Blake Newsletter - Volume 9, Issue 2

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Blake Newsletter

Table of Contents

1. Guild of one-name Studies Posting Challenge

The set of ten posts will be the content for this issue of the Blake Newsletter. This was a project which I took on in January and February to make the Guild more visible on Facebook. I decided to look at some of the controversies within the Blake Family plus publish some of my research on the Cornwall Blake family. I started with the Cornwall Blake family.

Blog 1: BLAKE – England’s Immigrants Database 1330-1550 To begin my set of 10 Blogs on my one-name Study for the BLAKE family, I will examine the Immigrants Database 1330-1550. The project is a collaboration between the University of York, The National Archives and the Humanities Research Institute, University of Sheffield. This is the citation for this particular set of documents. England’s Immigrants 1330 – 1550 (www.englandsimmigrants.com, version 1.0, 15 February 2015), https://www.englandsimmigrants.com/ .

I found this to be a rather tantalizing new set of documents (England's Immigrants Database 1330-1550) and it is available for searching:

http://www.englandsimmigrants.com/search/results?keyword=blake&startDate=1300&endDate=1600&col1=name &col2=nationality&col3=date&col4=origin&col5=residence&page=1

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

I, of course, searched on the surname BLAKE. It is possible to download all of the results of the BLAKE search into a spreadsheet but I have put only basic details into this blog:

Surname Forename Nationality Day Month Year Residence Blake Adam 8 Aug 1456 London Blake Agnes aft 29 Sep 1441 London Blake Alice 21 Apr 1440 Gloucestershire, St Nicholas Blake Gunna Dutch 12 Jul 1440 Huntingdonshire, Huntingdon Blake Hayn 27 Sep 1456 Kent, Ospringe Blake Henry Oct 1441 London, Castle Baynard ward Blake Henry 18 Jan 1443 London, Castle Baynard ward Blake Henry aft 29 Sep 1441 London Blake Henry 5 Sep 1449 London, Farringdon without ward Blake Henry aft 3 Dec 1450 Kent Blake Herman Dutch 12 Jul 1440 Huntingdonshire, Huntingdon Blake Hugh 5 Sep 1449 London Blake John 9 Oct 1441 London, Cripplegate ward Blake John 11 Oct 1441 London, Queenhithe ward Blake John 18 Jan 1443 London, Cripplegate ward Blake John aft 29 Sep 1441 London Blake John 18 Jan 1443 London, Queenhithe ward Blake John aft 29 Sep 1441 London Blake John Scot 26 Sep 1465 Lincolnshire, Rathby Blake John Dutch 11 Jul 1440 Hampshire, King's Somborne hundred

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Surname Forename Nationality Day Month Year Residence Blake John 10 Aug 1441 Gloucestershire, All Saints Blake John Fleming 24 Jul 1484 Devon, Exeter Blake John Norman 18 Apr 1524 Dorset, Eastbury Blake John Breton bef 16 Feb 1525 Cornwall, Bodmin Blake John Dutch c 1524 Essex, Aveley Blake Katherine 14 Jul 1467 London Blake Lodewicus Dutch 18 Aug 1441 Northamptonshire, Yarwell Blake Lodwico Dutch 24 May 1440 Northamptonshire, Yarwell Blake Patrick 7 Apr 1440 Essex, High Roding Blake Patrick aft 29 Sep 1441 London Blake Peter 6 Sep 1463 Bedfordshire Blake Peter 20 Sep 1455 Bedfordshire, Dunstable Blake Peter 10 Jul 1406 Blake Philip 5 Jul 1440 Shropshire, Shrewsbury Blake Richard Scot 15 Sep 1451 Northumberland, Newcastle upon Tyne Blake Richard Irish 10 Jul 1440 Wiltshire, Salisbury Blake Richard Irish 10 Aug 1441 Gloucestershire, St Leonard Blake Richard Irish 7 Sep 1441 Wiltshire, Salisbury Blake Robert 28 Aug 1441 Warwickshire, Coventry Blake Robert 21 Apr 1440 Gloucestershire, Holy Trinity Blake Robert 10 Aug 1441 Gloucestershire, Holy Trinity Blake Robert French 19 Sep 1441 Wiltshire, Great Somerford Blake Stephen 11 Jul 1440 Hampshire, Millbrook

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Surname Forename Nationality Day Month Year Residence Blake Thomas aft 29 Sep 1441 London Blake Walter 18 Jan 1443 London, Billingsgate ward Blake Walter aft 29 Sep 1441 London Blake William 18 Jan 1443 London, Tower ward Blake William Breton 4 Apr 1524 Devon, Morchard Bishop Blake wife of Henry Blake Oct 1441 London, Castle Baynard ward Blake wife of Henry Blake 18 Jan 1443 London, Castle Baynard ward Blake wife of Walter Blake 18 Jan 1443 London, Billingsgate ward Blake wife of John Blake 18 Jan 1443 London

Comparing this information to the map which I prepared from the occurrence of Blake in the Calendar of Patent Rolls is rather interesting as well. http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2013/01/calendar-of-patent-rolls-summary-of.html

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

The entries in the Calendar of Patent Rolls range between 30 Jan 1230 and 16 Jun 1452. There is some overlap with this new database in terms of time. The Immigrants' database entries range between 10 Jul 1406 (one entry only) and then from 7 Apr 1440 to 16 Feb 1525 with the bulk of the entries between 1440 and 1443. Some of these people could be related especially where no nationality is given. For instance two Bretons William Blake and John Blake settled in Morchard Bishop, Devon and Bodmin Cornwall 1 Apr 1524 and before 16 Feb 1525 respectively. But tantilizingly is this the Cornwall/Devon Blake family that I

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 am busy attempting to put together? There was also a John Blake, noted as Fleming, in Exeter Devon 24 Jul 1484 so a further Blake line to distract me.

Of special interest to me (my Blake line can be found at Upper Clatford, Andover, Penton Mewsey and Knights Enham back into the 1500s) are the entires for Hampshire and Wiltshire where we can see that Richard Blake, noted as Irish, can be located at Salisbury Wiltshire 10 Jul 1440. There is a Stephen Blake, no nationality noted, 11 Jul 1440 at Millbrook Hampshire. John Blake, Dutch, 11 Jul 1440 at King's Somborne hundred, Hampshire. Robert Blake, French, 19 Sep 1441 at Great Somerford, Wiltshire. But as is often the case for immigrants to England, London has the largest number of Blake immigrants with about half of them being listed as living in London.

Finding Richard le Blak (Calendar of Patent Rolls, 30 May 1274 Westminster, 2 Edward I, volume 1, pages 51 - 52) coming from Normandy in 1274 had started my thinking outside of the box with respect to Blake in the British Isles. This set of documents from the Immigrant's Database for England 1330-1550 further intensifies this thinking process as I found 54 entries in the database. In all likelihood a number of the entries are for the same person but it does appear that there are 31 distinctive individuals (I excluded the four wives as I could not tell if they were actually English or immigrants with their husbands plus there are four female names mentioned so could be duplicating) coming to England from The Netherlands (6 one noted as Fleming), Normandy, France, Breton (2), Scotland (2) and Ireland (1). Only 13 have their place of origin noted. The male forenames include: Adam, Hayn, Henry, Herman, Hugh, John, Lodewicus, Patrick, Peter, Philip, Richard, Robert, Stephen, Thomas, Walter, and William. There are four female names: Agnes, Alice, Gunna (wife of Herbert) and Katherine. Four females are listed but only as the wife of and in this case wife of Henry Blake (2 entries), of Peter Blake and of John Blake.

In the next nine blogs I will look at the BLAKE family in Cornwall. I have a set of Legacy Family Trees which I prepared using the Cornwall Online Parish Clerk's Baptism, Marriage and Burial indexes and the census from 1841 onwards which includes 4848

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 individuals and 1540 families. What emerged from this study was rather interesting in terms of the Devon and Cornwall BLAKE families. BLAKE has very deep roots in both of these counties.

Blog 2: BLAKE – Breton Emigrants to England 1330-1550

This second blog of ten blogs on my BLAKE one-name study will look once again at England's Immigrants Database 1330-1550 and the individuals who emigrated to the south-west of England from Breton.

This is the citation for this particular set of documents. England’s Immigrants 1330 – 1550 (www.englandsimmigrants.com , version 1.0, 15 February 2015).

In my search I found:

Surname Forename Nationality Day Month Year Residence

Blake John Breton bef 16 Feb 1525 Cornwall, Bodmin Blake William Breton 4 Apr 1524 Devon, Morchard Bishop

Fortunately the arrival of these two individuals from Breton is just 13 and 12 years before the commencement of Parish Registers in England. The records for Bodmin, Cornwall commenced in 1558 and are available at the Church of the Latter Day Saints (as well as the Cornwall Record Office) in their original form as fiche (the Online Parish Clerk (OPC) system is very active in Cornwall (https://cornwall-opc-database.org/home/ ) and these records are available online). The records for Morchard Bishop, Devon commenced in 1660 so are not quite as handy for looking at this ancient line in Morchard Bishop, Devon.

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Initially (once I completed the transcription of the PCC wills for the BLAKE families in Cornwall) I had looked at the BLAKE families in western Cornwall hoping to find a centre that led me back in time. Shortly thereafter and finding that centering on a particular area was not working, I became aware of the England Immigrants Database. After adding up all of the entries for baptism, marriage and burial in the various parishes, I then moved to the Bodmin area and located the earliest records and then constructed trees for the families through the generations as far down as was possible using the Parish Registers and the Census from 1841 on. I tend to not work much beyond the time period when my grandparents were born (1872 to 1886) and in this case I brought records down to 1881 where I was able to do so in the different family lines that emerged from the records (thus maintaining a goodly period of privacy for living descendants of the BLAKE family in Cornwall).

My Legacy BLAKE families file for Cornwall now stands at 4,848 individuals and 1540 marriages between the earliest records and the 1881 census. Because John BLAKE, a Breton, came to Bodmin as noted in the England's Immigrant Database, I selected Bodmin as my starting point. I also included St Just in Roseland because that was the earliest record in the OPC records.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Interestingly enough St Just in Roseland is on the south coast of Cornwall opposite the French coastline. The large isthmus on which the town is located juts into beautiful Falmouth Bay to the north-east of the city of Falmouth. The tidal inlet which faces the small village of St Just in Roseland is called Carrick Roads.

I produced this map on a standard search looking for the distance between Breton, France and Falmouth, Cornwall but there does not appear to be an ability to cite the creator.

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Knowing that fishermen made it all the way to the North American continent before 1500 it is not hard to visualize an inhabitant of Breton traveling north to Cornwall in the early 1500s.

The history of Breton is also rather revealing. During the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain, Brittonic speakers in Devon and Cornwall fled to north western France (3rd to the 9th century) ("Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, John Koch, 2005, p. 275). The rise of the Huguenots in Breton and the subsequent severe persecution (first French martyr, Jean Valliere burned at the stake in Paris in August 1523) may have influenced the trek northward in the 1520s. Indeed John BLAKE may well have been returning to Cornwall after many centuries absence! As more is discovered about the Bretons, it may yet be possible to determine if this individual was from an earlier Cornish line. However, he did come with a rather interesting surname "BLAKE."

The surname BLAKE is not prominent in France in that spelling. I mentioned Richard Le BLAK, a merchant at Rouen, Normandy, who received a market licence in 1274 and it would appear from early records that he did indeed come to England, resided in Berkshire for a period of time but that is another story and not related, as far as I am able to ascertain, to the story of John BLAKE who was in Bodmin, Cornwall before the 16 Feb 1525.

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The earliest record for BLAKE found in the OPC registers for Cornwall was the baptism of Joachim BLAKE 13 Jul 1546 at St Just in Roseland son of a James BLAKE. The next records for St Just in Roseland commence in 1629 and continue to 1856 for the BLAKE family there. 1546 is 21 years after the Immigrants Database notes that a John BLAKE arrived in Bodmin, Cornwall before 16 Feb 1525. Searching the OPC registers for Cornwall I located 144 records for BLAKE commencing in 1565 until 1897. I began my study looking at the BLAKE family in Bodmin. The first baptism was for a William BLAKE baptized 29 Jul 1565 son of John BLAKE. I did not find any further children baptized at Bodmin by a John BLAKE in this time frame.

The next BLAKE records of interest at Bodmin were a set of baptisms between 1582 and 1587 (the next set of baptisms commenced 1626). In total six children were baptized:

Katherin BLAKE daughter of Thomas BLAKE baptized 4 May 1582 Roger BLAKE son of Robart BLAKE baptized 21 Oct 1582 William BLAKE son of Thomas BLAKE baptized 7 Jun 1583 William BLAKE son of Thomas BLAKE baptized 3 Jul 1584 Margerye BLAKE daughter of Thomas BLAKE baptized 14 Dec 1585 Ptolomeus BLAKE son of William BLAKE baptized 30 Nov 1587

Marriages at Bodmin in this time period: Robert BLAKE married Kathren Cocke 28 May 1581 John BLAKE married Margrett Maye 18 Nov 1588

Burials at Bodmin in this time period: William BLAKE 27 Jun 1582, son of Thomas BLAKE

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William BLAKE 16 Nov 1583, son of Thomas BLAKE Agnes BLAKE 4 Dec 1590 daughter of Digorie BLAKE Jane BLAKE 27 Dec 1591 Agnes BLAKE 30 Jul 1592 wife of Richard Richard BLAKE 18 Mar 1592 Thomas BLAKE 6 May 1595, residence Bodenett Jane BLAKE alias Capper 16 May 1596

This second map of Cornwall looks at the burials pre-1600 for the BLAKE family:

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

The name Digorie BLAKE then sent me off on a tangent looking at this interesting forename and I discovered a Digory BLAKE buried 19 Nov 1676 at Bodmin son of William BLAKE. The next record was for a Deggory BLAKE who married Joane Mata alias Tregere 18 Jul 1629 at St Just in Roseland and they were buried there 2 Aug 1662 and 14 Apr 1670 respectively. They baptized six children at St Just in Roseland:

Thomas BLAKE baptized 8 Nov 1629 Eleanour BLAKE baptized 24 Jun 1632, married Alexander Parrat 7 Apr 1658 (St Just in Roseland) Blanch BLAKE baptized 7 May 1635 Henry BLAKE baptized 4 Feb 1637, married Peternell Jennings 2 Oct 1666 (St Just in Roseland), buried 23 Nov 1712 (Peternell buried 26 Nov 1702), both at St Just in Roseland. They baptized six children at St Just in Roseland (below) Matthyas BLAKE baptized 28 Feb 1640 Elizabeth BLAKE baptized 1 Dec 1644, married Henry Wilton 6 Sep 1664 St Just in Roseland

Henry BLAKE and Peternell Jennings baptized the following children at St Just in Roseland:

Henry BLAKE (baptism not located), married Jane Sharrocke 11 Feb 1699 (St Just in Roseland) and they baptized five children at St Just in Roseland (below) Robart BLAKE baptized 14 Sep 1667 Digory BLAKE baptized 14 Sep 1667, buried 28 Sep 1678 (St Just in Roseland) Julian BLAKE baptized 16 Oct 1669, buried 15 Feb 1676 (St Just in Roseland) Edward BLAKE baptized 29 Mar 1673 Joel BLAKE baptized 13 Jan 1675, buried 23 Jul 1696 (St Just in Roseland)

Henry BLAKE and Jane Sharrocks baptized the following children at St Just in Roseland:

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Edward BLAKE baptized 11 Jan 1700, married Mary Blamy 18 May 1718 (St Just in Roseland) and they baptized nine children at St Just in Roseland, Edward was buried 15 Feb 1762, Mary was buried 18 Feb 1778 both at St Just in Roseland John BLAKE baptized 22 Nov 1702, buried 6 Dec 1719 (St Just in Roseland) Henry BLAKE baptized 14 Nov 1705, buried 21 Nov 1705 (St Just in Roseland) Henry BLAKE baptized 2 Jan 1707 Jane BLAKE baptized 16 Apr 1710, buried 22 Dec 1730 (St Just in Roseland)

Interesting to find that the name Digory/Deggory helped to link the Bodmin BLAKE family to the St Just in Roseland BLAKE family.

One might ask at this point why indeed was I so interested in the Cornwall BLAKE family? Of interest, the BLAKE family in Cornwall is there from the beginning of the parish registers. I am querying are they a unique founder in the British Isles? That is really the rationale for this exercise to prove that there were a number of ancient founding lines of BLAKE in the British Isles that are unconnected. Continuing in that vein of thought, I would also like to prove that these lines are descendant of both immigrant BLAKE lines as exposed in the Britain's Immigrant Database (mentioned above) and of ancient lines in the British Isles that took on the BLAKE surname. Why they took on the BLAKE surname is an interesting query that especially catches my notice as my own line at Upper Clatford/Andover/PentonMewsey/Knights Enham is, as a result of yDNA testing, ancient to the British Isles dating back thousands of years so they have, in the late 1200s/early1300s taken on the surname BLAKE and why did they do that? Can I find that answer for my own line and also discover the descendants of the BLAKE immigrants (at least 31 distinct lines) who came to England in the 1330s to 1550s as listed in the Immigrants Database. Along with that can I stimulate more interest in the BLAKE yDNA study (FT DNA) which has become somewhat stagnated at around 200 members and really needs thousands to learn more about the BLAKE family and its origins.

Returning to Edward BLAKE and his wife Mary Blamy and their nine children baptized at St Just in Roseland:

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Mary BLAKE baptized 9 Mar 1720, married Robert Jenkin 9 Oct 1742 (St Just in Roseland) Edward BLAKE baptized 10 Oct 1723, buried 27 Aug 1761 (St Just in Roseland) John BLAKE baptized 28 Aug 1726 Jane BLAKE baptized 11 Aug 1728 Edward BLAKE baptized 9 Jan 1731, buried 20 Apr 1759 (St Just in Roseland) Joel BLAKE baptized 5 May 1734 Jane BLAKE baptized 4 Apr 1737, married George Condy 2 Nov 1759 (St Just in Roseland) Priscilla BLAKE baptized 25 Feb 1738, married 13 Oct 1763 William Morton (St Just in Roseland) Elizabeth BLAKE baptized 25 Oct 1741, married Edward Kitchen Harris 18 Feb 1762 (St Just in Roseland)

This BLAKE line appears to have daughtered out and I do not follow the daughter's lines (true of my own case). Two of my four brothers have tested our line but they do not have sons (indeed both of my parent's are the last of their yDNA line and mtDNA line as no BLAKE grandsons and none of the granddaughters carrying my mother's mtDNA have daughters). In 2011 this was what inspired me to take on the BLAKE one-name study in order that this ancient line of the British Isles would be recorded.

In my next post I will continue looking at the BLAKE lines around Bodmin as one can see from the two inserted maps that there were a substantial number of records in this area back through the 1500s.

Blog 3: BLAKE – BLAKE families in the 1500s in central Cornwall

Last week this blog looked at the BLAKE families in the Bodmin area and in the St Just in Roseland area. These areas were chosen because of the England's Immigrant Database which included a John BLAKE, a Breton, who arrived at Bodmin before 16 Feb 1525. No direct descendants have been established for this John BLAKE as far as I am able to determine. Is it possible to say that the descendants carrying the surname BLAKE in this area just two generations later are his descendants? Probably not

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 with a paper trail as I have thus far discovered but from the viewpoint of the evidence presented it would appear that they are his descendants.

Working with the number of BLAKE entries in the Online Parish Clerks (OPC) database created by volunteers (worldwide the website states - https://cornwall-opc-database.org/ ) I extracted into the maps below all BLAKE entries in the Cornwall OPC database for baptism, then marriage, then burial. I have already put the maps for baptism and burial into last weeks blog but will add the marriages as well to this blog. There were 30 marriages for males with the BLAKE surname and 19 marriages for females with the BLAKE surname up to 1600 recorded by the transcribers of the Parish Registers in Cornwall. Some of the registers in Cornwall do not begin in 1538 so some marriages would be missing but the transcribers supplemented this data with other resources and that can be seen on their website. But even with all of that, marriages were likely missed I suspect but this study initially was just an overall look at BLAKE in Cornwall and the availability of records from the 1500s on.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Along the Cornwall-Devon border there are seven marriages in total with five marriages having BLAKE as the groom and two marriages having BLAKE as the bride. At a later time I will attempt to see if these marriages were members of the Devon BLAKE family marrying in Cornwall.

Again the clustering can be seen around Bodmin with four marriages at Bodmin, 19 at St Breock, and another 15 closeby to this particular area (a number of transcribers provided this information and their names can be located on the website). I do not follow the female BLAKE lines (including my own) for the BLAKE study. I record only the marriage itself.

Interestingly, the website Domesday Book Online (http://domesdaybook.co.uk/cornwall.html ) does not list the BLAKE family but there were no surnames in England prior to the Norman Conquest in 1066 and the Domesday Book was initiated following the Conquest by William the Conqueror. I note that this is a for profit website and would note that I have no connection to this website other than accessing it with regard to the list of names which it includes. However, it is an interesting website.

I do happen to have Thomas Hinde's Edition of "The Domesday Book: England's Heritage, Then and Now, " 1995, Godalming, Surrey, England: ISBN 1-85833-440-3. The section on Cornwall is seven pages. The Exchequer version of the Domesday Book listed 248 manors and the Exon version listed 288 manors in Cornwall (an interesting item that appears to have been produced for or by The John Rylands Library: R. Welldon Finn, MA, "The immediate sources of the Exchequer Domesday" was quite handy to give me a better understanding of this difference, https://www.escholar.manchester.ac.uk/api/datastream?publicationPid=uk- ac-man-scw:1m1937&datastreamId=POST-PEER-REVIEW-PUBLISHERS-DOCUMENT.PDF ). The county was mentioned as being poor and sparsely populated in The Domesday Book as mentioned above (edited by Thomas Hinde). Ten of the manors listed were less than one acre. Bodmin is mentioned and it was noted by the Editor that this was a wealthier area and originally a religious settlement. The Domesday Book mentioned there were 68 houses there amongst other details. The OPC database for Cornwall, notably, lists 2,812 baptisms for Bodmin up to 1600, 3,474 burials for Bodmin up to 1600 and 1,488 marriages. At the time of the 2011 census Bodmin is said to have a population of 14,736 persons. From the Genuki website for Cornwall the

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 population in Bodmin in 1811 was 2,050 persons, in 1821 population was 2,902 persons, in 1831 population was 3,375 persons and in 1841 population was 4,205 persons. We did travel through Bodmin when we were in England and it is a built-up area but I saw so many villages that I can not really mention anything in particular that I noted. We did not stop there unfortunately.

The four marriages at Bodmin for BLAKE from the OPC Cornwall database:

Thomas Skele married Elizabeth BLAKE 18 Oct 1562 Robert BLAKE married Kathren Cocke 28 May 1581 John Chapell married Maude BLAKE 2 Nov 1581 John BLAKE married Margett Maye 18 Nov 1588

None of the seven baptisms at Bodmin up to 1600 coincide with the names of the groom above except one baptism for a Roger BLAKE son of Robart baptized 21 Oct 1582 (as mentioned in last week's blog).

There are eight burials at Bodmin commencing in 1582 and they do not include any of the adult BLAKEs mentioned above with three being mentioned as the children of Thomas BLAKE.

Moving on into the next century at Bodmin, the baptisms commenced in 1626 and the priest has, in a number of cases, recorded the mother's first name. Thomas and Mary[e] BLAKE baptized the first five children noted and then another child in 1638 (they may have baptized one more child in 1643 but the name of the mother was not mentioned). A child, perhaps their child, was buried in 1643. At this point, it seemed reasonable as I worked my way through the records to try and discover where Thomas and Mary[e] could have been married.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

A Thomas BLAKE married Mary Burne at Bodmin 25 Oct 1624.Thomas BLAKE (possibly the Thomas BLAKE baptized at Whitstone 12 Oct 1599 son of George BLAKE) and was buried 29 Dec 1676 at Bodmin. Thomas BLAKE and his wife Mary Burne baptized the following children at Bodmin:

Elizabeth BLAKE baptized 11 Jun 1626 Eustes BLAKE baptized 8 Jun 1628 and married Christopher Hawke 15 Apr 1661 (Bodmin) Thomas BLAKE baptized 7 Feb 1629 and married Elizabeth Bond 29 May 1676 (Bodmin) and they appear to have had three known children. Thomas and Elizabeth were buried at Bodmin 10 Jan 1708 and 26 Oct 1708 respectively William BLAKE baptized 22 Jun 1631 and buried 27 Nov 1632 (Bodmin) Mary BLAKE baptized 27 Jan 1632 Nathaniel BLAKE baptized 5 Nov 1638 William BLAKE baptized 19 Mar 1643 Jane BLAKE buried 22 Oct 1643 (Bodmin)

The children of Thomas BLAKE and Elizabeth Bond were baptized at Bodmin:

Eustis BLAKE baptized 28 Oct 1677 and buried 8 Oct 1678 (Bodmin) William BLAKE baptized 18 Feb 1679 Ezekiell BLAKE baptized 10 Nov 1685

I did not find marriages for Eustis or Ezekiell but did find a possibility for William. There was a marriage William BLAKE and Katharine Bennet 8 Jun 1700 (Bodmin) and three children baptized at Bodmin Nicholas 22 Apr 1701, Benjamyn 15 May 1704 and William 25 Feb 1707 but only the father was named.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

The BLAKE family has been at Bodmin pretty much continuously through the centuries and Free BMD lists 212 births between 1838 and 1967, 136 marriages between 1837 and 1986 and 191 deaths between 1838 and 1983.

Curiosity led me to continue looking at the early records in the area around Bodmin. The next largest count on the map for marriages was St Breock. St Breock is about 11 kilometres from Bodmin as the crow flies and 15.3 km by road. The parish church at St Breoch was dedicated to St Briocus in 1259. Baptisms exist from 1563 on, Burials from 1561 on and Marriages (Boyd's Marriage Index) from 1561 on. The earliest records at St Breoch for Baptisms commence in 1700 and there was only 1 in 1700 for BLAKE, Burials commence in 1561 and there are 39 up to 1600, Marriages commenced in 1571 and there were ten where the groom was a Blake and eight where the bride was a Blake, Interesting that there were no baptisms at St Breock.

I did build family trees for these marriages where I could find all of the information.

Christopher BLAKE married Johan Cowche 21 Jun 1579 at St Breock.

Elizabeth BLAKE, daughter of Christopher living at Penhall, was buried 18 Apr 1581 (St Breock) (the transcriber Karen Duvall reports this as an other transcript, source unknown). John BLAKE, son of Christopher, was buried in 1587 (St Breock) (a similar notation for this transcription as well). John BLAKE, son of Christopher, was buried 1 Sep 1588 (St Breock) (again a similar notation for this transcription). No baptisms at St Breock, no further children for this couple mentioned at St Breock.

The wife of Christopher, Johan, was buried 18 Sep 1588 (St Breock) (similar notation for transcription).

A Christopher BLAKE was buried 8 May 1598, residence Tregonow (St Breock) (similar notation for transcription).

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

But again the BLAKE family at St Breock has 62 baptisms between 1700 and 1880, 137 marriages between 1574 and 1904 and 120 burials between 1561 and 1935.

I could see at this point in time that I really needed to examine the Manor Books for these areas in Cornwall to see what I could learn there about the BLAKE family. I did not like to jump to the conclusion that all of these BLAKE records belonged to individuals descendant of the one immigrant from Breton, John BLAKE arriving in Bodmin before 16 Feb 1525.

It is most interesting that the BLAKE records do appear most abundant in this area of Cornwall with a centre being locally in the area which includes Bodmin and St Breock. The Domesday Book does not have a BLAKE entry in Cornwall but that doesn't necessarily prove that all the BLAKE lines in the Bodmin/St Breock area descend from John BLAKE arriving in Bodmin before 16 Feb 1525.

The next blog will look at the BLAKE families that appear before 1600 along the border between Devon and Cornwall. I started first looking at these families but could not find a centre to this data which would help me to look at the BLAKE family overall in Cornwall particularly the large clusters in the Bodmin/St Breock area. I will investigate the possibility that these BLAKE families had migrated over the Devon border into Cornwall.

Blog 4: BLAKE – Origin of the BLAKE families along the Devon/Cornwall border

This week's blog will look at the initially small number of BLAKE marriages in the localities along the Cornwall side of the Cornwall/Devon border. I mentioned last week that up to 1600 there were seven marriages in total in this area along the border with five marriages having BLAKE as the groom and two marriages having BLAKE as the bride.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

In the second blog of ten blogs on my BLAKE one-name study I mentioned the England's Immigrants Database 1330-1550 and the individuals who emigrated to the south-west of England from Breton.

This is the citation for this particular set of documents. England’s Immigrants 1330 – 1550 (www.englandsimmigrants.com , version 1.0, 15 February 2015).

In my search of this database I found two individuals mentioned as emigrating to Devon:

Surname Forename Nationality Day Month Year Residence

BLAKE John Fleming 24 Jul 1484 Devon, Exeter BLAKE William Breton 4 Apr 1524 Devon, Morchard Bishop

I have blogged a number of times on the BLAKE family in the North Molton area of Devon. The earliest BLAKE records in the parish registers of North Molton are for a Thomas BLAKE buried 8 May 1542 and a John BLAKE buried 5 Dec 1546. There is through the years an extensive BLAKE family at North Molton and the next BLAKE family noted at North Molton:

BLAKE Mighell married Agnes Squire 1558 Dec 2

BLAKE Johane daughter BLAKE Mychell baptized 1560 Sep 1 BLAKE John son BLAKE Mighell baptized 1564 Dec 10 (buried 1565 Dec 6) BLAKE John son BLAKE Mighell baptized 1565 Dec 6 BLAKE Mote daughter BLAKE Mighell baptized 1565 Dec 6 (buried 1565 Dec 7) BLAKE Anne daughter BLAKE Mighell baptized 1568 May 16 (buried 1568 Jun 17)

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

BLAKE Michael, husbandman, will probated PCC 13 Nov 1619

Of interest, it is 36 kilometres from Morchard Bishop to North Molton and 73 kilometres from Exeter to North Molton. I have transcribed all of the BLAKE wills at the National Archives (UK) known to me for Devon and links to them can be found on the Devon Genuki pages (https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/Probate ).

The entries of interest along the Cornwall/Devon border include (Sheviock, Botus Fleming, Landulph, Marhamchurch, Launceston St Mary Magdalene):

Thomas BLAKE married Elizabeth (unknown) Sep 1551 (Landulph) Patrik BLAKE married Sedwell Truskot 15 Oct 1570 (Botus Fleming) Francis BLAKE married Jone Wills 15 May 1586 (Marhamchurch) William BLAKE married Elizbeth Gyngar 5 May 1588 (Marhamchurch) John BLAKE married Sybblye Holman 21 Oct 1591 (Sheviock)

There were two marriages with a BLAKE bride in this time period (Botus Fleming and Launceston St Mary Magdalene) but I do not trace down any further than marriage so did not add these two in. The five marriages listed above do not trace down in the area in which they married.

Are there other Blake families in Devon in the border area with Cornwall?

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Plymouth, Devon is the closest large city to Sheviock, Landulph and Botus Fleming. Holsworthy and Okehampton are across the border from Landulph. In my studies of the BLAKE family in Devon thus far I have not located any families that would coincide with these marriages.

One of the oldest BLAKE lines (to the present) in this area of Cornwall was at Landrake which is about 14 kilometres from Plymouth.

Henry BLAKE married Margery Bake 22 Jun 1605 at Landrake with St Erney. Henry was buried 21 Jan 1664 (Landrake) and Margery was buried 29 Mar 1665 (Landrake). They appear to have had eight children and a number of them had descendants. This line is continuous in this general area to the present. But I could not discover any BLAKE members in this particular area prior to their marriage in 1605. I then moved to the Bodmin area working on the BLAKE family in that area.

Although it is tempting to conclude that the BLAKE family in Cornwall is composed of two distinct lines of BLAKE only yDNA testing could really verify the earlier ancestry of this family.

This concludes my look at the BLAKE family in Cornwall. I have extracted all the records and built all the reasonable trees from these records if anyone is particularly interested and I am most willing to share any of this information.

My next blog in this series of ten blogs will examine the oldest BLAKE will that I transcribed from the set of over 700 at the National Archives under PROB/11. That is the Will of John BLAKE probated 24 April 1504, PROB 11/14/117. There are two earlier wills both from 1487 that I have not yet completed (they are in Latin).

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Blog 5: BLAKE – Transcription of the Will of John BLAKE, Esquire, of Nether Wallop – The National Archives, PROB 11/14/155, probated 24 Apr 1504

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

The countryside driving along A343 between Salisbury and Andover was quite beautiful and this picture was taken the 22 Apr 2008 (we are close to Nether Wallop). We had left stacks of snow in Canada when we flew to England and seeing the lush green fields was quite ethereal. We love the snow but escaping it in April was quite wonderful although we knew it would be gone when we returned mid May! The distance from Salisbury to Andover is 31 kilometres and driving straight through takes about 30 minutes. We dawdled along somewhat since there was very little traffic and the entire trip took just under one hour (my BLAKE cousin Ivan Kent and his wife had driven us).

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

We did not actually go to Andover but took a turn at Abbotts Ann that led us to Upper Clatford where my grandfather Samuel George BLAKE was born in 1875 and a number of generations of his BLAKE family before that were also born at Upper Clatford. His 2x great grandfather Joseph BLAKE was born in Andover. But that is a long story and can be seen in other blog posts. I digress and will return to the intent of this post.

This will below written by John BLAKE of Nether Wallop and dated 24th Feb 1503/04 is often quoted by BLAKE researchers to prove their BLAKE lines and this John was known to be the son of Robert BLAKE and Avis Wallop. We know that John is 40 years or more old when his mother's estate was examined under Inquisitions Postmortem, Series 1, Edward IV Avice BLAKE (C 140/48/6) in 1474 so he was born circa 1434 or earlier. In 1504 he would have been at least 70 years old. John was married twice and he did not mention, in his will below, any of his male heirs carrying the BLAKE surname. Part of the fascination for me in all of this aside from information for my one-name study of the BLAKE family is that he lived at the time that the grandfather of Nicholas BLAKE (my likely 12x great grandfather) at Enham lived (thought to be Robert BLAKE married to Maud Snell). Living at Nether Wallop John BLAKE, the testator, was only seven miles south west of Andover and we passed through the area of the Wallops on our way to Upper Clatford (1 mile south of Andover or in truth just on the opposite side of the highway these days having traveled A30 several times between the two). Nether Wallop lies in a bit of a valley and one mile to the north west is Middle Wallop and two miles to the north west is Over Wallop. Then six miles to the north east is Goodworth Clatford and also Upper Clatford which are two continuous villages (Upper Clatford lying between Andover and Goodworth Clatford). As we drove these lanes I could imagine my great grandfather Edward BLAKE (Ivan Kent, my second cousin, and I both descend from Edward BLAKE (my father was born at Eastleigh, Hampshire)) walking from his home to work each day as he did all of his working life down Rice Road. Looking at the picture of him from 1898 I can see from whom I inherited my strabismus (lazy eye syndrome) for there it is forever captured in picture the one eye wandering about on its own whilst the other is fixed on you the viewer (my cousins have the original which is about 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall). I have a copy of it that was made into postcards and given to all the children. My grandfather's copy was folded into his wallet to keep it close to him.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

The testator John's brother Robert acquires Pinhills (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1261808 ) by this will of Johns (although not mentioned except in the line where it was said that Richard Dauntsey would inherit the properties in Southampton (old name for Hampshire) and Wiltshire with some exceptions and this was one of the exceptions) and it stays with the Robert BLAKE family into the reign of Charles I when it was destroyed by the Royalists in 1644 (and that is a whole other story!). A smaller manor was built from the original stones at Pinhills and the BLAKE family continued to live there into the 1700s.That John does not directly mention that Robert, his brother, will receive Pinhills in his will does leave one to wonder what else might not be in the will.

This BLAKE family at Pinhills and Nether Wallop can trace back on paper to the BLAKE family that is on the 1286 subsidy for Wiltshire and on the BLAKE Pedigree Chart which is held by the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office. This rather large document (12 feet long by 4 feet wide) was commissioned by the Daniel BLAKE family in London, England in 1690 to record their family line and was produced using primarily the Visitations but also other family documents which I have not yet been able to determine. The College of Arms holds an original chart. I did speak with one individual who works at the College of Arms and they do not hold the other family documents but he suggested contacting any living family to see if they still retain these documents (I have not yet done so and may leave that for another researcher). The College of Arms is located near St Paul's Cathedral in London just up from the London Millennium Footbridge. Something that should not be missed when visiting London is crossing on foot all of the bridges over the Thames River and wandering down both sides of the River. The most we ever did was 20,000 steps per day and that took us from our hotel just south of Waterloo Station up into London and along the Thames to St Paul's Cathedral and back across the Thames and down into Bermondsey and then back to our hotel. A wonderful walk and we took about ten hours in total with lots of interesting stops along the way. Over the next few days we repeated our long walks journeying all over Bermondsey and London. You can take the Underground and it is a must to go to Kew, the Museums, Greenwich but to be in the City of London or Westminster the best way is to go on foot.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

The BLAKE Pedigree Chart (mentioned above) interestingly enough does have a male descendant for John BLAKE (son of Robert BLAKE and Avis Wallop). He is named David BLAKE on the chart and was the son of his first wife Margaret Dyncham/Dinham/Denham. David is said to have married Joane Mallet and two children are mentioned: John BLAKE Abbot of Cirencester, Gloucester and William BLAKE who married Margaret Browne of Wablyn (all duly entered on the BLAKE Pedigree Chart mentioned above). William BLAKE and Margaret Browne had two sons Martin BLAKE who married Catherine Vaughan of Herefordshire and John BLAKE who is said to be the ancestor of the Somerset BLAKE family and mentioned on the chart the Lord High Admiral Robert BLAKE as one of that John BLAKE's descendants.

Robert BLAKE and Avis Wallop had seven children according to the Visitation of Wiltshire 1623. Their son Robert BLAKE married Margaret Inglefield and their two children Roger BLAKE and Anne BLAKE married into the Baynard family. Roger BLAKE married Mary Baynard and the Visitation of Wiltshire 1623 lists six children for this couple (Thomas, Robert, Sibell, Jone, Maria and John). Roger BLAKE and Mary Baynard are said (on the BLAKE Pedigree Chart prepared by the College of Arms in 1690) to have had seven children including a son William BLAKE of Eastontown who married Avice Ripley. It is this William BLAKE that I have been most interested in from the viewpoint of my own family at Andover/Upper Clatford (his death is listed as 1582 on the BLAKE Pedigree Chart and he was living at Eastonton near Andover). A William BLAKE does leave a will dated 27 Jul 1582, probated 14 Nov 1582 and he was living at Eastonton but he was the son of Nicholas and Margaret (unknown) BLAKE of Enham (he identifies his siblings in his will). This William (son of Nicholas) who lived at Eastonton near Andover lists his children in his will but this list does not agree with the children listed in this BLAKE Pedigree Chart. But one is left with the impression that it doesn't really make sense to make up a William when all this other information exists. Unfortunately, Roger BLAKE only mentions his eldest son and his youngest daughter in his will. However, there could have been a son William who married Avis Ripley and had the children mentioned because these children do exist in the records as do the children in William BLAKE's 1582 will! Each of the William BLAKE had a son they named John and that John married a Margaret BLAKE just to add to the confusion. The 1571 Lay Subsidy returns for Andover and area do list two William BLAKE entries (1571 William BLAKE of Enham G 40 and 1571 Knight's Enham Tithing William BLAKE G 3 - West Hampshire Lay Subsidy Assessments, 1558-1603 (Andover,

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Kingsclere and New Forest Divisions), Edited by Douglas F Vick, 1987 (self-published))). It is just a really strange coincidence perhaps. But it has entered into the BLAKE families of Andover and Calne a real mystery! Since the parents of the William who left his will in 1582 were Nicholas and Margaret (unknown) BLAKE I eliminated the idea that William BLAKE married twice. But it is a real conundrum because of these old BLAKE Pedigrees. That Roger BLAKE did not name all of his children in his will and John BLAKE, the present testator, does not appear to either has led me to look at this present will with a different approach which I also mention in one of the paragraphs below. All of these wills mentioned are on my blog (I have nearly 2000 posts but it is possible to search or use the tags). Interestingly one of William's grandsons (William son of Nicholas) Richard BLAKE married Jone BLAKE (this appearing to be my line) and I am contemplating if Jone BLAKE may have been descendant of the Wiltshire BLAKE family.

This Visitation of Wiltshire 1623 principally looks at Robert BLAKE (brother of the testator John BLAKE)'s descendants. Henry BLAKE is living in 1623 at Pennells (according to the visitation) and just to place this manor it is to the WSW of Calne about 1 mile. It is about 29 miles from Nether Wallop to Calne. John BLAKE, the testator, doesn't say in his will where he is located at the time that he is writing his will.

John does mention his nephew Roger (son of his brother Robert although not as nephew). He does mention his servants Robert Blake yeoman and John Blake (currently his servant) (possibly these two men were learning from him how to manage an estate which was not uncommon for this to happen in families with land). For me, this will of John BLAKE opened my eyes to interpreting wills in a way that I had not before 2008. As a result, I read wills differently (and discussed them with a thought to what could be missing when it was applicable) from that point onward.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp Recorded: 25 Oct 2012 Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/14/155

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Name of testator: John Blake, Esquire Type of Record: Will Dated: 24 Feb 1503, probated 24 Apr 1504

[In margin] Testum [In margin] Jo Blake

1 In the Name of God Amen The xxiij day of February the xix yere of our sov[er]eigne lorde kinge henry 2 the vij th I John Blake Esquier of good and hole mynde laude and praysing be to the Infinite mercy and grace 3 of all myghty god make and comend this my last Will and testament First I bequeth my sowle to almyghty 4 god and to owr blessed lady his mother and to all the company of he[a]ven And my body to be buried in the p[ar]ich 5 church of Saint Andrews in Nether Wallop wyth and next the sepulure of Margery late my wife now disse 6 ased Also I bequeth to my mother church of Saint Swythwyns in Winchester xl d Item to my saide p[ar]ich 7 church and vicar for my tithyngs forgoten xl d It[e]m to the church wardens of the same church towards 8 the edyfiing of the same church xl d Item to the Mother church of owr lady in New Sar[um] xl d Item to the 9 church and vicare of owr lady of Calne for tithynys forgoten xij d Item to the church wardens for the 10 edyfing of the same church vj s viij d Item to the chapell of Saint Janry's within the same church for meyn- 11 tenyng of the lightes in the same Chapell xl d Item to Master Richard Sclater Vicare of the said church 12 of Saint Andrews xx d Item to the parish prest of the same church xvj d Also I bequeth to Roger blake 13 xx s and to Jane Dawency cosyn to my wife x s and to Robert Blake yeoman lat[e] my srvant x s and I 14 respite and release the same Robert of jjj s now he owith me and to John Blake my servant xx s and 15 to John Walishman my tawney gown and x s and to William Blancherd my servant xl d And to Alys 16 Cleylesdon my new and last gowne made and xij d And to Richard Colnot xl s for his labor in makyng 17 this my testament and feoffment so that they and ev[er]y of them pray for my sowle

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

18 First as towching all my maners landis and tenementis I will that John dawntsey shal[l ]have the moyte 19 of all my man[er]s landis tenements rentis reversions and farms with the appurtenancs within the 20 cown[t]ies of South[hamp]ton and Wiltes[shire] or elswher excepte certen landis underwriten in Compton and Calne 21 to come to hym for terme of his life and after his decese to remane to Richard dawntsey sonne of the sayde 22 John d and Alice late his wife and dowgther to the saide John Blake and to the heyres of the body of the 23 same Richard lawfully begotten and for default of such issu the remayndre therof to Jane Wrowgtone 24 dawghter of the said John Blak and to the eyres of her body lawfully begoten and for defaut of such 25 the remayndre ther of to the ryght heyres of Robert Blake my brother for evermor And as to the 26 other moyte of all my Maners landis and tenements with the appurtenancs within the saide cownty 27 or els wher excepte before excepte I will that the said Jane my dowgther have them to her and 28 to the eyres of her body lawfully begotten and for default of such Issue the remayndre therof to 29 the said Richard Dawntesey and to the eyres of his body lawfully begotten and for defawt of such issue 30 the remaynder ther of to the right heyres of the saide Robert Blake my brother Also I will by this my p[re]sent 31 will that my feoffys of my mes[sag]es landys and tenements with appurtenance in Compton and of a 32 corne myll in Calne called Kew myll a Tenement which Robert Cubley now dwellyth yn In an 33 tenement with William Ostyter now dwellyth in Calne aforesaid w[h]ich is of the yerly valor of xj £ 34 xiij s iiij d or ther abowt as owe all charges shallstand and be feoffed therof to this menr folowny 35 that is to say that thei shall suffer myn executors of this my present last will to take and preyve 36 the Issues and p[re]sents of the same Mes[sag]es landis in Compton and Calne aforesaid untill the tyme 37 that they have payd all my detts and legacyes p[er]formed and my finall expensis done and 38 that the Issues theroff and profetts be taken for the salary and fyndyng of a prest by my said 39 executors duryng the terme of a yere to pray for my sowle and all my frendis and all cristen 40 sowles and that the same prest shalhave x marks for his salary and this done and executyd I 41 will that the saide feoffes stande and be feoffe of the said John Dawntesey for terme of his

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

42 life and after his disseace to remayne to the saide Richard Dawntsey and to his heyres of his body 43 lawfully begotten And for defaute of such Issue to remayne to the sayd Jane and to the eyres of 44 her body lawfully begotten And for defaut of such Issue the remayndre thereof to the ryght heyres 45 of the saide Robert Blake And as to the other moyte of the saide Mes[sag]es Landis and tenements in 46 Compton and Calne aforesaid to stand and be feoffes to the use of the said Jane and of the heyres of 47 her body lawefully begotten And for defaut of suche Issu to remayne to the said Richard Dawntesey 48 and to the eyres of his body lawefully begotten and for defaut of such Issue the remaynder thereof to the 49 sayde rigth heyres of the said Robert Blake And this estats to be evermore in forme abovesaid at in 50 goodly hast may be concomently and lawfully of this my testament and last Will I make my Exe 51 cutors Margery my wife and John Dawntesey her sonne and I make Robert Blak my brother to be 52 overseer of this my testament and that the same Robert to be aidyng and assisyng to my sayde 53 executors shalhave xl s The residue of all my goodes and cattals not spokin of in this my testament 54 not bequethed I geve and grante utterly in my life to the said Margery and John Dawntesey to ther own 55 p[ro]pur use and behese so that they for my sowle the better Thes being witness Robert Blake Richard Sufat 56 clerke Richard Gorre Richard Colnet and Sir John the p[ar]ish prest of Walop and many other mee In witnes 57 of this my present last will I have subscrebed with my nowne hande 58 Probatum fuit suprascriptu[m] testamentu[m] coram domini apud Lamebith xxiiij die mensis Aprilis Anno do[min]o 59 millesimo quingentesimo Quarto Juramento Johannis Pare procuratoris Margerie relict et John Dawtesey 60 executoris etc comissa fuit administracio omnium bonorum etc dicti executoris in p[er]sona supradicti pouratori__ 61 De bene etc Ac de pleno Inuentario etc necnon de plano et vero compoto etc Ad scanta dei evangelia Jurate

In my next blog I will discuss the will of William BLAKE which was probated in 1582. It would be convenient to show part of the large BLAKE Pedigree Chart when I do blog this will and I will write to the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office to see if I can get permission to do so. It is possible to purchase images of this chart from the Record Office.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Blog 6: BLAKE - Will of William BLAKE, Yeoman, Eastontowne near Andover - National Archives, PROB 11/64/501, probated 14 Nov 1582

I was watching a Biblical movie about Isaac and Joseph where Isaac was teaching his son Joseph his ancestral line with a knotted rope and each knot represented a generation back with a name of the male ancestor. At that time, back in 2004, I was just starting to look at genealogy when I saw this movie and amazingly I remembered my grandfather reciting the names of his male ancestors going back in time. My grandfather, Samuel George BLAKE, lived with us when I was a young child and he loved to talk about Upper Clatford and would rhyme off the names of his parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. I was too young to retain everything that he told me regrettably. One item though always stuck in my memory, and my father repeated it on occasion as well. That particular item was that Nicholas BLAKE lived at Old Hall in Enham. I could not remember how you got back to Nicholas, I was stranded at Joseph BLAKE. However, these two forenames did stick in my mind. The path back to Joseph was easy, Grandpa was Samuel, his father was Edward, his father was John, his father was Thomas and his father was Joseph. In retrospect, he was trying to ensure that we, my six siblings and myself, did not forget our BLAKE heritage. That we knew where we were in this enormous family of BLAKE. I was pretty much stuck at Joseph although I knew the names Thomas, William, Richard, John all belonged in there but especially I remembered about Nicholas and Old Hall (probably because my father also mentioned his ancient ancestor over the years as I was growing up). Mind you I did not approach my own research with that idea firmly entrenched. I gradually worked my way back through the records. It was another five years before I was in the state I am now which is that it "appears that my line goes back to this Nicholas Blake, then his likely father Richard and his likely father Robert BLAKE who kindly left his will (in Latin) probably as quite an elderly person in 1521 naming his children."

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

In my father's hand the three generations of his line, this picture of my great grandfather was taken at Upper Clatford in 1898. Although his strabismus (lazy eye syndrome) is obvious to me; it is the much larger picture of Edward and his wife Maria Jane (Knight) BLAKE that convinced me that my eye defect came from my great grandfather.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Although I became a member of the Guild of one-name Studies in about 2007 taking on the Pincombe surname (my mother's maiden name), I never really contemplated, beyond wishful thinking, taking on the BLAKE surname. It seemed quite an indomitable task. By 2011, I had found a lot of material on BLAKE in the Andover area and realized that there was a mystery in this family which could only be solved by looking at the BLAKE families in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somersetshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and beyond. Gradually I realized as I accumulated data that a one-name study would make sense. I could collate the information that I had, zip it up and pass it on. That made BLAKE doable as a one-name study for me.

Having blogged on John BLAKE of Nether Wallop's will in the last blog of this blogging Challenge, the next logical will to blog was that of William BLAKE who died in 1582. How can I be sure he died in 1582, he wrote his will on the 27th July 1582 and his will was probated the 14th November 1582. As I mentioned in the last blog, William BLAKE who died in 1582 seemed like a very straightforward linear descendant of Nicholas BLAKE (and I will blog Nicholas' will next and that of his wife Margaret) until I accidentally discovered the BLAKE Pedigree Chart created by the College of Arms for Daniel BLAKE in 1690 (and the final chart has additions up to the 1730s and later). Daniel BLAKE was himself descendant of the BLAKE family of Calne and Pinhills according to the BLAKE Pedigree Chart* (inserted below). The Chart was mentioned in a write up by another BLAKE researcher and I managed to locate it at the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.

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*Used with permission, Wiltshire and Swindon Archives, reference number 343/1MS

I think William BLAKE was a very precise man as he details absolutely everything that could possibly go wrong in the settling of an estate. He is particularly precise in how his wife Elizabeth is to be treated. I wonder is he so precise because she is a second

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 wife? There is confusion about this William BLAKE of Eastontowne and in his will he does describe himself as of Eastontowne and Andover. He writes his will; he is mentioned in several Visitations, and he appears on the BLAKE Pedigree Chart held by the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office or does he, is it actually this William BLAKE, the testator?

The Lay Subsidy returns for Andover and area do list two William BLAKE entries*

1571 Andever William BLAKE of Enham G 40

1571 Knight's Enham Tithing William BLAKE G 3

*West Hampshire Lay Subsidy Assessments, 1558-1603 (Andover, Kingsclere and New Forest Divisions), edited by Douglas F Vick, 1987 (self-published).

Both of these subsidy returns were for a William BLAKE of Enham and following his father Nicholas's death in 1547, William lived at Old Hall in [Knights] Enham. However by 1582 he says in his will he lived at Eastontown. Making use of William BLAKE's will in order to place William in the correct spot in the genealogical framework of the BLAKE family at Andover, Hampshire is a good first step. William BLAKE, in his will, names his brother Edmund BLAKE, who must still be living in 1582, although I have yet to find him. He also mentions his sisters Elizabeth Monday and Ann Godwyn. These are the same children that Nicholas BLAKE of Enham named as his children including William in his will of 1574. William's grandmother Jone Blake of Enham widow left her will in 1527 naming her sons Robert and Nicholas and her daughter Elizabeth married to Mr. Mylne. Thus William is now located in the family that lived at Enham (near Andover in 1527). Unfortunately the name of Jone BLAKE's husband is not mentioned in her will and I will blog on this will in the blog next following the wills of Nicholas and his wife Margaret.

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William, the testator, mentions his two youngest sons first - Richard and Thomas. He then moves on to his daughters mentioning first Amye and she is married to Drewe Rombold. Next daughter mentioned is Margeret and she is married to (unknown) Jarvis. Third daughter mentioned is Agnes married to (unknown Kynton). Elizabeth married to Peter Beale is mentioned next and she is the daughter about whom I have more information. The eight children of Peter Beale and Elizabeth are all baptized at Priors Dean with the eldest Eleanor (Helena) Beale, married to Anthony Habberley, baptized 11 Mar 1579. Perhaps Elizabeth BLAKE's likely date of marriage is 1578 or 1579 since March is the end of the year rather than the beginning in this time frame. Perhaps she was 21 when she married giving her a possible date of birth around 1558 or earlier (or later since young marriages also occurred). Elizabeth's last child was Elizabeth and I have not yet found her baptism but allotting a two year break which is not actually true in this family but close then Elizabeth was likely born around 1593 when Elizabeth would have been around 35 years of ago (or older since women often had children into their 40s). Playing with this timeline lets me look at the marriage of William with regard to time frame and all of his daughters are married by 1582 the date of his will. The last mentioned daughter is Mary and she married Ralfe Rigges and she is the daughter about whom I have the most information. She died before 1 Sep 1612 at Fareham. They had ten children with the first one buried 35 Apr 1580 at Fareham. The fifth child Mary is the first for whom I have a baptism and that was 27 Jun 1585 at Fareham. The Rigges family is in the Visitation and I have extracted their family information from there and collected records where available. It would appear that Mary has married before Elizabeth leaving one to conjecture that Elizabeth may have been older rather than younger in the estimation of ages. Even randomly placing these children into the family of William with John the eldest there are in total ten children mentioned in the will (sons John, William, Peter, Thomas and Richard). Placing the children on an approximate distance apart scale of two years and knowing that Elizabeth may have been the last daughter to marry in 1578 or 79 at the possible age of 21 with a possible year of birth around 1558 and she was not the youngest then working back to the eldest John five children or more earlier than John may have been born around 1548 or earlier. Which brings us to Nicholas' will which I will put up next and he mentions that his son William has children in 1547 so coming close to a reasonable time frame and either some have died or John and other(s) were born prior to 1547 when Nicholas wrote his will.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

William, the testator, writes that his eldest son is John and no details on John besides his being eldest. John is not named Executor unless William the second eldest son defaults. I am left with two thoughts in that regard. John doesn't live closeby is my first thought and my second is that John is already married and has perhaps a large family responsibility although William takes great pains to protect his inheritance to his children as if there aren't any heirs male of John. Any possible grandchildren are not mentioned by William in his will.

The order of sons: John is the eldest, William is the second son, Peter is the third son, Thomas is the fourth son and Richard is the fifth son.

The Blake Pedigree Chart which I mentioned earlier is held at the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office. It is a beautiful chart about four feet wide and twelve feet high. It lists William BLAKE of Eastontown as the son of Roger BLAKE of Pinhills Wiltshire and that he was married to Avis Ripley and died in 1582. The children listed on the chart: Agnes married to Roger Hyde, John married to Margaret Blake daughter of William Blake of Eastontown, William married to Ann Tutt and Peter who never married. William BLAKE, the testator in the will below, does have a daughter Agnes but she is married to (unknown Kynton) and he does have the three children mentioned John, William and Peter. Hence one can see my difficulty in resolving these two mentions of William Blake of Eastontown. The will is the difficulty. If one just goes with all the Visitation information the family lines just seem to flow and the Pedigree Chart at Swindon and Wiltshire was built from the Visitations. There is one notable exception, the Wiltshire Visitation of 1623 does not list a son William for Roger BLAKE.

My thoughts: William BLAKE mentioned could be the same man but with two different marriages (however he appears to have two different sets of parents). Perhaps Agnes has married twice and I must look at that more intently as I work through these wills. When you read the will below you will understand my thoughts that Elizabeth could be his second wife and he is ensuring that the children (namely John and William) clearly understand how he wants their possible step mother to be treated after his death. The older children in several cases as it turns out do not remain at Andover but move towards London. Enjoy the will; I

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 think it is one of those landmark ones that is just fascinating to read and has so much information in it about the times and how people lived.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp Recorded: 20th February 2008 Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/64/501 Name of Testator: William BLAKE, Yeoman of Andover, Hampshire Place: Eastontowne, Andever, Hampshire, England Type of Record: Will Dated: 27 July 1582, probated 14 November 1582

[Margin]: 312 [Margin]: T[estator] Willi[a]m Blake

1 In the name of God amen; I William Blake 2 of Estontowne, within the parishe of Andever in the countie of Southampton yeoman, beinge in good and 3 perfecte memorye of mynde and healthe of bodye (thancks be geven to allmightye god) wayethinge and pondering 4 withe my self the shortnes of the dayes of manne and the uncertentie of the tyme when hit shall please 5 Th[e ]allmightie to call us to his mercye oute of this transitory lief, And that wee are but Stewardes here 6 of this worldly gooddes and possessions to use accordinge to the rules of christian charitie to Godds honour 7 and glorye and muste at the generall daie of Judgemente render accompte of the obteyninge houldinge and 8 ymployinge thereof to his dyvine maiestie, Doe hereby of my self and by the councell and advise of my 9 good Freindes make and declare this to be my last will and testamente in wrytinge, revokinge by theise 10 presents all form other former willes of myne made, either by worde of or wrytinge at anye tyme before

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11 the date hereof, And declaringe this to be my sole and onely last will and testamente in manner and forme 12 foollowinge and none other (viz Firste I yealde my soule and spyrite to the moste highe and blessed Trinitie 13 three personnes and one verye god the Father, the sonne and the holye ghoste, whoe hathe made redemed 14 and sanctified all the electe people of god, of which, nomber I doe hope that I am one; trustinge and belevinge 15 onelye by the meritts of Jesus Christe his bitter passionne, the second personne in the same Trinitie to bee 16 a saved sowle and in him at the daie of dome to have a ioyfull resurrection of this fleshe of myne, 17 willinge my Bodye in the meane tyme after my deceasse to be buried in christian buriall within the church 18 of Andever aforesaide nere the cloke howse doore there and in suche sorte as shal[l ]be thoughte most meete 19 by my executors, protestinge also by this my laste will and testamente that I houlde and beleve all th[a]t 20 whatsoever was promised for me at the tyme of my Baptisme and all the articles of a christian faythe 21 whatsoever which I aught to houlde or beleve and whiche the moste holye visible Churche of Christe 22 here on earthe teachethe and houldeth, acknowledgeinge my self hereby throughe the grace of god to dye 23 therein, wholye prostratinge and submittinge my self to the obedience of the same Churche wheare 24 soever the same is dispersed thereowte oute the worlde, utterlye renouncinge and defyinge all Sectes 25 heresies and dampable opinions whatsoever theye be, and of whomesoever there are houlden contrary 26 to goddes holye worde, the true catholike faithe and the Churche of Jesus Christe our Lorde and 27 savioure for the whiche he shedde his most precious innocente and guiltless[s] bloude. And as 28 concerninge the bestowinge of all my gooddes and chattells, I doe make thereof my laste will and 29 testamente in manner and fourme followinge and no otherwyse, That is to saye, I geve to thee 30 Cathedrall Churche of Win[ches]tor eight pence, And to the parrishe churche of Andever Thirteene 31 shillinges and fower pence, And to the Churche of Knightes Enham Thirtene shillinges & fower 32 pence, And to the poore people of Andever aforesaide Three poundes fyve shillinges and eighte 33 pence, to be amongest theme distributed by the discrecion of my executor and overseers. Item 34 I geve and bequeathe to Edmunde Blake my brother Tenne poundes of currant Englishe money

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35 to be delyvered to him within one half yeare after my decease. Item I bequeathe and geve to my 36 sister Elizabeth Monday fyve poundes of the lyke currante englishe monneye, to be paide unto her within 37 one yeare after my deceasse. Item I geve to Alice Godwyn my sister twentie shillings of the 38 like currant Englishe monneye. Item I geve and bequeathe to everye one of my godchildrens 39 whiche shal[l ]be lyvinge at the tyme of my deceasse one good clydde lambe a peece. Item I geve and 40 bequeathe to Richarde Blake my sonne Fyftye poundes of currant englishe monneye, to be paide 41 unto him or his assignes within one yeare after my decease. Item I geve and bequeathe to 42 Thomas Blake my sonne Two hundred and fyftie poundes of lawfull Englishe monneye to be 43 paide unto him and his assignes yearlie after my decease by Fyftie pounds together by the yere, 44 untill the said Somme Two hundred and fyftie poundes shal[l ]be fullye satisfied and paide. Item 45 Item I geve to Amye Rombold my daughter two kyne one bullocke and twentie sheepe to bee 46 delyvered within one yeare after my deceasse, And the said sheepe to be delyvered oute of my flock 47 as theye shall ronne at lease. Item I geve to Magarett Jarvis my daughter Fyve marks of currant 48 englishe monneye to be paide her within one yeare after my deceasse. Item I geve to Agnes Kynton my daughter 49 one cowe and a bullocke, And to Elizabeth Beale my daughter fowertie shillings in monney. Item 50 I geve to Marye Rigges my daughter fortie shillings of currante englishe monneye to be delyvered 51 her within one yeare after my deceasse. Item I geve unto my eldeste sonne John one hundred sheepe 52 to be delyvered ymmediatelye uppon my deceasse ronninge at leace And also two horsses or fyve pounds 53 in money at the elections of my saide sonne John by hym to be taken or delyvered upon my deceasse 54 Item I geve and bequeathe unto Elizabethe Blake my wieff two kyne to be delyvered unto her ymmedi 55 ately uppon my deceasse by her owne choice owte of my herde of kyne, And also five sowes to bee 56 delyvered unto her by her owne choice owte of my herde of swyne. Item I doe bequeathe and will 57 unto my saide wieff all that her apparell woolens and lynnens which she shall have for her body 58 at the tyme of my deceasse, And also two feather or downe beddes nexte to my beste bedde and one other

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59 flocke bedde for her maide to lye on, and twoe of my coverlettes to be chosen by her, nexte my Two 60 best coverlettes and also twoe paire of my beste blancketts and one paire of my seconde blancketts And 61 also eighte paire of my sheetes to be chosen by her, nexte after my sonne William hathe chosen fower 62 payre, And also twoe of my beste spones, twoe of my beste brasse pottes, twoe of my beste kettells 63 twoe of my best skelletts and two of my beste broches, and two of my beste Andirons, And also one 64 dossens of my best pewter platters, one dossens of pottengers, and one dosens of sawcers, fower 65 candlesticks, and sixe ioyne stooles, one table borde, one cupborde borde and the one half of my 66 poultrye whiche shal[l ]be aboute my howse at my deceasse, by her to be chosen, and also my beste 67 amblinge hackney that I shall have at the tyme of my deceasse and her saddle and furniture 68 belonginge to her for her iourneyinge. Item I geve and bequeathe to my sayde wife (uppon 69 condicion that shee shall clayme no Dowrie of my fee symple Landes, whereof I shall dye seyzed 70 or whiche I have bequeathed by this my laste will the yearlye Annuytye of Twentye pounds 71 duringe her lieff to be issuinge and payable by my executours. owte of all my leasses and fearmes 72 that I houlde of the righte honnourable the Lord Sandys, at fower feasts of the yeare quart[er]ly 73 to be paide (viz the firste quarter to begynne the nexte Feaste either of Michaelmas, Christmas, 74 Th[e ]annunciations of oure Blessed Ladye, or sainte John Baptiste, whiche shall first happens 75 after my deceasse, And so at the same Feasts quarterlye fyve pounds a quarter yerelye to her 76 to be paide duringe her lieff, And if it happens the saide Annunytye of Twentie poundes or any 77 parte threreof to be behinde and unpaide at anye tyme duringe the naturall lieff of my saide 78 wieff, by the space of eighte daies after annye of the saide Feastes aforesaide as whiche the 79 same oughte to be paide unto the saide Elizabethe my wieff, That then and from thenceforth 80 it shal[l ]be lawfull for the saide Elizabethe my wieff and her assignees to enter into the sayde 81 Fearmes and other the permisses oute, whereof the saide Annuytie is goinge, yssueable or payable 82 whiche I houlde of the saide Lord Sandys, and thereuppon to distreyne, and the distresse to

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83 dryve carrye awaye and with[ h]oulde untill the saide Annuitie and there everye thereof (yf anny 84 shall happens to be behinde be to her and her assignees fullye contented and paide). Item I 85 will and bequeathe unto the saide Elizabethe my wieff duringe her lieff, the fyndinge and 86 keepinge of two kyne to be found and kepte for her and to her use and proffitte uppon the 87 sayde Fearme groundes of the fearme of Andever, bothe in wynter tyme and in Sommer tyme 88 And to have aswell pasture for theme, as also fodder of sweete strawe to susteyne theme, in 89 good plighte, allwaies to be foddered, pastured, watered, and used at the paynes and provision 90 of my executor and by theire Servauntes and at their charge and industrye. And also I 91 bequeathe unto her my sayde wieff the fyndinge of two sowe hoggs for her and to her owne use 92 and proffitte to be kepte uppon the sayde Fearme of Andever, and to be sounde and well harboured 93 and well used and served within my saide Fearme of Andever in suche sorte as is meete and as 94 shall well contente my saide wieff ordered at the provisicion coste and charge of my executors 95 and the industrye of theire servauntes duringe her life. Item I bequeathe unto her fower dossen 96 of my poultrye of all sortes viz of Capons, hennes and chickens suche and best shall fansye and 97 like my saide wieff, and also the fyndinge so manye of poultrie duringe her life to be founde 98 fedde, harboured and well used and lyved, within my saide Fearme of Andever in suche sorte 99 as is meete and as shall well contente my saide wieff at the coste and charges of my saide 100 executor. Item I geve and bequeathe my saide wief yerelie duringe her life, for her necessary use one 101 waight of woll to be paide yearlye by my executor out of my Fearme of Andever the same yearlye to be deliv[er]ed 102 at the shere tyme, and that she choose yearlye the same waighte of wooll of the firste weighte of wooll 103 that shal[l ]be weighed of the ferme sheepe yearlye at shepesheare. Item I bequeathe and will that my 104 wieff shall have howse rome, duringe her naturall lieff for the abode within my house of Estontowne 105 that I nowe dwell in for her self and her maide, and that she shall have to her owne onely use, duringe 106 her lief, the bedchamber that I and she doe nowe lye in, and that she shall have free concoursse and

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107 accesse into the hall, the kitchine, and the reste of my howses of office, aswell within doores as without 108 there allwaies to doe her necessarie busynes withall to her reasonable contemente, so as my executors 109 maye have with all, accesse quietlye into annye romes, within the howsses of office to serve his turne 110 reasonablye, not disquietinge nor excludinge my saide wieff oute thereof at annye tyme to do her 111 necessarye busynes therein. Item I will that my executors shall at his coste and charges provide 112 and fynde unto my saide wieff sufficiente necessarye and as muche woodde and fyreboote as she shall 113 spende in her saide chamber, or aboute the necessarye usage of dressinge her meate and drinck, w[i]thin 114 my saide howsse of Estontowne, And further more that if my saide wieff shal[l ]be mynded to remove 115 from my saide howsse of Estontowne to dwell at her pleasure and better lykinge and contentement 116 within the Towne of Andever, Then I will that neverthelesse, my saide executore shall at his 117 and theire costes and charges provide and fynde unto her sufficient woode and fyrebote for her 118 chamber, bakinge, dressinge and brewinge of her necessarie meate and drincke in suche sorte, as 119 before is lymyted to her for her inhabitinge within my said howse of Estontowne even in such manner 120 as thoughe she weare or shoulde be continuallye rescant there in all respecte, And shall further 121 yearlie paye unto my saide wieff for and towardes her howse rente, so longe as she shall contynue 122 there or else wheare, oute of my howse at Estontowne the yearlie somme of Twentie shillinges, 123 by the yeare to be paide quarterlye unto her at suche Feasts and daies and in suche manner and 124 sorte as her Annuitie of Twentye poundes before mencioned is appointed to be paide. And 125 furthermore if it shall lyke my said wieff to inhabite in anye other place besydes the Towne of 126 Andever owte of the same parrisshe, That then so longe tyme as she shall so enhabite owte of the 127 same parrisshe, I doe will that my executoure shall yealde and paie unto her for and in lewe of 128 suche kyne, hoggs, wooll, and poultrie as she shoulde otherwise have had goinge and founde 129 by my executor uppon my saide Fearme of Andever the somme of fowertie shillings of currante 130 Englishe monneye yearlye to be paide her at the Feastes, daies and tymes, and in suche sorte as her

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131 Annuytye of Twentie poundes before recyted is and ought to be paide, And that so longe tyme 132 as she shall so abide, and dwell owte of the saide parrishe of Andever, she shal[l ]be excludedd to 133 demande of my executor annye other duetye before to her limited bequeathed or appointed owte of 134 my sayde Fearme, besydes the saide Twentie poundes to her limited and bequeathed w[hi]ch nevertheles 135 shal[l ]be paide her, in manner and fourme aforesaid. Provided also and my will and entente is 136 and so I doe declare it to be my mynde, That if my saide wieff shall happen to marrye, and 137 not to lyve sole and in her widowhedd, That then she shall have the saide yearlie Annuytye of 138 Twentie poundes, in manner and fourme as before is to her appointed onelye and shal[l ]be excluded 139 and barred for ever by this my laste will of all other benefitte whatsoever, if she should otherwise 140 have owte of my saide Fearme of Andever (annye thinge mencioned in this my will to the co[n]trary 141 notwithstandinge. And soe that my whole mynde and will is that my Fee symple landes w[hi]ch 142 I have to me and myne heyres by purchase or discente or otherwise, shall remayne contynue and 143 be forever hereafter in my name and bloude, withoute anye alteracion, discontynuance or devise 144 thereof to be made or suffered to the contrarye by those or annye of those or theire or anye of 145 theire heires, or heire males or annye of theme to whome I shall by this my laste will and 146 Testamente geve and bequeathe the same or annye parte thereof unto, I doe by this my will 147 And Testament geve and bequeathe all my Landes and Tenementes with all and singler thee 148 Appurtenauncs in manner and fourme followinge, That is to saye, Firste I geve and 149 bequeathe unto John Blake, my eldest Sonne, All that my two Tenements called Brownes 150 and Cambers with all and singuler the appurtenauncs situate in Knights Enham and Kinges 151 Enham within the saide Countie of Southampton, and all Landes arrables, meadowes feedings 152 pastures, commons, commodities, and advanntags whatsoever to the same Tenements or to anye 153 of theme belonginge or in annye wise apperteyinnge or as annye parte or parcell of themee or any of theme 154 used or occupied withall and singuler th[e ]appurtenauncs, whatsoever, And also all that my Landes Teneme[n]ts

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155 and hereditaments called Brayes, and all landes arrables meadowes belonginge to the same withe th[e ]appur 156 tenancs, To have and to houlde the saide two Tenements called Brownes and Chambers withall and 157 singuler th[e ]appurtanauncs and also the said Tenemente called Brayes, and all other the Landes and p[re]misses 158 last bequeathed and recited unto the saide John Blake my sonne for terme of his naturall lieff, And after 159 his deceasse to the heires males of his bodye lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue to Will[ia]m 160 Blake my seconde sonne, for terme of his naturall lieff, and after the deceasse of the same William, to the 161 heyres males of his body lawfullye begotten the bodye of the saide William lawfully begotten And 162 for defaulte of suche issue to the heires males of the bodye of Peter Blake my Thirde sonne lawfully 163 begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue to the heires males of the bodye of Thomas Blake, my 164 fourthe sonne lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue, to the heires males of the body of 165 Richarde Blake my fyfte sonne lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of suche issue to the righte heires 166 of my saide Ist sonne John Blake for ever. And furthermore I doe by this my laste will and 167 Testamente geve and bequeathe unto the saide William Blake my second sonne one Tenement 168 with Th[e ]appurtenauncs commonlye called Roses lyinge within Kings Enham aforesaide, And all 169 Landes tenementes, meadowes, pastures, feedings, proffitts and commodities and advauntages whatso 170 ever to the same Tenement belonginge or in any wise apperteyninge whiche I late purchased of Mr 171 Cauley, And also one meadowe, with th[e ]appurtenaunces lyinge in Kings Enham aforesaide, which I 172 late bought of Jhne Hayse, commonly called Dichie meade. And also the Crofte withe Th[e ]appurtenauncs 173 called Whiteyeres crofte and all the landes with th[e ]appurtenauncs which I late purchased of John James 174 of Charleton lyinge in Kings Enham aforesaid, To have and houlde the saide Tenement called Roses 175 with th[e ]appurtenauncs and the saide meadowe called Dichie meade with th[e ]appurtauncs and the saide Lande 176 called Whiteyeres Crofte and the saide Landes late purchased of the saide John James with th[e ]appurte[n]auncs 177 and all other the laste recited premisses unto the saide William Blake bequeathed withe all and 178 singuler their appurtenaunces unto the saide William Blake my sonne second Sonne for terme of his

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179 naturall life, And after his deceasse to the heires males of his bodye lawfullie begotten, And for 180 defaulte of suche issue, to the saide John Blake my eldest sonne for terme of his naturall life, And 181 after the deceasse of the same John to th[e h]eirs males of his bodye lawfully begotten with the lyke 182 Lymytacions in their respecte and degree as before is lymitted to the saide Peter Blake and the 183 others followinge him, And furthermore I doe by this my laste will and Testamente geve and 184 bequeathe unto the saide Peter Blake, my thirde sonne all that my Eleaven Tenements and one 185 Cottage withe all and singuler their appurtenauncs scituate and beinge in Andever, aforesaide, 186 nowe at the daie of the date of this my will in the severall tenure or occupacions of William 187 Northe, Hughe Tydder, William Hussie, Christopher Broughe and Goodman Wilson, William 188 Bathe, Robert Carde, George Masonn, John Presser, Robert Newell, Katherine Hide 189 and [blank] Wiggs widdowe, And also all that my three meadowes with th[e ]appurtenauncs 190 lyinge within Charletonn within the saide Countie of Southampton, nowe at the date of this 191 my will in the severall tenures and occupacions of John Purham, John James and John West. 192 To have and to houlde all the saide eleven Tenements and cottage and three meadowes laste 193 recyted withe all and singuler theire appurtena[u]ncs unto the saide Peter my Thirde Sonne 194 to him and to his heires for ever. And to th[e ]entente that suche Fearmes, Landes, Tenem[en]ts, 195 withe all and singuler th[e ]appurtena[u]ncs whiche I houlde by Lease or Leasses, and of the graunte 196 of the saide Lorde Sandys, or of annye of his Lo[rd] Ancestors shoulde, contynue, remayne and be 197 to my bloudde and name withe my saide fee symple Landes in suche sorte and to somme of those 198 personnes to whome I have gevenn and bequeathed my sayde Fee symple Landes unto therefore 199 I doe by this my last will and Testamente geve and bequeathe the same landes in manner and 200 fourme followinge, That is to saie, I geve and bequeathe to my saide John Blake one Tene[ment] 201 withe th[e ]appurtenauncs, commonlie called th[e ]olde haule lyinge in Knights Enham aforesayde, 202 And all Landes and meadowes whatsoever in Leasies, pastures, feadinges, com[m]ons, proffitts,

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203 commodities and advauntags whatsoever to the same Tenemente belonginge or in anye wise 204 app[er]teyninge, And also one severall close withe th[e ]appurtuance commonly called Walworte 205 And also twoe meadowes in Andever beinge Lammas Lande houlden by Tenne shillings rente by the yeare 206 And also all my Lammas Lande and meadowe, whatsoever with th[e ]appurtenauncs lyinge in Andever, 207 or Andever feilde aforesaide, And all other my Landes and tenements, whatsoever conteyned and 208 mentioned uppon the grande Lease to me made of the last recited premisses (excepte the Tenement 209 called Smythes and the parcell of grounde called Evatts Okes al[ia]s Glosshanger and suche Lammas 210 Landes as the saide William Blake my sonne nowe houldethe whiche saide Tenement called Oulde 211 hall and closes called Walwort, meadowe and lamas lande and other the laste recited premisse I 212 doe houlde of the saide Lorde Sandys for terme of yeares not yet expired, To have and to hold 213 the saide Tenemente called oulde hall, the saide close called Walwortt and the meadowes and Lammas 214 lands aforesaide and all other the premisses with all and singuler, th[e ]appurtena[u]nces laste recited (except 215 before last excepted) unto the saide John Blake for terme of his naturall lieffe, yf my terme of yeres 216 thereof so longe shall endure, And after his deceasse the saide Tenemente called old hall the said close 217 called Walwort and the meadowes and Lammas Lande and all the laste recited premisses withe th[e ]appurtena[u]ncs 218 (excepte before excepted) to remayne contynue and be to the heires males of the bodye of my saide sonne 219 John lawfullye begotten and so to contynue in my bloude and name from one to an other in lyke manner 220 and sorte and in everye respecte and degree accordinge to my sayde lymytacion made of my sayde fee simple 221 landes called Brownes, Cambers and Brayes so longe as the terme of yeares which I have in the granted 222 leasses of the same or of annye parte thereof shall contynue The saide John Blake and the heyres males of 223 his bodye bodye lawfullye begotten, and all other the persons before lymyted to enioye the saide Tenemente 224 called oulde haule & the saide close called Walworte and the said two meadowes and Lammas lande and other the premisses laste recited (excepte 225 before excepted) yealdinge payinge doinge and performinge all suche rentes dueties and covenants whiche

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226 shal[l ]be after my deceasse at annye tyme due, paieable or to be donne to the saide Lorde Sandys his heires or 227 assignes or annye other personne or personnes whatsoever by reason of the graunde Leasse or Leasses made 228 thereof or of annye other parte or parcell thereof, other than suche rente and dutyes as shall growe due 229 by reason of the saide Tenemente called called Smythes and the saide groundes called Evatts okes alias 230 Glosshanger and other then for the said Lammas lande in the tenure of the saide William Blake my sonne 231 viz for the sayde Tenemente called Smythes fowertene shillinges by the yeare for the saide grounde called 232 Glosshanger fyve shillinges by the yeare and for the saide Lammas Lande Twelve shillinges by the Yeare 233 And furthermore to th[e ]intente that my sonne William Blake and th[e ]other personnes hereafter lymyted to have 234 my Fearme of Andever shall contynwe hospitalitie with the same accordinge to the proportions thereof 235 within the parrishes of Andever and Knightes Enham or one of theme duringe the terme of yeares w[hi]ch 236 shal[l ]be therein to comme after the tyme of my deceasse, I doe by this my last will and testamente geve and 237 bequeathe unto the same William Blake my saide seconde sonne my Tenemente and howse with th[e ]app[u]rtena[u]ncs 238 whiche I nowe dwell in commonlie called Smythes and all landes, meadowes, leasues, pastures, feadings, 239 commons, proffittes, commodities and advauntages, whatsoever to the same tenemente belonginge or in anye 240 wise apperteyninge, And also my Ferme of Andever, withe all landes, meadowes, leasues, pastures, feedings, 241 proffittes, commodities, and advauntages, whatsoever to the same ferme belonginge, or in annye wise appertey 242 ninge, whiche saide Fearme and Tenemente and other the last recyted premisses I doe lykewise houlde 243 for terme of yeares not expired of the saide Lo: Sandis (except and allwayes res[er]ved oute of this my last 244 gifte and bequeaste all suche percell of lande as bene before by me geven unto John my sayde eldeste 245 sonne, To have and to houlde the saide Tenemente Ferme and all other the premisses withe all and singuler 246 their appurtenauncs last recited and bequeathed (excepte last before excepted) unto the saide William my 247 sonne for terme of his naturall lief, yf my terme of yeares thereof to me made shall so longe endure 248 And after his deceasse the saide ferme and Tenemente and all other the premisses laste bequeathed and 249 recyted (excepte before laste excepted) to remayne contyneue and be to the heyres males of the bodye of the

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250 sayde William my sonne lawfullye begotten and so from one to an other in like manner and sorte and in 251 everye respecte and degree accordinge to my saide Lymytacions made of my Fee symple landes called Roses 252 Dichie meade and whiteyeares crofte, so longe as my terme of yeares, which I have in the graund leasse 253 to mee made of the same or of annye parte thereof shall contynewe, The saide William Blake and ye 254 heires males of his bodye lawfullye begotten and all other the personnes before lymyted to enioye ye 255 sayde Ferme or Tenemente and other the premisess laste to him bequeathed yealdinge payinge doinge and 256 performinge all suche rentes dueties and covenannts, whiche shal[l ]be after my deceasse at annye tyme 257 due paiable or to be donne to the saide Lo: Sandys his heires or assignees or annye other personne or p[er]sonnes 258 whatsoever by reason of the saide graunde Leasse or leasses, made thereof or of annye parte or parcell thereof 259 or of annye the premisses laste recited and to the saide William bequeathed. The residue of my goods 260 (before not bequeathed nor disposed, my debtes and legacies beinge paide and this my laste will and testament 261 in all respectes iustlie performed and accomplished) I geve and bequeath to my sonne William aforesaide 262 to th[e ]intente that he and th[e ]other personnes before lymyted to have, my said Fearme of Andever shall 263 contynewe hospitalitie within the parrishe of Andever Knights Enham or one of theme during thee 264 terme of yeares of my said Fearme of Andever. Provided allwayes and my will and whole entent 265 is, That if it shall fortune after my deceasse anny of my said sonnes, or anny others to whome I have 266 limited to have and enioye annye parte of my landes or gooddes aforesaid, not to contente himself or 267 theme selves withe suche porcions of Landes or gooddes and in suche manner and sorte as I have before 268 gevenn and bequeathed the same unto him or theme, and unto everie or annye of theme, Or that theie or 269 annye of theme shall shewe themselves or annye of theme shall shewe himselfe or herself to have mislike 270 withe the same or of this my last will or of annye parte of the contente of this my testament, Or 271 shall endewe themselves or annye of theme shall endewe him or herself to devise doe practise attempte 272 or putte in use, or cause to be devised donne prassised attempted or putte in use or assente, consent agree unto 273 or suffer annye acte, thinge or thinges whatsoever or by what meanes soever whiche shalbe disturbe alter

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274 violate, frustrate, breake or make voide, or shall or maie be by annye meanes intended, construed or 275 ymagined to disturbe, alter, chaunge, violate, frustrate, breake or make voide, in annye respecte or pointe 276 this my last will and testament, and the contents and limitacions of the same, or of annye parte, 277 pointe, limitacion, legacie, bequeaste, gift or contents thereof, or of annye parte thereof, or shall 278 not stande to and obeye the order and iudgemente of my overseers and the longest lyver of theme 279 duringe their lyves in suche ambiguities, doubts, questions, and controversies as shall happen to 280 aryse hereafter uppon or by reasonn of this my last will and testament to all entents and purpos[e]s 281 That then in all and everie the cases laste recyted, my said sonnes and everye other person and 282 personnes shall and everie of theme to whome I have geven graunted or lymyted to have or enioye 283 annye parte of my landes gooddes or chattells aforesaide and everie of theme in so doeinge and 284 offendinge this my mynde in my last will and testament shall for ever lose the benefitt of this my 285 laste will, and Testamente, to all entents and purposes and the Legacies and devises to theme and 286 everie of theme or annye of theme by the same gevens devised or bequeathed, and whiche otherwise 287 theye or annye of them, in not so doinge or offendinge mighte have had and enioyed. As thoughe 288 no mencions at all hadd beene made in this my laste Testamente of annye suche gifte devise or 289 Legacie And that then in everie suche case as aforesayd I doe geve and bequeathe by this my last 290 will and Testament the same porcion of my sayde goods and Landes to the resydue of my sayde 291 sonnes not so offendinge and to suche others aforesaide not so offendinge to whome I have made 292 the Lymytacions of the contynuaunce and enioyinge the reside of my sayde Landes, goods and 293 chattells to be equallye and indifferentlie devided and apporcioned amongeste theme. And 294 I doe make my sayde sonne William Blake my executor of this my last will and testament 295 Provided nevertheless and this my last will is, That if the saide William shall not or doe 296 not take uppon him the execucion and executorshipp of this my last will and Testament, or that 297 he and his issue male aforesaide shall not trewlye and iustlie paye all, the Legacies of this my

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298 last will and also shall not doe accomplishe and performe the same thorowlye accordinge to my 299 entente and meaninge expressed in this my last will and testamenete, in all respectes whatsoever, or 300 shall not within one monneth after my deceasse become in sufficient bond unto my overseers or 301 suche of theme as shal[l ]be lyvinge at the tyme of my decease, or if theye shall happen to be deceased 302 to the Bisshopp of the dioces for the tyme beinge to obeye and performe this my laste will and 303 Testament, That then I will my said legacie and gifte before to him and his heires males bequethed 304 and geven as well of my Landes as of my goods utterlye to surceasse and to be voyde and of none 305 effecte, And then I doe make my saide sonne John my executor of this my last will and testament 306 to see the same well and trulye performed Annye thinge before mencioned to the contrarie notw[i]th 307 standinge. And I doe by this my last will and testament appointe my verye trustie and welbeloved 308 freindes Richard Sotwell, Doctor of the Civill Lawe, and Andrewe Reade gent to be my ov[er]seers. 309 givinge willinge and grauntinge theme and the longest lyver of theme full power and Authoritie by this my last will 310 and testamente yf theye shall so please to determyn decide and ende all ambiguities, doubtes, questions or debate 311 whatsoever whiche hereafter duringe their lyves or the longest lyver of theme shall happen to fall owte 312 amongest my saide children, or annye other to whome I have geven annye of my Landes or gooddes unto 313 by this my will conc[e]rninge this my last will and Testamente or anny matter conteyned therein 314 And I doe bequeathe to eche of my saide overseers in token of my good will towardes theme for theire 315 paynes Fowrtie shillings a peece to be delyvered within one monneth uppon my deceasse. In witnes 316 whereof I have to everie paper leaffe of this my will sette my signe and marke, Geven the Seaven 317 and twentithe daie of Julye one Thousande fyve hundred eightie two. Anno Regni Regine [domine ]n[ost]re Elizabethe 318 vicesimo Quarto. And further have to theise presentes putte my mark and sette my seale. witness 319 the same those whose names are under writtenn William Stotwell, Richarde Stotwell, John 320 Sotwell, An: Reade, John Deane 321 Probatum fuit suprascriptum testamentum apud London. Coram venerabili viro

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322 mag[ist]ro Willi[el]mi Drurye legum doctore curie prerogative Cantuarien[sis] commissario etc Decimo 323 Quarto die mensis Novembris Anno Domini mill[es]imo quingentesimo octagesimo secundo. Juramento Petri 324 Johnson notarij publici procuratoris Willi[a]m Blake filij et executoris etc Cui commissa fuit administrac[io] 325 bonorum etc De bene etc Jurat[e]

Blog 7: BLAKE – Will of Nic[h]olas BLAKE of Enham, Hampshire, England - The National Archives, PROB 11/31/549, probated 20 Jun 1547

Old Hall and Nicholas BLAKE at Knights Enham, Hampshire, England was a childhood memory for me. My husband and I visited the New England Historic and Genealogical Society Library (NEHGS) in Boston for a Genealogical Session in 2004. I was at the very beginning of my research having neatly avoided it for the first nearly fourty years of our marriage. I was somewhat convinced that I really knew a great deal about my family until my mother wanted my husband to create a 50th Wedding Anniversary Book for them (my parents were married for 50 years on the 20th May 1988 and they actually celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 1998 as well). My husband, with my mother's notes started to delve into my family and discovered that there were difficult portions that he could not readily discover without extensive research. I did help somewhat going through parish registers at the Family History Library (which my mother had already done to a certain extent but my husband did borrow film from the Family History Library in Utah to assist with the project so did take it somewhat further). It did take hours to read through all the registers and I must admit at the time I did not find it particularly interesting. I needed an incentive and in the late 1980s I really didn't have that desire to learn or discover the missing areas in my family history now that my husband had discovered that they were missing!

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In 2001 I had the opportunity to go to Rome for the Consecration of a new Bishop which took place at St Paul's Within the Walls. The Anglican Group that I belonged to online had been invited to this Convocation (we were a small group (about a dozen people staying at a Monastery mostly doing our own thing but going together to the Convocation)). We spent eight days in Rome in total (my pilgrimage and for me this was my first airline flight ever and there were three flights in total) which involved going to the Vatican every day of that week along with many many historic Christian sites). We then flew to London, UK on our way back to Canada. I experienced this incredible feeling of being home when we arrived at our hotel in the City of London itself. I couldn't put a finger on why I felt that way at that time but the feeling stayed with me as we visited a number of historic sites in London. Serendipity it is called apparently by genealogists!

My husband, always very involved with genealogy, persuaded me, as usual, to attend (and help) with Gene-O-Rama (a genealogical weekend in Ottawa sponsored by the Ontario Genealogical Society Ottawa Branch now Ontario Ancestors Ottawa Branch). That was the first time that I really noticed the National Institute for Genealogical Studies and I picked up a brochure.

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This was just 2002 though and I had not yet become involved personally in genealogical research. The winter of 2002-2003 one of my cousins in London, Ontario emailed me to ask if I would write up a profile of my Pincombe family for the Westminster- Delaware History Book that he was editing. I wrote back to say that I really didn't think I was a good choice but he was persistent writing back that another cousin of mine would do it but he thought that my grandfather had a grocery store on Wharncliffe Road. That was my uncle actually and I decided that at least the article should be correct and I had at hand the brochure to help me! I had two years to produce the Pincombe Profile so I signed up for English and Canadian studies at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Using the studies, and I had a copy of my cousin's book on our early families which did include a short section on my Pincombe family, I now used my homework exercises to search for information. Two years later I did produce, with the help of several of my siblings and a number of Pincombe cousins, the Pincombe Profile now found in the published history books on Westminster and Delaware Townships of Middlesex County, Ontario .

As I continued with my studies, I did become quite intrigued by all that I could find. But it was the advent of DNA testing that really convinced me that genealogy was doable. We tested our DNA in 2005 and the sixteen years since have been a time of great discovery as matches with cousins flowed into my account helping me to phase my grandparent's DNA and keeping me on a good trace-back. My feeling of being home in London was finally solved with the discovery that the hotel that we stayed in in London was right around the corner from my 2x great grandparent's Pork Butcher Shop (Henry Christopher Buller and Anne Welch). They lived there during the 1840s.

During this time I was also looking at the BLAKE family but I kept finding my Nicholas BLAKE being attached to different families that were quite impossible. Tracing back to their sources I came upon Horatio Somerby Gates whom I now know was a fraud. He created stories for Americans searching for their ancestry that were false. Had he troubled to look at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) Wills he would have quickly discovered that Nicholas BLAKE was not the person that he used to try and add authenticity to his stories. That BLAKE line over five generations (Robert 1521, Richard 1522, Nicholas 1547, William 1582, Richard 1622) left their wills and clearly indicated their place in the BLAKE family of Andover, Hampshire, England. Most

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 of the discoveries about the fraudulent reporting were discovered at the NEHGS Library in Boston. Having provided this bit of background on my journey, I return to the intent of the post.

The will of Nic[h]olas BLAKE was written 31 May 1547 and probated 20 Jun 1547. Initially this will had been catalogued as Nicolas Blake of Essington but I sent in a correction and quite quickly they did get back to me and let me know that verification of his will had shown that it should have been Nicolas Blake of Enham. At that point I purchased it and transcribed it. I have transcribed over 500 wills mostly BLAKE and plan to complete the PCC BLAKE wills in the next year or so. I do have them separated into counties and I will publish them as a unit by county in *.pdf format and put links on my website to each county. I have normally done research on each will, where available, and written a short (or sometimes long but hopefully interesting!) introduction which is one of the take-a-ways from my one-name study that I will archive in the future with the Society of Genealogists and the Guild.

Nicholas BLAKE names his wife Margaret and as of this date I have no ideas on her maiden family surname. He names his children as William BLAKE eldest, Edmund BLAKE under 21 years of age, Alice Goodwyn (married daughter) and Elizabeth unmarried. Nicholas says that William is married and has children as the inheritance of Nicholas' daughters, if they die before inheriting, is to be divided up amongst the children of William. We can see the property in this will which has passed to William and mentioned in William's will in the last blog of this Challenge. William has added greatly to his father's holdings and again Lord Sandys continues as the Lord of the Manor. The holdings are all in Andover, Knights Enham and Kings Enham in Nicholas' will. William BLAKE is the first in this family to state that he lives at Eastontown and his holdings are much more extensive but still in the area of Andover.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp Recorded: 6th May 2009 Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/31/549

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Name of Testator: Nic[h]olas Blake Place: Enham (near Andover), Hampshire, England Type of Record: Will Dated: 31 May 1547, probated 20 Jun 1547

[Left hand corner] Test[at]or Nichi[las] Blake

1 In the name of God amen In the yere of our Lord god a Thousand fyve hundred 2 Fourtie and sevyn and the last day of May I Nicolas Blake of the p[ar]ishe of Enh[a]m in the Dioc[ese] of Wynchest[e]r 3 being sicke of body but of good and p[er]fite remembrance make and ordeyn this my last will and testament 4 in maner and fourme folowing First I Bequith my soule to almightie god to oure Blessed Lady and to all the 5 Blessed company of heaven. And my body to be buried w[i]t[h]in the Church of Saint Michaell Th[e ]archangell Item 6 I geve to the Trinite Church of Wynchester vj d Item I geve to the church of Andever oon quarter of whete 7 It[e]m I give to Enh[a]m Church a quarter of wheat Item I geve and bequeth to Will[ia]m Blake my eldest sonne 8 the halfe of the Farme of Andever of my Lord Sandys holding which Robert Boswell occupyeth Also I geve 9 and bequeth to the said Will[ia]m the Tenement in Kings Enham of my Lord Sandys holding w[i]t[h] all the La[m]mes 10 lande lying in Andever feld that the said William nowe occupieth and holdith Also I geve to the said Will[ia]m 11 Blake my sonne my Leasse of the Tenement of the Lord Sandys called the olde hall w[i]t[h] all the app[ur]ten[an]cs ther unto 12 belonginge or lying in Knyghts Enh[a]m Also I geve to the said William Blake my free holde in Knyights Enh[a]m w[i]t[h] all 13 the appurten[an]cs there unto belonging Item I geve and bequeth to Edmund Blake my sonne the Leasse of the 14 Farme of Andever called Semers Farme w[i]t[h] all the appurten[an]cs ther[e ]unto belonging and walworth of my 15 Lord Sandys holding And a leasse of a Tenement in Kyngs Enh[a]m which is John Catts gentilman holde w[i]t[h]

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16 all the appurten[an]cs ther[e ]unto belonging Also I geve to the said Edmund my sonne my freeholde in Andever 17 with seven acres and a half of arable land that Thomas Wescombe now holdeth with all the rest of myn[e] 18 erable lands grains pastures and com[m]ons of pastures of what nature kynde name and degre soever they be 19 which I do holde and kepe of any man[ner] at the making of this my last wille and testament Also I wille that 20 the forsaid Thomas Wescombe shal[l ]have the forsaid house that he dwelleth in for the terms of thurtie yeres 21 next folowing paying yerely therfor and to agree w[i]t[h] Margaret Blake my wife and Edmund Blake my son[ne] 22 Item I geve to Elizabeth Blake my daughter one hundreth of shepe and Twentie poundes of money at the day of 23 her mariage and her apparill. Item I give and bequeth to Alice my daughter twentie shepe and fyve quarters of 24 barley to be delivered at Michelmas next commyng Item I give to Sir Thomas Upton my curate to pray for my soule 25 and all Christ[ai]n soules x s. Also yf that it fortune Edmund Blake my sonne to dye before he be of lawfull age Then I wille 26 that my freholde w[i]t[h] all the other leases geven and bequethed by me to the said Edmond to remayn to William Blake 27 my sonne his heires and assignes And the goods to remayne to Alice Goodwyn and Elizabeth Blake my daughters equally 28 to be devided betwixt them And if it fortune the said Alice and Elizabeth to dye Then I will the said goodes to be devided 29 betwene the children of William Blake my son Provided also I will that Margaret Blake my wife shall have and 30 kepe all my free landes tenements holds leases with all th[e ]appurtenancs to them belonging which I doe holde of any man[ne]r 31 of man[ner] at the making of this my last will and testament during the terme of her life The residue of my goods and 32 c[h]attalls not gevyn or bequethed I geve and bequeth to Margaret Blake my wife and Edmunde Blake my sonne 33 whom I make and ordeyn myn executors of this my last will and testament Also I make and ordeyn William 34 Hopkins and Willi[a]m Aldred my Overseers of this my last will and testament for to se it p[er]formed according to 35 my mynde above specified Witnesse to this Sir Thomas Upton Curate Stevyn Smyth Will[ia]m Blake w[i]t[h] other 36 Probatum fuit test[ament]um suprascripti defuncti h[ab]entis etc xxth die mensis Juinij Anno D[o]m[in]o Mill[es]imo quingen[tesimo]

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37 xlvij [1547] Coram d[o]m[in]o apud London aucto[ritate] d[o]m[in]o n[ost]ri Regis etc Iurament[o] Margarete Relicte executoris in h[uius]mo[d]i test[ament]o no[m]i[n]at[i] In persona 38 Stephe[n] Smyth procur[atoris] sui in hac p[ar]te Ac approbatum et insinuatum Com[m]issa fuit admi[ni]stracio o[mn]i[u]m et singulorom bonorum Jurium 39 Et creditorum d[i]c[t]i defuncti prefat[o] executrici In p[er]sona die proc[urato]ris De b[e]n[e] et fidel[ite]r admi[ni]strando Ac de pleno et fideli In[venta]rio secondo die post 40 festum s[an]c[t]e Anne prox[imum] futur[um] exhibend[o] necnon de plano et vero compoto reddend[o] Ad s[an]c[t]a dei Ev[a]ngelia in debit iuris forma jurat 41 Reservata po[tes]tate Edmund Blake executori etiam in h[uius]mo[d]i test[ament]o no[m]i[n]at cum venerit etc

The will of Margaret Mundaye now completed (an earlier blog post included only the first page and the inventory) as I have finally managed to get the second page as that film is now available at the local Family History Library. Margaret, at the time of writing her will was the widow of Richard Munday whose will was blogged earlier and also the widow of Nicholas BLAKE. She married Richard Munday sometime after the death of Nicholas BLAKE (deceased by 20th June 1547) and before the 11th May 1551 when Richard Munday wrote his will. http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/2014/03/will-of-richard-munday-monxton.html

The spelling is very novel in this will and I am wondering if she has written it herself. Margaret remembers her son William BLAKE’s children with 18 sheep and Edmund BLAKE’s child Steven with just 2 sheep. I am left to wonder did William have 9 children and indeed in his will he mentions ten children which may give me an idea that his last child Richard (my likely ancestor) was born after February of 1558 which does rather match my thinking. He is married likely by 1583 to 84 which would make him about 23 to 25 years of age at the time. So that was an exciting find in this will if I have correctly interpreted Margaret (my likely 12 x great grandmother).

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This will also clarifies why William BLAKE ends up with all the properties of his father Nicholas mentioned in the will of Nicholas BLAKE. Evidently Edmund BLAKE did not clear his debts with step-brother William Munday and his brother William BLAKE so he forfeited all the properties and cattle left to him by his father. Perhaps 200 pounds was more interesting. I never see anything of Edmund BLAKE again except the mention of him in his brother William BLAKE’s will so he is still living in 1582. This is eleven years after the will of Nicholas BLAKE and Edmund is obviously an adult and has married. The page that was missing perhaps talks about Elizabeth (her daughter) and I may learn which Munday she married if she was married by the time of her mother’s death. Elizabeth’s brother William BLAKE mentions Elizabeth Munday in his will of 1582.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp Recorded: 28 Feb 2014 Source: Family Search Film 186697, Hampshire Record Office 1559B/066 Testator: Margaret Mundaye Place: Monkstone, Hampshire, England Type of Record: Will Date of document: 18 Dec 1558, probated 13 Feb 1558/59

1 In the name of god amen In the yere of o[u]r lord god m ccccc 2 fyfe hundred fyfty viij the xviij daye of decymber yn 3 the fyrst yere of o[u]r souffrane lady quene Elysabethe by the 4 grace of god of Ingland France and Ierland quene defynder of 5 the faythe I margeret mondy of the p[a]ri[s]he of 6 monkston syke of body and of parfett remymbrance make and or 7 der thys my last wyll and testemynte in manar and forme 8 foloyng fyrst I bequese my soule to almyty god and my body

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9 in to the Chyrche of monkston Item I geve to the moth[e]r 10 chyrche of Wynchyster xij d Item I geve to the parrashe chyrche 11 of Enh[a]m vj s viij d Item I geve to Edemond blake 12 my son ij hundard Sheppe ij horsys and ij keue and a belloke 13 and the one halfe of my hoggs whyche be in the costody of wyll[ia]m 14 blake my son and the howse that Alyxandar modell dwyllyth 15 in and xx £ of lawfull mony of Ingland so the sayd Edemend 16 do bryng ij suffycyent suertys to w[i]t in thre monythes 17 nexte after the deythe of hys mother and be bounde 18 in oblygacyan and in ij hundarde ponds to cleerly dyscharge 19 and requete wyllm mondy hys executor and wyllm blake 20 brother to the sayd Edemund of Al[l ]manar of detts 21 both pa[r]ts quarylls leygesys and demands the whyche 22 aperythe in hys father wyll and yf the sayd 23 Edemunds refuse so to do that thyn all suche goods 24 and lands afor sayd to remayne to wyllm mondy and to 25 hys assines for eve[r] Item I geve to Wyllm blake Chyllydarrne 26 xviij shepe and to Steven blake the son of Edemend blake 27 ij shepe Item I geve to the Chylldarryne of wyllm hopkyns 28 Ev[er]y one of thym a ewe shepe Item I geve to alys klene 29 my wosted kyetyll at Inh[a]m and my best frockes and a petycote 30 Item I geve to Wyllm Mondy the son of Wyllim Mondy of monk 31 ston ston one cowe and alys the dowter of the sayd wyllm 32 To have the fyrste cowse of the sayd hewfer all so

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33 I wyll that Alysandar meddell shall have the howse 34 in Andever for x yeres next awter hys leyse be exspi 35 red Item I geve to Johan dyer my god dowter one bolle 36 and the resedew of my goods moveabell and unmoveabell 37 I geve and bequeue to wyllm mondy my son whome 38 I make my full executor of thys my last wyll and teste 39 mynte all so I wyll that wyll that wyllm blake and 40 Robard blake and Rychard dyer Alysandar meddell for to 41 be my ov[er]sears of thys my laste wyll and testemynt 42 that yt may be fulfyllyd and kept and they to have for ther 43 paynys x s apeese witness here of Sir Thomas blesse 44 Clarke wyllm blake Robte blake ayhyre 45 Dyer Alysandar meddall w[i]t[h] other mee 46 P[ro]bat[um] f[ui]t hu[jus]mo[di] test[amentu]m v[ica]rio Robt 47 Baynolil leg[um] d[oc]tre ______gen[er]ali xiij die 48 Februarij 1558 p[er] e[unde]m approba[tu]m etc com[m]issa 49 f[ui]t ad[mini]str[at]io bono[rum] def[un]cti exec[utor]is 50 ______patris ______Jurat 51 Overseer Richard Hopkyns 52 son John Mody, executor 53 deceased husband Rychard Mody 54 appraisers: William Mody, John Smyth, Ryhchard Buxe, Rychard Spenser 55 witness: Sir Martyn Vaysee 56 The Invetorye of the goods and cattells of

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57 Margaret mu[n]dy yn the parryshe of M[o]nkston 58 yn the cowntye of sowth[ampton]e praysed by Rychard 59 eyer alexander muddel the viijth day of 60 February anno domini 1558 61 In primis j folding table 62 It[e]m j cobbard ij chayres x s 63 It[e]m j whytche ij coffers vj s viij d 64 It[e]m j featherbed j bolster j pillow iij coverletts vj s viij d 65 It[e]m vij peyre of sheets xxvj s viij d 66 It[e]m ij dosen of platters j dosen of potyngers j dosen of sawcers xx s 67 It[e]m j bassoon j bassoon ewer xxvj s viij d 68 It[e]m j sylv[er] salt vj sylv[er] spons ij s 69 It[e]m iij candelstycks iij £ vj s viij d 70 It[e]m ij pewter potts ij serving dyssys j tynnyn salt ij s 71 It[e]m iij potts ij s 72 It[e]m iij panns xv s 73 It[e]m iiij cawdrons x s 74 It[e]m j chaffer j morter j skyllet x s 75 It[e]m ij arrondyrons and ij broches viij s 76 It[e]m iiij table clothes ij cusshens vj s viij d 77 It[e]m iiij score shepe vij s 78 It[e]m j fornas viij £ 79 It[e]m xxxvij ewes iij s iiij d 80 It[e]m ij horsys liij s iiij d

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81 It[e]m iij kyne a bulle j bullocke iij £ vj s viij d 82 It[e]m yn barly xx quarters v £ vj s viij d iiij £ 83 The su[m] xxxiiij £ viij s ij d

The next blog for the Blogging Challenge will include the wills of the known mother of Nicholas BLAKE and that of the likely father of Nicholas BLAKE.

This blog marks the seventh blog I will have completed for this Challenge and the two wills next blog will be the eighth blog. I believe for the last two blogs I will look at a different aspect of my BLAKE one-name study. I considered moving to another mystery in the BLAKE family but may change that idea!

Blog 8: BLAKE - Will of Jone BLAKE, widow, Enham - Consistory Court of Winchester, Register D, folio 118, will dated 23 Mar 1527

Continuing with the story of the BLAKE family at Knights Enham near Andover. Nicholas BLAKE's will was blogged last blog (along with the will of his widow Margaret (BLAKE) Munday). Moving back one more generation it was possible to locate the will of the mother of Nicholas. This will of Jone Blake, widow, of Enham in 1527 was most kindly written in English; my latin skills are weak at best and the treat of discovering that this will was indeed in English was marvelous. I believe her husband to be Richard BLAKE who left his will in 1522 and Jone was a widow in 1527.

Who Jone was remains a mystery unless her surname was Jesra as she mentions a Thomas Jesra of Foskett (perhaps Foxcott).

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp Recorded: 19 Feb 2014

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Source: Family Search, Film # 186682, Catalogue A-377, page 163 Testator: Jone Blake, widow Place: Enham, Hampshire, England Type of Record: Will Date of document: 23 Mar 1527/1528

[Margin]: copied test[ament]

1 In die no[m]i[n]e Ame[n] the yer of owre lord god oon thowsand fyve hundredth xxvij the xxiij day of the month of marche 2 I Jone Blake widdow w[i]t[h] a hoyll mynde and a good memorye maketh my laste wyll and testamente in thys man[ner] Fyrste I 3 Com[m]end my soll unto allmyghty god owre lady saynt marey to all the saynts in hevyn and my Body to be buryd in 4 the chyrche or the chyrche lyttyn of saynt mykell of enahm It[em] I gyffe and bequeth onto ye mother chyrche of saynt swe 5 thyns xij d It[em] I gyvv and bequeth to ye chyrche of enahm vj s viij d It[em] I gyvv and bequeth xxvj s viij d to be dystrybute 6 unto poor pepyll in pen[n]y doyll It[em] I gyff and bequeth unto my curat Sy[r] Rychard Mersser xx d It[em] I gyff and bequethe 7 to Sy[r] John Batte xx d It[em] I gyff and bequeth to mayntenyg of the mo[r]row masse prest in Andover xx d It[em] I gyff and bequeth 8 to mayntenyg of Jhe masse in ye chyrche of Andover xx d It[em] I gyff and bequeth unto the p[ri]or of the freer Augustines 9 in wynchest[er] xx d It[em] I gyff and bequeth to Sy[r] Joh[a]n[nis] Whyte freer xx d It[em] I gyff and bequeth unto ev[er]y of freer of ye 10 sayd Augustynes th[a]t ys prest iiij d and to ev[er]y novesse ij d of ye sayd place It[em] I gyff and bequeth to ye chyrche of Fosket 11 to mayntenyg of ye light before saynt Jamys and saynt Sonday xx d It[em] I gyff and bequeth unto my dowghter Elsabet

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

12 mylne xx shepe beside yos y[a]t she hathe allredy and oon Cowe y[a]t I bowght of hyr and xiij s iiij d of money and my gretst 13 pan and fowre plat[t]erst I gyff and bequeth unto my son Nycolas Blake ye tabyll in ye hall and oon clothe callyd ye hallyg 14 and two yryne racks It[em] I gyff and bequeth unto my son Robert Blake oon yryne broche and xviij shepe ye wheche 15 shepe he hath in kepyng It[em] I gyff and bequeth unto Thome Jesra of Fosket oon yryne broche The resydew of 16 all my goods moveabyll and unmoveabyll I have not legate I gyff and bequeth unto my chyld[er]ne Nycolas Blake 17 Robert Blake and to Thome Jefra of Fosket and ye sayd goods to be devydytt emongys them equaly ev[er]y oon of 18 them elyke mo[r]e[or]l[e]ss It[em] I make my sonys Nycolas Blake and Robert Blake my trell executors and Thome Jefra of 19 Fosket my sup[er]visor y[a]t he see my last wyll and testament Inplet[ed] and fulfyllyd and the foresaid executors to dypo 20 se for the heylth of my soll as thay shall see moyst expedient thes wytnesses Sy[r] Rychard Mersser Syr 21 Joh[a]n[nis] Batte Nycolas Blake Robert Blake w[i]t[h] other

No probate was located for this will of Jone BLAKE, widow of Enham.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Richard BLAKE (Blayke), Knights Enham, left his will dated 12 Apr 1522 and probated 23 May 1522. Unfortunately, I have not found tax records for Knights Enham earlier than 1598 but these later records indicate only one BLAKE line as both of these individuals are descendant of Jone BLAKE whose will is blogged above. Hence I put forward the thought that this will left by Richard BLA[Y]KE was the husband of Jone BLAKE.

British History Online has a very interesting section of Knight's Enham and King's Enham which at the time of the Domesday Book was regarded as Enham but two different holdings equal in size: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hants/vol4/pp377-379

Continuing to read this early history found online an interesting comment under "Manor" last line first paragraph: " At the end of the 15th century it was said, like so many neighbouring manors, to be held of the freemen of Andover by fealty (Chan. Inq. p.m. (ser. 2), xi, 110). One notes that Lord Sandys is referred to in a number of the wills of the BLAKE family at Enham (see blog posts for William BLAKE and Nicholas BLAKE). Further on under the "Manor" section:" ....SirWilliam Sandys, died seised of the manor jointly with his wife in 1496, before which date it had been entailed on them and their heirs (Chan. Inq. p. m. (Ser. 2), xi, 110). His descendants, the Lords Sandys of the Vyne, continued to hold it until the middle of the 17th century (Recov. R. Mich. 4 Edw. VI, rot. 535; Mich. 42 Eliz. rot. 172; Trin. 1649, rot. 42; Feet of F. Div Co. Trin. 1649)."

Richard mentions his wife (but not by name), his son Nichi[las]. He mentions his brothers Robert and Thomas who are still living at this time. He does not mention his son Robert or his daughter Elizabeth as far as my rough transcription of Latin seems to indicate.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp Recorded: 13 Aug 2013

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Source: Family Search – Film 186681, A-658 and Item 195 Testator: Richard Blayke Place: Knights Enham, Hampshire, England Type of Record: Will Date of document: 12 April 1522, probated 23 May 1522

Wrapper: 1522 Rich[ard]us Blake De Enham Wrapper: P[ro]batu[m] fuit xxiij de Maij mu[ ]day infra villa de Andev[er]

1 In die no[min]e Ame[n] xij die m[en]si[s] d’Ap[ri]lis Anno d[omi]ni M ccccc xxij Ergo Richardus blayke cy[m]pos 2 me[n]t[i]s sane q[ue] memorie t[ame]n eg[e]r corpore condo et ordino testament[um] meu[m] de mea[m] labor[aci]on[em] volu[n]tat[em] 3 in h[u]nc modu[m] In p[ri]mis et lego A[n]i[m]am mea[m] deo patri o[mni]pote[n]ti be[ate] marie v[ir]gini o[mn]ibus s[anc]tis 4 Corpus q[ue] meu[m] sepeliendu[m] in cimitt[er]io p[a]rochialis eccl[es]ie s[anc]ta michaelie archang[e]li de 5 enham It[e]m lego mat[ric]e eccl[es]ie winton xij d It[e]m lego p[re]dute eccl[es]ie de enham xl d 6 It[e]m do eccl[es]ie p[a]rochiali[s] de Andov[er] xx d It[e]m lego fr[atr]i meo Thome Blayke xl s 7 ut ip[s]e videar ____ mea vlv volunt[at]us suit testam[entu]s in Jurius duslerat et p[er]vient cum tenementas It[e]m volo q[uod] Uxor[i] mea habeat 8 Firmam mea p[ro] tempo exp[re]sso in endentua iux[ta] as[s]ignatorum Roberti Blayke pri[mi]s 9 mei nichi et uxori mee de h[er]edibus u[ost]ris fait It[e]m do p[ar]ochiali presbicto[rum] xl d w[i]t[h] 10 ip[s]e oret p[ro] salute ai[nim]e mee It[e]m volo q[uod] uxor mea h[ab]eat custodia[t] talus mei 11 dura[n]te vita sua et post decessu[m] p[r]imo yedder sup[ra]dict eccl[es]ie de enham It[e]m lego 12 unicuiq[u]e Filiora[m] meor[um] cowes It[e]m do matri mee xl d ac volo q[uod] h[ab]eat victu et 13 vestitu[m] de bo__e meus q[uod] duo vixit It[e]m lego et unicuiq[ue] filior[am] meor[um] unden

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

14 vacta[ ] et vi[su]m lactu[ ] cum p[er]tin[en]ces Residuum v[er]o omn[ium] bonor[um] meor[um] do et lego uxori 15 mee qua[m] ordino de constituo executore[m] mea[m] et mi[ni]strare ut ipsa h[ab]eat acinde 16 Disponat p[re]sente die mee et sua ep[iscop]a utilitate s[ic]ut ei melius videbit[ur] insutu[r] 17 expedire deo place[r]e et an[im]e mee p[ro]fice[re] d[omi]ni dat[um] die Anno sup[ra]dict[i]s p[ertin]entibus 18 d[omi]no J[o]h[n]e battey curat[e] Thoma Blayke and Richarde Goldyn cum aliis dimis[s]is 19 P[ro]batu[m] fuit xxiij de me[n]sis maij in 20 cum du sup[ra]dicta in Capella infra villa de Andev[er] 21 Ergo fuit B bo____

The will of Robert BLAKE of Enham, written in Latin and following), does have one line at the end in English which is rather interesting. "Also I reserve to my sonne Richarde my farme and my tenemente that I do dwelth nowe." Finding these wills as I worked my way back in time through the BLAKE family from Upper Clatford back to Andover and then back to Enham was amazing. Robert was likely quite elderly when he died so born in the mid 1400s more or less. There were BLAKE names in the Manor Books of Andover but I have yet to tackle those "all in Latin" documents but do plan to make that attempt in the future. The earliest record that I found was in 1305 and that is a whole other story which I have discussed in my blogs through the years.

Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp Recorded: 3 Jan 2014 Source: Hampshire Record Office, 1522B-04 (should be 1521B-??) Testator: Robert Blake Place: Enham, Hampshire, England Type of Record: Will Date of document: 16 Dec 1521

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Condition: 16th century English, legible copy

[Margin]: 1522B-04 (should be 1521B-??)

1 In die no[m]i[n]e Ame[n] xvj die dece[m]b[r]is An[n]o d[omi]ni M ccccc xxj Ergo robertij blayke co[m]pos me[n]t[i]s et sane memoyre 2 asti[pula]tus testame[n]tu[m] [i]n hunc modu[m] In primis do et lego a[n]i[m]am mea[m] deo p[at]ri o[mn]ipote[n]ti corpus qu[e] meu[m] sepeliendu[m] [i]n cimit[t]erio 3 p[ar]ochialij eccl[es]i[a]e s[an]cti michaels de Enh[a]m It[e]m do et lego ad mat[ri]ce ecclesie xii d It[e]m do et lego ecclesie de enh[a]m 4 xl s et una[m] vaccam It[e]m do et lego ecclesis de andever xl oves vef p[or]cus eap quod er iij £ quas yearly kyne 5 habet i[n] custodia Item do et lego uxori mee x £ q[uod] joh[han]es howton debet It[e]m do et lego uxori mee x quarte 6 _uas frume[n]ti et xx ordeu[m] It[e]m do et lego tome filio meo cc omn[ia] It[e]m do et lego andre blayke una[m] tenem[entum] 7 gra[tia] victus It[e]m do et lego tome longe unu[s] diplade et una came[ra]cia It[e]m do et lego tome filio mee una bictel[ ] and una whipblade 8 cu[m] p[ar]ts et un[u]m par[ ] notay monay It[e]m do et lego thome filio una ara[bilis] terra que vocato bene semers 9 cu[m] ______It[e]m do et lego Wyllimo gelzeyr una[m] toga[m] It[e]m do et lego rycardo goldyng alia[m] toga[m] It[e]m do et lego 10 Robarto tary una tunica[m] It[e]m do et lego unicum que suor[or] meor[um] videlicet viro[rum] ac mulier[is] una[m] ane[llus] It[e]m do et 11 lego tome filio meo duas diplades ab It[e]m do et lego robarto Galavay una[m] toga[m] It[e]m do et lego tome 12 filio meo duas diplades It[e]m do et lego Wyllmo blayke una[m] vacca[m] It[e]m do et lego tome filio meo duas pullos 13 et duo verv[ex] It[e]m wyllmo Fuynere debet m[eo] ppt viij modios frume[n]tie et quoliket modio[s] xvi s It[e]m Assigno

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

14 Tome filio meo una t[enement]a que vacat[o] Rawkynys It[e]m do et lego volo q[uod] una[m] p[re]sbite[r] celebr[at] et in ecclie par[is]h de Enh[a]m 15 p[ro] salute a[n]i[m]e meo et p[ro] ecclie ______p[ro] spac[iu]m un[ius] anni It[e]m do et lego robarto blayke una[m] vacca[m] et residuum om[n]i[um] bonor[um] 16 meor[um] test[amentu]m mobilium q[uam] immobilium It[em] do et lego ricardo filio meo quo[s] ordino meos veros executores ut 17 ip[s]e disponat p[ro] salute a[n]i[m]e meo hiis testib[u]s d[omi]no johane battey thoma blayke robarto tary 18 et aliis 19 Also I reserve to my sonne Richarde my farme and my tenemente that I do dwelth nowe

I do have copies of the wills of Thomas and Robert sons of Robert Bla[y]ke which I have read but not yet transcribed. One is left to ponder did my line choose the surname Blayke which gradually became BLAKE? Or did they acquire the surname BLAKE by marriage.

This concludes my recitation of the BLAKE family of Andover and surrounding area. In hopes that as I continue to blog on and talk about this BLAKE family the errors made by Horatio Somerby Gates will gradually disappear from genealogies of BLAKE families. Nicholas BLAKE earned his place in history and it is a proud although small part that he played. If I accomplish nothing else with my BLAKE one-name study I at least feel that I have informed, over time, a wide audience of the actual descendancy of this BLAKE family of Andover and area. My own line lived its life mostly within a couple of kilometres of the centre of Andover. My father was born at Eastleigh but his memories of Upper Clatford/Goodworth Clatford were strong as he visited with his grandparents often and knew all of his cousins before coming to Canada as a child of nine years of age with his parents (Samuel George BLAKE and Ada Bessie Cotterill Rawlings (aka Edith Bessie Taylor)) in 1913.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Blog 9: BLAKE - Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry III to Henry VI (1230 - 1452)

The online repository that had the Calendar of Patent Rolls was a freely searchable set of files made available as a project of Professor G.R. Boynton and the University of Iowa Libraries. Thanks to them for making this set of documents available at that time.

I extracted 210 items with the surname le BLAKE, BLAKE, le BLAC, BLAC, and BLAYKE from the Calendar of Patent Rolls with the earliest item being 30 Jan 1230 and the latest item being 16 Jun 1452. The time period covered the reigns of Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. I was able to utilize 207 of these entries (3 entries did not have sufficient data to place the item into a particular location). Most of the locations were in the Counties of England, a few items in Ireland and Wales and one particularly interesting one from France.

Berkshire 3 Buckinghamshire 3 Cambridgeshire 2 Cheshire 1 Cornwall 4 Cumberland 1 Devonshire 36 Dorsetshire 2 Durham 1 Essex 9 Gloucestershire 5 Hampshire 13

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Herefordshire 3 Hertfordshire 11 Kent 9 Leicestershire 4 Lincolnshire 7 London 15 Norfolk 14 Northamptonshire 2 Oxfordshire 6 Shropshire 1 Somersetshire 13 Staffordshire 1 Suffolk 1 Surrey 6 Sussex 3 Warwickshire 1 Wiltshire 5 Worcestershire 12 Yorkshire 5 Ireland 8 Wales 1 France 1

I found a free map online and inserted the numbers into the counties:

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

The Devon numbers are very large because John BLAKE/BLAK was Clerk of the King's Works during the reign of Richard II and suffered confiscation of his estates so that the number of records directly related to him include 21 of the 36 leaving a substantial number of records nevertheless for Devonshire. There is a clustering around Worcestershire. There are a substantial number of entries in "traditional" BLAKE area across Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. London has BLAKE entries

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 dating back to 1342. The Blake family was located at Swaffham Norfolk in 1450 with Simon BLAKE being named as keeper of the seal in the town, lordship and warren of Swaffham (28 Henry VI, volume 5, page 329). Hampshire having more entries than Wiltshire rather surprised me and a good number of these were from the Portsmouth/Southampton area.

There is some clustering but it is noticeable that even in this early time period the BLAKE family could be found in many of the counties of England.

The surprise find though was the entry concerning France. I am including it in its entirety because the entry (although only one BLAKE) is from 30 May 1274 and located on membrane 15 in the 24th year of the reign of Edward I, volume 3, page 189. The entry below includes Richard le BLAK of Rouen. Rouen is located in Normandy on the River Seine and is the capital of Upper Normandy in modern times and was the historic capital city of Normandy.

"Licence, until Michaelmas, for Walter le Aketon, merchant of Rouen, to come to England to trade and to carry his wools and merchandise to the usual fairs and markets by the public streets and common ways, provided he do not carry or cause to be carried his wools or merchandise out of the kingdom, nor deal with the Flemings or others of the power of the countess of Flanders in the kingdom, or in any way communicate with them, during the contention between the king and the said countess. [30 May 1274 Westminster, 2 Edward I, volume 1, pages 51 - 52, Calendar of Patent Rolls]

The like for the following :— Peter de Bules, merchant of Rouen William Burnell, merchant of Rouen

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Hugh le Coynte, merchant of Rouen Robert le Balauncer, merchant of Rouen William de Toftes, merchant of Rouen Matthew de Walle Richeri, merchant of Rouen Richard le Mynnot, merchant of Rouen William de Cryel, merchant of Rouen Nicholas Veisin, merchant of Rouen Antonin de Beuvays, merchant of Rouen Nicholas de Fovill, merchant of Rouen John de Alneto, merchant of Rouen 6 June [1274 Westminster etc] Richard le Vilein, merchant of Rouen Henry Lovet, merchant of Rouen Walter Peitevin, merchant of Rouen Hubin de Sancto Martino, of Huy. John Tafurnawe, of Huy, merchant of Almain. Henry le Soriz, of Huy, merchant of Almain. Ralph de Leges, merchant of Leges. John Henneman, merchant of Leges. Libert de Leges, merchant of Leges. John Nicholas, merchant of Deu. Herewail, merchant of Huy. Cono Dain, merchant of Huy. Donrician Daundevale, merchant of Huy.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

John Fox, of Brabant, merchant. John Proppe, merchant of Malins. John Perewez, of Huy, merchant of Brabant. John Nicard, merchant of Huy. Peter de Sauveye, merchant of Rouecestre. Peter Cosyn, citizen of London. Reginald de Menachato, merchant of Piacenza. Conrad Nerbode, merchant of Almain. Arnold de Dik, merchant of Malyns. Nicholas Flambard, merchant of Rouen. John de Torpmimie, merchant of Almain. Geoffrey Aungevyn, merchant of Rouen. William Cirurgyen, of Northampton. William Bek, of London, Henry Lovet, of Rouen. Atinus Pruudalis, of Piacenza. Hugelin Hugelinell, fellow of Nicholas Teste. Nicholas Teste, fellow of Aldebrand Malagale. John Winterman, merchant of Almain, Luke de Lukes, merchant of Lucca. Gotmar de Lubek, merchant of Almain. Conrad de Affle, merchant of Almain. Godschalc le Wyse, merchant of Almain. Christopher de Munchy, merchant of Beuvays

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Robert de Messegewell, merchant of Rouen. John Donadeu, merchant of Cahors. Everard de Duncy, merchant of Amiens James Piket, merchant of Amiens Warin Piket, merchant of Amiens Warin Reinevall, merchant of Amiens. Giles de Mundider, merchant of Amiens Jacomin de Sancto Fuscencio, merchant of Amiens Everard le Franceis, merchant of Amiens Richard le Blak, merchant of Rouen. Reyner de Furnar', merchant of Florence. John Weremund, merchant of Caumbrey, Alan de Sakintot, merchant of Rouen. John Parwale, merchant of Malines. Henry de Laghene, merchant of Malines. Henry de Lewe, merchant of Brabant. John de Mes, merchant of Amiens. Walter Aketon, merchant of Fouen, John Dunadeu, merchant of Cahors. John de Burgundia, merchant of Amiens Drogo Malherbe, merchant of Amiens John Dare, merchant of Amiens Ingelram Beremere, merchant of Amiens Gilbert Bonnavel, merchant of Amiens"

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

The earliest BLAKE entry (prior to the one for Richard le BLAK from Rouen, France) is for Willelmum le BLAKE and he was located in Hertfordshire during the reign of Henry III and the time period is the 30 Jan 1230. The entry is in Latin:

Hertford.—Adam filiis Willelmi, Petrus de Goldinton, Petrus de Welles et Johannes de Marcham justiciarii ad assisam nove dissaisine capiendam apud Hertford in octabis clausi [Pasche], quam Radulfus de Wudiford aramiavit versus Petrum de Essewell, Walterum Coleman, Augustinum Juvenem, Willelmum le Blake, Walterum filiurn Geroldi, Ricardurn Stiward et Galfridum de Sandon de tenemento in Eswell; salvis etc. Teste rege, apud Westmonasterium, xxx die Januarii.[1230]

I believe that it concerns a land dispute and one of these days I will translate it into English but putting it into a translator online:

Hertford.-the sons of Adam, William, Peter de Goldinton, Peter of Welles and John MARCH of justices of assize of novel restored taken at Hertford in the octave closed [Easter], which Ralph de Wudiford aramiavit against Peter de Essewell, Walter Coleman, Young Augustine, William le Blake, his son Walter Gerold, Ricardurn Stiward and Geoffrey of Sandon Eswell tenement in; compliance etc.. Witnessed by the king, at Westminster, on the thirtieth day of January.

The entry for Richard le BLAK merchant at Rouen, France was a rather interesting entry. Many of the BLAKE families in England were involved in the wool trade either as farmers or tradesmen. At this early point in time finding a William le BLAKE already

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 involved in land dealings as early as 1230 and then a Richard le BLAK a merchant from Rouen, France in 1274 were certainly very interesting entries. It does suggest the possible entry into England of BLAKE families over a time period. Have these names been anglicized for entry into the rolls? A lot of questions arise from these Calendar Rolls. If BLAKE came in 1066 would you see such a wide distribution of families in several hundred years? With surnames coming later to the British Isles, can one assume that all of the early members of the le BLAKE, le BLAK families were originally from France? A few interesting queries and I do now wonder if French Archives would add to the information on this family.To add to this is the family head on the Blake Pedigree Chart held at the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office is named Richard Blaake/Blake/Blague living in the time period of Edward I and Edward II. The Chart does include the note with respect to the property in Essex which was deeded to Knights Templar but the document held by The National Archives has a Roger le Blake in that transaction. Possibly an error in reading the old document at the time that the chart was produced (1690) or a misunderstanding or is Roger related to Richard. I am thinking it is an error and that two distinct Blake lines were confused at the time of the making of the Chart especially as Roger was living in Herefordshire and not Wiltshire whereas it is known that a Robert Blake (married to Avis Wallop) was in Wiltshire at Quemerford in the late 1400s and early 1500s (buried circa 1515). It is this line that traced back to Richard Blake living during the reigns of Edward I and Edward II.

Searching on the National Archives of the UK site gives three documents for le Blak and 55 for le Blake but none earlier than 1286. Finding the document for Richard le Blak of Rouen, France has given me more pause for thought with regard to the deep origins of the Blake families of the British Isles.

The distinct haplogroups for Blake in the Blake yDNA study are even more interesting with respect to the distribution for Blake/Blak found in an examination of the Calendar of Patent Rolls. More people testing their yDNA for Blake can only lead to a greater understanding of the deep ancestry of the Blake family of the British Isles. http://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?code=A70410&Group=Blake

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Along with the other Administrators of the yDNA project, we are slowly revising the headings for the various groupings of the BLAKE family. But definitely BLAKE has arisen in the British Isles from a number of founders given the difference in the haplogroups for lines where more than one individual has tested.

Blog 10: BLAKE – BLAKE Museum at Bridgwater, Somerset

About 75% of the people who write to me about the BLAKE one-name Study are trying to connect back to the BLAKE family of Bridgwater, Somerset. They tend to have an oral history that includes a relationship (many times great uncle generally) to Robert BLAKE, Lord High Admiral during the Commonwealth period. They also, for the most part, are from American BLAKE families. The yDNA study which Bill BLEAK initiated around 2006 at Family Tree DNA was a bid to try and determine the yDNA line of the BLAKE family at Calne and area, Wiltshire which, by various charts, would include the BLAKE family at Bridgwater. What that yDNA study did uncover was that there are many founding lines for the BLAKE families in the British Isles. The website for the museum is quite extensive: https://www.bridgwatermuseum.org.uk/

Several years ago the museum added an interesting chart to their website and I am including a copy of one page in the chart which leads back to the earliest BLAKE on their chart. I did request permission to insert pages from this chart to my blog. The entire Chart is quite amazing and the details on the Somerset BLAKE family coincide well with the records that I have extracted from the various parish registers. My Question family of Dunster married into the Bridgwater BLAKE family (Jone Question married Nicholas BLAKE) but that is a whole other story!

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*Used with permission

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

On seeing this chart for the first time I was struck by its resemblance to the BLAKE Pedigree Chart produced by the College of Arms for the BLAKE family using material from the Daniel BLAKE family of London, UK in 1690.

Having received permission from the Wiltshire and Swindon Archives I reproduce the similar chart from the BLAKE Pedigree. You can see the area of overlap between the two sections of the Chart. As mentioned it is possible to purchase this chart as eight images from the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office (Reference Number 343/1MS).

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I have not been able to ascertain at this time the author of the Chart held by the BLAKE Bridgwater Museum. The relationship of the Andover BLAKE family to the Calne BLAKE family is similar on both charts. The Chart produced by the College of Arms appears to be much older but there is more material on the Bridgwater Museum BLAKE chart.

I am somewhat suspicious that the older chart was used to produce the newer chart with additions. Both Charts appear to have been created in England as far as I am able to determine. The BLAKE Chart on the Bridgewater Museum webpage does have an ancestor to the Richard BLAKE at the top of the College of Arms BLAKE Pedigree. Namely, Robert le BLAKE :

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Robert le BLAKE is said to be "of Quemberford (Co Wiltshire) and named as a juror in an Inquisition postmortem dated 22 Jan 1336 and uncovered among deeds of Hungerford Bar [sp] footnote 1." I did do a search on the National Archives website in the Discovery Catalogue looking for BLAKE and Inquisition Postmortem. In the time period 1300-1399 there are ten records but I wonder if a juror would necessarily be part of the finding aid for a document (surprisingly there was a list of jurors as one of the documents). However there wasn't a record bearing date 1336. Having spent time at Kew they have done a tremendous job of organizing all this material into booklets and numbered appropriately). I am suspicious that perhaps this is in a County Archive (and not yet in the Discovery search engine) and Hungerford is in Wiltshire. Searching on the Wiltshire and Swindon Archival database located 27 records between 1200 and 1400. One particular record caught my attention in 1334 with Reference: 1720/120 and it was a Grant (at Calne) "By John de Fynemore to William Rolf of Blakelonde and Agnes his wife for their lives, of a piece of arable land in the field of Blakelonde (Blackland). Witnessed: John le Chamberleyn, Thomas de Takelberwe, Robert le Blake, William Asser, Adam le Schetere, William de Taseworthe. A second record in 1347 also mentions Robert le BLAKE as witness. Several more records in this time period with Robert BLAKE as witness. A record in 1353 with Reference 1720/148 of a Grant (at Chippenham) "By Richard le Scrivayn of Chippe[n]ham of licence to his tenant Juliana atte Slow, to exchange two acres of arable land at Kemerford (Quemerford in Calne) with Robert le Blake. Witnessed Roger le Tay..., John le Gode, John Waleys, John Bacon, William Cripce." This would seem to prove the presence of Robert le BLAKE in 1336 in the area mentioned.

There are a couple of notes added to this particular crop of the original chart. They appear on Blake_3.pdf in the set of pdf documents for this particular pedigree.

I copy only the covering Notes, Note 1 and Note 4.

Note 1 concerning the Blake Family copied from the "H" manuscripts ____ 1690 "The Genealogie of the ancient and worthy Family of Blague or Blake of great antiquity in the County of Wilts where they had large possessions at Quemberford, Calne, Hillcott, with a fair mansion House at Pynhills now the seat of the Family. A

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 younger Branch whereof transplanted themselves into Hampshire and sitting at Easton town were owners of several other Manors"

Note 4 The reference to Rob[er]t le Blake (1336) was discovered by Sir H Farnham _____ (Garter) who considers this link highly probable

The Note implies by the copying of the Title of the College of Arms BLAKE Pedigree that this earlier chart was used to construct the BLAKE Pedigree held by the Bridgwater Museum. I note that the descent of the BLAKE family in Hampshire is shown as a descent from Henry BLAKE and Margaret Bellett. Nicholas BLAKE of Enham (earlier blog in this series) whose will was probated 20 Jun 1547 is on the chart with siblings that are not mentioned in his will and the siblings that are mentioned not included other than Robert who is said to have died d.s.p. which is known to be incorrect from Robert's own will. However interestingly enough this chart does not name a Humphrey BLAKE as a brother which was the real reason that Horatio Somerby Gates used Nicholas BLAKE in his fraudulent genealogy of the BLAKE family in England incorporated into early BLAKE American genealogies. One is left to surmise that the Pedigree Chart at Bridgwater Museum has preceded the work of Horatio Somerby Gates and thus dated pre 1870s and Horatio Somerby Gates has utilized some of the information in this chart. It was interesting finding this as the possible source for the fraudulent work of Horatio Somerby Gates. That being said I can only think that the author of this Chart had acquired this material from another and that errors had crept into the BLAKE family at Enham, Hampshire. One notes on the chart below Robert BLAKE of Enham said to be married to unknown Snell with sons William, John, Richard and Robert. The transcription of this Robert's will (in Latin) was published by me as part of this Blogging Challenge: http://kippeeb.blogspot.com/2020/02/blake-will-of-jone-blake-widow-enham.html

Robert does mention Thomas BLAKE and Richard BLAKE as sons in his will. There is a William BLAKE and a Robert BLAKE but relationship not clearly established in the will. I did not see a John BLAKE in that will. Not mentioning a child in the will has

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 many reasons as I have discovered so tend to be benevolent in regard to that possibility. A crop of Chart 2 adds some imagery to this discussion.

April 1, 2020 BLAKE NEWSLETTER - VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

Chart 2 includes a note which states "The exact connection of the Hampshire Blake with those of Wiltshire is not yet fully established the link here suggested seems the most probable." Possibly the best words of all since the will of Nicholas BLAKE of Enham does clearly show the chart to be inaccurate where he is concerned. I will discuss this particular section of the Chart in another blog at a later date.

Any submissions, queries for the journal please submit to Elizabeth (Blake) Kipp by the 15th of June for the 1st July issue.

Elizabeth Kipp, [email protected]

Member #4600: Guild of one name studies – studying Blake and Pincombe Blog: http://kippeeb.blogspot.ca/