Will of John Blakiston

Date: 5 Jan 1587 to 1 Apr 1587
Location: Durham, England
Surname/tag: Blakiston

Testamentum of Johannis Blackiston.^[1]

• Date: 05 January 1586/7.
• Proved: 01 April 1587.

In the name of God, my Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter. I Johne Blaykeston,^[2] of Blaykeston, within the county of Durham, esquire, diseased in body, but quick in mind, and of perfect remembrance, thanks be unto God, do make this my last will and testament.

First, I do commend my soul unto the hands of Jesus Christ, my only Redeemer and Savior, and my funeral to be such, as, by my most dear and worshipful friends, shall be thought convenient.

I bequeath unto Barbara, my wife, 400£, in full recompense of the thirds of all my goods.

To my daughter Alyce 400£, in full recompense of her child's part.

To my daughters,

• Marye
• and Dorothie,^[3]

five hundred marks a piece, to be paid by my sons,

• William,^[4]
• Thomas
• and Christofer,

within three years after my death.

Whereas my son William, in consideration that certain copyhold lands, in Warden Lawe, are supposed to descend unto him, hath promised 300£, to such, and in such sort, as I shall appoint, I do therefore bequeath, that he shall pay the said 300£ to my daughter Ellyn, within one month after she shall come to the age of xviij (18) years, or within six (6) months after her marriage.

Also whereas I convented in marriage with my daughter Meryall the some of 300£, whereof my son-in-law William Wycliffe, her husband, hath already received 200£, I will the remainder be paid, 50£ at Whitsonday, and 50£ at Martinmas next; and in consideration that she is my eldest daughter, and to make her portion equal with my daughter Alice, I give unto her one other 100£.

To my son Thomas 60£, over and above his estate of Hepten-of-the-hill.

To my son Henrye 80£, over and besides 30£, which he has already received, and 60£, which is in my brother Dente,^[5] his hands.

To my son George 150£, to be paid unto him, within six (6) months after he be discharged of his apprenticeship, for which he stands bound to his master, Heughe Faireclothe, citizen of London.

I will that my executor shall pay the several portions and legacies to the children of |Thomas Whitehead, deceased, as are not yet paid.

I will that my executor shall bring up my sons, Peter and Humfraye, with meat, drink, clothing, and schooling, and all other necessaries, meate for their calling and age, until either of them shall come to the age of xviij (18) years, at which time I will, that their annuity of 20£. shall begin.

To Robert, Henrye, and Marye Whitehead, and Kathirine, now wife to my son Thomas, being my wife's children, to every of them two old angelles.

I will that Barbara, my wife, shall enjoy my house and lordship at Coxhoe, for her life, paying yearly to my son William 50£, according to a covenant made between Mr. Claxton and me, which some of 50£, with the interest, within the said indentures, reserved unto me of Ayslebye and Thorpthewles, I leave to my said son William. And further I give unto my said son William, and to his heirs forever, all my manners, lands, heriditamentes, rents, reversions, services, meadows, mores, pastures, commons, feedings, and common of pasture, in Great Chilton, Dinsdaile, Stoddaye, Darneton, Longnewton and Warden Law, within the county of Durham, upon condition, that he give to my children,

• Christofer,
• Marmaduke,
• John,
• Robert,
• Peter
• and Humfray Blaykeston,

to every of them 201. a year.

Whereas my son Marmaduke,^[6] is preferred to the personage of Readmarshall, my will is, that the said annuity of 20£ shall cease, so long as he shall enjoy the said personage, or any other ecclesiastical or temporal living, of the value of 40£ by year, and also that my son Robert shall enjoy the said annuity, until he likewise be preferred to some living of the yearly value of 30£.

I will that my executor shall pay to my wife all such sums of money, as I have already received from Heughe Whitehead, to the use of Henrye and Marye Whitehead, so as the same be committed to my said wife, being their natural mother.

To my wife I give my gresseld gelding, and two of my summer nags, such as she shall like of, or 10£, and if none of the three horses doe like her, then I will she have 20£, to provide her of three horses, to her own liking.

To my son William my best horse or gelding, at his choice.

To my son Thomas the next best of my horses, geldings or meares, at his choice.

To Frances Myddleton,^[7] my niece, 6£. 13s. 4d.

I will that Henrye Thompson shall have the one of the two farmholds at Chilton, which I promised him.

I will that John Lilburne have a year's wages, in consideration that I christened him.

I require my son William to take into his service John Fletcher, my servant, and to bestow upon him some farmhold, or otherwise to give him, at his departure, 3£. 6s. 8d.

To my son Marmaduke 20£, towards the furnishing of his house.

To my son William's wife one ambling gelding, or xx (20) nobles.

To Thomas, John and Elizabeth, children to my said son and daughter, 20£, to be divided equally among them. The rest to my son William, whom I make sole executor, and I do name and heartily desire:

• Sir William Bowes, knight,
• Sir Cuthbert Collingwood, knight,
• Robert Bowes, esquier, treasurer of Barwicke,
• George Tonge
• and George Lawson,

gentlemen,

• Humfrey Blaykiston, my brother,
• and William Wycliffe, my son-in-law,^[8]

to be supervisors, and as tokens of my good will, I give unto everyone of them an old ryall.

---

1. ↑ "Testamentum of Johannis Blakiston." Publications of the Surtees Society, 1860, 38, p. 145. Google Books.
2. ↑ The head of the ancient family of Blakiston. He was the son of Thomas Blakiston, of Blakiston, esq., by Elizabeth, daughter of John Place, of Halnaby, co. York, esq., and co-heir of her mother Catherine, sister and heir of Thomas Surtees, of Dinsdale, esq. The testator was twice married, first to Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Sir George Bowes, of Dalden, and secondly to Barbara, daughter of Thomas Lawson, of Usworth, esq., and widow of Thomas Whitehead, of Monk Wearmouth, gent.
3. ↑ She married John Heath, of Kepyer, esq.
4. ↑ His eldest son, afterwards Sir William Blakiston, knight; he married Alice, daughter and co-heir of William Claxton, of Winyard, esq., and so became the representative of two of the most important and ancient families of Durham gentry.
5. ↑ George Dent, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, merchant.
6. ↑ He never, probably, enjoyed his annuity, for he was always well provided with “ecclesiastical living;" having been vicar of Woodhorn, rector of Redmarshall, rector of Sedgefield, archdeacon of the East Riding, prebendary of Wistow, and though last, not least, prebendary of Durham.
7. ↑ Daughter of Cuthbert Middleton, son of Anthony Middleton, of Newton Hall, whose will is printed, (p. 35) by Margaret, sister of the testator.

   .

   see Wikipedia: Newton Hall, Durham -- "By 1337 the Bowes family held the manor of Newton and retained it until 1565, when it was sold to Anthony Middleton. On his death in 1581 it was sold to Thomas Blaikston, whose family kept the estate until shortly after 1662, when the Liddell family acquired it."
8. ↑ William Wycliffe was married to Muriel Blakiston. He was the son of Francis Wycliffe, Esq. (living 1585) & Jane, dau. of Thomas Rokeby of Northam in Richmonshire. They had 2 dau: Dorothy, wife of John Withram, Esq. of Cliffe & Catherine, wife of Marmaduke Tunstall of Scargill Castle (d. 1611).

   Pouson, G. (1841). The History and Antiquities of the Seigniory of Holderness, p. 239. Google Books.