Galway Blake Family and the Blake Family at Twizzell

As I work through Martin Blake's books and I have now completed the initial entry, I am proofreading. As well I decided to enter in a little more material on the Blake family of Twizzell Castle. Robert Blake married Sarah Blake of Twizzell Castle.

Just to look back at Robert Blake's ancestry, his grandfather Alderman Robert Blake married Mary Blake. These two were sixth cousins having in common Walter Blake their 5x great grandfather who was one of the sons of Richard Caddell alias Blake.

Sarah Blake's ancestry has also been blogged on earlier and can be found under the label for Twizell.

 http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/search/label/Twizell%20Castle

Just to recap it here she was the third daughter of Sir Francis Blake and Elizabeth Carr. Her mother was the heir of William Carr of Ford Castle. Sir Francis was the son of Francis Blake and Catherine Brown. This Francis was the son of Thomas Blake and Eleanor Hall. Thomas was the son of John Blake and Margaret Blake and herein lies a rather interesting conundrum. There are several pedigree charts relating to this Blake family. I have tried to sort them out since they differ slightly but the families of John Blake and of Margaret Blake lived at East Anton, John's location is described as Easton Anton, near Andover, Hampshire and he is the son of William Blake senior of this location. Margaret is described as the daughter of William Blake of East Anton (no mention of Andover which I think is perhaps significant). However I only do find one East Anton.  This village does not appear in A Genealogical Gazetteer of England compiled by Frank Smith published at Baltimore, Maryland 1968. But having noticed, hopefully, once again that this book is published in the United States. I shall have a look at Samuel Lewis' multi-volume Topographical Dictionary of England (published 1831 and 1833 (possibly others)). I did download Samuel Lewis' books (they are on Google Books) but East Anton or Anton, East can not be found in these books.

British History Online:

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hants/vol4/pp345-358

British History online though did not fail me and I found the following information:

Smannell is situated 2½ miles north-east of the town, it contains the hamlets of Woodhouse, East Anton, Little London and Finkley. Finkley House is the seat of the Rev. Robert Finch. The northeastern part of the parish is well wooded, including the southern portion of Doles Wood, which was parcel of Finkley Park or Finkley Forest. A survey of this park, taken by order of the Parliamentary Commissioners in 1652, exists at the Public Record Office. (fn. 22) At that date it contained 841 a. 1 r. 17 p., together with a lodge standing therein. There were 7,149 timber trees and saplings growing in it, and there were also various copses in the park, (fn. 23) usually fenced in, and containing 620a. 2r. The 150 deer in the park were valued at £100 and the rabbits at £50. 'The wood and woody ground called the Ridges,' (fn. 24) which was parcel of Finkley Forest, contained 5,120 trees, and the underwoods there were worth £40. Richard Cromwell was then the chief ranger, and William Cooke the keeper. The inhabitants of King's Enham, Knight's Enham and East Anton had certain rights of common of pasture in Finkley Park, and 20s. yearly and 9s. yearly were paid to the ranger and the keeper respectively towards the making of fences by the tenants of King's Enham farm, under Magdalen College, Oxford, who from time immemorial had had common of pasture there for seventy cows and one bull from Mayday to Michaelmas. Four years after his accession Charles II granted Finkley Park to George Duke of Albemarle and his heirs for ever. (fn. 25)

In May's Wood is preserved the name of an ancient manor. Charlton is further south, a mile from Andover on the Hungerford road.

The sites of the Roman roads from Old Sarum to Silchester and from Winchester to Cirencester both pass through the parish, crossing one another near the hamlet of East Anton. Balksbury Camp is near the Upper Clatford boundary. There are two barrows near Finkley. Though little has been discovered within the parish itself, Andover is the centre of a district extraordinarily fertile in Roman remains. (fn. 26)

The Grammar School.—John Hanson in 1569 gave £200 to be invested at the rate of £16 per annum for the maintenance of a free school within the town. The schoolmaster was to be a graduate of Oxford or Cambridge. The money was placed in the hands of Bishop Horne, then Bishop of Winchester, to be employed by him as Hanson requested. This money the bishop entrusted to William Blake, senior, and his son, William Blake, junior, and they, in connexion with John Blake, gave a bond to the bishop for payment of the £200 and the £16 yearly at a certain time. The bond was not to be found at the death of the bishop, and some time afterwards William Blake, of East Anton, 'being moved in conscience for that the said sum of £200 was given to so good a use and purpose,' is found 'entering into another obligation unto Walter Wayte, then bailiff of Andover, in the sum of £400 to make good the loss.' Richard Blake gave the site and the Corporation built the schoolhouse. Richard Kemish, by will dated 25 September 1611, left £5 per annum to the school. 

Footnotes:
22. Parl. Enr. Hants, no. 18.
23. Viz. Mongomery, Great and Little Nutthill, Little Wydell, Wayting Oake and Deereman Copses.
24. This is the modern Ridges Copse.
25. Duchy of Lane. Misc. Bks. xxiv, fol. 174.
26. See Victoria County Histories Hants, i, 294, &c.

As one can see there is mention of two William Blakes, one at Andover one might presume since this is an article on Andover and one at East Anton. The one at Andover being referred to as William Blake senior. Luckily Bishop Robert Horne was a well known Churchman and the mention above does give a date in the time period for William Blake senior and William Blake of East Anton. He died circa 1579 according to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

I had not put all of this together earlier but had from the subsidy records surmised that there were indeed two William Blakes at Andover in this time period. William Blake Senior died in 1582 and left his rather lengthy will which I transcribed.

 http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2012/09/will-of-william-blakeyeoman-of-andover.html

Richard Blake was another son of William Blake senior (and my ancestor) and he would have been an adult in this time frame. He married Jone Blake in the early to mid 1580s. I am still not positive on the Blake line for Jone Blake. Her father has been listed as William Blake on the Visitation in one instance.

This does rather prove that in the correct time period there were indeed two William Blakes. The William Blake at East Anton was the father of Margaret Blake who married John Blake who was a son of William Blake the elder.

Although Horatio Gates Somerby attempted to link all these families at Andover I believe he is very much in error. Certainly Nicholas Blake, whom he mentions, was the father of William Blake senior,. Edmund Blake, Alice Blake married to (unknown) Godwin and Elizabeth Blake married to the son of her mother's second husband Richard Munday. Nicholas mentions his children and Margaret Munday in her will verifies these children as does William Blake senior when he mentions his siblings. Horatio Gates Somerby gave a son Humphrey to Nicholas and this Humphrey according to Somerby moves to Plainfield Somerset and is the progenitor of the Blake family in that area.

Interesting that this line at Andover eventually becomes linked to the Galway Blake line with the marriage of Sarah a 4x great grandchild of Nicholas Blake mentioned in the above paragraph. Bringing these two trees together in this fashion is quite interesting and eventually I intend to put the entire tree up on World Connect.

The other question that comes into all of this is William Blake at East Anton descendant of Roger Blake and Mary Baynard? This is found on the Blake Pedigree Chart located at the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office. The will of Roger Blake only mentions his eldest son and youngest daughter but he is known to have had several other children.

 http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/01/will-of-roger-blake-esquire-of-calne.html

The Visitation of Wiltshire does not list a son William Blake for this couple. Which is actually correct? I am tending towards the idea that William is the son of Robert Blake and Mary Baynard and in that case the children of Robert Blake (Galway) and Sarah Blake (Twizzell Castle) are also related to the Blake family at Calne Wiltshire. Bringing together a very large group of Blake families. But the descendants of the Calne Wiltshire Blake family through this line do not carry the yDNA of the Blake family at Calne because it was a daughter in each case who married into another Blake line.

I shall continue building this rather interesting file in Legacy for the Blake family. At this point I need to consider whether I should indeed begin a new file under the combined name and keep the Galway file separate. I will think on that.

Gardening season and genealogy

Gardening season and genealogy always seem somewhat incompatible but this year I am going to try to combine them. I have lost a lot of time to genealogy in this past year most due to my back injury. That, being much improved, is no longer sidelining me but gardening does take a lot of time at the beginning.

However, we have all the flower beds prepared for annuals and all the biannuals etc pruned and neatly ensconsed in a new bed of fresh black earth. My husband follows the principle of working this into the existing earth so is more work but has amazing results.

The main vegetable garden now needs to be tended to and the digging has begun. I actually love digging the main garden. It is comforting seeing the rich earth turn over with each shovelful and breaking it with the point of the shovel then neatly hand tilling it back into a smooth liberated pile of clay/black earth ready to receive the seeds of this years crop.

The lawn now fertilized and already looking like it might need a trim is the first welcoming sign of spring very often with its bright greeness flowing away from your eyes as you look around this piece of land that we have been cultivating now for nearly fourty years. Our ambitions were much larger in our youth as we had a quarter acre of land. We are happy though with our smaller plot purchased when we moved here to Ottawa fourty years ago. We can gradually shrink the large vegetable garden and we have done so. Now we can just plant the rows further apart and that decreases the amount of work and the yield of crops.

And so it begins once again, the yearly planting, the tilling, the pruning and then the gathering.

Sometimes I think that is like genealogy. First I took those 42 courses at the National Institute of Genealogy and whilst taking the courses I started to work through the records looking for my people. Then I eliminated the ones that were not mine and entered them into Legacy. I have been a Legacy software user from the beginning of my genealogy days in 2003. I have watched it come along from a good basic genealogy software to the excellent product it is today. I have more than a dozen trees on Legacy - many of them are Blake trees which are larger than my own family tree.

Hopefully wills transcriptions and family trees to come in abundance this summer!

Henry Beard (1741 - 1795)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 18

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, unknown, Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, Durnford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterel, Bartlett, Alderman, Ann (unknown), Sherwood, unknown, Habberfield, Collings, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Canham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

It does seem appropriate to do Henry Beard next because I just referred to him in last weeks 52 Ancestor Challenge.Finding Henry Beard was thanks to my cousin Robin Beard. An email out of the blue identified Christy and Mary Buller as being mentioned in the will of Henry Beard with Mary being his daughter. What a marvelous gift as I had not at that time identified the surname of Christopher Buller's wife. That was back in 2008 and since then we have put together an interesting tree for Henry Beard both ancestral and descendant.

Henry Beard left his will dated  16 Sep 1795 and it was probated 23 Jan 1796. His burial record states that he died at Lion Court, Parish St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, Surrey and was buried 1 Nov 1795 in the Churchyard of St Mary Magdalen. We visited the Church and graveyard in 2010. It is a beautiful quiet grassy area in behind the Church. We spent a little time there but the exact location of the burial place for Henry and his first wife Elizabeth Hemsley is unknown to me at this time. According to his burial record his year of birth was circa 1741. I have not yet been able to find a baptism/birth for Henry Beard that would fit into this particular year. His will reads as follows:

Source: The National Archives PROB 11/1270/251

[In margin] Henry Beard
1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Henry Beard of Bermondsey Street in the parish of
3    Saint Mary Magdalen Southwark in the County of Surr[e]y
4    Tanner being weak in body but of sound and disposing
5    Mind Memory and understanding do make publish and declare
6    this my last will and Testament in manner and form
7    following first I recommend my Soul into the hands of
8    Almighty God who gave it and my body I commit to the
9    earth to be decently and frugally interred at the discretion
10    of my Executors herein after named and to all my worldly
11    Estate whatsoever and where so ever where with it may
12    please God to bless me being all personal I give devise
13    and bequeath the same after payment of my funeral
14    expences the expence of proving this my will and all
15    my just debt as herein after is mentioned (that is to say)
16    I Give unto my Dear Wife Jane Beard the use of the
17    whole of my household Goods plate linen China furniture
18    and utensils what soever which shall be in my
19    dwelling house at the time of my death To hold use
20    occupy and possess the same during her life and from
21    and immediately after her death I direct that the
22    same be disposed of by my Executors herein after
23    named for the most money that can be reasonably
24    gotten for the same and that the produce thereof be
25    equally divided between my three daughters Mary
26    Buller the wife of Christy Buller Elizabeth Beard and
27    Sarah Beard share and share alike and in case any
28    one or more of my said Children shall die in the life
29    time of my said Wife Jane Beard then I direct
30    that the money arising from such disposal of my
31    said household Goods plate linen China furniture and
32    utensils be equally divided between such of them as
33    shall be living at the time of her decease to and
34    for their own sole and separate use and benefit and
35    I also Give and bequeath unto my said Wife Jane
36    Beard and to my said daughters Mary Buller the wife
37    of Christy Buller Elizabeth Beard and Sarah Beard the sum
38    of five Guineas each for mourning and I Give unto
39    Thomas Rippon of Bermondsey new road in the parish
40    of Saint Mary Magdalen in the County of Surrey afores[ai]d
41    Gentleman and Joseph Freeman of Grange Walk in the parish
42    of Saint Mary Magdalen in the County of Surrey aforesaid
43    Leather factors my Executors herein after named the sum of
44    ten pounds each for the trouble they may have in
45    the execution of this my will and in the performing the
    [Page 2]
46    Trusts hereby in them reposed and all the rest
47    residue and remainder of my Goods Chattells Stock in
48    Trade book debts Estate and effects of what nature or kind
49    Soever not herein before given or bequeathed I give
50    and bequeath unto the said Thomas Rippon and
51    Joseph Freeman (To hold to them the said Thomas Rippon and Joseph Freeman) their Executors Administrators and assigns
52    upon this Special Trust and confidence nevertheless (that is to say)
53    that they said Thomas Rippon and Joseph Freeman these
54    Executors or Administrators do and shall as soon as
55    convenient after my death sell and dispose thereof and
56    call in and receive all such debts sum and sums of
57    money as shall be due and owing to me at the
58    time of my decease either from my partnership made
59    with George Dade of Bermondsey Street in the parish
60    of Saint Mary Magdalen in the County of Surrey
61    aforesaid Tanner or from any other person or persons
62    whom soever and place the monies arising by such
63    sale or disposal and the monies so to be called in
64    and received upon government or other good and
65    sufficient security in their own interest and in such
66    interests as they shall think proper and also with
67    Trust that they do and shall receive the Interest
68    and Dividends thereof from time to time as the
69    same shall become payable and pay the same unto
70    my said dear Wife Jane Beard for and during the
71    term of her natural life provided she does not
72    intermarry with any other husband after my decease
73    and from and immediately after the decease to pay
74    assign transfer and convey all and every such said
74    and sums of money so to be placed out and
76    invested by the said Thomas Rippon and Joseph
77    Freeman upon Government or other good security or
78    securities unto and amongst my said daughters Mary
79    Buller the wife of Christy Buller Elizabeth Beard
80    and Sarah Beard share and share alike to and for
81    their own use and benefit and in case any or
82    other of my said daughters shall depart this life
83    in the life time of my said wife Jane Beard
84    then in Trust to pay assign transfer and receive
85    the part or share of such deceased child or
86    children unto such other or others of my said children
87    as shall be living at the time of the decease
88    of my said wife Jane Beard in equal proportion
89    but that if my said Wife Jane Beard shall marry
90    any husband in future then the Trust to pay assign
91    transfer and convey one fourth part of the money
92    So to be placed out upon Government or other
93    Securities unto my said Wife Jane Beard to and
94    for her own sole use and benefit and also In
95    Trust to pay assign transfer and convey the remaining
96    three fourth parts or shares of the said moneys
    to be placed out as aforesaid unto and among
97    [Page 3]
98    My said three daughters Mary Buller the wife of Christy
99    Buller Elizabeth Beard and Sarah Beard in equal shares
100    and proportions to and for their own use and
101    benefit and in case any or other of my said dau[ghte]rs
102    shall happen to die in the life time of my said
103    wife Jane Beard leaving issue of her or their body
104    or bodies lawfully begotten then In Trust to pay
105    assign transfer and convey the part or share of
106    such deceased child or children unto such her and their
107    issue share and share alike (if more than one)
108    when and so soon as they shall severally and respectively
109    attain their several and respective ages of twenty
110    one years and to pay and apply the Interest dividends
111    and produce thereof in the mean time for and
112    towards their respective maintenance and education
113    but in case one or more of my said daughters
114    shall happen to die without leaving issue of her or
115    their bodies lawfully begotten then the Trust to pay
116    assign transfer and convey the part of share of such
117    deceased child or children unto such other child or
118    Children as shall be living at the time of the dece[ase]
119    of my said Wife Jane Beard and I do hereby
120    empower and direct my said Trustees to pay assign
121    transfer and convey the same accordingly and I do
122    authorize and empower my said Trustees from time to
123    time as often as they shall think proper to alter and
124    change the securities or which the said residue of
125    my Estate and effects shall hereafter be placed out
126    and from time to time as often as they shall
127    think fit again to place the same upon Government
128    or such other good and sufficient security or securities
129    as they shall think proper and I do thereby
130    authorize and empower my said Trustees to apply
131    the respective part or share of any or other of my
132    said Children who shall so happen to die in the life
133    time of my said wife Jane Beard leaving
134    issue lawfully begotten for putting any or other of them
135    out to Business or any suitable employ or for setting
136    him her or them up in Business or advancing him
137    her or them respectively in any employ or otherwise
138    or his heires their  administrators ______ advancement if this would by marriage otherwise
139    ^ how soever any thing in this my will contained to
140    the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding
141    and it is my Will and meaning that my said
142    Trustees or other of them shall not be liable to
143    answer or make good any loss of losses that shall
144    or may happen to the aforesaid residue of my
145    Estate and effects in placing out the trust monies
146    according to the directions in this my will or in the
147    transacting any money affairs or otherwise relating to
148    or concerning the execution of the Trusts mentioned
149    in this my will unless the same shall appear to
150    happen by or through their or other of their
    [Page 4]
151    wilful neglect or default nor shall either of them my
152    said Trustees be answerable or accountable for the
153    acts deeds receipts or disbursements of the other of them
154    but each of them shall be answerable only for his
155    own separate acts deeds receipts and disbursements and
156    I do hereby direct that my said Trustees shall and
157    may pay and reimburse themselves and himself out of
158    the aforesaid residue of my Estate and effects all
159    reasonable and necessary costs charges and expences
160    what soever that they or either of them shall or
161    may bear pay be put into or sustain in or about
162    the creation of this my Will or the trusts hereby in
163    them reposed and Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute
164    and appoint my said Trustees the said Thomas Rippon
165    and Joseph Freeman Executors of this my last Will and
166    Testament and do hereby revoke and make void all former
167    and other will and wills by me at any time hereto
168    fore made and do declare this to be my last will and
169    Testament In witness whereof I the said Henry Beard
170    the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament
171    contained in three sheets of paper set my mark and
172    Seal (that is to say) to the first two sheets thereof
173    my mark and to this third and last sheet my
174    mark and Seal this sixteenth day of September in
175    the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred
176    and ninety five [The mark] + [of Henry Beard] [Seal] Signed
177    Sealed published and declared by the said Henry Beard
178    the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in
179    the presence of us who in his presence at his
180    request and in the presence of each other have
181    there unto subscribed our marks as witnesses [signed] James
182    Hopton [signed] Jno Rippon
183    This Will was proved at London the twenty
184    Third day of January in the year of our Lord One
185    Thousand seven hundred and ninety six before the w[or]shipful
186    Thomas Champion Crespigny Doctor of Laws Surrogate of
187    the Right Hon[oura]ble Sir William Wynne Knight also Doctor of
188    Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Perogative Court
189    of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oathes of Thomas
190    Rippon and Joseph Freeman the Executors named in the
191    said Will to whom Administration was Granted of all and
192    singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased
193    having been first Sworn duly to administer.



The Burial Registers at St Mary Magdalen also have a rather interesting entry 1 Apr 1797 for Ann Margaret Beard who died living at Grange Road in Bermondsey.  Going back in time Elizabeth Hemsley, the first wife of Henry, died while living at Grange Road in Bermondsey. She was buried 22 Jul 1781 (St Mary Magdalen). More on Elizabeth later but would mention that she was baptized November 1742 at St Mary Newington, Southwark, Surrey.


Today searching I have found a marriage for Henry Board/Beard and Margaret Cope 18 Jul 1744 at St Mary Newington, Southwark. Henry's date of birth has been estimated on the burial record as 1741 and I am thinking that likely Henry is not a son of this couple but there are a number of Beard families who live at Grange Road through the 1700s into the 1900s. This is my cousin Robin's line. Henry Beard (mistranscription by Ancestry has Board) was likely baptized 28 Apr 1712 at St Mary Magdalen and born 14 Apr 1712 son of Edward and Ann Beard. I need to find another Beard line that fits into my line. Finding this marriage does rather change the earlier ancestry that we had worked out for the Beard family.



I will leave Richard Beard who left his will in 1823  naming his children as Joseph George (born 29 Sep 1804 and baptized 4 Nov 1804 at St Saviour, Southwark), William John, Ann Elizabeth (born 30 May 1807 and baptized 30 Aug 1807 at St Saviour, Southwark daughter of Richard and Ann) and James Charles attached to the family of Henry Beard and Ann Margaret Cope. But not a daughter Sarah who married Thomas Charlton 9 Apr 1757 at St Mary Magdalen, I have unattached her and left her as a sister to Henry since he named a daughter Sarah. I will leave Edward attached to the family of Henry Beard and Ann Margaret Cope as well.



Source: The National Archives PROB 11/1674/76
Date of document: 9 Jan 1823, probated 23 Aug 1823

[In margin] Richard Beard
1    This is the last Will and Testament of me
2    Richard Beard in the parish of Bermondsey in the County of
3    Surrey I give devise and bequeath all my property and Effects whatsoever
4    And wheresoever ^unto my wife on condition that she pay unto my Son George one
5    shilling and further after the decease of my wife that my son Joseph
6    George have and enjoy all gains profits and Issues arising from the
7    Business on proviso that he pay to my daughter Ann Elizabeth three
8    long as she remain unmarried twenty five percent out of the said gains
9    profits and Issues and after her Marriage ten per Cent only and moreover
10    at the decease of my wife that all Estates main. and Stock in Trade and
11    Household furniture be valued and equally divided among my then
12    surviving children I do hereby appoint my sons George and James
13    Charles Executors to this my last Will and Testament and So declared
14    that neither them nor my Son William John shall at any time

15    during the life of my wife or after her death be employed in my Baking
16    Business In Witness whereof I the said Richard Beard the Testator
17    have to this my last Will and Testament at my hand and Seal this
18    9th day of January in the year of our Lord 1823 Richard Beard [Seal]
19    Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named Richard
20    Beard the Testator and for his last Will and Testament in presence of
21    us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have
22    Subscribed our names as witnesses thereunto William James William
23    Rendle William Thomas
24    Proved at London 23 Aug[us]t 1823 before the Worshipful Charles Cook
25    Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oaths of George Beard and James
26    Charles Beard the Sons the Executors to whom adm[inistrati]on was granted
27    having been first sworn duly to administer.

Parents of Henry and Sarah possibilities:


Henry baptized in 1712 had parents Edward and Ann.

Also baptized at St Mary Magdalen children of Edward and Ann:


Joseph baptized 8 Jan 1698

William baptized 23 Feb 1700

Solomon baptized 16 Nov 1702

Jeremiah baptized 2 Mar 1703

Abraham baptized 6 Oct 1706

Sarah baptized 12 Dec 1708

Henry baptized 28 Apr 1712


I did not find a marriage for this couple at St Mary Magdalen searching but will eventually look at the Parish Registers. Lots of possibilities as a father for Henry and arbitrarily choosing Henry as the father of Richard and Edward may be premature so will put that into the possibility column.


I now find that the ancestry of my Henry Beard is unknown and can not find a baptism for him. He was a tanner by trade as mentioned in his will. Perhaps I can find an apprenticeship for him. This was not successful at this time but I believe our next visit to LMA will have a few lookups!


The will of Henry's second wife Jane Blakely.



Source: The National Archives PROB 11/1652/24
Date of document:  1 May 1817, probated 5 Jan 1822
Author: Jane Beard, relict of Henry Beard
Relationship: stepmother of Mary Beard Buller (3x great grandmother)
Location: Crosby Row King Street, Southwark, London, England

[In margin] Jane Beard 13
1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Jane Beard of Crosby row King Street Southwark in the County of Surry Widow
3    do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to
4    say I direct that all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expences be in the
5    first place fully paid and satisfied by my Executors hereinafter named and after payment
6    and satisfaction thereof I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law Sarah Denner
7    now the Wife of Michael Jacob Denner of the Isle of Dogs Gentleman the sum of twenty
8    pounds to my cousin William Cooper five guineas to Christy Buller of Long Lane in
9    the Borough of Southwark aforesaid Slopcutter the sum of ten pounds to the Reverend
10    Doctor John Rippon of the Grange road Bermondsey Thomas Rippon of the Bank of
11    England Gentleman and the said Michael Jacob Denner a mourning ring each which
12    said several legacies I direct to be paid by my Executors as soon as conveniently
13    may be after my decease and as for and concerning all the rest residue and
14    remainder of my estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature
15    kind or quality soever which I now and or shall at the time of my decease
16    be possessed of interested in or entitled unto I direct that my Executors herein
17    after named shall convert the same into ready money immediately after my decease
18    and as to one equal third part of share thereof I give and bequeath the same
19    to the said Thomas Rippon and Michael Jacob Denner their Executors Admi[nistrat]ors and
20    assigns upon trust they they or the survivor of them and the Executors and Adm[inistrato]rs
21    of such survivor do and shall lay out and invest the same in this or their names
22    or name in the purchase of stock in the Bank of England and do and shall stand
23    possessed of such stocks together with the dividends and interest to arise therefrom
24    as and when the same shall become payable and which said dividends and interest
25    Interest I do hereby direct shall be by them from time to time added to and
26    become part of the principal of the said stock upon trust to pay and divide
27    the said stock and securities and the dividends and interest thereof between and
28    amongst all the every the children of my late daughter in law Mary Buller
29    deceased as and when they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years
30    and in the meantime to suffer the dividends and interests upon their respective
31    shares to accumulate by the way of compound interest for their respective benefits
32    and in case of the death of any or either of the children of my said daughter
33    in law Mary Buller before they shall attain the age of twenty one years then
34    I do hereby direct that the share of such child or children so dying together
35    with all accumulations thereof shall go to and be divided equally amongst the
36    survivors of them if more then one and if but one then to such only child and
37    in case they shall all die in my lifetime or before they shall respectively attain
38    the age of twenty one years then I give and bequeath the said stock and securities
39    and the accumulations thereof unto my daughters in law Elizabeth Millin Widow
40    and the said Sarah Denner their heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns and
41    as to one other full equal third part of share thereof I give and bequeath the
42    same unto my daughter in law the said Elizabeth Millin her heirs Executors
43    Administrators and assigns to and for the and their own use and benefit and as
44    as to the remaining equal third part or share thereof I give and bequeath the
45    same
    [Page 2]
46    same unto my daughter in law the said Sarah Denner her heirs Executors
47    Administrators and assigns to and for her and their own use and benefit and I
48    do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Thomas Rippon and Michael
49    Jacob Denner Executors of this my last Will and Testament and do revoke all
50    former wills by me at any time heretofore made In witness whereof I the said
51    Jane Beard the Testatrix have to this my last Will and Testament contained
52    in one sheet of paper set my hand and seal the first day of May in the year
53    of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen Jane Beard [Seal] Signed
54    Sealed published and declared by the said Testatrix Jane Beard as and for the
55    last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence in the presence
56    of each other and at her request have subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto
57    David Hudson No 40 Crosby row Sarah Hudson same place Josh Hudson
58    same place
59    This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me
60    Jane Beard of Crosby row King Street Southwark in the County of Surry Widow
61    whereas in my will after given certain specific and perminary legacies I have
62    directed that the residue of all my estate and effects of what nature or kind soever
63    and wheresoever which I shall be possessed of at the time of my decease be
64    converted into ready money as soon as conveiently may be after my decease
65    for the purposes therein mentioned now it is my will and mind and I do hereby
66    direct that all my wearing apparel which I shall be possessed of at the time
67    of my decease be not converted into money but shall be divided between my two
68    daughters in law elizabeth Millin Widow and Sarah Denner now the wife of
69    Michael Jacob Denner of the Isle of Dogs Gentleman and my will and mind is
70    and I do hereby desire to be buried in Burnhill Fields burying ground in the
71    City Road London and in all other respects I do hereby confirm my said will In
72    Witness whereof I the said Jane Beard have to this Codicil to my last Will and
73    Testament set my hand and affixed my seal this seventh day of May in the year
74    of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen Jane Beard [Seal] Signed
74    Sealed published and declared by the said Testatrix Jane Beard as and for a
76    Codicil to her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence
77    at her request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our
78    Names as witnesses David Hudson Sarah Hudson same place Josh Hudson
79    same place
80    [In margin] Proved at London 5th January 1822 before the Worshipful Samuel Rusle
81    Moyrel Doctor of Laws Surrogate by the oath of Michael Jacob Denner
82    one of the Executors to whom administration was granted
83    Having been first sworn duly to administer
84    Power reserved to Thomas Rippon the other Executor

An interesting set of wills with Jane's obviously being that of the widow of Henry Beard my 4x great grandfather. Both Elizabeth's and Sarah's marriages are known to me. As Jane mentions in her will, Mary Buller is now deceased at the time of writing her will.

Discovering more about Henry would be interesting and perhaps our visit to LMA may be fruitful.

Ancestry of Henry Beard

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Helen Louise PINCOMBE (b 18 Oct 1916) - Westminster Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada
3. Ellen Rosina BULLER (b 20 May 1886) - Birmingham Warwickshire England
4. Edwin Denner BULLER (b 8 Apr 1850) - Birmingham Warwickshire England
5. Henry Christopher BULLER (b 30 Jan 1805)- St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey Surrey England
6. Mary BEARD (b 15 Dec 1767) - St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey Surrey England
7. Henry BEARD (buried 1 Nov 1795) - St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey Surrey England

Unknown Buller (circa 1730s? - )

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 17

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, unknown, Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, Durnford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterel, Bartlett, Alderman, Ann (unknown), Sherwood, unknown, Habberfield, Collings, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Canham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

I decided to follow a new path today looking at one of my 4x great grandfathers. I know quite a bit about his son Christopher Buller or Christy Buller as he was often times referred to in various documents. Christopher was possibly born in London or Greater London but even that detail is hidden to me. I have two burial records for Christopher Buller with one at St Olave Bermondsey and the other at Saint Mary Magdalene Woolwich and both in a reasonable time period to be my 3x great grandfather.

The first Christopher Buller died May 1832 at the Workhouse Infirmary in Bermondsey. This is not particularly unusual as there were hospitals in the Workhouses that people in the community used. I am not sure where he lived his last days but he is identified in the will of his step mother in law as living on Long Lane in Bermondsey in 1817. In this burial record for Christopher it states that he was 69 years of age when he died and the burial was 13 May 1832 giving him a possible birth year of 1763.

The second burial record for Christopher Buller is at Bromley 23 Nov 1839 and his age is listed as 82 in the burial record at St Peter and St Paul Woolwich. I have the death certificate for this Christopher Buller and it states that he was 81 years of age and a decayed gentleman. It is possible that this certificate pertains to the Christopher Buller married to a Jane (unknown) with sons Thomas Christopher and John Christopher. The baptisms for these two children were at Woolwich which is in Kent where the Christopher Buller who died in 1839 was buried. Thomas Christopher Buller was baptized 25 Sep 1814 at Saint Mary Magdalene Woolwich (birth Charles Street, Bermondsey)  and John Christopher Buller was born Jun 1819 at Woolwich and buried 21 Jul 1819 at St Mary Magdalene Woolwich. I believe I have separated out these two burials and the second burial at Bromley is not my Christopher Buller since mine is living on Long Lane in Bermondsey in this time period.

In 1832, my Christopher Buller's only living son was a Pork Butcher with a shop in Covent Garden and his home was there as well. Henry Christopher Buller, my 2x great grandfather, inherited a sufficient amount when his step grandmother died to set up shop in Covent Garden it would appear (or his wife's father set him up). Henry married twice and his first wife was Sophia Scrooby daughter of George Scrooby and Mary Bullock who married 24 Jun 1798 at Saint Luke Chelsea.  Jane (Blakely) Beard step mother of his mother Mary (Beard) Buller was buried 13 Jan 1819 at St Saviour Southward and she died at Crosby Row King Street Southwark. She had married Henry Beard, widower, 8 Feb 1785 at St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey. My 3x great grandmother Mary was 18 years of age at the time and her youngest sister Sarah was eight years of age. Her mother had been dead for about three and a half years at that time (Elizabeth (Hemsley) Buller). As mentioned earlier, in her will Jane mentions that Christy Buller is living on Long Lane in the Borough. We walked the length of Long Lane when we visited Bermondsey a couple of years ago. This area was heavily bombed and other than St Mary Magdalen Church there doesn't appear to be many buildings left from the 1800s. At the time of her death Henry Christopher Buller would have been 14 years of age. At that time he had three sisters living Martha Sarah who married George Caswell 29 Oct 1831, Elizabeth Jane who married Edward Churchyard 31 Oct 1827 and Emma Hemsley who married Isaac Debnan in 1827 at the Independent Church and 2 Jan 1840 at Saint Dunstan. Their forenames may or may not be helpful in my pursuit of the parents of Christopher Buller. Elizabeth Jane's are the forenames of the two wives of Henry Beard. Obviously the forename Henry comes from Henry Beard and Christopher from Henry's father. A brother who died was named Robert Hemsley/Hucksley and could this be Mary's mother's father? Emma Hemsley carries the surname of Henry Beard's first wife Elizabeth Hemsley but the Emma is a mystery. Martha Sarah I have not yet determined but could they be the forename(s) of Christopher's mother/grandmother etc? Looking for a Buller marrying a Martha or a Sarah has not yet been productive. But I shall try again as one of the points of doing the 52 ancestor Challenge is to look once again at these particular individuals to see if anything new has appeared in the records.

I did find an interesting transcription from Boyd's marriage index that I probably saw in Origins when I subscribed a number of years ago but was not then aware that Christopher had married Mary Beard. It is the marriage in 1794 of Christopher Buller and Sarah Beard (her name was Mary but rather interesting). The marriage at All  Hallows Barking. I shall have a look at their records if they are available on line. They are not available on line at Ancestry so have written to London Metropolitan Archives to see if I can get a copy of that record. I know Christopher and Mary were married by September 1795 because they are mentioned in the will of Henry Beard. Their first child Elizabeth Jane was born 13 Feb 1796 while they were living on St Thomas St in Bermondsey by 1 Dec 1797 when she died they were living on Charles Street in Bermondsey. One can note that I mentioned earlier that Thomas Christopher Buller was born on Charles Street Bermondsey. This is somewhat of a confusion but I think I have successfully separated out the two Christopher Bullers. It is perhaps just a coincidence that they lived on the same street but 16 years apart. Since I know the age of both of these Christopher Bullers in as much as one can know the ages my Christopher Buller was born circa 1763 and the other Christopher Buller buried at Bromley was born circa 1758. They are not likely brothers but they could be cousins and more on that later. The next child born was Martha Sarah and she was born 16 Aug 1797 St Thomas St. The third child Elizabeth Jane once again was born 26 Apr 1799 St Thomas St. Emma Hemsley was born 21 Jul 1800 but no address given. Henry Christy Buller was born 16 Oct 1803 Tooley Street but died mid November 1803 no street adress given. Then the birth of my 2x great grandfather Henry Christopher Buller 30 Jan 1805 on Bermondsey Street. The last child of this couple was Robert Hemsley/Huxsley Buller born 6 Nov 1806 and no address given. He died mid October 1807. His mother died shortly after his birth and was buried at St Olave Bermondsey and Robert was buried 18 Oct 1807 also at St Olave. Christopher husband and father was buried 13 May 1832 also at St Olave Bermondsey. These graves would have all been moved to Bunhill because this grave yard was closed and moved during the building of the ramps for the London Bridge.

All Hallows Barking is easily within walking distance of Bermondsey. None of the Beard girls married in their home parish (were all run-away marriages?). I have a glimpse of these Beard girls in the marriages that they made with men who earned their livings and seemed comfortable for the times throughout their lives. They all left descendants with most remaining in England but a few ventured off to Canada, the United States, South Africa and Australia. Until my grandmother arrived in Canada her line had remained in England.

London was always a mix of people. I consider that my Buller family may have had links with Birmingham because Henry appears there by 1837 as a provision dealer and then a restaurant owner on Bull Street. His first wife had died in 1836 in Lambeth, his daughter had died in the Covent Garden area in 1835 so one thinks perhaps they moved to Lambeth for better air. But she too succumbed. Their son George had died as an infant also in the Covent Garden area. Henry continued to have a pork butcher shop in Covent Garden as he and his second wife lived there for about ten years although back and forth between London and Birmingham where Ann's father was also a restaurant owner. They were part of the slowly growing middle class of store owners in that time period. But still Christopher Buller eludes me.

I can not find in the large Buller families in London a Christopher Buller. But I did find at St Olave Bermondsey another Buller family and for the moment my notes escape me. Unfortunately I do not appear to have blogged that information gleaned whilst researching at the London Metropolitan Archives. The registers for St Olave from 1731 to 1778 are not on ancestry. However, I did not find a Christopher Buller in those records. The thought at that time occurred to me that they could have been related - perhaps an uncle to Christopher. When I find my copied records I shall blog them this time!

The other item that comes to mind for this London area family is the many emigrants to London from the Continent particularly in the time of the Georges as Kings of England. Many people came from the Germanic States and particularly in the confectionary industry. Eventually my Henry Christopher Buller also became involved in the confectionary industry. Is that a link that is significant? Add to that my atDNA results which, for me, show a northern continental European component both at Family Search and at Ancestry. Add to that my two siblings matching on the Pincombe line with a known 4th cousin twice as much as I do so leaving one to surmise that I have inherited more of the Buller line. Is that what is showing up for me - a German component? Is my Christopher Buller the son of a German emigrant at least on his mother's side? Christopher is not a common forename in the Buller family.


There are twelve results on Find My Past for a Christopher Buller born between 1723 and 1803. The first record is the burial of Christopher Buller at Bromley, Kent. The second is the Westminster Rate Books in 1786 for a Christopher Buller living at Cross Street South, St James Piccadilly. The third is the entry in Boyd's marriage index of the marriage of Christopher Buller and Sarah Beard at All Hallows Barking in 1794. The fourth is another listing in the Westminster rate books at Cross Street South, St James Piccadilly in 1806. The fifth is a listing in the Westminster rate books again at Cross St South, St James Piccadilly. Numbers six and seven are a repeat of number 5 except Carnaby Street South, St James Piccadilly. Number eight is the death registration for Christopher Buller at Bromley, Kent. Number nine is the marriage of Christopher Buller in 1856 at Clitheroe, Lancashire. Number ten is the marriage of Henry Christopher Buller in 1838 and Ann Welch (my 2x great grandparents) at Kings Norton, Worcestershire. The eleventh is the marriage of John Christopher Buller in 1865 at Bermondsey. The twelfth is the marriage of John Christopher Buller in 1875 at St Olave Southwark.

Am I further ahead with the father of Christopher Buller? Perhaps, an answer from London Metropolitan Archives might just provide me with something to further my research. Finding this item on Boyd's Marriage Index is certainly a step forward in that search. Finding my notes taken at LMA would also be somewhat useful although there wasn't a baptism for a Christopher Buller at St Olave in the time period. Has it crossed my mind that he could be illegitimate? Absolutely but I did not find any Buller lines at St Olave Bermondsey that would have worked to have a Buller female having a child in that time frame (nor at St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey where he and his family worshiped). I did not find any illegitimate Buller children born in the London area in this time period yet.

Ancestry of (unknown) Buller

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Helen Louise PINCOMBE (b 18 Oct 1916) - Westminster Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada
3. Ellen Rosina BULLER (b 20 May 1886) - Birmingham Warwickshire England
4. Edwin Denner BULLER (b 8 Apr 1850) - Birmingham Warwickshire England
5. Henry Christopher BULLER (b 30 Jan 1805)- London City London England
6. Christopher BULLER (b c 1763)
7. Unknown

John Knight (1757 - 1826)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 16

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, unknown, Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, Durnford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterel, Bartlett, Alderman, Ann (unknown), Sherwood, unknown, Habberfield, Collings, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Canham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

John Knight is my second Knight 4x great grandfather baptized 2 Oct 1757 at Spetisbury. He was the son of David Knight and Martha Butler  who had themselves married 17 Feb 1756 at Spetisbury. He had four brothers David (1759-1759), Thomas (1761-1761), William 1764 and Thomas 1772.

John's father David was baptized 2 May 1736 at Spetisbury son of Henry Knight and Mary Oliver mentioned in my blog http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2015/04/william-knight-1827.html. I do not know amything about Martha so will attempt to fill in her information and perhaps find a burial date for David. Searching through various record databases I could not find a date of death/burial for David. However I had more luck finding information for Martha Butler. Martha is likely the daughter of John Butler and Susannah Shepherd who were themselves married 26 Oct 1734 at Gussage All Saints. They baptized five children that I have located thus far:

John baptized 13 Jun 1736 at Pentridge
Thomas baptized 4 Apr 1738 at Pentridge
Martha baptized 12 Oct 1739 at Swanage
Charles baptized 23 Nov 1740 at Pentridge
Anne baptized 22 Jun 1743 at Morden

I am perhaps somewhat suspicious at the three different locations but they are all within a reasonable distance of each other. John Butler is possibly the John Butler baptized 22 May 1714 at Horton the son of John and Martha Butler. I have not yet located a marriage for this couple. I did not have any luck finding parents for Susannah Shepherd (although there was an interesting baptism). However this family tree has grown back another generation plus so a good accomplishment doing a 52 ancestor challenge for this 4x great grandfather.

I do not know anything for sure about David in terms of occupation. This Knight family is mentioned in "The Book of Spetisbury" History of a Stour Valley Village by Ann Taylor published in 2006. They are mentioned under the heading Occupations on page 109 and their occupation was listed as craftsmen for many of them.

Ancestry of John Knight

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Ernest Edward George BLAKE (b 20 Aug 1904) - Eastleigh Hampshire England
3. Samuel George Blake (b 10 Feb 1875) - Upper Clatford Hampshire England
4. Maria Jane KNIGHT (b 27 Jan 1849) - Turnworth Dorset England
5. Samuel KNIGHT (b 25 May 1828) - Turnworth Dorset England
6. Eleanor KNIGHT (b 12 Dec 1786) - Spetisbury Dorset England
7. John KNIGHT (b 2 Oct 1757) - Spetisbury Dorset England
8. David KNIGHT (b 2 May 1736) - Spetisbury Dorset England
9. Henry KNIGHT (possibly b 2 Feb 1701) - Mapperton Dorset England
10. Thomas KNIGHT (junior)
possibly
11. Thomas KNIGHT (senior)

John KNIGHT's mother
1. Martha BUTLER (possibly b 12 Oct 1739) - Swanage Dorset England
2. John BUTLER (possibly b 22 May 1714) - Horton Dorset England
3. John BUTLER