Will of Robert Blake, yeoman of Halse, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/224/141, probated 9 Jul 1652

The testator is likely the Robert Blake married to Elizabeth Blake, widow, of Over Stowey who left her will which was probated 16 May 1656. She mentions her children Robert, John and Grace as does he. Still wondering if this is the descendant of John Blake of Kingston who was a son of Thomas Blake of Wedmore and hence of the Blake Over Stowey line.

http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/09/will-of-elizabeth-blake-widow-of-over.html

This would mean that this line is also collateral to the line of Admiral Robert Blake. However, the land referred to in this will at Wemdon clearly connects to the Blake family at Halse.

I still have not yet determined if the Blake family at Halse is descendant of Thomas Blake of Wedmore. There are five Blake wills at Halse: Elizabeth the relict of Robert Blake (current testator), John who was a brother to Robert Blake (possibly the Robert Blake who left his will in 1639 and the father of the present testator), William Blake who only names a son John in his will of 1594 but mentions his property at Wembdon,  the will of Robert Blake 1639 where he mentions John Blake of Kingston and the will of Agnis Blake 1641 (wife of Robert Blake who left his will in 1639).

What we do know thus far about Thomas Blake at Wedmore was that he was buried there 8 Dec 1580 and that he and his wife Isobel had nine children but only four survived to be mentioned in his will: Thomas , Lucia, John and Elizabeth. Thomas married Alice Tutton 10 Feb 1587 at Wedmore and they had four children but only one son Richard and I have not yet been able to trace him down. Lucia married Robert Jarvis 11 Jan 1586 at Wedmore, John was baptized 230 Jan 1571 and I am suspicious that this is the John who left his will in 1620 who identified his brother as Robert and his children Anne and Anstice (he is married to Katherine). 

William Blake in his will of 1594 identifies his father as Robert and a son William. It is possible that his wife had a posthumous child which would account for the Robert brother of John. But this negates this family as being connected to Thomas Blake of Wedmore which is fine but we continue to be left with the mystery of the Blake family at Halse and the ancestor of Robert Blake father of William leaving his will in 1594.

The mention of property at Stogursey is also interesting. Robert also mentions his sister Edith. The mother of Robert’s father Robert was Edith. Still more thinking to do on this family.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 26 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/224/141
Testator: Robert Blake, yeoman
Place: Halse, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 6 Nov 1651, probated 9 Jul 1652
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: The Will of Robert
[Margin]:  Blake

1    In the name of God Amen I Robert
2    Blake of halse in the County of Somersett yeoman beinge of perfect health of
3    body and mynd (praised be God) doe make and ordaine this my last will and
4    Testament in manner following First I give unto the poore of halse Tenn Shillings
5    to be distributed unto them by my Executrix or Administrators Item I give and
6    bequeath unto Robert my Sonne Fortie pounds And unto John my Sonne Fourescore
7    pounds and unto Grace my daughter Fourscore pounds to be paid unto them
8    eespectively when they shall attaine unto their severall ages of one and Twenty yearesor
9    qithin three moneths after the death or next marriage of Elizabeth my wife w[hi]ch
10    ahall First happen Alsoe I give and bequeath unto Robert my Sonne his Executors
11    administrators or Assignes after the death of my said Wife my Grounds lyeinge
12    in halse aforesaid called Finses (which I purchased of Mr Jones) for and dureinge
13    the Residue of my Terme which shall be then to come therein And my will is That
14    if
    [Page 2]
15    if my wife shall not in the Judgment of my Overseers Sufficiently maintaine all my said
16    children then the portions of money hereby given unto them Shalbe paid into the hands of my
17    overseers for maintenance of my Said Children within Six Moneths after notice thereof
18    given unto her in that purpose Alsoe I give and devise unto my said Sonne John and his
19    heires for ever after the death of my wife all my lands in Stogursey Marsh in the said County of
20    Somersett And if he shall dye before he shall attaine to the age of one and Twenty yeares Then
21    I give and devise the same Lands after my said wife’s death unto my sonne Robert and his heires for
22    ever And my will is that such person or persons as by virtue of this my will Shall jnioy the said
23    lands in Storgursey Marsh Shall pay unto Grace my daughter One hundred pounds of
24    lawfull English money within one yeare next after such tyme as my said sonne John Shall
25    or Should have Accomplished the age of one and Twenty yeares provided allwayes and
26    the same meaning of this my will is That if Elizabeth my wife shall be living at the tyme
27    when the said One hundred pounds Shalle come payable to my Said daughter Grace as is
28    is above limited Then neither of my said Sonnes or other person Shalbe charged with the
29    payment thereof until one yeare after the decease of my said wife And then I will that
30    the said One hundred pounds shall be paid unto my said daughter by such person or
31    persons as shall jnioy the said Lands And my will is further that if my said wife Shall
32    happen to dye before the said one hundred pounds become due then such person or persons
33    as shall jnioy the said Lands shall from and after the death of my said wife paye unto my
34    said daughter Grace Eight pounds yearly portion and every yeare until her said portion shalbecome
35    payable in Such manner and at Such tyme as I have herein before declared And
36    if default shall be made in payment of the said One hundred pounds at the before limited
37    tyme Then I give the said land in Stogursey Marsh unto my said daughter Grace and
38    her heires for ever And my will is that if my said daughter Grace shall happen to dye
39    before She shall accomplish the age of one and Twenty yeares without yssue of her body
40    lawfully begotten That then this last legacie of one hundred pounds payable out of
41    Stogurseye Marsh as aforesaid shall be void to all intents and purposes But the legacies
42    of Fowescore pounds First bequeathed unto her I wholie give unto my Sonne Robert
43    and whereas I am to pay unto my Sister Edith One hundred and Fortie pounds when
44    she shall Accomplish her age of one and Twenty yeares which was given unto her by the
45    will of my Father And Twenty pounds more which I have received for her My will
46    is that if my Executrix or Administrators shall quietly Jnioy the halfenddast of A
47    Tenement in Wemdon in the said County of Somersett called Perry wood until my
48    said Sister shall attaine unto the age aforesaid and shall not in the meane tyme be
49    charged with more than Eight pounds apeace towards the maintenance of my said
50    Sister Then my Executrix or Administrator shall pay unto her Two hundred pounds And
51    assigne over unto her all the Jnterest which I have in the said Tenement in Wembdon
52    soe as my said Sister shall at the same tyme Seale and deliver unto my Executrix or
53    Administrators A sufficient general release of all Accomptes debts and demands
54    whatsoever All the rest of my goods and Chattells whatsoever not formerly bequeathed
55    my debts paid and legacies discharged I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth my wife
56    whome I make Executrix of this my will. But if my said wife shall happen to dye before
57   probate hereof shalbe made Then I make my said sonne John and my daughter Grace
58    Executors hereof And in Case they dye they dye before probate made Then I make my
59    said Sonne Robert Executor And I desire my Overseers hereafter named to take letters
60    of Administration dureinge my said Childrens minorities Lastly I desire my brother in
61    law John Sellocke and my brother Edmund Blake to be Overseers of this my will And
62    doe give them for there Care and paines to be taken in and about the Execution thereof
63    twenty shillings apiece and their necessary Expences In Witnesse whereof I have to
64    every sheete thereof beings three in number Sett my hand and Seale the Sixth day of
65    November in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand six hundred Fiftie and one
66    Robert Blake Seased published and declared to be the last will and Testament of
67    the said Robert Blake in the presence of us Henry Haddridge J Sellacke
68    Edmund Blake Wat: Peirce An Addi[t]ion to my will Alsoe I give unto
69    my daughter Grace Fortie pounds to be paid unto her when the legacie of
70    fowrescore
    [Page 3]
71    fowrescore pounds given her by this my will Shall become due and payable And my
72    will is that if my said daughter shall dye before the Said legacie of Fortie pounds Shalbe
73    com due unto her then the some shall remaine unto my sonne John if he be lievinge if not
74    unto my sonne Robert And whereas my father by his will gave unto my
75    and bedstead performed and my mother gave the same unto my Sister Edith my will
76   is that Tenne pounds shalbe paid unto my said Sister in consideration thereof
77    when she shall Accomplish the age of one and Twenty yeares She then Seallinge
78    a personal release unto my Executor In Witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my
79    hand Robert Blake Witnesses Ja Sellacke Wal: Pearse Corye Comer
80    This will was proved at London before the Right Worshipfull Nathaniell Grey
81    Knight doctor of Lawes and Master or Keeper of the prerogative Court lawfully
82    constituted the ninth day of July in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand Six
83    hundred Fiftie two by the Oath of Elizabeth Blake the Relict of the said deceased
84    and Sole Executrix named in the said Will To whome was Committed Administration
85    of all and Singular the goods Chattell and debts of the said deceased She beinge
86    first legallie Sworne (by Commission) well and truly to Administer the same.

Will of John Blake, yeoman of Halse, National Archives PROB 11/135 image reference 713/605, probated 12 Jun 1620

This will of John Blake at Halse identifies him as a brother of Robert Blake. Is this the Robert who left his will in 1639 at Halse? Are both of these men the sons of William who left his will in 1594? Only John is identified as a son but his wife Alice could have been expecting a second child. However, Robert in 1639 identified the grandmother of his children as Edith Blake. As always a new will brings some new information and plenty of questions keeping you digging deeper and deeper.

The reference to Wembdon is interesting because that is the home of William who left his will in 1594. This particular testator appears to hold the land at both Wembdon and Halse. Later in 1639 Robert Blake in his will refers to their home at Halse and a lease for his chattle in the parish of Wemdon. William Blake who left his will in 1594 refers only to his father Robert and does not mention the name of his mother. Could she be Edith?

The Blake family at Halse has not been studied by anyone thus far in my searching. the British History website (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=117135) mentions under Mill at Halse that in 1630 the mill at Halse was let on a long lease and was occupied by members of the Blake and Crosse families in the 17th century (reference: S.R.O., DD/HLM 8; ibid. D/P/hal 4/1/2, 13/2/2.).   

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 25 Apr 2012
Source:  The National Archives PROB11/135, Image Reference 713/605  (images by me)
Name of testator: John Blake, yeoman
Place: Halse, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 10 Apr 1620, probated 12 Jun 1620
Read: Electronic file
Condition: smudges, cramped writing, 17th century, bold copy
[In margin] T  Johannis
[In margin] Blake

1    In the name of God Amen The Tenth day of
2    April 1620. I John Blake of Halse in the Countie of Somerset, yeoman, beinge
3    sicke of bodie, but of perfect minde and memory, thanks be to God therefore
4    doe make this my last will and testament in this manner and forme followinge
5    First I give and bequeath my soule to Almighty god my onely Savio[u]r by whose
6    mercie I hope to be saved. And my bodie to be buried accordinge to the christian
7    buriall. Item I give and bequeath to the poore people of Halse Tenne shillings
8    Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anne one chattell lease of Eighte
9    acres of ground lyinge w[i]thin the p[ar]ish of Wemdon for and duringe all the yeares
10    and terme unto me therein grannted. But if the said Anne doe happen to dye
11    before she come to her full age of One and twenty yeares, or before her marriage,
12    Then my will is that the foresaid lease shall remaine unto my daughter Edith. Item
13    I give to my daughter Anne alsoe Twenty pounds to be paid to my Overseers at
14    Michaelmasse nexte to the use of my daughter Anne. Item I give and bequeath
15    my daughter Edith Threescore pounds to be payde alsoe to my Overseers for the use
16    of the said Edith at Michaelmas nexte Item I give and bequeath to Katherine my
17    wife, all the estate and terme w[hi]ch I nowe have in these two parcells of grounde cal[l]ed
18    Oxen lease lyinge in the p[ar]ishe of Halse aforesaid for and towardes the mayntenance
19    of my children. And alsoe all my corne in my Barne at Wemdon and all the
20    maulte in my house heare at Halse w[i]th all my Butter, Cheese, Bacon and my
21    wood aboute the house and all the corne in ground heare at Halse. Alsoe I give
22    to my wife sixe kyne and my geldinge and my mare except the heriett and all
23    my piggs. Item my will is that my wife shall have to her use and occupa[t]ion of all
24    my household stuffe both at Wemdon and heare at Halse soe longe as she be the
25    widdowe. And all the same househould stuffe to leave to my daughter Annstice soe good
26    as nowe it is, at the time of her marriage, or at the time of her death w[hi]chev[er]
27    shall hapen first. Further my will is that whereas there is Fifty pounds of my
28    marriage money to be paid at the death of my mother in lawe out of certayne landes
29    that Katherine my wife shall have the said moneys at the tyme of payment. And that
30    my Executor shall not be charged heare w[i]th. The residue of all my goodes debts chattels
31    not given nor bequeathed I doe give and bequeath to my daughter Annstice whome
32    I doe make my Executrix of this my last will and testament. I doe constitute ordaine
33    and make Roberte Blake my brother, William Buncombe and Phillipp Morse
34    to be Overseers to this my Will and to take into their hands all Legacies or somes of
35    money given to my daughters and the same to ymploy for the use and benefitt of
36    my daughters untill they come to the full age of one and twenty yeares and then to
37    paye over to every of them as they shall come to their full ages of one and twenty
38    yeares theyr severall por[t]ions w[i]th the profitts thereof. And my Will is that my Over-
39    seers shall have sixe shillings and eight pence a peece for their paines Witnesses
40    heare unto William Cade, Richard Cade, Anthony Cade, William Buncombe.

Will of William Blake, Yeoman of Halse, National Archives PROB 11/84 Image Reference 183/163, probated 1 Aug 1594

Another will for a member of the Blake family of Halse and this one does link some generations on the one hand but on the other as usual adds a new dimension and more questions. William is still young when he dies; his father Robert is still living and at Halse. This is only 1594 so this is not the same Robert as is married to Agnis in the wills posted over the last couple of days. But the forename is interesting none the less. The name of this William's son is John. John is thus born before 1594 but no way of telling his age from this document other than that he is less than 21 years of age.

Wembdon is one mile NW of Bridgwater. The parish register holdings for this parish only go back to 1665 for baptisms, 1676 for marriages and 1673 for burials.

Although William lives at Wembdon he will be buried at Halse according to his will. His wife is named Alice but no hints at her maiden name except that the second executor is John Nethercott of Wembdon. The property of William is divided equally between John, the son of William and Alice, and Alice his mother.   One of the next wills that I will transcribe is that of John Blake of Halse. Since William is dying as an adult in 1594 with a son he is probably in his 20s which could mean he was born in the early 1570s or late 1560s. That would mean his father was likely born in the 1540s. Humphrey Blake of Over Stowey is buried in 1558. His eldest son John is buried in 1576  and his daughters are all married by then so he was probably born in the 1520s or early 1530s so h is perhaps a contemporary of Humphrey's children. Humphrey only identifies one sister (Alice married to Cabull) in his will. Was she his only sibling? Are there separate Blake lines in Somerset? Over Stowey is 8 miles NNE of Halse.  Every will adds something new and interesting but also raises more and more questions!

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 19 Apr 2012
Source:  The National Archives PROB 11/84 Image Reference 183/163 (images by me)
Name of testator: William Blake, Yeoman
Place: Wembdon, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 7 Jun 1594, probated 1 Aug 1594
Read: Electronic file
Condition: smudges, 16th century, light copy

[In margin] T  Willmi
[In margin] Blake

1    In the name of God Amen The seventhe
2    daye of June and in the six and thirteth yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Ladye Elizabeth
3    by the grace of god of England Frannce and Ireland Queene defendresse of the faithe etc A[nn]o
4    D[omi]ni A thousand five hundreth ninetie foure I Will[ia]m Blake of Wembdon in the
5    Countye of Somerset[t]e yeoman and of good and perfecte memorye (god be thancked) doe make and
6    ordayne this my Last Will and Testament in manner and forme following th[u]s Imprimis I
7    bequeathe my Soule unto Almightie god my maker and Redemer And my Bodye to the earthe viz
8    to be buryed in the Churchyarde of Halse. Item I give to the Church of Halse foure pence
9    Item I give to the Churche of Wembdon foure pence Item I give to the poore people of Halse
10    three shillings foure pence Item I give to the poore of Wembdon three shillings four pence All
11    the Rest of my goods and chattells moveable and unmoveable not given nor bequeathed (all my debts
12    paid and my Legacies performed) I give and bequeathe unto Alice my wife and John Blake
13    my sonne whome I make my executors Iointly together the same equally to be devided betwene
14    the said Alice my Wife and John my sonne by the handes of Robert Blake my Father and
15    John Nethercott th[e ]elder of Wembdon Item I appoint Robert Blake, my Father, to have the
16    keeping of the por[t]ion of goods of my said sonne John Blake untill my saide sonne shall accomplishe
17    the full age of one and twenty yeares Item I make and appointe to be my overseers to see this
18    my Last will performed the aforesaid Robert Blake of Halsse my Father and John Nethercott
19    of Wembdon th[e ]elder Witnesses hereunto Robert Ryshe and John Brewforde with others

Will of Robert Blake, Yeoman of Halse, National Archives PROB 11/180 Image Reference 543/493, probated 15 Jun 1639

Other places near Halse include 2 miles NE Bishops Lydeard and 2 miles WNW Fitzhead, Finding the parents of Robart Blake would be most interesting especially with his sons named Robert, Edmund, John and Richard. All four of these sons were born prior to 1640. Interesting to find everyone in the same place - Halse - Perry family and Blake family. Could there be two distinct Blake families in Halse?

As I continue transcribing the wills perhaps I will find a link. Robert mentions John Blake of Kingston as one of his Executors in Trust. The post of the Will of Thomas Blake of Wedmore, Somerset (http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-thomas-blake-of-wedmore.html) brings up the John Blake at Kingston as the eldest son of the testator of this will left land to his son Thomas at Kingston. He did have a son John but would he be the same John since this will was 1581 and now the time is the late 1630s. In this case following the land would be helpful. On the other hand I do not know how Thomas fits into the known Somerset Blake family but slowly linking people is helpful to that cause.

Robert identifies his mother as Edith Blake which I shall stow away in my memory (and this is my memory bank!) and that piece of information will no doubt be helpful in the future.

Looking at the Parish Records posted earlier perhaps this family continues at Halse with the records listed in the blog of the will of Agnis Blake (wife of this Robert): http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/04/will-of-agnis-blake-widow-of-halse_17.html




Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 18 Apr 2012
Source:  The National Archives PROB 11/180 Image Reference 543/493 (images by me)
Name of testator: Robert Blake, Yeoman
Place: Halse, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 11 Dec 1638, probated 15 Jun 1639
Read: Electronic file
Condition: smudges, 17th century, light copy

[In margin] Tm  Roberti Blake

1    In the name of God Amen The elveanethe
2    daie of december Anno D[omi]ni 1638 And in the fourteenth yere of the Raigne of o[u]r
3    Sovereigne Lord Charles by the grace of God king of England etc I Robert
4    Blake of Halse in the County of Somersett Yeoman being in good health and of
5    perfect memorie (thankes be to Almightie God) doe ordeyne and make this my last
6    will and Testament in manner and forme followinge That is to say, First I give and
7    bequeath my soule unto Almightie God And my body to Christian buryall in sure and
8    certaine hope of Resurrec[t]ion to eternall life at the last day And that by the onely
9    meritts of the death and passion of Jesus Christ myne onely Saviour and Redeemer
10    Item I give and bequeath towards the Reedifyeing and new buildinge of St Paules
11    Church in the Citty of London five shillings Item I give and bequeath to the poore
12    of Halse Tenn shillings And to the poore people that shall es[c]orte unto my funerall
13    fortie shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Wife Agnes Blake my best fetherbed
14    performed and my best Mantl (When the herrietts are chasen and gonne) tenne kyne and
15    Twenty sheepe Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Agnis one hundred
16    poundes includinge therein her Grandmother Edith Blakes quifts or Legacie
17    Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Grace One hundred and fortie poundes includinge
18    therein her Grandmother Edith Blakes guift or Legacie Item I give and bequeath
19    unto my daughter Jane the Lease of my chattle lyeing and being in the parish of
20    Wemdon Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Edith one hundred and fortie
21    pounds to be payd her out of my freeland and val[e] entyre ground scituate and being in
22    the parish of Halse But if any of my foresaide daughters shall happen to dye before
23    Shee come to the age of one and Twenty yeares Then my Will is that her por[t]ion soe dyeing
24    Shalbe equally devided among the Survivors of them Item I give and Bequeath unto my
25    sonne Richard five poundes To my sonne John five pounds To my sonne Edmond
26    five pounds And to all my Godchildren Twoe shillings apeece And I doe make and
27    constitute my sonne Robert Blake the whole and sole Executor of this my last will and
28    Testament when he shall come to a fully have accomplished the age of one and twenty
in margin    Edmund shall be myne Executor when he comes to the full age of one and twenty yeares, if he chance to dye before that time then my sonne
29    yeares But if hee shall chance to dye before that tyme Then my sonne ^ John shall be
30    myne Executor when he come to the full age of one and twenty yeres yf hee doe chance
31    to dye before that tyme Then my sonne Richard shall be my sole Executor when hee
32    comes to the same full age of one and twentie yeares And I doe make Executors in trust
33    untill my children come all severally to the age of one and Twenty yeres Thomas Gredy of
34    Samford Arundell yeoman Henry Davy of Durley yeoman John Blake of Kingston
35    yeoman Anthony Cale of Halse yeoman And for their paynes I doe give them
36    Twentie shillings apeece. The m[a]rke of Robert Blake Witnesses unto this Testament
37    William Moore Clerke Robert Moore William Colles
38    A Codicill annexed unto the within written Testam[en]t
39    Moreover I the within named Testator doe hereby Will and ordeyn That my
40    within named wife Agnes Blake shall have the use and occupa[t]ion of all  my household
41    stuffe and utensills within doores soe long as shee keeps herself my widdowe And
    [Page 2]
42    contynue dwellinge in my now dwelling house at Halse Provided allwayes
43    that shee her Executors or Administrators shall make the said utensills and householde
44    stuffe soe good unto myne Executors I left them unto her Item I doe give and
45    bequeath unto my foresaid wife Agnes All my corne in and aboute my house and in
46    ground Provided that for and in considera[t]ion of the same shee shall give or allowe
47    unto my children Richard Edith and Jane Blake sufficient meate drinke and
48    Apparell Accordinge to their degree forth or tyme of fouer yeeres ymediately
49    after my decease The m[a]rke of Robert Blake Wittnesses hereunto W[illia]m Moore
50    Clerke Rob[ert] Moore Will[ia]m Colles