Will of James Blake, Malster, Wiveliscombe, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/1073/114, probated 10 Jan 1781

The testator is James Blake, malster, at Wiveliscombe. I find a marriage between James Blake and Betty Hancock 30 Apr 1772 which is likely his son and daughter in law mentioned in the will. Witnesses for that marriage by licence were Thomas and William Hancock. Harriot Blake, mentioned in his will as a grand daughter, married William Webber 3 Sep 1800. Mary Blake married William Honeywell 25 Sep 1777 and Jane Blake married John Hill 11 Feb 1788. Betty Blake married William Shaddack 20 Jul 1760. Another interesting entry is Elizabeth Blake married to James Mays 15 May 1739 and Nathaniel Blake married to Elizabeth Cade 22 Mar 1738 (Nathaniel of Ash Priors and Elizabeth of Stogumber). Judith Blake married Thomas Harris 20 Nov 1623 and Richard Blake married Johan Wood 9 Apr 1685. Francis Blake married Elizabeth Collard 2 Feb 1748. All of these marriages at Wiveliscombe.

James is likely the James Blake buried 25 Nov 1780 from the OPC website for Wiveliscombe. The Ann Blake buried 8 Aug 1783 was a widow.

Protestation Returns for Wiveliscombe reveal no Blake families there in 1641-42. Arthur Blake was there in 1653 when he left his will. Closeby to Wiveliscombe is Halse just four miles away. I am curious if this family at Wiveliscombe in the 1700s is descendant of the Halse Blake family.

Looking at the names mentioned in the will James likely has a sister Elizabeth and a sister Jane as well as his brothers John, William and Francis. These people were all likely born between 1700 and 1720 or earlier.

Names mentioned in the will:
James Blake, Wiveliscombe, testator
John Blake, brother
William Blake, brother
Francis Blake, brother
Francis Mays, kinsman
William Mays, kinsman
James Mays, kinsman
______ Leigh or Ley, daughter of sister Jane
Anne Blake, wife of testator
Harriott Blake, grand daughter
Betty Blake, daughter in law, mother of Harriott (this is likely Betty Hancock married to his son James
Mr William Hancock, son of Mr John Hancock, overseer
Robert Webber, witness
George Hill, witness

JOHN HANCOCK, of Ford, eldest son of Philip Hancock and Mary Mitchell. Born 1712, died at Ford, 1795, married Elizabeth Rich, of Riches Holford. Had seven children.

1. Mary, married Thomas Boucher, of Ford.

2. Dorothy, born 1737, married Wm. Gore, of Wiveliscombe.

3. Philip (III.), born 1739, married Mary Crocker.

4. John, born 1742, married Sarah Hancock, of L. St. Lawrence.

5. Henry, born 1745, married Ann Hancock, of Halse.

6. Betty, born 1749, married James Blake, of Wiveliscombe.

7. William, born 1753, married Jane Chorley.

According to the OPC for Wiveliscombe, Somerset page, Harriot was baptized 26 May 1773 daughter of James and Betty. She appears to be the only child baptized to this couple in the time period.

Are the three Mays mentioned nephews and sons of his possible sister Elizabeth who married James Mays in 1739?

John and Mary Blake baptized a son Francis 21 Aug 1724 at Wiveliscombe and a son William 15 Oct 1719. Are these brothers to the testator? There was a James baptized 22 Jul 1717 to John and Ann (perhaps they brothers did not share the same mother). There isn’t a baptism for John or Elizabeth.

The known Blake family at Wiveliscombe was Arthur Blake son of Humphrey and Elizabeth Blake and married to Jane Tomms. However, in Arthur’s will they had two children only – Elizabeth and Mary. But Arthur had three siblings – John, Humphry and Richard. Humphry in particular had a large family  which included six sons although some are known already through their wills.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 6 Oct 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1073/114
Testator: James Blake, Malster
Place: Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 7 May 1776, probated 10 Jan 1781
Condition: 18th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: James
[Margin]: Blake

1    In The Name of God Amen
2    I James Blake of the parish of Wiveliscombe
3    in the County of Somerset Malster being of a sound
4    Mind Memory and Understanding do make and
5    ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in
6    manner and form following that is to say I give
7    and bequeath unto my three Brothers John William
8    and Francis one Guinea apiece and to be paid
9    unto them respectively within one month after my
10    decease by my Executrix hereinafter named
11    or at any time after when demanded and if either
12    of my said brothers should happen to die before
13    me then it is my Will that the children of my
14    deceased brother if more than one shall have
15    the Guines so bequeathed as aforesaid and to be
16    paid unto them equally share and share alike I
17    further give and bequeath unto my three Kinsmen
18    Francis Mays William Mays and James Mays
19    seven shillings apiece and to be paid unto them
20    within one Month after my decease by my
21    Executrix as aforesaid I further give and bequeath
22    unto my Kinswoman __________Leigh or Ley Daughter
23    of my Sister Jane one Guinea and to be paid unto
24    her as aforesaid by my Executrix hereinafter named
25    I give devise and bequeath unto Anne my beloved
26    Wife all my Goods Chattells Monies and Securities
27    of Monies and all other my Effects of what nature
28    or kind soever that I shall die possessed of for her
29    whole and sole use and benefit during her Natural
30    life and after my said Wifes decease it is my will
31    and I do hereby as far as in me lieth give devise
32    and bequeath the same unto my Granddaughter
33    Harriott Blake for her whole and sole use and
34    benefit as I do likewise hereby nominate constitute
35    and appoint the said Anne my beloved Wife to be whole
36    and sole Executrix of this my Will and whereas
37    Mistress Betty Blake my Daughter in law now
38    stands indebted unto me by Virtue of a Note of hand
    [Page 2]
39    bearing date the seventh day of May 1776 in the
40    full Sum of twenty one pounds which said sum of twenty one pounds with its lawfull
41    interest I do hereby give and bequeath the same
42    unto my Granddaughter Harriott Blake when She
43    doth arrive unto the Age of twenty one years And it
44    is my Will that my said Executrix do see that the
45    said Sum of twenty one pounds with its lawfull Interest
46   be paid unto my said Granddaughter accordingly
47    and I desire my good Friend Mr William Hancock
48    son of Mr John Hancock at Ford to be aiding and
49    assisting with my Executrix in the Management
50    of my Business and affairs as much as possibly and
51    conveniently be ran after my decease In Witness
52    whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this
53    twenty ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one
54    thousand seven hundred and eighty James Blake
55    Signed Sealed published and declared by the
56    said James Blake the Testator as and for his
57    last Will and Testament in the presence of us who
58    have subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereunto
59    Robert Webber George Hill
60    This Will was proved at London on the
61    tenth day of January in the Year of our Lord one
62    thousand seven hundred and eighty one before the Right
63    Worshipfull Peter Calvert doctor of Laws Master keeper
64    or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury
65    lawfully constituted by the Oath of Ann Blake widow
66    the Relict of the deceased and sole Executrix named
67    named in the said Will to whom administration
68    was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattells
69    and Credits of the said deceased she having been
70    first sworn by Commission duly to administer

Will of Arthur Blake, Gentleman of Wiveliscombe, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/231/323, probated 16 Jun 1653

Arthur Blake, the testator, is part of the Humphrey Blake family at Overstowey. He identifies his brother as Humphrey and his Uncle as Edward Blake. His mother in law is Martha Tomms. His wife is Joane and two daughters Mary and Elizabeth. Neither daughter is 21 years of age.

Just to place him into the tree for this family, Arthur is the son of Humphrey Blake and Elizabeth Giles and the grandson of Humphrey Blake and Agnus/Ann James. That takes him back to his great grandfather John Blake the elder married to Johan who was a son of Humphrey Blake and Agnis and they are the beginning of this line (thus far) with Humphrey buried at Over Stowey 28 Dec 1558.

Arthur is likely the third son with John the eldest, Humphrey next and then Arthur. His younger brothers appear to be much younger with Richard baptized 6 Dec 1629 at Over Stowey (nearly ten years after Arthur’s approximate date of birth in Nov 1619) and John (I have not yet located a baptism date for him). Arthur’s wife is Jane or Johane Tomms as noted in the will and her mother was Martha Tomms.

The will verifies the family links as he also identifies his uncle as Edward and going back to the siblings of his father Humphrey Blake (born circa 1580 and married to Elizabeth Giles) they were:

John baptized 25 Apr 1583 at Over Stowey
Mary
Richard baptized 17 Sep 1585 (married to Alice Martyn)
Jone baptized 23 Sep 1587
Edmund
Robert baptized 8 Jun 1589
Arthur baptized 22 Jun 1592; buried 25 Jun 1592

The parents of these children were Humphrey Blake married to Agnus/Ann James 23 Oct 1578 at Over Stowey.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 25 Sep 2013
Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/231/323
Testator: Arthur Blake, Gentleman
Place: Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Date of document: 3 Nov 1652, probated 16 Jun 1653
Condition: 17th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: The Will of
[Margin]: Arthur Blake
[Margin]: 13

1    In the name of God Amen
2    the Third day of November in the yeare of our Lord God
3    One Thousande six hundred fifty and two I Arthur
4    Blake of Wivelscombe in the Countye of Somersett Gent
5    being at this Instant tyme of sounde and perfect memory thankes
6    therefore be given to God doe make and ordaine this my last
7    Will and Testament in manner and forme following That is to
8    say First I give and bequeath my Soule to Almighty God my
9    only Maker and Redeemer and my Body to the Earth by a decent
10    and Christian burial with a full Assurance after my departure
11    out of this miserable World of a ioyfull resurrection into the Kingdom
12    of heaven by the death and passion of Jesus Christ my only Saviour
13    and Redeemer First I give and devise unto Tenne of the most
14    impotent old people within the parishe of Wivelscombe which
15    live out of the Almehouse Tenn shillings equally to be divided
16    and againe I give unto the most impotent poore people of Over-
17    Stowey Tenn shillings, Againe I give and devise unto Arthur Blake
18    my Nephew and Godsonne my best Ewe sheepe Againe I give and
    [Page 2]
19    devise unto my Two youngest Bretheren as a Toaken of my love
20    five shillings a peece Againe I give and devise unto Mary
21    Blake my youngest daughter all my estate in loste and whole
22    Terme of yeares determinable upon lives which shall be to come
23    and endureing after my decease in a certaine Tenement and Over
24    Land called Fursey Moore late conveyed and sett unto Robert
25    Slone and John Charles to be accountable for the yearely rente
26    thereof after my decease for there terme unto my overseers to ye use of the said Mary my daughter paying yearely out of the p[re]misses to come unto Joane
27    Blake my now Wife the full summe of six pounde Towards her
28    subsistence and lively hood and for so long time as Martha Tomms
29    Widdow Mother of the saide Johan shall live and no longer And if it
30    shall so happen that both my saide daughters to dye and my Wife
31    survive That then by this my Will I doe give and devise the saide Tenem[en]t
32    and Overlande unto the said Joane for all the Terme then therein to
33    come and unexpired as shall appeare by the Originall deeds of purchase
34    Againe I doe give and devise unto Mary my daughter the summe of
35    Twenty poundes And againe I give and devise unto Joane my
36    Wife the summe of Thirty pounds And againe I doe further give and
37    devise unto my saide Wife All that one Mewe or Slagg of Wheate or Corne
38    standing in a Close called the Legre next to the house alloweing out
39    of the same to Martha Tomms Twenty and five bushels towards
40    her house And againe I doe further devise and give unto Joane my
41    Wife one gray Mdare and one great goldes hogge pigg And againe I doe
42    give and devise unto Martha Tomms my Mother in Law Fowre
43    Milch kine six Lambs eight Ewe Sheepe Three calves Two great
44    Hoggs Two Shootes And againe all other my goods chattels not formerly
45    given and bequeathed my debts Legacies and funeral expences payde
46    and performed I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Blake my daughter
47    who I make and ordaine my whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will
48    and Testament And my expressed Will and meaning further is and
49    hereby doe declare my Intent and purpose That if my Executrix shall
50    happen to dye in the tyme of her Infancye having no fulnes of Capacity
51    by p[er]fection of yeares to dispose of her Estate Than then all such goods
52    Chattells and personal Estate by me formerly devised shall be and
53    remaine unto Joane my Wife Mary my daughter and my Two youngest
54    brothers equally to be divided by my Overseers or the Survivour or
55    Survivours of them and I doe hartily desire my Uncle Edward Blake
56    my Brother Humphrey Blake and John Michell of Wivelescombe to be Overseers
57    of this my last Will and Testament to be aiding and Assisting unto
58    my Executrix touching the probate and due execution thereof unto
59    whome I give a payre of gloves of five shillings a peece And also
    [Page 3]
60    desireing theire fathfull Love and Care to my Wife and Tuition of
61    my Children In Witnesse where of I the saide Arthur Blake To this
62    My last Will and Testament in writing have sett my hand and seale
63    the day and yeare above written revoaking and annihilating all former
64    Wills as Frustrate and voide The marke of Arthur Blake Signed
65    sealed confessed and acknowledged to be the last Will and Testament
66    of the within named Arthur Blake in the presence of Robert Wynter
67    the marke of Richard Burdy
68    The sixteenth day of June one Thousand six hundred fifty
69    and Three Administration issued forth to Edward Blake Humphrey
70    Blake and John Michell Overseers and Trustees named in the
71    Will of Arthur Blake late of Wivlescombe in the County of Sommerset
72    Gent dec[ease]d having goods etc to administer the goods Chattells and
73    debts of the said dec[ease]d according to the Tenor and effect of the Will
74    to the use and benefit and during the minority of Elizabeth
75    Blake daughter and Executrix To whome Administration was
76    committed They being sworne by Commission truly to administer

Timberscombe Bishops Transcripts - 1

I started working on the Timberscombe records today and I am using the FreeREG templates with the GSU Number and Film Number tacked on the end. Thus far I have completed to the end of 1605 with 20 baptisms, 6 marriages and 28 burials. The next page is missing the top portion so the March/April 1606 baptisms are lost except for one single name which I can read - Nurcombe. I was actually surprised to find Nurcombe at Timberscombe as they tended to be at Wiveliscombe in the 1600s. However those records are a later time period so perhaps this is a very interesting discovery. My 3x great grandmother Elizabeth Siderfin's aunt Ann married John Nurcombe in the early 1800s at Selworthy with his parents John Nurcombe and Mary Chapman marrying at Wootton Courtney.

I expect that I will learn a great deal from these registers and I am rather hopeful to find my Moggridge family there in the early days. I did learn that the Moggridge family are actually a Devon family which moved into Somerset in the 1600s. They still remained in Devon as well at Twitchen which was later farmed by Thomas Pincombe (youngest brother of my 3x great grandfather Robert Pincombe).

I had an interesting query for Bishops Nympton on the Snell family. The Snell family continued to live at Bishops Nympton well into the 1900s and are found in the 1770s in the Parish Register for their first entries at Bishops Nympton. One of those many interesting families that arrived in the 1700s along with my Charley family. It is curious why they decided to come to Bishops Nympton at that time. As I learn more and more about the area that detail may well reveal itself. My Pincombe line is found there continuously from the late 1500s.

Tonight my husband gave a very interesting lecture on his family lines that emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony (from England mostly) in the 1600s. He could do the same talk with his Dutch ancestors to New Amsterdam in the 1600s actually as he has a number of rather interesting people there as well. It still amazes me that so much of his family history was lost when they came to Canada although with early deaths of mothers who would have carried the stories to the children one can understand this loss of knowledge. I can never decide which one is the most interesting but I honestly have never seen so many Baptists ministers in one person's family line!

The next project to prepare for is my talk at BIFHSGO in the Fall on Case Studies. I have pretty well covered a number of studies already which includes my husband's Kipp line which is interesting but no new candidates to add to the knowledge of the three brother's descendants. I will probably not discuss the Kipp line this time. I would like to do my Blake line and will continue to hunt out information on that line. There is also the T study which I have finally finished proofreading and certainly there are interesting items in the results that I could discuss. I need to review that with my three co-investigators before hand to ensure that I am not including anything that they would prefer to wait until publication of our paper.

Tomorrow I will continue to work on the Timberscombe Bishops Transcripts.