Blake baptized at Andover 21 Oct 1730. The death of Anne Blake and her burial 20 Sep 1734 along with the burial of her son Thomas 22 Sep 1734 at Penton Mewsey is rather revealing. The baptism of Thomas 19 Sep 1734 at Andover (son of Thomas (Ann is not listed)) whereas Joseph is baptized as the son of Thomas and Ann also at Andover also leads one to think this is the same family. Also given that grandfather John was baptized at Penton Mewsey although the baptism is entered into the Andover Parish Register. I feel now that I can accept this marriage as correct between Thomas Blake and Ann Carter. The next mystery to solve for me is the Carter family. Are Mary Carter mother of Joanna King and Ann Carter mother of Joseph Blake related? Are Joanna and Joseph first cousins?

Are Richard Carter and Elizabeth Musprett the parents of Ann Carter?; they are baptizing an Ann 13 Nov 1713 at Andover. They baptize four daughters at Andover: Elizabeth (b 22 Apr 1702), Sarah (b 21 May 1703), Mary (b 27 Feb 1711), and Anne (b 13 Nov 1713) as well as Richard (b 13 Dec 1704), Thomas (b 15 Jun 1707), Josiah (b 21 Dec 1708),  John (b 26 Apr 1717). The names are interesting with respect to Mary Carter who married Thomas King and their children were named Mary, Elizabeth and Joanna. Ann Carter married to Thomas Blake did not have any daughters. Given that Ann died in 1734 you might have expected to see Mary (Carter) King call a child Ann but the next two girls are named Elizabeth and Joanna. Interesting though to look at names. Richard Carter and Elizabeth Musprett named their first son Richard and their first daughter Elizabeth. I will investigate to see if Richard might be the son of Thomas Carter though given that the second son is named Thomas. The second daughter was called Sarah so could investigate Elizabeth Musprett having Sarah as her mother. Interestingly there is an Elizabeth Musprat baptized 20 Feb 1682 at Andover the daughter of Thomas Musprat.

Charles Blake at Abbotts Ann

Descendants of the Charles Blake family at Abbotts Ann are the Blake family from whom I hear most often. The mention of Charles Blake in the Abbotts Ann register in 1737 with his marriage to Mary Prince 4 Sep 1736 is the first one that I have been able to decipher thus far as the first Blake entry. Parish Register 8 at Abbotts Ann is very difficult to read (not sure why it is labeled 8 but it is for the years 1561 to 1740 on two fiche). I intend to transcribe it but have not done so yet. There is a need to do so to see if in the very light faint printing there is any sign of Blake. It is 94 pages in total. The early part of the register (1500s to the mid 1600s) is actually not too bad and I simply haven't investigated it to see if there are any Blake members prior to 1700. I just haven't had a need to transcribe it yet. A quick glance at the first decade of 1700 reveals few entries and this is where I would hope to find the "missing" Blake baptisms for Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell(m 15 Jul 1694 Andover) because Andover has:

Blake Sarah daughter Blake Robert Elizabeth 1696 March 10
Blake Joannah daughter Blake Robert Elizabeth 1700 February 12
Blake Mary daughter Blake Robert Elizabeth 1702 December 21
Blake Edward son Blake Robert Elizabeth 1711 August 12
Blake Thomas son Blake Robert Elizabeth 1714 July 2
Blake Jane daughter Blake Robert Elizabeth 1717 July 22


The gap between 1702 and 1711 is very suspicious. One would wonder if they have moved from Andover to some other place and then returned. The baptisms and burials in this time frame appear to be quite complete for Andover (a reasonable number of entries at a consistent rate).

Working backwards which is the best way in genealogy, I am looking for a John Blake who was a malster at Abbotts Ann, had a wife Mary and a daughter Mary. Daughter Mary married Thomas Holmes 16 Sep 1780. Possibly she was his only daughter - still to be determined. We visited their gravestones at St Mary the Virgin Church in Abbotts Ann in 2008 and their site is quite easy to find and the graves are most legible. She possibly died in childbirth. She is likely the Mary Blake baptized at Abbotts Ann 13 Aug 1756 and daughter of John and Mary Blake. That would fit in with the will of Thomas King where he mentioned her in 1762.

All of these Blake families at Abbotts Ann appear to be involved one way or another perhaps through the Blake or Gilbert or Carter families. That is yet to be determined. I need now to decide if I move to Abbotts Ann to transcribe or Penton Mewsey. Penton Mewsey is smaller and it too may provide clues as there were a number of Blake families in Penton Mewsey and I have a couple of wills there as well. Penton Mewsey it continues to be once I am up to 1757 at Andover (that is really the direction that I need to go in at this point). I managed to reach 1753 in the baptisms today (11,538 baptisms as of 30 Jun 1753 since the beginning of these parish registers). There are a number of Blake baptisms but they are no longer of interest in the descendancy of Charles Blake or my own ancestor Joseph Blake. It is more to assure that I know every Blake event up to 1757 at Andover that I continue to read the registers and especially I need to read the burials.

I have not yet transcribed the Poor Law Rates at Abbotts Ann that I collected in 2008 at Salt Lake City. A read through yields the following information (and I did look earlier with some notation in my blog back in 2009).

Poor Law Rates - Abbotts Ann

1727 - Robert Blake Churchwarden and assessed 1 s Poor Rate
1728 - Robert Blake assessed 1 s Poor Rate
1729 - Robert Blake Churchwarden and assessed 1 s 1 d Poor Rate
1732 - Robert Blake assessed 3 s 2 d Poor Rate for Coles
1732 - Robert Blake assessed 1 s 1 d Poor Rate for Morrants
1735 - Robert Blake assessed 3 s 2 d Poor Rate for Coles
1735 - Robert Blake assessed 1 s 1 d Poor Rate for Morrants
1746 - Edward Blake assessed Poor Rate for Brewers
1746 - Charles Blake assessed 5 d Poor Rate for Morrants
1747 - Edward Blake assessed 8 d Poor Rate for Brewers
1747 - Charles Blake assessed 5 d Poor Rate for Morrants
1751 - John Blake assessed 5 d Poor Rate for Morrants
1754 - Edward Blake assessed 1 s 4 d Poor Rate for Coles
1754 - Charles Blake assessed 1 s Poor Rate for Stows
1758 - Edward Blake assessed 1 s 4 d Poor Rate for Coles
1758 - Charles Blake assessed 1 s Poor Rate for Stows
1760 - Charles Blake assessed 1 s Poor Rate for Stows
1812 - Ann Blake assessed 1 s 12 d Poor Rate

Although there is absolutely no proof (a will for Robert Blake would be helpful) it would appear that Robert Blake held leases which were then acquired by Edward Blake and Charles Blake (and John Blake for a short period). There is an Edward Blake son of Robert Blake baptized at Andover 12 Aug 1711. There are missing years in this family at Andover when you would have thought they would be having children namely 1703 to 1710. Is Charles a son of Robert? That is the real question. Is John a son of Robert as well and is this the John who wrote the will in 1792 which was probated in 1797 at Abbotts Ann? The reference to Russell family in John's will is very interesting. Robert's wife was Elizabeth Russell.

John's will transcription: http://www.kipp-blake-families.ca/Will-John-Blake-1797-AbbotsAnn.pdf

Although I would like to still collect more proof I would hypothesize that Charles, Edward and John are all brothers and sons of Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell. Continuing to look at the names in his will - Marshman, Gilbert and Russell may reveal the marriages of the daughters of Robert and Elizabeth Blake - Sarah, Joannah, Mary and Jane.

Indeed Mary Blake married William Marshmont (according to the IGI) 2 April 1727 at Old Alresford (this has been mistranscribed and should probably be Abbotts Ann). Is Marshmont Marshman? His kinsman was listed as William Marshman and there are a number of other Marshman members mentioned. The other daughters/sisters I will continue to investigate once I read the Abbotts Ann registers.

These wills at Winchester HAM (Hampshire Record Office) would help us to understand the Robert Blake family at Andover.

1522B/04 Will of Robert Blake (Blayke) of Knights Enham, Hampshire 1522

1542B/06 Will of Robert Blake of Enham, Andover, Hampshire 1542

1545B/022 Will of Robert Blake of ?Wallop Street, Lockerley, Hampshire 1545

1554U/03 Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Street, Lockerley, Hampshire 1554

1601B/08 Will of Robert Blake of Knights Enham, Hampshire, husbandman 1601

1605A/07 Will of Robert Blake of Andover, Hampshire, victualler 1605

1620A/009 Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Kings Enham, Andover, Hampshire, yeoman 1620

1662B/08 Will and inventory of Robert Blake of Fyfield, Hampshire, gent 1662

I believe that Hampshire Record Office will permit Photographing of the wills. That is a project in the back of my mind but it will be at least two years hence from now.

For everyone who has read through this long debate, I am left with the strong impression that Robert Blake and Elizabeth Russell are the parents of the Blake family which moved to Abbotts Ann in the 1720s from Andover where the last child was baptized there in 1717. I wonder if they were at Abbotts Ann or Penton or other places nearby Andover from 1703 to 1710 because they did not baptize any children at Andover in this time period.

However, all said and done I have not yet determined where Thomas Blake, William Blake and Ann Blake fit into this scenario (they are my ancestral line - Thomas is my 3x great grandfather). They live at Upper Clatford. Thomas Blake (likely father of Joseph Blake (father of Thomas, William and Ann Blake aforementioned)) is not a brother to Charles, Edward and John. He is the son of Thomas Blake who married Mary Spring 1708 at Andover and was their only child apparently as no other children are baptized at Andover by this couple and Thomas (not an infant) is buried in 1714. Unless they moved about and baptized children elsewhere and, of course, I can not know that. Unfortunately there are no wills, no poor rate at Andover for Thomas Blake. What did he do for a living? I think perhaps he was a draper or something like that but time will tell on that one. Ann Blake was to inherit under the will with some restrictions but it would appear that Ann Blake ends up on the property after all that was mentioned in John Blake's will.

Thais Opera

My husband and I like to attend the Opera and yesterday the MET production in digital format at SilverCity of Thais was exceptional. Since it started at 12 noon and we were there at 11:30 a.m. to get good seats, a good part of the day was spent "at the opera." We treated ourselves to a bag of popcorn which we haven't done for a long time and munched away quietly during the opera.

In terms of genealogy I didn't really accomplish a lot. I answered some queries online from my ancestry subscription - the query re Blake generated another email and Charles Blake has proven to be an elusive but popular ancestor. I think most of my queries about Blake have dealt with Charles. His marriage at Abbots Ann to Mary Prince in 1737 is the first entry for him at Abbots Ann. The Prince family are farmers (freehold) so a fairly substantial family for the time. Their only son Charles as well married into the Gilbert family which is also a substantial family in the area. But who is this Charles? He is mentioned in the will of John Blake malster at Abbots Ann in 1797 (along with my ancestor Thomas Blake (3x great grandfather)). I can trace my Blake line back through Upper Clatford to Andover and to the beginning of the Register where the first baptism for this family (thus far I am still transcribing the earliest register) is William (b 9 Aug 1615) and son of Richard. I suspect the earliest baptisms were kept in a register now long lost which was probably in a chapel at Eastontown where this family lived. Richard is the son of William who is the son of Nicholas (all this by wills). But there is never a Charles in this family. There is a Robert Blake family at Andover as well and I am still working on this line. They appear to be descended from the Blake family at Knights Enham (Robert is a popular name in that line) and there is a marriage of a Charles Blake and Jane Framtan at Andover 2 Oct 1687 (who is this Charles?). No baptisms for this couple thus far in my looking. Then there is the marriage in 1737 at Abbots Ann of Charles Blake and Mary Prince. One would suspect that Charles is from the established Blake family in the area to have been accepted into the Prince family. Charles Blake and Jane Framtan would have been the right age to be parents of this Charles. But on top of all that John Blake at Abbots Ann, the malster, making the interesting will wasn't baptized at Abbots Ann and no idea where he was baptized (likely in 1714 by his gravestone). My 5x great grandfather Thomas was baptized in 1709, Charles was likely baptized around 1710-15, and John in 1714. Could they be brothers and all sons of Thomas Blake (b 21 Feb 1685) who married Mary Spring 6 Nov 1708 at Andover? Thomas was buried 29 Jan 1714. His widow Mary did not remarry. She was buried 2 Apr 1734 at Andover. Why are they not in the Andover Parish Register although I haven't transcribed line by line yet so can not really say they are not there yet but they do not appear in the IGI as Thomas b 1709 does. As I read the will John makes the same legacy to all of the grandchildren of Thomas and Charles (he doesn't have any grandchildren as his only daughter to survive infancy died at 24). He remembers his sister's children (Elizabeth married a Russel, another unknown married a Marshman possibly and sister Mary married a Gilbert. He leaves his personal belongings to just the children of Charles' Blake first marriage (he does not list the children of Charles' second marriage). I suspect that is because this family has lost their lease on what was a Gilbert farm. Lovely will with so many interesting names but it leads to so many new questions as wills often do!

The other big question that stays in my mind is that Thomas (b 1685) had 10 siblings - John b 1684; d 1684, Thomas is next, Margaret b 1689, John b 1689; d 1729, Richard b 1691; d 1694, Elizabeth b 1693; d 1693, Elizabeth b 1695, William b 1698, Anne b 1701; d 1705, Joseph b 1702; d 1784, Anne b 1705; d 1711. I have the will for Joseph, and his sisters Margaret and Elizabeth (they do not marry) and Joseph's only son Joseph is buried in 1746 as a child. But interestingly he lives at Penton Mewsey which is where my Thomas (b 1709) married Ann Carter. These wills do not mention Thomas' great grandchildren. Who is the John? Is he the father of John at Abbots Ann? That is one of my thoughts actually other than his being descended from Robert Blake's line at Knights Enham. Anyone reading this blog who is interested in Charles Blake might like to pursue the Blake family at Penton Mewsey; I am slowly working through the Registers. I think I know who the earliest Blake is there but still really working on that.

A few queries on Bishops Nympton as well to answer. I still have a large query to deal with but will leave it to the New Year. I appear to be almost fully recovered from my bout of illness - just my bruised ribs to finish recovering. My energy level is coming back as well. Soon we will be out skiing and snowshoeing plus if the cold snap continues the canal will freeze and we will be ice skating on our 8 km skating rink.