James Blake of Newenden, Kent is the testator. I could not find his death registration on Find My Past. I did learn that Newenden is the smallest village in Kent.
In his will he mentions his sons John and James and his daughter Alice. He holds the leases on farms named Lostenham and Harenden. His eldest son is not yet 18 years of age.
The will doesn’t offer any clues about the family other than their land holdings. I could not find any Blake records for Newenden. There is a partial transcription of the will below on the Kent Historical Society Website. I have attempted to transcribe the entire will but the content provided online by the Historical Society certainly captures the will quite well although in less detail.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Nov 2019
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/36/102
Testator: James Blake
Place: Newenden, Kent
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 10 Mar 1552/53, probated 12 Apr 1553
[Margin]: Jacobi Blake
1 This is the last Will and Testament of me James Blake of Newenden in the Countie of
2 Kent made the tenth day of Marche in the seventh yere of the Reigne of our Sovereign Lord Kinge Edward the sixth First
3 I bequeath my soule into t[he ]handes of Jesus Christ and my Bodye to be Buried in the Church yard of Newenden Item
4 I bequeath twentie shillings of monye and a seame of wheate to be geven at my buriall amonge the poore people of
5 Newenden aforesaid Item at my monethes mynde twentie shillings in Like manner to be bestowed by the discretion
6 of my executor Item I will and bequeath to Elis Blake my daughter fortie poundes of Lawfull money of Englande and
7 litle cheste wh[i]ch was her mothers w[i]th all the kerchers vailes and lynnen in the said cheste and her mothers best hooks and a
8 tach of silver the said fortie poundes to be paide to her w[i]thin a moneth next after her marriage or at her age of xxxth
9 yeres And the saide goodes to be delevered to her ymmediatlie after my decease And if it fortune the said Elis to decease
10 before her marriage or her age of xxxth yeres Then I will the saide fortie poundes to John and James Blake my sonnes
11 Item I will to George Blake my cosyn one thre yereinge heyfer w[i]th a calfe and a twelve mountinge heifer budd Item
12 to John Willerd my servaunt a two yeringe heifer w[i]th a calfe Item I bequeath to Thomas Brincker and
13 Humfrey my servaunts either of them a Cote of myne and humfrey my best white hoose Item I bequeath to James
14 Bate my servaunt a two yeringe heifer w[i]th a calfe Item I bequeath to John Springett my servaunt two peces of Lande
15 w[i]th a crofte and a forelande lyinge to the Chauncell nexte Newynden being parcell of my ferme of Harenden to have
16 and to hold unto hym his executors and assignes from the feaste of Saintt Michaell th[e]archangel nexte comynge
17 unto th[e]ende and terme of fouer yeres paying therefore yerelie unto my executore fortie shillings at the feaste of
18 th[e]annunciation of our Ladye and Saint Michael th[e]archangel by even porcions provyded that the said John shall
19 neither stripe or wast any woodes or underwoodes Item I bequeath to Elizabeth Witt my servaunt a cowe w[i]th a
20 calfe my best gowne and my wiffes best kirtle Item I bequeath to Anne my servaunt iii yards of my Russet
21 and ii yards and a q[ua]rter of White blankett Item I bequeath to Joane Burge ii yards of Russett for to make
22 her a peticote Item I bequeath to Johan Manne my s[er]vant a cowe and a peticote cloth of Russet and a wo[r]sted
23 kirtle that was my wives Item I bequeath to John Fowle my brother from the feaste of Sainte Michaell
24 th[e ]archangel nexte all my ferme of Lostenham to have unto him his executors and assignes duringe all
25 the tyme of my life therein Item I will that John Fowle shall have of my stock the which he shall
26 requyre to the value of fortie pounds the vallue to be as he canne agree w[i]th my executor or el[s]e to have fortie
27 poundes in monye and that the said Fowle shall pay for the saide stocke or else the fourtie poundes again unto
28 my executor w[i]thin two yeres nexte the wryste thereof Item I bequeath to Thomas Donke all my ferme of
29 Herenden as well the Landes before bequeathed to John Spryngett after the yeres ended as also all the land
30 residue to have to him his executors and assignes from the f[ea]ste of Sainte Michael th[e ]archangel next
31 coming unto th[e ]ende of vij yeres he paying therefore to the use of John Blacke and James Blacke my sonnes
32 twentie poundes And after the saide vij yeres I will all the said lease and ferme of Herenden as well all
33 other lands nowe beynge in the hands of John Fowle and Thomas Donke, Richard Baylie and Thomas
34 Courte as all the Residue unto John Blake my sonne to have unto huym during all the tyme of my Leasse therein
35 And if the saide John die then I will it to James my sonne to have unto him in like manner And if James fortune to decease
36 Then I will it to Alice my daughter in Like manner. Item I bequeath to John Blake and James Blake my sonnes all my
37 brasse and pewter Cowpbordes, chestes, ij of my best Featherbeddes w[i]th ire boulsters, coverings, pillowes, w[i]th all
38 other things thereto belonging and all my lynen equallie to be devyded and delyvered unto them at either of their ages
39 of xxiij th yeres The Residue of all my goods and cattalls moveable or immovable my debtes first paide and this my
40 will fullfilled I geve and bequeathe them unto John and James my sonnes herebeit my will and full mynde is that Thomas
41 Donke shall sell them all to the best prise he canne and the monye thereof that he shall bestowe and bye Landes and
42 tenements to the use of the said John Blake and James Blacke my sonnes and of theire heires and assignes forever And
43 that the same Donke to receave the proffitt thereof to those aforesaide Item I bequeath to the reparacions of the Church
44 of Newenden three shillinges Item I make and ordeyn the said Thomas Donke to be my sole executor of this my present
45 testament and last Will Item I make John Twisden Thomas Petter and John Fowle my overseers of this my will and
46 testament and I geve to either of them vj s vij d for theire labor Item I bequeath to everie of my godchildren vij d
47 This is the Last wyll and testament of me the saide James Blacke made
48 the day and yere aforesaide converrynge all my Lands and tenements, Rentes, Reversions, p[re]mises w[i]thin the Countie
49 of kente First I will and bequeath that John Twisden and Thomas Petter shall receave and take all the proffittes
50 and Issues the woodes and underwoodes onlie excepted of all my Lands, tenements and Rentes until John my sone
51 come to his age of eighteen yeres and that they shall sufficientlie kepe them and putt them to scole at theire discretion and
52 also shall honestly bringe and kepe upp Alice my daughter until the said John come to his age of eighteen yeres And
53 for the overplus of the proffittes of the said Landes after my children founden I will that they shall make a true
54 accompts unto the saide John and James my sones when the said John shall come to his saide age of eighteen yeres
55 and that I will all the saide Landes tenements and Rentes w[i]th the appurtenances unto the said John and James Blake
56 my sonnes and to theire heirs and assignes equallie to be devyded amonges them Item I bequeath that whereas I have
57 one Rente of thre poundes six shillings eight pence by the yere goinge out of the Landes of John Twisden and the saide
58 Rent is upon redemptions as by Indenture it appereth that if the said John Twisden has __ encumbrances and
59 assignes to redeme the said Rente and pay £60 the which quietly oute for the said Rent that then my will is that
60 Thomas Donke my executor shall receave the said £60 And when he hath receaved it that he shall bestowe the said
61 monye upon Lands to the use of the saide John and James my sonnes and theire heirs for ever Item my will
62 is that the saide Thomas Donke my executor shall suerlie pay to Barthileme Brooke £75 at the tyme
63 as it is appropriate to bepaide for the Lands I late bought of hym This witnesse John Sharpe John Fowle John
64 Hope John Twisden
65 Probatum fuit suprascriptum testamentum unarium ultima voluntate duodecimo Aprilis Anno domini
66 millesimo quingen o guinguagesimo tertio Juramento Thome Donke executors in h[uius]m[od]i testamento nom[in]at de
67 Approbatum et insumatum et Commissa fuit Administratio omnium bonorum etc deo ___ De bene et fidelter administratio
68 eadem Ac de plano et fideli Inventario omnium bonorum etc exhibden necnon de plano et vero compo in ea parte reddend
69 Ad sancta dei Evangelis Jurat
Showing posts with label Sharpe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sharpe. Show all posts
Friday, November 29, 2019
Monday, April 21, 2014
Will of Christopher Blake, Yeoman, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire - The National Archives PROB 11/593/333, probated 12 Oct 1723
The Will of Christopher Blake of Shipton Moyne, present testator, is an absolute gem in terms of family associations. Christopher has either never been married or his wife is deceased. He does not mention a wife or children.
Names mentioned in the will:
Christopher Blake, testator, Shipton Moyne
Richard Blake, cousin, Chipping Sodbury, Innholder
John Blake, cousin, Tetbury
William Blake, cousin, Tetbury, deceased
Joseph Blake, cousin, Tetbury
Hester Humphris, cousin, Horsley
Hannah Hide, cousin, Horsley, deceased
Edward Blake, cousin, London
Henry Blake, cousin, London
Arthur Orchard, husband of cousin (sister of John Blake, deceased), deceased
Hester Orchard, daughter of Arthur
Thomas Lydiard, husband of sister
Susannah Lydiard, sister, deceased
William Pritchard, cousin, Tetbury, carryer
Anthony Sharpe, tenant
William Pritchard the elder
Mary Nicholas, servant
Dorothy Battin, Tetbury
Eliz Phillipps, mother of Dorothy Battin
John Woodward, witness
Harry Witts, witness
Elizabeth Browneing, witness
The Richard Blake at Chipping Sodbury is rather interesting and perhaps pertains to the blog post of the memorials for the Blake family in Gloucestershire:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/04/1248-blake-family-gloucestershire-notes.html
There is a Richard Blake at Chipping Sodbury with brothers Joseph and Samuel. The memorial refers to the father of Richard Blake lived in Bristol (died there in 1771). In 1723 he would have been about 22 years of age. He would be a cousin to the testator Christopher Blake. Knowing that Richard had uncles Joseph and Samuel then Christopher would be the son of one of these men possibly. The Joseph Blake is still living according to the will and the uncle of Richard Blake, Joseph, was buried at Chipping Sodbury in 1715 at 23 years of age.
The Portbury Hundred pages http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/admiralreport.htm
mention this family and Richard Blake (father of Joseph, Samuel and Richard) married Mary (unknown). The Portbury Hundred website gives Richard who died in Chipping Sodbury 9 Apr 1724 a birth year of 1668 (he was 56 when he died). Neither Joseph nor Samuel are traced down in this site. They both died in 1715 (Joseph 18 May 1715) and Samuel at 23 years of age giving him a year of birth circa 1692. Richard is mentioned as being born in 1700 and died in 1771 and his will is to come).
Richard Blake (1668-1724) was said to be the son of Ambrose Blake and Elizabeth Ruddick. He had brothers Henry (1669 - 1731) and Ambrose. I actually left this part of the website out of the Legacy chart that I produced because I did not agree with the material. However, I did not actually do any research on it so will now see what I can find.
"Margaret Parrott for Wiltshire Buildings Record"
The children of Henry Blake and Abigail Stringer are named on the Portbury site as Henry, Roger, Ambrose, Abigail and Lettice. The Blake Pedigree Chart held by the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office only mentions Henry, Roger and Abigail as children of this couple with Henry being 6 years of age in 1623, Roger 5 years of age in 1623 and Abigail being 1 year of age in 1623. No descendants of these three children are on the chart. This information is taken from the Visitation of Wiltshire 1623. Perhaps Ambrose was born after 1623 and would then have been 20 years or less in age in 1644 when the house was said to be demolished or in 1690 it was simply not advantageous to mention Ambrose.
Another interesting piece of information from the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Volumes 23-24 edited by Edward Hungerford Goddard on page 223 No X mentions a Sundry Memoranda relating to the coronation of King Charles ( 2 Feb 1626; reigned from 27 Mar 1625 to 30 Jan 1649) and his offer of a knighthood to gentlemen of estate; the Blake family did refuse the knighthood and were fined for doing so. Henry Blake, of Pinhills, was fined 10 pounds. In a list of gentry in the Hundred of Calne in Wiltshire on this same page living during the times of Charles I and Charles II can be found the name of Ambrose Blake, Esquire of Pinnels. Interestingly enough Blake and Chivers are the only surnames that appear in both lists and only one Blake in the first list and one in the second list.
I feel this is probably sufficient to show that Ambrose was the heir of Henry Blake and that he was likely his son rather than say a grandson. Henry (son of Henry) is said to have died in 1660 and no date of death is given for Roger on the Portbury website and no children of either of these two men. Ambrose is given a date of birth of 1620 which would have made him three years of age at the time of the Visitation of Wiltshire. His being left off may simply be a political omission (not advantageous at this time to mention the connection of the London family (which requested the College of Arms to create the chart) to the Wiltshire family which had opposed the Stuart line).
Ambrose is said to have married Elizabeth Ruddick and that they had three sons Richard (1668-1724), Henry (1669-1731) and Ambrose. Working down through the chart on the Portbury site Richard married Mary (unknown) and they have three children Joseph, Samuel and Richard (1700-1771). Henry married Catherine Hungerford and they had the following children Robert (married to Joanna Coombs (this information is on the memorial at Chipping Sodbury), Henry, Abigail, Katherine and Frances. Ambrose is said to have married Mary Ivie and they had one child Elizabeth.
In this will Christopher in 1723 talks about his cousins Richard Blake in Chipping Sodbury, John Blake, William Blake (deceased) and Joseph Blake in Tetbury and Edward Blake, Henry Blake his cousins in London. This accounts for Blake cousins but he also mentions a Humphris and a Hide cousin in Horsley, Arthur Orchard who married the sister of John Blake, Susanna Lydiard, Christopher's sister (deceased), and William Pritchard a cousin in Tetbury.
The Richard Blake he mentions is likely the son of Richard (1668-1724) and this Richard was married to Mary Greenway 1723 according to Boyd's Marriage Index of Marriage Licences. No place was recorded in that index. This does match up with the Portbury Hundred accounting of Admiral Blake's collateral lines but only one son is mentioned William and not the two daughters Susanna and Hannah mentioned in their parent's wills. William is traced down however and more about that when I transcribe his will.
This is still not helping me determine who Christopher Blake is. Henry Blake (1669-1731) brother to Richard (1668-1724) is a possibility. Henry married Catherine Hungerford and their son Robert was born in 1708 (he died in 1790 at 82 years of age). He was married to Joanna Coombs. A second son Henry and there are no further details for either of these two sons (there were also three daughters Abigail, Katherine, and Frances) as mentioned earlier. Looking for a John Blake, William Blake (deceased) and Joseph Blake in Tetbury as cousins. One would think that they would be sons of Henry or Ambrose since they are Richard's (1668-1724) brothers. The interesting part about this line is that they are direct descendants of the Blake family at Calne. Whether or not they are collateral to the Admiral Blake line remains to be proven.
I am thus far unable to determine exactly how this family is associated with the Blake family at Bristol but I now know how Richard Blake married to Anne Augusta Harwood fits into a family and more on that with the will of William Blake (1791) since Richard is his son.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 12 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/593/333
Testator: Christopher Blake, Yeoman
Place: Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Aug 1723, probated 12 Oct 1723
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: T[esta]m[ent]
[Margin]: Christopher Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Christopher Blake of Shipton Moyne in the County of Gloucester
3 yeoman being aged but of Sound Mind and good disposing understanding
4 (praised be God) therefore do make this my last Will and Testament
5 in manner and form following Imprimis I commend my Soul into the
6 hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body to the Earth to be
7 buried in Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executors herein after
8 named And as for my Worldly Estate It hath pleased God to give me
9 I dispose thereof as followeth Item I give and bequeath unto my
10 Cousin Richard Blake of Chipping Sodbury in the County of Gloucester
11 Innholder the Sum[m]e of Forty pounds and unto my Cousin John Blake of
12 Tetbury in the said County of Gloucester the like Sum[m]e of Forty pounds
13 and unto my Cousin William Blakes Children of Tetbury aforesaid the
14 Sum[m]e of Thirty pounds to be equally divided between the said Children
15 Share and Share alike and also unto my Cousin Joseph Blake of
16 Tetbury aforesaid the Sum[m]e of Thirty pounds of lawfull Money of Great
17 Britain to be paid unto them within Six Months next after my decease
18 by my Executors herein after named It[em] I give and bequeath unto
19 my Cousin Hester Humphris of Horsley in the said County of Glouc[este]r
20 Widow and to her Children now living the Sum[m]e of Twenty pounds to be
21 equally divided between them Share and Share alike and to be also paid
22 them by my Executors within Six Months next after my decease Item I
23 give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters now living of my Cousin
24 Hannah Hide late of Horsley aforesaid deceased the Sum[m]e of Thirty
25 pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain and to be equally divided
26 between them Share and Share alike and to be paid within Six Months
27 next after my decease by my Executors herein after named Item I give
28 and bequeath unto my Cousin Edward Blake of London and to his
29 brother Henry Blake the Sum[m]e of Ten pounds of lawfull Money of Great
30 Britain to be equally divided between them and to be paid them
31 within Six Months next after my decease by my Executors hereinafter
32 men[t]ioned in case either of them shall happen to be dead Then my
33 Will is that his Share Shall goe to the Survivor of them and provided
[Page 2]
34 both of them are dec[eas]ed then the said Legacy of Ten pounds to be
35 equally divided between my said Cousins Richard Blake John
36 Blake William Blake and Joseph Blake or as many of them as Shall
37 be then living Item I give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters
38 of Arthur Orchard late of Tetbury aforesaid dec[eas]ed which are now
39 living and lawfully begotten by the said Arthur Orchard on the
40 Body of his first Wife who was Sister to the said John Blake the
41 Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds of Lawfull Money of Great Britain to be
42 equally divided between them and paid them within Six Months
43 next after my decease by my Executors herein after named I likewise
44 give and bequeath unto the said Arthur Orchards daughter Hester
45 begotten as aforesaid one large Brass pan as also one Flock Bed
46 and Bedstead two Sheets Rugg Boulster and Blancketts with the
47 App[ur]tences the rents belonging which said Bed and app[ur]tences is in the
48 Room or Chamber where my Brother John Blake dec[eas]ed used to lay
49 Item I give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters of Thomas
50 Lydiard lawfully begotten on the Body of my Sister Susannah his Wife
51 dec[eas]ed the Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain
52 to be equally divided between them (that are now living) Share and
53 Share alike and to be paid unto them by my Executors herein named
54 within Six Months next after my decease But in Case no such Sons or
55 daughters of the said Tho: Lydiards begotten as aforesaid be now living
56 then my Will is that the said Legacy or Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds shall
57 be equally divided between my said four Cousins Richard John Wm
58 and Joseph Blake or the Survivors of them Item I give and bequeath
60 unto my Cousin William Pritchard of Tetbury aforesaid Carryer and to
61 his assignes all that my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement with the
62 Garden Backside and outhouses Rights Members and app[ur]tences thereonto
63 belonging and adjoining situate lying and being in Tetbury in the said County
64 of Glouc[este]r aforesaid in a certain Street there called the Ginnstoole Street and
65 now in the pos[es]sion of Anthony Sharpe from and imediately after my decease
66 To hold unto the said Wm Pritchard and his assignes for and during all the
67 rest residue and remainder of a certain terme of years or longer determina[t]ion
68 thereof which shall be then to come and unexpired men[t]ioned in a certain
69 Lease by virtue of which I now hold and enjoy the Same I likewise give
70 and bequeath unto the said Wm Pritchard the Elder the Sum[m]e of Forty
71 pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him within
72 Six Months next after my decease by my Executors herein afternamed
73 Item I give and bequeath unto my Maid Servant Mary Nicholas and
74 her assignes All that my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement Barn Stable
75 outhouses Gardens Orchards Backsides and Closes Lands of Meadow
76 arable or pasture with their and every of their rights Members and
77 app[ur]tences Scituate lying and being in the parish of Shipton Moyne afores[ai]d
78 To hold unto the said Mary Nicholas and her assignes imediately after
79 my decease for and dureing all the rest residue and remainder of a certain
80 term of years or Sooner determina[t]ion thereof which shall be then to come
81 and unexpired men[t]ioned in a certain Lease by virtue of which I now hold
82 and enjoy the same Together with the said Lease and all benefit and
83 advantage thereof I likewise give and bequeath unto the said Mary Nicholas
84 and her assigns all my household Goods both Linnen and Woollen and all
85 other Implements of household of what nature or kind soever and all things
86 to them or any of them belonging which are now or Shall be at the time of
[Page 3]
87 my decease In the Messuage or Tenement and outhouses where I now
88 dwell (Except what Goods is given by me before to Hester Orchard) as also
89 one other brass pan) which said Goods together with the pos[es]sion of the
90 Messuages or Tenements Lands of Meadow arable or pasture lying and
91 being in the parish of Shipton Moyne aforesaid Shall be deliverd within
92 two days after my decease unto the said Mary Nicholas and her assigns
93 by my Executors herein after named according to the true intent and
94 meaning of this my last Will and Testament It[em] I give and bequeath the
95 Brass pan above Excepted into Dorothy Battin of Tetbury aforesaid
96 Spinster as also to her Mother Eliz Phillips Five pounds to be paid her by my
97 Executors within Six Months after my decease Item all the rest residue and
98 remainder of my Goods and Chattells read and personal Estate of what
99 nature and kind soever and not herein before by me given or disposed off
100 and my debts Legacys herein before given first paid and Funerall Expences
101 discharged I give and bequeath unto my said three Cousins Richard Blake
102 John Blake and Joseph Blake whom I make Joint and Sole Executors of
103 this my last Will and Testament and desire them to See the same performed
104 revokeing all former Wills by me made and this to be taken only as my
105 last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will
106 and Testament Sett my hand and Seal this three and twentieth day of Aug[us]t
107 Anno d[omi]ni 1723 Ch: Blake Signed Sealed published and declared
108 by the said Christopher Blake as his last Will and Testament in the
109 presence of us who Sett our Names in the presence of the Testator John
110 Woodward Harry Witts the mark of Elizabeth Browneing
111 Probatum fuit hujusmodi Testamentum apud London
112 coram venerabili et egregio viro Johanne Bettesworth Legum doctore
113 Curie Prerogative Cantuariensis Magistro Custode sive Commissorio
114 legitime constituto duodecimo die Mensis Octobris anno domini
115 Millesimo Septingentesimo Vicesimo tertio Juramentis Richardi Blake
116 Johannis Blake et Josephi Blake Executorum in dicto Testamento nominat
117 Cuibus commissa fuit administration ominium et singulorum bonorum
118 Jurium et creditorium dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter administrando eadem
119 ad Sancta dei Evangelia (vigore Commissionis) Jurat
Names mentioned in the will:
Christopher Blake, testator, Shipton Moyne
Richard Blake, cousin, Chipping Sodbury, Innholder
John Blake, cousin, Tetbury
William Blake, cousin, Tetbury, deceased
Joseph Blake, cousin, Tetbury
Hester Humphris, cousin, Horsley
Hannah Hide, cousin, Horsley, deceased
Edward Blake, cousin, London
Henry Blake, cousin, London
Arthur Orchard, husband of cousin (sister of John Blake, deceased), deceased
Hester Orchard, daughter of Arthur
Thomas Lydiard, husband of sister
Susannah Lydiard, sister, deceased
William Pritchard, cousin, Tetbury, carryer
Anthony Sharpe, tenant
William Pritchard the elder
Mary Nicholas, servant
Dorothy Battin, Tetbury
Eliz Phillipps, mother of Dorothy Battin
John Woodward, witness
Harry Witts, witness
Elizabeth Browneing, witness
The Richard Blake at Chipping Sodbury is rather interesting and perhaps pertains to the blog post of the memorials for the Blake family in Gloucestershire:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/04/1248-blake-family-gloucestershire-notes.html
There is a Richard Blake at Chipping Sodbury with brothers Joseph and Samuel. The memorial refers to the father of Richard Blake lived in Bristol (died there in 1771). In 1723 he would have been about 22 years of age. He would be a cousin to the testator Christopher Blake. Knowing that Richard had uncles Joseph and Samuel then Christopher would be the son of one of these men possibly. The Joseph Blake is still living according to the will and the uncle of Richard Blake, Joseph, was buried at Chipping Sodbury in 1715 at 23 years of age.
The Portbury Hundred pages http://www.portbury-hundred.co.uk/admiralreport.htm
mention this family and Richard Blake (father of Joseph, Samuel and Richard) married Mary (unknown). The Portbury Hundred website gives Richard who died in Chipping Sodbury 9 Apr 1724 a birth year of 1668 (he was 56 when he died). Neither Joseph nor Samuel are traced down in this site. They both died in 1715 (Joseph 18 May 1715) and Samuel at 23 years of age giving him a year of birth circa 1692. Richard is mentioned as being born in 1700 and died in 1771 and his will is to come).
Richard Blake (1668-1724) was said to be the son of Ambrose Blake and Elizabeth Ruddick. He had brothers Henry (1669 - 1731) and Ambrose. I actually left this part of the website out of the Legacy chart that I produced because I did not agree with the material. However, I did not actually do any research on it so will now see what I can find.
I came across a
website that was archived with the Wiltshire Council Record Office
namely:
I
will extract a few excerpts from this website to help illustrate the
ancestry of the Richard Blake family at Chipping Sodbury.
The
Blake family at Calne Wiltshire acquired Pinhills and several
generations of the Blake family lived there prior to Henry Blake who
lived there during the Civil War (I will trace the line down to Henry
shortly and from Henry down to Christopher the testator hopefully). Henry was married to Abigail Stringer (daughter of one of the
footmen to Queen Elizabeth I).
"during the
reign of the Stuarts many of the gentry of north Wiltshire became
disaffected with the monarchy, largely because of the high-handed way in
which taxes were collected.
"When
the war finally began between Royalists and Parliamentarians, of the
thirty-four Wiltshire M.P.s, twenty-two sided with Parliament, including
Colonel Edward Bayntun and Sergeant Robert Nicholas for Devizes and Sir
Edward Bayntun and Sir Edward Hungerford for Chippenham. The Blakes,
Ernles, Bayntuns and Hungerfords took up commissions in the North Wilts.
Militia. Ambrose Blake, who succeeded his father Henry at Pinhills
during the war, fortified the family seat against the Royalists by
garrisoning the manor house with a body of musketeers."
"On January 4th
1644, Sir Charles Lloyd wrote to Colonel Bennett that on the orders of
Prince Rupert he would demolish Blagg’s (Blake’s) house, and on Jan.8th
he told Prince Rupert he had ‘made Blake’s house uninhabitable and
drained the moat.’ However, from our study it is evident that the house
was restored and continued in use based on evidence from map 19 in
Bowood archives which apparently shows a large house still standing on
the moated site in 1728. The present L-shaped house is said to have been
built incorporating some of the materials from the dilapidations of the
old manor-house and it is superior to the average farmhouse. Pinhills
remained the seat of the Blakes in the years immediately following the
Civil War and were finally succeeded by the Bull family probably in the
early 18th century. "
"Margaret Parrott for Wiltshire Buildings Record"
The children of Henry Blake and Abigail Stringer are named on the Portbury site as Henry, Roger, Ambrose, Abigail and Lettice. The Blake Pedigree Chart held by the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office only mentions Henry, Roger and Abigail as children of this couple with Henry being 6 years of age in 1623, Roger 5 years of age in 1623 and Abigail being 1 year of age in 1623. No descendants of these three children are on the chart. This information is taken from the Visitation of Wiltshire 1623. Perhaps Ambrose was born after 1623 and would then have been 20 years or less in age in 1644 when the house was said to be demolished or in 1690 it was simply not advantageous to mention Ambrose.
Another interesting piece of information from the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Volumes 23-24 edited by Edward Hungerford Goddard on page 223 No X mentions a Sundry Memoranda relating to the coronation of King Charles ( 2 Feb 1626; reigned from 27 Mar 1625 to 30 Jan 1649) and his offer of a knighthood to gentlemen of estate; the Blake family did refuse the knighthood and were fined for doing so. Henry Blake, of Pinhills, was fined 10 pounds. In a list of gentry in the Hundred of Calne in Wiltshire on this same page living during the times of Charles I and Charles II can be found the name of Ambrose Blake, Esquire of Pinnels. Interestingly enough Blake and Chivers are the only surnames that appear in both lists and only one Blake in the first list and one in the second list.
I feel this is probably sufficient to show that Ambrose was the heir of Henry Blake and that he was likely his son rather than say a grandson. Henry (son of Henry) is said to have died in 1660 and no date of death is given for Roger on the Portbury website and no children of either of these two men. Ambrose is given a date of birth of 1620 which would have made him three years of age at the time of the Visitation of Wiltshire. His being left off may simply be a political omission (not advantageous at this time to mention the connection of the London family (which requested the College of Arms to create the chart) to the Wiltshire family which had opposed the Stuart line).
Ambrose is said to have married Elizabeth Ruddick and that they had three sons Richard (1668-1724), Henry (1669-1731) and Ambrose. Working down through the chart on the Portbury site Richard married Mary (unknown) and they have three children Joseph, Samuel and Richard (1700-1771). Henry married Catherine Hungerford and they had the following children Robert (married to Joanna Coombs (this information is on the memorial at Chipping Sodbury), Henry, Abigail, Katherine and Frances. Ambrose is said to have married Mary Ivie and they had one child Elizabeth.
In this will Christopher in 1723 talks about his cousins Richard Blake in Chipping Sodbury, John Blake, William Blake (deceased) and Joseph Blake in Tetbury and Edward Blake, Henry Blake his cousins in London. This accounts for Blake cousins but he also mentions a Humphris and a Hide cousin in Horsley, Arthur Orchard who married the sister of John Blake, Susanna Lydiard, Christopher's sister (deceased), and William Pritchard a cousin in Tetbury.
The Richard Blake he mentions is likely the son of Richard (1668-1724) and this Richard was married to Mary Greenway 1723 according to Boyd's Marriage Index of Marriage Licences. No place was recorded in that index. This does match up with the Portbury Hundred accounting of Admiral Blake's collateral lines but only one son is mentioned William and not the two daughters Susanna and Hannah mentioned in their parent's wills. William is traced down however and more about that when I transcribe his will.
This is still not helping me determine who Christopher Blake is. Henry Blake (1669-1731) brother to Richard (1668-1724) is a possibility. Henry married Catherine Hungerford and their son Robert was born in 1708 (he died in 1790 at 82 years of age). He was married to Joanna Coombs. A second son Henry and there are no further details for either of these two sons (there were also three daughters Abigail, Katherine, and Frances) as mentioned earlier. Looking for a John Blake, William Blake (deceased) and Joseph Blake in Tetbury as cousins. One would think that they would be sons of Henry or Ambrose since they are Richard's (1668-1724) brothers. The interesting part about this line is that they are direct descendants of the Blake family at Calne. Whether or not they are collateral to the Admiral Blake line remains to be proven.
I am thus far unable to determine exactly how this family is associated with the Blake family at Bristol but I now know how Richard Blake married to Anne Augusta Harwood fits into a family and more on that with the will of William Blake (1791) since Richard is his son.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 12 Apr 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/593/333
Testator: Christopher Blake, Yeoman
Place: Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Aug 1723, probated 12 Oct 1723
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: T[esta]m[ent]
[Margin]: Christopher Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen
2 I Christopher Blake of Shipton Moyne in the County of Gloucester
3 yeoman being aged but of Sound Mind and good disposing understanding
4 (praised be God) therefore do make this my last Will and Testament
5 in manner and form following Imprimis I commend my Soul into the
6 hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body to the Earth to be
7 buried in Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executors herein after
8 named And as for my Worldly Estate It hath pleased God to give me
9 I dispose thereof as followeth Item I give and bequeath unto my
10 Cousin Richard Blake of Chipping Sodbury in the County of Gloucester
11 Innholder the Sum[m]e of Forty pounds and unto my Cousin John Blake of
12 Tetbury in the said County of Gloucester the like Sum[m]e of Forty pounds
13 and unto my Cousin William Blakes Children of Tetbury aforesaid the
14 Sum[m]e of Thirty pounds to be equally divided between the said Children
15 Share and Share alike and also unto my Cousin Joseph Blake of
16 Tetbury aforesaid the Sum[m]e of Thirty pounds of lawfull Money of Great
17 Britain to be paid unto them within Six Months next after my decease
18 by my Executors herein after named It[em] I give and bequeath unto
19 my Cousin Hester Humphris of Horsley in the said County of Glouc[este]r
20 Widow and to her Children now living the Sum[m]e of Twenty pounds to be
21 equally divided between them Share and Share alike and to be also paid
22 them by my Executors within Six Months next after my decease Item I
23 give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters now living of my Cousin
24 Hannah Hide late of Horsley aforesaid deceased the Sum[m]e of Thirty
25 pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain and to be equally divided
26 between them Share and Share alike and to be paid within Six Months
27 next after my decease by my Executors herein after named Item I give
28 and bequeath unto my Cousin Edward Blake of London and to his
29 brother Henry Blake the Sum[m]e of Ten pounds of lawfull Money of Great
30 Britain to be equally divided between them and to be paid them
31 within Six Months next after my decease by my Executors hereinafter
32 men[t]ioned in case either of them shall happen to be dead Then my
33 Will is that his Share Shall goe to the Survivor of them and provided
[Page 2]
34 both of them are dec[eas]ed then the said Legacy of Ten pounds to be
35 equally divided between my said Cousins Richard Blake John
36 Blake William Blake and Joseph Blake or as many of them as Shall
37 be then living Item I give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters
38 of Arthur Orchard late of Tetbury aforesaid dec[eas]ed which are now
39 living and lawfully begotten by the said Arthur Orchard on the
40 Body of his first Wife who was Sister to the said John Blake the
41 Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds of Lawfull Money of Great Britain to be
42 equally divided between them and paid them within Six Months
43 next after my decease by my Executors herein after named I likewise
44 give and bequeath unto the said Arthur Orchards daughter Hester
45 begotten as aforesaid one large Brass pan as also one Flock Bed
46 and Bedstead two Sheets Rugg Boulster and Blancketts with the
47 App[ur]tences the rents belonging which said Bed and app[ur]tences is in the
48 Room or Chamber where my Brother John Blake dec[eas]ed used to lay
49 Item I give and bequeath unto the Sons and daughters of Thomas
50 Lydiard lawfully begotten on the Body of my Sister Susannah his Wife
51 dec[eas]ed the Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain
52 to be equally divided between them (that are now living) Share and
53 Share alike and to be paid unto them by my Executors herein named
54 within Six Months next after my decease But in Case no such Sons or
55 daughters of the said Tho: Lydiards begotten as aforesaid be now living
56 then my Will is that the said Legacy or Sum[m]e of Fifteen pounds shall
57 be equally divided between my said four Cousins Richard John Wm
58 and Joseph Blake or the Survivors of them Item I give and bequeath
60 unto my Cousin William Pritchard of Tetbury aforesaid Carryer and to
61 his assignes all that my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement with the
62 Garden Backside and outhouses Rights Members and app[ur]tences thereonto
63 belonging and adjoining situate lying and being in Tetbury in the said County
64 of Glouc[este]r aforesaid in a certain Street there called the Ginnstoole Street and
65 now in the pos[es]sion of Anthony Sharpe from and imediately after my decease
66 To hold unto the said Wm Pritchard and his assignes for and during all the
67 rest residue and remainder of a certain terme of years or longer determina[t]ion
68 thereof which shall be then to come and unexpired men[t]ioned in a certain
69 Lease by virtue of which I now hold and enjoy the Same I likewise give
70 and bequeath unto the said Wm Pritchard the Elder the Sum[m]e of Forty
71 pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto him within
72 Six Months next after my decease by my Executors herein afternamed
73 Item I give and bequeath unto my Maid Servant Mary Nicholas and
74 her assignes All that my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement Barn Stable
75 outhouses Gardens Orchards Backsides and Closes Lands of Meadow
76 arable or pasture with their and every of their rights Members and
77 app[ur]tences Scituate lying and being in the parish of Shipton Moyne afores[ai]d
78 To hold unto the said Mary Nicholas and her assignes imediately after
79 my decease for and dureing all the rest residue and remainder of a certain
80 term of years or Sooner determina[t]ion thereof which shall be then to come
81 and unexpired men[t]ioned in a certain Lease by virtue of which I now hold
82 and enjoy the same Together with the said Lease and all benefit and
83 advantage thereof I likewise give and bequeath unto the said Mary Nicholas
84 and her assigns all my household Goods both Linnen and Woollen and all
85 other Implements of household of what nature or kind soever and all things
86 to them or any of them belonging which are now or Shall be at the time of
[Page 3]
87 my decease In the Messuage or Tenement and outhouses where I now
88 dwell (Except what Goods is given by me before to Hester Orchard) as also
89 one other brass pan) which said Goods together with the pos[es]sion of the
90 Messuages or Tenements Lands of Meadow arable or pasture lying and
91 being in the parish of Shipton Moyne aforesaid Shall be deliverd within
92 two days after my decease unto the said Mary Nicholas and her assigns
93 by my Executors herein after named according to the true intent and
94 meaning of this my last Will and Testament It[em] I give and bequeath the
95 Brass pan above Excepted into Dorothy Battin of Tetbury aforesaid
96 Spinster as also to her Mother Eliz Phillips Five pounds to be paid her by my
97 Executors within Six Months after my decease Item all the rest residue and
98 remainder of my Goods and Chattells read and personal Estate of what
99 nature and kind soever and not herein before by me given or disposed off
100 and my debts Legacys herein before given first paid and Funerall Expences
101 discharged I give and bequeath unto my said three Cousins Richard Blake
102 John Blake and Joseph Blake whom I make Joint and Sole Executors of
103 this my last Will and Testament and desire them to See the same performed
104 revokeing all former Wills by me made and this to be taken only as my
105 last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will
106 and Testament Sett my hand and Seal this three and twentieth day of Aug[us]t
107 Anno d[omi]ni 1723 Ch: Blake Signed Sealed published and declared
108 by the said Christopher Blake as his last Will and Testament in the
109 presence of us who Sett our Names in the presence of the Testator John
110 Woodward Harry Witts the mark of Elizabeth Browneing
111 Probatum fuit hujusmodi Testamentum apud London
112 coram venerabili et egregio viro Johanne Bettesworth Legum doctore
113 Curie Prerogative Cantuariensis Magistro Custode sive Commissorio
114 legitime constituto duodecimo die Mensis Octobris anno domini
115 Millesimo Septingentesimo Vicesimo tertio Juramentis Richardi Blake
116 Johannis Blake et Josephi Blake Executorum in dicto Testamento nominat
117 Cuibus commissa fuit administration ominium et singulorum bonorum
118 Jurium et creditorium dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter administrando eadem
119 ad Sancta dei Evangelia (vigore Commissionis) Jurat
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Will of John Blake of Luxulyan, Cornwall - The National Archives PROB 11/263/148, probated 2 Apr 1657
John Blake married to Blanch is the testator. He names his son Robert and daughters Julian, Grace and Martha (married to unknown Eare). The Parish of Luxulion runs with Bodmin Parish although I do not see any connection with the will of George Blake in 1707 at Bodmin (Bodwin). But it is interesting to find a Blake family closeby as George was in the British Navy.
Martha was baptized 27 Apr 1623 at Luxulyan daughter of John Bllake and Bllanch (LDS)
Julian was baptized 21 Aug 1625 at Luxulyan daughter of John Bllake and Bllanch (LDS)
Grace was baptized 30 Nov 1631 at Luxulyan daughter of John Bllake and Bllanch (LDS)
I did not find the baptism for Robert on the LDS site or on the OPC Cornwall site.
Robert Bllake and Temperance baptized Anne Blake 22 Apr 1650 at Luxulyan.
The earliest records for marriages on the OPC Cornwall site at Luxulyan begin in 1680, the baptisms in the 1680s and the burials in 1684. There was a Blake family at Luxulyan into the latter part of the 1800s.
There is a Robert Blake and a John Blake listed on the Protestation Returns 1641-42 at Luxulyan. Robert must then have been born by 1623 as males over 18 signed the Return.
I must go back and add details to the wills of the past two days. Gardening is still occupying quite a bit of my energy these days! But it is pretty well all planted now; fences are up to keep the rabbits out and the dog out. This has been successful the past three years that we have put a fence up.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 May 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/263/148
Testator: John Blake
Place: Luxulian, Cornwall, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 13 Apr 1656 , probated 2 Apr 1657
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: John
[Margin]: Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen I John
2 Blake of Luxulion beinge sick of body but perfect and sound of memory Thanks
3 be unto God doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in
4 manner and forme followinge Imprimis I give and bequeath my Soule to God
5 my redeemer And my body to christian buriall And for my goods I give and
6 bequeath in manner and forme following Item I give and bequeath to the
7 poore of Luxulion three shillings and foure pence Item I give to my Sonne
8 Robert Blake Twenty shillings Item I give unto my daughter Julian fower pounds a
9 yeare out of one Tenement in Bodmen for and dureing the terme of the Lease
10 unexpired Item I give unto her three acres of barly in the same ground Item I
11 give unto my daughter Grace Thirty pounds of of lawfull money of England to be
12 paid within one yeare after my death Item I give unto my daughter Martha Eare
13 one ewe Item I give unto either of my grandchildren one ewe to be delivered presently
14 after my death As for the rest of my goods not given nor bequeathed I give and
15 bequeath unto Blanch my wife whom I make and ordaine my sole Executrix to see
16 this my will performed and legacies paid In Witnes whereof I have sette my
17 hand and Seale The thirteenth day of Aprill one thousand six hundred fiftie and six
18 The Signe of John Blake In the presence of Mat: Sharpe Cler[k] Nicholas Sibby
19 Robert Blake
20 This will was proved at London The Second day of ye moneth
21 of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie and seven before
22 the Judges for probate of wills and granting administrations lawfully authorized by the oath
23 of Blanch Blake relict of the said deceased and Sole Executrix named in this his last
24 will and testament To whom was committed administration of all and singular the
25 goods Chattles and debts of the said deceased She the said Blanch Blake beinge
26 first sworn in due forme of law by virtue of a Commission well and truly to administer
27 the Same
Martha was baptized 27 Apr 1623 at Luxulyan daughter of John Bllake and Bllanch (LDS)
Julian was baptized 21 Aug 1625 at Luxulyan daughter of John Bllake and Bllanch (LDS)
Grace was baptized 30 Nov 1631 at Luxulyan daughter of John Bllake and Bllanch (LDS)
I did not find the baptism for Robert on the LDS site or on the OPC Cornwall site.
Robert Bllake and Temperance baptized Anne Blake 22 Apr 1650 at Luxulyan.
The earliest records for marriages on the OPC Cornwall site at Luxulyan begin in 1680, the baptisms in the 1680s and the burials in 1684. There was a Blake family at Luxulyan into the latter part of the 1800s.
There is a Robert Blake and a John Blake listed on the Protestation Returns 1641-42 at Luxulyan. Robert must then have been born by 1623 as males over 18 signed the Return.
I must go back and add details to the wills of the past two days. Gardening is still occupying quite a bit of my energy these days! But it is pretty well all planted now; fences are up to keep the rabbits out and the dog out. This has been successful the past three years that we have put a fence up.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 May 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/263/148
Testator: John Blake
Place: Luxulian, Cornwall, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 13 Apr 1656 , probated 2 Apr 1657
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: John
[Margin]: Blake
1 In the Name of God Amen I John
2 Blake of Luxulion beinge sick of body but perfect and sound of memory Thanks
3 be unto God doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in
4 manner and forme followinge Imprimis I give and bequeath my Soule to God
5 my redeemer And my body to christian buriall And for my goods I give and
6 bequeath in manner and forme following Item I give and bequeath to the
7 poore of Luxulion three shillings and foure pence Item I give to my Sonne
8 Robert Blake Twenty shillings Item I give unto my daughter Julian fower pounds a
9 yeare out of one Tenement in Bodmen for and dureing the terme of the Lease
10 unexpired Item I give unto her three acres of barly in the same ground Item I
11 give unto my daughter Grace Thirty pounds of of lawfull money of England to be
12 paid within one yeare after my death Item I give unto my daughter Martha Eare
13 one ewe Item I give unto either of my grandchildren one ewe to be delivered presently
14 after my death As for the rest of my goods not given nor bequeathed I give and
15 bequeath unto Blanch my wife whom I make and ordaine my sole Executrix to see
16 this my will performed and legacies paid In Witnes whereof I have sette my
17 hand and Seale The thirteenth day of Aprill one thousand six hundred fiftie and six
18 The Signe of John Blake In the presence of Mat: Sharpe Cler[k] Nicholas Sibby
19 Robert Blake
20 This will was proved at London The Second day of ye moneth
21 of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie and seven before
22 the Judges for probate of wills and granting administrations lawfully authorized by the oath
23 of Blanch Blake relict of the said deceased and Sole Executrix named in this his last
24 will and testament To whom was committed administration of all and singular the
25 goods Chattles and debts of the said deceased She the said Blanch Blake beinge
26 first sworn in due forme of law by virtue of a Commission well and truly to administer
27 the Same
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