This completes all of the wills that I have at hand for Wiltshire and I will now move on to Hampshire. I may work concurrently on the very very old wills and the newer wills that I have since I am slowed down with Latin although most of the early wills are in English.
There is a lot of family reconstruction to do on Blake families in Wiltshire. Once I have Wiltshire BMDs from 1837 to the 1900s and the census for Blake families together I shall revisit the wills along with the Parish Registers that I have thus far at hand.
Showing posts with label Wiltshire Wills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wiltshire Wills. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Will of William Blake, Tailor, Trowbridge, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/1871/19, probated 5 Jan 1837
William Blake, Tailor, Trowbridge, Wiltshire is the testator. He has written his will in 1813 and it was not probated until 1837. He names his wife Jane and his children as Ann, Maria, Harriet, John, Charles and James. There is a Charles Blake, tailor at Trowbridge who leaves his will in 1802 and this will is available. It could prove to be interesting for this family – could he perhaps be the father of William Taylor, the testator?
Just at a quick glance, I did find Charles Blake tailor 41 years and born in Wiltshire at St Peter Marlborough on the 1841 census with wife Margaret 41 years, son Frederick 15 years, neither born in Wiltshire and Harriet 10, Ebenezer 6 both born in Wiltshire. Moving forward to 1851 also at St Peter Marlborough I find Charles Blake, 51 years, tailor and draper born at Trowbridge with his wife Margaret also 51 born at Newgate Kent with son Frederick 25, tailor’s apprentice and born at London, Middlesex.
On the 1871 Census I did find Margaret, head, widow, 71 years, private income and her son Ebenezer, unmarried, 36 years of age, Chemist (master) living at Marlborough Wiltshire.
The will of Charles Blake P31/1/10/285 1867 tailor at Marlborough and this will has been scanned so another future purchase likely which might provide more information on this particular family.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 1 Jan 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1871/19
Testator: William Blake, Tailor
Place: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 2 Nov 1813, probated 5 Jan 1837
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: William
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 8
1 This is the Last Will and Testament
2 of me William Blake of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts Tailor I give devise and
3 bequeath unto my Wife Jane all that my Freehold Tenement or dwellinghouse together
4 with the outhouses and appurtenances thereunto belonging situate and being near the
5 Market Place in Trowbridge aforesaid and wherein I now reside to hold to her my
6 said Wife for and during the term of her natural life she keeping the same in
7 tenantable repair and condition Also I give and bequeath unto my said Wife all
8 and singular my Personal Estate Chattels and Effects household Goods and Furniture
9 of every description debts monies and securities for money which I may die possessed
10 of To hold to her my said Wife for and during her natural life for her own sole use
11 and enjoyment subject nevertheless to the payment of my just debts funeral expences
12 and the expence of proving my said Will and seeing the same carried into effect and
13 from and immediately after the decease of my said Wife I give devise and bequeath
14 my said Freehold Tenement or dwellinghouse and premises before mentioned together
15 also with the whole of my said personal Estate and Effects as aforesaid unto my two
16 good Friends Samuel Cook of the City of Bristol and Philip Caddy of Trowbridge
17 aforesaid Grocer upon trust that they or the survivor of them or the heirs executors
18 or administrators of such survivor do and shall cause the same and every part thereof to
19 be sold either by Public Auction of Private sale for the best of most money that
20 can or may be had or gotten for the same and the money to arise therefrom (subject
21 to the payment of my just debts and funeral expences as aforesaid) do and shall
22 pay and equally divide amongst and between my daughters Ann, Maria and
23 Harriet and my Sons John Charles and James or such of them as shall be then
24 living share and share alike but in case either of my said Sons and Daughters before
25 named should happen to die before my said Wife and leaving issue of his her or
26 their body or bodies lawfully begotten then upon trust to pay and apply the share of
27 him her or them so dying unto such his her or their respective issue whether male
28 or female equally between them share and share alike and if only one such child then
29 to such only Child as they my said trustees or the survivor of them his heirs ex[ecut]ors
30 or administrators shall in their discretion think fit and proper and it is my will
31 and desire that my said trustees or either of them shall not be answerable or
32 accountable for any more of the trust monies or estate than shall actually come to
33 his own hands respectively and not the one for the other of them but each of them
34 for their own acts receipts deeds and wilful defaults only and that they shall and may
35 reimburse themselves out of the trust monies which shall respectively come to their
36 hands all such costs charges and expences as they or either of them may be put to under
37 and by virtue of the trusts hereby in them reposed And lastly I hereby nominate
38 constitute and appoint my said Wife Jane and the said Samuel Cook Executrix
39 and Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former and
40 other Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I have to this
41 my Will contained on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal the second day of
43 November one thousand eight hundred and thirteen Wm Blake
44 Signed Sealed published and declared by the said William Blake the Testator
45 as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and
46 in the presence of each other at his request have subscribed our names as Witnesses
47 thereto the word “they” having been first interlined Wm Guley Thomas Martin
48 Henry Crabb
49 Proved at London 5th January 1837 before the Judge by the Oath of Jane
50 Blake widow the Relict the surviving Executor to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted having
51 been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer
Just at a quick glance, I did find Charles Blake tailor 41 years and born in Wiltshire at St Peter Marlborough on the 1841 census with wife Margaret 41 years, son Frederick 15 years, neither born in Wiltshire and Harriet 10, Ebenezer 6 both born in Wiltshire. Moving forward to 1851 also at St Peter Marlborough I find Charles Blake, 51 years, tailor and draper born at Trowbridge with his wife Margaret also 51 born at Newgate Kent with son Frederick 25, tailor’s apprentice and born at London, Middlesex.
On the 1871 Census I did find Margaret, head, widow, 71 years, private income and her son Ebenezer, unmarried, 36 years of age, Chemist (master) living at Marlborough Wiltshire.
The will of Charles Blake P31/1/10/285 1867 tailor at Marlborough and this will has been scanned so another future purchase likely which might provide more information on this particular family.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 1 Jan 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1871/19
Testator: William Blake, Tailor
Place: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 2 Nov 1813, probated 5 Jan 1837
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: William
[Margin]: Blake
[Margin]: 8
1 This is the Last Will and Testament
2 of me William Blake of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts Tailor I give devise and
3 bequeath unto my Wife Jane all that my Freehold Tenement or dwellinghouse together
4 with the outhouses and appurtenances thereunto belonging situate and being near the
5 Market Place in Trowbridge aforesaid and wherein I now reside to hold to her my
6 said Wife for and during the term of her natural life she keeping the same in
7 tenantable repair and condition Also I give and bequeath unto my said Wife all
8 and singular my Personal Estate Chattels and Effects household Goods and Furniture
9 of every description debts monies and securities for money which I may die possessed
10 of To hold to her my said Wife for and during her natural life for her own sole use
11 and enjoyment subject nevertheless to the payment of my just debts funeral expences
12 and the expence of proving my said Will and seeing the same carried into effect and
13 from and immediately after the decease of my said Wife I give devise and bequeath
14 my said Freehold Tenement or dwellinghouse and premises before mentioned together
15 also with the whole of my said personal Estate and Effects as aforesaid unto my two
16 good Friends Samuel Cook of the City of Bristol and Philip Caddy of Trowbridge
17 aforesaid Grocer upon trust that they or the survivor of them or the heirs executors
18 or administrators of such survivor do and shall cause the same and every part thereof to
19 be sold either by Public Auction of Private sale for the best of most money that
20 can or may be had or gotten for the same and the money to arise therefrom (subject
21 to the payment of my just debts and funeral expences as aforesaid) do and shall
22 pay and equally divide amongst and between my daughters Ann, Maria and
23 Harriet and my Sons John Charles and James or such of them as shall be then
24 living share and share alike but in case either of my said Sons and Daughters before
25 named should happen to die before my said Wife and leaving issue of his her or
26 their body or bodies lawfully begotten then upon trust to pay and apply the share of
27 him her or them so dying unto such his her or their respective issue whether male
28 or female equally between them share and share alike and if only one such child then
29 to such only Child as they my said trustees or the survivor of them his heirs ex[ecut]ors
30 or administrators shall in their discretion think fit and proper and it is my will
31 and desire that my said trustees or either of them shall not be answerable or
32 accountable for any more of the trust monies or estate than shall actually come to
33 his own hands respectively and not the one for the other of them but each of them
34 for their own acts receipts deeds and wilful defaults only and that they shall and may
35 reimburse themselves out of the trust monies which shall respectively come to their
36 hands all such costs charges and expences as they or either of them may be put to under
37 and by virtue of the trusts hereby in them reposed And lastly I hereby nominate
38 constitute and appoint my said Wife Jane and the said Samuel Cook Executrix
39 and Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former and
40 other Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I have to this
41 my Will contained on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal the second day of
43 November one thousand eight hundred and thirteen Wm Blake
44 Signed Sealed published and declared by the said William Blake the Testator
45 as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and
46 in the presence of each other at his request have subscribed our names as Witnesses
47 thereto the word “they” having been first interlined Wm Guley Thomas Martin
48 Henry Crabb
49 Proved at London 5th January 1837 before the Judge by the Oath of Jane
50 Blake widow the Relict the surviving Executor to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted having
51 been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer
Will of Thomas Blake, yeoman, Winterbourne Earl, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/2143/52, probated 10 Dec 1851
Thomas Blake, testator, died 22 Feb 1851 at Winterbourne Earls aged 37 years. This from The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for the Year 1851, Volume 35 (Page 453). This publication by Sylvanus Urban, Gentleman and published at London: John Bowyer Nichols and Son. 1851. His father Benjamin Blake’s will is one of the two available at the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office – P2/1838/7 Benjamin Blake 1838 of Ford, Laverstock or P2/1841/19 Benjamin Blake 1841 Yeoman of Winterbourne Gunner. Neither of them have been scanned so are not available to download. Benjamin Blake died March quarter 1838 in Alderbury RD and a second one died March quarter 1841 in Amesbury RD. The census will not help us for these two men. Jane, the mother of the testator and hence the wife of Benjamin died March quarter 1852 in Alderbury RD. All this from Free BMD. So which one is correct?
Looking at Family Search Benjamin Blake married to Jane baptized children at Laverstock, Wiltshire:
Benjamin baptized 4 Jan 1809 (born 15 Nov 1808)
Elizabeth baptized 8 Jan 1810; buried 15 Nov 1811
John baptized 1811
And baptized at Winterbourne Gunner:
Eliza baptized 21 Jun 1812
Richard baptized 26 Jan 1817
From Free BMD there is a Thomas Blake son of Benjamin Blake yeoman and Jane baptized at Winterbourne Gunner 27 Oct 1813. This definitely fits into the time frame as the testator was 37 years of age when he died in 1851. Does it also point the Benjamin Blake who died in 1841 as being the father of the testator?
Jane wife of Benjamin is 66 years old in the census of 1851 at Winterbourne Earls so born circa 1785 and she is likely the mother of these children. There is another Jane on the 1851 census also widowed but she is only 57 and too young to be the mother of these children. At some point in the future I must acquire these two wills to sort the families out.
The marriage of John Blake, only son of Thomas Blake the testator, was celebrated at St Marks Kennington, Lambeth to Maria Howe Farley, youngest daughter of Mr John Farley, Yeovil June quarter 1868. The census entry in 1881 at Christchurch may be this family. John Blake, head, married, 36 years, coal agent, born at Ford Wiltshire; Maria Blake, wife, 37 years, born at Yeovil; Ernest, son 7 years, born at Melksham, Mabel, daughter, 5 years, born at Wales, Ethel, daughter, 3 years, born at Cardiff, Wales, Maud, daughter, 1 year, born at Salisbury. That would give John a year of birth of 1845. I found him on the 1851 census at Winterbourne Earls living with Jane Blake, head, widow, 66 years of age and the mother of Thomas, the testator, and she was born in 1785 and is an Annuitant born at Durnford, Wiltshire. Living with her Sarah Blake, daughter, unmarried, 28 years of age, born in 1823 at Winterbourne Gunner. Also John Blake, grandson, unmarried, 7 years of age, born in 1844 at Laverstock, Wiltshire and listed as Farmer’s son and Scholar.
The 1861 Census is elusive for John Blake. He would be about sixteen years of age.
On FreeBMD there is a Wilfred Sidney Farley Blake born Mar quarter 1872 at Melksham and an Ernest Richard Farley born Dec quarter 1873. The Census in 1871 at Melksham shows John Blake, head 26 years of age, born in 1845 at Ford Wiltshire and he is a Bank Manager. His wife, Maria H Blake, 27 years of age, born at Yeovil and a son Thomas J F Blake 11 months old born at Melksham. On the 1891 Census they are living at Islington, London with John Blake, head, 46 years born at Ford, Wiltshire and he is a Clerk. His wife Maria H is 47 and born at Yeovil. Children: Thomas E Blake 26 years, hosier, born at Melksham, Ernest R 17 years of age and born at Melksham, hosier and Maud 11 years of age born at Salisbury. The other two girls are missing (Mabel and Ethel).
The 1901 census sees him living at East Preston, Sussex, with his son Thomas J Blake, 30 years of age, born at Melksham, Wiltshire, hosier and tailor. John Blake, 56 years of age born at Winterborne Wiltshire, Coal Merchants manager. Maria H Blake is 57 years of age and born at Yeovil, Eva M M Blake is 20 years of age, born at Salisbury. Thomas Blake is still single.
John is on the 1911 census living with his daughter Eva Maude Maria Tomsett, her husband Thomas Walter Neale Tomsett and daughter Ethel Mary Tomsett at Croydon Surrey. He is 66 years of age still married and born at Ford, Wiltshire.
The testator, Thomas, is the son of Benjamin Blake, brother to Thomas Blake whose will was blogged earlier:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/01/will-of-thomas-blake-esquire-stratford.html
Some information available for Benjamin Blake from the National Archives website:
BLAKE FAMILY of WINTERBOURNE EARLS AND LAVERSTOCK [no ref. or date]
[no title] 1214/1 1841-1842, 1856
Contents:
Papers relating to the estate of Benjamin Blake decd., Winterbourne Earls, yeo. copy of his will and inventory 1841, vouchers and accounts 1841-1842, release and residuary accounts 1856
[no title] 1214/2 1843-1854
Contents:
Papers relating to the estate of John Blake decd., Ford farm, Laverstock. Copy of his will proved 1849, valuation of his live and dead stock and household goods, accounts for the running of the farm, details of debts, vouchers and residuary accounts. Lease of land at Ford granted to him 1843
[no title] 1214/3 1851-1868
Contents:
Papers relating to the estate of Thomas Blake decd., Winterbourne Earls including residuary accounts; valuations of his property and live and dead stock 1851, accounts of debts, vouchers and releases.
[no title] 1214/4 1851
Contents:
Thomas Blake decd., Winterbourne Earls, executors' accounts.
[no title] 1214/5 1853-1856
Contents:
Papers about the estate of Jane Blake decd, of Winterbourne Earls, later Wylye wid., [mother of John and Thomas in 2-5]. Release 1853 and residuary accounts.
I definitely need to put these families together in a tree and will come back to that soon. I need to break up my time so that I spend some time transcribing and some time building family trees.
Names mentioned in the will:
Thomas Blake, testator, yeoman, Winterbourne Earls
Edward Cusse, cousin, Winterbourne Gunner, trustee, executor
George Sutton, brother in law, Winterbourne Gunner, trustee, executor
John Blake, brother, deceased
Thomas Blake, uncle, deceased
Jane Blake, widow, mother
Sarah Blake, sister
Elizabeth Blake, wife of testator
Eliza Sutton, sister, West Dean
Job Sutton, brother in law, husband of Eliza, West Dean, Yeoman
Mary Blake Sutton, niece
Susan Sutton, sister, deceased, mother of Mary Blake Sutton
John Blake, son
R M Wilson, Salisbury, Attorney at Law, witness
Samuel Collins, clerk to R M Wilson, witness
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 1 Jan 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/2143/52
Testator: Thomas Blake, Yeoman
Place: Winterbourne Earl, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 14 Feb 1851, probated 10 Dec 1851
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Thomas
[Margin]: Blake
1 This is the Last Will and Testament
2 of me Thomas Blake of Winterbourn Earls in the County of Wilts
3 yeoman I appoint my Cousin Edward Cusse of Winterbourne Gunner in the
4 said County and my brother in law George Sutton of the same place Executors
5 of this my Will and for the purposes thereof I devise my personal estate into
6 three classes and designate it as follows First my share of my late fathers resi-
7 duary estate secondly my interest in the residuary personal estate of my late
8 brother John Blake and thirdly my farming stock household effects money derived
9 from the Will of my late Uncle Thomas Blake and all other my Estate
10 and Effects whatsoever which I call my residuary estate I direct the said
11 Edward Cusse and George Sutton to pay all my just debts and funeral and testa-
12 mentary expences and to enable them to do so I give devise and bequeath
13 unto them and the survivor of them his executors administrators and assigns
14 all my residuary Estate (that is all that I have a disposing power over
15 excepting the stocks monies estate and effects which I may receive under the
16 Wills of my late father and brother) Upon trust to sell such part of it as
17 shall be of a saleable nature and to get in and convert into money the rest of
18 it and thereout to pay all my just debts and funeral and testamentary ex-
19 pences and after payment and satisfaction thereof to pay to my dear mother
20 Jane Blake the sum of Two hundred pounds Sterling and to my Sister Sarah
21 Blake the sum of Two hundred pounds Sterling and also to set apart the sum
22 of One thousand pounds Sterling for my dear Wife Elizabeth Blake and to pay
23 and transfer the same to her or her assigns at the expiration of twelve calen-
24 dar months from the time of my death in case there should be no issue of my
25 marriage with her born in my lifetime or in due time after my death but in
26 case there shall be issue of the said Marriage then I direct the said Edward Cusse
27 and George Sutton and the survivor of them and the executors administrators and
28 assigns of such survivor to invest the said sum of One thousand pounds in their
29 or his names or name in the Government stocks of funds or at interest on real se-
30 curity in England and to pay the interest dividends and yearly produce thereof to
31 my said wife during her life free from the interference or control of any future
32 husband and after her decease then I declare that my said Trustees shall stand
33 possessed of the said sum of one thousand pounds and the stocks and securities
34 on which the same may be invested in trust for the child or children of the
35 said marriage if more than one equally and in the event of their being such
36 child or children of the said marriage and he she or they all dying before at-
37 taining the age of twenty one years then I direct my said Trustees to pay or
38 transfer the said sum of One thousand pounds or the stocks and securities on
39 which the same may be invested to my said wife absolutely And I direct
40 my said Trustees to invest all the remainder of my said residuary estate so
41 defined as aforesaid in the Government stocks of funds or at Interest upon real
43 Security in England and to pay the interest dividends and yearly produce thereof
44 to my dear Mother during her life and after her decease I direct that my said
45 Trustees shall pay to or transfer one moiety of the said principal monies stocks
46 funds and securities to my Sister Eliza the wife of Job Sutton of West Dean
47 Yeoman and the other moiety thereof equally between my said Sister Sarah
48 Blake and my Niece Mary Blake Sutton the daughter of my late Sister
49 Susan Sutton And as regards my share of my late Fathers residuary Estate
50 I give and bequeath the same to the said Edward Cusse and George Sutton
51 and the survivor of them and the executors administrators and assigns of
52 such survivor Upon trust when the same shall come to their or his hands
53 to invest the same in the manner hereinbefore directed with reference to my
54 residuary estate and to accumulate the interest dividends and yearly produce
55 thereof by similar investments until my Son John Blake shall attain the
56 age of twenty one years or die under that age and if he shall attain that
57 age thereupon to transfer to him both the principal monies stocks funds and
58 securities and the accumulations but if he shall die under that age then to
59 pay transfer and divide the same to and equally amongst the said Eliza Sutton
60 Sarah Blake and Mary Blake Sutton And as regards my interest in the
[Page 2]
61 residuary personal estate of my late brother John Blake I give and be-
62 queath the same unto the said Edward Cusse and George Sutton and the
63 survivor of them and the executors administrators and assigns of such survi-
64 vor Upon trust when the same shall come to their or his hands to invest the
65 same in the manner hereinbefore directed with reference to my residuary estate
66 and to pay the interest dividends and yearly produce thereof to my said dear
67 mother during her life in case she should be then living and after her death
68 then into five hundred pounds Sterling part thereof I direct my said trustees
69 to stand possessed thereof upon the same trusts in all respects in favor of my
70 said dear wife and the issue of our marriage if any as I have hereinbefore
71 declared in reference to the sum of one thousand pounds part of my residu-
72 ary estate and as to all the residue of my interest in the residuary estate of
73 my said brother John Blake I direct that my said trustees shall accumulate
74 the interest dividends and yearly produce thereof by investments of a similar
75 character to those hereinbefore directed until my said Son John Blake shall
76 attain the age of twenty one years or be under that age and if he shall
77 attain that age thereupon to transfer to him both the principal monies stocks
78 funds and securities and the accumulations but if he shall be under that age
79 than to pay transfer and divide the same to and equally amongst the said Eliza
80 Sutton Sarah Blake and Mary Blake Sutton I declare that if my said Sister
81 Eliza Sutton shall depart this life before me or before the legacies given to her by
82 this my Will whether contingent or otherwise shall be reduced unto possession
83 then that my said Trustees shall stand possessed thereof In trust for the child
84 if more than one the children equally of my said Sister who shall attain the
85 age of twenty one years and that the legacies in like manner given to my said
86 Sister Sarah Blake and my said Niece Mary Blake Sutton shall be absolutely
87 vested in them respectively at the period of my death I direct that my said
88 Trustees shall have power from time to time or at any time to alter vary or
89 transpose the stocks funds or securities vested in them by this my Will into or
90 for others of the same or a like nature as are hereinbefore provided with respect
91 to the original investments thereof at their or his discretion I declare that
92 said Trustees shall have power to pay and apply the whole or such part as
93 they shall think fit of the interest dividends and yearly produce of the share
94 to which any child excepting my Son John Blake who is provided for from
95 other sources) shall for the time be either presumptively or otherwise entitled
96 under the trusts hereinbefore declared for or towards his or her maintenance or
97 education until his or her share shall become vested and payable and that
98 said trustees may either themselves so pay or apply the same or may pay the
99 same to the guardian or guardians of such child for the purpose aforesaid without
100 seeing to the application thereof I declare that the receipts of my said Trustees
101 for such monies stocks funds and securities as shall be paid or transferred to them
102 by virtue of this my Will stand effectually discharge the persons paying or trans-
103 ferring the same from liability to see to the application thereof And I declare
104 that my said Trustees shall be answerable for their own respective acts receipts and
105 defaults only and shall be at liberty to retain and to allow to each other out of
106 monies coming to their hands by virtue of this my Will all expences incurred
107 in executing the trusts thereof And I declare that on the death refusal or inca-
108 pacity of the said trustees or either of them or of any trustees or trustee to be ap-
109 pointed under this clause it shall be lawful for the capable trustees or trustee if
110 any for the time being of this my will whether refusing further to act or not
111 or if not for the executors or administrators or either or any of them of the last
112 deceased trustee to appoint a fit person or persons to supply the place of the deceased
113 refusing or incapacitated trustees or trustee and I declare that the previous clauses
114 so far as they concern my trustees hereinbefore named shall extend and be applied to
115 new trustees and trustee for the time being of this my Will In witness whereof I
116 the said Thomas Blake have to this my last Will and Testament contained in
117 this one and preceding three sheets of Paper set my hand this fourteenth day of
[Page 3]
118 February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one
119 Thos Blake Signed by the said Testator as his last Will and Testament
120 in the presence of us present at the same to who at his request in his presence
121 and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses
122 R M Wilson of Salisbury Att[orne]y at Law Sam[ue]l Collins his Clerk
123 This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament
124 of me Thomas Blake I give and bequeath to my dear wife All my house-
125 hold furniture and other articles of household in and about my house I give and
126 bequeath also to Edward Cusse and George Sutton Nineteen guineas apiece for the
127 trouble they will have as my Executors and as a slight mark of my regard
128 Witness my hand this fourteenth day of February 1851 Thomas Blake
129 Signed by the said Testator as a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the
130 presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and
131 in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses R M
132 Wilson Sam[ue]l Collins
133 Proved at London with a Codicil 10th Dec[embe]r 1851 before the Judge by
134 the oaths of Edward Cusse and George Sutton the Executors to whom Adm[inistrati]on
135 was granted having been first sworn by Com[missi]on duly to administer.
Looking at Family Search Benjamin Blake married to Jane baptized children at Laverstock, Wiltshire:
Benjamin baptized 4 Jan 1809 (born 15 Nov 1808)
Elizabeth baptized 8 Jan 1810; buried 15 Nov 1811
John baptized 1811
And baptized at Winterbourne Gunner:
Eliza baptized 21 Jun 1812
Richard baptized 26 Jan 1817
From Free BMD there is a Thomas Blake son of Benjamin Blake yeoman and Jane baptized at Winterbourne Gunner 27 Oct 1813. This definitely fits into the time frame as the testator was 37 years of age when he died in 1851. Does it also point the Benjamin Blake who died in 1841 as being the father of the testator?
Jane wife of Benjamin is 66 years old in the census of 1851 at Winterbourne Earls so born circa 1785 and she is likely the mother of these children. There is another Jane on the 1851 census also widowed but she is only 57 and too young to be the mother of these children. At some point in the future I must acquire these two wills to sort the families out.
The marriage of John Blake, only son of Thomas Blake the testator, was celebrated at St Marks Kennington, Lambeth to Maria Howe Farley, youngest daughter of Mr John Farley, Yeovil June quarter 1868. The census entry in 1881 at Christchurch may be this family. John Blake, head, married, 36 years, coal agent, born at Ford Wiltshire; Maria Blake, wife, 37 years, born at Yeovil; Ernest, son 7 years, born at Melksham, Mabel, daughter, 5 years, born at Wales, Ethel, daughter, 3 years, born at Cardiff, Wales, Maud, daughter, 1 year, born at Salisbury. That would give John a year of birth of 1845. I found him on the 1851 census at Winterbourne Earls living with Jane Blake, head, widow, 66 years of age and the mother of Thomas, the testator, and she was born in 1785 and is an Annuitant born at Durnford, Wiltshire. Living with her Sarah Blake, daughter, unmarried, 28 years of age, born in 1823 at Winterbourne Gunner. Also John Blake, grandson, unmarried, 7 years of age, born in 1844 at Laverstock, Wiltshire and listed as Farmer’s son and Scholar.
The 1861 Census is elusive for John Blake. He would be about sixteen years of age.
On FreeBMD there is a Wilfred Sidney Farley Blake born Mar quarter 1872 at Melksham and an Ernest Richard Farley born Dec quarter 1873. The Census in 1871 at Melksham shows John Blake, head 26 years of age, born in 1845 at Ford Wiltshire and he is a Bank Manager. His wife, Maria H Blake, 27 years of age, born at Yeovil and a son Thomas J F Blake 11 months old born at Melksham. On the 1891 Census they are living at Islington, London with John Blake, head, 46 years born at Ford, Wiltshire and he is a Clerk. His wife Maria H is 47 and born at Yeovil. Children: Thomas E Blake 26 years, hosier, born at Melksham, Ernest R 17 years of age and born at Melksham, hosier and Maud 11 years of age born at Salisbury. The other two girls are missing (Mabel and Ethel).
The 1901 census sees him living at East Preston, Sussex, with his son Thomas J Blake, 30 years of age, born at Melksham, Wiltshire, hosier and tailor. John Blake, 56 years of age born at Winterborne Wiltshire, Coal Merchants manager. Maria H Blake is 57 years of age and born at Yeovil, Eva M M Blake is 20 years of age, born at Salisbury. Thomas Blake is still single.
John is on the 1911 census living with his daughter Eva Maude Maria Tomsett, her husband Thomas Walter Neale Tomsett and daughter Ethel Mary Tomsett at Croydon Surrey. He is 66 years of age still married and born at Ford, Wiltshire.
The testator, Thomas, is the son of Benjamin Blake, brother to Thomas Blake whose will was blogged earlier:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/01/will-of-thomas-blake-esquire-stratford.html
Some information available for Benjamin Blake from the National Archives website:
BLAKE FAMILY of WINTERBOURNE EARLS AND LAVERSTOCK [no ref. or date]
[no title] 1214/1 1841-1842, 1856
Contents:
Papers relating to the estate of Benjamin Blake decd., Winterbourne Earls, yeo. copy of his will and inventory 1841, vouchers and accounts 1841-1842, release and residuary accounts 1856
[no title] 1214/2 1843-1854
Contents:
Papers relating to the estate of John Blake decd., Ford farm, Laverstock. Copy of his will proved 1849, valuation of his live and dead stock and household goods, accounts for the running of the farm, details of debts, vouchers and residuary accounts. Lease of land at Ford granted to him 1843
[no title] 1214/3 1851-1868
Contents:
Papers relating to the estate of Thomas Blake decd., Winterbourne Earls including residuary accounts; valuations of his property and live and dead stock 1851, accounts of debts, vouchers and releases.
[no title] 1214/4 1851
Contents:
Thomas Blake decd., Winterbourne Earls, executors' accounts.
[no title] 1214/5 1853-1856
Contents:
Papers about the estate of Jane Blake decd, of Winterbourne Earls, later Wylye wid., [mother of John and Thomas in 2-5]. Release 1853 and residuary accounts.
I definitely need to put these families together in a tree and will come back to that soon. I need to break up my time so that I spend some time transcribing and some time building family trees.
Names mentioned in the will:
Thomas Blake, testator, yeoman, Winterbourne Earls
Edward Cusse, cousin, Winterbourne Gunner, trustee, executor
George Sutton, brother in law, Winterbourne Gunner, trustee, executor
John Blake, brother, deceased
Thomas Blake, uncle, deceased
Jane Blake, widow, mother
Sarah Blake, sister
Elizabeth Blake, wife of testator
Eliza Sutton, sister, West Dean
Job Sutton, brother in law, husband of Eliza, West Dean, Yeoman
Mary Blake Sutton, niece
Susan Sutton, sister, deceased, mother of Mary Blake Sutton
John Blake, son
R M Wilson, Salisbury, Attorney at Law, witness
Samuel Collins, clerk to R M Wilson, witness
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 1 Jan 2014
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/2143/52
Testator: Thomas Blake, Yeoman
Place: Winterbourne Earl, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 14 Feb 1851, probated 10 Dec 1851
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Thomas
[Margin]: Blake
1 This is the Last Will and Testament
2 of me Thomas Blake of Winterbourn Earls in the County of Wilts
3 yeoman I appoint my Cousin Edward Cusse of Winterbourne Gunner in the
4 said County and my brother in law George Sutton of the same place Executors
5 of this my Will and for the purposes thereof I devise my personal estate into
6 three classes and designate it as follows First my share of my late fathers resi-
7 duary estate secondly my interest in the residuary personal estate of my late
8 brother John Blake and thirdly my farming stock household effects money derived
9 from the Will of my late Uncle Thomas Blake and all other my Estate
10 and Effects whatsoever which I call my residuary estate I direct the said
11 Edward Cusse and George Sutton to pay all my just debts and funeral and testa-
12 mentary expences and to enable them to do so I give devise and bequeath
13 unto them and the survivor of them his executors administrators and assigns
14 all my residuary Estate (that is all that I have a disposing power over
15 excepting the stocks monies estate and effects which I may receive under the
16 Wills of my late father and brother) Upon trust to sell such part of it as
17 shall be of a saleable nature and to get in and convert into money the rest of
18 it and thereout to pay all my just debts and funeral and testamentary ex-
19 pences and after payment and satisfaction thereof to pay to my dear mother
20 Jane Blake the sum of Two hundred pounds Sterling and to my Sister Sarah
21 Blake the sum of Two hundred pounds Sterling and also to set apart the sum
22 of One thousand pounds Sterling for my dear Wife Elizabeth Blake and to pay
23 and transfer the same to her or her assigns at the expiration of twelve calen-
24 dar months from the time of my death in case there should be no issue of my
25 marriage with her born in my lifetime or in due time after my death but in
26 case there shall be issue of the said Marriage then I direct the said Edward Cusse
27 and George Sutton and the survivor of them and the executors administrators and
28 assigns of such survivor to invest the said sum of One thousand pounds in their
29 or his names or name in the Government stocks of funds or at interest on real se-
30 curity in England and to pay the interest dividends and yearly produce thereof to
31 my said wife during her life free from the interference or control of any future
32 husband and after her decease then I declare that my said Trustees shall stand
33 possessed of the said sum of one thousand pounds and the stocks and securities
34 on which the same may be invested in trust for the child or children of the
35 said marriage if more than one equally and in the event of their being such
36 child or children of the said marriage and he she or they all dying before at-
37 taining the age of twenty one years then I direct my said Trustees to pay or
38 transfer the said sum of One thousand pounds or the stocks and securities on
39 which the same may be invested to my said wife absolutely And I direct
40 my said Trustees to invest all the remainder of my said residuary estate so
41 defined as aforesaid in the Government stocks of funds or at Interest upon real
43 Security in England and to pay the interest dividends and yearly produce thereof
44 to my dear Mother during her life and after her decease I direct that my said
45 Trustees shall pay to or transfer one moiety of the said principal monies stocks
46 funds and securities to my Sister Eliza the wife of Job Sutton of West Dean
47 Yeoman and the other moiety thereof equally between my said Sister Sarah
48 Blake and my Niece Mary Blake Sutton the daughter of my late Sister
49 Susan Sutton And as regards my share of my late Fathers residuary Estate
50 I give and bequeath the same to the said Edward Cusse and George Sutton
51 and the survivor of them and the executors administrators and assigns of
52 such survivor Upon trust when the same shall come to their or his hands
53 to invest the same in the manner hereinbefore directed with reference to my
54 residuary estate and to accumulate the interest dividends and yearly produce
55 thereof by similar investments until my Son John Blake shall attain the
56 age of twenty one years or die under that age and if he shall attain that
57 age thereupon to transfer to him both the principal monies stocks funds and
58 securities and the accumulations but if he shall die under that age then to
59 pay transfer and divide the same to and equally amongst the said Eliza Sutton
60 Sarah Blake and Mary Blake Sutton And as regards my interest in the
[Page 2]
61 residuary personal estate of my late brother John Blake I give and be-
62 queath the same unto the said Edward Cusse and George Sutton and the
63 survivor of them and the executors administrators and assigns of such survi-
64 vor Upon trust when the same shall come to their or his hands to invest the
65 same in the manner hereinbefore directed with reference to my residuary estate
66 and to pay the interest dividends and yearly produce thereof to my said dear
67 mother during her life in case she should be then living and after her death
68 then into five hundred pounds Sterling part thereof I direct my said trustees
69 to stand possessed thereof upon the same trusts in all respects in favor of my
70 said dear wife and the issue of our marriage if any as I have hereinbefore
71 declared in reference to the sum of one thousand pounds part of my residu-
72 ary estate and as to all the residue of my interest in the residuary estate of
73 my said brother John Blake I direct that my said trustees shall accumulate
74 the interest dividends and yearly produce thereof by investments of a similar
75 character to those hereinbefore directed until my said Son John Blake shall
76 attain the age of twenty one years or be under that age and if he shall
77 attain that age thereupon to transfer to him both the principal monies stocks
78 funds and securities and the accumulations but if he shall be under that age
79 than to pay transfer and divide the same to and equally amongst the said Eliza
80 Sutton Sarah Blake and Mary Blake Sutton I declare that if my said Sister
81 Eliza Sutton shall depart this life before me or before the legacies given to her by
82 this my Will whether contingent or otherwise shall be reduced unto possession
83 then that my said Trustees shall stand possessed thereof In trust for the child
84 if more than one the children equally of my said Sister who shall attain the
85 age of twenty one years and that the legacies in like manner given to my said
86 Sister Sarah Blake and my said Niece Mary Blake Sutton shall be absolutely
87 vested in them respectively at the period of my death I direct that my said
88 Trustees shall have power from time to time or at any time to alter vary or
89 transpose the stocks funds or securities vested in them by this my Will into or
90 for others of the same or a like nature as are hereinbefore provided with respect
91 to the original investments thereof at their or his discretion I declare that
92 said Trustees shall have power to pay and apply the whole or such part as
93 they shall think fit of the interest dividends and yearly produce of the share
94 to which any child excepting my Son John Blake who is provided for from
95 other sources) shall for the time be either presumptively or otherwise entitled
96 under the trusts hereinbefore declared for or towards his or her maintenance or
97 education until his or her share shall become vested and payable and that
98 said trustees may either themselves so pay or apply the same or may pay the
99 same to the guardian or guardians of such child for the purpose aforesaid without
100 seeing to the application thereof I declare that the receipts of my said Trustees
101 for such monies stocks funds and securities as shall be paid or transferred to them
102 by virtue of this my Will stand effectually discharge the persons paying or trans-
103 ferring the same from liability to see to the application thereof And I declare
104 that my said Trustees shall be answerable for their own respective acts receipts and
105 defaults only and shall be at liberty to retain and to allow to each other out of
106 monies coming to their hands by virtue of this my Will all expences incurred
107 in executing the trusts thereof And I declare that on the death refusal or inca-
108 pacity of the said trustees or either of them or of any trustees or trustee to be ap-
109 pointed under this clause it shall be lawful for the capable trustees or trustee if
110 any for the time being of this my will whether refusing further to act or not
111 or if not for the executors or administrators or either or any of them of the last
112 deceased trustee to appoint a fit person or persons to supply the place of the deceased
113 refusing or incapacitated trustees or trustee and I declare that the previous clauses
114 so far as they concern my trustees hereinbefore named shall extend and be applied to
115 new trustees and trustee for the time being of this my Will In witness whereof I
116 the said Thomas Blake have to this my last Will and Testament contained in
117 this one and preceding three sheets of Paper set my hand this fourteenth day of
[Page 3]
118 February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one
119 Thos Blake Signed by the said Testator as his last Will and Testament
120 in the presence of us present at the same to who at his request in his presence
121 and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses
122 R M Wilson of Salisbury Att[orne]y at Law Sam[ue]l Collins his Clerk
123 This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament
124 of me Thomas Blake I give and bequeath to my dear wife All my house-
125 hold furniture and other articles of household in and about my house I give and
126 bequeath also to Edward Cusse and George Sutton Nineteen guineas apiece for the
127 trouble they will have as my Executors and as a slight mark of my regard
128 Witness my hand this fourteenth day of February 1851 Thomas Blake
129 Signed by the said Testator as a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the
130 presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and
131 in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses R M
132 Wilson Sam[ue]l Collins
133 Proved at London with a Codicil 10th Dec[embe]r 1851 before the Judge by
134 the oaths of Edward Cusse and George Sutton the Executors to whom Adm[inistrati]on
135 was granted having been first sworn by Com[missi]on duly to administer.
Will of Thomas Blake, Esquire, Stratford under the Castle, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/2114/134, probated 12 Jun 1850
Thomas Blake, the testator, is known as he is a son of John Blake who left his will which was probated in 1818 and blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/12/will-of-john-blake-gentleman-ford.html
John listed his children as Thomas, Elizabeth, William, Benjamin, Mary, Richard Michael and Charles as well as a deceased son John. He also mentioned his grand daughter Susan Blake (daughter of his deceased son John).
Thomas, present testator, as the eldest son is inheriting the bulk of the property to be then passed on to his son. Thomas does not mention any children in his will. Thomas appears on the 1841 Census at Stratford under the Castle and is listed as 70 years of age born in Wiltshire so would be at least 79 when he wrote his will. Living with him is his wife Ann listed as 77 years of age, Mary Evatt, 35 years of age, Harriet Evatt 30 years of age and Jane Blake 20 years of age. Jane is also born in Wiltshire but the others are not. Thomas is listed as Independent.
Elizabeth Soden Blake daughter of William Blake was married 27 Oct 1838 at Saint Thomas Winchester to William Taylor (son of John Taylor) (Family Search M13675-2).
Sometimes I am just lucky and this will which is very difficult to read has been partially transcripted in “The Law Times Reports: Containing all the Cases Argued and determined in Parliament, The House of Lords, The Privy Council, The court of appeal in Chancery, The Rolls Court, V.C. Stuart’s Court, V.C. Wood’s Court, V.C. Malin’s Court, The Court of Queen’s Bench, The Court of Common Pleas, The Court of Exchequer, The Bail Court, The Exchequer Chamber, The Court of Criminal Appeal, The Probate Court, The Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, The admiralty Court, The Bankruptcy Court, At Kisi Prius, Maritime Law Cases, Together with a Selection of cases of Universal Application Decided in the Superior Courts in Ireland and In Scotland.. Volume 16, New Series, from March to August 1867, London: Horace Cox, 10, Wellington Street, Strand, W.C., page 279.
V. C. Malins’ Court
Reported by G.T. Edwards, Esq., Barrister at Law
Friday, March 15
Re: Blake’s Trusts
Will – Construction – Estate for life by implication.
A testator gave a fund upon trust to pay the dividends, etc., to A., the wife of B., for her life, and after her decease, if she should leave any child or children, upon trust to pay such dividends to B. for his life, and after his decease, then amongst the children of A. and B. But if A. should have no child who should acquire a vested interest in the fund, then after the decease of B. and A. to other persons absolutely. A. died without issue, leaving B. surviving:
Held, that B. took an estate for life by implication.
Thomas Blake, by his will dated the 23rd April 1849, among other bequests, gave and bequeathed as follows:
I give and bequeath unto Richard Blake, Charles Blake the younger, and Robert Bayspoole, the sum of 4000 l. New Three upon trust to pay the dividends and annual produce thereof and a Quarter, late Three and a Half per Cent. Bank Annuities, to Elizabeth Soden Taylor, wife of William Taylor, of Maraling, in the county of Southampton, during her life for her own use and benefit, independent of her husband, and to be in nowise subject or liable to his debts, control, disposition, or engagement, and so that the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor shall have no power to alien or anticipate the growing payments of the interest, dividends, or annual produce, or any part thereof, and from and after her decease, if she shall leave any child or children, upon tryst to pay the same dividends and annual produce to her husband William Taylor, if he shall survive his said wife, during his life, and from and after his decease upon trust to transfer and divide the said sum of 4000 l. New Three and a Quarter, late Three and a Half per Cent. Bank Annuities unto and equally between all and every the child and children of the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor, who shall attain the age of twenty-one years, or marry, for his, her, or their absolute use and benefit in equal shares.
Then followed trusts for maintenance:
And in case the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor shall have no child who shall acquire a vested interest in the said sum of 4000 l. New Three and a Quarter, late Three and a Half per Cent. Bank Annuities, under the trusts aforesaid, then I direct that my trustees shall stand possessed thereof and of the income arising therefrom, after the decease of the said William Taylor and Elizabeth Soden Taylor his wife, as to one moiety thereof, upon trust for my nephew William John Blake, his executors, administrators, and assigns, absolutely, and as to the other moiety thereof upon trust for Ann Bayspoole, her executors, administrators, and assigns absolutely.
The Testator died on the 27th April 1850; Elizabeth Soden Taylor died on the 28th Oct. 1866, without ever having had a child, leaving her husband William Taylor surviving her.
Although his late wife did not leave and never had a child, William Taylor on her death claimed to have a life-interest in the 4000 l., and the trustees paid the fund into court, and William John Blake and Robert Bayspoole and Ann his wife presented this petition, claiming to be absolutely entitled to the trust funds.
Boyle, for the petitioners, submitted that, in the events which had happened, Will Taylor did not take a life interest in the fund.
Rendall, for Mr Taylor contended that he took as tenant for life by implication.
Boyle in reply. Cases cited: Black v Bull, 1 Keen, 176; Doe v Somerset, 5 Burr.; 1 Jdarm. On Wills, 509; Cockshott v Cockshott, 2 Coll. Ch. C. 432; Bird v Hunston, 2 Swans 342; Townley v Bolton, 1 M. & K. 148.
The Vice Chancellor, after stating the will, said that it would be an absurd construction to hold that the interest of the petitioners was postponed till after the death of Mr Taylor, if Mr Taylor was not to take a life estate. The decision of Sir William Grant in Meads v Parry, 1 V. & B., 124, where a limitation over after a limitation which never took effect was established, was applicable to the present case, and he should hold that the husband took an estate for life in the fund. The costs of all parties would come out of the fund in court. Solicitors: Blake and Snow; Marshall, Westall, and Co.
Although this is a section of the will that I can actually read readily the verification of the spelling of names was quite handy and I repeat the entire section for the future.
The will of John Blake probated in 1849 is the nephew of Thomas and in the will Thomas does mention Mary in a bequest. This will was blogged earlier:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/12/will-of-john-blake-gentleman-ford-farm.html
The 1851 Census at Winchester lists the following for the Bayspoole family living at 62 High Street, Piece 1674, Folio 32, Page 25, Winchester St Thomas (from Find my past, marriage of Robert Bayspoole and Ann Blake 31 Jul 1831 at Winchester St Thomas):
Robert Bayspoole, head, married, male, 44 years, born 1807, hatter and furrier, born in Winchester, Hampshire
Ann Bayspoole, wife, married, 42 years, , born Hursley Hampshire
Charlotte Bayspoole, daughter, , 13 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Fanny Bayspoole, daughter, , 11 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Emily Bayspoole, daughter, , 10 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Thomas [Blake] Bayspoole, son, , 9 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Elizabeth Bayspoole, daughter, , 7 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Lucy Bayspoole, daughter, , 6 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Charles R[obert] Bayspoole, son, , 1 year, , born Winchester, Hampshire\
Ann Hoare, servant, unmarried, 20 years, house servant, born Itchin Abbas, Hampshire
An online chart for the Bayspoole family at Ancestry (http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/50656229/person/13224596412/photox/c2835aff-ba5f-48ff-96d7-d67340444044?src=search ) lists a marriage for Emily to a Dr Thomas John Blake with sons Thomas Fitzroy Blake and Charles Wiltshire Blake. Free BMD shows this marriage at Croydon, Sussex September quarter 1873. This family does appear on the 1881 census at Hendon Middlesex and Thomas J Blake is 61 years of age and born at Tidminster Wiltshire and his qualification is listed as MD LRCP. The sons are born at Kilburn Middlesex.
Thomas John Blake does appear on the 1871 census married to Elizabeth (50 years of age, born at Salisbury and they appear not to have any children, he is a qualified physician and he was born at Idmiston). Is he a son of Benjamin Blake brother to the testator? Found again on the 1861 census at Salisbury, Wiltshire, married to Elizabeth and he is a licensed physician and they have one daughter Emily Sophia d14 years of age born at Salisbury. His place of birth Idmiston again. On the 1851 census at Salisbury, he is a surgeon and there is another daughter Agnes F 9 years of age born at Salisbury. His place of birth Idmiston.
Names mentioned in the will:
Thomas Blake, testator, Stratford under the Castle
Ann Blake, wife of testator
Ann Bayspoole, niece, Winchester, Hampshire
Robert Bayspoole, nephew in law, trustee, executor, hatter, Winchester, Hampshire
Thomas Blake, nephew, son of Benjamin Blake
Elizabeth Sutton, niece, daughter of Benjamin Blake
Sara Blake, niece, daughter of Benjamin Blake
Richard Blake, nephew, Banker’s Clerk, Salisbury
Charles Blake, the younger, nephew, No 68 London Wall, Middlesex, Solicitor
Susan Sutton, niece, Winterbourne, Wiltshire
George Sutton, husband of Susan, driller, Winterbourne, Wiltshire
William John French, the elder, gentleman, Wilton, Wiltshire
Mary Blake, niece, widow of nephew John Blake of Ford
Harriet Cottle Evatt, wife’s niece, Stratford
Mr Alexander, land owner
Charles Blake, brother, gentleman, Idmiston, Wiltshire
Susan Smith, niece, widow
Elizabeth Soden Taylor, Nursling, Hampshire
William Taylor, husband of Elizabeth Soden Taylor, Nursling, Hampshire
William John Blake, nephew
George Brown, indentee
Elizabeth Brown, indentee
John Blake, brother, deceased
Matthew Thomas Hodding, solicitor, Salisbury, witness
W J Dudman, clerk to M T Hodding
Mary Evatt, sister in law
Mary Ann Evatt, wife’s niece
Charles Marsh Lee, Solicitor, witness, Salisbury
James Sutton, clerk to Charles Marsh Lee, witness
Emma Blake, witness
Richard Blake, witness, Ford, Wiltshire
Is the Richard Blake, trustee in the will, the Richard Blake who is a witness and living at Ford? There is a Richard Blake son of Charles Blake living at Idmiston on the 1851 census. Charles is 62 years of age, farmer of 1000 acres and born at Ford. There is also a son Edward 24 years and a daughter Elizabeth 21 years. A few mysteries to solve in this family.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 30 Dec 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/2114/134
Testator: Thomas Blake, Esquire
Place: Stratford under the Castle, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Apr 1849, probated 12 Jun 1850
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Thomas
[Margin]: Blake Esq[uie]r
[Margin] 50.
1 This is the Last Will and Testament
2 of me Thomas Blake of Stratford under the Castle in the County
3 of Wilts Esquire made and published this twenty third day of April
4 one thousand eight hundred and forty nine I give to my dear Wife
5 Ann Blake All my household furniture plate linen pictures china
6 wines and other liquors and also all my horses and carriages Also
7 I give to my said wife the sum of five hundred pounds sterling
8 and I direct that the same shall be paid to her within three months
9 after my decease I give to my Niece Ann Bayspoole Wife of Robert
10 Bayspoole of the city of Winchester Hatter the sum of Two thousand
11 and five hundred pounds Bank stock I give to my Nephew Thomas
12 Blake son of my Brother Benjamin Blake the sum of three thousand
13 pounds sterling To my niece Elizabeth Sutton the sum of one thousand
14 pounds sterling and to my niece Sara Blake the sum of one thousand
[Page 2]
15 pounds sterling which said Elizabeth Sutton and Sarah Blake are
16 daughters of my said Brother Benjamin Blake I give to Richard
17 Blake of Salisbury in the County of Wilts Banker’s Clerk, to Charles
18 Blake the younger of No. 68 London Wall in the County of Middle-
19 sex Solicitor and to the said Robert Bayspoole of Winchester Hatter each
20 the sum of one thousand pounds sterling Upon Trust to invest the same
21 in their own names in government or real securities in England and
22 to pay the dividends interest and annual produce thereof to my Niece
23 Susan the Wife of George Sutton of Winterbourne in the County of
24 Wilts Driller for her own separate use during her life and to be free
25 from the debts control or engagements of the said George Sutton And
26 I direct that her receipts alone shall notwithstanding her coverture
27 be a sufficient discharge for the same And from and after her decease
28 Upon trust to pay the dividends interest and annual produce of the
29 said trust money to the said George Sutton during the time of his
30 natural life and after the decease of the survivor of them the said
31 Susan Sutton and George Sutton Upon trust to transfer and divide
32 the same sum of one thousand pounds or the stocks funds and securi-
33 ties whereon the same might be invested unto and equally between
34 all and every the child and children of the said Susan Sutton who
35 shall attain the age of twenty one years or marry for his her and
36 their absolute benefit And I direct that if at the decease of the survi-
37 vor of them the said George Sutton and Susan Sutton his Wife any
38 of their children shall be under the age of twenty one years and
39 unmarried then the annual income arising from his her or their
40 presumptive share or respective shares shall be applied by my trustees
41 to the maintenance and education of such child or children respectively
43 And in case the said Susan Sutton shall leave no child who shall
44 acquire a vested interest in the said sum of one thousand pounds
45 under the trust aforesaid then I direct that my trustees shall stand
46 possessed thereof and of the income arising therefrom after the death
47 of the said Susan Sutton and of her child or children so dying with-
48 out acquiring a vested interest as aforesaid Upon trust for the said
49 George Sutton his executors administrators and assigns I give to William
50 John French the elder of Wilton in the County of Wilts Gentleman the
51 sum of two thousand and five hundred pounds Bank Stock I give to
52 my Niece Mary Blake the Widow of my late Nephew John Blake
53 of Ford the sum of two thousand and five hundred pounds Bank
54 stocks for her own use absolutely I give and devise to my Wife’s Niece
55 Harriet Cottle Evatt the cottage and piece of freehold ground at Strat-
56 ford aforesaid and now in her own occupation which lies east of the
57 parish was and is bounded by Elm Plot and by a leasehold tenement
58 held under Mr Alexander To hold to her the said Harriet Cottle Evatt
59 her heirs and assigns for ever I give and bequeath the leasehold
60 property situate at Stratford aforesaid which I hold under the
61 Chancellor of the Cathedral Church of Salisbury to my Wife Ann
62 Blake for life and after her decease I give the same to Richard Blake
63 of Salisbury aforesaid Banker’s Clerk To hold unto the said Richard
64 Blake his executors administrators and assigns for all the estate and
65 interest which I shall then have therein I give and devise all my
66 freehold estates situate at Stratford and Ford and elsewhere in the
67 County of Wilts (except that I have herein before devised) To the uses
68 following that is to say To the use of the said Richard Blake Charles
69 Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole their executors administra-
70 tors and assigns for the term of one hundred years to commence and be
71 computed from the day of my decease and thenceforth next ensuing and
72 fully to be complete and ended without impeachment of waste Upon
[Page 3]
73 and for the trusts intents and purposes and subject to the powers provisoes
74 and determination hereinafter expressed concerning the same And from and
75 after the determination of the said term of one hundred years and in the
76 meantime subject thereto and to the trusts thereof To the use of my brother
77 Charles Blake of Idmiston in the County of Wilts Gentleman and his
78 assigns during the term of his natural life without impeachment of
79 waste and from and after his decease To the use of his son the said
80 Charles Blake the younger of No. 68 London Wall in the County of
81 Middlesex his heirs and assigns for ever I give devise and bequeath
82 all the leasehold and copyhold or customary messuages lands tenements
83 and hereditaments whatsoever situate in the County of Wilts which I
84 shall be possessed of or interested in at the time of my decease except the
85 leasehold property hereinbefore given to my Wife and the said Richard
86 Blake unto the said Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger and
87 Robert Bayspoole their heirs executors administrators and assigns for
88 all the estate and interest which I shall have therein respectively at
89 the time of my decease To the same uses and upon the same trusts as
90 are hereinbefore declared and contained concerning the said term of one
91 hundred years in my freehold estates hereinbefore devised or as near
92 thereto as the different tenures of the said leasehold and copyhold estates
93 and other other tenure and tenures will apoint of And as to the said term of one hun-
94 dred years hereinbefore limited to the said Richard Blake Charles Blake
95 the younger and Robert Bayspoole I declare that the same term is so
96 limited to them Upon trust that they the said Richard Blake Charles
97 Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole or the survivors or survivor
98 of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor shall and do on
99 and out of the rents and profits of the said hereditaments and premises or
100 any of them or by bringing actions against the tenants or occupiers of the
101 same hereditaments or any of the for the rents then in arrear or by
102 bonding arguing mortgaging selling or otherwise disposing of the said
103 hereditaments and premises comprised in the said term of one hundred
104 years or any of them or any part thereof for the whole or any part of the
105 said term or by any other reasonable ways and means levy and raise
106 during the life of my said Wife Ann Blake the annual sum of four hun-
107 dred pounds and also during the life of my Niece Susan Smith Widow
108 levy and raise the further annual sum of one hundred pounds and do
109 and shall pay the same annual sums respectively to my said Wife
110 Ann Blake and the said Susan Smith respectively and their respective
111 executors by equal quarterly payments the first payment thereof to be
112 made at the expiration of three calendar months after my decease And
113 I hereby declare that it shall be lawful for the said Richard Blake
114 Charles Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole or the survivors or
115 survivor of them and the executors or administrators of such survivor
116 to sign and give receipts in writing for the sum or sums of money so to be
117 raised by them or him as aforesaid and that the person or persons
118 paying or advancing the same respectively and taking such receipt or
119 receipts shall not be answerable or accountable for the loss misapplica-
120 tion or nonapplication thereout provided always and I declare that
121 from and immediately after the trusts hereinbefore declared of and con
122 cerning the said term of one hundred years shall in all respects be
123 fully performed and satisfied or shall become immediately or incapable
124 of taking effect and the said Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger
125 and Robert Bayspoole their executors administrators and assigns shall
126 be fully reimbursed and satisfied all costs charges and expences if
127 any has been incurred by or relating to the trusts thereby reposed in them
128 for raising the annual amount and amounts and which costs and expences
129 they are hereby entitled and empowered to have and receive by all or
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130 any of the ways and means aforesaid and to retain accordingly the same
131 term shall as to all the said hereditaments comprised therein or as to and
132 of the same hereditaments as shall not have been sold or mortgaged for the
133 purposes aforesaid absolutely cease and determine And subject as afore-
134 said I give devise and bequeath the said leasehold and copyhold or
135 customary messuages lands tenements and hereditaments except the lease
136 hold property given to my Wife and the said Richard Blake as aforesaid
137 Unto and to the sons of my said Brother Charles Blake and his assigns
138 during the term of his natural life And after his decease then unto and
139 to the use of his Son the said Charles Blake the younger his executors
140 administrators and assigns I give and bequeath unto the said Richard
141 Blake Charles Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole the sum of
142 four thousand pounds new three and a quarter late three and a half
143 per centum Bank annuities Upon trust to pay the dividends and annual
144 produce thereof to Elizabeth Soden Taylor Wife of William Taylor of
145 Nursling in the County of Southampton during her life for her own use
146 and benefit independent of her husband to be in nowise subject
147 or liable to his debts control disposition or engagements and so that
148 the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor shall have no power to alien or antici-
149 pate the growing payments of the dividends interest and annual produce
150 or any part thereof And from and after her decease if she shall leave
151 any child or children Upon trust to pay the same dividends and
152 annual produce to her husband William Taylor if he shall survive
153 his said Wife during his life And from and after his decease Upon
154 trust to transfer and divide the said sum of four thousand pounds
155 New three and a quarter late three and a half per centum Bank an-
156 nuities unto and equally between all and every the child and children
157 of the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor who shall attain the age of twenty
158 one years or marry for his her or their absolute use and benefit in equal
159 shares And I direct that if at the decease of the survivor of them the
160 said William Taylor and Elizabeth Soden Taylor his Wife any of their
161 children shall be under the age of twenty one years and unmarried
162 then the annual income arising from his her or their presumptive share
163 or respective shares shall be applied by my trustees for the maintenance
164 and education of such child or children respectively And I direct that
165 the unapplied portion of any of such income shall from time to time be
166 added to the capital of the share whence the same shall have arisen
167 but nevertheless the same shall continue liable to be applied if occasion
168 shall require to the maintenance and education of the child or children
169 respectively from whose presumptive share or respective shares the
170 same shall have arisen And in case the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor
171 shall leave no child who shall acquire a vested interest in the said
172 sum of four thousand pounds new three and a quarter late three and a
173 half per centum bank annuities under the trusts aforesaid then I direct
174 that my trustees shall stand possessed thereof and of the income arising
175 therefrom after the decease of the said William Taylor and Elizabeth
176 Soden his Wife As to one moiety thereof Upon trust for my Nephew
177 William John Blake his executors administrators and assigns absolute-
178 ly And as to the other moiety thereof Upon trust for the said Ann
179 Bayspoole her executors administrators and assigns absolutely I give
180 and bequeath unto the said Richard Blake Charles Blake the
181 younger and Robert Bayspoole the sum of four thousand pounds the
182 stock new three and a quarter late three and a half per centum
183 bank annuities Upon trust to transfer and devise the same unto and
184 equally between the three children of my Nephew William John
185 Blake by his first marriage upon their respectively attaining the
186 age of twenty one years or marrying under that age which shall
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187 first happen And I declare my Will to be that if any or either of them
188 shall die under the age of twenty one years without having been married
189 then the share or shares of them him or her so dying shall go and accrue
190 to the survivors or survivor or others or other of them so attaining the
191 age of twenty one years or marrying as aforesaid But in case they shall
192 all die under age and without marrying as aforesaid then I direct
193 my said trustees to pay the said sum of four thousand pounds stock to
194 the said William John Blake his executors administrators and
195 assigns I give and bequeath to the said Richard Blake Charles Blake
196 the younger and Robert Bayspoole the sum of two thousand and
197 five hundred pounds bank stock and I direct that they shall stand
198 possessed thereof Upon the same trusts and to and for the same ends
199 intents and purposes and with under and subject to such and the same
200 powers provisions and declarations as are expressed and declared in and
201 by a certain Indenture bearing date the tenth day of November one
202 thousand eight hundred and forty and made between myself the said
203 Thomas Blake of the first part George Brown and Elizabeth his wife
204 of the second part and the said William John French John Blake
205 deceased and Charles Blake of the third part of and concerning the
206 sum of two thousand pounds hereby settled And as to all the rest
207 and residue of my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever
208 and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever I give devise
209 and bequeath the same in manner following that is to say As to one
210 fourth part thereof I give devise and bequeath the same unto my
211 Nephew the said Charles Blake the younger his heirs executors ad-
212 ministrators and assigns as to one other fourth part thereof I give
213 devise and bequeath the same to the said Ann Bayspoole the Wife of
214 the said Robert Bayspoole her heirs executors administrators and
215 assigns As to one other fourth part thereof I give devise and bequeath
216 the same unto the said Richard Blake his heirs executors administra-
217 tors and assigns As to one eighth part thereof I give devise and bequeath
218 the same to the said William John French the elder his heirs execu-
219 tors administrators and assigns And as to the remaining one eighth
220 part thereof I give devise and bequeath the same to the said Rich-
221 ard Blake Charles Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole And
222 I direct that they shall stand possessed thereof Upon the same
223 trusts and to and for the same ends intents and purposes and with
224 under and subject to such and the same powers provisoes and decla-
225 rations as are expressed and declared in and by the before mentioned
226 Indenture bearing date the tenth day of November one thousand
227 eight hundred and forty and made between myself the said Thomas
228 Blake of the first part the said George Brown and Elizabeth his
229 Wife of the second part and the said William John French John
230 Blake deceased and Charles Blake of the third part of and concerning
231 the sum of two thousand pounds thereby settled I give and devise
232 to the said Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger and Robert
233 Bayspoole and their heirs All the real estate now vested in me as
234 a trustee Upon trust to carry into effect the trusts and purposes affect-
235 ting the same And I also give and devise unto the said Richard
236 Blake Charles Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole and their
237 heirs All the real estate now vested in me as a Mortgagee Upon
238 trust to stand seized thereof subject to the equity of redemption
239 subsisting therein and upon the receipt or discharge of the moneys
240 secured on mortgage to execute such assurance of the legal estate of
241 the mortgagee hereditaments as the nature of the case may
242 require Provided and I do hereby declare that it shall be lawful
243 for the said trustees or trustee for the time being of this my Will at
244 any
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245 any time or from time to time to sell and dispose of any stock funds and
246 securities whereon any of my trust monies for the time being shall or may
247 happen to be invested And to invest the money to arise from such Sale
248 in any other of the stocks or funds or other Government securities of the
249 United Kingdom or on mortgage of freehold copyhold or leasehold estates
250 in England or Wales and to vary and transfer the same as often as occasion
251 shall require or as shall be thought fit Provided also and I hereby declare
252 that in case the said Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger and
253 Robert Bayspoole or any or either of them shall die in my lifetime or
254 shall renounce the execution of the Note hereby executed or in case the said
255 Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole or
256 any or either of them or any trustee or trustees to be appointed under
257 this present provision shall afterwards die or shall be absent from the
258 United Kingdom for the space of six Calendar months at one time or
259 shall otherwise become unable or unwilling to act in the aforesaid
260 trusts then and so often as the same shall happen it shall be lawful
261 for the surviving or continuing trustees or trustee or if there be no such
262 trustee than for the retiring or renouncing trustee for the time being or
263 if there be no such last mentioned trustee then for the executors or
264 administrators of the last deceased trustee to nominate any fit person or
265 persons to supply the place or places of the trustee or trustees respectively
266 so dying residing abroad or becoming unwilling or unable to act as
267 aforesaid and such new trustee or trustees shall have and be capable
268 of exercising all the powers and authorities whatsoever hereinbefore
269 contained in the same manner to all intents and purposes as if he or
270 they had been appointed a trustee or trustees by this my Will provided
271 also that the trustees for the time being of this my Will shall be
272 charged and chargeable with such sums only as they respectively shall
273 actually receive by virtue of the trusts hereby reposed in them notwith-
274 standing their joining in any receipt or receipts or doing any other act
275 for the sake of conformity and that they or any of them shall not be
276 answerable or accountable for any involuntary loss misfortune or
277 damage which may happen in the execution of the aforesaid trusts or
278 in wherein thereto Provided also and I hereby lastly declare that it
279 shall be lawful for the said trustees or trustee for the time being of
280 this my Will by and out of the money which shall come to their or
281 his hands by virtue of the trusts aforesaid to deduct retain and reim-
282 burse themselves respectively or himself and also to allow to each
283 other all costs charges damages and expenses and fees to Counsel for
284 advice which they or any of them may sustain disburse or incur
285 in or about the execution of the aforesaid trusts or in relation thereto
286 And I hereby revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore
287 made and I nominate and appoint the said Richard Blake Charles
288 Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole Executors of this my will
289 In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Blake the Testator have
290 to this my Will and Testament contained in eight sheets of paper
292 set my hand and seal (that is to say) to the first seven sheets thereof
293 my hand and to this eighth and last sheet my hand and seal the
294 day and year first hereinbefore written Thos Blake
295 Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named Thomas
296 Blake as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us
297 who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each
298 other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto the same having
299 been previously read out and fully explained to him on consequence
300 of his blindness Matt: Tho Hodding Sol[icito]r Salisbury W J Dudman
301 his clerk
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302 I Thomas Blake of Stratford in the County of Wilts
303 Esquire do publish and declare this to be a Codicil to my last Will and
304 Testament I direct the trustees named in and by my said Will and I
305 hereby give to them and each of them full power and authority to pay
306 the various bequests made to my Wife Ann Blake by my said Will and
307 every part thereof respectively to her Sister Mary Evatt and her Nieces
308 Mary Ann Evatt and Harriet Cottle Evatt daughters of the said
309 Mary Evatt and the survivors or survivor of them to be paid and applied
310 as by them for the maintenance and benefit of my said Wife according
311 to their direction and I direct that the receipt or receipts to be from
312 time to time given by them the said Mary Evatt Mary Ann Evatt
313 and Harriet Cottle Evatt or either of them to my said trustees for the
314 aforesaid monies or any of them or any part of the same respectively
315 shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my said trustees for the
316 same I confirm my said Will in all other respects Witness my hand
317 this twenty third day of April one thousand eight and forty
318 nine Thos Blake Signed published and declared by the
319 above named Thomas Blake as and for a Codicil to his last Will
320 and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request
321 and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses
322 thereto the same having been previously read over and fully explained
323 by them in consequence of his blindness Matt: Tho: Hodding Solr
324 Salisbury W. P. Dudman his Clerk
325 This is a second Codicil to the last Will and Testa-
326 ment of me Thomas Blake of Stratford in the County of Wilts Esquire
327 such Will bearing date the twenty third day of April instant I give and
328 bequeath to my housekeeper Mary Ann Evatt Spinster the sum of two
329 thousand pounds to be paid by my executors immediately after my
330 decease provided she shall be living in my service at the time of
331 my death In witness whereof I the said Thomas Blake have to
332 this second Codicil to my last Will and Testament set my hand this
333 thirtieth day of April one thousand eight hundred and forty nine
334 Thos Blake Signed by the said Thomas Blake the Testator
335 as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence
336 of us who at his request in the presence of each other have here
337 unto subscribed our names as witnesses the same having been first
338 read over and fully explained to him Chas Marsh Lee Solicitor
339 Salisbury James Sutton his Clerk
340 This is a Codicil to my Will dated the twenty third day
341 of April one thousand eight hundred and forty nine Whereas I have
342 stated by my said Will given and bequeathed to my dear Wife the fur-
343 nature plate Linen china and other the things in and about my house
344 at Stratford wherein I live And whereas it is my wish that my said
345 Wife should have the use and enjoyment thereof for life and that
346 after her decease the same should go to and belong to my dear Wifes
347 dear Niece Mary Ann Evatt therefore I do hereby revoke my said gift
348 and bequeathed contents in my said Will and in lieu thereof I do hereby
349 give the said furniture plate linen china goods and only the things
350 in and about me and devise to my dear Wife for life and
351 after her decease I give and bequeath the same to my dear Wife’s
352 Sister only Mary Evatt and for her absolute use and benefit In
353 witness where I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of
354 February one thousand eight hundred and fifty Thos Blake
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355 Signed and declared by Thomas Blake of Stratford in the County of Wilts
356 Esquire as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence
357 of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the
358 presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto
359 Emma Blake Richard Blake of Ford
360 In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
361 In the Goods of Thomas Blake Esquire deceased
362 Appeared Personally Charles Marsh Lee of Salisbury
363 in the County of Wilts Gentleman one of the subscribed Witnesses to the
364 second Codicil to the last Will and Testament with three Codicils thereto of the
365 said Thomas Blake late of Stratford under the Castle in the County of
366 Wilts Esquire deceased the said Will bearing date the twenty third day of
367 April one thousand eight hundred and forty nine and the said three
368 Codicils bearing date respectively the twenty third day of April one thousand
369 eight hundred and forty nine the thirtieth day of April one thousand
370 eight hundred and forty nine and the nineteenth day of February one
371 thousand eight hundred and fifty and being hereunto annexed and the
372 deponent having now inspected the said second Codicil made said that
373 on the said thirtieth day of April the said Testator duly executed the said
374 second Codicil by signing his name at the foot or end thereof in the pre-
375 sence of said deponent and of James Sutton the other subscribed Witness
376 thereto who were both present at the time and this deponent and the
377 said James Sutton thereupon attested and subscribed the said second
378 Codicil in the presence of the said Testator and of each other The same
379 having been previously read over and fully explained to the said Testator
380 in consequence of his being blind Chas Marsh Lee On the tenth
381 day of June 1850 the said Charles Marsh Lee was duly sworn to the
382 truth of this Affidavit by virtue of the annexed Commission before me
383 C. F. Edge Commissioner
384 Proved at London with three Codicils 12th June 1850 before the
385 Worshipful Alfred Waddilove Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oaths
386 of Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger the Nephew and Robert
387 Bayspoole the executors to whom adm[inistrati]on was granted having been
388 first sworn duly to administer
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/12/will-of-john-blake-gentleman-ford.html
John listed his children as Thomas, Elizabeth, William, Benjamin, Mary, Richard Michael and Charles as well as a deceased son John. He also mentioned his grand daughter Susan Blake (daughter of his deceased son John).
Thomas, present testator, as the eldest son is inheriting the bulk of the property to be then passed on to his son. Thomas does not mention any children in his will. Thomas appears on the 1841 Census at Stratford under the Castle and is listed as 70 years of age born in Wiltshire so would be at least 79 when he wrote his will. Living with him is his wife Ann listed as 77 years of age, Mary Evatt, 35 years of age, Harriet Evatt 30 years of age and Jane Blake 20 years of age. Jane is also born in Wiltshire but the others are not. Thomas is listed as Independent.
Elizabeth Soden Blake daughter of William Blake was married 27 Oct 1838 at Saint Thomas Winchester to William Taylor (son of John Taylor) (Family Search M13675-2).
Sometimes I am just lucky and this will which is very difficult to read has been partially transcripted in “The Law Times Reports: Containing all the Cases Argued and determined in Parliament, The House of Lords, The Privy Council, The court of appeal in Chancery, The Rolls Court, V.C. Stuart’s Court, V.C. Wood’s Court, V.C. Malin’s Court, The Court of Queen’s Bench, The Court of Common Pleas, The Court of Exchequer, The Bail Court, The Exchequer Chamber, The Court of Criminal Appeal, The Probate Court, The Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, The admiralty Court, The Bankruptcy Court, At Kisi Prius, Maritime Law Cases, Together with a Selection of cases of Universal Application Decided in the Superior Courts in Ireland and In Scotland.. Volume 16, New Series, from March to August 1867, London: Horace Cox, 10, Wellington Street, Strand, W.C., page 279.
V. C. Malins’ Court
Reported by G.T. Edwards, Esq., Barrister at Law
Friday, March 15
Re: Blake’s Trusts
Will – Construction – Estate for life by implication.
A testator gave a fund upon trust to pay the dividends, etc., to A., the wife of B., for her life, and after her decease, if she should leave any child or children, upon trust to pay such dividends to B. for his life, and after his decease, then amongst the children of A. and B. But if A. should have no child who should acquire a vested interest in the fund, then after the decease of B. and A. to other persons absolutely. A. died without issue, leaving B. surviving:
Held, that B. took an estate for life by implication.
Thomas Blake, by his will dated the 23rd April 1849, among other bequests, gave and bequeathed as follows:
I give and bequeath unto Richard Blake, Charles Blake the younger, and Robert Bayspoole, the sum of 4000 l. New Three upon trust to pay the dividends and annual produce thereof and a Quarter, late Three and a Half per Cent. Bank Annuities, to Elizabeth Soden Taylor, wife of William Taylor, of Maraling, in the county of Southampton, during her life for her own use and benefit, independent of her husband, and to be in nowise subject or liable to his debts, control, disposition, or engagement, and so that the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor shall have no power to alien or anticipate the growing payments of the interest, dividends, or annual produce, or any part thereof, and from and after her decease, if she shall leave any child or children, upon tryst to pay the same dividends and annual produce to her husband William Taylor, if he shall survive his said wife, during his life, and from and after his decease upon trust to transfer and divide the said sum of 4000 l. New Three and a Quarter, late Three and a Half per Cent. Bank Annuities unto and equally between all and every the child and children of the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor, who shall attain the age of twenty-one years, or marry, for his, her, or their absolute use and benefit in equal shares.
Then followed trusts for maintenance:
And in case the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor shall have no child who shall acquire a vested interest in the said sum of 4000 l. New Three and a Quarter, late Three and a Half per Cent. Bank Annuities, under the trusts aforesaid, then I direct that my trustees shall stand possessed thereof and of the income arising therefrom, after the decease of the said William Taylor and Elizabeth Soden Taylor his wife, as to one moiety thereof, upon trust for my nephew William John Blake, his executors, administrators, and assigns, absolutely, and as to the other moiety thereof upon trust for Ann Bayspoole, her executors, administrators, and assigns absolutely.
The Testator died on the 27th April 1850; Elizabeth Soden Taylor died on the 28th Oct. 1866, without ever having had a child, leaving her husband William Taylor surviving her.
Although his late wife did not leave and never had a child, William Taylor on her death claimed to have a life-interest in the 4000 l., and the trustees paid the fund into court, and William John Blake and Robert Bayspoole and Ann his wife presented this petition, claiming to be absolutely entitled to the trust funds.
Boyle, for the petitioners, submitted that, in the events which had happened, Will Taylor did not take a life interest in the fund.
Rendall, for Mr Taylor contended that he took as tenant for life by implication.
Boyle in reply. Cases cited: Black v Bull, 1 Keen, 176; Doe v Somerset, 5 Burr.; 1 Jdarm. On Wills, 509; Cockshott v Cockshott, 2 Coll. Ch. C. 432; Bird v Hunston, 2 Swans 342; Townley v Bolton, 1 M. & K. 148.
The Vice Chancellor, after stating the will, said that it would be an absurd construction to hold that the interest of the petitioners was postponed till after the death of Mr Taylor, if Mr Taylor was not to take a life estate. The decision of Sir William Grant in Meads v Parry, 1 V. & B., 124, where a limitation over after a limitation which never took effect was established, was applicable to the present case, and he should hold that the husband took an estate for life in the fund. The costs of all parties would come out of the fund in court. Solicitors: Blake and Snow; Marshall, Westall, and Co.
Although this is a section of the will that I can actually read readily the verification of the spelling of names was quite handy and I repeat the entire section for the future.
The will of John Blake probated in 1849 is the nephew of Thomas and in the will Thomas does mention Mary in a bequest. This will was blogged earlier:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/12/will-of-john-blake-gentleman-ford-farm.html
The 1851 Census at Winchester lists the following for the Bayspoole family living at 62 High Street, Piece 1674, Folio 32, Page 25, Winchester St Thomas (from Find my past, marriage of Robert Bayspoole and Ann Blake 31 Jul 1831 at Winchester St Thomas):
Robert Bayspoole, head, married, male, 44 years, born 1807, hatter and furrier, born in Winchester, Hampshire
Ann Bayspoole, wife, married, 42 years, , born Hursley Hampshire
Charlotte Bayspoole, daughter, , 13 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Fanny Bayspoole, daughter, , 11 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Emily Bayspoole, daughter, , 10 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Thomas [Blake] Bayspoole, son, , 9 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Elizabeth Bayspoole, daughter, , 7 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Lucy Bayspoole, daughter, , 6 years, scholar, born Winchester, Hampshire
Charles R[obert] Bayspoole, son, , 1 year, , born Winchester, Hampshire\
Ann Hoare, servant, unmarried, 20 years, house servant, born Itchin Abbas, Hampshire
An online chart for the Bayspoole family at Ancestry (http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/50656229/person/13224596412/photox/c2835aff-ba5f-48ff-96d7-d67340444044?src=search ) lists a marriage for Emily to a Dr Thomas John Blake with sons Thomas Fitzroy Blake and Charles Wiltshire Blake. Free BMD shows this marriage at Croydon, Sussex September quarter 1873. This family does appear on the 1881 census at Hendon Middlesex and Thomas J Blake is 61 years of age and born at Tidminster Wiltshire and his qualification is listed as MD LRCP. The sons are born at Kilburn Middlesex.
Thomas John Blake does appear on the 1871 census married to Elizabeth (50 years of age, born at Salisbury and they appear not to have any children, he is a qualified physician and he was born at Idmiston). Is he a son of Benjamin Blake brother to the testator? Found again on the 1861 census at Salisbury, Wiltshire, married to Elizabeth and he is a licensed physician and they have one daughter Emily Sophia d14 years of age born at Salisbury. His place of birth Idmiston again. On the 1851 census at Salisbury, he is a surgeon and there is another daughter Agnes F 9 years of age born at Salisbury. His place of birth Idmiston.
Names mentioned in the will:
Thomas Blake, testator, Stratford under the Castle
Ann Blake, wife of testator
Ann Bayspoole, niece, Winchester, Hampshire
Robert Bayspoole, nephew in law, trustee, executor, hatter, Winchester, Hampshire
Thomas Blake, nephew, son of Benjamin Blake
Elizabeth Sutton, niece, daughter of Benjamin Blake
Sara Blake, niece, daughter of Benjamin Blake
Richard Blake, nephew, Banker’s Clerk, Salisbury
Charles Blake, the younger, nephew, No 68 London Wall, Middlesex, Solicitor
Susan Sutton, niece, Winterbourne, Wiltshire
George Sutton, husband of Susan, driller, Winterbourne, Wiltshire
William John French, the elder, gentleman, Wilton, Wiltshire
Mary Blake, niece, widow of nephew John Blake of Ford
Harriet Cottle Evatt, wife’s niece, Stratford
Mr Alexander, land owner
Charles Blake, brother, gentleman, Idmiston, Wiltshire
Susan Smith, niece, widow
Elizabeth Soden Taylor, Nursling, Hampshire
William Taylor, husband of Elizabeth Soden Taylor, Nursling, Hampshire
William John Blake, nephew
George Brown, indentee
Elizabeth Brown, indentee
John Blake, brother, deceased
Matthew Thomas Hodding, solicitor, Salisbury, witness
W J Dudman, clerk to M T Hodding
Mary Evatt, sister in law
Mary Ann Evatt, wife’s niece
Charles Marsh Lee, Solicitor, witness, Salisbury
James Sutton, clerk to Charles Marsh Lee, witness
Emma Blake, witness
Richard Blake, witness, Ford, Wiltshire
Is the Richard Blake, trustee in the will, the Richard Blake who is a witness and living at Ford? There is a Richard Blake son of Charles Blake living at Idmiston on the 1851 census. Charles is 62 years of age, farmer of 1000 acres and born at Ford. There is also a son Edward 24 years and a daughter Elizabeth 21 years. A few mysteries to solve in this family.
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 30 Dec 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/2114/134
Testator: Thomas Blake, Esquire
Place: Stratford under the Castle, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Apr 1849, probated 12 Jun 1850
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Thomas
[Margin]: Blake Esq[uie]r
[Margin] 50.
1 This is the Last Will and Testament
2 of me Thomas Blake of Stratford under the Castle in the County
3 of Wilts Esquire made and published this twenty third day of April
4 one thousand eight hundred and forty nine I give to my dear Wife
5 Ann Blake All my household furniture plate linen pictures china
6 wines and other liquors and also all my horses and carriages Also
7 I give to my said wife the sum of five hundred pounds sterling
8 and I direct that the same shall be paid to her within three months
9 after my decease I give to my Niece Ann Bayspoole Wife of Robert
10 Bayspoole of the city of Winchester Hatter the sum of Two thousand
11 and five hundred pounds Bank stock I give to my Nephew Thomas
12 Blake son of my Brother Benjamin Blake the sum of three thousand
13 pounds sterling To my niece Elizabeth Sutton the sum of one thousand
14 pounds sterling and to my niece Sara Blake the sum of one thousand
[Page 2]
15 pounds sterling which said Elizabeth Sutton and Sarah Blake are
16 daughters of my said Brother Benjamin Blake I give to Richard
17 Blake of Salisbury in the County of Wilts Banker’s Clerk, to Charles
18 Blake the younger of No. 68 London Wall in the County of Middle-
19 sex Solicitor and to the said Robert Bayspoole of Winchester Hatter each
20 the sum of one thousand pounds sterling Upon Trust to invest the same
21 in their own names in government or real securities in England and
22 to pay the dividends interest and annual produce thereof to my Niece
23 Susan the Wife of George Sutton of Winterbourne in the County of
24 Wilts Driller for her own separate use during her life and to be free
25 from the debts control or engagements of the said George Sutton And
26 I direct that her receipts alone shall notwithstanding her coverture
27 be a sufficient discharge for the same And from and after her decease
28 Upon trust to pay the dividends interest and annual produce of the
29 said trust money to the said George Sutton during the time of his
30 natural life and after the decease of the survivor of them the said
31 Susan Sutton and George Sutton Upon trust to transfer and divide
32 the same sum of one thousand pounds or the stocks funds and securi-
33 ties whereon the same might be invested unto and equally between
34 all and every the child and children of the said Susan Sutton who
35 shall attain the age of twenty one years or marry for his her and
36 their absolute benefit And I direct that if at the decease of the survi-
37 vor of them the said George Sutton and Susan Sutton his Wife any
38 of their children shall be under the age of twenty one years and
39 unmarried then the annual income arising from his her or their
40 presumptive share or respective shares shall be applied by my trustees
41 to the maintenance and education of such child or children respectively
43 And in case the said Susan Sutton shall leave no child who shall
44 acquire a vested interest in the said sum of one thousand pounds
45 under the trust aforesaid then I direct that my trustees shall stand
46 possessed thereof and of the income arising therefrom after the death
47 of the said Susan Sutton and of her child or children so dying with-
48 out acquiring a vested interest as aforesaid Upon trust for the said
49 George Sutton his executors administrators and assigns I give to William
50 John French the elder of Wilton in the County of Wilts Gentleman the
51 sum of two thousand and five hundred pounds Bank Stock I give to
52 my Niece Mary Blake the Widow of my late Nephew John Blake
53 of Ford the sum of two thousand and five hundred pounds Bank
54 stocks for her own use absolutely I give and devise to my Wife’s Niece
55 Harriet Cottle Evatt the cottage and piece of freehold ground at Strat-
56 ford aforesaid and now in her own occupation which lies east of the
57 parish was and is bounded by Elm Plot and by a leasehold tenement
58 held under Mr Alexander To hold to her the said Harriet Cottle Evatt
59 her heirs and assigns for ever I give and bequeath the leasehold
60 property situate at Stratford aforesaid which I hold under the
61 Chancellor of the Cathedral Church of Salisbury to my Wife Ann
62 Blake for life and after her decease I give the same to Richard Blake
63 of Salisbury aforesaid Banker’s Clerk To hold unto the said Richard
64 Blake his executors administrators and assigns for all the estate and
65 interest which I shall then have therein I give and devise all my
66 freehold estates situate at Stratford and Ford and elsewhere in the
67 County of Wilts (except that I have herein before devised) To the uses
68 following that is to say To the use of the said Richard Blake Charles
69 Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole their executors administra-
70 tors and assigns for the term of one hundred years to commence and be
71 computed from the day of my decease and thenceforth next ensuing and
72 fully to be complete and ended without impeachment of waste Upon
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73 and for the trusts intents and purposes and subject to the powers provisoes
74 and determination hereinafter expressed concerning the same And from and
75 after the determination of the said term of one hundred years and in the
76 meantime subject thereto and to the trusts thereof To the use of my brother
77 Charles Blake of Idmiston in the County of Wilts Gentleman and his
78 assigns during the term of his natural life without impeachment of
79 waste and from and after his decease To the use of his son the said
80 Charles Blake the younger of No. 68 London Wall in the County of
81 Middlesex his heirs and assigns for ever I give devise and bequeath
82 all the leasehold and copyhold or customary messuages lands tenements
83 and hereditaments whatsoever situate in the County of Wilts which I
84 shall be possessed of or interested in at the time of my decease except the
85 leasehold property hereinbefore given to my Wife and the said Richard
86 Blake unto the said Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger and
87 Robert Bayspoole their heirs executors administrators and assigns for
88 all the estate and interest which I shall have therein respectively at
89 the time of my decease To the same uses and upon the same trusts as
90 are hereinbefore declared and contained concerning the said term of one
91 hundred years in my freehold estates hereinbefore devised or as near
92 thereto as the different tenures of the said leasehold and copyhold estates
93 and other other tenure and tenures will apoint of And as to the said term of one hun-
94 dred years hereinbefore limited to the said Richard Blake Charles Blake
95 the younger and Robert Bayspoole I declare that the same term is so
96 limited to them Upon trust that they the said Richard Blake Charles
97 Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole or the survivors or survivor
98 of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor shall and do on
99 and out of the rents and profits of the said hereditaments and premises or
100 any of them or by bringing actions against the tenants or occupiers of the
101 same hereditaments or any of the for the rents then in arrear or by
102 bonding arguing mortgaging selling or otherwise disposing of the said
103 hereditaments and premises comprised in the said term of one hundred
104 years or any of them or any part thereof for the whole or any part of the
105 said term or by any other reasonable ways and means levy and raise
106 during the life of my said Wife Ann Blake the annual sum of four hun-
107 dred pounds and also during the life of my Niece Susan Smith Widow
108 levy and raise the further annual sum of one hundred pounds and do
109 and shall pay the same annual sums respectively to my said Wife
110 Ann Blake and the said Susan Smith respectively and their respective
111 executors by equal quarterly payments the first payment thereof to be
112 made at the expiration of three calendar months after my decease And
113 I hereby declare that it shall be lawful for the said Richard Blake
114 Charles Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole or the survivors or
115 survivor of them and the executors or administrators of such survivor
116 to sign and give receipts in writing for the sum or sums of money so to be
117 raised by them or him as aforesaid and that the person or persons
118 paying or advancing the same respectively and taking such receipt or
119 receipts shall not be answerable or accountable for the loss misapplica-
120 tion or nonapplication thereout provided always and I declare that
121 from and immediately after the trusts hereinbefore declared of and con
122 cerning the said term of one hundred years shall in all respects be
123 fully performed and satisfied or shall become immediately or incapable
124 of taking effect and the said Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger
125 and Robert Bayspoole their executors administrators and assigns shall
126 be fully reimbursed and satisfied all costs charges and expences if
127 any has been incurred by or relating to the trusts thereby reposed in them
128 for raising the annual amount and amounts and which costs and expences
129 they are hereby entitled and empowered to have and receive by all or
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130 any of the ways and means aforesaid and to retain accordingly the same
131 term shall as to all the said hereditaments comprised therein or as to and
132 of the same hereditaments as shall not have been sold or mortgaged for the
133 purposes aforesaid absolutely cease and determine And subject as afore-
134 said I give devise and bequeath the said leasehold and copyhold or
135 customary messuages lands tenements and hereditaments except the lease
136 hold property given to my Wife and the said Richard Blake as aforesaid
137 Unto and to the sons of my said Brother Charles Blake and his assigns
138 during the term of his natural life And after his decease then unto and
139 to the use of his Son the said Charles Blake the younger his executors
140 administrators and assigns I give and bequeath unto the said Richard
141 Blake Charles Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole the sum of
142 four thousand pounds new three and a quarter late three and a half
143 per centum Bank annuities Upon trust to pay the dividends and annual
144 produce thereof to Elizabeth Soden Taylor Wife of William Taylor of
145 Nursling in the County of Southampton during her life for her own use
146 and benefit independent of her husband to be in nowise subject
147 or liable to his debts control disposition or engagements and so that
148 the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor shall have no power to alien or antici-
149 pate the growing payments of the dividends interest and annual produce
150 or any part thereof And from and after her decease if she shall leave
151 any child or children Upon trust to pay the same dividends and
152 annual produce to her husband William Taylor if he shall survive
153 his said Wife during his life And from and after his decease Upon
154 trust to transfer and divide the said sum of four thousand pounds
155 New three and a quarter late three and a half per centum Bank an-
156 nuities unto and equally between all and every the child and children
157 of the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor who shall attain the age of twenty
158 one years or marry for his her or their absolute use and benefit in equal
159 shares And I direct that if at the decease of the survivor of them the
160 said William Taylor and Elizabeth Soden Taylor his Wife any of their
161 children shall be under the age of twenty one years and unmarried
162 then the annual income arising from his her or their presumptive share
163 or respective shares shall be applied by my trustees for the maintenance
164 and education of such child or children respectively And I direct that
165 the unapplied portion of any of such income shall from time to time be
166 added to the capital of the share whence the same shall have arisen
167 but nevertheless the same shall continue liable to be applied if occasion
168 shall require to the maintenance and education of the child or children
169 respectively from whose presumptive share or respective shares the
170 same shall have arisen And in case the said Elizabeth Soden Taylor
171 shall leave no child who shall acquire a vested interest in the said
172 sum of four thousand pounds new three and a quarter late three and a
173 half per centum bank annuities under the trusts aforesaid then I direct
174 that my trustees shall stand possessed thereof and of the income arising
175 therefrom after the decease of the said William Taylor and Elizabeth
176 Soden his Wife As to one moiety thereof Upon trust for my Nephew
177 William John Blake his executors administrators and assigns absolute-
178 ly And as to the other moiety thereof Upon trust for the said Ann
179 Bayspoole her executors administrators and assigns absolutely I give
180 and bequeath unto the said Richard Blake Charles Blake the
181 younger and Robert Bayspoole the sum of four thousand pounds the
182 stock new three and a quarter late three and a half per centum
183 bank annuities Upon trust to transfer and devise the same unto and
184 equally between the three children of my Nephew William John
185 Blake by his first marriage upon their respectively attaining the
186 age of twenty one years or marrying under that age which shall
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187 first happen And I declare my Will to be that if any or either of them
188 shall die under the age of twenty one years without having been married
189 then the share or shares of them him or her so dying shall go and accrue
190 to the survivors or survivor or others or other of them so attaining the
191 age of twenty one years or marrying as aforesaid But in case they shall
192 all die under age and without marrying as aforesaid then I direct
193 my said trustees to pay the said sum of four thousand pounds stock to
194 the said William John Blake his executors administrators and
195 assigns I give and bequeath to the said Richard Blake Charles Blake
196 the younger and Robert Bayspoole the sum of two thousand and
197 five hundred pounds bank stock and I direct that they shall stand
198 possessed thereof Upon the same trusts and to and for the same ends
199 intents and purposes and with under and subject to such and the same
200 powers provisions and declarations as are expressed and declared in and
201 by a certain Indenture bearing date the tenth day of November one
202 thousand eight hundred and forty and made between myself the said
203 Thomas Blake of the first part George Brown and Elizabeth his wife
204 of the second part and the said William John French John Blake
205 deceased and Charles Blake of the third part of and concerning the
206 sum of two thousand pounds hereby settled And as to all the rest
207 and residue of my real and personal estate and effects whatsoever
208 and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever I give devise
209 and bequeath the same in manner following that is to say As to one
210 fourth part thereof I give devise and bequeath the same unto my
211 Nephew the said Charles Blake the younger his heirs executors ad-
212 ministrators and assigns as to one other fourth part thereof I give
213 devise and bequeath the same to the said Ann Bayspoole the Wife of
214 the said Robert Bayspoole her heirs executors administrators and
215 assigns As to one other fourth part thereof I give devise and bequeath
216 the same unto the said Richard Blake his heirs executors administra-
217 tors and assigns As to one eighth part thereof I give devise and bequeath
218 the same to the said William John French the elder his heirs execu-
219 tors administrators and assigns And as to the remaining one eighth
220 part thereof I give devise and bequeath the same to the said Rich-
221 ard Blake Charles Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole And
222 I direct that they shall stand possessed thereof Upon the same
223 trusts and to and for the same ends intents and purposes and with
224 under and subject to such and the same powers provisoes and decla-
225 rations as are expressed and declared in and by the before mentioned
226 Indenture bearing date the tenth day of November one thousand
227 eight hundred and forty and made between myself the said Thomas
228 Blake of the first part the said George Brown and Elizabeth his
229 Wife of the second part and the said William John French John
230 Blake deceased and Charles Blake of the third part of and concerning
231 the sum of two thousand pounds thereby settled I give and devise
232 to the said Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger and Robert
233 Bayspoole and their heirs All the real estate now vested in me as
234 a trustee Upon trust to carry into effect the trusts and purposes affect-
235 ting the same And I also give and devise unto the said Richard
236 Blake Charles Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole and their
237 heirs All the real estate now vested in me as a Mortgagee Upon
238 trust to stand seized thereof subject to the equity of redemption
239 subsisting therein and upon the receipt or discharge of the moneys
240 secured on mortgage to execute such assurance of the legal estate of
241 the mortgagee hereditaments as the nature of the case may
242 require Provided and I do hereby declare that it shall be lawful
243 for the said trustees or trustee for the time being of this my Will at
244 any
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245 any time or from time to time to sell and dispose of any stock funds and
246 securities whereon any of my trust monies for the time being shall or may
247 happen to be invested And to invest the money to arise from such Sale
248 in any other of the stocks or funds or other Government securities of the
249 United Kingdom or on mortgage of freehold copyhold or leasehold estates
250 in England or Wales and to vary and transfer the same as often as occasion
251 shall require or as shall be thought fit Provided also and I hereby declare
252 that in case the said Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger and
253 Robert Bayspoole or any or either of them shall die in my lifetime or
254 shall renounce the execution of the Note hereby executed or in case the said
255 Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole or
256 any or either of them or any trustee or trustees to be appointed under
257 this present provision shall afterwards die or shall be absent from the
258 United Kingdom for the space of six Calendar months at one time or
259 shall otherwise become unable or unwilling to act in the aforesaid
260 trusts then and so often as the same shall happen it shall be lawful
261 for the surviving or continuing trustees or trustee or if there be no such
262 trustee than for the retiring or renouncing trustee for the time being or
263 if there be no such last mentioned trustee then for the executors or
264 administrators of the last deceased trustee to nominate any fit person or
265 persons to supply the place or places of the trustee or trustees respectively
266 so dying residing abroad or becoming unwilling or unable to act as
267 aforesaid and such new trustee or trustees shall have and be capable
268 of exercising all the powers and authorities whatsoever hereinbefore
269 contained in the same manner to all intents and purposes as if he or
270 they had been appointed a trustee or trustees by this my Will provided
271 also that the trustees for the time being of this my Will shall be
272 charged and chargeable with such sums only as they respectively shall
273 actually receive by virtue of the trusts hereby reposed in them notwith-
274 standing their joining in any receipt or receipts or doing any other act
275 for the sake of conformity and that they or any of them shall not be
276 answerable or accountable for any involuntary loss misfortune or
277 damage which may happen in the execution of the aforesaid trusts or
278 in wherein thereto Provided also and I hereby lastly declare that it
279 shall be lawful for the said trustees or trustee for the time being of
280 this my Will by and out of the money which shall come to their or
281 his hands by virtue of the trusts aforesaid to deduct retain and reim-
282 burse themselves respectively or himself and also to allow to each
283 other all costs charges damages and expenses and fees to Counsel for
284 advice which they or any of them may sustain disburse or incur
285 in or about the execution of the aforesaid trusts or in relation thereto
286 And I hereby revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore
287 made and I nominate and appoint the said Richard Blake Charles
288 Blake the younger and Robert Bayspoole Executors of this my will
289 In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Blake the Testator have
290 to this my Will and Testament contained in eight sheets of paper
292 set my hand and seal (that is to say) to the first seven sheets thereof
293 my hand and to this eighth and last sheet my hand and seal the
294 day and year first hereinbefore written Thos Blake
295 Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named Thomas
296 Blake as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us
297 who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each
298 other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto the same having
299 been previously read out and fully explained to him on consequence
300 of his blindness Matt: Tho Hodding Sol[icito]r Salisbury W J Dudman
301 his clerk
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302 I Thomas Blake of Stratford in the County of Wilts
303 Esquire do publish and declare this to be a Codicil to my last Will and
304 Testament I direct the trustees named in and by my said Will and I
305 hereby give to them and each of them full power and authority to pay
306 the various bequests made to my Wife Ann Blake by my said Will and
307 every part thereof respectively to her Sister Mary Evatt and her Nieces
308 Mary Ann Evatt and Harriet Cottle Evatt daughters of the said
309 Mary Evatt and the survivors or survivor of them to be paid and applied
310 as by them for the maintenance and benefit of my said Wife according
311 to their direction and I direct that the receipt or receipts to be from
312 time to time given by them the said Mary Evatt Mary Ann Evatt
313 and Harriet Cottle Evatt or either of them to my said trustees for the
314 aforesaid monies or any of them or any part of the same respectively
315 shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my said trustees for the
316 same I confirm my said Will in all other respects Witness my hand
317 this twenty third day of April one thousand eight and forty
318 nine Thos Blake Signed published and declared by the
319 above named Thomas Blake as and for a Codicil to his last Will
320 and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request
321 and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses
322 thereto the same having been previously read over and fully explained
323 by them in consequence of his blindness Matt: Tho: Hodding Solr
324 Salisbury W. P. Dudman his Clerk
325 This is a second Codicil to the last Will and Testa-
326 ment of me Thomas Blake of Stratford in the County of Wilts Esquire
327 such Will bearing date the twenty third day of April instant I give and
328 bequeath to my housekeeper Mary Ann Evatt Spinster the sum of two
329 thousand pounds to be paid by my executors immediately after my
330 decease provided she shall be living in my service at the time of
331 my death In witness whereof I the said Thomas Blake have to
332 this second Codicil to my last Will and Testament set my hand this
333 thirtieth day of April one thousand eight hundred and forty nine
334 Thos Blake Signed by the said Thomas Blake the Testator
335 as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence
336 of us who at his request in the presence of each other have here
337 unto subscribed our names as witnesses the same having been first
338 read over and fully explained to him Chas Marsh Lee Solicitor
339 Salisbury James Sutton his Clerk
340 This is a Codicil to my Will dated the twenty third day
341 of April one thousand eight hundred and forty nine Whereas I have
342 stated by my said Will given and bequeathed to my dear Wife the fur-
343 nature plate Linen china and other the things in and about my house
344 at Stratford wherein I live And whereas it is my wish that my said
345 Wife should have the use and enjoyment thereof for life and that
346 after her decease the same should go to and belong to my dear Wifes
347 dear Niece Mary Ann Evatt therefore I do hereby revoke my said gift
348 and bequeathed contents in my said Will and in lieu thereof I do hereby
349 give the said furniture plate linen china goods and only the things
350 in and about me and devise to my dear Wife for life and
351 after her decease I give and bequeath the same to my dear Wife’s
352 Sister only Mary Evatt and for her absolute use and benefit In
353 witness where I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of
354 February one thousand eight hundred and fifty Thos Blake
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355 Signed and declared by Thomas Blake of Stratford in the County of Wilts
356 Esquire as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence
357 of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the
358 presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto
359 Emma Blake Richard Blake of Ford
360 In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
361 In the Goods of Thomas Blake Esquire deceased
362 Appeared Personally Charles Marsh Lee of Salisbury
363 in the County of Wilts Gentleman one of the subscribed Witnesses to the
364 second Codicil to the last Will and Testament with three Codicils thereto of the
365 said Thomas Blake late of Stratford under the Castle in the County of
366 Wilts Esquire deceased the said Will bearing date the twenty third day of
367 April one thousand eight hundred and forty nine and the said three
368 Codicils bearing date respectively the twenty third day of April one thousand
369 eight hundred and forty nine the thirtieth day of April one thousand
370 eight hundred and forty nine and the nineteenth day of February one
371 thousand eight hundred and fifty and being hereunto annexed and the
372 deponent having now inspected the said second Codicil made said that
373 on the said thirtieth day of April the said Testator duly executed the said
374 second Codicil by signing his name at the foot or end thereof in the pre-
375 sence of said deponent and of James Sutton the other subscribed Witness
376 thereto who were both present at the time and this deponent and the
377 said James Sutton thereupon attested and subscribed the said second
378 Codicil in the presence of the said Testator and of each other The same
379 having been previously read over and fully explained to the said Testator
380 in consequence of his being blind Chas Marsh Lee On the tenth
381 day of June 1850 the said Charles Marsh Lee was duly sworn to the
382 truth of this Affidavit by virtue of the annexed Commission before me
383 C. F. Edge Commissioner
384 Proved at London with three Codicils 12th June 1850 before the
385 Worshipful Alfred Waddilove Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oaths
386 of Richard Blake Charles Blake the younger the Nephew and Robert
387 Bayspoole the executors to whom adm[inistrati]on was granted having been
388 first sworn duly to administer
Monday, December 30, 2013
Will of Thomas Blake, Gentleman, Wishford, Wiltshire - The National Archives PROB 11/1477/316, probated 30 Apr 1808
Although I am coming close to finishing Wiltshire, this will of Thomas Blake at 615 lines has slowed me down somewhat. There are still three wills to complete so will likely finish very early in January. I need to work on the Blake Newsletter as well today and tomorrow.
Determining the ancestry of this Thomas Blake is somewhat of a puzzle. This Thomas is mentioned with respect to other wills in the New Sarum area. Namely he was the deponent giving witness to the handwriting and subscription of Margaret Blake:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/12/will-of-margaret-blake-widow-new-sarum.html
her husband, John Blake, and his will was blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/12/will-of-john-blake-gentleman-new-sarum.html
But John does not mention Thomas Blake in his will.
Thomas does not mention any Blake relatives in his will except for his sister Mary married to William Dredge and their children - Mary, John, William, Ann, Thomas and Solomon. I did not yet determine if Francis Gregory was married to Ann. Mary at the time of writing the will is unmarried, John and William both have children, Thomas is mentioned just one time and Solomon is not mentioned although one of the children of William is also named Solomon.
From the British History online website:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=115439
A small estate in Steeple Langford later called KINGSTON'S was possibly that in 1242–3 assessed as 1/10 knight's fee and held by John de Campeny. (fn. 103) John of Kingston held it in 1291. (fn. 104) It passed to Nicholas Kingston (d. c. 1323), who left a wife Anstice and as heir a brother John. John forfeited his lands as a contrariant but on the return to England of Queen Isabella in 1326 he re-entered by force. (fn. 105) The estate passed with Little Corsley manor in Corsley to his son Thomas and to Thomas's son Sir John (fl. 1383), and perhaps with that manor in the Kingston family until the death of Mary Kingston, wife of Thomas Lisle, in 1539. (fn. 106) It belonged to John Brimsden in 1560 (fn. 107) and probably to Thomas Brimsden of Steeple Langford in 1587. Thomas Brimsden of East Stowell in Wilcot held it in 1599 (fn. 108) and 1632, (fn. 109) and in 1652 his son Thomas (d. 1685) settled it on himself and his wife Anne (d. 1711). (fn. 110) Thomas's son Thomas married Eleanor Blagden (fn. 111) and Kingston's passed to a spinster Eleanor Brimsden, presumably the youngest Thomas's daughter and heir. In 1713 and 1717 Eleanor held it jointly with Edward Blagden (fn. 112) (d. 1730) of Keevil, (fn. 113) who was evidently her heir or assign. By 1733 it had passed to Edward's relict Anne Blagden (d. 1769) (fn. 114) and in 1770 was sold by her daughters Anne and Eleanor Blagden to Thomas Blake (fn. 115) (d. 1808). Blake devised Kingston's, 62 a. and pasture rights, to his niece Mary Dredge (d. 1816), wife of George Smith, for life, and to his grandnephew John Dredge (d. 1812), whose son Solomon Dredge held it from 1816 (fn. 116) to his death in 1856. Dredge's heirs were his sister Anne (d. 1858), wife of William Blake, and nephew J. J. Marshall. (fn. 117) Francis, Lord Ashburton, bought the estate, a moiety from Marshall in 1867 and a moiety from Anne Blake's trustees in 1868, (fn. 118) and added it to Steeple Langford manor.
From the National Archives website:
Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
Wishford Manor Farm
Reference 1785
Covering dates 1803-1820
Held by Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
Extent 1 file
Source of acquisition E. Keady, Esq
Creators Wishford Manor Farm, Wiltshire
Contents:
Farm Account Book
[no title] 1785/1 1803-1820
Contents:
Farm account book for Wishford Manor Farm, giving details of farm management, tenancies, sheep, stock and harvest accounts, with notes on the weather, crop practices, songs, poems and extracts from the wills of Thomas Blake and Solomon Dredge.
The contents of this catalogue are the copyright of Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
Rights in the Access to Archives database are the property of the Crown, © 2001-2013
The records described on this page are held by Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
Thomas identifies his sister as Mary Blake married to William Dredge and baptisms for this couple at Great Wishford (C15228-1):
John baptized 10 Oct 1739
William baptized 1743
Ann baptized 18 Jan 1744
Thomas baptized 5 Jan 1747
Solomen baptized 22 Mar 1751
William Dredge (bachelor, cheeseclothmaker, 27 years of Wishford) married Elizabeth Snow (spinster, 30 years, of Wishford) with William Fricker Clothier Salisbury bondsman, 28 Nov 1770.
Names mentioned in the will:
Thomas Blake, testator, gentleman, Wishford
John Dredge, nephew
John Dredge, grand nephew (son of John Dredge)
John Rowden, friend, trustee
Solomon Dredge, nephew, executor, trustee
William Dredge, grand nephew (son of William Dredge)
William Dredge, nephew
James Willis, tenant, South Newton
Jane Blake, tenant, South Newton
John Thomas, tenant, South Newton
Rebecca Matthews, grand niece (daughter of John Dredge)
Elizabeth Down, grand niece (daughter of John Dredge)
Mary Dredge, niece
Harry Dredge, grand nephew (son of William Dredge)
Elizabeth Waldron late Elizabeth Gregory
William Waldron, husband of Elizabeth Waldron
Richard Down, occupier
Francis Gregory
William Gregory (son of Francis Gregory)
Rebecca Gregory (daughter of Francis Gregory)
Frances Dredge, grand niece (daughter of John Dredge)
Thomas Moody, land owner, deceased
Louisa Dredge, great grand niece (daughter of Frances Dredge)
Mary Dredge, great grand niece (daughter of Frances Dredge)
John Newton, land owner
Sarah Gregory, (daughter of Francis Gregory)
Richard Sweetman, servant
Mary Woodland
George Woodland, husband of Mary Woodland
Richard Dawkins, Close of Salisbury, Gardener
Mary Batten, servant
Ann Gregory (daughter of Francis Gregory)
Jno Swayne, witness
J B Pearse, witness
W Lowdry, witness
William Dredge, father of nephews John, William and niece Mary
Mary Dredge, wife of William Dredge and likely Mary Blake
Robert Dawkins, Netton
Polly Gregory (grand daughter of Francis Gregory)
Eliz: Gregory (daughter of Francis Gregory and mother of Polly)
Sarah Dredge
Thomas Dredge (husband of Sarah Dredge)
Richard Munday, land owner
George Down (husband of Elizabeth Down)
George Rowden, appearer, Great Wishford, yeoman
John Eve, appearer, Great Wishford, yeoman
Peter Harrison, Commissioner
William Doucher, notary public
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Dec 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1477/316
Testator: Thomas Blake, Gentleman
Place: Wishford, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Dec 1802, probated 30 Apr 1808
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Thomas
[Margin]: Blake
1 This is the Last Will
2 and Testament of me Thomas Blake of Wishford in
3 the County of Wilts Gentleman First I will and direct
4 that all my just debts Legacies Funeral and
5 Testamentary Expences be fully paid and satisfied
6 by my Executor hereinafter named I give and devise
7 to my Nephew John Dredge all and every and every
8 my Freehold Messuages or Tenements Lands and
9 hereditaments with the appurtenances situate and
10 being in the Borough of Wilton in the said County
11 of Wilts to hold the same unto the said John
12 Dredge and and assigns for and during the Terme of
13 his natural life and from and immediately after
14 his decease I give and devise the said Messuages or
15 Tenements Lands and heredit[ament]s to John Dredge Son
16 of my said Nephew John Dredge and his heirs
17 for and during the Term of his natural life without
18 Impeachment of Waste and after the determination
19 of that Estate then I give and devise the said
20 Freehold premises to my Friend John Rowden and
21 Nephew Solomon Dredge and their heirs during
22 the life of the said John Dredge the Son upon trust
23 to support and preserve the Contingent Estates
24 hereinafter limited from being defeated and for
25 that purpose to make entries as there shall be
26 occasion and from and immediately after the decease
27 of the said John Dredge the Son then I give and
28 devise the said Messuages or Tenements Lands and
29 heredits to the heirs of the Body of the said John
30 Dredge the Son lawfully to be begotten and in
31 default of such heirs then I give and devise all
32 and Singular the said Freehold premises unto
33 William Dredge Son of my said Nephew William
34 Dredge and to his heirs and assigns for ever I
35 also give to my said Nephew John Dredge my two
36 Leasehold dwelling houses with the Gardens and
37 Appurt[enance]s thereunto belonging situate and being in
38 the parish of South Newton in the said County
39 of Wilts now in the occupation of my Tenants
40 James Willis and Jane Blake and also my Leasehold
41 orchard in South Newton aforesaid now in the
43 occupation of my Tenant John Thomas which
44 said dwelling houses Gardens and Orchard are
45 part of my Estate called Lawes hereinafter mentioned
46 to hold the same unto my said Nephew John
47 Dredge and his assigns for so many years of my
48 Term therein as shall run out and expire during
49 his natural life and from and after his decease
50 I give the said dwelling houses Gardens and
51 orchard with the appurt[enance]s unto my said Nephew
52 Solomon Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
[Page 2]
53 Assigns for all the remainder of my Term and
54 Estate therein then to come and I give and bequeath
55 my Estate called Lawes situate at South Newton
56 and Stowford (except such part and parts thereof as
57 are hereinbefore given to my said Nephew John Dredge
58 for his life as aforesaid) unto my said Nephew Solomon
59 Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
60 the remainder of my Term Estate and Interest therein
61 subject nevertheless to and charged and chargeable
62 with the payment of the several and respective
63 annuities yearly Rents or Sums next hereinafter
64 mentioned and I give and bequeath to my said
65 Nephew John Dredge and his assigns for and during
66 the Term of his natural life one annuity clear yearly
67 Rent or Sum of Ten pounds unto his daughter
68 Rebecca Matthews and her assigns during her life
69 one annuity clear yearly Rent or Sum of Ten pounds
70 and to his daughter Elizabeth Down and her assigns
71 during her life one annuity clear yearly Rent or
72 Sum of Ten pounds which said several life annuities
73 yearly Rents or Sums I will and direct shall be
74 Issuing and payable out of that part of my said
75 Estate called Lawes’s as is hereinbefore given to my
76 said Nephew Solomon Dredge and to be paid and
77 payable unto the said annuitants respectively
78 quarterly on the four most usual times of payment
79 in the year that is to say Michaelmas Christmas
80 Lady day and Midsummer the first payment of the
81 same respectively to be made on such of the said
82 days of payment as shall next happen after my
83 decease and I do hereby charge and subject the said part of my
84 said Estate called Lawes’s so given to my said
85 Nephew Solomon Dredge as aforesaid with and to
86 the payment of the said several annuities yearly
87 Rents or Sums accordingly and my will is that in
88 case the said annuities yearly Rents or Sums any or
89 either of them or any part thereof shall be behind
90 or unpaid by the space of Twenty days
91 next over or after either of the aforesaid Feast
92 wherein the same is hereinbefore directed to be paid
93 as aforesaid then and so often it shall and may be
94 lawful for my said Nephew John Dredge and the
95 said Rebecca Mathews and Elizabeth Down or such
96 of them to whom any arrears shall be due and
97 their respective assigns to enter upon all and every or
98 any part of the said premises charged with the said
99 several and respective annuities as aforesaid and distrain
100 for the same or for so much thereof as shall
101 be so in arrear and all Costs and Charges occasioned
102 by nonpayment thereof I give and devise my Freehold
103 Messuages or Tenements Farm Lands and hereditaments
104 with the appurtenances situate and being at Steeple
105 Langford
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106 Langford in the said County of Wilts unto the said
107 John Rowden and to my Nephew William Dredge
108 and their heirs for and during the natural life
109 of my Niece Mary Dredge upon Trust and to the
110 Intent and purpose that they the said Trustees or
111 the Survivor of them or the heirs of such
112 Survivor do and shall receive and take the Rents
113 Issues and profits thereof and pay the same as
114 the same shall from time to time become due
115 and be paid unto my said Niece Mary Dredge to
116 and for her own proper use and benefit and not
117 to be subject to the debts Controul or Intermeddling
118 of any husband she may take and her own receipt
119 and receipts notwithstanding Coverture and which
120 sole or covert to be from time to time good and
121 Sufficient discharge and discharges to the person
122 paying the same and from and after the
123 determination of that Estate I give and devise the
124 said Messuages or Tenements Farm Lands and
125 heredit[ament]s at Steeple Langford aforesaid to the said
126 John Rowden and Solomon Dredge and their
127 heirs during the life of my said Niece Mary
128 Dredge upon Trust to support and preserve the
129 Contingent Estates hereinafter limited from being
130 defeated and for that purpose to make entries
131 if there shall be occasion and from and
132 immediately after the decease of the said Mary
133 Dredge then I give and devise the said Messuages
134 or Tenements Farm Lands and heredit[ament]s to the heirs
135 of the Body of my said Niece Mary Dredge
136 lawfully to be begotten and in default of such
137 heirs then I give and devise the said last mentioned
138 hereditaments and premises unto John Dredge Son
139 of my said Nephew John Dredge and his heirs
140 for and during the Term of his natural life
141 without Impeachment of waste and after the
142 determination of that Estate then I give and
143 devise the said heredit[ament]s and premises last mentioned
144 to the said John Rowden and Solomon Dredge and
145 their heirs during the life of the said John Dredge
146 the Son upon Trust to support and preserve the
147 Contingent Estates hereinafter limited from being
148 defeated and for that purpose to make entries
149 as there shall be occasion and from and immediately
150 after the decease of the said John Dredge the Son then
151 I give and devise the said heredits and premises
152 to the heirs of the Body of the said John Dredge
153 the Son lawfully to be begotten and in default
154 of such heirs then I give and devise the said
155 heredits and premises unto William Dredge Son of
156 my said Nephew William Dredge and to his heirs
157 and assigns for ever I give to my said Nephew
158 William
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159 William Dredge all that my Leasehold Estate
160 called Austins’s situate at Newton aforesaid with its
161 rights members and appurt[enance]s to hold the same
162 unto my said Nephew William Dredge his Executors
163 Adm[inistrat]ors and assigns for all such Term Interest and
164 Estate as I may have to come therein to come at
165 the time of my decease I give to Harry Dredge Son
166 of the said William Dredge my several Leasehold
167 Estates situate at Stapleford in the said County of
168 Wilts to hold the same unto the said Harry
169 Dredge and his Assigns for so many years of
170 my Term Terms Estate Estates and Interests as I
171 shall have to come therein respectively at the
172 time of my decease as shall run out and expire
173 during his natural life and from and after his
174 decease I give the said several Leasehold Estates
175 for all the remainder of my Term Terms Estate
176 Estates and Interests therein respectively unto and
177 amongst all and every his Children equally share
178 and share alike if more than one as Tenants in
179 Common but if only one such Child shall be
180 living at the time of his decease then I give the
181 said last mentioned premises to such only Child
182 his or her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
183 the remainder of my Term Terms Estate Estates
184 and Interests therein respectively and in case the
185 said Harry Dredge shall happen to die without
186 leaving any Child of his Body lawfully begotten
187 then I give the said Leasehold Estate situate at
188 Stapleford aforesaid unto William Dredge another
189 Son of my said Nephew William Dredge his
190 Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder
191 of my Term Terms Estate Estates and Interests
192 therein respectively and I give to the said William
193 Dredge Son of my said Nephew William Dredge
194 my Leasehold Estate called Caffels situate at
195 Wishford aforesaid in a certain place there called
196 Lotmore and also my three Leasehold Tenements
197 adjoining or near adjoining to the houses and
198 Buildings belonging to the said Estate called
199 Caffels to hold the same unto the said William
200 Dredge the Son his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
201 for all the remainder of such Term Terms and
202 Estates as I shall have therein at the time of
203 my decease I give the Leasehold Messuage or
204 Tenement called Soodders situate at the said place
205 called Lotmore with the Garden and Appurt[enance]s as
206 now in the occupation of William Waldron unto
207 Elizabeth the Wife of the said William
208 Waldron late Elizabeth Gregory and her assigns for
209 the Term of her natural life if my Term and
210 Estate shall so long continue therein and after her
211 decease
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212 decease to my Nephew Solomon Dredge his
213 Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder
214 of my term therein then to come and I give the
215 Messuage or Tenement at Lotmore aforesaid with
216 the Garden and appurt[enance]s as now in the occupation
217 Richard Down also called Sooders unto William
218 Gregory son of Francis Gregory and his Assigns
219 for the Term of his natural life if my Term
220 and Estate shall so long continue therein and
221 from and after his decease I give the same to my
222 said Nephew Solomon Dredge his Executors
223 Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder of my
224 Term Estate and Interest therein I give one of
225 the two dwelling houses belonging to my Leasehold
226 Estate at Wishford aforesaid called Brown’s late
227 Moodys situate at a place called Townsend (that
228 is to say) the house called the upper Tenement
229 with the Garden and appurt[enance]s thereto belonging
230 unto Rebecca Gregory daughter of Francis Gregory
231 to hold the same to the said Rebecca Gregory her
232 Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder
233 of my Term therein and I give the other
234 dwelling house with the Lands and appurt[enance]s
235 belonging to the said Estate called Brown’s
236 (late Moody’s) unto the said Francis Gregory to
237 hold the same unto the said Francis Gregory and
238 his Assigns for the Term of his natural life if
239 my Estate and Interest therein shall so long continue
240 and from and after his decease I give the said
241 last mentioned house and Lands belonging to the
242 said Estate called Brown’s late Moodys with the
243 Rights members and appurt[enance]s thereto belonging to his
244 daughter the said Rebecca Gregory her Executors
245 Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder of my
246 Term therein then to come I give to Frances Dredge
247 daughter of my said Nephew John Dredge all that
248 my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement Estate and Land
249 situate at Wishford aforesaid near the said place
250 called Lotmore and which I lately purchased of the
251 personal Representatives of Thomas Moody deceased
252 to hold the same unto the said Frances
253 Dredge and her Assigns for and during the Term of
254 her natural life if my Term and Estate therein shall
255 so long continue and from and after her decease I
256 give the said last mentioned Leasehold Messuage or
257 Tenement Estate and Lands unto Louisa Dredge
258 daughter of the said Frances Dredge for the Term of
259 her natural life and provided she dies leaving Issue
260 of her Body lawfully to be begotten then I give
261 and bequeath the said Leasehold Messuage or
262 Tenement Estate and Lands from and after her
263 decease unto her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
264 for
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265 for all the remainder of my Term therein to
266 come and in case the said Louisa Dredge shall
267 happen to die without leaving any Child or Children
268 as aforesaid then I give the said Leasehold Messuage
269 or Tenement Estate and Lands last mentioned unto
270 Mary Dredge the other daughter of the said Frances
271 Dredge her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the
272 remainder of my Term Interest and Estate therein
273 then to come I give and devise all those my two
274 Freehold Estates situate at South Newton aforesaid
275 called Butts and Randalls with the houses orchards
276 Lands and heredit[ament]s thereunto belonging unto the
277 said John Dredge Son of my said Nephew John
278 Dredge for and during the Term of his natural life
279 without Impeachment of waste and after the
280 determination of that Estate then I give and devise
281 the said Freehold Estates called Butts and Randalls
282 with the house orchard Lands and heredit[ament]s thereunto
283 belonging belonging unto the said John Rowden and
284 Solomon Dredge and their heirs during the life of
285 the said John Dredge the Son upon Trust to support
286 and preserve the Contingent Estate hereinafter
287 limited from being defeated and for that purpose to
288 make entries as there shall be occasion and from
289 and immediately after the decease of the said John
290 Dredge the Son then I give and devise the said
291 Freehold Estates called Butts and Randalls to the
292 heirs of the Body of the said John Dredge the Son
293 lawfully to be begotten and in default of such heirs
294 then to the said William Dredge Son of my said
295 Nephew William Dredge and to his heirs and
296 Assigns for ever also I give to the said John Dredge
297 Son of my said Nephew John Dredge and his
298 Assigns for and during the natural life of his
299 Father John Dredge one annuity clear yearly Rent
300 or Sum of Ten pounds to be Issuing and payable
301 out of my Leasehold Estate called Waglands
302 hereinafter mentioned by equal half yearly
303 payments that is to say at Lady Day and
304 Michaelmas Day the first payment thereof to
305 begin and be made on such of the said days as
306 shall happen next after my decease and I do
307 hereby charge and subject the said Leasehold called
308 Waglands with and to the payment of the said
309 annuity yearly Rent or Sum accordingly and my will
310 is that in case the said annuity yearly Rent or
311 Sum or any part thereof shall be behind or
312 unpaid by the space of Twenty days days next
313 over or after either of the aforesaid days wherein
314 the same is hereinbefore directed to be paid as
315 aforesaid then and so often it shall and may
316 be lawful for the said John Dredge the Son
317 and
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318 and his Assigns to enter upon all of any part of
319 the said premises charged with the said annuity as
320 aforesaid and distrain for the sum or for so
321 much thereof as shall be so in arrear and
322 all Costs and Charges occasioned by Nonpayment
323 thereof and I give and bequeath my said
324 Leasehold Estate called Waglands situate at
325 Wishford aforesaid the Rights Members and Appurt[enance]s
326 thereto belonging unto my Nephew Solomon Dredge
327 to hold the same unto the said Solomon Dredge
328 his Executors Adm[inistrator]s and Assigns for all the
329 remainder of such Term Interest and Estate as I
330 shall have to come therein at the time of my
331 decease subject nevertheless to and charged and
332 chargeable with the payment of the said annuity
333 yearly Rent or Sum of Ten pounds unto the said
334 John Dredge the Son and his Assigns during the
335 life of his said Father John Dredge as aforesaid and
336 not longer I give to the said Solomon Dredge all
337 that my Leasehold Estate late John Newtons situate
338 at a certain place in Wishford aforesaid called Cobbs
339 Mile with its rights members and appurt[enance]s except
340 the dwelling house Garden and appurt[enance]s thereunto
341 belonging to hold the same unto the said Solomon
342 Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
343 the remainder of my Term Interest and Estate
344 therein and I give the said excepted dwelling house
345 Garden and appurt[enance]s to Sarah Gregory daughter of
346 the aforesaid Frances Gregory and her Assigns for
347 the Term of her natural life if my Term and
348 Interest shall so long continue therein and from and
349 after her decease I give the said last mentioned
350 dwelling house Garden and apurt[enance]s unto the said
351 Solomon Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
352 for all the remainder of my Term Interest and
353 Estate therein then to come Also I give unto the
354 said Solomon Dredge all that my Leasehold Estate
355 situate at Wishford aforesaid called Munday with
356 its rights members and appurt[enance]s except the
357 dwelling house Gardens and appurt[enance]s thereto
358 belonging now in the occupation of my Servant
359 Richard Sweetman To hold the same unto the
360 said Solomon Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and
361 Assigns for all the remainder of the Term
362 Interest and Estate which I shall have to come
363 therein and I give the said excepted dwelling
364 house and Garden last mentioned with the appurt[enance]s to Mary
365 Woodland Wife of George Woodland and her Assigns
366 for and during the Term of her natural life if
367 my Term and Interest shall so long continue
368 therein and from and after her decease I give
369 and bequeath the same unto the said Solomon
370 Dredge
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371 Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
372 the remainder of my Term Interest and Estate
373 therein then to come also I give to the said Solomon
374 Dredge all that my Leasehold Messuage Tenement
375 or dwelling house wherein I now reside at Wishford
376 aforesaid with the Lands and apurt[enance]s thereunto
377 belonging called the Scone living to hold the
378 same unto the said Solomon Dredge and his
379 Assigns for and during the Term of his natural life
380 if my Estate and Interest shall so long continue therein
381 and from and after his decease then I give and
382 bequeath the said Messuage Tenement or dwelling
383 house with the Lands and appurt[enance]s thereunto belonging
384 called the Scone living unto such one or more of
385 his Children as he the said Solomon Dredge shall
386 in and by his last Will and Testament give limit
387 and appoint the same and in default of such Will
388 Gift limitation and appointment then unto the
389 Eldest Son of the said Solomon Dredge lawfully to
390 be begotten as shall be living at the time of his
391 decease and to his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for
392 all the remainder of my Term therein then to come
393 and if no such Son then to the Eldest daughter
394 of the said Solomon Dredge lawfully to be begotten
395 as shall be living at the time of his decease
396 and to her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
397 the remainder of my Term therein then to
398 come and in case my said Nephew Solomon Dredge
399 shall happen to die without leaving any Son or
400 daughter lawfuly to be begotten then I give the
401 said last mentioned Messuage or Tenement or
402 dwelling house with the Lands and appurt[enance]s
403 unto the said Louisa Dredge daughter of the said
404 Frances Dredge her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
405 for all the remainder of my Term therein then
406 to come I give and bequeath to the said John
407 Rowden William Dredge and Solomon Dredge Seven
408 hundred pounds Eighteen Shillings and Nine pence
409 Capital Stock now standing in my Name in the
410 three per Centum Consolidated Bank Annuities with
411 the Interest and dividends due and growing due for the
412 same at the time of my decease upon Trust and to
413 the Intent and purpose that they the said John Rowden
414 William Dredge and Solomon Dredge or the Survivors
415 or Survivor of them their or his Executors or Adm[inistrat]ors to
416 and shall stand possessed of the said Stock and
417 receive and pay the Interest and dividends as shall
418 from time to time arise and be made thereof unto
419 the said Louisa Dredge and her Assigns for and
420 during the Term of her natural life to and for
421 her own proper use and benefit and not to be
422 subject to the debts Controul or Intermeddling of any
423 husband
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424 husband she may take and her own receipt and
425 receipts notwithstanding Coverture and whether sole
426 or Covert to be from time to time good and
427 Sufficient discharge and discharges for the same
428 and provided the said Louisa Dredge shall die
429 leaving Issue of her Body lawfully to be begotten
430 then from and after her decease I give and bequeath
431 the said Capital Stock and the Interest and dividends
432 then due and growing due for the same unto her
433 Executors and Adm[inistrat]ors and in case the said Louisa
434 Dredge shall happen to die without leaving any
435 Child or Children as aforesaid then I give the said Seven
436 hundred pounds Eighteen Shillings and Nine pence
437 Capital Stock three per Centum Consolidated Bank
438 Annuities with the Interest and dividends due and
439 growing due for the same at the time of her
440 decease unto the said Frances Dredge Mother of the
441 said Louisa Dredge if she shall be then living
442 to and for her own proper use but if she shall
443 be then dead then to her daughter the said
444 Mary Dredge her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns I give
445 and bequeath to Richard Dawkins of the Close of
446 Salisbury in the said County of Wilts Gardener the
447 Sum of Two hundred pounds To my Servant Mary
448 Batten if she shall be living with me at the time
449 of my decease the Sum of one hundred and fifty pounds
450 and to Ann Gregory daughter of Frances Gregory if
451 she shall be also living with me at the time of
452 my decease the Sum of one hundred pounds which
453 said several Legacies I hereby Will and direct shall
454 be paid by my Executor hereinafter named within
455 twelve Months next after my decease and as
456 for and concerning all the rest residue and
457 remainder of my Monies Securities for Monies Stock
458 in husbandry and all and Singular other my
459 Estate whatsoever and wheresoever both real and
460 personal I give devise and bequeath the same
461 unto my said Nephew Solomon Dredge to hold
462 the same unto the said Solomon Dredge his
463 heirs Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for ever or
464 for and during all such Term Terms Estate Estates
465 and Interests as I shall have therein respectively
466 at the time of my decease and I make Nominate
467 Constitute and appoint the said Solomon Dredge whole
468 and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament
469 hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me
470 at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I
471 the said Thomas Blake the Testator have to this
472 my last Will and Testament contained in this and
473 the Seven other Sheets of paper hereunto annexed
474 to the first Seven Sheets thereof set my hand and
475 my hand and Seal to this eighth and last Sheet
476 this
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477 this Sheet this Twenty third day of December
478 in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred
479 and two Thos Blake Signed Sealed published
480 and declared by the said Thomas Blake the
481 Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in
482 the presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed
483 our Names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of
484 the said Testator and of each other Jno Swayne
485 J B Pearse W Lowdry
486 Whereas I have gave all my Freehold
487 Estate at Steeple Langford to my Executors In Trust
488 for Mary Dredge of Wishford daughter of
489 William and Mary Dredge my Will is that
490 they do pay her but six pounds every quarter
491 of a year and if she do Marry then the whole
492 of the Estate to go to my Executor during Mary
493 Dredges life Thos Blake July 25 1805
494 Whereas I have gave to Harry Dredge
495 on my Will all my two Leasehold Estates at
496 Sureton in the parish of Stapleford my will is
497 that my Executor Solomon Dredge shall have
498 the Estate paying Harry Dredge twelve pounds
499 a year half yearly as long as my Interest shall
500 so long continue in the Estate Thos Blake Decr 26
501 1805 if he sells his right in the Estate it is
502 to be paid no longer
503 I give to Richard Dawkins Son of Richard
504 Dawkins of Salisbury Fifty pounds I give to all
505 the Children of Robert Dawkins of Netton that
506 be living at my decease Twenty pound each to
507 be paid in twelve Months after I give to Francis
508 Gregory all the three houses at End late Newtons
509 for his life and the Land after his decease I give
510 the Dower House to his Grand docter Polly
511 Gregory dafter of his dafter Eliz Gregory for
512 her life I give to Sarah Dredge Wife of Thos
513 Dredge the house late Richard Mundays for
514 her life if she do not mary Thos Blake Jan
515 21 1807
516 Whereas I have on my will gave to
517 Eliz: Down wife of George Down of Newton
518 Ten pounds a year for her life in an Estate
519 late at Newton if my Interest shall so long
520 continue my will is she shall have but five
521 pounds
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522 pounds a year and Rebeckah Mathews to have
523 the other five pound a year the other five pound
524 a year paid her during my Interest on the
525 Estate to be paid half yearly June 26 1807 Thos Blake
526 Appeared Personally
527 John Rowden of Great Wishford in the County of
528 Wils Gentleman George Rowden of Great
529 Wishford in the said County of Wilts Yeoman
530 and John Eve of Great Wishford in the said
531 County of Wilts Yeoman and made oath that
532 they know and were well acquainted with
533 Thomas Blake late of Wishford in the County of
534 wilts Gentleman deceased and also with his
535 manner and Character of handwriting and
536 Subscription having seen him write and write and
537 Subscribe his Name and having with care and
538 attention viewed and observed the paper writing
539 hereunto annexed bearing date the Twenty fifth day
540 of July One thousand Eight hundred and five and
541 purporting to be a Codicil to the last Will and
542 Testament of the said deceased bearing date the
543 Twenty third day of December one thousand Eight
544 hundred and two and which said Codicil begins
545 thus “whereas I have gave all my Freehold Estate”
546 ends thus “during Mary Dredges life” and thus
547 Subscribed Thos Blake July 25 1805 they these
548 appearers do say that they verily and in their
549 Consciences believe the whole series and contents
550 of such Codicil beginning ending and Subscribed
551 as aforesaid to be all the handwriting and
552 Subscription of the said Thomas Blake deceased
553 John Rowden George Rowden John Eve on the
554 Twenty third day of April in the year of our
555 Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eight the
556 said John Rowden George Rowden and John Eve
557 were sworn to the Truth of the above affidavit
558 before me Peter Harrison Commissioner in the
559 presence of Will: Doucher Not. Pub.
560 Appeared Personally
561 George Rowden of Wishford in the County of Wilts
562 Yeoman and John Eve of Wishford in the said
563 County of Wilts Yeoman and made oath that they
564 know and were well acquainted with acquainted
565 with Thomas Blake late of Wishford in the County
566 of Wilts Gentleman deceased and also with his
567 manner and Character of handwriting and Subscription
568 having seen him write and write and Subscribe his
569 name and having with care and attention viewed
570 and
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571 and observed three several Codicils to the
572 last Will and Testament of the said deceased
573 bearing date the Twenty third day of December
574 in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight
575 hundred and two and which said three several
576 Codicils bear date the Twenty sixth day of
577 December one thousand Eight hundred and five
578 the Thirty first day of January One thousand
579 Eight hundred and Seven and the Twenty sixth
580 day of June one thousand Eight hundred and
581 Seven the first of which said Codicils begins
583 thus “whereas I have gave to Harry Dredge” ends
583 thus “it is to be paid no longer” and is thus
584 Subscribed Thos Blake Decr 26 1805 the second
585 begins thus “I give to Richard Dawkins “ ends
586 thus “if she does not Marry” and is thus Subscribed
587 Thos Blake Jany 31 1807 the Third begins thus
588 “whereas I have on my will” ends thus “to be
589 paid half yearly” and is thus subscribed June
590 26 1807 Thos Blake They these appearers do
591 say that they verily and in their Consciences
592 believe the whole series and Contents of the
593 said recited Codicils beginning ending and
594 Subscribed as aforesaid to be all of the proper
595 handwriting and Subscription of the said Thomas
596 Blake deceased George Rowden John Eve
597 on the Twenty third day of April in the
598 Year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred
599 and Eight the said George Rowden and John
600 Eve were sworn to the truth of the above
601 affidavit before me Peter Harrisson Commissioner
602 in the presence of Willm Doucher Not Pub.
603 This Will was proved at
604 London with four Codicils the Thirtieth day of
605 April in the year of our Lord one thousand
606 Eight hundred and Eight hundred and Eight
607 before the Right honorable Sir William Wynne
608 Knight doctor of Laws Master or Commissary of
609 the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
610 Constituted by the Oath of Solomon Dredge the
611 sole Executor named in the said Will to whom
612 Administration was granted of all and Singular
613 the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said
614 deceased he having been first sworn by
615 Commission duly to administer
Determining the ancestry of this Thomas Blake is somewhat of a puzzle. This Thomas is mentioned with respect to other wills in the New Sarum area. Namely he was the deponent giving witness to the handwriting and subscription of Margaret Blake:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/12/will-of-margaret-blake-widow-new-sarum.html
her husband, John Blake, and his will was blogged:
http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/12/will-of-john-blake-gentleman-new-sarum.html
But John does not mention Thomas Blake in his will.
Thomas does not mention any Blake relatives in his will except for his sister Mary married to William Dredge and their children - Mary, John, William, Ann, Thomas and Solomon. I did not yet determine if Francis Gregory was married to Ann. Mary at the time of writing the will is unmarried, John and William both have children, Thomas is mentioned just one time and Solomon is not mentioned although one of the children of William is also named Solomon.
From the British History online website:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=115439
A small estate in Steeple Langford later called KINGSTON'S was possibly that in 1242–3 assessed as 1/10 knight's fee and held by John de Campeny. (fn. 103) John of Kingston held it in 1291. (fn. 104) It passed to Nicholas Kingston (d. c. 1323), who left a wife Anstice and as heir a brother John. John forfeited his lands as a contrariant but on the return to England of Queen Isabella in 1326 he re-entered by force. (fn. 105) The estate passed with Little Corsley manor in Corsley to his son Thomas and to Thomas's son Sir John (fl. 1383), and perhaps with that manor in the Kingston family until the death of Mary Kingston, wife of Thomas Lisle, in 1539. (fn. 106) It belonged to John Brimsden in 1560 (fn. 107) and probably to Thomas Brimsden of Steeple Langford in 1587. Thomas Brimsden of East Stowell in Wilcot held it in 1599 (fn. 108) and 1632, (fn. 109) and in 1652 his son Thomas (d. 1685) settled it on himself and his wife Anne (d. 1711). (fn. 110) Thomas's son Thomas married Eleanor Blagden (fn. 111) and Kingston's passed to a spinster Eleanor Brimsden, presumably the youngest Thomas's daughter and heir. In 1713 and 1717 Eleanor held it jointly with Edward Blagden (fn. 112) (d. 1730) of Keevil, (fn. 113) who was evidently her heir or assign. By 1733 it had passed to Edward's relict Anne Blagden (d. 1769) (fn. 114) and in 1770 was sold by her daughters Anne and Eleanor Blagden to Thomas Blake (fn. 115) (d. 1808). Blake devised Kingston's, 62 a. and pasture rights, to his niece Mary Dredge (d. 1816), wife of George Smith, for life, and to his grandnephew John Dredge (d. 1812), whose son Solomon Dredge held it from 1816 (fn. 116) to his death in 1856. Dredge's heirs were his sister Anne (d. 1858), wife of William Blake, and nephew J. J. Marshall. (fn. 117) Francis, Lord Ashburton, bought the estate, a moiety from Marshall in 1867 and a moiety from Anne Blake's trustees in 1868, (fn. 118) and added it to Steeple Langford manor.
From the National Archives website:
Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
Wishford Manor Farm
Reference 1785
Covering dates 1803-1820
Held by Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
Extent 1 file
Source of acquisition E. Keady, Esq
Creators Wishford Manor Farm, Wiltshire
Contents:
Farm Account Book
[no title] 1785/1 1803-1820
Contents:
Farm account book for Wishford Manor Farm, giving details of farm management, tenancies, sheep, stock and harvest accounts, with notes on the weather, crop practices, songs, poems and extracts from the wills of Thomas Blake and Solomon Dredge.
The contents of this catalogue are the copyright of Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
Rights in the Access to Archives database are the property of the Crown, © 2001-2013
The records described on this page are held by Wiltshire and Swindon Archives
Thomas identifies his sister as Mary Blake married to William Dredge and baptisms for this couple at Great Wishford (C15228-1):
John baptized 10 Oct 1739
William baptized 1743
Ann baptized 18 Jan 1744
Thomas baptized 5 Jan 1747
Solomen baptized 22 Mar 1751
William Dredge (bachelor, cheeseclothmaker, 27 years of Wishford) married Elizabeth Snow (spinster, 30 years, of Wishford) with William Fricker Clothier Salisbury bondsman, 28 Nov 1770.
Names mentioned in the will:
Thomas Blake, testator, gentleman, Wishford
John Dredge, nephew
John Dredge, grand nephew (son of John Dredge)
John Rowden, friend, trustee
Solomon Dredge, nephew, executor, trustee
William Dredge, grand nephew (son of William Dredge)
William Dredge, nephew
James Willis, tenant, South Newton
Jane Blake, tenant, South Newton
John Thomas, tenant, South Newton
Rebecca Matthews, grand niece (daughter of John Dredge)
Elizabeth Down, grand niece (daughter of John Dredge)
Mary Dredge, niece
Harry Dredge, grand nephew (son of William Dredge)
Elizabeth Waldron late Elizabeth Gregory
William Waldron, husband of Elizabeth Waldron
Richard Down, occupier
Francis Gregory
William Gregory (son of Francis Gregory)
Rebecca Gregory (daughter of Francis Gregory)
Frances Dredge, grand niece (daughter of John Dredge)
Thomas Moody, land owner, deceased
Louisa Dredge, great grand niece (daughter of Frances Dredge)
Mary Dredge, great grand niece (daughter of Frances Dredge)
John Newton, land owner
Sarah Gregory, (daughter of Francis Gregory)
Richard Sweetman, servant
Mary Woodland
George Woodland, husband of Mary Woodland
Richard Dawkins, Close of Salisbury, Gardener
Mary Batten, servant
Ann Gregory (daughter of Francis Gregory)
Jno Swayne, witness
J B Pearse, witness
W Lowdry, witness
William Dredge, father of nephews John, William and niece Mary
Mary Dredge, wife of William Dredge and likely Mary Blake
Robert Dawkins, Netton
Polly Gregory (grand daughter of Francis Gregory)
Eliz: Gregory (daughter of Francis Gregory and mother of Polly)
Sarah Dredge
Thomas Dredge (husband of Sarah Dredge)
Richard Munday, land owner
George Down (husband of Elizabeth Down)
George Rowden, appearer, Great Wishford, yeoman
John Eve, appearer, Great Wishford, yeoman
Peter Harrison, Commissioner
William Doucher, notary public
Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 29 Dec 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1477/316
Testator: Thomas Blake, Gentleman
Place: Wishford, Wiltshire, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 23 Dec 1802, probated 30 Apr 1808
Condition: 19th century English, legible copy
[Margin]: Thomas
[Margin]: Blake
1 This is the Last Will
2 and Testament of me Thomas Blake of Wishford in
3 the County of Wilts Gentleman First I will and direct
4 that all my just debts Legacies Funeral and
5 Testamentary Expences be fully paid and satisfied
6 by my Executor hereinafter named I give and devise
7 to my Nephew John Dredge all and every and every
8 my Freehold Messuages or Tenements Lands and
9 hereditaments with the appurtenances situate and
10 being in the Borough of Wilton in the said County
11 of Wilts to hold the same unto the said John
12 Dredge and and assigns for and during the Terme of
13 his natural life and from and immediately after
14 his decease I give and devise the said Messuages or
15 Tenements Lands and heredit[ament]s to John Dredge Son
16 of my said Nephew John Dredge and his heirs
17 for and during the Term of his natural life without
18 Impeachment of Waste and after the determination
19 of that Estate then I give and devise the said
20 Freehold premises to my Friend John Rowden and
21 Nephew Solomon Dredge and their heirs during
22 the life of the said John Dredge the Son upon trust
23 to support and preserve the Contingent Estates
24 hereinafter limited from being defeated and for
25 that purpose to make entries as there shall be
26 occasion and from and immediately after the decease
27 of the said John Dredge the Son then I give and
28 devise the said Messuages or Tenements Lands and
29 heredits to the heirs of the Body of the said John
30 Dredge the Son lawfully to be begotten and in
31 default of such heirs then I give and devise all
32 and Singular the said Freehold premises unto
33 William Dredge Son of my said Nephew William
34 Dredge and to his heirs and assigns for ever I
35 also give to my said Nephew John Dredge my two
36 Leasehold dwelling houses with the Gardens and
37 Appurt[enance]s thereunto belonging situate and being in
38 the parish of South Newton in the said County
39 of Wilts now in the occupation of my Tenants
40 James Willis and Jane Blake and also my Leasehold
41 orchard in South Newton aforesaid now in the
43 occupation of my Tenant John Thomas which
44 said dwelling houses Gardens and Orchard are
45 part of my Estate called Lawes hereinafter mentioned
46 to hold the same unto my said Nephew John
47 Dredge and his assigns for so many years of my
48 Term therein as shall run out and expire during
49 his natural life and from and after his decease
50 I give the said dwelling houses Gardens and
51 orchard with the appurt[enance]s unto my said Nephew
52 Solomon Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
[Page 2]
53 Assigns for all the remainder of my Term and
54 Estate therein then to come and I give and bequeath
55 my Estate called Lawes situate at South Newton
56 and Stowford (except such part and parts thereof as
57 are hereinbefore given to my said Nephew John Dredge
58 for his life as aforesaid) unto my said Nephew Solomon
59 Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
60 the remainder of my Term Estate and Interest therein
61 subject nevertheless to and charged and chargeable
62 with the payment of the several and respective
63 annuities yearly Rents or Sums next hereinafter
64 mentioned and I give and bequeath to my said
65 Nephew John Dredge and his assigns for and during
66 the Term of his natural life one annuity clear yearly
67 Rent or Sum of Ten pounds unto his daughter
68 Rebecca Matthews and her assigns during her life
69 one annuity clear yearly Rent or Sum of Ten pounds
70 and to his daughter Elizabeth Down and her assigns
71 during her life one annuity clear yearly Rent or
72 Sum of Ten pounds which said several life annuities
73 yearly Rents or Sums I will and direct shall be
74 Issuing and payable out of that part of my said
75 Estate called Lawes’s as is hereinbefore given to my
76 said Nephew Solomon Dredge and to be paid and
77 payable unto the said annuitants respectively
78 quarterly on the four most usual times of payment
79 in the year that is to say Michaelmas Christmas
80 Lady day and Midsummer the first payment of the
81 same respectively to be made on such of the said
82 days of payment as shall next happen after my
83 decease and I do hereby charge and subject the said part of my
84 said Estate called Lawes’s so given to my said
85 Nephew Solomon Dredge as aforesaid with and to
86 the payment of the said several annuities yearly
87 Rents or Sums accordingly and my will is that in
88 case the said annuities yearly Rents or Sums any or
89 either of them or any part thereof shall be behind
90 or unpaid by the space of Twenty days
91 next over or after either of the aforesaid Feast
92 wherein the same is hereinbefore directed to be paid
93 as aforesaid then and so often it shall and may be
94 lawful for my said Nephew John Dredge and the
95 said Rebecca Mathews and Elizabeth Down or such
96 of them to whom any arrears shall be due and
97 their respective assigns to enter upon all and every or
98 any part of the said premises charged with the said
99 several and respective annuities as aforesaid and distrain
100 for the same or for so much thereof as shall
101 be so in arrear and all Costs and Charges occasioned
102 by nonpayment thereof I give and devise my Freehold
103 Messuages or Tenements Farm Lands and hereditaments
104 with the appurtenances situate and being at Steeple
105 Langford
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106 Langford in the said County of Wilts unto the said
107 John Rowden and to my Nephew William Dredge
108 and their heirs for and during the natural life
109 of my Niece Mary Dredge upon Trust and to the
110 Intent and purpose that they the said Trustees or
111 the Survivor of them or the heirs of such
112 Survivor do and shall receive and take the Rents
113 Issues and profits thereof and pay the same as
114 the same shall from time to time become due
115 and be paid unto my said Niece Mary Dredge to
116 and for her own proper use and benefit and not
117 to be subject to the debts Controul or Intermeddling
118 of any husband she may take and her own receipt
119 and receipts notwithstanding Coverture and which
120 sole or covert to be from time to time good and
121 Sufficient discharge and discharges to the person
122 paying the same and from and after the
123 determination of that Estate I give and devise the
124 said Messuages or Tenements Farm Lands and
125 heredit[ament]s at Steeple Langford aforesaid to the said
126 John Rowden and Solomon Dredge and their
127 heirs during the life of my said Niece Mary
128 Dredge upon Trust to support and preserve the
129 Contingent Estates hereinafter limited from being
130 defeated and for that purpose to make entries
131 if there shall be occasion and from and
132 immediately after the decease of the said Mary
133 Dredge then I give and devise the said Messuages
134 or Tenements Farm Lands and heredit[ament]s to the heirs
135 of the Body of my said Niece Mary Dredge
136 lawfully to be begotten and in default of such
137 heirs then I give and devise the said last mentioned
138 hereditaments and premises unto John Dredge Son
139 of my said Nephew John Dredge and his heirs
140 for and during the Term of his natural life
141 without Impeachment of waste and after the
142 determination of that Estate then I give and
143 devise the said heredit[ament]s and premises last mentioned
144 to the said John Rowden and Solomon Dredge and
145 their heirs during the life of the said John Dredge
146 the Son upon Trust to support and preserve the
147 Contingent Estates hereinafter limited from being
148 defeated and for that purpose to make entries
149 as there shall be occasion and from and immediately
150 after the decease of the said John Dredge the Son then
151 I give and devise the said heredits and premises
152 to the heirs of the Body of the said John Dredge
153 the Son lawfully to be begotten and in default
154 of such heirs then I give and devise the said
155 heredits and premises unto William Dredge Son of
156 my said Nephew William Dredge and to his heirs
157 and assigns for ever I give to my said Nephew
158 William
[Page 4]
159 William Dredge all that my Leasehold Estate
160 called Austins’s situate at Newton aforesaid with its
161 rights members and appurt[enance]s to hold the same
162 unto my said Nephew William Dredge his Executors
163 Adm[inistrat]ors and assigns for all such Term Interest and
164 Estate as I may have to come therein to come at
165 the time of my decease I give to Harry Dredge Son
166 of the said William Dredge my several Leasehold
167 Estates situate at Stapleford in the said County of
168 Wilts to hold the same unto the said Harry
169 Dredge and his Assigns for so many years of
170 my Term Terms Estate Estates and Interests as I
171 shall have to come therein respectively at the
172 time of my decease as shall run out and expire
173 during his natural life and from and after his
174 decease I give the said several Leasehold Estates
175 for all the remainder of my Term Terms Estate
176 Estates and Interests therein respectively unto and
177 amongst all and every his Children equally share
178 and share alike if more than one as Tenants in
179 Common but if only one such Child shall be
180 living at the time of his decease then I give the
181 said last mentioned premises to such only Child
182 his or her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
183 the remainder of my Term Terms Estate Estates
184 and Interests therein respectively and in case the
185 said Harry Dredge shall happen to die without
186 leaving any Child of his Body lawfully begotten
187 then I give the said Leasehold Estate situate at
188 Stapleford aforesaid unto William Dredge another
189 Son of my said Nephew William Dredge his
190 Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder
191 of my Term Terms Estate Estates and Interests
192 therein respectively and I give to the said William
193 Dredge Son of my said Nephew William Dredge
194 my Leasehold Estate called Caffels situate at
195 Wishford aforesaid in a certain place there called
196 Lotmore and also my three Leasehold Tenements
197 adjoining or near adjoining to the houses and
198 Buildings belonging to the said Estate called
199 Caffels to hold the same unto the said William
200 Dredge the Son his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
201 for all the remainder of such Term Terms and
202 Estates as I shall have therein at the time of
203 my decease I give the Leasehold Messuage or
204 Tenement called Soodders situate at the said place
205 called Lotmore with the Garden and Appurt[enance]s as
206 now in the occupation of William Waldron unto
207 Elizabeth the Wife of the said William
208 Waldron late Elizabeth Gregory and her assigns for
209 the Term of her natural life if my Term and
210 Estate shall so long continue therein and after her
211 decease
[Page 5]
212 decease to my Nephew Solomon Dredge his
213 Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder
214 of my term therein then to come and I give the
215 Messuage or Tenement at Lotmore aforesaid with
216 the Garden and appurt[enance]s as now in the occupation
217 Richard Down also called Sooders unto William
218 Gregory son of Francis Gregory and his Assigns
219 for the Term of his natural life if my Term
220 and Estate shall so long continue therein and
221 from and after his decease I give the same to my
222 said Nephew Solomon Dredge his Executors
223 Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder of my
224 Term Estate and Interest therein I give one of
225 the two dwelling houses belonging to my Leasehold
226 Estate at Wishford aforesaid called Brown’s late
227 Moodys situate at a place called Townsend (that
228 is to say) the house called the upper Tenement
229 with the Garden and appurt[enance]s thereto belonging
230 unto Rebecca Gregory daughter of Francis Gregory
231 to hold the same to the said Rebecca Gregory her
232 Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder
233 of my Term therein and I give the other
234 dwelling house with the Lands and appurt[enance]s
235 belonging to the said Estate called Brown’s
236 (late Moody’s) unto the said Francis Gregory to
237 hold the same unto the said Francis Gregory and
238 his Assigns for the Term of his natural life if
239 my Estate and Interest therein shall so long continue
240 and from and after his decease I give the said
241 last mentioned house and Lands belonging to the
242 said Estate called Brown’s late Moodys with the
243 Rights members and appurt[enance]s thereto belonging to his
244 daughter the said Rebecca Gregory her Executors
245 Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the remainder of my
246 Term therein then to come I give to Frances Dredge
247 daughter of my said Nephew John Dredge all that
248 my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement Estate and Land
249 situate at Wishford aforesaid near the said place
250 called Lotmore and which I lately purchased of the
251 personal Representatives of Thomas Moody deceased
252 to hold the same unto the said Frances
253 Dredge and her Assigns for and during the Term of
254 her natural life if my Term and Estate therein shall
255 so long continue and from and after her decease I
256 give the said last mentioned Leasehold Messuage or
257 Tenement Estate and Lands unto Louisa Dredge
258 daughter of the said Frances Dredge for the Term of
259 her natural life and provided she dies leaving Issue
260 of her Body lawfully to be begotten then I give
261 and bequeath the said Leasehold Messuage or
262 Tenement Estate and Lands from and after her
263 decease unto her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
264 for
[Page 6]
265 for all the remainder of my Term therein to
266 come and in case the said Louisa Dredge shall
267 happen to die without leaving any Child or Children
268 as aforesaid then I give the said Leasehold Messuage
269 or Tenement Estate and Lands last mentioned unto
270 Mary Dredge the other daughter of the said Frances
271 Dredge her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all the
272 remainder of my Term Interest and Estate therein
273 then to come I give and devise all those my two
274 Freehold Estates situate at South Newton aforesaid
275 called Butts and Randalls with the houses orchards
276 Lands and heredit[ament]s thereunto belonging unto the
277 said John Dredge Son of my said Nephew John
278 Dredge for and during the Term of his natural life
279 without Impeachment of waste and after the
280 determination of that Estate then I give and devise
281 the said Freehold Estates called Butts and Randalls
282 with the house orchard Lands and heredit[ament]s thereunto
283 belonging belonging unto the said John Rowden and
284 Solomon Dredge and their heirs during the life of
285 the said John Dredge the Son upon Trust to support
286 and preserve the Contingent Estate hereinafter
287 limited from being defeated and for that purpose to
288 make entries as there shall be occasion and from
289 and immediately after the decease of the said John
290 Dredge the Son then I give and devise the said
291 Freehold Estates called Butts and Randalls to the
292 heirs of the Body of the said John Dredge the Son
293 lawfully to be begotten and in default of such heirs
294 then to the said William Dredge Son of my said
295 Nephew William Dredge and to his heirs and
296 Assigns for ever also I give to the said John Dredge
297 Son of my said Nephew John Dredge and his
298 Assigns for and during the natural life of his
299 Father John Dredge one annuity clear yearly Rent
300 or Sum of Ten pounds to be Issuing and payable
301 out of my Leasehold Estate called Waglands
302 hereinafter mentioned by equal half yearly
303 payments that is to say at Lady Day and
304 Michaelmas Day the first payment thereof to
305 begin and be made on such of the said days as
306 shall happen next after my decease and I do
307 hereby charge and subject the said Leasehold called
308 Waglands with and to the payment of the said
309 annuity yearly Rent or Sum accordingly and my will
310 is that in case the said annuity yearly Rent or
311 Sum or any part thereof shall be behind or
312 unpaid by the space of Twenty days days next
313 over or after either of the aforesaid days wherein
314 the same is hereinbefore directed to be paid as
315 aforesaid then and so often it shall and may
316 be lawful for the said John Dredge the Son
317 and
[Page 7]
318 and his Assigns to enter upon all of any part of
319 the said premises charged with the said annuity as
320 aforesaid and distrain for the sum or for so
321 much thereof as shall be so in arrear and
322 all Costs and Charges occasioned by Nonpayment
323 thereof and I give and bequeath my said
324 Leasehold Estate called Waglands situate at
325 Wishford aforesaid the Rights Members and Appurt[enance]s
326 thereto belonging unto my Nephew Solomon Dredge
327 to hold the same unto the said Solomon Dredge
328 his Executors Adm[inistrator]s and Assigns for all the
329 remainder of such Term Interest and Estate as I
330 shall have to come therein at the time of my
331 decease subject nevertheless to and charged and
332 chargeable with the payment of the said annuity
333 yearly Rent or Sum of Ten pounds unto the said
334 John Dredge the Son and his Assigns during the
335 life of his said Father John Dredge as aforesaid and
336 not longer I give to the said Solomon Dredge all
337 that my Leasehold Estate late John Newtons situate
338 at a certain place in Wishford aforesaid called Cobbs
339 Mile with its rights members and appurt[enance]s except
340 the dwelling house Garden and appurt[enance]s thereunto
341 belonging to hold the same unto the said Solomon
342 Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
343 the remainder of my Term Interest and Estate
344 therein and I give the said excepted dwelling house
345 Garden and appurt[enance]s to Sarah Gregory daughter of
346 the aforesaid Frances Gregory and her Assigns for
347 the Term of her natural life if my Term and
348 Interest shall so long continue therein and from and
349 after her decease I give the said last mentioned
350 dwelling house Garden and apurt[enance]s unto the said
351 Solomon Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
352 for all the remainder of my Term Interest and
353 Estate therein then to come Also I give unto the
354 said Solomon Dredge all that my Leasehold Estate
355 situate at Wishford aforesaid called Munday with
356 its rights members and appurt[enance]s except the
357 dwelling house Gardens and appurt[enance]s thereto
358 belonging now in the occupation of my Servant
359 Richard Sweetman To hold the same unto the
360 said Solomon Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and
361 Assigns for all the remainder of the Term
362 Interest and Estate which I shall have to come
363 therein and I give the said excepted dwelling
364 house and Garden last mentioned with the appurt[enance]s to Mary
365 Woodland Wife of George Woodland and her Assigns
366 for and during the Term of her natural life if
367 my Term and Interest shall so long continue
368 therein and from and after her decease I give
369 and bequeath the same unto the said Solomon
370 Dredge
[Page 8]
371 Dredge his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
372 the remainder of my Term Interest and Estate
373 therein then to come also I give to the said Solomon
374 Dredge all that my Leasehold Messuage Tenement
375 or dwelling house wherein I now reside at Wishford
376 aforesaid with the Lands and apurt[enance]s thereunto
377 belonging called the Scone living to hold the
378 same unto the said Solomon Dredge and his
379 Assigns for and during the Term of his natural life
380 if my Estate and Interest shall so long continue therein
381 and from and after his decease then I give and
382 bequeath the said Messuage Tenement or dwelling
383 house with the Lands and appurt[enance]s thereunto belonging
384 called the Scone living unto such one or more of
385 his Children as he the said Solomon Dredge shall
386 in and by his last Will and Testament give limit
387 and appoint the same and in default of such Will
388 Gift limitation and appointment then unto the
389 Eldest Son of the said Solomon Dredge lawfully to
390 be begotten as shall be living at the time of his
391 decease and to his Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for
392 all the remainder of my Term therein then to come
393 and if no such Son then to the Eldest daughter
394 of the said Solomon Dredge lawfully to be begotten
395 as shall be living at the time of his decease
396 and to her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for all
397 the remainder of my Term therein then to
398 come and in case my said Nephew Solomon Dredge
399 shall happen to die without leaving any Son or
400 daughter lawfuly to be begotten then I give the
401 said last mentioned Messuage or Tenement or
402 dwelling house with the Lands and appurt[enance]s
403 unto the said Louisa Dredge daughter of the said
404 Frances Dredge her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns
405 for all the remainder of my Term therein then
406 to come I give and bequeath to the said John
407 Rowden William Dredge and Solomon Dredge Seven
408 hundred pounds Eighteen Shillings and Nine pence
409 Capital Stock now standing in my Name in the
410 three per Centum Consolidated Bank Annuities with
411 the Interest and dividends due and growing due for the
412 same at the time of my decease upon Trust and to
413 the Intent and purpose that they the said John Rowden
414 William Dredge and Solomon Dredge or the Survivors
415 or Survivor of them their or his Executors or Adm[inistrat]ors to
416 and shall stand possessed of the said Stock and
417 receive and pay the Interest and dividends as shall
418 from time to time arise and be made thereof unto
419 the said Louisa Dredge and her Assigns for and
420 during the Term of her natural life to and for
421 her own proper use and benefit and not to be
422 subject to the debts Controul or Intermeddling of any
423 husband
[Page 9]
424 husband she may take and her own receipt and
425 receipts notwithstanding Coverture and whether sole
426 or Covert to be from time to time good and
427 Sufficient discharge and discharges for the same
428 and provided the said Louisa Dredge shall die
429 leaving Issue of her Body lawfully to be begotten
430 then from and after her decease I give and bequeath
431 the said Capital Stock and the Interest and dividends
432 then due and growing due for the same unto her
433 Executors and Adm[inistrat]ors and in case the said Louisa
434 Dredge shall happen to die without leaving any
435 Child or Children as aforesaid then I give the said Seven
436 hundred pounds Eighteen Shillings and Nine pence
437 Capital Stock three per Centum Consolidated Bank
438 Annuities with the Interest and dividends due and
439 growing due for the same at the time of her
440 decease unto the said Frances Dredge Mother of the
441 said Louisa Dredge if she shall be then living
442 to and for her own proper use but if she shall
443 be then dead then to her daughter the said
444 Mary Dredge her Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns I give
445 and bequeath to Richard Dawkins of the Close of
446 Salisbury in the said County of Wilts Gardener the
447 Sum of Two hundred pounds To my Servant Mary
448 Batten if she shall be living with me at the time
449 of my decease the Sum of one hundred and fifty pounds
450 and to Ann Gregory daughter of Frances Gregory if
451 she shall be also living with me at the time of
452 my decease the Sum of one hundred pounds which
453 said several Legacies I hereby Will and direct shall
454 be paid by my Executor hereinafter named within
455 twelve Months next after my decease and as
456 for and concerning all the rest residue and
457 remainder of my Monies Securities for Monies Stock
458 in husbandry and all and Singular other my
459 Estate whatsoever and wheresoever both real and
460 personal I give devise and bequeath the same
461 unto my said Nephew Solomon Dredge to hold
462 the same unto the said Solomon Dredge his
463 heirs Executors Adm[inistrat]ors and Assigns for ever or
464 for and during all such Term Terms Estate Estates
465 and Interests as I shall have therein respectively
466 at the time of my decease and I make Nominate
467 Constitute and appoint the said Solomon Dredge whole
468 and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament
469 hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me
470 at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I
471 the said Thomas Blake the Testator have to this
472 my last Will and Testament contained in this and
473 the Seven other Sheets of paper hereunto annexed
474 to the first Seven Sheets thereof set my hand and
475 my hand and Seal to this eighth and last Sheet
476 this
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477 this Sheet this Twenty third day of December
478 in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred
479 and two Thos Blake Signed Sealed published
480 and declared by the said Thomas Blake the
481 Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in
482 the presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed
483 our Names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of
484 the said Testator and of each other Jno Swayne
485 J B Pearse W Lowdry
486 Whereas I have gave all my Freehold
487 Estate at Steeple Langford to my Executors In Trust
488 for Mary Dredge of Wishford daughter of
489 William and Mary Dredge my Will is that
490 they do pay her but six pounds every quarter
491 of a year and if she do Marry then the whole
492 of the Estate to go to my Executor during Mary
493 Dredges life Thos Blake July 25 1805
494 Whereas I have gave to Harry Dredge
495 on my Will all my two Leasehold Estates at
496 Sureton in the parish of Stapleford my will is
497 that my Executor Solomon Dredge shall have
498 the Estate paying Harry Dredge twelve pounds
499 a year half yearly as long as my Interest shall
500 so long continue in the Estate Thos Blake Decr 26
501 1805 if he sells his right in the Estate it is
502 to be paid no longer
503 I give to Richard Dawkins Son of Richard
504 Dawkins of Salisbury Fifty pounds I give to all
505 the Children of Robert Dawkins of Netton that
506 be living at my decease Twenty pound each to
507 be paid in twelve Months after I give to Francis
508 Gregory all the three houses at End late Newtons
509 for his life and the Land after his decease I give
510 the Dower House to his Grand docter Polly
511 Gregory dafter of his dafter Eliz Gregory for
512 her life I give to Sarah Dredge Wife of Thos
513 Dredge the house late Richard Mundays for
514 her life if she do not mary Thos Blake Jan
515 21 1807
516 Whereas I have on my will gave to
517 Eliz: Down wife of George Down of Newton
518 Ten pounds a year for her life in an Estate
519 late at Newton if my Interest shall so long
520 continue my will is she shall have but five
521 pounds
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522 pounds a year and Rebeckah Mathews to have
523 the other five pound a year the other five pound
524 a year paid her during my Interest on the
525 Estate to be paid half yearly June 26 1807 Thos Blake
526 Appeared Personally
527 John Rowden of Great Wishford in the County of
528 Wils Gentleman George Rowden of Great
529 Wishford in the said County of Wilts Yeoman
530 and John Eve of Great Wishford in the said
531 County of Wilts Yeoman and made oath that
532 they know and were well acquainted with
533 Thomas Blake late of Wishford in the County of
534 wilts Gentleman deceased and also with his
535 manner and Character of handwriting and
536 Subscription having seen him write and write and
537 Subscribe his Name and having with care and
538 attention viewed and observed the paper writing
539 hereunto annexed bearing date the Twenty fifth day
540 of July One thousand Eight hundred and five and
541 purporting to be a Codicil to the last Will and
542 Testament of the said deceased bearing date the
543 Twenty third day of December one thousand Eight
544 hundred and two and which said Codicil begins
545 thus “whereas I have gave all my Freehold Estate”
546 ends thus “during Mary Dredges life” and thus
547 Subscribed Thos Blake July 25 1805 they these
548 appearers do say that they verily and in their
549 Consciences believe the whole series and contents
550 of such Codicil beginning ending and Subscribed
551 as aforesaid to be all the handwriting and
552 Subscription of the said Thomas Blake deceased
553 John Rowden George Rowden John Eve on the
554 Twenty third day of April in the year of our
555 Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eight the
556 said John Rowden George Rowden and John Eve
557 were sworn to the Truth of the above affidavit
558 before me Peter Harrison Commissioner in the
559 presence of Will: Doucher Not. Pub.
560 Appeared Personally
561 George Rowden of Wishford in the County of Wilts
562 Yeoman and John Eve of Wishford in the said
563 County of Wilts Yeoman and made oath that they
564 know and were well acquainted with acquainted
565 with Thomas Blake late of Wishford in the County
566 of Wilts Gentleman deceased and also with his
567 manner and Character of handwriting and Subscription
568 having seen him write and write and Subscribe his
569 name and having with care and attention viewed
570 and
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571 and observed three several Codicils to the
572 last Will and Testament of the said deceased
573 bearing date the Twenty third day of December
574 in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight
575 hundred and two and which said three several
576 Codicils bear date the Twenty sixth day of
577 December one thousand Eight hundred and five
578 the Thirty first day of January One thousand
579 Eight hundred and Seven and the Twenty sixth
580 day of June one thousand Eight hundred and
581 Seven the first of which said Codicils begins
583 thus “whereas I have gave to Harry Dredge” ends
583 thus “it is to be paid no longer” and is thus
584 Subscribed Thos Blake Decr 26 1805 the second
585 begins thus “I give to Richard Dawkins “ ends
586 thus “if she does not Marry” and is thus Subscribed
587 Thos Blake Jany 31 1807 the Third begins thus
588 “whereas I have on my will” ends thus “to be
589 paid half yearly” and is thus subscribed June
590 26 1807 Thos Blake They these appearers do
591 say that they verily and in their Consciences
592 believe the whole series and Contents of the
593 said recited Codicils beginning ending and
594 Subscribed as aforesaid to be all of the proper
595 handwriting and Subscription of the said Thomas
596 Blake deceased George Rowden John Eve
597 on the Twenty third day of April in the
598 Year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred
599 and Eight the said George Rowden and John
600 Eve were sworn to the truth of the above
601 affidavit before me Peter Harrisson Commissioner
602 in the presence of Willm Doucher Not Pub.
603 This Will was proved at
604 London with four Codicils the Thirtieth day of
605 April in the year of our Lord one thousand
606 Eight hundred and Eight hundred and Eight
607 before the Right honorable Sir William Wynne
608 Knight doctor of Laws Master or Commissary of
609 the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
610 Constituted by the Oath of Solomon Dredge the
611 sole Executor named in the said Will to whom
612 Administration was granted of all and Singular
613 the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said
614 deceased he having been first sworn by
615 Commission duly to administer
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