John Blake "the Elder"

     John was born in 1522 in Plainsfield, in the parish of Over Stowey, Somersetshire, England. It was noted on the inquistion of his father dated 20 September 1559 that he was "being 37 years and more". He obtained the manor of Plainfield from the Crown after the death of the origianl owners, the Williams family. He had other estates in the area as well as lands in Bishops Lydeard from his father. He dealt in wool and apparently raised sheep on his estates. He was also noted as a clothier of Plainsfield, a profession which was passed on to two of his sons.² John married Joan (?) circa 1550.³ John made his will on 25 November 1576.

In the name of god Amen the five and twentithe day of the Monthe of November in the yeare of our lord god a Thousande fyve hundered Seayentie sixe I John Blacke of Plainesfelde in the diocese of Bath and Welles being my Whole mynde and good and perfect remembrance lawde and prayse be unto almightie god do make and ordeine this my Testament rendering herein my last will in manner and forme followinge. That is to say First I commend my Sowle unto almightie god my maker and Redemr surelie trusting to be pourged front my synnes and to obtaine eternall lyef onelie by Faith for the death and merite of or Savior Jesus Christ And I will my bodye to be buried in the chancell of overstowey As touching my temporall gooddes Imprimus I gyve and beveathe unto St Andrew his Church at Wells twelve pence Item I gyve and bequeath unto the poore of overstowey tenne Shillinges Item I gyve and bequeath to the poore of Netherstowey tenne Shillinges Item I gyve and bequeath to the poore of Spraxton tenne Shillinges I gyve bequeathe and Assigne unto Humfrey Black my eldest sonne and to his heires for ever All those Tenements followinge scituate and lyinge in Plainsfeld in the parish of overstowey in the countie of Somersett namelie the Tenements which have in the tenure of occupation of otywel Artur Richarde Morley Henrie Croker Richarde Luker John Hunniball and John Pvne And also I gyve and bequeath unto the saide Humphrey my sonne and to his heires for ever All that my landes wch lyeth in the parrissh of Ashoult nowe in the tenure of Humfrey Luker To have and to holde all the prmisses in free Socage of the manor of Estgrenewiche. Item I gyve bequeathe and Assigne unto William Blacke my sonne and to his heyres for ever All my lande wch scituating lying and being wthin the parrissh of Busshops ly[diarde in the Countie aforesaide at Busshops Woods Busshops downe or elswhere in the saide parrissh Also I gyve bequeath and Assigne unto the saide William my sonne and to his heires for evr one Tente [tenement] scituate lying and being in plainesfylde aforsaide nowe in the tenure and occupation of Robert Jenckins or his Assignes Also I gyve bequeathe and Assigne unto the saide william my some and to his heires for ever all my lands in Padnall whin the parrisshe of Spaxton in the Countie aforesaide nowe in the tenure and occupacion of John Burnall To have and to holde all and singular the prmisses in free Socage of the Manor of Eastgrenewiche. Item I gyve bequeathe and Assigne unto Richarde Blacke my sonne and to his heires for ever All my Lande scituatinge lyeing and beinge in Wurstin in the parrisshe of Burnam [Burnham on Sea] in the county aforesaide late in the tenure and occupacon of Nicholas Sheperd but nowe in the tenure of one Smithes of the widdow Evcretts children To have and to holde all the prmisses in free Socage of the manor of Eastgenewiche Item I gyve bequeath and Assigne unto Johan my wieff and to Richarde my sonne iontelie [jointly] duringe my wieffs naturall lief All that my State tytle and interest which I have in the Rectorie or personage of overstowey wthall and singuler thappurtennces emolumets profitte and comodities thereof And I will and my mynd is that all and singuler pemisses do remayne unto Richard my sonne after the deceasse of the saide Johan my wieff unto the wch Richarde I assigne the premisses in manner above written Item I gyve and bequeath unto Humfrey my soime fowre oxen the Best which shall remayne after the heriatts Be chosen And I gyve and Bequeathe unto the saide Humfrye all my plough geare one of my silver saltsellers with a Cover my second Best Fetherbedd performed with the furniture therto belonginge and also the Bedstede twoo bedds standinge over the hall performed with the bedsteddes also sixe calves of the last yeares fall and six silver Spoones the second best Item I gyve & bequeathe unto Alice Richards my daughter tenne shillinges and to everie of her children sixe shillinges eight pence Item I gyve and bequeathe unto Anne Saunders my Daughter tenne Shillinges Item I gyve and Bequeathe unto Isabell Bellick [Zellick] my daughter tenne shillinges and to her son tenne shillinges Item I gyve and bequeathe unto everie one of my God children twelve pence all my other gooddes Cattell and Debtes not gyven or bequeathed my debtes paide legacies satisfied and funerall expense accoplisshed I gyve and bequeathe unto Johan my wieff william my some and to Richarde my some which John [Johan] William and Richarde I make & ordayne my Executor' ioyntlie [jointly] to pay my debtes and to Receyve my Debts And I constitue and appointe the right worshipfull Mr Thorns Mallen Esquire Robert Blacke and Robert Zellick overseers unto whom my humble and ernest suite is that they will see that this my Testament performed accordinge to my true purporte and meaning And I will that my Goodes gyven and bequeathed unto my Executours be equallie devided amongest them by Robert Blacke and Robert Zellick whom I beseche to take suche order which the advise of Mr Mallen as that things may be indifferently handled with quietnes witnesses Samuel Mercer Robert Bockinge Ottywell Artur and Richard Black Robert Black Thoms Black Humfrie william and Richard Black.⁴

John departed this life in the parish of Over Stowey. He was buried there in the chancel of St. Peter & St. Paul Church on Friday, 10 December 1576.³ His will was probated on 25 January 1577.