Will of Robert Blake, yeoman of Halse, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/224/141, probated 9 Jul 1652

The testator is likely the Robert Blake married to Elizabeth Blake, widow, of Over Stowey who left her will which was probated 16 May 1656. She mentions her children Robert, John and Grace as does he. Still wondering if this is the descendant of John Blake of Kingston who was a son of Thomas Blake of Wedmore and hence of the Blake Over Stowey line.

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/09/will-of-elizabeth-blake-widow-of-over.html

This would mean that this line is also collateral to the line of Admiral Robert Blake. However, the land referred to in this will at Wemdon clearly connects to the Blake family at Halse.

I still have not yet determined if the Blake family at Halse is descendant of Thomas Blake of Wedmore. There are five Blake wills at Halse: Elizabeth the relict of Robert Blake (current testator), John who was a brother to Robert Blake (possibly the Robert Blake who left his will in 1639 and the father of the present testator), William Blake who only names a son John in his will of 1594 but mentions his property at Wembdon,  the will of Robert Blake 1639 where he mentions John Blake of Kingston and the will of Agnis Blake 1641 (wife of Robert Blake who left his will in 1639).

What we do know thus far about Thomas Blake at Wedmore was that he was buried there 8 Dec 1580 and that he and his wife Isobel had nine children but only four survived to be mentioned in his will: Thomas , Lucia, John and Elizabeth. Thomas married Alice Tutton 10 Feb 1587 at Wedmore and they had four children but only one son Richard and I have not yet been able to trace him down. Lucia married Robert Jarvis 11 Jan 1586 at Wedmore, John was baptized 230 Jan 1571 and I am suspicious that this is the John who left his will in 1620 who identified his brother as Robert and his children Anne and Anstice (he is married to Katherine). 

William Blake in his will of 1594 identifies his father as Robert and a son William. It is possible that his wife had a posthumous child which would account for the Robert brother of John. But this negates this family as being connected to Thomas Blake of Wedmore which is fine but we continue to be left with the mystery of the Blake family at Halse and the ancestor of Robert Blake father of William leaving his will in 1594.

The mention of property at Stogursey is also interesting. Robert also mentions his sister Edith. The mother of Robert’s father Robert was Edith. Still more thinking to do on this family.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 26 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/224/141
Testator: Robert Blake, yeoman
Place: Halse, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 6 Nov 1651, probated 9 Jul 1652
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: The Will of Robert
[Margin]:  Blake

1    In the name of God Amen I Robert
2    Blake of halse in the County of Somersett yeoman beinge of perfect health of
3    body and mynd (praised be God) doe make and ordaine this my last will and
4    Testament in manner following First I give unto the poore of halse Tenn Shillings
5    to be distributed unto them by my Executrix or Administrators Item I give and
6    bequeath unto Robert my Sonne Fortie pounds And unto John my Sonne Fourescore
7    pounds and unto Grace my daughter Fourscore pounds to be paid unto them
8    eespectively when they shall attaine unto their severall ages of one and Twenty yearesor
9    qithin three moneths after the death or next marriage of Elizabeth my wife w[hi]ch
10    ahall First happen Alsoe I give and bequeath unto Robert my Sonne his Executors
11    administrators or Assignes after the death of my said Wife my Grounds lyeinge
12    in halse aforesaid called Finses (which I purchased of Mr Jones) for and dureinge
13    the Residue of my Terme which shall be then to come therein And my will is That
14    if
    [Page 2]
15    if my wife shall not in the Judgment of my Overseers Sufficiently maintaine all my said
16    children then the portions of money hereby given unto them Shalbe paid into the hands of my
17    overseers for maintenance of my Said Children within Six Moneths after notice thereof
18    given unto her in that purpose Alsoe I give and devise unto my said Sonne John and his
19    heires for ever after the death of my wife all my lands in Stogursey Marsh in the said County of
20    Somersett And if he shall dye before he shall attaine to the age of one and Twenty yeares Then
21    I give and devise the same Lands after my said wife’s death unto my sonne Robert and his heires for
22    ever And my will is that such person or persons as by virtue of this my will Shall jnioy the said
23    lands in Storgursey Marsh Shall pay unto Grace my daughter One hundred pounds of
24    lawfull English money within one yeare next after such tyme as my said sonne John Shall
25    or Should have Accomplished the age of one and Twenty yeares provided allwayes and
26    the same meaning of this my will is That if Elizabeth my wife shall be living at the tyme
27    when the said One hundred pounds Shalle come payable to my Said daughter Grace as is
28    is above limited Then neither of my said Sonnes or other person Shalbe charged with the
29    payment thereof until one yeare after the decease of my said wife And then I will that
30    the said One hundred pounds shall be paid unto my said daughter by such person or
31    persons as shall jnioy the said Lands And my will is further that if my said wife Shall
32    happen to dye before the said one hundred pounds become due then such person or persons
33    as shall jnioy the said Lands shall from and after the death of my said wife paye unto my
34    said daughter Grace Eight pounds yearly portion and every yeare until her said portion shalbecome
35    payable in Such manner and at Such tyme as I have herein before declared And
36    if default shall be made in payment of the said One hundred pounds at the before limited
37    tyme Then I give the said land in Stogursey Marsh unto my said daughter Grace and
38    her heires for ever And my will is that if my said daughter Grace shall happen to dye
39    before She shall accomplish the age of one and Twenty yeares without yssue of her body
40    lawfully begotten That then this last legacie of one hundred pounds payable out of
41    Stogurseye Marsh as aforesaid shall be void to all intents and purposes But the legacies
42    of Fowescore pounds First bequeathed unto her I wholie give unto my Sonne Robert
43    and whereas I am to pay unto my Sister Edith One hundred and Fortie pounds when
44    she shall Accomplish her age of one and Twenty yeares which was given unto her by the
45    will of my Father And Twenty pounds more which I have received for her My will
46    is that if my Executrix or Administrators shall quietly Jnioy the halfenddast of A
47    Tenement in Wemdon in the said County of Somersett called Perry wood until my
48    said Sister shall attaine unto the age aforesaid and shall not in the meane tyme be
49    charged with more than Eight pounds apeace towards the maintenance of my said
50    Sister Then my Executrix or Administrator shall pay unto her Two hundred pounds And
51    assigne over unto her all the Jnterest which I have in the said Tenement in Wembdon
52    soe as my said Sister shall at the same tyme Seale and deliver unto my Executrix or
53    Administrators A sufficient general release of all Accomptes debts and demands
54    whatsoever All the rest of my goods and Chattells whatsoever not formerly bequeathed
55    my debts paid and legacies discharged I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth my wife
56    whome I make Executrix of this my will. But if my said wife shall happen to dye before
57   probate hereof shalbe made Then I make my said sonne John and my daughter Grace
58    Executors hereof And in Case they dye they dye before probate made Then I make my
59    said Sonne Robert Executor And I desire my Overseers hereafter named to take letters
60    of Administration dureinge my said Childrens minorities Lastly I desire my brother in
61    law John Sellocke and my brother Edmund Blake to be Overseers of this my will And
62    doe give them for there Care and paines to be taken in and about the Execution thereof
63    twenty shillings apiece and their necessary Expences In Witnesse whereof I have to
64    every sheete thereof beings three in number Sett my hand and Seale the Sixth day of
65    November in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand six hundred Fiftie and one
66    Robert Blake Seased published and declared to be the last will and Testament of
67    the said Robert Blake in the presence of us Henry Haddridge J Sellacke
68    Edmund Blake Wat: Peirce An Addi[t]ion to my will Alsoe I give unto
69    my daughter Grace Fortie pounds to be paid unto her when the legacie of
70    fowrescore
    [Page 3]
71    fowrescore pounds given her by this my will Shall become due and payable And my
72    will is that if my said daughter shall dye before the Said legacie of Fortie pounds Shalbe
73    com due unto her then the some shall remaine unto my sonne John if he be lievinge if not
74    unto my sonne Robert And whereas my father by his will gave unto my
75    and bedstead performed and my mother gave the same unto my Sister Edith my will
76   is that Tenne pounds shalbe paid unto my said Sister in consideration thereof
77    when she shall Accomplish the age of one and Twenty yeares She then Seallinge
78    a personal release unto my Executor In Witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my
79    hand Robert Blake Witnesses Ja Sellacke Wal: Pearse Corye Comer
80    This will was proved at London before the Right Worshipfull Nathaniell Grey
81    Knight doctor of Lawes and Master or Keeper of the prerogative Court lawfully
82    constituted the ninth day of July in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand Six
83    hundred Fiftie two by the Oath of Elizabeth Blake the Relict of the said deceased
84    and Sole Executrix named in the said Will To whome was Committed Administration
85    of all and Singular the goods Chattell and debts of the said deceased She beinge
86    first legallie Sworne (by Commission) well and truly to Administer the same.

Will of Edmund Blake, Yeoman, Nether Stowey, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/1905/481, probated 5 Jan 1839

Edmund Blake at Nether Stowey is the Testator.

There was an Edmund Blake married to Fearnot Shaw 4 May 1727 at Taunton who was buried in 1747 at Nether Stowey. However they had four daughters so not a direct line back. His grandfather Edmund Blake married Christian Street 11 Jun 1663 at Nether Stowey and they had three sons – one died young (John) but Edmund and Arthur appear to have survived to adulthood.

The burial of Edmund Blake (testator) is online: Edmund Blake 24 Dec 1838, 77 y, Nether Stowey. Since he was 77 his year of birth would be circa 1761 and there is a baptism for Edmund Blake son of Edmund and Avise 1 Jan 1762. His marriage to Jane Cole 31 Mar 1785 states that Edmund lived at Kingston. No children are shown as baptized to this couple. His ancestry can perhaps be traced back through the Blake family to Humphrey. Notably there was an Edmund Blake baptized 19 Jan 1666 at Nether Stowey and buried 10 Oct 1726 at Nether Stowey (and he was also from Kingston). However, this is the father of Edmund Blake who was buried in 1747  (his only son) and hence this is not the direct line for this Edmund Blake the current testator. Finding the correct line would be an interesting fact. It would be exciting if there are still descendants of this family in Somerset who would test their yDNA.

The marriage of Edmund Blake and Avise Govier took place 30 Mar 1755 at Nether Stowey. There was an Edmund Blake buried 8 Nov 1811 at Nether Stowey.

There was an Edmund Blake son of Mr. Edmund and Dorothy baptized 3 Feb 1730/31 but no extra details to centre in on the correct individual. They do not appear to have married at Nether Stowey.


The records for Nether Stowey are online:

Nether Stowey Parish Registers (http://www.wsom.org.uk/Registers/) 1 miles NE of Overstowey)
Baptisms 1690 - 1840
Elizabeth Blake daughter of Edmund and Elizabeth 19 Dec 1720
Mary blake daughter of Mr. Edmund and Dorothy 2 Nov 1728
Joan blake daughter of Edmund and Dorothy 8 Oct 1729
Edmund Blake son of Mr. Edmund and Dorothy 3 Feb 1730/31
Katy Blake daughter of Mr. Edmund and Dorothy 2 Jan 1733/34
John Blake son of Roger and Jane 14 Nov 1748
Robert Blake son of Roger and Jane 26 Sep 1750
Edmund Blake son of Edmund and Avise 20 Dec 1755
Robert Blake son of Edmund and Avise 4 Apr 1757
Molly blake daughter of Edmund and Avise 21 Apr 1759
Edmund Blake son of Edmund and Avise 1 Jan 1762
Betty Blake daughter of Edmund and Avise 9 Mar 1764
Mary Blake daughter of Edmund and Avise 29 Jan 1766
Katy Blake daughter of Edmund and Avise 29 Jan 1766
John Blake son of Edmund and Avise 16 Jul 1768
Robert Blake son of Robert and Frances 27 Dec 1787
Frances St Albyn daughter of Robert and Frances 12 Feb 1789
Jane Blake daughter of Robert and Frances 20 Aug 1790
Elizabeth Blake daughter of Robert and Frances 26 Oct 1791
Avis Blake daughter of John and Mary 29 Aug 1808, born 28 Aug 1804
Thomas Blake son of John and Sarah 1 Dec 1809, born 27 Oct 1809
Edmund Blake son of John and Sarah 19 Jun 1811 born 20 Apr 1811
Mary Blake daughter of John and Sarah 20 Aug 1813, Nether Stowey, Publican
Christiana Blake  daughter of John and Sarah 9 Mar 1815, Nether Stowey, Publican
Christiana Blake daughter of John and Sarah 16 May 1817, Nether Stowey, Publican
John Blake son of John and Sarah 16 May 1817, Nether Stowey, Publican

Marriages 1645 - 1843
Volume 1
Edward Blake and Christian Street 11 Jun 1663
Volume 2
William Lawrence and Joane Blake 30 Nov 1689
Volume 3
Laurence Pool and Anne Blake 27 Dec 1726
John Pool and Elizabeth Blake 22 May 1727
Mr. Roger Blake and Mrs. Jane St Albyn 21 Oct 1747
Edmund Blake and Avise Govier 30 Mar 1755
Thomas Goodwin and Katy Blake 11 Dec 1760
James May, of Cannington and Avice Blake 15 Sep 1773
Edmund Blake of Kingston and Jane Cole 31 Mar 1785
Robert Blake and Frances Poole 23 Nov 1786
William Baker and Avis Blake 21 Nov 1831
Thomas Govier and Mary blake 21 Dec 1837

Burials 1672 - 1850
Edmond Blake 29 Jul 1672
Emot Blake daughter of Richard and Joane 21 Nov 1685
Richard Blake 7 Apr 1689
Edmund Blake 12 Aug 1692
Edmund Blake 10 Oct 1726
Mary Blake 16 Oct 1742
Mr. Edmund Blake 27 Feb 1748
Mrs. Jane blake 4 Apr 1751
Mrs. Elizabeth blake 23 Oct 1756
Edmund Blake 16 Apr 1757
Molly Blake 25 Jun 1759
Sarah Blake 26 Mar 1762
Mrs. Dorothy Blake 3 Dec 1764
Edmund Blake 26 Dec 1767
Katy Blake 26 Mar 1768
Betty Blake 3 Dec 1770
James Blake 4 Dec 1773
Roger Blake 23 Jul 1785
Ann Blake daughter of Robert 11 Oct 1794
Mary Blake 4 May 1807
Elizabeth Blake 22 Jun 1808
Edmund Blake 8 Nov 1811
Thomas Blake 14 May 1813, age 3, Nether Stowey
Rev. Robert Blake 19 Jun 1820, 32 y, Churchill
Mary Ann blake 24 Dec 1824, 26 y, B. Lydeard
Rev. John Blake 16 Mar 1832, 34 y, B. Lydeard
Robert Blake 11 Mar 1836, 85 y, Churchill
Edmund Blake 24 Dec 1838, 77 y, Nether Stowey
Jane Blake 30 Dec 1840, 80 y, Nether Stowey
Sarah Blake 6 May 1843, 57 y, Nether Stowey
John Blake 8 Nov 1845, 77 y, Nether Stowey
Frances Blake 8 Nov 1848, 88 y, Churchill

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 27 Sep 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1905/481
Testator: Edmund Blake, Yeoman
Place: Nether Stowey, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 6 Sepd 1838, probated 5 Jan 1839
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Edmund
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 10

1    This is the last Will and Testament
2    of me Edmund Blake of Nether Stowey in the County of Somerset Yeoman written
3    with my own hand and dictated myself and contained on one sheet of paper Whereas
4    among many other Mortgages I have two hundred and fifty pounds out on a Mortgage to James Cole late
5    of London Clockmaker but now lately deceased dated the seventh April one thousand eight
6    hundred and twenty eight and also another one hundred pounds lent on a surcharge of
7    the same premises from his Wife Catherine Cole and their three Children James, Thomas
8    and Elizabeth (but now Elizabeth Bishop) dated first December one thousand eight hundred
9    and twenty nine and secured on the same four acres of meadow and three acres of Orchard
10    and on two Cottages and Garden situate at Stringston aforesaid And I have also a transfer
11    of a Mortgage on Lands in the neighbourhood of Cross near Bristol from a William
12    Rich (who is gone to America) for one thousand six hundred pounds the original mortgage
13    was from Henry Parker now dead and further secured to me by a deed of Covenants of
14    same date as the said Surcharge and Bond entered into by the deceased Parker’s four
15    Children And likewise a Mortgage for one thousand pounds dated fifth September one thou-
16    sand eight hundred and thirty three from Robert Govett of Stringston on fifty five and half
17    acres of Land called Ditch Farm and a surcharge of four hundred pounds on the same
18    lands called Ditch Farm dated twenty third July one thousand eight hundred and thirty four
19    made by the said Robert Govett to the said Edmund Blake and likewise Mortgage for one
20    thousand pounds dated seventh May one thousand eight hundred and thirty three from
21    Richard Parsley of West Super Mare secured on about twenty seven acres of Lands and
22    Capital Buildings built thereon and seven hundred pounds on a transfer of a Mortgage from
23    the proper parties as appears thereby the lands are now in the possession of the widow
24    Coates the like Mortgager’s Widow who lives at North Petherton and who pays the Interest half
25    yearly at four and half per cent if not so paid she is to pay lawful Interest And also
26    about four hundred pounds in cash and about two hundred and seventy seven pounds in the
27    Savings Bank of this Town And also five hundred pounds Stock in the three per cent Consols
    [Page 2]
28    standing in my own name and bought by me three hundred and fifty pounds of it
29    At 56 on 16th May 1804 and the other one hundred and fifty pounds the remainder on
30    1st March 1805 at 58 ¼ all in the Consols in my own name at No 27 Primrose
31    Street Bishops Gate Street London Now then this is my Will that in case my death shall
32    happen to take place before my Wife Jane Blake that then I give and bequeath to her my
33    said Wife for her life an annuity of one hundred and fifty pounds clear of all deductions
34    outgoings and expences whatsoever and to be paid to her quarterly by my Executor here
35    inafter named the first payment to begin and be made at the end of the first three Calendar
36    months next after my decease and so to continue to be so paid to her during the remainder
37    of her life and I do by this my Will hereby appoint and declare John Knight of Cannington
38    one of the Sons of the late James Knight deceased of the same place my sole Executor
39    to whom I give and bequeath after the decease of my said Wife all and singular my
40    Goods Chattels monies of every sort kind and description whatsoever and wheresoever they
41    may be found together with all and singular Mortgages and Bonds of every description
42    sort of kind already made or to be made at any time hereafter In Witness whereof I
43    the said Edmund Blake the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament set my
44    hand and Seal this sixth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
45    hundred and thirty eight Edmund Blake Signed Sealed published and
46    declared by the said Edmund Blake the Testator as and for and to be his last Will and
47    Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence
48    of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses the words dated “twenty” in the seven
49    teenth line having been first obliterated William Brewer George Brewer
50    Charles Sellick
51    Proved at London 5th January 1839 before the Judge by the Oath of John
52    Knight Esquire the Sole Executor to whom adm[inistrati]on was granted having been first sworn
53    (by Comm[issi]on duly to administer