Heavy snowfall

 We are having a heavy snowfall but only 10 cm predicted but at the moment it is fairly thick coming down although not so much that the distance vision is limited. Just a lovely white snowfall on this beautiful world that the Creator produced and gave to us at a later time to protect and cherish.

Yesterday finished the cleaning and worked on the matches for chromosome 7. This one is very interesting as there is a length that is inherited by pretty much all of my close cousins that I have found testing all the way back to John Pincombe and Mary Charly who married at Bishops Nympton, Devon  8 Nov 1767. Their six children with their descendants are the progenitors of many of the Pincombe families in the Bishops Nympton area. Although John had a brother William (both sons of John Pincombe and Grace Manning who married 20 Mar 1725 at Bishops Nympton) William's only child, a son, William died at the age of 21 (his parents William Pincombe married Grace Smyth 13 Jun 1758 at North Molton). John and William also had a sister Grace who married John Butcher 31 Mar 1755 at Bishops Nympton But I have yet to trace their two surviving daughters beyond their baptism (another daughter and only son died as infants/young children). John (married to Grace Manning) was the only son of William Pincombe and Mary Vicary who married 17 Jun 1685 at Bishops Nympton. The only other sibling was Joan who was buried in 1726 at Bishops Nympton. This William traces back to John Pincombe and Johane Blackmoore who married 25 Sep 1655 at Bishops Nympton and of their other five children Thomas married Christian (unknown) and their single surviving child John Pincombe married Catharine Bryer at Bishops Nympton 3 Nov 1732 and their five children are the other Pincombe grouping in the Bishops Nympton area and are the progenitors of many of the Pincombe families also in the Bishops Nympton area. Another son of John Pincombe and Johane Blackmoore, Hugh married Sarah (unknown) likely at Swimbridge, Devon and the Pincombe families found in the Landkey, Devon area are their descendants. Working through this Chromosome 7 I may spot some of the descendants of these lines in the Living DNA matches or others that I have not noted before. 

There does look to be a potential for a lot of snow if it keeps up at the present rate. Although I have had fun skiing I am pretty tired from all that fun and will be putting the skis away for the rest of the month or two. It is not something that I generally would go out on my own and do at 80 years of age. Although I could go around the backyard but I have not done a lot of research these past couple of weeks and need to get back to that. Plus I really do enjoy my research just as I enjoy skiing and there is a time and place for everything especially at this age for sure.  

Continuing with Chromosome 7 today and I am about one quarter of the way through the matches. Thus far I have separated out Rawlings, Blake, Knight, Cotterill (coming down from my 4x great grandparents), and Pincombe. Half of my great grandparents in the first quarter of matches is  not too bad. I am not likely to locate Taylor from the Buller/Taylor grandparents and perhaps not Cotterill from the possible father of my paternal grandmother but likely Gray is a possibility. 

Drinking tea and must move to the solitaire puzzles and then begin my extractions of data.  

Will of Jone Blake, widow, Cow Honeybourne, Gloucestershire - Diocese of Bristol Wills on Ancestry, probated 30 Apr 1689

Jone Blake, widow, is the testatrix. Cow Honeybourne is now part of  Honeybourne. Long Marston is 5 miles away as is Mickleton.

Other than the fact that the surname of Jone is Blake there is no other mention of Blake in her will.

Will of Joan Blake, widow, 1689, Will number 89 at Cow Honeybourne, Consistory Court of Gloucester, GDR/Wills/1689(89).
Ancestry.com. Gloucestershire, England, Wills and Inventories, 1541-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
Original data: Gloucestershire Probate Records. Diocese of Gloucestershire, Finding Reference GDR, Wills and Inventories. Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester, UK.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 25 Jul 2014
Source: Ancestry – Diocese of Bristol Wills
Testator:  Joan Blake
Place: Cow Honeybourne, Gloucestershire, England
Type of Record: Probate
Date of document: 2 Feb 1687; probated 30 Apr 1689
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Wrapper]: Testum Joanne Blake dess pbat 30 April 1689 Reg C 89

1    I Jone Blake of Cowhoniborne in the County of Glocester Widow this second day of February Anno dom[ini] 1687
2    doe make and ordaine this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following Whereas John
3    Rawlins was by a former Agreend to pay one hundred pounds three yeares after my decease
4    to whom I should appoint it, I will dispose and Appoint it as followeth Imprimis I Give
5    and bequeath unto my Cosen William Trapp or to his Surviveing Children Ten pounds
6    Item, I Give and bequeath unto my Cosen John Byland or to his Surviveing Children Ten pounds
7    Item, I Give and bequeath unto my Cosen Joseph Smyth Ten pounds Item I give and bequeath
8    unto my Cosen Rachell Hands or to her Surviveing Children Ten pounds All which Summs
9    above named are to be paid three years after my decease Item, I Give and bequeath unto my
10    Cosen Joanne Rawlins forty pounds to be paid at twenty and one yeares of Age or at her
11    day of Marriage Item, I Give and bequeath unto my Cosen John Rawlins, two yonger
12    daughters Elizabeth and Sarah five pounds a piece to be paid at Twenty and one yeares of Age
13    or at the day of their Marriages Item, I Give and bequeath unto my Cosen John Rawlins
14    Ten pounds And further, out of my personal Estate I appoint as followeth
15    Item, I Give unto my Cosen John Merrell twenty Shillings I Likewise appoint unto
16    Mr Ward ten shillings Item I Give and bequeath unto my Cosen Joanna Rawlins Ten
17    pounds to be paid to her at the Age of Twenty four years Item I Give and Bequeath
18    unto my Cosen Joseph Smyth Ten pounds more to be paid to him at twenty four years of
19    age Item I doe appoint unto my Cosen Joanna Rawlins, All my Goods in my new Lodgeing
20    Chamber Excepting one press and one Bedstead, And if in Case, Joanna should decease
21    before the forty pounds first above mentioned appointed to her be due then my Will is that
22    it should be equally divided between my Cosen Joseph Smyth and my Cosen John Rawlins two
23    daughters that is the one halfe to Johann Smyth and the other halfe equally between the other two Elizabeth and Sarah And further if Joseph Smyth should decease before the first above mentioned
24    Summ of Ten pounds given to him be due then to be paid to his father And I do nominate
25    and appoint my Cosen John Rawlins to be sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament
26    revokeing all other Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made In witness whereof
27    I have hereunto sett my hand and Seal the day and year abovewritten
28    the mark of Jone Blake
29    jone bl
30    Sealed and delivered
31    in the p[re]sence of
32    Thomas Peter
33    Katherine Harris
    [Page 2]
34    30 Aprilis 1689
35    Jurat fuit Ex[ecu]tori in h[uiusm]o[d]i Test[ament]um noiat
36    de bene pinp_end idm Test[ament]um
37    ac ad ex__end ___lin cor me
38    Henricum Kirkham
39    Vicarium de Mickelton
40    Probatum erat h[uiusm]o[d]i t[estamentu]m apud Glouc[este]r
41    30 die mensis Aprilis A[nn]o d[omi]ni 1689 Coram
42    vente viro Richo: Parsons Legu[m] d[o]c[t]ore[m]
43    Rindi in xpo mas ac dni dni Roberti
44    p[ri]mie dna Glouc Epi Vicar in sp[irt]ualibus
45    gen[era]li etc p Johem Rawlins Ex[ecu]tori etc Cui etc
46    primitus de bene etc ac de pleno etc insin[uatum]
47    de vero etc Coram discreto viro Henro Kirkham
48    Clico etc Jurat[o] (Salvo jure cujuscu[m]q[u]e)

Will of Joseph Blake gentleman now student in the University of Oxford, of Dorchester, Dorset - The National Archives PROB 11/321/47, probated 9 Jun 1666

The testator Joseph Blake was a student at the University of Oxford and checking the CD for Oxford I find only one Joseph Blake in this time frame and he was the son of Richard Blake of Andover (Richard having died in 1648). His mother was Joane Dashford and this is the first information that I have had that she remarried. This Joseph does have an Aunt Dorothy Smyth.

Richard was the eldest son of William Blake and Dorothy Madgwick who married 6 Feb 1606 at Andover. Richard married Joanne Dashford 9 Oct 1632 at Andover and they had eight children. Two sons William died as young children but all the daughters appear to have survived – Dorothy 1633, Jane 1636, Sara 1637, Ann 1639 and Elizabeth before 1647. Joseph does not mention his sisters though which does make one wonder about their survival. A hunt for the marriage of Joane Dashford/Blake with a Mr William T_osse (name is difficult to read on the will) does not produce any result.

Joseph Blake was interred at St Peters Church in Dorchester, Dorset 15 Feb 1665/66.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~fordingtondorset/Files2/StPetersBurials1611-1700.html

Always interesting to find a will that you can fit into family lines however. Solving the transcription of his father in law's surname would be helpful and understanding why Joseph is of Dorchester, Dorset now.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 31 Aug 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/321/47
Testator: Joseph Blake, gentleman, now student in the University of Oxford
Place: Dorchester, Dorset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 1 Jul 1664, probated 9 Jun 1666
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: T[estatment] Josephj
[Margin]: Blake

1    In the name of God Amen
2    I Joseph Blake late of Dorchester in the County of Dorsett gent
3    and now a student in the University of Oxford being in perfect health
4    and sound memory for which I desire to be thankefull unto Almighty
5    God doe hereby revoke make null and voyd all former and other wills
6    and testaments by me at any tyme made And doe make and ordayne this
7    my last will and Testament in manner and forme following viz[ a vi]t First I
8    bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my creator and maker
9    stedfastly hopeing for and expecting eternall life and salva[t]ion only by the
10    merritts passion Satisfaction and media[t]ion of Jesus Christ my only Lord and
11    Saviour and after hereby appoint that my body be decently buried and
12    interred by and according to the discre[t]ion of myne executor hereafter
13    named Alsoe I give and bequeath unto my uncle Mr Thomas Warren
14    the summe of Twenty pounds Alsoe I give and bequeath unto all myne
15    Uncles and Aunts to every one of them a gold ring of Tenne shillings
16    apeece  And to Dorothy Smyth my Aunt eight pounds And Lastly
17    Whereas
    [Page 2]
18    Whereas my father in law Mr William T_osse hath taken much care and means
19    for preserva[t]ion of my estate and shown much love and kindness unto my nearest
20    and dearest rela[t]ions I doe hereby give and bequeath unto him all my goods
21    Chattells ready money Jewells plate and housholdstuffe And doe alsoe hereby
22    make and ordayne him my whole and sole executor of this my last will and
23    Testament In witness whereof I the said Joseph Blake have hereunto sett myne
24    hand and Seale the first day of July in the sixteenth yeare of the raigne of our
25    Soveraigne Lord Charles the second by the grace of god of England Scotland
26    France and Ireland King defender of the Faith etc Annoqz domini 1664 Jo: Blake
27    Signed sealed and Published in the presence of us Walt Foy Mary T_osse

Blake - Abbots Ann Parish Registers

Continuing on with the Abbots Ann Parish Registers and this is a particularly rough section. Out of place with respect to the transcription I was doing but welcomed anyway.I am now doing catchup with the time period from 1599 to the 1640s.

Abbots Ann Parish Church of St Mary has Virgin Crowns around the ceiling of the sanctuary. The graveyard has the grave of John Blake, malster, and his wife Mary (King) Blake and their daughter Mary who died in childbirth - their only child. It must have been a sad life for John after losing first his daughter and then his wife and continuing on for many more years on his own. Ann Blake who went to take care of her Uncle at Abbots Ann (sister to my 3x great grandfather Thomas Blake) must have been a welcome companion in his old age. He was generous to her although she eventually sold her inheritance and returned to live at Upper Clatford after her brother's wife Sarah (Coleman) Blake died about the same time as her infant son.

The first Blake entry has now appeared in the Parish Register with the marriage of Dorothy Blake (daughter of the widow Blake of Andover) and John Smyth of Blackfriers London. This marriage in 1632 is an interesting one actually. This Dorothy is generally thought to be the daughter of William Blake and Dorothy (Madgwick) Blake but both of her parents were alive in 1632. I shall have to rethink this thought.

Barrie Blake has pointed out a discrepancy which I had thought was just a spelling error on the part of the Creators of the Blake Pedigree Chart at the Swindon Wiltshire Record Office. They list Robert Blake and Alice Folyot as the individuals in the stained glass window at Calne. However, the coat of arms is actually that of the Folliott family whereas the coat of arms in the marriage crest is that of the Wallop family. I did not acquire the Post Mortem Inquisition for Avis Blake when we were at the National Archives so must think about whether I want to check it out. Online sources name Roger Malewyn as the husband of Avis Wallop prior to her marriage to Robert Blake. She was a widow when she married Robert. Since she does have a Postmortem Inquisition she must have held land which needed to be dealt with and hence the Postmortem Inquisition. It will be necessary to read that to understand if she was actually married twice before she married Robert Blake.

I continued with the Abbots Ann Register through the day and have now completed 701 baptisms, 203 marriages and 260 burials. The burials seem very low and they are very difficult to read - a lot of blanks. I am probably missing some of them and on proofreading may pick up more.

Will of Thomas Buller, Gentleman, Staple Fitzpayne, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/51/16, probated 22 Jan 1568/69

An interesting will by this testator who is mentioned in the will of the Buller family in Cornwall? Thomas Buller has sons Henry and Edmund Buller and his will is dated 1568. His sons are over 21. He lives at Staple Fitzpayne which is six miles NE of North Curry and 10 miles SW of Dunkeswell where he has property. He is named on the visitation as a brother of Alexander Buller. In the will of Richard Buller blogged earlier (http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/02/will-of-richard-buller-esquire-of.html) Richard gives him one of his gowns.

On the Visitation Thomas is named as the son of John Buller and Alice Sidnam of Brampton. Although the Visitation says that Richard mentions his grandfather John Buller in his will it is difficult reading the will to know that the John he mentions is his grandfather. However, the visitation also mentions that John is named in the Inquisition postmortem and I have not yet read that document (another item for Kew!). The visitation does list Henry as his son and that he was 26 years of age at the time of the Inquisition Postmortem taken for the present testator. No further information on Henry and Edmund is not mentioned. Yet another dangling line in Somerset.

At the Somerset Record Office there is a Grant DD\PM/3/4/1-2 and under the description is listed Henry Buller of Bickenhill, gent, and Edmund Buller brother of Henry. Grant of Playcestreete messuage and 14 a in Bickenhall and Staple with one third of Bickenhall manor (120 a) in trust for Henry for life then to Edmund and dated 31 Mar 1590. Bickenhall is 2 miles west of Staple Fitzpaine. A rather interesting find so investigated parish register availability online and did find: http://www.parkhouse.org.uk/transcr/tcontent.htm

However the records only begin in the mid 1700s but investigated for Buller and I did not find any records for the Buller family there.

A record in 1595 may explain not finding Buller at Bickenhall as a Mortgage was given to Edmund Buller of Staple by Alexander and Henry Jones of Bridgwater of Plaistreet and one third of the manor of Bickenhall 25 Mar 1595. Further on 26 Mar 1598 Edmund Buller of Staple and his son and heir Henry mortgaged to George Dodington of Dodington and again the same property and included is a debt resulting from a suit between Buller and Portman in 1607. Again a mortgage between Edmund Buller of Staple and son Henry Buller from Nicholas Holway, John Pococke and Thomas Brereton of Yeard - same property (DD\PM/3/4/8). Then finally 23 Jul 1611 the release of the mortgage from Henry Buller servant to Sir George Trenchard the elder of Wolveton, Dorset to Rachel Portman of Taunton, daughter of Sir Henry Portman, deceased. It is the release of one third of bickenhall manor and lands, the inheritance of his uncle Henry Buller in Playstreet, Bickenhall and Staple. Another interesting find for the Buller family and a dangling line not traced down.

There are 55 items on the OPC Dorset website for the Buller family. Must be investigated one of these days.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 10 Mar 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/51/16
Testator: Thomas Buller, Gentleman
Place: Staple Fitzpayne, Somerset
Date of document:  14 Apr 1568, probated 22 Jan 1568/69
Read: Electronic copy images
Document quality: 16th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Thome
[Margin]: Buller

1    In the name of god amen anno _____ Elizabeth __decimo di quattuordecim Aprilis I Thomme Buller
2    of Staple Fitzpayne in the Countie of Somerset gent being sicke of body but sonde of mynd and p[er]fect memorie thankes be unto god make this my
3    last will and testament in manner and form folowing First I bequeath my soule unto almightie god and my body to be buried in the churche of
4    Staple Item I will that wenefride my wife shall have all suche apperalles she hath now of her own or is lefte of my first wyvies saving
5    a grdle waist studde and hir best beades which were gyven unto Henry Buller my sonne by his mother and also one other girdle which
6    was gyven unto Edmund Buller my sonne by his mother, Item I will that my said wife shall  have all goods moveable and
7    unmoveable at Bowrhays in Dunckeswell passing the legacie unto varius chyldren So that she will release the xx li or ___
8    that John Smyth ___dred for and all suche other lyvinge as sholde depende to her by decent or otherwise to be paied oute of my
9    Lands or lyvinge which yf she chuse do that then my will is that Henry Buller my sonne shall have all my said goods moveable and
10    unmoveable at Bowrhays in Dunckeswell aforesaid in confidence that he _s_er her the xx li yet and the use of the legacie unto varius children
11    __paied aforesaid. Item I gyve to John my sonne Tenne pounds to be paid within a yere after my deathe Item I gyve unto Elizabeth my daughter
12    Twentie shillings Item I gyve to Alice my daughter tenne shillings Item I gyve to Thomas Clement my servant iij li vj s viij d Item I
13    gyve to the rest of my housholde servants vj s viij d a peece Item I gyve to the churche of Staple vj s viij d Item I gyve to the pore mans boxe
14    iijs iiij d Item I gyve to Henry Buller and Edmond my sonnes all the residue of my goods moveable and unmoveable not before bequethed
15    whome I make my whole executors wythin Item I have paied unto Leonard Vyccarye for his father's legacie Fortie pounds Item I have paied
16    Richard Vyccarye Forty pounds Item I have paid to Elline Viccary the wife of Thomas Compton Fortie fyve pounds Item paied to Iohan
17    Newton Thirtene pounds Item to Robert Roe three pounds My will is that the overseers to see my will performed shalbe Mr John Buller
18    of Lillisdon in the Countie of Somersett Esquier and John Smyth of Trull and George Goddard of Stapull in parte of a
19    recompense for their paynes I gyve unto the said Mr Buller my baye horse to John Smyth and George Goddard xxs a peece
20    these being witnesses John Buller Esquier John Castell with others By me Thomas Buller Robert Borrage Thomas Bassterde Thomas Poyell John Lake George Bellingger

Will of Richard Blake gentleman of London - National Archives PROB 11/192/150, probated 19 Dec 1644

I published this will 15 Feb 2011 and have now proofread it once again with my extra nearly two years of transcribing and found a couple of minor changes which do not actually affect the reading or the information particularly but would mention that. It is always good to go back and look at old documents as it is surprising sometimes the things that are missed. I had planned to go into my trees at the earlier time of writing and see just what this will had presented to me in terms of people who are related to Richard Blake of Tower Ward, London.

 http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2011/02/richard-blake-will-of-23-mar-1643.html

However a busy two years since I blogged on this particular will has resulted in my not returning to even think about this will. It has reappeared in my list for London wills because I put it in there when I was sorting wills. 

This Richard Blake is known to me. He is the son of Richard Blake and Joane Blake (likely second cousins but still working on that particular item). He appears on the Visitation of London 1633 as Richard Blake of Tower Ward married with two young sons. Since neither a wife nor children are mentioned in his will one can only assume that they have died. Such was life at that time and well into the early 1900s when sudden death was something that occurred rather too often particularly with young children. The march of modern medicine has made an incredible difference particularly in the lives of children and women in childbirth.

He is readily placed in the family of Richard Blake and Joane Blake because he mentions his siblings - Joane Bailey, Dorothie Burmingham, Ellen Hinxman, and Margaret Savadge his sisters and Peter and Nicholas his brothers. Missing from this list of siblings are: Elizabeth Hopgood (deceased 1607), Alice (deceased 1613), Edward (deceased 1599), John (deceased before 1641), and the eldest William (deceased 1642). His parents as mentioned were Richard (buried 14 Jan 1622 at Andover) and Jone (buried 20 May 1631).

He mentions his godchildren and perhaps Richard is his nephew (son of his eldest brother William). He also mentions Ellen Hinxman god daughter and this child has perhaps died young as I do have seven children for his sister Elenor Hinxman (and her husband Joseph the elder) including: Joseph, William, Mary, Jane, Alice, Richard and Nicholas.

He uses the term cousin for the remainder of his relatives and they include the children of his brother Peter namely: Richard, Dorothie, Jane, Mary and Joane Blake.

He may have another cousin Richard (perhaps one of his mother's siblings have a son Richard Blake) as he mentions him separately from Peter's children. This could also be the son of his eldest brother William not sure of that. Richard occurs several times in the line of Robert Blake who was the brother of this testator's great grandfather (Nicholas).

He also remembers his cousin Jane Noyes (was Hinxman and daughter of Ellen his sister) married to Mr. Samuel Noyes. Joseph Hinxman the younger is also mentioned and he too is a son of his sister Ellen. Alice Hinxman is  the daughter of Ellen as well. He remembers Dorothy Smyth and I suspect she is the eldest daughter of his brother William Blake (married to John Smyth). He also remembers Dorothy's children.

He mentions his sister Deborah Blake of Galligar and his brother Nicholas lives at Galligar so perhaps is the wife of Nicholas. He also remembers his cousin Richard Blake's wife and I suspect this is the oldest son of William his brother. He asks his cousin Richard to help with Peter's children. There is a Richard Blake who witnesses this will as well.

No surprises in the will and I can place everyone in what would appear to be the correct family. The Smyth family isn't well known to me though but I must admit one of the themes running through these wills is the need to help Dorothy Smyth and most of her siblings/parents/other relatives remember Dorothy in their wills.

The earlier blog was establishing a timeline which I think has now been well established with regard to the parents and grandparents of this testator. I will reinsert the copy for the will transcription into the earlier blog with the changes.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 24th October 2010
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/192/150
Testator: Richard Blake, gentleman
Place: Tower Ward, London, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 23 March 1643/44, probated 19 Dec 1644
Read: Electronic copy
Condition: scan, smudges, old English writing good, contrast medium

[Margin]: T[estator] Richardi
[Margin]: Blake

1    In the name of the eternall and
2    everliving god Father Sonne and holy ghost in whose name I was baptized in
3    whome only I hope and beleeve to be saved with a free heart and willing minde I
4    doe yeeld and render my soule into the hands of Father, sonne and holy ghost and I
5    beleeve that the lord will have mercy upon my soule for he first made me; soe this I
6    beleeve that whether I live or dye I am the lords, to whome be all honour and glory
7    power and dominion fore evermore Amen, As concerning my body I bequeath it to the
8    earth from whence it came I Richard Blake of London gent[leman] being sicke and weake in
9    bodye but of good and p[er]fect memory I thanke my god the giver and p[re]server thereof
10    doe make this my last will and testam[en]t as followeth The twentie third day of March
11    one thousand six hundred forty three, Item I give to my sister Joane Baylie twentie
12    pounds To my sister Dorothie Burmingham twenty pounds, To my sister Ellen Hinxman
13    twenty pounds, To my sister Margaret Savadge twenty pounds, To my cozen Richard
14    Blake th[e ]elder twenty pounds; Item I give to my godchildren to whome I gave nothing
15    at their baptizing, To my godson Richard Blake twenty shillings, To my goddaught[e]r
16    Ellen Hinxman twentie shillings, To my godson William Poore twenty shillings, To my
17    godsonne Richard Blake at long parrish twenty shillings, Item I give to Mr. John
18    Barker and his wife each of them an enamild Ring valued twelve shillings six pence
19    To Mr. Jn[o] Glascock, To Mr Laurence Newman, To Mr Jn[o] Gatley, To Mr. Richard
20    Pettingall to each of them to each of them an enameld Ring of twelve shillings six
21    pence price To Mr. Will[ia]m Irat an enameld Ring of twenty two shillings, To Mr.
22    Samuell Edoll one enameld Ring of twenty two shillings Item I give to Mr Laurence
23    Newman my watch and doe desire him to assist my executor on his business at London.
24    Item I give to my brother Peter ten pounds and to his five children my cosens viz[ a vi]z
25    my Richard fyftie pounds To my cozen Dorothie, my cozen Jane, my cozen Mary,
26    and my cozen Joane Blake twenty five pounds apeece, To my old landlady Millicent
27    Price tenn pounds Item I give to my cozen Joseph Hinxman the younger five
28    pounds To my cozen Jone Noyes five pounds To my cozen Alice Hinxman twenty
29    shillings Item I give to my cozen Dorothie Smith forty shillings; And to each her children
30    each of them being fouer twenty shillings a peece Item I give to mjy sister Hinxman a
31    fayre diamond ring Item I give to my said sister Hinxman one faire damask table-
32    cloth a dozen diaper napkins two plane table cloths and a dozen of napkins being
33    at Mrs Prices Item I give to my sister Deborah Blake of Galligar my looking
34    glasse Item I give to my cozen Richard Blake's wife a new Beaker being at
35    Mrs. Price's Item I give to Mrs Price my bed and furniture table and stowler w[i]th
36    the great chest behind the chamber dore Item I doe make and ordaine my
37    brother Nicholas Blake of Galligar my executor and doe give him by way of
38    legacie one hundred pounds There is some residue more of my estate about two
39    or three hundred pounds where if it be gott in bee devided the one half to my
40    executor and his brother Peter Blake, the other half to my four Sisters viz[ a vi]t
41    Joane and Dorothie, Elline and Margaret, And yf any of my legatees doe
42    contend w[i]th my legacie to trouble my executor before the money can be gott
43    in to loose his part More I give to my cozen Alice Hinxman one large bible
44    bound in blue leather and guilded, and my silke grogram cloke and to her
45    brother William my rapier And I desire my cozen Richard Blake to be assistant
46    as an overseer to see the children of my brother Peter not wronged as farr as in
47    him lyeth Item I give my sister Dorothie six poundes which shee owed by debt
48    Item I give to my Executor one Fayre Turke Belt w[i]th greene leather and
49    gould wyer In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the
50    day and yeare above written Richard Blake [signed] Witnesses Richard Blake John
51    Elton

Will of Thomas Pincombe dated 8 Nov 1651 (PROB 11/228 - Image Reference 266/208)

This next will for the Pincombe family was written by Thomas Pincombe husbandman at North Molton 8 Nov 1651. This Thomas Pincombe was the father of Bartholomew Pincombe who left his will dated 4 Dec 1656 (see blog 7 Aug 2011). One of my purposes in looking at this set of wills at this time was to link the families.

William Pincombe and Emotte Snowe (see blog 30 Jul 2011) had seven sons and my original premise for this family was that William's sons had fanned out from East Buckland and Filleigh and many of the Pincombe families found in the 1600s in areas as far away as Barnstaple, Bideford and even Plymouth were descendants of this William. However, finding the wills on the Genuki Devon website for the Pincombe family members in the 1500s this was an incorrect premise and it seemed like a good time to finally transcribe all of the Pincombe wills in my possession (I had only read them as I discovered when I went back to read the transcriptions) and discuss them with respect to the earlier Pincombe one name study and my own thoughts on the possibility of this being a singleton family name in Devon.

In the will below written by Thomas he provides one linking clue when he mentions the property at Molland Sarazin which he is now giving to his son Thomas Pincombe. He does not appear to hold all of the property that had been mentioned in the will of his father William and indeed the property had been left to Symon, Richard (my ancestor who lived at Bishops Nympton) and Thomas. Notably the earlier blog read:

William Pincombe of East Buckland and Filleighe in his will dated 20 Dec 1602 (see my blog 30 Jul 2011) left the property known as Over Mollande Sarazin to his three sons Symon, Richard and Thomas.

21  .....  if Symon Pyncombe, Richard Pyncombe and Thomas Pyncombe my sonnes
22    so longe lyve, or anie of them so longe lyve, all that the hall of the Tenement and Barton commonlie
23    called Over Mollande Sarazin, the entire, and house adioyning to the northe part of the said halle
24    the chambers over the saide halle and the house within the said halle, one chamber over the said house
25    and the shippinge in the easte part of the saide house. And all that parte or portion of the Towne
26    place there which is lymitted and appointed by meerts and bonds, the garden by southe the yokinge
27    house. One close of lands called the Southedowne, one other close of lande called the bottoms close
28    and dyvers other closes platts and quilletts of lande, meadowe, woods, wayes and other hereditam[en]ts
29    within the appurtennces in Northmolton in the countie before said, ...

Richard Pincombe (my ancestor) died in 1648 and this Thomas had died by 1653. Unfortunately their dates of birth can only be quessed at although they are younger sons and the birth of their older brother William is known to be in 1566. Symon, Richard and Thomas follow William in birth order so have lived likely to a good age for the times. Richard married by 1598 (or earlier) and so was likely born by 1575. Finding the ages of these children is important to me in that I strongly feel that a generation may be missing or that the initial Pincombe at North Molton married twice.

In the will below Thomas mentions William Pincombe of Filleigh and I am still not sure which William Pincombe this is. Likely it is William Pincombe married to Bridget Worth but I need to collect further evidence in this regard.

Thomas in his will below mentions his three children and their children : 1. Bartholomew Pincombe married now to Johane and his daughters Frauncis and Rechord (by his first wife Frances), the son John is not mentioned as he was born in 1654; 2. Thomas married to Johane with sons William, Thomas, John, Richard and Robert (I believe this Richard to be the Richard at Chittlehampton married to Jane Bond and must continue to draw out evidence to support this premise); 3. Grace married to Richard Hannanerd with daughter Katherine mentioned in the will below. At some point in the past I have a vague memory of finding this name to actually be Hannacott but it does not look like that spelling in the will below. I shall have to find the record that mentions this family related to the Pincombe family. It is a rather dim memory unfortunately. Although initially I had planned to transcribe the records of North Molton first before transcribing this will the discovery of Molland Sarazin in the will gave me this neat relationship with the earlier will of William and so I decided to immediately transcribe the will and can add in the North Molton parish records later.

The will of Thomas Pincombe:

Recorded: 19 August 2011
Source: Public Record Office, London, UK, PROB 11/228 - Image Reference 266/208
Place: North Molton, Devon, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 8 Nov 1651  (probated 23 Sep 1653)
Read: File d:/01-workingfile/family/ThomasPincombe-208.pdf
Condition: fairly clear, light, old English writing

[in margin] [Testator] Tho: Pincombe

1    The last Will and Testament of Thomas Pincombe
2    the elder of the parish of Northmoulton in County of Devon husbandman made
3    the Eighth day of November in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand sixe
4    hundred fiftie and one in manner and forme followinge, First I bequeath
5    my soule to Almightye God my maker and Redeemer and my bodye to the Earth
6    from whence it came, Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of
7    the
    [page 2]
8    the parishe of Northmoulton Fortie shillings; Item I give and bequeath unto
9    Bartholomewe Pincombe my sonne Five pounds and to be paid unto him with
10    in one yeare after my decease, Item I give unto Thomas Pincombe my sonne
11    one peece or parcell of grounde commonly called or knowne by the name of
12    Dobs Downe beinge parte of the Bartine of Molland Sarizine dureinge the life
13    of Bartholomew Pincombe my sonne and the life of Grace Hannanerd my daughter
14    Item I give and bequeath to Johane Pincombe the wife of Bartholomew Pincombe
15    that nowe is one cowe and to be delivered unto her by my Executors within one
16    monethe after my decease, Item I give unto Frauncis Pincombe and Rechord
17    Pincombe daughters of the foresaide Bartholomew Pincombe one Ewe sheepe
18    a peece and to be delivered unto them within one moneth after my decease,
19    Item I give unto Johane Pincombe the wife of the foresaid Thomas Pincombe one
20    cowe and to be delivered unto her within one yeare after my decease, Item I give
21    unto William Pincombe Thomas Pincombe John Pincombe Richard Pincombe
22    and Robert Pincombe one Ewe sheepe a peece and to be delivered unto them
23    within one moneth after my decease, Item I give unto Katherine Hannanerd
24    the daughter Richard Hannanerd one Ewe sheepe and to be delivered unto
25    her within one moneth after my decease, Item I give unto Johane Pincombe
26    my kinswooman that is now dwellinge with mee one Ewe sheepe and to bee
27    delivered unto her within one monthe after my decease, Item I give unto
28    William Penrose and Johane his now wife the _lee house that is next adioy
29    neinge to the Court gate and all my garden bee north - same house and
30    space without the Courthedge bee East the court gate to sett a reeke belonginge
31    to his house and to be yeilden up unto him within one weeke after my decease
32    duringe my terme that I have in the same if he and shee doe make thryre
33    dwellinge - therein payeinge twelve pence a yeare. Item I give unto John
34    Hunnacotte of Landkey and William Pincombe of Fillye the halehouse and
35    all the rest of the houses there not before given and the Souther Camland
36    and the souther little meadowe and the garden the garden and meadowe it
37    is bee southe the dwellinge house and my part of the wood belongeinge to
38    the same tenement to the use and profitt of my daughter Grace and her
39    children and to noe other use which houses - and ground were
40    sometime in the possession of William Penrose. Item I give unto John Hunnacott
41    and William Pincombe all the rest of that Tenement not before hand given
42    at the end of five years next after my decease for fiftye yeares if my daughter
43    Grace or any child or children soe long shall continue to the use of my daughter
44    Grace and her children and to noe other use nor purpose and my will further is that
45    if my daughter Grace and her children doe happen to dye all. That Tenement
46    shall remayne to my Executor and to his use and to noe other persons whatsoever
47    All the rest of my goods and Chattells not before hand given nor bequeathed
48    I give and bequeath unto Thomas Pincombe my sonne, him I doe make and
49    ordayne to be my whole Executor of all my goods and Chattells of this my
50    present last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my
51    hand and seale even the day and yeare first above written and I doe intreate
52    John Hunnacott and Robert Edbrooke my beloved freinds to be my overseers
53    to see my last will performed. The signe and seale of Thomas Pincombe
54    Wittnesses hereafter named Robert Smyth the signe of Johane Beere
55    This Will was proved at Westminster before
56    the judges for probate of Wills and grauntinge Administrations the three
57    and twentieth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God one Thousand
58    six hundred Fiftie and three by the Oath of Thomas Pincombe the sonne
59    and sole Executor named in ye said will To whome Ad[mini]s[trat]ion was committed of all and singuler the
60    the goods chattells and debts of the said deceased he beinge first sworne well
61    and trulie to Administer the same.

Will of Dorothy Blake 1647 written at Andover Hampshire

The Will of Dorothy Blake was transcribed by me in 2008 and it altered my thoughts on the ancestry of my Blake line because she did not mention William the eldest son of her son William Blake (Clerk). The will was written initially 13 October 1647 at Andover. William Blake was living at Penton according to the baptisms which were entered into the Andover Parish Register. The distance away is not great but for whatever reason Dorothy does not mention the newly born William (baptized 9 Aug 1647 at Penton). The other two children were baptized in 1649 and Dorothy was buried at Andover 28 March 1648.  The records in this time frame are not good at Andover (I think that William entered the baptisms into the register himself adding then noting that the baptisms had been at Penton - the writing is different from the usual writing at that time). It is possible that the infant did not survive as I do not find a marriage for him at Andover although the name Blake is common enough in the area that I could miss that. I do not find a marriage for Bridget the daughter of William Blake and Ann Hellier. The only record I find is John Blake married to Elizabeth baptizing children at Andover from the 1680s to the early 1700s. Searching through the Parish Register as I transcribed of Andover though has again given me sufficient evidence that I once again connect Thomas Blake who married Ann Carter at Penton as the son of  Thomas Blake who married Mary Spring at Andover and this Thomas a son of John Blake who married Elizabeth and hence John Blake as son of William Blake and Ann Hellier baptized 10 May 1649 at Penton but recorded in the Andover Parish Registers. I am now satisfied with the link between these generations although as always I look for wills to substantiate the linkage. Probate of this will was to Richard Blake (her son) as named in the will. I am still working on the Latin transcription.

Will of Dorothy Blake (widow of William Blake Lynnen draper at Andover):


Transcription - Elizabeth Kipp
Document: Will
Source: National Archives, UK, #336
Place: Andover, Southampton [Hampshire]
Date: 13 Oct 1647
Name: Dorothy Blake, widow (William Blake)
Condition: Old English, slightly faded, 4 pages

T[esta]m[ent] Dorothee Blake

1    In the name of God Amen I
2    Dorothy Blake of Andover in the County of South[amp]t[on] widdowe beinge sicke and weake in body
3    but of sound mind and perfect memory  I thanke my God for the same doe by this present
4    Codicill, which I desire and my meaninge is shal[l ]be reputed and taken as part of my last will
5    and Testament I order and appoint that whereas there ys fifty poundes owing by bonde
6    by Mr. Richard Pearce and Mr. Pister Hyde w[i]th the interest thereof  unto me as Executrix of the
7    last will and Testament of my late husband William Blake deceased for the use and benefite
8    of my Daughter Dorothy Smyth which sayd debt of Fifty Poundes with the Arreares of
9    interest thereof beinge likely to prove a very desperate debt my will and desire ys that
10    in these the sayd somme of Fifty Pounds with the interest thereof cannot bee recovered by
11    Suitt att Lawe That then my Executor doe allowe and pay tenn poundes towardes the sayd
12    Losse  my sonne William Blake the somme of Tenn Poundes by way of abatement out of
13    his Legacye given him by my last will and Testament and that my sonne Peeter Blake
14    doe likewise abate and allowe towardes the sayd losse the somme of Tenn Poundes out of
15    the Legacye given him as afforesaid And likewise that my daughters Margarett Terry
16    Mary Spearinge Jonne Sedgwicke and Ann Long doe allowe by way of Abatement out
17    of their severall Legacyes given them by my last will and Testament the Somme of Five
18    Poundes apeece for and towardes the sayd Losse and the sayd moneyes soe allowed and
19    abated as afforesayd amounting in all unto the foresaid somme of Fifty Poundes to bee
20    forthwith delivered into the handes of some trusted freind or freindes whom my Overseer
21    shall make choise and approve of soe that my Daughter Dorothy doe accure and enioy
22    the full benefitt and proffit of the sayd moneys as the time shall arise and become due
23    from time to time att the yearly Rate of Sixe Poundes in the hundred and in case my
24    sayd Daughter Dorothy Smyth depart this lyfe before John Smyth her husband then
25    the benefitt and profitt of the sayd monies to bee and continue for and towardes the
26    maintenance of her children. But  in case the sayd John Smyth happen to depart this lyfe
27    before his sayd wife then my will and meaninge ys that the sayd somme of Fifty pounds
28    bee within six monthes next after his decease payd into the handes of my sayd Daughter
29    Dorothy Smyth to bee and remayne to her sole propper use and behoofe and to dispose of
30    the same as shee shall thinke meete In witnesse whereof and fore the confirmacion of this
31    present codcill I have sett my hand and Seale this third daye of January Anno D[om]ni
32    1647 Dorothy Blake [signed] Published Sealed and Subscribed in the pre[sen]ce of Elinor Bunny her
33    Marke Elizabeth Whann & others
34    In the name of God Amen december
    [page 2]
35    the last An[n]o D[om]ni 1647, I Dorothy Blake of Andever in the County of South[amp]t[on] widd beinge
36    sicke in body yet (thankes bee given to god) of good and perfect mind and memory by waye of
37    Codicill w[hi]ch I desire may be annexed to my last will and Testament in that the same may
38    bee reputed and taken as part and parcel thereof) doe hereby further declare my will
39    and meaninge in manner and forme followinge viz a [viz]t my will and meaninge ys that the legacys
40    which by my last will and Testament bearing date the xiijth of October 1647 I bequeathed
41    to my sonnes William and Peeter Blake and to my Daughter Margarett Terry Marie
42    Spearinge and Anne Long bee raysed and payed out of the moneys due unto mee by bond
43    or other specialtyes as the same shall aryse to bee due and can be recovered by my Executor
44    And if the sayd moneys soe to become due cannot bee recovered but by suits in Lawe that
45    then my sayd sonnes and daughters above mencioned shall according to their severall proportions
46    ioyne in the charges of the Lawe w[i]th my Executor in the prosecution thereof eyther as
47    Plaintifes or Defendants ag[ain]st those in whose handes the sayd money shal[l ]bee then due and
48    shal[ l]be soe deteyned And yf any losse shall happen to bee or that any of the sayd Debtes
49    by specialties or otherwise shall proove desparate and cannot be recovered then my will
50    and meanings ys that all the sayd Legacies (according to their severall proportions) doe
51    beare at their owne costes their proportionable partes of demnity of the Legacies in my
52    sayd last will given unto them or eyther of them In witnesse whereof to this p[re]sent Codicill
53    I have subscribed my name and sett to my Seale  Herein the day and year above written
54    Dorothy Blake[signed] Read signed sealed and published as p[ar]cell of my last will and Testament in
55    the presence of William Smyth Nicho[las] Blake Ex[ecu]t[o]rs
    [break for ease of reading]
56    In the name of God Amen I Dorothy
57    Blake of Andover in the County of South[amp]t[on] widdowe being at this present of good
58    and perfect memory this thirteenth day of October 1647 in the three and twentieth
59    yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord King Charles of England et[c] doe make and ordaine
60    this my last will and Testament in man[n]er and forme followinge That ys to say first I
61    commend my Soule into the handes of my faithfull Creatour assuredly trusting through
62    the only merritts and mediation of Jesus Christ my Blessed Redeemer to Obtain remission of
63    my sinnes and eternall happines by him my body I committ to the earth to be decently
64    interred at the said discretion of the Executor of this my last will there to rest in hope of
65    joyfull resurrection And so touching the disposecion of my worldly estate my will and meaning
66    ys as followeth Imprimis I give unto my sonne William Blake Clercke the somme of twoe
67    hundred poundes lawfull English money to bee raysed and payd unto him out of my personell
68    estate and the yearly Rent of my lease att Chilboulton in the sayd County the same to bee
69    payd att four payments within the space of two yeares next cominge after my decease
70    att the two most usuall times or dayes of payment in the year That is to say att the five and
71    twentyth of March yearly and the nyne and twentyth of September yearly in the sayd
72    two yeares by equall portions the first payment thereof to beginne att eyther of the sayd
73    dayes which of them shall first come after my decease or sooner yf ytt can be raysed out
74    of my estate upon condicion that he utterly relinquish and waive the benefitt of the
75    legacye of Three skore poundes bequeathed unto him in or by the last will or Testament
76    of William Blake my late husband his late Father deceased Item I give unto my
77    sonne Peter Blake the like somme of two hundred poundes to bee raysed and payd as
78    afforesayd upon the like condicion as afforesayd And in case eyther of my sayd sonnes
79    William or Peter shall dye before they or eyther of them shall receaved their or
80    eyther of their Legacy or Legacyes soe bequeathed as afforesayd in part or in all my will ys
81    that then the same or such remanying part thereof behind shal[l ]bee payed by my Executor
82    according to and att the times herein before lymitted for the payment thereof to such
83    As they or eyther of  them by their or eyther of their last will or other disposall shall
84    appoint Item I give unto my daughter Margarett Terry the Somme of one hundred
85    Poundes of like lawfull money to bee payd unto her within Three monthes after my two
    [Page 3]
86    sonnes shall have received their legacyes afforesayd It[e]m I give unto my daughter Mary Spearinger
87    the somme of one hundred poundes of like lawfull money to be payd unto her within three
88    monthes after my said twoe sonnes and daughter Terry shall have received their severall legacyes
89    afforesayd It[e]m I give unto my daughter Joane Sedgewicke the like somme of one hundred poundes
90    and unto her two sonnes I give the somme of twenty poundes apeece to bee deducted and
91    allowed unto them respectively out of that somme which my sonne in law Robert Sedgwick
92    doth owe unto mee Item I give unto my daughter Anne Longe the like somme of one hundred
93    poundes to bee payd unto her w[i]thin three monthes after my sayd sonnes and daughters shall
94    received their severall legacyes aforesaid It[e]m I give unto Joseph Blake the sonne of my sonne
95    Richard Blake all that my house and land with the appurten[an]ces in Overton in the County
96    aforesaid after the decease of his sayd Father To have and to houlde unto him and his heires for
97    ever uppon this condicion that my daughter Dorothy Smyth shall and may quietly and
98    venerably hold and enjoy during her naturall lyfe the house wherein she now dwelleth in
99    Andover aforesayd late in the Tenure of Roger Sherfield gent Item I give unto Dorothy Jane
100    Sarah and Elizabeth Blake the foure daughters of my sayd sonne Richard Blake and unto
101    his sonne William Blake the somme of Tenn poundes apeece to bee payd unto the sayd
102    Four daughters att their several ages of eighteen yeares or dayes of marynge respectively
103    Whether of the two shall first happen. And unto the sayd William Blake att his age of one
104    and Twentye yeares. Item I give unto Dorothy, Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth Smyth the
105    daughters of my daughter Smyth the somme ofTwenty poundes a yeare to be payd unto
106    them att their severall ages of eighteen yeares or dayes of marrynge respectively whether
107    of the two shall first happen yf  the same may bee soone raysed out of my estate and yf not
108    soe soone then ymediatly after the raysing thereof; And in case the same bee sooner raysed
109    then my executor herein named to allow and pay unto them respectively for and towardes their
110    maintenance att, and after the yearly rate or somme of six poundes p[er]centes for and
111    during all suche time as the several legacyes aforesayd shall remayne usatisfyed Item I
112    give unto Dorothy Spearinge the daughter of my daughter Mary Speeringe the some
113    of five poundes lawfull money of England and unto Dorothy Blake the daughter of
114    my brother Peter Blake the like somme of Five poundes to be payd unto them and to
115    eyther of them within six months next after my decease. And my will and meanings
116    ys that yf my whole estate will not extend soe farre as to satisfy all the severall
117    legacyes aforesaid Then every of the Legattes afforesayd shal[l ]be abated out of his her
118    or their Legacyes soe much in proportion as the estate shalbe deficient and come short
119    of the same And further my will ys that all such necessary Chardges and expenses eyther
120    in trust or equity- as my Executors herein named shalbe putt unto in as touching the due
121    execution of this my last will shalbe deducted by him and allowed unto him out of my
122    estate Item I give unto Twenty poor widdowes of the Parishe of Andover aforesayd of
123    good report the sommes of twelve pence apeece and unto Twenty poor widdowes of the
124    Parish of Overton afforesayd of like report the like somme of Twelve pence a peece to bee
125    payd unto them respectively ymmediately after my decease Item I give unto my sonne
126    in law Mr. Thomas Warren and to all my children and to my sonne Richard Blake
127    his wife the somme of three poundes a peece to buy them blacke for mourninge and
128    to my syster Clement Huchins the somme of fifty shillings to buy her a mourninge
129    Gowne Ite[m] I give unto my sonne William Blake my second damaske table cloth
130    one dozen of my best diaper napkins one dyaper towel and one payre of my best
131    holland sheets Item I give unto my sonne Peter Blake my best brasse pott one
132    payre of dowlas sheetes one payre of dowlas pillowbeeres one of my next best Table
133    clothes one dozen of napkins and one Towell of the next best after my sonne William
134    hath chosen his Item I give unto my daughter Terry my best black Gowne and Petticoat
135    and to my daughter Long my second best Gowne and mowheare Petticoate and unto
136    my daughter Dorothy Smyth All the residue of my wearing apparel of what kind
137    soever The residue of all my goodes and chattels whatsoever not hereby otherwise
    [Page 4]
138    disposed or charged I give and bequeath unto my sayd sonne Richard Blake whom I make and ordaine
139    sole Executor of this my last will and Testament And I do make and devise William Smyth of
140    Waddiche and Nicholas Blake of Gavilacre in the sayd county gent my loving friendes to bee
141    overseers of this my last will And for their paynes and faithfull assistance unto my Executor
142    in and about the same I give to eyther of them twenty shillings a peece to be payd att my
143    buryall In witness whereof I have published this to bee my last will and Testament revoking
144    hereby all former and have hereunto sett my hand and Seale the day and yeare herein first above
145    written Dorothy Blake Subscribed Sealed and Published in the p[re]sence of Thomas Chirch