An interesting item

An interesting book that I spotted early on in my genealogy endeavours: 

Notices relating to Thomas Smith of Campden, and to Henry Smith, sometime Alderman of London; [written] by Charles Perkins Gwilt, a descendant of the family: London: Printed by George Woodfall. 1836

Interestingly Sir William Blake (Kensington) was one of the Trustees for the will of Henry Smith and there is a lengthy chapter preceding this one that I have reproduced from the original text. The book is primarily about Thomas and Henry Smith mentioned above and have nothing to do with the Blake story other than this brief profile of Sir William Blake which appears in the book mentioned above (published in 1836). 

[Chapter Title] A short account of the Trustees appointed by Henry Smith in Deeds executed by him, as well as of the Executors and Overseers of his Will.  (Page 64)

This next paragraph appears on Page 68 

Sir William Blake. 

Mr. Bray, upon the authority (as he alleges) of the late Sir Isaac Heard, tells us that Sir William was of the family of Blake, of Seton Delaval, in Northumberland, which however was  not the fact. He was of a family of Easton Town, or Essington, in the County of Southampton (a), and was son of John Blake, of that place, by Margaret, daughter of William Blake, of the same place; he married Mary, daughter of Henry Beverley, of London, and Borne, in Yorkshire, and purchased Hales House, in Kensington.  He was a justice of the peace for Middlesex, and was knighted at Whitehall, 13th Oct 1627; he died 30th Oct 1630, and was buried in Kensington Church, wherein a monument, with a long uninteresting epitaph, was erected to his memory. The estate at Kensington was sold at his death. William, his eldest son, born in 1602, married Anne, daughter of Thomas Hawker, of Halesbury, in Wiltshire, Gent, and amongst other children, had issue, Christopher Blake, to whom, in 1665, the trustees leased for seventy years the Smith estate at Kensington, &c., which adjoined the Hale House estate. (b)
    Sarah the sister of Sir William [Blake], married William Rolfe, a trustee. Sir William was both a trustee and executor. [There is also a paragraph in the book mentioned above immediately following this one referring to William Rolfe which I will reproduce at the appropriate time.]

a   Ped. in Vis. Lond. 1690. K. 9. 381, in Coll. Arms. [Pedigree of the Blake Family created by the College of Arms for Daniel Blake in 1690 (a descendant of the same Blake line as this Sir William Blake)]. 

b   The following occurs amongst the Originalia of the Exchequer, Addit. MS. 6386, p. 2, Ro. XVI: Midx. De tertia parte de anno xv Jacobi primi  Rex concessit Willmo Blake gen et hered  suis imppm libam Warrena in omnibus Maner et terr suis in Kensington Chelsey et al

At the time I collected this item, I was trying to locate information  mentioned on the Pedigree of the Blake Family which had been produced using  family information (according to the completed pedigree document) by the College of Arms. I also had discovered that another genealogist Edward J Blake of Crewkerne, Somerset, England had been in correspondence with an American genealogist Francis E Blake of Boston Massachusetts. Francis E Blake had written a book "Increase Blake of Boston, his ancestors and descendants" but he was concerned at the information which had been published on Horatio Gates Somerby's work as a genealogist (later shown to be a fraud) on the  Blake family of Andover. Edward is I believe the author of the Blake Chart held at the Blake Museum in Bridgwater, Somerset. Although no name appears on this chart and I did not have any conversation that would verify that particular item but one notes that the time frame is in the latter part of the 1800s. The difference between the Blake Family chart held at Bridgwater Blake Museum and College of Arms Blake Pedigree published in the late 1600s (held at the Swindon Wiltshire Archives) with additions into the 1700s is very simple. All that Edward J Blake did was to move back the link between the Hampshire Blake family and the Calne Blake family several generations (putting it back more than hundred years earlier) because the link given on the Blake Pedigree Chart did  not work with existing wills. 

I have often commented on Nicholas Blake who left his will at Old Hall in Enham clearly identifying his children and siblings. His mother Jone Blake's will equally mentioned her children. It was this change on the part of the possible author (Edward J Blake) of the Blake Family Chart at the Blake Museum that basically verified what my grandfather had said about Nicholas and set me looking for documentation on the various Blake lines that were descendant of the Andover Blake family. I continue to not agree entirely with the Blake Family Chart because it too doesn't fit the wills left by these individuals in the time frame on the chart (these wills were primarily probated at Winchester and possibly Edward J Blake did not travel to see them (he doesn't mention them in any of his work that I have seen)). So quite fascinating and the work of Edward J Blake agrees with a document which was created by an individual (I think he was a herald but I need to check that and will spend some time tomorrow gathering up that information). This individual published his information in the 1730s although I must verify that item. 

The published book ( Notices relating to Thomas Smith of Campden, and to Henry Smith, sometime Alderman of London by Charles Perkins Gwilt, a descendant of the family: London: Printed by George Woodfall. 1836)  is held by the Hathi Trust (link below) and it is also in the main branch of the New York Public Library. 

 https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008693591  

I obtained the information above in the various New York repositories where we spent several years (2007-2009) for weeks on end exploring the collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. During this time period they donated their collection to the New York Public Library. I am not entirely sure at which place I collected this information which appears above but likely it was at the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Library as the access we had there was fabulous since Edward was a member. He made great personal discoveries at this library as well as the New England Historic and Genealogical Society Library in Boston. We spent hours and hours at both of these places and the help of Gary Boyd Roberts was very instrumental in solving a couple of Edward's links backwards.  

So another constructive day as I continue to bring forward some of this information on the early Blake family of Andover collected by me from about 2007 on. I did not take on the Blake study at the Guild of one-name Studies until 2011 (in the early days I was overwhelmed at the actual size of this family surname worldwide to be honest). When Paul Blake stepped down as the researcher at the Guild I felt (after a good deal of contemplation) I should pick it up since I had collected so much material. When he was at a Conference in Ottawa, Canada he told me he had thirty boxes of Blake material. I told him mine was all online as images or text. He suggested I was probably descendant of Robert but I knew that I was likely descendant of Nicholas since my grandfather had made such a point about him not being what the Americans thought. I couldn't see why he would do that plus he could rhyme all of his ancestors in a line but I was just eight when he passed and I could clearly remember from Joseph (born in the 1730s in Andover) to the present but going back it was a jumble of forenames in my mind but Nicholas did stand out in my memory.  As I worked my way back in the records the memory of his recitation did come back to me on occasion but still the desire to find actual records was much stronger than relying on the memory of a child that was basically just eight when her grandfather passed. 

Another busy day. Cleaning the main floor is the main work of the day.  

Will of Thomas Clark, husbandman, Whitchurch, Hampshire - Family Search Film 186691, Catalogue C-849, Page 87, 7 Mar 1551

The will of Thomas Clark, husbandman, at Whitchurch was interesting because of his mention of the Blake and the Rolfe families. Is this the Thomas Rolfe who was the father of William Rolfe married to Sarah Blake daughter of John Blake and Margaret Blake from the Pedigree Chart held at the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office? Also mentioned is a Thomas Blake as one of the legatees and witness to this will. Could he be a brother to Sarah and son of John Blake and Margaret Blake. Rather interesting as it gives some time frame to these individuals.

There was a Thomas Rolfe father of William Rolfe who married Sarah Blake and their son William Rolfe married a Sara daughter and coheir of Rick: Deane Alderman London as his 2nd wife (first wife was Johanna Wright daughter and heiris of William Wright of Sevenoak.) This is from the Visitations of Wiltshire 1623. In 1627 this William was a Scrivener in Fleet Street London although said to be of Easton is Hampshire and Halisbery in Wiltshire. The William Rolfe (married to Sarah Blake daughter of John Blake of Essington, Southampton) was said to be the son of Thomas Rolfe of Enford.

Looking at this timewise, Thomas would have been 21 years or more in 1551 and so Sarah as well so that it does not appear that this is reasonable for the mother of William who in 1627 is married a second time to have been around 21 in 1551. Hence this is not Thomas brother of Sarah. Placing this Thomas Blake with his family would certainly be interesting.

A bonus for the Rolfe family as it names the wife of this Thomas as Alice. I did not know the name of the wife of Thomas Rolfe as it is not listed in the Visitation of Wiltshire in 1623.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 4 Mar 2014
Source: Family Search Film 186691, Catalogue C-849, Page 87
Testator: Thomas Clark, husbandman
Place: Whitchurch, Hampshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 11 Jan 1551, 7 Mar 1551
Condition: 16th century English, legible copy

[Wrapper]: 1551
[Top of page]: Ihesus

1    Jn the name of god Amen the xvj daie of Januarie in the yere of
2    o[u]r Lorde a Thousand five hundred fiftie and one J Thomas Clark
3    of the parish of Whitchurch in the Countie of South[amp]t[on]
4    husbandman being of p[er]fect mynd and memorie but sick in bodie
5    doe institute and make this my last will and test[a]m[en]t in mann[er]
6    and forme following that is to saie First J bequeth my sowle
7    to Almightie god and my bodie to the earth stedfastlie
8    beleving to Rise againe at the last daie thereone the merits
9    of Christs passion unto eternall life Lauding and praising
10    one god in Trinitie Jt[e]m J give and bequeth unto the Mother
11    Church of the Trinitie in Winchester xij d Jt[e]m to the repacons
12    of my parish Church where J dwell v s to be delivered to
13    the Churchwardens of the same Jt[e]m J bequeth unto Thomas
14    Clarke my eldest Sonn and to his heyers males my house in
15    Winchester lying in Kingsgate trata And to the same Thomas J
16    give and bequeth alsoe one hundred sheepe in Ewes wethers and
17    Teggs equallie to be devided by the discrecion of my ov[er]seers ij kine
18    and bullocks five quarters of whete tenn quarters Barlie
19    and the horse that he hath allredie one black colte one Trussing
20    Bedstede with a fetherbedd yn it and all things thereunto belonging
21    and yron bound Carte my soue coate twoe pere of blacxke hosen
22    and my russet coate Jt[e]m J bequeth to the saide Thomas
23    my eldest sonn vj score Acres arable lande p[ar]cell of my Farme
24    of Whitchurch lying in Severall places in the com[m]on fields
25    there thsatis to saie at knoll hill one por[c]ion another por[c]ion
26    at a place called winterhall to holde and occupie the same in like
27    ______ and forme and for like re__ paying at the Tenants of
28    Whitchurch in my time did paie hold and occupie And alsoe my
29    wode called Coolver wode paying therefore yerelie xj s
30    viij d All w[hi]ch said Legacies that J have made to the saide
31    Thomas my sonn as aforesaide J will they be delivered by
32    the discre[c]ion of myn ov[er]seers the midsomer come Welbe
33    wueth after the date of this my last Will and Testament
34    It[e]m J bequeth to Johan Clarke my daught[e]r one hundred Shepe
    [Page 2]
35    to be sorted in Ewes wethers and Teggs ij kine and Trussing bedstead
36    w[i]th a fetherbedd therein and all things thereunto belonging And she
37    to have of all my brasse and pewter of everie and in por[t]ion
38    to be delivered by my overseers at the discre[t]ion of Margarett
39    my Wife Alsoe J will that my wife have the Custodie of her
40    and the use of her por[t]ion before bequeathed until such time as
41    She shalbe married Jt[e]m J bequeth to Thomas Rolfe
43    and Alice his wife one Cowe and to John Rolfe his Son
44    my godson Two Ewes Jt[e]m to John Pointer my black Cloke
45    that I were and my russet hosen that be upon my legs
46    Jt[e]m J bequeth to John srivett my servaunt my white fries
47    Coate and a paier of russet hosen that be at home And my
48    Second best Capp tenn Shepe to be sorted in Ewes wethers
49    and Teggs and a Cowe bullock Jt[e]m J give to Richarde
50    Russold my Servant Two Ewes and to ev[er]ie of my
51    godchildren xij d a peece Alsoe J will that ij s be distributed
52    in penie dole unto the poore And xij busshells whete to
53    be baked and distributed unto the poore people dwelling
54    in Whitchurch Jt[e]m J bequeth to John Smith Vicar of
55    Netherwallop xj s viij d And to Thomas Blake xij d Jt[e]m
56    J give to margarett my wife all her chamber w[i]th the
57    trussing bedstead the featherbed and all things thereuntoe
58    p[er]taining Jt[e]m J give and bequeth the lease of my Farme
59    of Whitchurch w[i]th the goods and Cattells nowe going and being
60    upon the same my debts and Legacies paide unto John Clarke
61    my younger son to holde and enioye the same all the terms of
62    yeres yet to come upon that condi[t]ion after written this
63    is to saie that he shall paie or cause to be paide to
64    margarett my Wife yerelie during her natural life tenn pounds
65    of lawfull monie of England to be levied and taken yerelie
66    of the p[r]fits coming and growing of the saide Farme goods and
67    cattells And she to have also mete drinke and lodging
68    making her choice of anie chamber w[i]thin the saide Farme for her
69    lodging during her life at her pleasure yf she remaine
70    unmarried And if my saide Son John doe die w[i]thout issue
71    male (w[hi]ch god forbid) before the yeres of my saide lease be expired
72    then J will my son Thomas Clarke to enioye the yeres
73    of my said lease to com[e] And if my said son Thomas die alsoe
    [Page 3]
74    w[hi]ch god forbid w[i]thin the yeres then J will my brother martin
75    Clarke to have and enioye my saide lease and yeres therein to
76    com[e] at his will and pleasure And everie of them to hold and
77    occupie the same w[i]th like condi[t]ions before declared to my
78    son John Clarke Alsoe J speciallie will that
79    margarett mh wife shall have and occupie the farme and
80    goods to John my son bequeathed as aforesaide Unto the
81    use and p[ro]fit of my saide son John untill he come to the
82    age of xxj tie yeres And in the mean while J will
83    that she fund him to Scole and the chardges thereof to
84    be born upon the p[ro]fits of the saide Farme The
85    residue of all my goods not bequeathed my debts paide
86    and my Legacies fulfilled and p[er]formed J give and bequeth
87    unto John Clarke my yonger Son whome J constitute
88    ordaine and make onelie to be my full and Lawfull Executor
89    of this my last Will and Test[a]m[en]t And Georg Poulett
90    Esquier John Clarke the Yonger and Martin Clarke
91    my brothers to be my ov[er]seers And to Mr Georg Powlet
92    for his paines to be taken about the same J give and
93    bequeth xx of my best Sheepe and xx of Teggs
94    alsoe that his Bailie can chuse among my Flocke
95    And to John Clarke and Martin my brothers to ev[er]ie
96    of them xj s viij d for theire paines Jn wittnes
97    whereof J have confirmed this to be my p[er]fect last will
98    and Test[a]m[en]t in the p[re]senc of John Pointer Hugh Smith
99    Thomas Blake and John Smith vicar of Netherwallop And
100    others that J called to be my witnesses for that onelie entrent

Will of William Blake Esquire of the Inner Temple, London - National Archives PROB 11/193/426, probated 5 Jul 1645

Reading through this will it is possible to determine that William is the son of William Blake of Hales House in the county of Middlesex, Justice of the Peace and Mary who was the daughter of Henery Beverley of London (she was born in Yorkshire). William Blake of Hales House (father of the testator) is a son of John Blake and Margarett Blake of Eastontowne and brother to Sara married to William Rolfe. The particular visitation that I am looking at for Middlesex is unsigned. It lists two children for William Blake and Mary Beverley namely William and John (John died young without issue). On the Pedigree Chart for the Blake family held at the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office, William is shown as married to Mary Beverley but their children are not entered. Sir William Blake of Kensington (his full title) lived at Hales House and his inventory was prepared dated 2 Feb 1630/31 so we know that he died before that date. According to Boyd's Inhabitants of London William Blake and Mary Beverley were married 26 Nov 1602 and they were living in St Dunstan West parish and it was by License of the Bishop of London

The testator has been married twice with the first marriage in 1623 to Margaret Newsam and the second marriage in 1627 to Anne Bay. Mary is his daughter from the first marriage and Christopher and Ann are his children from the second marriage.

It does seem from the will that there is a rather sad story attached to this will. William would still be a relatively young man in 1645 just 40 years old. He was an alumuni of Broadgates Hall, Oxford entitled to arms as the son of William of Kensington. He was master of the Fine Office and buried at the Temple Church 27 June 1645. He was aged 15 years when he matriculated 15 Mar 1620/21 and a student of the Inner Temple 1624. He appears to have married very young in 1623 (only 18 years of age). Christopher named as his son and heir apparent which is interesting in itself but did not follow his father to Oxford or the Inner Temple.

I have just updated the Blake-Andover file on World Connect to include quite a few of the wills and this is a five generation chart beginning with (unknown) Blake married to Jone Blake who left her will in 1527 at Enham and looks at their descendants for four generations.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=blake-andover

It is always nice to place people into their genealogical niche although it would be lovely to know more about this line other than that he is a grandson of John Blake and Margarett Blake of Eastontown. It is through his brother Thomas' line that the future King of England descends as Diana, Princess of Wales through her father Lord Spencer traces back to the Blake family of Eastontown.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 26th October 2010
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/193/426
Testator: William Blake Esquire of the Inner Temple
Place: London, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 1 May 1645, probated 5 Jul 1645
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: scan, smudges, old English writing good, contrast medium

[Margin]: T[estat]m[ent] William
[Margin]: Blake

1    In the name of God Amen, The
2    First day of May Anno D[o]m[ini] 1645 and in the one and twentieth yeare
3    of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of god king
4    of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith etc I
5    Wm Blake of the Inner Temple London Esquire being in health of body and
6    of good and perfect minde and memorie thankes be given to allmighty god
7    and calling to remembrance the mortalitie of my flesh doe make and declare
8    this my last will and testament in manner and forme following that is to
9    say First and principally I com[m]itt and com[m]end my soule into the hands of
10    allmighty god whoe gave it w[i]th assured hope and confidence of ye remission
11    of my sinnes by the merrits death and passion of my lord and Saviour
12    Jesus Christ. My bodie being of the masse and substance of the earth to the
13    earth I com[m]itt and to be interred in the Temple Church And as touching
14    such worldly goods and substance as god in mercie hath blessed me withall
15    in this life I doe give and bequeath the same in manner and form following
16    that is to say Imprimis my will is that my office com[m]only called the Fine Office
17    be forthwith sould or otherwise ordered by my executors hereafter men[t]ioned
18    whose best care I earnestly desire may be used in the same; that the
19    Proffite thereof may be disposed in manner following That is to say I give
20    and bequeath to my daughter Mary Blake the somme of five hundred pounds
21    of lawfull money of England for her por[t]ion and preferment And to
22    my daughter Ann Blake for her undutifull and direspective carriage to
23    me renounceng me and my care over her adhering to her mother to be
24    bred up in all lewdnes and dissolutenesse of life I give and bequeath fiftie
25    pounds of like lawfull money Provided that yf either the same Anne or Marie
26    or any for them shall at any tyme hereafter sue or raise any suite to be
27    com[m]enced by them or by any other in their names against my executors for any
28    arrears of annuitie payable or pretended to be heretofore lyable to be
29    payed out of the proffits of my said office to my mother Dame Mary Blake
30    deceased her executor or assignes Then my will is that her por[t]ion that
31    shall sue or cause any suite as aforesaid be reduced to five pounds and
32    noe more to be allowed then by my executors for their intire por[t]ions Item
33    I give and bequeath to Ann Badger of Westminster widdow and relict of
34    Wm Badger gent the sum of twentie pounds of lawful money of England
35    Item my will is that my wife Anne Blake shall not meddle or have any
36    Thinge to doe with my office or proffits of the same or any thinge thereto
37    belonging her ioyncture being made good unto her and enioy it soe longe
38    as it pleases god - lasciuiosa et miatiata uxor nee ofsa mia quidom haves -
39    But that my executors shall have the sole ordering and dispossing of my children
40    and of my said office to the uses here expressed or for my other use toucheing
41    the settling of the said ioynture Item I give and bequeath all the rest and
42    residue of my estate reall and p[er]sonall (my funerall discharged with mourning
    [Page 2]
43    only for my legatees and for Mrs Dorothie Tokfeild daughter of the aforenamed
44    Anne Badger and my executors here expressed, one obligation of four hundred
45    pounds principall debt to th[e ]aforesaid Anne Badger and one other obligation of one
46    hundred pounds principall debt to Silvester Boston Taylor wholy excepted)
47    To Christopher Blake my sonne and heire apparant excepting alsoe five pounds
48    a peece to my executors besides their necessary expenses in the prosecu[t]ion of
49    this my will Lastly I doe make nominate and ordaine my loveing freinds Wm
50    Rolfe John Goodwyne and Wm Methalde Esquires Executors of this my
51    Last will and testament In witness whereof I the said Wm Blake heretofore-
51    unto set my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written Wm Blake
52    Sealed published and pronounced in the p[re]sence of Willi: Beverley Richard
53    Ball M[y] [w]ill the interlynenge in this will were entirely mad and altered
54    before the sealing hereof.

Will of Peter Blake of the Inner Temple - National Archives PROB 11/144/56, probated 7 Jul 1624

This Peter Blake testator of the following will is well known to me in terms of his family line. He is on the Blake Pedigree Chart held at the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office and was the son of William Blake and Avice Ripley. On this chart he was listed as the third son with John being the eldest and William the second son. They have one sister Agnes married to Roger Hyde according to the chart. His initial reference to Arthur, Roberte, Francis, William and Richard Blake is helpful in placing him as well as they are the grandsons of his brother John married to Margaret Blake. His nephew (and the eldest son of John and Margaret) was married to Eleanor Hall. I think he is actually the brother of Margaret and that John is the son of William Blake and Elizabeth also of Eastontown. Because of the marriage of John and Margaret I do not feel that these two William Blakes (both listed as being at Eastontown) are the same person - I just feel strongly that there were two Blake families at Eastontown.

The reference to his cousins William Blake and William Rolfe is also interesting Sarah was the eldest and only daughter of John and Margaret Blake and she married William Rolfe son of Thomas Rolfe of Enford, Wiltshire. Confusion arises because Peter refers to William as his cousin instead of his nephew in law. The William Blake he refers to as cousin appears to be William Blake of Halehouse and from the Visitation of Middlesex (1634, 1663) this William is said to be the son of John and Margaret Blake (he married Mary Beverley) and was a Justice of the peace in Middlesex County. This visitation is unsigned with no dating so it is difficult to use with respect to establishing a time line. William son of John and Margaret would be a nephew to the testator. Why he refers to these two men as his cousins and the children of Thomas as the children of his nephew is perhaps just a measure of the time. Peter in 1624 is probably fairly old. Two of his great nephews are old enough to be executors (so 21 years of age or more) and that is Arthur and Robert. Trying to put an age to Peter is helpful at this point in time.

Moving to the Visitation of Surrey 1662-68 the youngest son of Thomas and Eleanor Blake is the respondent and signer for this visitation. He has a daughter 10 months old in 1662 and he is Captain of the Trained Bands in the County of Middlesex. Putting his age around 30 years would give him a date of birth of 1632 which is incorrect as he is listed as one of the legatees in his great Uncle's will (present testator Peter Blake) and so was born at least by 1624 and hence at least 38 years of age in 1662. He is the sixth child in that family and giving two years difference in age approximate between children would see the eldest Sara being born by 1612 or earlier and hence the marriage of her parents in 1611 or earlier. Giving her father the age of 25 at marriage would place his date of birth around 1586 or earlier which brings us back to John and Margaret Blake and Thomas was their eldest son with a likely older daughter Frances and thus John and Margaret were likely married by 1583 or earlier which then takes us back to William Blake who left his will in 1582 and did not mention any grandchildren which may just be a clue with regard to ages. If John was 25 when he married Margaret he would have been born by 1558 and all of the children of William Blake leaving his will in 1582 were adults. John was the eldest child of ten children and estimate two years between children and John was likely born by 1540. Perhaps one can understand why William was so precise in stating that the property which he was passing to John should then pass on to the next son and then the next son and all five sons are mentioned since none of them at this point appear to have any children!

One other clue may be helpful and that is from the Oxford University Alumni 1500 - 1886 on Ancestry which lists a Peter Blake being awarded his BA 10 Oct 1564. The average age was 18 to 20 for full matriculation but could be as low as 14 which would give a date of birth for Peter of 1544 - 1546. and would make him 78 years old when his will was written and probated. There are not enough details though in the Oxford Alumnus to determine that this is the Peter Blake of the Inner Temple who left his will in 1624.

His comment that Thomas Blake of Eastenton was Thomas Blake the elder is also interesting. None of Thomas' sons were called Thomas (Arthur, Robert, Francis, William and Richard). There was another Thomas Blake at Eastontown and he was the son of  William Blake and Elizabeth (unknown) the parents I believe of John Blake married to Margaret Blake who was I believe a sister to Peter Blake. However, that Thomas would have been older than this Thomas. Another Thomas at Eastontown was the son of William (next oldest brother to John)' son. These were the children of William Blake and Anne Tutt namely Nicholas, Thomas, Sara, Anne and Mary. The only problem with that is this William is also not the son of William Blake and Avis Ripley but rather the son of William and Elizabeth Blake at Eastontown although does appear to be so on the Pedigree Chart. The William brother to Peter Blake does not have any information on the Visitation for Middlesex other than Willm. Blake vide Southampton which literally means William Blake "see" or "refer to" Southampton.  Could this be a William Blake who lives at Southampton the city? That thought has just occurred to me. I have the Hearth Tax for 1665 which is 41 years later but there are two William Blakes living in Southampton one at St Lawrence and the other at All Saints (within the bar). Unfortunately these William Blakes did not leave any wills maintained at The National Archives.There are wills for William Blake held by the Hampshire Record Office in the period following 1665 but not for the Southampton area (meaning City not county).

There was also a Peter Blake son of William and Elizabeth Blake about whom I have no other information than that he was still living in 1682 when his father's will was written and probated. He does not appear to be mentioned by his brother's in their wills but for the most part they do not mention siblings. Some researchers believe that the Peter Blake testator in this will is the son of William and Elizabeth rather than the son of William Blake and Avis Ripley as shown on the Blake Pedigree Chart. His relationship to John Blake and Margaret Blake remains quite similar in that he is a brother/brother in law to them. 

One might think that the other Blake families descendant of William and Margaret Blake at Eastontown might mention this Peter in their wills if they were related but they do not plus William brother to this Peter lived in Middlesex at Hale's House whereas the William son of William and Elizabeth Blake lived in the Andover area. Hence I do continue to believe that there are two distinct William Blake families at Eastontown (three farms are shown at Eastontown on the old maps) and that they may or may not be related. They become related indirectly through the marriage of John Blake and Margaret Blake.

The dating of this will and the date of probate are a bit strange but that is how they read. It could be that there was a transcription error in the will and it should have been June instead of July. Impossible to tell that nearly four hundred years later!

Transcription: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 26th October 2010
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/144/56
Testator: Peter Blake
Place: Inner Temple, London, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 22 Jul 1624, Probated 7 Jul 1624
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: scan, smudges, old English writing good, light, 17th century

T[estator] Petri Blake

1    In the name of God Amen
2    The two and twentieth daie of July in the two and twentieth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne
3    Lord Kinge James etc Anno D[o]m[in]i one thousand six hundred twentie foure. I Peter Blake of the Inner
4    Temple London Esq[uire] being sick in bodie but of perfect memorie thanks bee therefore given unto
5    God doe therefore make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner followinge
6    (That is to saie First and principallie I commend my soule unto Almightie God and my heavenly
7    Father Trusting through Jesus Christ my Redeemer to receive remission of sinnes and life everlasting
8    And my bodie to the earth from whence I came to be buried in Christian Buriall, thereto remaine
9    untill the resurrection of all fleshe which I believe and expecte. And as touching my Temporall
10    estate First I give and devise unto Arthure Blake Roberte Blake Francis Blake William Blake
11    and Richard Blake sonnes of my nephew Mr. Thomas Blake the elder of Eastenton in the Countie of
12    South[amp]ton, and to their heires All my Messuages Lands tenements rents and hereditaments whatsoev[er]
13    with their appurtenances in Andover in the County of South[ampto]n (except hereafter excepted)
14    And my will and meaning is That if and of the said parties before named shall dye before hee
15    attaines to the age of one and twentie yeares. That then the said lands and premisses shall whollie
16    remaine and bee unto and amongst the survivor and survivors of them in equall parts provided
17    alwaies that the yearlie somme and paiement, or rent charge, of six pounds of currant Englishe
18    monie shal[l ]be issuing and paieable out of the premisses yearlie for the releife of the poore of the
19    severall parishes of Andever S[ain]te Dunstane in the west, London, and Ludgershill in Wiltesh[ire] Whereof
20    the more parte to bestowed on the poore of Andever in such wise in particular as I have related
21    to my cosen Rolfe in the severall cradies of bread weaite and monie Provided that it shal[l ]be lawfull
22    to the severall Churchwardens of eavery of the said parishes for the time beinge for not payment
23    of the said yearlie sommes to them intended by this my will at the feast of Th[e ]annunciation yearly
24    to distraine upon the said lands and premisses for the same as the lawe will permitt Provided
25    alwaies and my will and meaning is That my Cozen William Blake Esq[uire] and William Rolfe
26    and the survivor of them, during the minoritie of the said Legatees and of everie of them shall have
27    the whole disposition and manageing of the rents and profitts of the premisses respectively
28    to the use of the said to be accomptable when they shall severallie come to the age of one
29    and twentie yeares, Item I give to the poore of S[ain]te Dustone twentie shillings to be delivered
30    att the Churche doore of the Temple on my funerall daie where I desire to bee buried Item I
31    give to my cozen William Blake the elder of Halehouse, and to the heires males of his bodie and
32    ye remainder to my executors and their heires my towne house in Andever in the tenure of one
33    Binsen and Hitchcock with the appurtenances upon condition, That the same be nowe
34    built acording to the covenants betwene me and Barnard Calverte Item my will and meaning
35    is that the said somme or yearlie paiement, by me intended to the said poore of Andever, shal[l ]be
36    distributed to them, of the poorest sorte, such as shal[l ]be thought fitt by the Bayliffe and
37    Churchwardens there, Item I give to the said Arthure Roberte William Francis and Richard
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38    Blake all my goodes and chattells whatsoever, to be disposed as aforesaid during their minority
39    and I doe hereby name and ordaine them the said Arthure Roberte Francis William and Richard
40    Blake executors of this my last will and testament, And my said Cozens William Blake and
41    William Rolfe to be overseers In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the daie
42    and yeare above said. The mark of P. Blake Sealed, published and declared the daie and
43    yeare within written as the last will and testament of the said Peter Blake in the presence
44    of Will: Rolfe Hen: Carswall The marke of Margaret Johnson

Visitations of Blake families in Somerset and Wiltshire

There are two extant Visitations of which I am aware that refer to the Blake family in Somerset. I have included the two below but there are another four where a female Blake member has married into another family mentioned in the Visitations.

The Supplement to the Visitation of Somerset in 1623 has added to it at a later date a coat of arms which include the arms of the Blake, Dorrant, Billett and Williams families although there was a word description of the arms that headed up the Visitation. Robert Blake and his wife Margaret daughter of Symonds are the first family in the Visitation with their son Humphrey Blake of Planchfield, Somerset with his wife Sarah daughter and coheir of Humphrey Williams of Wales. Then the children of Humphrey and Sarah are listed, 1 Robert Blake, General at sea died in August 1657 and honorably interred in Henry the 7 Chapel the 4 Sep 1657 (bachelor), 2 Humphrey brother and heir, 3 William Doctor of Physics, 4 George, 5 Nicholas, 6 Benjamin, 7 Alexander,  and a sister married to Burridge. This Supplement is unsigned.

 The Visitation of Somerset 1672 has an entry for Blake of Bridgwater. Again the coat of arms are identified but only the Blake coat of arms is mentioned: Arg., a chevron between 3 garbs sa., a mullet for a difference. The first entry is for Robert Blake of Bridgwater in County Somerset, Gentleman, will probated 1592; married to Margaret daughter of Symonds (her will probated 1600) and had issue. The second entry is their son Humphry Blake of Bridgwater Gent married Sarah daughter and coheir of John Williams of Pawlett in County Somerset Gent and had issue. The next entries are the children of Humphrey (four are mentioned which include 1 Humphry eldest son  married Sarah daughter of William Cely of Bridgwater and had issue Humphry and William; 2 Nicholas (to follow), 3 Beniamin Blake of Bridgwater Gent 3rd Son aet 50 anno 1670 married Elizabeth daughter of Sidrach Blake of Stepney in County Middlesex (relict of Timothy Wilson) and had issue. The next entries are the children of Beniamin and Elizabeth namely Sidrach son and heir aet 18 anno 1672, Beniamin 2nd son, Sarah and Elizabeth; 4 Alexander Blake 4th son. The next major entry is Nicholas Blake (identified as the 2nd son of Humphry Blake and Sarah Williams above and he married Jone daughter of John Question of Dunstar in County of Somerset. This Visitation is signed by Ben Blake and Nic Blake.

I have the 1565 and the 1623 Visitations of Wiltshire with one being a purchased CD and the other a download from Internet Archive.

The Blake and Baynard family are intertwined in this time period and I will recount the Baynard family first. I have mentioned their wills in other blogs as I was trying to learn more about the Blake family with the Baynard wills at that time.

Baynard of Lackham have their arms listed and the line begins with Edmond Baynard of Essex county marrying Elianor daughter and heir of Sir John Blewett of Lackham Wiltshire. The Baynard line continues down to Phillip Baynard of Lackham, Esquire, (3rd great grandson of Edmond Baynard above). Phillip married Jane daughter of Nicholas Stukeley of Aston, Devon and they had two children mentioned Robert, son and heir (he married Anne Blake daughter of Robert Blaake of Cawne, Wiltshire) and daughter Mary married to Roger Blaake of Pynhilles, Wiltshire (son of Robert Blaake of Cawne, Wiltshire).

The Visitation of Wiltshire, 1565, has Blake of Hilcott as the heading with arms: Argent, a chevron between three garbs Sable, a crescent for difference. Robert Blaake of Cumberford, Wiltshire, Esquire married Avys daughter of Wallop of Hampshire County and by her had issue, Gilbert and Alexander, died both sans issue; Robert; and John; Elizabeth; Alys; and Jone. Next entry is son Robert Blaake of Cawne, Wiltshire (3rd son and heir of Robert) married Margerett daughter of Sir Thomas Englefeild of Englefeild, Berkshire and by her had issue Roger son and heir; Ann married to Robert Baynard of Lackham,, Wiltshire. The next entry is for Roger Blaake of Cawne, son and heir of Robert, married Mary daughter of Philip Baynard of Lackham and by her had issue, Thomas son and heir; Robert, 2nd son; John, 3rd son; Sibell, married to Henry Bull of county Wiltshire; Jone, married to Anthony Goddard of Hartham, Wiltshire, gent; Mary, married to Edward Langrige of Langrige, Southampton (now Hampshire), gent. The next entry is for Thomas Blaake of Pynnell, Wiltshire, son and heir or Roger, married Edyth daughter of Thomas Jvy of West Keinton, Wiltshire, Esquire and by her hath issue Roger, son and Heir; Michell; Gyles; Francis; and others. Continuing to the next entry for Robert Blaake of the Borough of Cawne, second son of Roger and brother of Thomas, married Alis daughter of Robert Smyth of Lacocke, Somerset, and had issue; Roger, son and heir; Anthony, second son ; Jone and Marye. The last entry is for John Blaake of Hilcott, Wiltshire, third son to Roger and brother to Thomas and Robert married Jone, daughter of Clarke of Shawe, Wiltshire and at this time of recording they do not have any children.

I have the wills for many of these Blake men but have yet to transcribe them. A future project as I slowly withdraw from my earnest pursuit of all my lines to concentrate on Blake and Pincombe. Observing the above Visitation one can see that a number of Blake males are being mentioned but not traced down. This Visitation does offer another clue looking at the Rolfe family of Enford. Sara Blake daughter of John Blaake of Essingborne, Hampshire married William Rolfe. This John is a rather interesting individual. Who is this John Blake? Is he the grandson of Roger Blake married to Mary Baynard? There isn't a William mentioned as a son of Roger although a pedigree chart at the Wiltshire Office records such a son William married to Avis Ripley. Is this Esseborne Manor which is located between Andover and Newbury? Was there an earlier manor house where there is now a Hotel called Esseborne Manor Hotel? At a later time this is referred to as Essingham/Effingham. There is also a place in Surrey called Effingham (near Dorking).

The Visitation of Wiltshire, 1623, has an extensive Baynard family record which includes once again Robert Baynard of Lackham, son and heir, will probated 12 Oct 1537 and married to Anne daughter of Robert Blake of Calne, Wiltshire and Mary Baynard marrying Roger Blake of Phinhills in Calne, Wiltshire. This is a three page Visitation with lots of information on the Baynard family. The Blake family Visitation is 1.25 pages long but equally full of information and again the arms: argent, a chevron between three garbs sable; a crescent for a difference. The chart begins with Robert Blake of Quemberford, Wiltshire, Esquire married to Avis daughter of Wallop, Southampton (now Hampshire) County with children: daughters Elizabeth, Alice and Joane and sons 1. Gilbert; 2. Alexander (both sans issue); 3. Robert of Calne, Wiltshire married to Margaret daughter of Thomas Inglefield, Berkshire; 4. John, of Nether Wallop, Southampton and Calne died 2 Mar 1503/4 seized of Pynnelles; Inq postmortem 20 Oct 1504, Will probated 24 Apr 1504 married first to unknown and had two daughters Alice married to John Dauntesey and Joan married to Thomas Wroughton and married second Margaret, widow of John Dauntsey of West Lavington (children not mentioned). The line continues with Robert (2nd son) married to Margaret Inglefield and their children Roger Blake of Calne, Wiltshire, Esquire; will probated 16 Nov 1557 married to Mary daughter of Phillip Baynard of Lackham, Wiltshire, Esquire and daughter Anne married to Robert Baynard, Lackham, Wiltshire, Esquire. The children of Roger Blake and Mary Baynard are then listed: Sibell wife of Henry Bull, Wiltshire; Jone wife Anthony Goddard of Hartham, Wiltshire; Mary wife of Edward Langrige, Southampton; John Blake of Hilcott, Wiltshire (has three sons) married to  Joane Clarke, of Shaw, Wiltshire; Robert, 2nd son, of Calne, Wiltshire married to Alice daughter of Robert Smith of Lacocke, Wiltshire with children 1. Roger, 2 Anthony, 1 Joane and 2 Mary and Thomas Blake, 1st son, of Pennells, Wiltshire, Esquire married to Edith daughter of Thomas Ivye of West Keinton, Wiltshire, Esquire. The children of Thomas and Edith are the next generation listed: sons Giles, Francis and Roger Blake of Pennells, son and heir, married Wraxed daughter of John Gastrill of Tadbery Graynes, Gloucestershire. The children of Roger and Wraxed are listed with elizabeth married to Powell Clishold, Francis married to Phill Bull/Butt of chipnam, Wiltshire; Roger 2nd son, 30 years of age, and Henry Blake of Pennells, Wiltshire, living 1623 and married 1 Francis daughter of Francis Pigott of Collweeks, Buckinghamshire with daughter Joane age in 1623 and married second to Abigall daughter of Henry Stringer of London with children Henry son and heir 6 years in 1623, Roger 2nd son age 5 in 1623, Abigall 2nd daughter aged 1 year in 1623.

Obviously the linkage that appears to be between the Wiltshire and Somerset Blake families is further back then 1565 and land records will need to be explored to really understand any relationship between these families.