Decisions

March for my studies became a throw away month whilst I contemplated the path for each of the two books. 

Pencombe became the easiest to resolve as I realized that the data that existed did not lend to the thought that Philip Pynkeham at Tawstock was related to the Pencombe family at North Molton. He is either related to an earlier Pencombe family that came to Devon from Herefordshire (not necessarily the same family which would be anticipated given the difference in y-DNA results) or is actually a member of the Tykenham family closeby but in the same hundred in this time frame. Decision made to not include Philip in the book. I will in each decade make decisions that lend themselves to the accumulated data. 

Blake ended up creating new chapters to look at Richard le Blak in Berkshire on the Pipe Rolls of 1301 and his family as it moved out of Berkshire and into Wiltshire and Hampshire. The Blake family of Calne does appear to be descendant of this Richard le  Blak and was he the Richard who received license to set up a market in England in 1274 (Calendar of Patent Rolls). This is not yet proven but I continue to look at the available data (available to me). I have added a chapter of the Le Blak family of Calne, I have also added a chapter which looks at two major Blake family documents - Blake Pedigree Chart of 1690 requisitioned by Daniel Blake of London, England with additions into the mid to latter part of the 1700s and the Blake Family Chart (additions up to the early 1920s) possibly created by Edward James Blake of Crewkerne, Somerset. This month of review was definitely worth while for the Blake family book. 

There is snow on the ground here but not a lot. Skiing may not happen! But the moisture is good for sure. 

Tea time and Latin next. 

I must continue pulling out the sets of data that I have collected for this family in the North Molton area

Memories

I did watch Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's State Funeral yesterday. It was perfect I think; so very meaningful and perhaps the most beautiful his granddaughter's song of love for her beloved grandfather. It is the hardest thing in the world I think for children to give up a parent and for grandchildren to let go of a grandparent. It wrenches the soul and tears it apart just for a little while until the healing starts. I must admit as I watched the funeral I remember that my husband would have preferred having all of his friends about him for a funeral but he did die during COVID but we actually did not have a funeral until over a year later. But I just couldn't budge myself from that very private place I had moved to and as it turned out we all wanted it to be a very private goodbye with all of us there - the priest, organist, children (including our son in law), grandchildren and myself. The organist was simply wonderful picking everything himself except I did ask for the 23rd Psalm which we all sang. The memory did come back to me as I watched and I have said to my children that when we finally pick a burial spot at Beechwood where he wanted to be buried they can do whatever they want when I pass away. A joint service if that is something they want as it was what he wanted for sure. But if they decide private is what they want then they have my blessing for that as well. Whatever suits them; to me funerals are for the living to commemorate those who died but in a way that reflects the living family. The State Funeral was perfect for Brian Mulroney; when the history books are written (and already he is in the history books) he will be one of Canada's best Prime Ministers. Could he have done more for his country; I am sure he would have said yes but he did so very much to bring us right out of being mentally attached to the British Isles (although I am very much in favour of our King and Royal Family and hope that that is also a forever part of Canada) to standing up on our own two feet as he negotiated NAFTA and tied us economically forever to our great neighbour to the south. As Canada grows and at 40 Million plus we are growing we may one day be a much much larger neighbour than we are now and I am sure that linking ourselves together will prove to be the best forward plan there could have been. Thank you Brian Mulroney. I also feel the same way about the GST; it has done Canada a lot of good; taken the strain out of running government as no need for supply bills constantly getting debated at the last minute. The government has money to fund it. Thank you Brian Mulroney for that and for Nunavut and fighting acid rain and so much more.

A lovely walk again yesterday, two days in a row. I do enjoy a good walk around the block. I did not accomplish very much on Pencombe yesterday. My mind didn't seem to settle to it. I am still perplexed about Philip Pynkeham. Who is he? Is he a Tynkeham? Why is he at Tawstock? I likely do need to do a little more searching to see if I can discover anything more. Of course he was born before the Parish Registers were kept by the Parish Priests for all the inhabitants of the parish so no help there.  I may though, check the 1524-27 Lay Subsidy for the parishes where the Tynkeham/Tinkham family lived. Perhaps then I will feel satisfied leaving him out. It does seem like I should do that. 

We were meant to have snow but the snow fell on Montreal complicating the travel from St Patrick to Notre Dame for the funeral but as usual our honour guards did a perfect job in spite of the weather. The 19 gun salute rang through the cold air and Canada said goodbye to Brian Mulroney while his family took him for a private time and burial. Brian Mulroney was proud, I am sure, of his family standing through all those hours welcoming all the people who came to say goodbye. They did it so very well.

Minus eight degrees celsius, clear and will be sunny. Another crisp winter day with no snow. We are in drought for sure and will be a rough summer perhaps of forest fires. Time will tell. Hopefully everyone will be especially careful to keep them to a minimum. 

Sunday, Palm Sunday, and Church on You Tube. I am looking forward to being at the Cathedral once again. It has been a thoughtful Lent and the Lenten Readings have been most thought provoking particularly as they have very much brought my thoughts to Israel and Gaza. A solution is there but Hamas destroys any solution because they are evil thinking only of themselves and their greed and their hatred for the Jewish people. They desire to commit genocide against the Jewish people and it really must end; they must be sent somewhere where they cannot hurt the Palestinians or the Jews. 

Prayers for the people of Russia, those killed in the attack by ISIS and those injured and fighting for their lives in the hospitals. May God be merciful and help them through this tragic time. 

God bless the world. 

Teatime and Latin. It is a day of rest for my eyes.

Snow 5 cm is predicted

There is a 5 cm snowfall predicted for the end of the week. That would be a nice end to winter for sure. It has been a strange winter here. Climate Change is having an incredible effect on Canada with out polar regions being a large part of our country. Perhaps one more day of skiing is in the works.

Today is a Pencombe day and I have a few more thoughts on Philip Pynkeham at Tawstock that I will check out. I do not want to just wantonly discard him from the book but do need to have more information to encourage me to put him in. The forename is definitely unusual to the William, John and Thomas forenames that I am finding generally in the 1300s/1400s for the Pencombe family of Herefordshire. 

Perhaps some searching of the archives to continue today with Pencombe. Perhaps getting back to actually writing the book as I have only been blogging my abstract thoughts as they come to me. 

Verified my appointment with the surgeon for cataract surgery - preliminary examination for surgery in late May hopefully. Actually looking forward to this being done and getting back to my books after a couple of months off perhaps. Time will tell. I have no idea. I have never really known anyone who had cataract surgery other than my parents (and my sister but she too is far away and did not really go into details and I like to just follow the flow for such things) and I was here and they were 700 kilometres away during all of that so no really close information.  But it is good to be enthusiastic likely. I have had no actual surgery in my life; just lucky likely and only a couple of procedures other than the delivery of two children. But I really do think people should get their surgeries sooner rather than later if they need them. So all verified and on to the appointment. My eyes are actually my only weak item but I have lived with them for 78.5 years and glasses for 77+ years. Apparently I did not walk free until glasses were put on me when I was just eighteen months. I hung on the furniture, people, the dog whatever to get around before then apparently. I have no idea why glasses suddenly made my world visible/steady enough for me to get up and walk across a room unaided. But I do remember having dizzy spells as a young child sometimes when my lenses were changed and perhaps that was it. But I made up for it as once mobile I had to be followed (the dog was good at that and bringing me back home) as I was on the move. We were inseparable the dog and I apparently and the dog seemed to know I was not like my three older siblings none of whom wore glasses as children because he would hold on to my clothes to take me home again my grandmother said. I have no memory of the dog as he was put down when I was around three years of age. I think he was about about ten years old - a large border collie. I do not remember the touch of his fur even. Seems strange really when he was so much part of my life until I was nearly three. 

On to the Archives and I shall record anything interesting but also have a look at what I have written thus far in this chapter on the de Pencombe family of Herefordshire.  

Just a day of reading and exercise. Tomorrow Blake.

The 18th Prime Minister of Canada - Brian Mulroney

Rest in Peace Brian Mulroney you did your task very well and created a new Canada that still flourishes due to your foresight with the 7% GST (although I consider mistakenly taken to 5% by Prime Minister Harper) and NAFTA. Both enriched Canada by making anything possible in those years following their enactment.  I watched during the day while the coffin of our 18th Prime Minister was Laying in State here in Ottawa. He will be sadly missed by all of the current politicians of the day; he was a great Canadian with a reach down through the ages. I will watch his funeral on Saturday.

I must admit the demise of the NDP would suit me very well; I have never considered them to be an effective party but rather concentrating on one segment of the population only; the one that they think will vote them in. Folded back into the Liberal party where they belong they would continue giving that far left wing of the Liberal party a voice plus the percentage of our tax that goes to support democracy (i.e. the parties with enough seats in the house) would not be diced up quite so much. The idea of the individual tax payer having a box to check for their taxes to be directed at their discretion (or one could have a checkbox for the status quo) is an interesting idea that came to me yesterday as I considered the amendment to the bill first put forward by the mis-guided NDP member. Put more effort into getting the children out of Gaza and here where there is lots of food and no bombs and less into supporting the terrorists Hamas who live on hatred of the Jewish people. That the bill passed in the house is simply a matter of politics - the Block want to be there to vote for an independence movement (as they see it) as they see their own and has little to do with Gaza likely (breaking up Canada is their aim), the NDP serve no purpose as far as I can see but are simply Liberals with a different name and would save tax money being thinned out if they are the same party and the Green Party (although I am a great believer in greening Canada I think voting for this particular item was a poor choice - abstaining could express your horror at the state of Gaza better - it at least supports Israel's right to defend itself). So I am left with the Conservatives, which I am actually but their inability to leave the GST alone or at least put it back up to 7% or 10%, it is a wealth tax after all (lots of exempt items that are necessities), has put me into the Liberal camp where I do not really belong but they are getting the job done. The military is getting more hardware and support (but more is needed); we got through COVID relatively unscathed and our economy is moving along nicely. I have no objection to the Carbon Tax - we have to pay to green Canada and that is a fact (last year we had the worst air of any place in the world; the smoke was swirling around in our backyard here and all over the Ottawa Valley). Taxes are one of the great truths of life - death and taxes!

Cleaning day all accomplished and today will be a research day. Just debating on which one to work on today. I am still sorting Pencombe in my mind and concentrating on the descendants of the North Molton Pencombe family and leaving the Philip Pynkeham at Tawstock for another (although I know I will keep having a look here and there during the remainder of the throw-away month). Finding him on the 1524-7 (as well as the 1543-45 Lay Subsidies as a tax payer) as a wage earner was interesting. The individual on the line above him was not a relative and I can not see anything that helps me with who he is as he is likely at least 15-18 years of age in 1524 so born in the same time frame as the first generation's Pencombe children (but does not appear to belong to anyone at Tawstock (the forename Philip is somewhat unusual in this family although there was one in my 2x great grandfather John Pincombe's family; his youngest brother Philip but he had an uncle Philip and grandfather on his mother's side!)). Probably I should still consider alternative searches as this is my throw-away month to look at possibilities and work on the Blake family. Here I am looking at the Le Blac family of Rouen, Normandy and were they the ancestors of the Calne Blake family? Can I prove that the Richard (who actually belongs at the top of the Blake Family Chart (Blake Museum, Bridgwater) I do believe) Blague/Blaake was the same Richard who applied for a license to set up a market in England in 1274? I think continuing with my search through the Blake records would be a good step today.

Continuing the look at the Discovery Catalogue at the UK National Archives for the unfinished group of Blake beginning with John Blake.  Publication of The Harleian Society Volume LXXIX (1928). There are Blake entries namely John Blak, Rawlyn Blak, Richard Blak, Andrew Blake, Edmond Blake, Edmund Blake (6 entries), John Blake (4 entries), Simon Blake (2 entries), Thomas Blake (4 entries), Walter Blake, William Blake (3 entries). 

Name                      Page              Suit#

John Blake           16                 10

John Blake           20               103 

John Blake         204               490

John Blake         295              353

Simon Blake      144              240

Simon Blake      238              174

Thomas Blake   134              329

Thomas Blake   285               74

Thomas Blake   293             307

Thomas Blake   390               13

Walter Blake     154             505

 William Blake   30             131

William Blake    30             148

William Blake  166              88

I have completed the first group of Blake way back last week; my the time passes quickly. I shall continue that process looking up these items on the Discovery Catalogue at Kew today (I shall continue adding to this post all day). 

Teatime and Latin first. 

 John Blake (77 items - 11 relevant)

1.  C136/83/5 and it is the Inquisition Postmortem for John Blake I (MP for Calne). This would be an interesting document and I may yet order it.

2. Grant (at Calne) by Geoffrey Symple of Wynterbourne Whitcherch (Dorset) to John Blake of Quemerford, of an acre of land in the field called Westytone. 1386 Reference: 1720/199

3. 1395; John Blake witnesses a document (Whetham (a parish in Calne), Wiltshire, lease). Reference: 1720/213

4. Eaaster, 1395. Attorney: By John Blake of Quemerford to Robert Welyknowe to deliver seisin to Rober Saleman and his co-feoffees of pasture of his manor of Shawe and other lands there. Reference: DD/WHb/2026.

5. 1393. John Blake witnessed a Grant (at Wodelond) by  .... Reference: 1720/210

6. 1390. Quitclaim (at Calne), witnessed by John Blake Reference 1720/206

7. 1393. Quitclaim (at Calne), witnessed by John Blake. Reference 1720/207

8. 1384. Grant (at Whetham), witnessed by John Blake. Reference: 1720/193

9. 1387. Grant (at le Northehethe), witnessed by John Blake. Reference: 1720/202

10. 1460 Aug 18. John Blake (Nether Wallop), Robert Blake (Calne), Alexander Blake (Calne), sued by a London merchant. Reference C241/243/39

11. 1463; lease, widow of Robert Blake (Calne), Avice Blake, and John Blake, Robert Blake her sons, for 13 years to Nicholas Redeman of a barn and pasture at Sohawe. Reference DD/WHb/2144.

Simon Blake  - 14 records - 13 Norfolk, 1 Devon

Thomas Blake - 21 records - 1 Kent, 1 Suffolk, most Norfolk, some London

Walter Blake - 1 record - East Anglia

William Blake -  20 Records - Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Sheffield,

1. early 1400s. Mortgage of tenement in Salisbury, Wiltshire. William Blake, plaintiff (might be interesting since the grandfather of Robert (fulling mill at Quemerford) Blake was said to be a William Blake. Reference C 1/6/131 (must check and see if this is one that I imaged at Kew in 2013).

2. 1404-1426. Same as above. Reference C 1/6/148

3. 1489, Letter of Attorney - Wheddon in Cutcombe, Somerset which William Blake holds. Reference: 1782/M/T 21 (two entries)

The William Blake records could be interesting as it is the first that I have found for a William Blake in the right area. The John Blake records are expected in that John Blake I and John Blake II were both Members of Parliament. 

William being in Salisbury especially interesting because Whiteparish is just south of Salisbury and if  the unknown Blake (grandson of William, son of Henry) who moved from Whiteparish to Andover area (dying there in 1471) it could prove quite interesting. Although the third record itself is in Cutcombe, Somerset so curious mostly. Will consider ordering these three records if I do not already have them.

Looking at that particular item once again from the Blake Family Chart, Blake Museum. Bridgwater:

This unknown Blake is said to be the grand son of William Blake and Elizabeth (Power) Blake.

 I will look at this chart next Blake day and review the problems that exist when one looks at the wills for these individuals. They kindly left them! Interesting in a way that this chart was created for the Hampshire Blake Family. The actual chart doesn't use it. It doesn't help anyone with the Blake Pedigree Chart at Swindon - perhaps just throwing a little fat into the fire type of thing. It does use some of the material from the Blake Pedigree Chart though one does notice that. It would be interesting to discover the origin of the first generations  

Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine - Volume 9

Nearly spring and the snow is all gone pretty much here. The ground looks dry instead of muddy like it usually is. Time will tell. A yellow sunrise in God's world in the east. What is God thinking as He looks at the world spread out in front of Him? He must have wept for Alexei Navalny - one of His children.  The people of Russia deserve so much more than they are getting - a war is always hardest on its people. Those at the top just live in luxury already greedy for more. The Palestinians here have not brought any children to Canada as far as I can see - they could be safe and well fed here and with very little difficulty since they are little and not a worry; They will not cause any problems for our 600,000 + Jewish people. I think the children is the saddest part; they did nothing to bring this on and it is usual to protect the children and I have a hard time understanding why they are not being protected by people who have all the luxuries of living in Canada. Protest marches are a waste of time - feed the children; bring them to safety.

Very busy working this last week as I spend this "throw-away" month looking at two possibilities - one that Richard le Blak was the founder of the Calne Blake family and two that the Pencombe family at North Molton was descendant of the Pencombe family in Pencombe, Herefordshire. Both have interesting possibilities but provable that is the question. I have looked and looked at the Blake Family Chart on the Blake Museum website (Bridgwater, Somerset) and finally I suddenly saw that perhaps Richard and Robert were interchanged at the top of the Chart and the "proof of life" details for Robert (who has a number of items in various records) did perhaps reveal that they are accidentally interchanged with Richard actually being the father of Robert. There were just too many generations between the two Roberts and not enough years. Perhaps I noted that before but I needed more data on Robert to really see it. With the Pencombe family, not finding a lot of new details but I am just getting into that. Still trying to link Philip Pynkeham at Tawstock but I think one needs to look at land documents to really sort him out. That is not going to happen in my study likely; time will tell.

The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Volume 9 (Pages 223-224) which was published in 1866 and is also available from Internet.Archive.org

 http://archive.org/details/wiltshirearchaeo09arch

There is an article in this particular magazine which discusses descent and arms of families and was produced from the notes of the Richmond Herald at the College of Arms about 1693 although he was not appointed Richmond Herald until 1721. The article Wiltshire Arms and Descents was written by Mr. Clarence Hopper and the author of the notes was Robert Dale ( he was perhaps an heraldic painter prior to his appointment is suggested ). The comment is made that the information was principally from the Visitations of 1620 time period.

His notes on the Blague/Blake/Blaake family

Dorsetshire, 27. Blague, alias Blaake, now Blake of Quemberford [Quemerford], Calne and Pynhills - 1st, arg. a chevron between 3 garbs, sab. (this is the usual arms associated with the Blake family). 2nd, arg. on a pile, az. 3 martlets, sil. both by this name. Crest on a chapeau, gu. turned up erm. a martlet, arg. Kent 83.

Blague of Lacock, a second branch from Quemberford. Kent 83

Blague of Hilcot, a third house from Calne. Kent 83

This fits in with the Visitation of 1565 which states that Roger Blake and Mary Baynard had three sons - Thomas at Pynnell, Robert at Lacock and John at Hilcott which matches the information found in the Wiltshire Arms and Descents article mentioned above.

I did review "Index of Persons Named in Early Chancery Proceedings 1385-1467" produced as The Publication of The Harleian Society Volume LXXIX (1928).There are Blake entries namely John Blak, Rawlyn Blak, Richard Blak, Andrew Blake, Edmond Blake, Edmund Blake (6 entries), John Blake (4 entries), Simon Blake (2 entries), Thomas Blake (4 entries), Walter Blake, William Blake (3 entries). 

Name                      Page              Suit#

John Blak                62                 243

Rawlyn Blak          176               345

Richard Blak          62                243

Andrew Blake         3                  69

Edmond Blake      238              174

Edmund Blake     134               319

Edmund Blake     134               325

Edmund Blake     144               240

Edmund Blake     158               606

Edmund Blake     221              164

Edmund Blake     239              204

John Blake           16                 10

John Blake           20               103 

John Blake         204               490

John Blake         295              353

Simon Blake      144              240

Simon Blake      238              174

Thomas Blake   134              329

Thomas Blake   285               74

Thomas Blake   293             307

Thomas Blake   390               13

Walter Blake     154             505

 William Blake   30             131

William Blake    30             148

William Blake  166              88

I will check for Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire in Discovery Catalogue at the UK National Archives for all of these entries.

 John Blak - 13 records from 1300-1499 -  10 are mostly from Norfolk with one from Devon

1. 1400s. Ogbourne St Andrew, Wiltshire C 1/1495/32, grandson William Blake plaintiff. 

2. 1382. Document witnessed by John Blak (dealt with Calne area, Wiltshire).

3. 1489. Thornbury, Gloucestershire E 40/13329-13344. Joan wife of Thomas Pacche daughter and heir of John Blak. Interesting in that the Blake family of Calne is found in Gloucestershire after leaving Calne area.

Rawlyn Blak -  1 record from 1400-1499 - Leicestershire

Richard Blak - 1 record from 1400-1499 - Norfolk

Andrew Blake - 2 records from 1300-1499 - Kent, Sussex

Edmond Blake - 0 records from 1300-1499

Edmund Blake - 12 records from 1300-1499 - 10 Norfolk, 1 Essex, 1 Surrey

To be continued the next Blake day.

Calendar of Patent Rolls and my first task is to check for Robert le Blake and Robert Blake and this is between  1230 and 1452:

1357 21 Oct Westminster  (membrane 12)

Pardon in like terms to John Gosegh merchant of Salisbury on,

his outlawry in the county of Wilts for non-appearance to answer

touching a plea of Robert Blake, Thomas son of Walter de Hungerford

Edward Cokerel and Henry Flemyng,executors of the will of Henry

Russel, citizen of Salisbury, late executor of the will of John

Godhyne late burgess and merchant of Marlebergh that he render

to them 110 l

31 Edward III, volume 10, page 630

One mention only of Robert Blake and it involves a case in Salisbury and Marlebergh which is likely Marlborough and not too far from Calne and Devizes so an interesting find to have a Robert, adult since he is  the executor of a will (although there are exceptions but generally so), in 1357. Continuing proof of life for this Robert and since he is not named at all in the Chancery Proceedings commencing in 1385 he is likely deceased by then as his likely wife Joan and son John were involved in a land transaction in 1386 where Joan is named as a widow. The land mentioned is Shawe by Savernake. I did locate a Shaw in Wiltshire  which is Shaw cum Donnington and of all things it is not too distant from Speen which I mentioned as being another Blake location associated with the Andover Blake family (A genealogical Gazetteer of England, Frank Smith, Baltimore, 1987). It is also close enough to Marlborough which is east of Calne and Devizes. An interesting find perhaps. 

I will have a look for Richard la Blak or Richard Blake in the Calendar of Patent Rolls. The one in Rouen, Normandy,  in 1274 is known as that was his permission to set up a market in England. Any of the references have no connection to Wiltshire. 

So I think Robert le Blake is now verified and the wife of Robert was likely Joan and at least one son John. 

I am tempted though to suspect that Robert is a son of Richard le Blak located at Wargrave, Berkshire in 1301 on the Pipe Rolls of the Bishopric of Winchester. Richard Blague does not bring up any hits on the Discovery catalogue. Is it possible that Robert should come after Richard as his son although not mentioned on the Pipe Rolls at Wargrave but there is a John Blak at Wargrave (although he is not named as a son of Richard in that record). But Robert was not likely born until 1313 or shortly before that and he does name a son John. 

Jumping ahead to Robert Blake  of Quemberford and dates online are 1412-1474 for his lifespan. I was not successful on Wednesday with the middle members of the chart above namely Henry, William and Henry but whipping ahead might be helpful. So if we have a date for the first Robert let us say of 1313 to 1386 then this Robert is born 100 years later approximately. If we eliminate Richard from this line coming down then we are left with Henry, William and Henry. This would have Henry as a son of the first Robert (and I suspect he is born before 1313 so Henry born circa 1330s and a William born circa 1350s and a Henry born circa 1380s and that is likely a reasonable span of years for most generations  (actually short when I consider my own generations). But I am suggesting that Richard le Blak is the father of the first Robert and the two just need to be interchanged. 

Quemberford is rather interesting because a Robert Blake is said to have owned a fulling mill in Quemerford. Looking at the British History website (https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol17/pp17-27 ), and Blackland in particular there is a small map on this page which is rather interesting:

In the writeup about Blacklands the Manor and House both known as Blackland was held by Richard de Canville in 1194 and before that date was part of the King's large estate called Calne. At some point after 1086 the land was part of the Calstone estate and was granted away giving some prehistory to Richard de Canville holding the property in 1194. It then descended in the Canville line with a little bit of interesting history and was given or sold to Malmesbury abbey before 1262. It was then held until 1539 by the Abbey until it was dissolved and the manor then passed to the Crown. It then passed into several families until the late 1780s when it passed to the Maundrell family who apparently held property in Compton Bassett which was called Blake. Somewhat interesting but it does not appear that a Robert (le) Blake held Blacklands at any time. 

Continuing to look at British History Online under Calne:Economic History (originally published by Victoria County History, London, 2002) and Mills, Trade and Industry (Source: 'Calne: Economic history', in A History of the County of Wiltshire: Volume 17, Calne, (London, 2002) pp. 79-94. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol17/pp79-94 [accessed 12 March 2024])."A fulling mill in Quemberford belonged to Robert Blake (d. 1515 (Public Record Office, C142/31, no. 53)) and was on the estate at Quemerford conveyed by Robert's grandson Thomas Blake to Henry Chivers in 1560." 

 Robert Blake married to Avis (Wallop) (Malwyn) Blake's son John named his brother Robert (married to Margaret Englefield) as heir to the property which included the Fulling Mill at Quemberford in 1504. Their son Roger Blake married to Mary Baynard had a son Thomas who is noted above as inheriting the mill and selling it. This is seen clearly on the Blake Pedigree Chart held by the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office.

The value of these two charts is quite huge even if over time one notes difficulties with the Chart but overall the parts of the chart that can be verified by records are a great addition to this Blake family. The intent of the Blake Family Chart at the Blake Museum Bridgwater is to illustrate the Blake Family in Somerset and it does it very well actually. I have blogged on it in the past. I did not see it but I am sure it is a treasure to do so especially if you descend from the Somerset Blake line. 

So today finding the Robert Blake record near Speen is most interesting and continues my thought that at some point in the far past (I suspect late 1200s early 1300s) the Calne Blake and the Andover Blake families were related on the female side and their friendship is still seen in the wills in the 1500s. Having so much material in one place whether you might not quite agree with all the entries is a great asset to the Blake family. 

But I  have still not actually proven that Richard Le Blak is the progenitor of the Calne Blake family but I think there are not a lot of choices looking at the Blake records in the 1200s/1300s. The 1274 permit to set up a market was a great opportunity for Richard le Blak in England but there is an effigy in the Rouen Cathedral in Normandy and it wasn't possible to determine exactly who this person was. Perhaps a look at the French records might be in order.

Pencombe research day - Devon Archives

 I did find one interesting Feoffment in the Devon Archives:

 Feoffment (partially illegible) (I) Walter Babacomb and Richard Wylle To Richard Burgyn, gent.; John Addyngton, gent.; William Susan; William Androwe; John Salterne; William Chynge; Thomas Leche; Thomas Yeo; William Colybeare, sen.; Aldred Stockeham; Richard Pynkeham; John Parson; Roger Salterne; John Lake, sen.; Thomas Mogar; William Porson [sic]; John Susan; John Androwe; William Davye; William Yeo; Henry Salterne; John Babacomb, jun.; Henry Rusten; Richard Johns; Anthony Horye and John Lake de Aggeven Property in Bideford; Barnstaple; Combe Martin; Roborough; Westleigh; Little Torrington; Alverdiscott; Northam; Abbotsham and elsewhere in Devon 14 Jan. 1566
Repository    

North Devon Record Office

Reference number   BBT/1/1

Date    14 Jan1566

Access status   Open

Level     File

Richard Pynkeham is an interesting person (is he the son of Philip Pynkeham known to have left his will in 1564 at Tawstock?). It is a summary of a large document likely and the list of places tend to be in the area that is of interest. Chart 10 produced by the earlier researchers, Galen Pinkham and Dr Richard Pinkham, has the following:

Phillipp Pyncombe (b 1563) married Wilmote Beare 10 Feb 1583 at Bideford. I already have a problem with these dates because a Philip Pynkeham's will was probated in 1564. However the spelling in the Bideford Registers is as shown so who is this Phillipp Pyncombe? This particular chart does not have contributors so is likely prepared by the two researchers. They are falling back on the history of the Richard Pinkham who came to Old Dover, New Hampshire( at least by the early 1640s likely) written by the Rev. Charles Nelson Sinnett. He was said to have two brothers who settled in other parts of New Hampshire. But the writer says he found nothing to support these thoughts. With the data at hand in the Bideford Parish Registers (the original scans are on Find My Past) there does appear to be a Pyncombe family at Bideford from the beginning of the Registers. But who are they? From whom do they descend? 

Known to be at North Molton from 1486 or thereabouts on, John Pencombe who came with John Lord Zouch. By 1524 listed with John at North Molton a William Pencombe and a Thomas Pencombe (Thomas beside John in the listing and has Wages listed beside his name - so perhaps the youngest son) as William has a property value as does John. The elder son John was known to be at South Molton and he is there with his eldest son Christopher (younger son John is not listed on the Lay Subsidy of 1524-7). Other than a Philip Pynkeham listed at Tawstock there are no other names similar to Pincombe/Pinkham in the Lay Subsidy (Stoate does tend to be quite good with transcriptions). Missing from the 1524-7 Lay subsidy the parishes of: Exeter omitted on purpose (published by Mrs Rowe in Tudor Exeter), Partially missing: Talaton, S. Molton Borough, Northoe, Petrockstow, Frithelstock, Burrington, Nymet Tracey, Eggesford, Stoke Damarel, Bere Ferrers, Plympton St Mary, Revelstoke. 

Tawstock is a large parish (145 names of whom 51 received Wages). Listed with the forename Philip in the 1524-7 Lay Subsidy: Philip Pyngham W 1. Interesting I could readily get Pynkeham out of that (the original would have to be consulted. So likely an apprentice. Will see if that brings up any records. Finding him on two Lay Subsidies at Tawstock is interesting.

I think my task at the moment is collection of all data from the 1400s and 1500s for all derivatives of Pencombe that I am able to locate. So that will be my task for the rest of this month anyway on the Pencombe days.

British History online proved interesting with records of Pynkeham in Devon in 1292. I shall read that one again tomorrow. Gradually I am starting to think that Pynkeham arose in Devon itself as a free standing surname. Some members of the Pincombe family did use the spelling Pinkham which has led to thoughts that this is one family. I am slowly becoming convinced that both families are free-standing with Pynkeham being the older family in Devon as Pencombe was know to arrive in 1486 with John Lord Zouch at North Molton. But I will continue to work on this on Friday. 

But it does give me more incentive to write the Pencombe Family of Herefordshire and North Molton as an independent book because of the presence of Philip Pynkeham on the 1524-7 Lay Subsidy at Tawstock as a relatively young adult and he is simply not listed as a son of John Pencombe whose sons are all close by him in North Molton and South Molton. 

Today is a Blake day and I will continue working on The Blake Pedigree Chart created in 1690 by the College of Arms for Daniel Blake. 

Teatime and Latin all accomplished. Breakfast next.

Hunter Gatherer and the Norman Conquest

 Although there were likely a lot of population changes in England I think that the big divide is between the Hunter Gatherer population and those who came during and directly after the Norman Conquest. The impact of the Roman occupation of Britain, although very lengthy, was not as far reaching as the impact of the Norman Conquest. For the most part the Romans left; auxiliaries may have stayed and they do show up in Genetic compliment of the British Isles overall. But their impact was not as profound or complete as the Norman Conquest. It is interesting though to discover that the Norman Conquest and the people who came were not necessarily the same areas in Europe. The Norman Conquest was from Normandy but no true records exist of that time period to say exactly who came; it is very subjective and done after the time period. The Emigrants' Database which was created by the National Archives of the UK 1330-1550 does capture quite a variety of countries from which these "emigrants" came to England in this particular time frame. To the best of my knowledge there isn't anything like that before 1330. 

The other big item is no surnames in England before the Conquest although people perhaps referred to John of the Hill, William of Forest or other types of names but the children of these men were likely Thomas son of John (or Thomas Johnson) or Rufus son of William (or Rufus Williamson) but surnames were requested of everyone by the 1100s on although it did take several centuries to actually implement that. 

That brings me to both of  my studies that I am working on at the moment in terms of producing a book on each family. On the one hand - Blake- I have my brother tested and his Y-700 DNA results point to a hunter-gatherer as the ancient ancestor of my Blake line where Blake in the Wiltshire/Berkshire areas was possibly (still working on that proof) descendant of le Blak of Rouen, Normandy and the DNA study that I co-administer points to a likely I1 (Viking) yDNA although no one has a perfect trail back to this family that has tested thus far. The Pincombe/Pinkham study my cousin tested (and another cousin in Australia as well as a descendant of the Bideford/Barnstaple Pincombe family) and it would appear that this line is probably Celtic and I suspect post-Conquest although the surname Pencombe/Pincombe/Pinkham does not appear on the Emigrants Database but they are suspected by me to be a family that lived at Pemcombe, Herefordshire and were from Flanders in Europe although recent searches brought up Roger de Pencombe at Bondleigh, Devon. Philip Pynkeham on the 1543-45 Devon Lay Subsidy Rolls at Tawstock remains very interesting. His will was likely in 1564 at Tawstock leaving one with the thought he was perhaps born between the latter part of the 1400s and the early part of the 1500s. Who were his parents, not listed on the Visitation of Devon in 1620 with Pyncombe, and the name itself is so different from the John, William and Thomas who were listed as sons of [John] Pyncombe. No mention of a Philip at all. The spelling of the surname Pynkeham in the 1540s also interesting as I think it may be the first time that I have seen that spelling so early (usually Pinkham now). 

Today is the larger cleaning day and would be a Pencombe day so may give time to that although Pencombe dominated the Blake day yesterday!

Teatime.There is an enormous advantage to someone writing this book who lives in England and has better access to original material than I do but I said the same about the Siderfin Book but felt that it was good to at least get some of my thoughts on paper for that one and I think the same for these two books. Publishing them with a Commons License leaves anyone else free to use my work and pursue their own thoughts - the marvels of modern culture. The growth of printing (digital) has led to an explosion in written works in digital format. One must ferret one's way through the information forest rejecting obvious lies and propaganda especially against the democratic way of life. Exposing the lies is the duty of modern day journalism for sure. 

And I agree with the police in Toronto that disrupting normal government business for your own selfish purpose is wrong. Stand across the street if you want to protest; do not block the doors - that in the least is a fire hazard and at the worst disruption of normal government affairs. Why don't you spend the money you waste on such activities to bring little children to Canada from Gaza to protect them until Gaza can be rebuilt. I find it absolutely unforgiveable to see all the wealth that is in the Muslim hands in Canada and none of it for those little children from 2 to 8 who can do no harm but desperately need a proper home and food and out of this war. Hamas is totally to blame for all the problems in Gaza and all the deaths and Hamas' continued refusal to release the hostages, provide the hostages with medical care, fresh clothing, food and even fresh air. Do something about Hamas; The people of Gaza elected them in and see what has happened in a generation to Gaza.

 

Rain beautiful rain

If there is one thing Canada really needs at the moment it is rain particularly in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia where fires are raging. Over 1M hectares have burned in Alberta since this fire season began so fast after the winter snowmelt had begun. Rain is good here as well because the ground is dry in spite of the heavy snowfall last year. The rivers are still high though so lots of water here we just need it to keep falling from the clouds to enrich the land that has lost its snow cover. The sun is baking Canada for sure; climate change affects the northern (and southern but there are fewer of them) areas the most. 

Yesterday I completed the cleaning and preparing the back garden for planting in the morning. Then my daughter moved the garden soil from the big yellow bag and we planted in an area where we are not likely to collect very much carrots, radishes, beets and dill. The rabbits will probably beat us to most of that for sure but it is hidden behind the raspberry bushes so we are less visible and might keep them away from the top of the garden although we will fence that with chicken wire. It does appear that one of the rabbits (perhaps the male) is somewhat tame (a domestic rabbit that has been let free perhaps) and the female rabbit is producing litter after litter! The newborns were in the raspberries yesterday for a while but back safely with the mother once again. Do I mind? Not actually it is funny watching their antics in the yard. Before we mowed yesterday they could run freely all through the deep grass and were less visible but now they will have to be cautious or the hawks will get them as the lawns are now mowed; the bees have so many flowers now that cutting down the dandelions and other wild flowers will not be missed by them plus they are coming to the end of their flowering cycle as well. Today rain and tomorrow the top of the garden will be planted and it is perhaps 50% larger than the bottom portion and we will put in onions (do not need to fence them) and then lettuces, green beans, spinach, herbs - parsley, basil and dill. Then the next big project to prepare the areas for the cherry tomatoes and the green peppers for ourselves and cucumbers at the back for the racoon since that does seem to keep it back there somewhat or it just stops coming because it is eating better elsewhere. Haven't seen it for a few days since the neighbours and ourselves chased it off - perhaps it took the hint that sitting on our bird feeder was not desirable. 

As well I got a start on the Pincombe/Pinkham Newsletter. At the moment I am still toying with the idea that Philip Pynkeham is a brother to John, William and Thomas Pencombe. The spelling is interesting on the 1544 Subsidy. Philip is located in Tawstock which is to the west of North Molton and this is the area (Barnstaple/Bideford) where Pinkham first appears in the records other than this 1544 record. On the 1581 Subsidy the name is recorded as Edward Pencombe in the same area. Perhaps a son of Philip? 

The distance from North Molton to Tawstock (and the main road does flow this way) but there are also back roads with the average distance being 16 miles (25 kilometres). The River Taw has a tributary the River Mole which flows into the Taw River at Barnstaple having traveled from the Exmoor which is located just north of North Molton so the likely means of transportation perhaps in the 1500s. The River Mole (Wikipedia) takes its name from the market towns of North and South Molton and was known as the Nymet. One can see how the movement out of North Molton for the Pencombe family was a logical and gradual one (my line was at Bishops Nympton just to the east of South Molton). 

I am hoping that the document which I ordered from the National Archives (Inquisition Postmortem for John de Pencombe in Herefordshire) might just arrive in the next couple of days as I would like to see which forenames of Pencombe appear in this document. Although it is early in the time period I would really like to look at; it will be interesting to see the document. I continue with my duolingo latin lessons and will try to keep that up every day now. I was working slowly from text books before COVID but this online course is rather interesting. 

The morning is passing quickly and to keep on track must do my breakfast now (but first the second set of jumping jacks!) and then I will be ready for my Latin Lesson at 9:00 a.m.

I have to say that I think Past Governor General David Johnston gave good advice following his appointment as a special rapporteur to examine the need for a public inquiry into foreign influence in our elections. First and foremost he saved us from yet another circus on TV in Ottawa and this one being very problematic because it involves our security arm of the government - CSIS. They are accountable to the public yes but their methods are best kept somewhat private although I do agree that we should receive more information when there is known interference that would not otherwise hinder their investigations. The Conservative party refused to talk to David Johnston which was somewhat of an expected stand given that when they were last in power they did nothing about foreign influence. The NDP want to spend millions of Canadian taxpayer money on an inquiry simply as an election gamble (people might think they are responding and vote for them when they wouldn't otherwise); the money is best spent elsewhere they are the first to complain the government isn't giving enough freebies to the less fortunate amongst us. And so I am quite content that we are not going to waste all of that money on a public inquiry which would create more questions than answers. This is simply because all of the information can not be given to us publicly. I do hope we can move on now. Time for my Latin Lesson.
 

Pencombe and Herefordshire

 Searching through the Herefordshire Archives catalogue a couple of entries of interest:

Monday before Saint Peter in Cathedra 8 Edward III [21 February 1334], 1334
Reference number    A63/I/1/5
Date(s)   1334
Scope and content   
Michael de Grendene for common essoin through Henry the bailiff; John Bernard the same through William his bailiff; William de Wotton the same through Richard his son; Testified by the bailiff that Nicholas de Cimiterio has died and the bailiff after his death took the equivalent of a mark as heriot and the land was seised into the lord's hands, and John his son comes as his heir apparent and does homage and fealty, and acknowledges that he holds of the lord a messuage and half hide of land in Chirworde for the service of 12d a year; half a virgate and 12a. of land in Wooton hide rendering the lord for every service 1d and 7a. of land in Bigfield rendering the lord 6d and suit of court every three weeks, wardship, marriage, heriot, relief when it happens, and afterwards John gives as a relief 3s 2d; Roger Ilger has a day at the next court ...; Richard le Parkar in mercy for not having Nicholas le Parkar for whom he stood surety; Ordered to secure Nicholas by better sureties, afterwards Nicholas comes and pays his fine and does not find a surety; Ordered as several times before to distrain John le Bonde for several defaults; Ordered to distrain William le Parkar to pay homage and for arrears of rent; Ordered to take into the lord's hands land that was Alice de Cimiterio's for certain ? tithes; Ordered to distrain all tenants holding lands which were Nicholas de Fraxino's; Ordered to distrain Henry de Went for several defaults; A cow taken as heriot of Petronilla de la Stone remains in the lord's hands whom etc.; Total of the court with heriot fines and revenues of the bailiff 25s 7d delivered to him as appears in his estreats; Court of Pencomb Wednesday on the feast of Saint Lawrence 8 Edward III [10 August 1334]; Thomas de Houton for common essoin throuth John de la Wode; John de Honaldewode the same through John le Forster; John de Pencomb the same through William his father; John de Cimiterio the same through Arnald de la Grene; Anflissa de la Asche the same through William de la ...; Ordered to distrain John le Bonde for several defaults and afterwards John acknowledges that he is a suitor of the court, nonetheless it is ordered that the bailiff distrain him and afterwards he pays his fine ...; Ordered as before to distrain William le Parkar for arrears of rent and several defaults; Thomas de Maydenhyde is accused because he has sold land ... and also ... land which was Alice de Cimiterio's which was taken into the hand of the lord. It is testified by the bailiff ... and the bailiff is ordered to answer ...; As several times ordered to distrain all tenants holding lands which were Nicholas de Fraxino's; Ordered to distrain Henry de Went for several defaults; John ?Bernard comes and acknowledges ... all land ... ... service 3s ... ...; The dispute ... ... to the next on surety of ... de Fraxino; The dispute ... ... to the next on the surety of Nicholas de ?Thourdeston; Testified that Roger Ilger has alienated his land and the bailiff there took seisin ... Houton ... at the next adjourned on the surety of ... de la Asche; John Coliard and John de Grafton were sureties for Garin de Grendon to have him at the next and because Garin has not come; John Coliard and John Grafton are in mercy.; John son of Nicholas de la Churcheyord at the next, he has not come, surety John de la Stone to return a saddle here this day; Testified by the bailiff that the saddle has not been returned therefore John de la Stone in mercy. Ordered that John de la Churcheyord be distrained; John le Bond de Marston pays a fine because Richard de la Asche should do suit of court for himself as for tenements of Nicholas de Fraxino; Total of the court with pleas perquisites and reliefs and the attachments of the bailiff 48s 4d

For a service of 7d a year at the aforesaid times and suit of court for Pencombe every three weeks.
Reference number   A63/I/1/9
Scope and content   
Dispute touching the Abbot of Wigmore is adjourned until the next.; Dispute touching John de Bitterley for an encroachment? in Heckwod is adjourned until the next; John de Tullinton in mercy for not having the Dean of Hereford for whom he stood surety; Ordered to distrain the Dean to be at the next and the Prior of Saint John of Jeruselem to show how he holds his rent in Nerer Hakeley.; Balwyn de Wyteneye plaintiff opposes Roger Parson in a plea of trespass, because Roger on Monday after the beheading of Saint John the Baptist harmfully dug and carried away his land at Sclykis Furlong to a damage of 20s. Roger does not defend whereupon Balwyn asks for sentence although there is no defence and the suitors say that he has restored? insufficiently. Considered that Balwyn has (sic) recovered damages and Roger in mercy; The lord as plaintiff opposes Hugh de Wotton in a plea of trespass that Hugh and his household ... have cut his wood at Heckwood to a damage of 20s and a value of 20s and he brings his suit ...; Considered that the lord shall recover damages and Hugh in mercy; The same Hugh is accused because he has attached Roger de Hope in Heckwood and Roger the said attachment ... he has an attachment for his own use and Hugh denies this and wages law, surety for the lawsuit John Hakele ...; [Reg]inald de Wytheneye plaintiff opposes Margery and her household .. of Reginald to a value oof 40d and damage of 5s and brings a suit ... surety for the suit John de Hakele; ... de Brockbur does fealty and acknowledges he holds amessuage and half a virgate of land ... once Milo de Hyde's, 19d, suit of court every three weeks .. [heriot] when it happens and he gives for heriot half a mark, surety John de Pencomb.; ... Tullinton chaplain has done fealty and acknowledges he holds a messuage ... in Wotton for a service of 12d a year for all services and gives ...; ... la Nasch has done fealty and has a day for acknowledging at the next; Total of the court with attachments ... s

The date of 1334 for John de Pencomb whose father was William de Pencomb in the first document is interesting. Something closer to the mid 1400s to the late 1400s would be very helpful but finding the forenames and the surname is certainly very edifying. 

An interesting item on the Discovery Catalogue (UK Archives):

Pencombe Court of Robert Whiteneye knight
This record is held by Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre
See contact details
Reference:    A63/I/1/28
Title:    Pencombe Court of Robert Whiteneye knight
Description:   
Thursday 21 July 7 Henry VI [1429]

 The free tenants present that the Dean and Chapter of Hereford 2s Richard Wallewayn esq
 
12d Richard Bitterley 12d, Tenants of the lands and tenements of John Merssh of Merschcourt 6d who owe suit have defaulted they are in mercy

 John Grafton from suit at this court through William Churcheley essoiner. He has a day at the next.

The customary tenants present the default of Magote Drayton and Katherine Pencombe They are in mercy and are pardoned by the steward because they are weak and infirm. .............

and another

 Debtor: John de Pencombe of Bromyard [Herefords.], citizen of Herefords. Creditor:...
Ordering and viewing options

Reference:    C 241/117/38
Description:   
Debtor: John de Pencombe of Bromyard [Herefords.], citizen of Herefords.

Creditor: Master Thomas de Astley, Canon of Hereford, Prebendary of Bromyard.

Amount: £82, of good and legal sterling silver, on account of a loan.

Before whom: Robert de Hampton, Bailiff; William de Aylton, Clerk; at Hereford.

When taken: 29/11/1339

First term: 29/09/1340

Last term: 29/09/1340

Writ to: Sheriff of Herefords

Sent by: Nicholas de Bromyard, Bailiff; William de Aylton Clerk; at Hereford.

Endorsement: Hereford': coram Iusticiariis de Banco.

Date:    1343 Nov 8

It does appear the fortunes of the Pencombe family in the 1340s in Herefordshire have not improved by 1428 (first item from the UK Archives) (Henry VI was King from 1421 to 1471 but it was a broken reign and if this record is from the second reign it would refer to 1477 which is much closer to the date). Only two female members of this family are mentioned at least I am assuming that Magote Drayton is a married daughter and Katherine Pencombe (but she could be a widow) still a spinster. Any children would not be mentioned likely in this document. It is still early though if 1428 but very interesting if actually 1477 as I am looking for a John de Pencombe still fairly young in the latter part of the 1480s. This is during the War of the Roses though and there was a lot of upheaval especially in the Midlands of England. Loss of life was high and likely quite a few minors in wardship. No records yet on that so will continue looking. I have now seen that John, William and Thomas are historically forenames in the Pencombe family which is also a step forward. 

Today is cleaning day and much time to be devoted to that item. However, I may take another glance at the Herefordshire archival records in my break times. I think the Newsletter for the 1st of June is mulling around in my brain these days and will start it this week. The 833 records in the Excel file from another researcher have proven to be interesting and provide another person's insight into this family in particular during the 1500s that I have already worked on. I will use the results of that set of data in the next Newsletter as well. Drawing the possible conclusion that Philip Pynkeham at Tawstock could be a sibling to the other three sons of John Pencombe and Edward Pencombe found at Tawstock on the Subsidy of 1581 the son of Philip is also a tantalizing thought. Proving some of this would be so much easier with wills but in the long run place and time also play a large role. Finding the material in the Herefordshire records is also most interesting. I do have some background knowledge of the War of the Roses (but it is distant in my mind) and will have a check on what was happening in Hereford in the mid 1300s into the mid 1400s from a viewpoint of historical happenings that involved the Plantagenets and the Lancastrians. It is a long time since I have even thought of those two sides in the War of the Roses. I certainly never thought that this historical period would have any effect on my ancestry for sure. 

Looks like sun today and it is  now 5 degrees celsius  but feels like 2 degrees celsius. The high today only 17 but again a typical May day. We have left winter behind though as I seldom remember snow past the Victoria Day weekend. Summer is ahead of us and certainly the dry month of July. Perhaps today and tomorrow we can get some seed planting done - the carrots, the lettuces and putting up the rabbit proof fencing! Other than that I am looking for breakfast and it is time. God is in our world as always looking down on us from above; looking at us through the trees and wondering when mankind will learn to love their fellow man as themselves. When greed and envy will disappear from our world and men and women will work together for a better future for the world and all of its people. 

Exciting news that SpaceX has taken two Saudi Arabian astronauts to the International Space Station yesterday and today a female scientist from Saudi Arabia - wonderful. Gradually the world is taking part in space - where God dwells. Where I do not know but my very soul tells me He is there.