Will of Ferdinando Blake, Gentleman of Yealmpton

Proved 21 May 1646

© Crown Copyright

PROB 11/196/196, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Transcribed by Elizabeth Kipp

1 In the Name of God Amen. 
2 the Seventeenth day of Auguste Anno d[omi]ni one Thousand six hundred forty
3 and three I Ferdinando Blake th[e ]elder of Cofflute w[i]thin the parish of
4 Yealmpton in the County of Devon gent beinge sycke in body but of sound and perfect
5 memory thankes be unto Allmighty God doe make and ordaine this my last will
6 and Testament in manner and forms forme following First I commend my Sowle
7 into the hands and tuition of Allmighty God my only Saviour and Redeemer
8 through whose infinite mercy and goodnesse onley I hope to bee saved and my body I
9 commend unto the Christian burial Item I give devise and bequeath unto Martha
10 my now wife All my whole estate right title interest and terme of yeares which I
11 the sayd Ferdinando Blake now have or cleyme to have in or unto all that Messuage
12 or Tennement w[i]th Th[e ]appurttenncs in exculled Cofflute al[ia]s North Cofflute w[i]thin
13 the Parish of Yealmpton sometime in the possession of Mr Michaell Steerts deceased
14 and now in the tenure Possession occupatioin of mee the sayd Ferdinando Blake
15 To have and to hold the sayd messuage or Tennement w[i]th Th[e ]appurttences
16 and every parte and parcel thereof unto the sayd Martha my now wyffe and her
17 Executors and Assignes ymediately from and after the death and decease of mee the
18 sayd Fardinando Blake for and during all the residue yf the estate and terme of
19 Yeares of mee the sayd Fardinando Blake that shal[l ]bee then to come and unexpired
20 of and in the same Item I give devise and bequeath unto Martha my sayd wife
21 all that one Messuage or Tennement lyinge in Yealmpton aforesaid now in the possession
22 of mee the sayd Firdinando Blake together with all Howses Orchardes gardens
23 lands woodcuts Pastures and all other the Premisses with Th[e ]appurttencs which
24 I the sayd Firdinando now have or cleyme to have by for and vertue of a
25 certainne Lease or grant thereto unto mee made from one George Keynshame of
26 St Kevern in the County of Cornwall gent for Terme of Fowerscore and nyne-
27 teene yeares yf I the sayd Firdinando Blake Samuell Blake and Grace Blake
28 my sonne and daughter or either of do happen soe long to live To have and to hold
29 the sayd Messuage or Tennement and all and singuler other the Premisses w[i]th
30 Th[e ]appurttencs unto the sayd Martha my now wife ymmediatly from and after my
31 decease for and during the terme of Forty yeares yf shee the sayd Martha doe shall happen soe
32 long too live and after her decease my will and intent is and I doe hereby give devise and
33 bequeath all the residue in my estate right interest and Termes of Yeares that shal[l ]bee
34 then to come and unexpired of and in the Messuage or Tennement w[i]th Th[e ]appurttencs
35 last before mencioned unto Samuell Blake my Sonne ymmediatly from and after
36 The death and decease of mee the sayd Furdinando Blake and yf Martha my now wife
37 for and during all the Residue of the sayd estate and terme of yeares of mee the
38 sayd Ferdinando that shal[l ]bee therein then to come and unexpired (and not before) Item I give therein
39 and bequeath unto the sayd Martha my now wife All those two Closes of land w[i]th
40 Th[e ]appurttencs whereof the one called great Hallwill downe and Th[e ]other is called
41 Georges Parke parcel of the b[ar]ton of Halliwell lying and beinge w[i]thin the Parish
42 of Brixton in the sayd County of Devon To have and to hold the sayd two Closes
43 of Land w[i]th their Appurttencs from and after my decease in manner and forme following
44 (that is to say) unto the sayd Martha my now wyfe for and during the terme of
45 Forty Yeares yf she the sayd Martha doe or shall happen soe long to live and yf
46 my estate then for soe long continue and after her decease unto Grace Blake
47 Ann Blake and Martha Blake my daughters for and during all the Resydue of
48 the estate and terme of yeares of mee the sayd Fardinando Blake that shal[l ]bee
49 then to come and unexpired of and in the same Item I give and bequeath unto
50 Fardinando Blake my Sonne the Sum[m]e of six poundes therteene shillinges and
51 Fower pense in lawfull English money to bee payd unto the sayd Furdinando Blake
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52 my Sonne yearly and every Yeare during the natural lyfe of my sayd wyfe and of
53 mye sayd Sonne Ferdinando by my Executrix heare after named att the fowre most
54 usuall Feastes or Termes of payment in the yeare that is to say att the Feast of
55 St Michaell Th[e ]archangell the birth of our Lord God Th[e ]annunciation of
56 Wel[l ]blessed Lady Mary the Virgin and the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
57 by even and equall portions during the sayd Terme the first payment thereof to
58 begin att the next Feast of the Feasts aforesayd that shall first happen after the
59 death of mee the sayd Ferdinando Blake the Father Item my will intent and
60 meaning is that my Executrix hereinafter named shall att her owne costes and
61 chardges find and provide sufficient meate drinke Education and apparel unto and
62 for Samuell Blake my Sonne Grace Blake Anne Blake and Martha
63 Blake my daughters to have as well in sicknesse and in health during the lyfe of my
64 Executrix or until they shall marrey The residue of all my goodes cattells
65 and Chattells not before given nor bequeathed I doe hereby give devise and
66 bequeath unto the sayd Martha my now wyfe whom I doe heareby make and
67 ordaine to bee my whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament
68 and doe desire my good freindes Richard Avent and John Avent of Brixton
69 Yeoman to bee Overseers of this my last Will and Testament and to see this my
70 will performed In wittnesse whereof I the sayd Ferdinando Blake have here
71 unto sett my hand and Seale the daie and yeare above wrytten By mee Ferdinando
72 Blake Wittnesses heare unto me mee John Frent the signe of Anne Koope
73 widdowe the signe Henry Cornishe

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