Always interesting when two wills fit together. The testator Elizabeth Blake is the wife of Peter Blake who was uncle to James and John Blake named in the will of their father John Blake mariner brother to Peter:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/11/will-of-john-blake-mariner-redderith.html
This earlier will was probated in 1636 so 18 years earlier and we can see that both of the sons of John have survived and each have four children still living. The children of John being namely Peter, James, Margaret and Anne and the children of James being namely John, James, Margerie and Margaret. One is left to surmise that Peter and Elizabeth did not have any children or at least none surviving to this date. Elizabeth says that she is aged and certainly John the Mariner in the earlier will was already a grandfather in 1638 so possibly over 40 years of age or more and his brother Peter would have been the same at that time likely. Elizabeth is likely close to 60 years or more at the time of her writing in 1651/52. Again I have used double dating just to ensure that the timing of the will is readily understood by readers.
Peter Blake does not leave a will that is probated at Westminster or at PCC.
Moving on to the wills of Sussex for Blake family members and again just one will and it was the second earliest found there in the PCC. Will of John Blake of Yeoman of Slindon, Sussex and probated 23 May 1579. The earliest will at the PCC for a Blake in Sussex was by John Blake of Beryghelmenston, Sussex probated 3 Jul 1487. At some point I need to acquire this will. I suspect this is Brighthelmstone Sussex now known as Brighton, Sussex. Who was this early Blake member living in present day Brighton in the mid 1400s? As I continue my search backwards into the Blake family and its origins there is always new information that provides yet many more details on this ancient family of the British Isles. Brighton of course is in East Sussex near the border with West Sussex but the distance from Hampshire is not great being the county on the other side of West Sussex.
The newest member of the Blake yDNA study matches exactly on 12 markers to the individual that matches my paternal line 8/12. Since our markers are so far out and the latest discussion on I2a2b indicates that this particular haplogroup split thousands of years ago with one section going into northern England and the other into southern England. But our markers are so distinct that I continue to place all three of us into the grouping "British Isles" since our roots likely extend back into the mists that were first seen by the Romans as they crossed the Channel to England centuries ago. It is somewhat appealing to think that my Blake ancestors were there already on the shores of England watching as the grandeur of Rome came to the British Isles.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 1 Dec 2012
Source: The National Archives PROB 11/234/255
Testator: Elizabeth Blake, widow
Place: Rederith, Surrey, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 12 Mar 1651/52, probated 11 Sep 1654
Read: Electronic copy images
Condition: middle English writing fine, good contrast copy
[Margin] Elizab: Blake
1 In the name of God Amen The
2 twelveth Day of Marche in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six
3 hundred fifty and one I Elizabeth Blake of the parish of Rederith in the
4 County of Surrey Widdowe being at this present sicke and weake in Body But
5 I humbly thanke God in good and perfect Mind and Memory And not knowing
6 how soone and sudden my departure may be out of this transitory world by
7 Reason of my Age therefore now while God hath lent mee time and space
8 that I may dispose of my Estate and worldly meanes which hee hath lent mee
9 for avoyding all suites and contention about the same w[hi]ch may arise after my
10 decease doe therefore make and declare this my last Will and testament in
11 manner and forme following that is to say First and principally I give be-
12 queath and Comend my soule after the dissolu[t]ion thereof from thro' my sin-
13 full and fraile Body into the mercifull hands and protection of the holy and
14 blessed Trinity hoping and assuredly trusting by and through the Deathe payn-
15 full Passion and Resurrection of the second person in the same Trinity namely
16 Jesus Christ and by none other nor other meanes to obteine free pardon and
17 Remission of and for all my sinns together w[i]th the fruition of his heavenlye
18 kingdome whereunto I beseech him to (to) bring mee for his mercies sake my
19 body I Comitt to the Earthe from whence it Came where I will shal[l ]be decentlye
20 buried in the parish Church of Rederith aforesaid and neare as conveniently
21 may be to the Body of my late deceased husband Peter Blake Inprimis
22 I give unto the poore of the parish of Rederith forty shillings of lawfull
23 money of England to be distributed at the discretion of my Executor and
24 Overseers
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25 Overseers hereafter named Item I give unto Mr Thomas Gattacker our Minister
26 if he be living at the time of my decease twenty shillings and for the same I
27 desire him to preach my funerall Sermon Item I give unto my Cozen John
28 Blake forty shillings to buy him a Ring Item I give unto my Cozen James
29 Blake other forty shillings to buy him a Ring to weare for a Remembrance
30 Item I give unto my said Cozen John Blake his foure children namely
31 Peter James Margaret and Anne Blake forty shillings a peece Item I
32 give unto my sayd Cozen James Blake his foure children namely John
33 James Margarie and Margaret Blake to every of them forty shillings a-
34 peece Item I give to my two Nephews Beniamin and Mary Baincroft
35 the children of my cozen Beniamin Baincroft three pounds a peece to
36 buy either of them a peece of plate to keepe for a Remembrance Item I
37 give unto Margaret Kilbury formerly my maid servant twenty shillings
38 for a Remembrance I give unto Elizabeth Barter the daughter of Beniamine
39 Barter my maid servant the summe of three pounds Item I give unto my
40 good freind Maudlyn Needs widdowe the summe of twenty shillings Item
41 I give unto my cozen George Baincroft the summe of forty shillings to
42 buy him a Ring to weare for a Remembrance Item I give unto my cozen
43 Ralph Holmes the like summe of forty shillings to buy him a Ring to weare
44 for a Remembrance All the aforesaid Legacies by mee given and bequeathed
45 I will to be payed by my Executor thereafter named within one yeare next
46 after my decease And that the Acquittance of every Legatee which shal[l ]be
47 within Age of twenty and one yeares shal[l ]be a sufficient discharge and for
48 my Executor for theire severall Legacies upon the Receipt and payment thereof
49 The Rest and Residue of my goods and Chattles plate Ready money and
50 debts whatsoever unbequeathed and w[hi]ch shall remaine after all Legacies in
51 and by this my will bequeathed shal[l ]be fully paied and discharged I give
52 and bequeathe unto my kinsman Beniamine Baincroft of Rederith afores[ai]d
53 Cordwainer and to Mary his wife my kinswoman whome I make ordeine
54 and appoint full and sole Executors of this my last will and testam[en]t
55 desiring them truly to performe the same in all things according to my trust
56 in them reposed And I make and appoint my good freinds Thomas
57 Waren and John Caterall Overseers of the same desiring them to be ayding
58 and assisting to my said Executors in and about the execu[t]ion thereof and
59 to see this my will in all things performed according to my true Intent and
60 meaning herein before playnely sett forthe and declared And for theire paines
61 I give unto my sayd Overseers Rings of Gould worth forty shillings a peece
62 at the least to weare for a Remembrance And soe I end my present testam[en]t
63 And doe hereby revoke all other Wills by mee formerly made And doe
64 publish and declare this and none other to be and soe to stand for my last
65 Will and Testament beseeching the high incomprehensible Creator of all
66 things to have mercy upon mee And in my end (and in the end of all things
67 to comfort mee In witnesse that this is my true mind and Will I have
68 caused the same to be faire written in this paper Booke conteyning in all
69 w[i]th this last leafe five sheetes of paper all written upon one side and to e-
70 very sheete or leafe I have subscribed my marke with my owne hand and sett
71 my seale being fixed at a peece of blew tape drawne through the toppe
72 of this Booke the day and yeare first above written The parties hereafter
73 being witnesses which by mee were specially called hereunto The marke
74 of
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75 of Elizabeth Blake Sealed Subscribed published and delivered by the sayd
76 Elizabeth Blake the sayd twelveth Day of March ibed for her last Will and
77 Testament in the presence of us Henry Overton John Webb and of mee
78 Tho: Waren Scr:
79 This Will was proved at Westminster the eleaventh Day of September
80 in the yeare of our Lord God according to the Corpora[t]ion of the Churche of
81 England one thousand six hundred fifty foure before the Judges for
82 Probate of Wills and granting Administra[t]ions lawfully authorized by the
83 oathe of Beniamine Baincroft one of the Executors named in the said Will to
84 whome the administra[t]ion was comitted of all and singuler the Goods Chattles
85 and Debts of the said deceased hee the sayd Beniamine Baincroft being
86 first sworne truly to administer the same power being reserved for Mary
87 Bayncroft wife of the sayd Benjamine to make like propate thereof when
88 shee shall in due forme of lawe require the same
Showing posts with label Waren. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Waren. Show all posts
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Will of Thomas Blake gentleman of Saint Albans Hertfordshire - National Archives PROB 11/26/55, probated 20 Feb 1536/37
I have just one will from Hertfordshire and it is for Thomas Blake and was probated 20 Feb 1536/37. The Blake family in Hertfordshire appears at Abbots Walden in Saint Albans in the early part of the 1500s living at Abbots Walden which was part of the large monastic centre at St Albans dismantled during the late 1530s early 1540s. British History online discussing the Abbots Walden has a write up on the property mentioned below:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43301
ADVOWSON
The church of Abbots Walden was probably granted to the monastery of St. Albans by Wulfgar with the manor, (fn. 124) and was confirmed to them by King John. (fn. 125) In 1188 the obventions from the church were assigned with the licence of Pope Clement III to the guests' prebend. (fn. 126) One mark per annum from the church of Walden was granted in 1194 to the church of St. Mary of Pré near St. Albans, (fn. 127) and in 1257 a pension of 40s. per annum paid by the vicar of Walden was assigned by the abbot to provide bread and ale for the monks and their guests. (fn. 128) Part of the tithes of Walden were assigned to the hospital of St. Julian, (fn. 129) and some seem to have belonged to the refectorar. (fn. 130) In 1513 the site of the rectory and the tithes were leased for thirty-one years to Thomas Blake, for a rent of £19 payable to the refectorar. (fn. 131) This lease was renewed in 1534, and Blake apparently transferred it to Thomas Hoo. (fn. 132) The rectory and advowson of the vicarage were granted in 1544 to the dean and chapter of St. Paul's, London, (fn. 133) and the patronage has been vested in them since. The lease of the rectory was renewed in 1621 to William Hoo for four lives, and he mortgaged it in 1623 to John Saunders, Richard Franklyn, and Richard Collett. (fn. 134) The rectory was sold with the Bury, and the great tithes are now received by the earl of Strathmore. (fn. 135)
The National Archives has under Access to Archives the Estate and family papers of the Blake family of Danesbury, Welwyn, Hertfordshire 1776 - 1924 and they are held by the Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies and a short history follows from the Access to Archives website : http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=046-dex69&cid=0#0
Administrative history:
In 1797 William Blake married Mary Nash, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Nash, and granddaughter of John Darker. By this settlement the Darker estates in Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, including the advowson of Queniboro', Leics, were settled on William and Mary, after the death of Edward Lovedon. Edward Lovedon, who died c.1821, was the second husband of Elizabeth Nash, daughter and heir of John Darker.
In 1805 Blake purchased a house in Portland Place, and in 1819 he took a lease on St. John's Lodge, Welwyn, which he subsequently purchased in 1824, and altered the name to Danesbury. He added other pieces of land to this estate, and was an enthusiastic shot and landowner. In 1826 he became a J P for Hertfordshire, and in 1836 served as High Sheriff. He was involved in the local police committee in 1843, and in negotiations about the London to York Railway in 1848.
He had eight children; of the three sons, William John was MP for Newport, 1837-1841, Frederic served in the 33rd Regiment in Ireland, Gibraltar, Canada and the Crimea, and Henry Woolaston was a partner in Boulton, Watt & Co, engineers and iron founders.
Four of the daughters were married, Mary to Baron de Biel of Germany, Ellen to John Alexander Hankey, Caroline to Henry Davidson, and Emily to Christopher William Fuller: Fanny, the unmarried sister, lived at home. William Blake died in 1852 and was succeeded by his eldest son William John Blake.
I do not know if these two lines are connected at all. William Blake married Mary Nash at Saint Mary, St Marylebone Road, St Marylebone, London, England. My thought it that this line is likely from the Blake lines in London.
There was an Edward/Edmund Blake (buried 30 June 1598 (C07210-1 Family Search)) baptizing children at Redbourn Hertfordshire in the 1570s/1580s namely (C01769-8 Family Search):
Isabell Blake baptized 20 Jun 1574
Catherina Blake baptized 1 Jun 1582
Redbourn runs adjacent to the parish of St Michaels in Saint Albans so is perhaps quite interesting.
There is a Thomas Blake baptizing children at Baldock Hertfordshire namely (C07210-1 Family Search):
William Blake baptized 23 Mar 1560
Dorathey Blake baptized Jul 1563
Agnes Blake baptized 26 Dec 1565
and a John Blake baptizing at Baldock namely(C07210-1 Family Search):
James Blake baptized Aug 1572
Baldock is interestingly enough just 11 miles south of Welwyn Hertfordshire.
There was a John Blake at Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire baptizing children namely (C07241-1 Family Search):
John Blake baptized 25 Jun 1587
Sara Blake baptized 1 Mar 1589
William Blake baptized 3 Mar 1593
Daniell Blake baptized Dec 1596
Hemel Hempstead is 6 miles NW of St Albans.
Marriages in the 1500s in Hertfordshire for Blake:
John Blake and Isabell Rolfe 31 Aug 1583 Great Gaddesden (M04738-2 Family Search)
Great Gaddesden is three miles from Hemel Hempstead.
From The Herts Genealogist and Antiquary, 1899 (William Brigg))) (http://www.archive.org/stream/hertsgenealogis00briggoog/hertsgenealogis00briggoog_djvu.txt) :
f. 55. JOHN WAGSTAFFE. {DaL 21 Jidy 1448). Bur. at
S^ Peters, viz. ^ in primo ingressu dicti Cimiterii sub capella
ibidem de ChameU'; Benedict Edryssh chaplain; Kobt.
Andrew ; The anchorites of S^ Peters & S^ Michaels ; John
Wortyng skinner ; Lawrence West ; Edw. West ; Eustachia
dau. of my wife ; John Blake ; The convent of the friars minors
of Ware ; The office of the Bursar of S* Albans &c ; Wife
Julian & Rich. Studeley exors. (Pr. 29 Aug. 1448).
This short excerpt is interesting in that it mentions John Blake prior to 1500 in Hertfordshire namely at Ware. Ware is 15 miles ENE of St Albans, 9 miles E of Welwyn and 14 miles SSE of Baldock.
The will itself does provide us with details on the family of Thomas. He married a widow and his estate moved into the hands of the Hoo family through his stepson Thomas Hoo. He has a cousin Gregory Warren who received half of his estate. He had a daughter Jane (deceased) and an uncle Thomas Blake married to Margaret (both deceased).
The process by which I chose a will for Hertfordshire (I choose one for each county that had early wills for the Blake family) was I picked the oldest one when there weren't very many wills:
National Archives holds six wills for Blake at Hertfordshire (including the current one being transcribed not listed below):
Will of Susannah Blake, widow of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire probated 11 Jun 1850
Will of Ezekiel Blake, Wine and Spirit Merchant of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire probated 20 Aug 1833
Will of Samuel Blake, Wheelwright of Aldenham, Hertfordshire probated 7 Jan 1724
Will of John Blake, farmer of Hatfield, Hertfordshire probated 21 Sep 1831
Will of William Blake, gentleman of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire probated 7 Jun 1803
Looking at The Visitation of Hertfordshire 1572 for the Hoo family of Paul's Walden. Maud Bardolfe first married Thomas Hoo of Paul's Walden and it was her son Thomas Hoo who married (unknown) Newman with their son Thomas marrying Lucy Brockett and it is he who has signed the Visitation for this family.
The 1634 Visitation of Hertfordshire lists Thomas Hoo married to Lucy Brockett with their son Thomas married to Helen Perient their son William married to Susan Stermont. This William living in 1635 has filled in the Visitation and has a son Thomas then 21 years old in 1634.
I did not find any Blake entries in the Visitations for Hertfordshire.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Oct 2012
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/26/55
Name of testator: Thomas Blake, gentleman
Place: Saint Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated 25 Nov 1536, probated 20 Feb 1536/37
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: light text, middle English writing, 16th century
[In margin] T[estator] Thome
[In margin] Blake
1 In the name of god amen the xxv ti daye of Novembre in the yere of o[u]r lorde god a thousand
2 five hundrethe xxxvj I Thomas Blake of the towne of Saint Albans in the Countie of Hertf[ordshire]
3 gentleman of hole mynde and good remembrance lauding and praising be unto Almightie god
4 make and ordayne this my p[re]sent Laste will and testament in man[ner] and forme folowing First
5 I comende my soule unto Almightie god and to o[u][r blessed Lady and to all the holy company of
6 hevin and my bodie to be buried w[ith]in the Churche of Saint Petir in the Chapell of o[u]r Ladye
7 It[e]me I give and Bequithe to the highe aulter for my tythes forgoten xij d It[e]m to Saint Albanes
8 chryme xij d It[e]m I will that a Graveston be Bought and laide upon me It[e]m I will
9 threescore lodis of stones be laide in the hyghe weye bitwen the the Charwell Chapell and wotehall
10 It[e]m I give and bequethe unto Gregory Waren th[e ]elder my Cosen after my deceas and my wiffes
11 all the yeres of my lease and farme that I have of the monastery of Saint Albanes called Gimberds
12 Wall th[e ]appurtenancs thereto belonging on and my said wife discharginge moneys x s or so s of my
13 bonds that I am bounden in to the Abbot and Convent of the said monastery Also I give and bequethe
14 my lease and ferme called the p[ar]songe of Abbots Walden unto Thomas Hoo and to his wife and
15 unto the longer liver of them Bothe aftir my deceas and my wife And as it happen any of the
16 yeres of the said lease and ferme to be undetermyned aftir the deceas of the said Thomas Hoo and
17 his wife that then thes yeres soo undetermyned shall remayne to Thomas Hoo the younger
18 my godsonne Also I give and bequeth unto the said Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder after my deceas and my
[Page 2]
19 wiffes all suche farmes bushells scotells shovilles dungeforks cartes and cartladders and longe ladders
20 that belongethe to the barne after the deceas of me and my wif Alsoe I give to the said Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder my
21 grounde that I have of Stagenhoo and alsoe a close that I have By copie sometyme Willia[m] Hannswis
22 Item I will that Maude mywif aftir my deceas shal[l ]have the occupa[t]ion of the hous or tent that I
23 dwell in here w[ith]all the bedde hangingis sperwers capelles formes stoles cubberds coffers all
24 the brasse laten and pewter w[i]t[h] all other ymplements and necessaries whate so ev[er] they bee except
25 myne napery and my plate during hir lif And half the brasse and half the pewter latten before
26 expressed And twoo fetherbeddis w[i]t[h] their apparell my wife to have to give and dispose at hir
27 pleasure, the other half of the brasse pewter and latten w[i]t[h] all the bedding except the spervers
28 testers and hangingis the oon half thereof to remayne to my cosen Gregory Waren th[e ]elder
29 and the other half to Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder and Thomas Hoo the younger All houshold and
30 necessaries as is before reherced aftir the deceas of me and my wif Except before except I give to
31 my cosen Gregory Waren th[e ]elder holy to remayne to hym w[i]t[h]oute let of any man And as to the
32 disposi[c]ion of my plate masers and spones aftir my deceas I will it shal[l ]be solde, except five m[ar]kes
33 worthe of the same plate my wif to have and to give at her pleasure And the Residue of the said
34 plate comyng to fynd a prise to singe for me and my wif my father soule and mother soule my
35 doughter Jane's soule my uncle Thomas Blake soule and Margaret his wife and all other s[hres]ten souleis
36 Item I give and bequethe xx li in money for an yerely obite to be kept w[i]t[h]in the church of Saint
37 Peter by the space of xx ti yeres aftir my deceas yerely to be kept and thereat to be expended xx s And
38 the said preste to sing oon yere at Saint Peters in Saint Albanes and at other yere at Abbots
39 Walden and there to praye for the soules afore named Item I bequethe to Abbots Walden churche
40 five marks in money Item I will that xx li over and above the funding of a prist above said shall
41 alsoe goe to the finding of a prist to singe as is afore appoynted Item I give to Edmond Newsome
42 aftir my deceas all suche bedding brasse and pweter that I have at my barne at Abbots
43 Walden except my bedd that I lie on, the whiche bed I will remayne to the bedding of my ho[u]ses
44 that I dwell in Item I give and bequeth unto my woman s[er]vante Blanche Gowtson oon
45 fetherbed w[i]t[h] a Bolster oon paire of blanckets of lynnen oon paire of shetes oon cov[er]let that
46 which was Grayns Item I give and Bequeth 10 li to be bestowed in the hyghe weye
47 under Threfferengrove Item I give and Bequeth unto Elizabeth Penyfather at the tyme
48 of her mariage x s Item I give and Bequethe to Richard Raurrigge my s[er]vant vj s vij d Item I
49 give and Bequethe unto Thomas Catelyn when he is maried xx s and ij paire of shetis Item
50 I give and Bequethe to Thomas Hethe a cote clothe of Russet, and also to the same Thomas
51 in money vj s viij d Item I doe forgive and remyt unto William Myles and Agnes his wife vj li
52 whiche they doe owe me Item I doe forgive and remyt unto Rauf Etevyason all suche money
53 as he dothe owe me Item I give and Bequethe unto B Thomas Smythe my prist my gowne furred
54 w[i]t[h] foxe Item I give and Bequeth unto the said B Thomas a paire of shetis Item I will that Mawde
55 my wif have a paire of floxen shets to give and dispose at hir pleasure And the Residue of all my
56 napery the oon half thereof I give to Gregory Waren th[e ]elder my cosen and his children And
57 the other half to remayne to Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder and Thomas Hoo the younger Item I give and
58 bequethe unto Agnes Myles the wif of William Myles aftir my decease xx s Item I give to
59 mother Barnarde during her life xx s to be paide quarterly Item I will that all suche willes
60 bequests and legacies made by me Thomas Blake bering date any tyme before this my p[resen]t
61 laste will shall from thensforthe be frustrate voide and of none effect to all intents And this
62 my p[re]sente laste will to be in strengthe and of good effect The Residue of all my goods not
63 bequethed aftir my detts paid and this my last will executed and fulfilled I putt it to the
64 discre[c]ion of my Executors to bestowe for my soule and for the soules of them aforenamyd, as they
65 shall thinke most beste aftir their discre[c]ion And I doe make and ordeyn myne executors to the
66 p[er]formance of this my present laste will Gregory Waren th[e ]elder Thomas Knyghton and Thomas
67 Hoo th[e ]elder gentlemen and I doe give to ev[er] oon of my said Executors for their diligent labo[ur]s
68 xx s In Witnes whereof I the said Thomas Blake to this my present laste will have putte my seall
69 the daye and yere above said Theis bering witnes John Cowley Thomas Chipwith gentleman
70 Br George Penton prist Br Thomas Smythe prist George Rufford Thomas Stawonton John
71 Spenser John Burley more and other
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43301
ADVOWSON
The church of Abbots Walden was probably granted to the monastery of St. Albans by Wulfgar with the manor, (fn. 124) and was confirmed to them by King John. (fn. 125) In 1188 the obventions from the church were assigned with the licence of Pope Clement III to the guests' prebend. (fn. 126) One mark per annum from the church of Walden was granted in 1194 to the church of St. Mary of Pré near St. Albans, (fn. 127) and in 1257 a pension of 40s. per annum paid by the vicar of Walden was assigned by the abbot to provide bread and ale for the monks and their guests. (fn. 128) Part of the tithes of Walden were assigned to the hospital of St. Julian, (fn. 129) and some seem to have belonged to the refectorar. (fn. 130) In 1513 the site of the rectory and the tithes were leased for thirty-one years to Thomas Blake, for a rent of £19 payable to the refectorar. (fn. 131) This lease was renewed in 1534, and Blake apparently transferred it to Thomas Hoo. (fn. 132) The rectory and advowson of the vicarage were granted in 1544 to the dean and chapter of St. Paul's, London, (fn. 133) and the patronage has been vested in them since. The lease of the rectory was renewed in 1621 to William Hoo for four lives, and he mortgaged it in 1623 to John Saunders, Richard Franklyn, and Richard Collett. (fn. 134) The rectory was sold with the Bury, and the great tithes are now received by the earl of Strathmore. (fn. 135)
The National Archives has under Access to Archives the Estate and family papers of the Blake family of Danesbury, Welwyn, Hertfordshire 1776 - 1924 and they are held by the Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies and a short history follows from the Access to Archives website : http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=046-dex69&cid=0#0
Administrative history:
In 1797 William Blake married Mary Nash, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Nash, and granddaughter of John Darker. By this settlement the Darker estates in Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, including the advowson of Queniboro', Leics, were settled on William and Mary, after the death of Edward Lovedon. Edward Lovedon, who died c.1821, was the second husband of Elizabeth Nash, daughter and heir of John Darker.
In 1805 Blake purchased a house in Portland Place, and in 1819 he took a lease on St. John's Lodge, Welwyn, which he subsequently purchased in 1824, and altered the name to Danesbury. He added other pieces of land to this estate, and was an enthusiastic shot and landowner. In 1826 he became a J P for Hertfordshire, and in 1836 served as High Sheriff. He was involved in the local police committee in 1843, and in negotiations about the London to York Railway in 1848.
He had eight children; of the three sons, William John was MP for Newport, 1837-1841, Frederic served in the 33rd Regiment in Ireland, Gibraltar, Canada and the Crimea, and Henry Woolaston was a partner in Boulton, Watt & Co, engineers and iron founders.
Four of the daughters were married, Mary to Baron de Biel of Germany, Ellen to John Alexander Hankey, Caroline to Henry Davidson, and Emily to Christopher William Fuller: Fanny, the unmarried sister, lived at home. William Blake died in 1852 and was succeeded by his eldest son William John Blake.
I do not know if these two lines are connected at all. William Blake married Mary Nash at Saint Mary, St Marylebone Road, St Marylebone, London, England. My thought it that this line is likely from the Blake lines in London.
There was an Edward/Edmund Blake (buried 30 June 1598 (C07210-1 Family Search)) baptizing children at Redbourn Hertfordshire in the 1570s/1580s namely (C01769-8 Family Search):
Isabell Blake baptized 20 Jun 1574
Catherina Blake baptized 1 Jun 1582
Redbourn runs adjacent to the parish of St Michaels in Saint Albans so is perhaps quite interesting.
There is a Thomas Blake baptizing children at Baldock Hertfordshire namely (C07210-1 Family Search):
William Blake baptized 23 Mar 1560
Dorathey Blake baptized Jul 1563
Agnes Blake baptized 26 Dec 1565
and a John Blake baptizing at Baldock namely(C07210-1 Family Search):
James Blake baptized Aug 1572
Baldock is interestingly enough just 11 miles south of Welwyn Hertfordshire.
There was a John Blake at Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire baptizing children namely (C07241-1 Family Search):
John Blake baptized 25 Jun 1587
Sara Blake baptized 1 Mar 1589
William Blake baptized 3 Mar 1593
Daniell Blake baptized Dec 1596
Hemel Hempstead is 6 miles NW of St Albans.
Marriages in the 1500s in Hertfordshire for Blake:
John Blake and Isabell Rolfe 31 Aug 1583 Great Gaddesden (M04738-2 Family Search)
Great Gaddesden is three miles from Hemel Hempstead.
From The Herts Genealogist and Antiquary, 1899 (William Brigg))) (http://www.archive.org/stream/hertsgenealogis00briggoog/hertsgenealogis00briggoog_djvu.txt) :
f. 55. JOHN WAGSTAFFE. {DaL 21 Jidy 1448). Bur. at
S^ Peters, viz. ^ in primo ingressu dicti Cimiterii sub capella
ibidem de ChameU'; Benedict Edryssh chaplain; Kobt.
Andrew ; The anchorites of S^ Peters & S^ Michaels ; John
Wortyng skinner ; Lawrence West ; Edw. West ; Eustachia
dau. of my wife ; John Blake ; The convent of the friars minors
of Ware ; The office of the Bursar of S* Albans &c ; Wife
Julian & Rich. Studeley exors. (Pr. 29 Aug. 1448).
This short excerpt is interesting in that it mentions John Blake prior to 1500 in Hertfordshire namely at Ware. Ware is 15 miles ENE of St Albans, 9 miles E of Welwyn and 14 miles SSE of Baldock.
The will itself does provide us with details on the family of Thomas. He married a widow and his estate moved into the hands of the Hoo family through his stepson Thomas Hoo. He has a cousin Gregory Warren who received half of his estate. He had a daughter Jane (deceased) and an uncle Thomas Blake married to Margaret (both deceased).
The process by which I chose a will for Hertfordshire (I choose one for each county that had early wills for the Blake family) was I picked the oldest one when there weren't very many wills:
National Archives holds six wills for Blake at Hertfordshire (including the current one being transcribed not listed below):
Will of Susannah Blake, widow of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire probated 11 Jun 1850
Will of Ezekiel Blake, Wine and Spirit Merchant of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire probated 20 Aug 1833
Will of Samuel Blake, Wheelwright of Aldenham, Hertfordshire probated 7 Jan 1724
Will of John Blake, farmer of Hatfield, Hertfordshire probated 21 Sep 1831
Will of William Blake, gentleman of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire probated 7 Jun 1803
Looking at The Visitation of Hertfordshire 1572 for the Hoo family of Paul's Walden. Maud Bardolfe first married Thomas Hoo of Paul's Walden and it was her son Thomas Hoo who married (unknown) Newman with their son Thomas marrying Lucy Brockett and it is he who has signed the Visitation for this family.
The 1634 Visitation of Hertfordshire lists Thomas Hoo married to Lucy Brockett with their son Thomas married to Helen Perient their son William married to Susan Stermont. This William living in 1635 has filled in the Visitation and has a son Thomas then 21 years old in 1634.
I did not find any Blake entries in the Visitations for Hertfordshire.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Oct 2012
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/26/55
Name of testator: Thomas Blake, gentleman
Place: Saint Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated 25 Nov 1536, probated 20 Feb 1536/37
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: light text, middle English writing, 16th century
[In margin] T[estator] Thome
[In margin] Blake
1 In the name of god amen the xxv ti daye of Novembre in the yere of o[u]r lorde god a thousand
2 five hundrethe xxxvj I Thomas Blake of the towne of Saint Albans in the Countie of Hertf[ordshire]
3 gentleman of hole mynde and good remembrance lauding and praising be unto Almightie god
4 make and ordayne this my p[re]sent Laste will and testament in man[ner] and forme folowing First
5 I comende my soule unto Almightie god and to o[u][r blessed Lady and to all the holy company of
6 hevin and my bodie to be buried w[ith]in the Churche of Saint Petir in the Chapell of o[u]r Ladye
7 It[e]me I give and Bequithe to the highe aulter for my tythes forgoten xij d It[e]m to Saint Albanes
8 chryme xij d It[e]m I will that a Graveston be Bought and laide upon me It[e]m I will
9 threescore lodis of stones be laide in the hyghe weye bitwen the the Charwell Chapell and wotehall
10 It[e]m I give and bequethe unto Gregory Waren th[e ]elder my Cosen after my deceas and my wiffes
11 all the yeres of my lease and farme that I have of the monastery of Saint Albanes called Gimberds
12 Wall th[e ]appurtenancs thereto belonging on and my said wife discharginge moneys x s or so s of my
13 bonds that I am bounden in to the Abbot and Convent of the said monastery Also I give and bequethe
14 my lease and ferme called the p[ar]songe of Abbots Walden unto Thomas Hoo and to his wife and
15 unto the longer liver of them Bothe aftir my deceas and my wife And as it happen any of the
16 yeres of the said lease and ferme to be undetermyned aftir the deceas of the said Thomas Hoo and
17 his wife that then thes yeres soo undetermyned shall remayne to Thomas Hoo the younger
18 my godsonne Also I give and bequeth unto the said Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder after my deceas and my
[Page 2]
19 wiffes all suche farmes bushells scotells shovilles dungeforks cartes and cartladders and longe ladders
20 that belongethe to the barne after the deceas of me and my wif Alsoe I give to the said Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder my
21 grounde that I have of Stagenhoo and alsoe a close that I have By copie sometyme Willia[m] Hannswis
22 Item I will that Maude mywif aftir my deceas shal[l ]have the occupa[t]ion of the hous or tent that I
23 dwell in here w[ith]all the bedde hangingis sperwers capelles formes stoles cubberds coffers all
24 the brasse laten and pewter w[i]t[h] all other ymplements and necessaries whate so ev[er] they bee except
25 myne napery and my plate during hir lif And half the brasse and half the pewter latten before
26 expressed And twoo fetherbeddis w[i]t[h] their apparell my wife to have to give and dispose at hir
27 pleasure, the other half of the brasse pewter and latten w[i]t[h] all the bedding except the spervers
28 testers and hangingis the oon half thereof to remayne to my cosen Gregory Waren th[e ]elder
29 and the other half to Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder and Thomas Hoo the younger All houshold and
30 necessaries as is before reherced aftir the deceas of me and my wif Except before except I give to
31 my cosen Gregory Waren th[e ]elder holy to remayne to hym w[i]t[h]oute let of any man And as to the
32 disposi[c]ion of my plate masers and spones aftir my deceas I will it shal[l ]be solde, except five m[ar]kes
33 worthe of the same plate my wif to have and to give at her pleasure And the Residue of the said
34 plate comyng to fynd a prise to singe for me and my wif my father soule and mother soule my
35 doughter Jane's soule my uncle Thomas Blake soule and Margaret his wife and all other s[hres]ten souleis
36 Item I give and bequethe xx li in money for an yerely obite to be kept w[i]t[h]in the church of Saint
37 Peter by the space of xx ti yeres aftir my deceas yerely to be kept and thereat to be expended xx s And
38 the said preste to sing oon yere at Saint Peters in Saint Albanes and at other yere at Abbots
39 Walden and there to praye for the soules afore named Item I bequethe to Abbots Walden churche
40 five marks in money Item I will that xx li over and above the funding of a prist above said shall
41 alsoe goe to the finding of a prist to singe as is afore appoynted Item I give to Edmond Newsome
42 aftir my deceas all suche bedding brasse and pweter that I have at my barne at Abbots
43 Walden except my bedd that I lie on, the whiche bed I will remayne to the bedding of my ho[u]ses
44 that I dwell in Item I give and bequeth unto my woman s[er]vante Blanche Gowtson oon
45 fetherbed w[i]t[h] a Bolster oon paire of blanckets of lynnen oon paire of shetes oon cov[er]let that
46 which was Grayns Item I give and Bequeth 10 li to be bestowed in the hyghe weye
47 under Threfferengrove Item I give and Bequeth unto Elizabeth Penyfather at the tyme
48 of her mariage x s Item I give and Bequethe to Richard Raurrigge my s[er]vant vj s vij d Item I
49 give and Bequethe unto Thomas Catelyn when he is maried xx s and ij paire of shetis Item
50 I give and Bequethe to Thomas Hethe a cote clothe of Russet, and also to the same Thomas
51 in money vj s viij d Item I doe forgive and remyt unto William Myles and Agnes his wife vj li
52 whiche they doe owe me Item I doe forgive and remyt unto Rauf Etevyason all suche money
53 as he dothe owe me Item I give and Bequethe unto B Thomas Smythe my prist my gowne furred
54 w[i]t[h] foxe Item I give and Bequeth unto the said B Thomas a paire of shetis Item I will that Mawde
55 my wif have a paire of floxen shets to give and dispose at hir pleasure And the Residue of all my
56 napery the oon half thereof I give to Gregory Waren th[e ]elder my cosen and his children And
57 the other half to remayne to Thomas Hoo th[e ]elder and Thomas Hoo the younger Item I give and
58 bequethe unto Agnes Myles the wif of William Myles aftir my decease xx s Item I give to
59 mother Barnarde during her life xx s to be paide quarterly Item I will that all suche willes
60 bequests and legacies made by me Thomas Blake bering date any tyme before this my p[resen]t
61 laste will shall from thensforthe be frustrate voide and of none effect to all intents And this
62 my p[re]sente laste will to be in strengthe and of good effect The Residue of all my goods not
63 bequethed aftir my detts paid and this my last will executed and fulfilled I putt it to the
64 discre[c]ion of my Executors to bestowe for my soule and for the soules of them aforenamyd, as they
65 shall thinke most beste aftir their discre[c]ion And I doe make and ordeyn myne executors to the
66 p[er]formance of this my present laste will Gregory Waren th[e ]elder Thomas Knyghton and Thomas
67 Hoo th[e ]elder gentlemen and I doe give to ev[er] oon of my said Executors for their diligent labo[ur]s
68 xx s In Witnes whereof I the said Thomas Blake to this my present laste will have putte my seall
69 the daye and yere above said Theis bering witnes John Cowley Thomas Chipwith gentleman
70 Br George Penton prist Br Thomas Smythe prist George Rufford Thomas Stawonton John
71 Spenser John Burley more and other
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