Will of John Bradby Blake, Supra Cargo in the service of the honourable the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, Caton, China - The National Archives PROB 11/1001/313 and 11/1011/166, probated 13 Oct 1774

This is one of the wills that would not have appeared until much later as it is in my Miscellaneous Locations folder under East India. John Bradby Blake is the testator.

Looking back at John, the testator’s, mother and she was living in Speenhill Berkshire at the time of her will being written. Major houses in Speen include Speen Manor, Speen Hill Lodge and Goldwell House on the Bath road. The latter road was much favoured by wealthy Newburians of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Until commercial redevelopment in the second half of the twentieth century, it boasted several fine houses.

Interesting that Mary Blake should be living in Speen where there was a Blake family in the 1500s and 1800s. Will of James Blake, yeoman of Speen, probated 13 Mar 1807 and he mentions a daughter Jane Brown in London transcribed earlier:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/04/will-of-james-blake-yeoman-of-speen.html

and the will of William Speen, yeoman of Speen, probated 28 Jul 1552 and he mentions his son Anthony and brothers John and Richard:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/05/will-of-william-blake-yeoman-of-speen.html

Probably a coincidence but interesting nonetheless.

The spelling of the name is now confirmed to be John Bradby Blake and I will go back and correct that spelling in the earlier wills as it did rather look like Bradly. The transcription appears to be a bit disjointed towards the end. The probate has not been copied. The date of the probate given to this one was from another will. It would appear that John Blake first deposed and then at a later date John Blake and his daughter Sally Hitchin Blake deposed.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 30 March 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1001/313 and PROB 11/1011/166
Testator: John Bradby Blake, Supra Cargo in the Service of the hon[oura]ble the united Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies
Place: Caton, China
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 30 Nov 1772, probated 13 Oct 1774 and around the 12 Sep 1775
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Top] Canton in China November the 30th 1772
[Margin]: John Bradby
[Margin]: Blake Esq[uie]r

1    I John Bradby Blake
2    Supra Cargo in the Service of the Hon[oura]ble the united
3    Company of Merchants of England trading to the East
4    Indies do make this my last Will and Testament hereby
5    revoking a former Will made by me on the 13th day of
6    January 1767 or that that time and also the Codicil
7    thereunto annexed on or about the twenty first day of
8    December 1768 and left in the hands of my Father Also
9    hereby revoking and rendering null and void all and each
10    Will and Testament prior to the date of this present Writing
11    which I again declare to be my last Will and Testament
12    First I will and direct that all my just debts and Funeral
13    Expences be fully paid To my dear Sister Sally Hitchin Blake
14    I leave and bequeath One thousand pounds Sterling (£1000)
15    To my dear Sister Arabella Blake I leave and bequeath
16    one thousand pounds Sterling (£1000) To my dear Sister
17    Mary Tymewell Blake I leave and bequeath One thousand
18    pounds Sterling (£1000) the two first mentioned Legacies
19    to my dear Sisters Sally Hitchin Blake and Arabella Blake
20    I desire may be unto themselves respectively out of
21    the first monies that are or may be in the hands of my
22    Executor and Executrix after all just debts and discharges the
23    latter Legacy unto my dear Sister Mary Tymewell Blake to
24    be also paid in like manner unto my dear Father In Trust
25    for my said Sister until she attains the age of twenty one
26    years and in case of her death without Children before that
27    period I leave the said Legacy to be equally divided between
28    my abovementioned Sisters Sally Hitchin Blake and Arabella
29    Blake I give and bequeath to my honoured Father all my
30    Books Mathematical Instruments China paintings ChinaWare
31    Lacquer Ware and all Chinese Curiosities that I may have
32    actually purchased or sent to Europe Unless I have ordered
33    particular articles for particular persons and have specified
34    the same in Writing or otherways Except all Legacies that
35    may be annexed either to this Will or Codicils signed by me
    [Page 2]
36    of a later date than this my present Will and Testament
37    all which I direct may be first discharged the rest residue
38    and remainder of all my Estate and Effects whatsoever and
39    wheresoever both real and personal which I shall or may
40    be any ways seized possessed of interested in or intitled unto
41    at the time of my death I hereby order and direct may
42    be placed in Trust of any five persons whom my Father
43    John Blake my Mother Mary Blake my three Sisters viz
44    Sally Hitchin Blake Arabella Blake and Mary Tymewell
45    Blake may chuse to appoint each of them to appoint One
46    Trustee at their own pleasure and again respectively to
47    chuse another Trustee upon the death of the people q
48    appointed or upon their declining such Trust so that all may
49    have at all times a Trustee who is appointed
50    at the will and pleasure of each person respectively interested
51    in this Legacy This the Residue of my Estate to be either
52    placed in the public Funds Landed Estates Mortgages or in
53    any manner the majority of Trustees so appointed may think
54    proper and at their pleasure again changed renewed and
55    placed to Interest in what ever manner they may deem more
56    secure and for the General Interest of all parties concerned the
57    whole Interest or profits arising therefrom to be paid to my
58    honoured Father John Blake annually for his own use and
60    benefit during his Lifetime and in case of his death before
61    the death of my dear Mother the whole Interest or Profits
62    arising from this Trust to be paid in like manner to my said
63    dear Mother Mary Blake from the time of my Father’s death
64    during her own Life and at the death of both my Father
65    and Mother the aforementioned Capital vested in the hands
66    of the Trustees aforesaid being the Nett Residue and
67    Remainder of my Estate at the time of my death I will order
68    and direct may be by the aforesaid Trustees divided equally
69    share and share alike between my three Sisters before named
70    in this Will viz Sally Hitchin Blake Arabella Blake Mary
71    Tymewell Blake for their own use benefit and behoof
72    respectively and Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint
73    my honoured Father John Blake and my dear Sister Sally
74    Hitchin Blake Executor and Executrix of this my last Will
75    and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set
76    my hand and seal this thirtieth day of November in the year
77    of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy two at
78    Canton in China John Bradby Blake Signed sealed
79    published and declared by the Testator John Bradby Blake
80    as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of
81    us who in his presence and in the presence of each other
82    at his request have hereunto subscribed our Names as
83    Witnesses Will[ia]m Rous W[ilia]m Harrison Matt[he]w Raper Jun[io]r
84    Canton in China
85    The following particulars I mean as Codicils to a
86    Will
    [Page 3]
87    Will and Testament made by me at Canton in China dated
88    the        day of      Signed sealed and Witnessed the
89    original sent to Europe by hand the copy remaining among
90    my papers
91    1Imprimis To my Friend William Rous Esq[uie]r I leave
92    and bequeath one hundred pounds sterling (£100 Sterling)
93    Signed John Bradby Blake
94    2To my Friend William Harrison Esq[uie]r I leave and bequeath
95    one hundred pounds sterling (£100 Sterling) Signed John
96    Bradby Blake
97    3To my Friend Mr John Hogarth Surgeon and Apothecary
98    London I give and bequeath my Gold Watch made by Elliott
99    Signed John Bradby Blake
100    4To my Friend Thomas Bevan Esquire I leave and
101    bequeath my diamond Ring Signed John Bradby Blake
102    5To my Servant at the time of my death I leave and
103    bequeath all my Linnen and Wearing apparel subject however
104    to the Will and pleasure of William Harrison Esquire if he
105    does not think his behavior intitles him to them I leave
106    them to his option to give to such Servants in the Factory
107    or other persons whom he may think proper and moreover
108    should the said Mr Harrison think his behavior does entitle
109    him to a further remembrance I leave him Twenty pounds
110    Sterling if not this last Legacy to be null and void Signed
111    John Bradby Blake
112    This is a true and faithful Copy taken by me W[ilia]m
113    Harrison Canton Nov: 19th 1773
114    Oct[obe]r 12th 1774
115    Appeared personally John Blake of the parish of
116    Saint Margaret Westminster in the County of Middlesex
117    Esquire and made Oath that he is the natural and lawful
118    Father and one of the Executors named in the last Will and
119    Testament of John Bradby Blake Esquire late a Supra
120    Cargo in the Service of the Honorable the united Company
121    of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies at the
122    City of Canton in China a Batchelor deceased the said
123    original Will being now hereunto annexed and bearing date
124    the thirtieth day of November in the year of our Lord
    [Page 4]
125    Appeared personally John Blake of
126    the parish of St Margaret Westminster in the County of
127    Middlesex Esquire and Sally Hitchin Blake of the same parish
128    Spinster and being sworn upon the holy Evangelists to depose
129    the truth made Oath as follows to wit that they are the natural
130    and lawfull Father and Sister of John Bradby Blake late
131    Supercargo in the Service of the honourable the united
132    Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies
133    at the City of Canton in China Esquire deceased and that they
134    knew and were well acquainted with the manner and
135    character of handwriting and Subscription of the said deceased
136    having often seen him write and subscribe his Name and
137    having now viewed and carefully perused the paper Writing
138    hereunto annexed purporting to be and contain five Codicils or
139    Additions to the last Will and Testament of the said deceased
140    severally numbred 1 2 3 4 5 and respectively Subscribed John
141    Bradby Blake they these deponents say that they verily in
142    their Consciences believe the whole Series and Contents of this
143    said Paper Writing and the Names John Bradby Blake
144    appearing to be set and subscribed to each of the said Codicils
145    to be all of the proper handwriting and Subscription of the
146    said deceased Jno Blake Sally Hitchin Blake 8th September 1775
147    The said John Blake Esquire and Sally Hitchin Blake Spinster
148    were duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit before me
149    Geo: Harris Surrogate B[  ]t Jenner Not Publ

Spring in Ottawa, Canada

Another spring has come to Ottawa; the robins have returned. This morning we were greeted with ten centimetres of snow - the heavy wet stuff that does tell us spring is coming one of these days. The snow in the back yard is still at least a metre deep and higher in spots. Mind you a couple of hot days and that will quickly melt fortunately. Then it will be mud season which is really spring here; lots of mud and pretty spring flowers! The crocuses often pick their way through the snow to bloom in our back yard in the warm spots.

Working on an interesting set of wills for Captain John Blake's family of the Honourable East India Company. I know that the furtherest back John Blake lived in the late 1600s and trying to match him up with some of the John Blake wills - not an easy task given the number of John Blake wills! However it was his grand daughter Arabella Blake that started the search along with Sally Hitchin Pelly whose husband Henry Hinde Pelly and their son John Henry Pelly have quite a bit online. But working back has been a challenge and I was surprised once I found the name of the wife of the father of Arabella (also a Captain John Blake in the HEIC) that other researchers hadn't located the marriage of John Blake and Mary Tymewell at Westminster Abbey. But in general I do not see that anybody has been researching the line.

The will of John Blake, father of Arabella and husband of Mary Tymewell will appear in my blog a little later today. I am still working on the discussion. 

Will of Mary Blake, Goldwell House Speenhill, Berkshire - The National Archives PROB 11/1371/178, probated 15 Mar 1802

This is the will of Mary Blake, wife of Captain John Blake of the Honourable East India Company, and mother of Arabella Blake, spinster, whose will was blogged yesterday:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/03/will-of-arabella-blake-spinster-upton.html

All the details on Mary can be found in this earlier blog after her marriage.

She was the daughter of Charles Tymewell of Peckham, Surrey, Gent and Arabella (widow of John Hitchin, Gent) of Peckham, Surrey.

There is a baptism for a Charles Timewell at Saint Olave, Southwark, Surrey 22 Feb 1694 (also born 22 Feb 1694) son of Charles Timewell and Priscilla (an earlier baptism 31 Dec 1690 also for Charles Timewell with the same parents). Peckham is south of Southwark (a couple of miles).
From the Allegations for marriage licences issued by the vicar-general, Volume 2:

25 Oct 1687 Charles Tymewell of St Olave’s Southwark, Surrey, Feltmaker, bachelor about 27 and Mrs Priscilla Collins of Christ Church, Surrey, Spinster about 21 years with the consent of her father Robert Collins, Christ Church.

Another record from the newspaper.com site: Charles Tymewell and Arabella his wife were married 9 May 1721 at St Ann’s Church near Aldersgate. Their daughter Mary Tymewell was born ….. The rest of the text is missing. If this is the present testator then she was born after 1721 and that would have made her less than 76 years of age when she wrote the will. At that time some of her grandsons were over 21 years of age and so the age would seem to fit. She married John Blake in 1743 and with a birth year of 1721 or later her age would be 22 years or less when she married and their first child was born in 1744 (Sally Hitchen Blake baptized 12 Oct 1744).

Is the Charles Tymewell married to Priscilla the father of Charles the father of Mary the testatrix? Mary’s father Charles would have had to be born/baptized 1694 which would make him 27 years of age when he married Arabella but she was named as his third wife. The earliest that he would have married would likely be 1715 plus or minus a couple of years. I am not actually tracing the Tymewell family however, so will leave it with this information gleaned thus far.

The Will of Charles Tymewell was probated 26 Sep 1727 and a quick glance at his will written in Peckham, Surrey and he is mentioned as a Gentleman. He remembered members of the Tudman family. He remembers his daughter Mary and she is a young child. He leaves her three thousand pounds. He also remembers his daughter in law (child of Arabella Hitchin who was a widow when she married him) with a property in Somerset. This will was probated but not administered until Mary Blake (wife of John Blake) was granted administration of her mother’s estate intestate which included administering her father’s estate. Always nice to have these little notes written on the probate to help link families.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 March 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1371/178
Testator: Mary Blake
Place: Goldwell House Speenhill, Berkshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 7 Jul 1797, probated 15 Mar 1802
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Mary
[Margin]: Blake

1    I Mary Blake
2    of Goldwell house Speenhill in the County of Berks Widow
3    being of sound mind memory and understanding do make
4    this my last Will and Testament in manner Following
5    that is to say, first I will and direct that all my Just debts
6    and Funeral Expences shall be fully paid and satisfied and
7    subject thereto I give and dispose of my Estate and Effects as
8    follows I give devise and bequeath all my Freehold
9    copyhold and leasehold Estates whatsoever and
10    wheresoever with all and every the appurtenances
11    thereto belonging subject nevertheless to the payment
12    of my debts and the pecuniary legacies hereafter given in case my personal Estates not hereafter
13    specifically bequeathed shall not be sufficient to
14    answer and pay the same unto my daughter
15    Arabella Blake and her assigns for and during the
16    term of her natural life and from and after her
17    death then I give devise and bequeath my said Freehold
18    Copyhold and Leasehold Estates unto my Son in Law
19    Henry Hinde Pelly Esq[uie]r his heirs Executors Admors
20    and Assigns for ever or for such Term Estate and
21    Interest as shall then be to come therein I give
22    to my said Son in Law Henry Hinde Pelly Esq[uie]r one
23    hundred pounds I give to my daughter Sally Hitchin
24    Pelly his Wife one hundred pounds I give to my
25    Grand daughter Mary Pelly daughter of the said
26    Henry Hinde Pelly and Sally Hitchin Pelly his Wife
27    the Capital Sum of two hundred pounds South Sea
28    Stock (part of the South Sea Stock) now standing in my Name and I do direct
29    that the same be transferred within twelve Calendar
30    Months after my decease to her the said Mary
31    Pelly I give to my Grandson Raymond Pelly son of the
32    said Henry Hinde Pelly and Sally Hitchin Pelly his
33    Wife the like Capital Sum of two hundred pounds
34    South Sea Stocks now standing in my Name and
35    I do direct that the same together with the dividends
36    to accrue due thereon after my decease shall be
37    transferred and paid to him when he shall attain his
38    age of twenty one years and I do hereby authorize
39    empower and direct my said Executors from time to
40    time during the Minority of my said Grandson to lay
41    out and invest the dividends to accrue due on the said
42    Sum of two hundred pounds South Sea Stock in the
43    purchase of South Sea Stock to accumulate for the
44    benefit of my said Grandson I give to my said
45    daughter Arabella Blake one thousand pounds now
46    lent on Mortgage to Mr John Dearing of Canterbury also
47    the Capital Sum of sixteen hundred pounds three
48    pounds per cent Consolidated Bank Annuitys part of
49    two thousand four hundred pounds three per Cent
50    Consolidated Bank Annuities
    [Page 2]
51    now standing in my Name and all my
52    share and Interest in Bricker Barn Turnpike I
53    give to the said Henry Hinde Pelly his Executors and
54    Administrators the Capital Sum of one thousand
55    pounds East India Stock standing in my Name
56    upon Trust that he and they do and shall from
57    time to time during the natural life of my daughter
58    Mary Tymewell the Wife of George Anson Nutt
60    Esq[uie]r pay to or otherwise permit and suffer my said
61    daughter and her assigns to receive and take the
62    Interest dividends and Annual produce thereof to
63    and for her own sole separate and peculiar use
64    independent of and not to be subject or liable to the
65    debts Controul or Engagements of her said husband
66    and for that purpose my Will is and I direct that
67    her Receipt alone shall be a sufficient discharge
68    for such Interest Dividends and annual produce
69    and from and after the death of my said daughter
70    Mary Tymewell Nutt upon Trust that he and they
71    do and shall transfer assign and pay the said
72    Capital Sum of one thousand pounds East India
73    Stock and the Interest dividends and Annual
74    produce to accrue due after the death of my said
75    daughter unto and among all and every the
76    Child and Children of my said daughter Mary
77    Tymewell Nutt if more than one equally share
78    and share alike and if but one then to such only
79    one the Shares of such Children having a Son or
80    Sons to be assigned transferred and paid to him
81    and them at his and their age or respective ages
82    of twenty one years and of such of them being a
83    daughter or daughters at the like age or ages
84    of twenty one years or day or days of Marriage
85    which shall first happen and if any or either of such
86    Children shall die before such age or Marriage then
87    my Will is and I do direct that the shares of such of them
88    so dying shall go to the Survivors or Survivor of them
89    and be assigned transferred and paid at the same
90    time and be again subject and liable to the same
91    chance of accurer by Survivorship as their original
92    shares of the said Trust Monies due before directed to be
93    assigned transferred and paid and under subject to and
94    in case all such Children shall dye before such age or
95    Marriage of there shall not be any such Child then
96    upon Trust that he and they do and shall assign
97    transfer and pay the said Trust Monies and every
98    part thereof unto such person or persons and at such
99    time or times and in such manner as my said daughter
100    Mary Tymewell Nutt shall notwithstanding her
101    Coverture by any deed or deeds writing or writings
102    or by her last Will and Testament in Writing
    [Page 3]
103    duly executed in the presence of and attested by two
104    or more credible Witnesses direct or appoint and in
105    default of such direction or appointment do and shall
106    assign transfer and pay the same and every part
107    thereof unto the Executors or Administrators of my
108    said daughter Mary Tymewell Nutt and my Will is
109    and I do hereby authorize and empower the said
110    Henry Hinde Pelly his Executors or Admors from time
111    to time after the death of my said daughter Mary
112    Tymewell Nutt during the Minority of the Child
113    or Children of my said daughter Mary Tymewell
114    Nutt to lay out and invest the Interest dividends
115    and annual produce of the said Capital Sum
116    of one thousand pounds East India Stock in some or
117    one of the public Stocks or Funds to accumulate for
118    the benefit of the parties who shall be entitled to the
119    Capital of the said Trust Monies and that such
120    accumulated Stocks or Funds shall be assigned and
121    transferred with the Capital of the said Trust Monies
122    to the party or parties who by virtue of this my
123    Will shall be entitled to such Capital I give to my
124    Grandson Henry Anson Nutt Son of George Anson Nutt
125    and Mary Tymewell Nutt his wife the Capital Sum
126    of two hundred pounds South Sea Stock now standing
127    in my Name And I do direct that the same together
128    with the Interest and dividends to accrue due thereon
129    after my death shall be transferred and paid to him
130    when he shall attain his age of twenty one years and
131    I do hereby authorize empower and direct my said
132    Executors from time to time during the Minority of
133    my said Grandson Henry Anson Nutt to lay out and
134    Invest the Interest and dividends to accrue due on the
135    said Sum of two hundred pounds South Sea Stock in
136    the purchase of South Sea Stock to accumulate for the
137    benefit of my said Grandson I give to John Joseph
138    Blake the adopted Son of my Son John Bradby
139    Blake Esq[uie]r the Capital Sum of eight hundred pound
140    three pound per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities
141    I give ti my daughter Mary Tymewell Nutt
142    four hundred pound South Sea Stock I give to Miss
143    Mary See who now lives with me fifty pounds I
144    give to my Maid Servant Eleanor Brenillead
145    the Sum of one hundred pounds and as to all the
146    rest and Residue and Remainder of my Estates and
147    Effects whatsoever and wheresoever which I shall
148    be seized possessed of or intitled unto at the time of
149    my death I give devise and bequeath the same
150    and every part thereof unto my said daughter
151    Arabella Blake her heirs Executors Admors and
152    Assigns for ever or far Estate term and Interest as
153    shall be there to come therein and lastly I do
    [Page 4]
154    hereby make constitute and appoint the said
155    Henry Hinde Pelly Esquire and my said daughter
156    Arabella Blake Executor and Executrix of this my last
157    Will and Testament hereby revoking and declaring
158    void all former and other Wills and Codicils by me at
159    any time heretofore made and do declare this only to
160    be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof
161    I the said Mary Blake have to this my last Will and
162    Testament set my hand and seal this seventh day of
163    June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
164    hundred and ninety seven Mary Blake Signed
165    Sealed published and declared by the said Mary
166    Blake as and for her last Will and Testament in the
167    presence of us who in her presence at her request
168    and in the presence of each other have hereunto
169    subscribed our Names as Witnesses Margaret Brown
170    Mary Lee Jere[mia]h Flack
171    This Will was proved at London on the
172    fifteenth day of March in the Year of our Lord one
173    thousand eight hundred and two before the Right
174    honorable Sir William Wynne Knight doctor of Laws
175    Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative
176    Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths
177    of Henry Hinde Pelly Esq[uie]r and Arabella Blake spinster
178    the daughter of the deceased the Executors named
179    in the said Will to whom administration was granted
181    of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of
182    the said deceased they having been first sworn (to wit)
183    the said Henry Hinde Pelly before the Worshipful
184    Charles Cooke and the said Arabella Blake before the
185    Worshipful Samuel Pearce parson doctor of Law and
186    Surrogate duly to administer