Clearing snow and looking at the Wiltshire Wills

Snow all plowed by the company and I cleared the patio and porch. There was a lot of snow - perhaps the full 40 centimetres. Earthquakes in California - strange time of year for earthquakes. I wonder why there are so many. No damage or injuries reported fortunately.

Continuing with South Newton which I rather think is likely the Calne Blake family moving out from Calne to the south.  

South Newton (19 miles WSW of Andover, 30 miles S of Calne).

The Blake family at South Newton continues from the 1500s  to the present. A freehold in Stoford (close to South Newton) was purchased by Henry Blake (between 1693 and 1704) and in 1704 Henry passed it to John Blake and John sold it in 1720 (British History Online). Could this be the Calne Blake family? Certainly Henry was a forename in the Blake family of Calne at the time of the destruction of the family home at Pinhills in 1643. But there were Blakes at South Newton in the 1500s. 

Thomas Blake, 1550, Stofford, South Newton (wife Alice Blake 1566)  This couple had a son William Blake with a son John Blake mentioned in the will of Alice 1566 and a daughter Miriam also mentioned. Thomas in his will mentions children: William, Robert, Johane, John and Maryan. 

John Blake, 1545, Stowford, South Newton, wife is Edithe father of Thomas, the son of Thomas is Robert, father of John (has a number of grandchildren). 

John Blake, 1554, South Newton, children mentioned: daughters:Margery, Elisabeth, Alys, Christian, Maryan, sons: Walter, Gylys, William, Edward, Robert. Wife is Edythe (second wife, she has children as well not mentioned by name). He does not appear to be at Stowford/Stofford although he is a husbandman.

John Blake, 1572, Stoweford, South Newton (wool merchant). children mention: son: John, William, Thomas, daughter Johan, Alyce, granddaughter Grace (daughter: Johan deceased). 

 In that four of these Blake families are living in the same estate area, one might conjecture that they are related and Stoford is a freehold with more information on a purchase there in the latter part of the 1600s/early 1700s. They do not however, mention each other particularly in their wills. They could be all related when one remembers that first cousins are close; second cousins are kin but beyond that there is not much relationship in these days for the most part.

Warminster (22 miles SWS of Calne) Two distinct Blake families at Warminster. One is likely descendant of the Calne Blake family but one could not say that the other isn't related for the same reason as above. 

Thomas Blake, 1584 (brother to a William Blake no will located), Thomas has just one child over 21, namely John, with Edward, Barbara and Edith all under 21.

 William Blake, 1538, Warminster, married to Syssley, sons Harry, Stephyn, Thomas, Nycholas and John, daughters Elizabeth, Agnes. This family of Blake I think is descendant of the Blake family of Calne. Similar forenames and they own land. This is the oldest will of the group of Blake wills in Wiltshire that I downloaded and transcribed maybe 10 years ago (they ranged from 1538 into the early 1700s). 

Stephan Blake 1564 (brothers Nicholas and John mentioned, no wills located, son of William Blake 1538). This is likely given the siblings mentioned. The forenames are common in the Calne Blake family). So you can see the movement southward and it is tempting to see this as moving out from Windsor into the various parts of the country. 

West Lavington (14 miles S of Calne, 10 miles E Warminster)

Thomas Blake 1573 (brothers Robert Blake and John Blake, a Robert Blake is mentioned in one of the Warminster wills).  Thomas is a merchant (brother John is at Earlestoke close by). This will is a jewel as it mentions so many local names in this time frame (owed money to Thomas). Both John and Robert have children and he does not. 

Erlestoke (3 miles E of West Lavington, 15 miles S Calne, 9 miles NE of Warminster)

John Blake 1574, Erlestoke (brothers Robert and John (not unusual in the Blake family to have a John Blake the elder and John Blake the younger). He only mentions daughters so male line daughtered out. 

Deverill Longbridge ( 3 miles S of Warminster)

John Blake 1538, Deverill Longbridge (he mentions three sons Thomas, William and John and three daughters Alice, Margaret and Philip). He is a clothier. He does not mention siblings although a contemporary to William at Warminster who left his will in 1538.

Platyford (now in Hampshire near Southampton and 13 miles SE of Salisbury, 46 miles SSE of Calne, 33 miles SE Warminster) 

Richard Blake 1572, Plaitford/Platyford (Husbandman, son Thomas and daughter Aldyce). Interesting as in correspondence with a possible Blake descendant of the Calne Blake family (could not at that persuade him to test) he hinted at the idea that the Calne Blake family had moved both westward into Gloucestershire and southward towards the New Forest area.

Thomas Blake, 1565, Playtford (Hsubandman, father of Richard 1572). He mentions sons Richard and John, daughter John and Elizabeth. Also mentions siblings Nycholas, Robert and Edith. A reminder of the Blake family at Warminster in particular the will of William 1538. This does seem like the Calne Blake family again as they moved south towards the New Forest area. 

That completes the Blake wills from the 1500s in Wiltshire. I will look at Hampshire today more out of curiosity as at the time of transcribing wills in Hampshire I did not necessarily record any thoughts on siblings mentioned in the will with regard to kinship. I want to check that. Since I did recall ten years ago my grandfather's thoughts on the family lore of ancient relationship to the Calne Blake family although far more on the very ancient relationship that his Blake line had with Andover area. Perhaps even back then he was more attached to the idea of being ancient British than Norman. Certainly my brother found that very interesting and did recall our grandfather expressing his opinion on the long period of time that his family had been in the Andover area. Grandpa was both a proud Canadian and a proud Englishman (and they can be compatible especially if you are born in England). I think it was interesting that on his death certificate it said Canadian (this was in 1953 so just six years after Canadian citizenship was created by Statue).

Interesting, looking at the painting today I can see these small plants (probably 15 to 20 cm tall) under the trees have ice clinging to their branches and obviously not flat against the tree. I couldn't differentiate the little plants before but the extra is I would  not have seen the gap behind them where they stand in front of the large tree. Amazing really, I do understand now why people sit and look at pictures for hours now although I do not plan to do that. 

Cleaning accomplished and on to the work week

Today I plan to continue working on the phasing project as well as the Blake book. I want to transcribe the two documents that I bought. They both seem to be interesting but will they support my  premise about the Blake family of Calne being descendant of Richard le Blak who is found on the Pipe Rolls in Wargrave (near Windsor) Berkshire in 1301 with his daughter Alice and possibly a son John. they are all living at Wargrave. There isn't a Robert le Blak listed but estimating his age in another blog came up with a birth after 1301. The coincidence of choosing a Richard le Blake at the top of the Blake Pedigree Chart created by the Daniel Blake family of London in 1690 with additions into the 1700s is interesting. The success of this family in the 1300s not surprising for a family of Norman origin and Richard le Blak had requested a market permit in 1274 whilst living in Rouen, Normandy. Was there another Blake family that could be the Calne Blake family in this area. It does not appear so by the records. The wills of the Blake family I have transcribed from the Wiltshire Archives and they include:

 Agnes Blake 1563 (Martin, widow of William Blake d 1545, their son John Blake)

Alice Blake 1566 (widow of Thomas Blake 1550, South Newton)

Elizabeth Blake 1583 (Marten, widow of John Blake 1582)

John Blake 1538 (Deverill Longbridge (near Warminster))

John Blake 1546 (South Newton)

John Blake 1554 (South Newton,  brother to John Blake 1546, John Blake the elder and John Blake the younger mentioned in will)

John Blake 1572 (South Newton, son of John Blake 1546?)

John Blake 1574 (Erlestoke, brothers Robert and John)

John Blake 1582 (Martyn, widow Elizabeth 1583, son of William and Agnes)

Richard Blake 1572 (Playtford, brother to Thomas and Nycholas)

Roger Blake 1557 (Pinhills, Calne, married to Mary 1570, Robert

Stephan Blake 1564 (Warminster, brothers Nicholas and John)

Thomas Blake 1550 (South Newton, his widow Alice left her will in 1566)

Thomas Blake 1565 (Playtford, brother Richard and Nycholas)

Thomas Blake 1573 (West Lavington, brothers Robert Blake and John Blake)

Thomas Blake 1584 (Warminster)

William Blake 1538 (Warminster, father of Stephan)

William Blake 1545 (Martin/Marten, wife Agnes Blake d 1563)

Mary Blake 1570 (Pinhills, Calne, widow of Roger Blake)

My blogs on these wills discuss the different lines (none of these places are that far from Calne) but are they all related? This is already two hundred years after Robert le Blake is found as a juror at Hungerford in 1338 on an Inquisition Postmortem. 

So on to the two documents which are both from the 1300s. I do trust the Pedigree Chart to a certain extent when it is discussing Robert Blake and Avis (Wallop) (Malewyn) Blake grandparents of Roger Blake above at Pinhills. That locates the family back into the 1400s. Various items that look at the business dealings between Robert le Blake and the Malewyn family in the 1300s/1400s are perhaps the linkage that helps to connect but time will tell on that. 

Robert Dale (Richmond Herald (appointed in 1721)) at the College of Arms in 1693 commented on the Blake family of Quemberford (reproduced in the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Volume 9 (Pages 223-224) published in 1866 and available on the Internet.Archive.org website:

 http://archive.org/details/wiltshirearchaeo09arch

 A Robert Dale is quoted by Clarence Hopper:

 His notes on the Blague/Blake/Blaake family

Dorsetshire, 27. Blague, alias Blaake, now [Thomas] Blake of Quemberford [Quemerford], Calne and Pynhills - 1st, arg. a chevron between 3 garbs, sab. (this is the usual arms associated with the Blake family [at Calne]). 2nd, arg. on a pile, az. 3 martlets, sil. both by this name. Crest on a chapeau, gu. turned up erm. a martlet, arg. Kent 83.

Blague of Lacock, a second branch from Quemberford. Kent 83

Blague of Hilcot, a third house from Calne. Kent 83

This fits in with the Visitation of 1565 which states that Roger Blake and Mary Baynard had three sons - Thomas at Pynnell, Robert at Lacock and John at Hilcott which matches the information found in the Wiltshire Arms and Descents article mentioned above.

Roger's father was Robert Blake married to Margaret (Englefield) and this Robert was a known son of Robert Blake and Avis (Wallop) (Malewyn) Blake. Avis Blake's Inquisition Postmorten in 1474/1475 (C 140/48/6) helps to date this family as her youngest son John was at Least 40 years of age or more. This brings the known Blake line back closer to the beginning of the 1400s. More on this as Robert Blake husband of Avis had a Fulling Mill and there is a record in 1416 that refers to that. What needs to be determined is can we relate the John Blake (Parliamentary Archives) to this Robert Blake both listed as of Quemberford in this early part of the 1400s? Time will tell and I must do Yoga and breakfast. The morning is evaporating even for this early riser. 

My only thought on the economy is diversification of our trading partners especially other Canadian provinces (eliminate the barriers). Plus we need to encourage our local industries once again as they have been lost during NAFTA/CUSMA - it is hard for a country that is so much smaller to compete against much larger companies - buy Canadian is the slogan. An American company operating here yes we buy; it needs to be made here by Canadian workers. Our unemployment at 6.7% is too high and we need to get our youth who have been trained in the trades back to work. This is good work and good money and it requires all the skills and much better talent for sure than any office job. Plus it is much healthier for our young not to be sitting in an office all day. There is money to be made in the trades. Don't create a company and then sell it to the American competition; keep it in the family and always Canadian! But that being said we have enjoyed items that came to us because of NAFTA/CUSMA but we need to protect Canadian industry as much as the Americans protect their industry. A closer economic union as Premier Ford has suggested is interesting and we can look at it.

As far as our border goes I doubt that anything can squeak across without being spotted against the white snow.  Plus it is freezing cold up here (minus 23 degrees celsius at 7:00 a.m. in the city) and not much survives out in that cold on foot. Even the animals have hibernated underground or they went south - they do not need passports!

 

 

Will of Stephen Blake, Gentleman, Watminster, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/220/567

Stephen Blake is the testator and he is of Warminster, Wiltshire.

There is still a Stephen Blake in Warminster and it would be interesting to discover if he is descendant of this gentleman from the 1600s.

The Will of Stephen Blake, yeoman of Warminster probated 22 Jun 1566 was blogged earlier:

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/11/will-of-stephen-blake-yeoman-of.html

However his sons are named Richard, William, Henrie, David and William the younger. But interesting to find the forename Stephen there in the 1500s. The Wiltshire record office does have wills the following wills at Warminster for the Blake family which I have not yet blogged:

P1/B/697    Inventory, will, copy will    1702    Blake, William    Grocer    Warminster   
P2/B/1089    Will    [1688]    Blake, William    Gentleman    Warminster   
P2/B/463    Account, administration bond, inventory    1626    Blake, Henry        Warminster   
P2/B/47    Administration bond    1571    Blake, Henry        Warminster   
P2/B/634    Inventory, will    1639    Blake, John    Yeoman    Warminster   

At some point I shall acquire these and see if they are helpful. There are a number of early Wiltshire Wills already blogged from Warminster. Search on the label “Warminster” to find them.

Stephen nominated his son William as a Feeoffe in 1649 and this could be the bond which is mentioned in the will below. He has at least four daughters as his executors and overseers are all his sons in law namely, John Gawen, John Milton, William Corbett alias Davis and James Blatch.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 23 Dec 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/220/567
Testator: Stephen Blake, Gentleman
Place: Warminster, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 16 Apr 1651, probated 17 Feb 1651/52
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: Test: Stephani
[Margin]: Blake

1    In the name of God Amen I Stephen Blake of War-
2    mister in the County of Wiltes Gent being not soe sick in body as unsettled of
3    my Mortality eidlt that I must lay downe this my Earthly Tabernacle to put
4    on an heavenly that shall never fade doe therefore for the quiet of my soule and
5    settleing that Estate which God hath lent mee doe make this my last will and Testa-
6    ment in manner following first I resigne my soule into the hands of the divine
7    donor not doubting but at the enlargement thereof out of this earthly prison it shall
8    possesse a happy residence in heaven with God and his holy Angells through the merits
9    of my most blessed Saviour Christ Jesus Next my body that earthly Truncke
10    I commit to his bed of darknes the blinde wombe of the Earth the Common
11    receptacle of all flesh with full persuasion that at the last day when the general
12    summons of all Flesh shall bee the Earth opening and yielding her dead it shall
13    rise and be reunited to my soule within the Celestiall Spheare and there to triumphe
14    With the blessed that rest from their labours And for that portion which God hath
15    lent mee for a tyme and which at his appointed tyme I must leave I dispose of it
16    in manner following First I give and bequeath unto the poore people of War-
17    mister the summe of Twenty shillings Item I doe give and bequeath unto my Con-
18    sorte and welbeloved wife Elizabeth Blake the summe of Forty shillings Item
19    I doe give and bequeath unto all my Children the summe of Twenty shillings
20    a peece Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandchildren Elizabeth Blatch and
21    Mary Blatch the summe of Fifty shillings a peece And to all the rest of my
22    Grandchildren that are and shalbe borne before my decease the summe of
23    Twenty shillings a peece All which sayd legacies before given my will and
24    meaning is shall be paid by my Executors hereafter named within six moneths
25    after my decease Item I do give and bequeath unto John Gawen and unto John
26    Milton my sonnes in Lawe the summe of one hundred pounds which wilbe due in
27    from William Blake my sonne by virtue of a bond bearing date the eleventh day
28    of January one thousand sixe hundred forty sixe to there that the sayd John
29    Gawen and John Milton may out of the same satisfie and pay the Legacies before
30    men[t]ioned All the rest of my goods and Chattells whatsoever I doe give and
31    bequeath unto the sayd John Gawen and John Milton whome I doe make my sole
32    and only Executors And I do desyre my loving sonne in lawe William Corbett
33    al[ia]s Davis and James Blatch to bee my Overseers to whome I give Twenty
34    shillings a peece In wittnes whereof I the sayd Stephen Blake have sett my
35    hand and seale the sixteenth day of April A[nn]o dom[ini] one thousand sixe hundred
36    fifty one Stephen Blake Signed sealed and published in the presence of
37    John Wadman Signed Willi: Clarke
38    This Will was proved at London before Sir Nathaniell Brent Knight
39    doctor of laws and Master or Keeper of the Prerogative Court the seaventeenth
40    day of February in the yeare of our Lord God (English style) one thousand sixe
41    hundred fifty one by the Oathes of John Gawen and John Milton the Executors
43    therein named To whome Administration of all and singular the goods chattells
44    and debts of the sayd deceased which any manner of way concerne the same will
45    Was graunted and committed They being first legally sworne by virtue of a Com-
46    mission in that behalf Issued forth well and faithfully to Administer the same

Will of Stephen Blake, yeoman of Warminster - National Archives PROB 11/48/504, probated 22 Jun 1566

Stephen Blake testator has mentioned his children, his wife and his siblings - a perfect will! His children includes sons: Richard, William, Henrie, David, and William the younger and daughters Cicely, Johan the elder, Edithe and Johanne the yonger. Not unusual to find two children with the same forename in the Blake family. Nine children is a large family and all but Richard underage and perhaps Richard also he doesn't actually say. He doesn't name Richard executor though he names his wife Johane. There is a Cicely Blake who married Roger Tappe 24 Nov 1567 at Saint Denys, Warminster (M15334-2 Family Search). There is an Edeth Blake marrying Robert Bristow 10 Feb 1581 at Saint Denys (M15334-2 Family Search). A Jone Blake was married 16 Jul 1565 at Saint Denys to John Yearbury. Henry Blake married Alis Newman in 1581 at Saint Denys (M15334-2 Family Search).These are perhaps the children of Stephen marrying.

Stephen's sisters are Elizabeth and Agnes and brother in law Lawrence Pilchard. He has a brother Nicholas and a brother John. There is a will at Warminster for a William Blake in 1539 and he mentions his son Stephen although Harry was his eldest son. There were also sons Thomas, Nycholas and John. The daughters were Elizabeth and Angnes and Stephen has named his sister Agnes.

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/10/will-of-william-blake-of-warminster.html


Henry the eldest brother is not mentioned in Stephen's will nor is Thomas only Nicholas and John the two youngest brothers are mentioned. However it is always wonderful to have wills that link together. This clinches the thought that the Thomas Blake at Warminster leaving his will in 1584 is not a sibling to Stephen. Thomas had mentioned that his brother was William. Thus there are two distinct Blake lines at Warminster which may or may not be related but certainly the wills do not indicate a relationship between the two families there.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 28 Oct 2012
Source:  The National Archives PROB 11/48/504
Name of testator: Stephan Blake, Yeoman
Place: Warminster, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 20 Jul 1564, probated 22 Jun 1566
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: 16th century, middle English, small clear writing
[Margin] T[esta]m[ent] Stephan
[Margin] Blake

1    In the name of God Amen the Twentithe day of Julie In the yere of our lord god
2    a thousande fyve hundred three score and fower  in the Sixte yere of the reigne of our sovereigne
3    Ladie Elizabethe by the grace of god of Englande Fraunce and Ireland l2none defenorr of ye
4    faithe and I Stephan Blake of Warminster in the Countie of Wilts y[e]oman beinge of good and perfect
5    memorie and remembrance thancks be to god make my last will and testament in manner and forme
6    followinge First and principallie I bequethe my soull to allmightie god who is my onelie maker and
7    redemor and when it shall please god to call me to his mercie And my boddie to be buried in the Church
8    of Saint Dennice in Warminster aforsaide Item I give to our ladis Church of Sarum twelve pence Item
9    I give and bequith to Richard my eldest sonne thirtie pounds in money And after the deceasse of Johanne
10    my wife I give and bequithe to the saide Richarde all my Free Landes that I boughte and purchased of
11    Mr. Chr[ist]ofer Kirton Item I give and bequethe to the saide Richard all the state that I have for terme
12    of yeres in my Gergeyne called Butlers with the App[ur]tenancs to the same belo[n]ging after the decesse
13    of Johanne my wief Item I give and bequethe to the saide Richard my sonne my Silver salte w[i]th
14    the Cover the which I hadd of the gifte of my Father. Item I give and bequethe to Willi[m] my second sonne
15    thertie poundes in money and All the state of yeres that I have in the Farme in Warminster Item
16    I give and Bequeathe to henrie my sonne thirtie poundes in money Item I give and bequethe to
17    David my Sonne thertie poundes in money Item I give and bequithe to my sonne William the
18    yonger Fortie poundes in money to be delivered them at their day of Mariage or ells when they
19    shall coom and be of full age of twentie and one yeres And yf it fortune anie of my saide sonnes
20    henrie, David and William the yonger to departe this p[re[sente Wordle before they shal[l ]be married or
21    accomplisshe the full age of one and twentie yeres that then I will all suche Legacie to them before
22    bequethed so decessed shall remeyne to them lyvinge to be equallie devided amo[n]ge the lyvin[g] Item I
23    give and bequethe to my fower daughters Cicely Johan the elder Edithe and Johanne the yonger
24    to either of theym Fortye pounds apece of Lawfull money of England if they will be ordered in
25    marriage by their mother and by my overseers whom I will nominate and appointe Item I give and
26    Bequithe to my Mother fortie shillinges in money Item I give and bequethe to my Brothe[r] Nicholas and
27    to my brother John to either of them half a quarter of wheate Item I give and bequithe to my
28    Sisters Elizabeth and Agnes to either of them half a quarter of wheat Item I give and bequith
29    to my Brother in Lawe Laurence Pilcharde my Russett gowne furred w[i]th Foxe Item I give and
30    Bequethe to the poore people in Warminster Fouretie shillinges to be given at the discretion of mye
31    overseers All the Rest of my gooddes bothe moveable and unmoveable my dettis and Legacies paid
32    and my funeralls ended I give unto Johanne my wief whom I make my wholl Executrix to receve
33    my Dettes and to paye my Dettis allso I constitute Ordaine and make mye wel[l] beloved frendes and
34    neighboryes John Bennett of Sinalbrock William Middelcoate of Warminster and my brother in Laww
35    Lawre[n]c Pilcharde overseers of this my Last will and testament and they to have for their paines
36    takinge either of them Fortie shillinges Theise beinge wittness Sir John Croker the Curatt of
37    Warminster Richard Middlecoate of Busshopstrowe John Bennett of Simalbroke William Middelcote
38    of Warminster and Lawer[en]c Pillchard with others

Will of William Blake of Warminster - SWRO P2/1Reg/1B, probated 8 Mar 1539 (old style)

A second Blake will at Warmister in this group of wills. In total there are ten wills/admon for Blake members at Warminster with this particular one being the oldest and it is for William Blake probated in 1539. The next will there is for Henry Blake in 1571, followed by the will of Thomas Blake in 1584. Then a jump to 1626 with a will for Henry Blake and 1639 a will for John Blake (yeoman). Then a will for a William Blake circa 1688 and followed by a will for William Blake Grocer 1702 (and another for a William Blake in 1701).  I only hold these two wills from the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office.

This is the oldest will in this group of wills from the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office. I acquired them a number of years ago but have not transcribed them or actually even read them in all this time. I had hoped that they would reveal more about the early Blake family in Wiltshire and in some ways they have done so. Linking some of them together has been a bonus.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 24 Oct 2012
Source:  Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office P2/1Reg/1B
Name of testator: William Blake
Place: Warminster, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 19 Aug 1539, 8 Mar 1539 (old style)
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: 16th century, middle English, smallish writing (some bleed through)
[Margin] Blake C

1    In the name of god Amen In the yere of our Lord god a[nno] M CCCCC
2    xxxix ti the xix daye of August I Wyllam Blake of
3    warmister hole in mynd and of good memery never the lasse wyeke
4    in body make my laste testament and my laste wyll in that man[ner]
5    and forme folowynge Fyrste I bequeth my sowle to
6    allmyghty god and my body to be buryed in the church of warminster
7    Allso I give unto Wyssley my wyffe all my fre land whiche
8    I have purchesye durynge the terme of her lyfe and after
9    the decesse of her lyfe and after the decsse of her lyfe The same
10    lande to remayne to remayne to remayne to harry my sone and to
11    his heires male and after the decesse of he heres male and
12    for lackynge of them that is to saye of the sayd harry the same
13    land to remayne to his nexte brother in ayg and to his hayrys
14    male so yt the same land to remayne styll to remayne in the
15    name of the Blake so longe as ther be heres male to in
16    herytt yt and for fanot of heires male the same land shall
17    come to heires female that ys to the eyre generall the nexte of
18    the blood Allso I geve to my wyfe all suche goods as be in my
19    howse moveable and unmoveable unmoveable except iij longe table
20    bords w[i]t[h] fowrnigs and trestells partenynge thereto which shall remayne
21    styll in the howse and y geve to here all the wool in my barton and the
22    wool in the porte way And viii lods of wool lynge w[i]t[h] ewes
23    my yeat and all my olde whete and on  may of barley and ij kyne and wone
24    mare Allso I give to Stephyn my sonne my purchasse called
25    Putleres and my oxene w[i]t[h] all man[ner] of harnesse p[er]teynynge there to
26    suffycyent for vi oxen Allso I geve to Thomas my sone the
27    purchesse of the tenement whiche Olyvere Taner dewelethe in
28    Into his use and proffet Allso I geve and bequethe to my iij
29    yongest sonnys Thomas Nycholas and John all my crope croppe of
30    corne and haye excepte yt above named to my wyffe Allso I
31    geve to them a xi herssys and x oxen ij stere bullocks iij
32    weynynge callves and xvij shepe and all the wool wyth owte my yeat
33    except viij lods geven to my wyffe above namyd And all
34    my dettes which be dewe to me to be payed Allso I give to my
35    ij dowghters Elizabeth and Angnes xiij L vi s iiij d to be taken out
36    of the por[t]ion of the goods which I have given to my iij yongest
37    sonnys above named and to be equaly devyded by twyxt them
38    by the dyfision of John Rawlyns and George Rawlyins and my
39    sone harry blake whiche I make my overseers to se that my last
40    wyll instlye and truly fullfylled and I gave ye said John Rawlynes
41    and George eche of them for ther paynye xxvi s viij d It[e]m I give
42    to reparynge and mendynge of the second bell in warmister thereof  x s
   [Page 2]
43    Allso I geve to B Everatt Robarts iij s iiij d all the reste of my goodyes and cattall
44    and un moveabyll I geve and bequethe to my iij yongeste sonnys a bove
45    namely Thomas John and Nycholas and I make theme my full executors
46    to ex[p]ence for the dyscharge of my sowle by the ov[er]syetht and consayle of
47    my overseeres above named Allso yf any of my chylderene above named
48    dep[ar]te owte of this world before they be of lawfull age to have the use of
49    my goods a bove wryten I wyll there p[ar]te and porcyon shall remayne to
50    the other as well my dowters as my sonnys Allso I wyll that my
51    ov[er]seere above named John George and harry shall have the full over
52    syght and governance of my sonnys above named Thomas Nycholas and
53    John and of ther goods tyll they be of aege and dysiziyon to have the
54    use of them Those men beynge wytnesse Syr Everatt Robarts
55    pryst Richard Robarts Fysbere Thomas Rogers John Swage w[i]t[h] many mo[re]

Will of Thomas Blake of Warminster - SWRO P2/6Reg/132C, probated 7 Oct 1584

This Blake family at Warminster consists of Thomas and his wife Agnes and their children John (over 21), Edward, Barbara and Edith all under 21 years of age as of 28 Jul 1584. It would appear that Thomas' mother remarried as he mentions two fathers in lawe Symon Sloper and John Benett. His brother is William Blake.

Warminster is 8 miles SW of Erlestoke, 18 miles SSW of Calne and 15 miles WNW of South Newton.

From Ancestry I found an Edeth Blake baptized 23 Jul 1584 at Warminster and daughter of Thomas Blake. There is an Edward Blake baptized 19 Jun 1583 at Warminster and son of Thomas Blake. There is also a John Blake baptized 30 Oct 1579 at Warminster but the will implies that John is over 21 years of age. This is perhaps another family as there was also a John baptized 8 Oct 1572 and a William baptized 17 Mar 1573 both at Warminster and sons of Thomas Blake. Thee may be the children of Thomas Blake and Agnes Grinfealde married 27 Sep 1569 at Warminster - interesting but he mentions fathers in law of Sloper and Benett. Surprisingly there are only 27 Blake members listed in the 1841 census at Warminster.

1841 Census at Warminster
1. Hariot Blake 12, Emma Blake 10, Edith Blake 65, Ann Blake 22  living with Jeremiah  and Jane Grapp (36 and 29)
2. William Blake 30, Sarah Blake 30, Robert Blake 12, Charlotte Blake 10
3. Peter Blake 55, Martha Blake 55
4. James Blake 50, Betty Blake 50, Joseph Blake 15, James Blake 15, Alfred Blake 14, Moses Blake 9, Frederick Blake 6
5. Isaac Blake 40, Maria Blake 45, Mary Blake 20, Hanna Blake 20, Isaac Blake 15, Henry Blake 15, Charles Blake 10, William Blake 10, Samuel Blake 5
6. George Blake 20

William Blake (one of the witnesses and brother to the testator) lives at The Ashes. There was a Council letter from the towne and hundred of Warminster to the Earl of Pembroke dated 28 July 1588 in which one finds the following for the militia that a muskett was to be carried by William Harris of Warminster and furnished by Mr. Blake of the Ashes. This was, of course, in preparation for the arrival of the Spanish Armada. What a delightful piece of history to add to the Blake family story.

http://books.google.ca/books?id=0bIUAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA253&lpg=RA1-PA253&dq=The+Ashes+%2Bwarminster+%2Bblake&source=bl&ots=5fbRrg057l&sig=ECgZ3ymTcpFnnQgoZzfXuqUWeOA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RHeIUM3ULIqw0AGMuoG4DQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=The%20Ashes%20%2Bwarminster%20%2Bblake&f=false

Another comment in The history of Warminster by John Jeremiah Daniell (printed 1879) and on page 643 "In anticipation of the invasion of England by the Spaniards, Beacons were erected on all commanding elevations. There was one on cley Hill for giving the alarm to Warminster, and the neighbourhood. Instructions were issued to the Constables of the Hundred to provide that the Beacon on Cley Hill "" be well and sufficiently furnished with good and dry wood, and a barrel in which pitch hath been, besides 5 or 6 lbs. of pitch; "" a watchman was to be appointed, who should be an able man, both of body and discretion, to look well after the Beacon; and Mr. Carr, the elder, of Corsley, Mr. Blake, of the Ashes, Richard Holwey and Christopher Daniek, of Norridge, Mr. Hobbs, of Bugley, and others of the meetest persons thereabouts, were "" to look after the watchman, and see that the Beacon was well and orderly watched, and fired only on just cause, nor without making the Justices of the Peace and Constables privy thereto.""

Also in The History of Warminster is a list of the Names of Feoffees and Nominators showing that William Blake was feoffee for Asheys and Smallbrook in 1592 and in 1613 William Blake was a nominator and Feoffees included John Blake, Stephen Blake. In 1651 Stephen Blake was a nominator with feoffee William Blake. By 1694 the Blake family has disappeared from this list.  This was for the Property which belonged to St Laurence's Chapel and provided relief for the poor of the parish.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 23 Oct 2012
Source:  Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office P2/6Reg/132C
Name of testator: Thomas Blake
Place: Warminster, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 28 Jul 1584, 7 Oct 1584
Read: Electronic file images
Condition: 16th century, middle English, legible  bold lettering (some bleed through)
[Margin] Blake C

1    In the name of god Amen the eight and twentith day of July
2    in the yere of the reign of o[u]r sov[er]eign Lady Elizabeth by the grace
3    of god quene of England France and Ireland defender of the a[nc]ient
4    faith etc And in the yere of o[u]r lord god one thousand fyve hundred
5    eightie and fower I Thomas Blake of Warmister in the countie of
6    Wiltsh[ire] being sicke in body but of good and p[er]fitt remembrace almightie
7    god to be thanked (revoking all other wills before this tyme by me
8    made) do make this my testament conteyning herein my last
9    will in mann[er] and forme folowing First I bequeath my sowle to
10    almightie god by whose m[er]cye and the satisfaction of Jesus Christ my
11    only Saviour I trust to be saved And my body to be buried in the
12    buriall of Warmister It[e]m I geve to the Cath[edral] Church of Sa[lisbur]y
13    iiijd It[e]m I geve to the p[ar]ishe churche of warmister xij d It[e]m
    [Page 2]
14    I geve to John my sonne the table bords that ar in the hall and the p[ar]ler w[i]th
15    the formes to the same It[e]m I geve him my sylv[er] salte to use and ennioye
16    during his life naturall lyfe and if he dye w[i]thout heirs my will is
17    that Edward my sonne shall have itt It[e]m I geve to Edward my sonne
18    my greate crocke the same to be deliv[er]ed to him att the full age of xxi tie
19    yeres It[e]m I geve to the same Edward tenne pounds in money
20    to be paid unto him att the age of xxi tie yeres It[e]m I geve to
21    barborowe my daughter tenne pounds to be paid to her att the
22    age of sixetene yeres It[e]m I geve to Edith my daughter tenne pounds
23    to be paid to her att the age also of sixtene yeres And if any of
24    the three that is to say Edward Barborowe or Edith do dye before
25    the tyme that they shall recyve their legacies I will that his her
26    or their p[ar]tes shal[l ]be by even p[ar]tes devided to suche of them as shal[l ]be
27    lyving. The residue of all my goods debts and chattells I geve unto
28    Agnes my wife whom I make my sole executrix And I desire
29    my trustie frends Symon Sloper my father in lawe John
30    Benett my father in lawe William Blake my brother and
31    Will[ia]m Myddelcott to see the execution of this my will witness[e]s
32    to this my will Sir William Lydley clerke and William Blake of
33    the ashes and Robert Howse the elder