The Blake Family Genealogy
The etymology of the name Blake as furnished by John H. Blake, Esq. of Roxbury Mass
Is as follows:
“The ancient and respectable family of Blake is of British extraction and traditionally descended from Ap-Lake whose name appears as one of the Knights of King Arthur’s round table. Succeeding generations, however seem to have paid little attention to the orthography of the name, so variously do we find it written. In the first instance, by dropping the initial letter it was rendered P-Lake and then by compression Plake one entire word, both of which alike, produce a sound and utterance uncouth and unharmonious. It was corrupted into Blaque to the confusion of all etymological explanation had it so continued
but chance or design applied a remedy by substituting Bloake and ultimately Blake which
latter reading took place many centuries back and has continued invariably the same from
that period to the present day,” [From the History of the Decendent of William Blake of
Dorchester by Samuel Blake]
The Blake Family in England
The earliest account we have of the “Blake Family” are from John H. Blake, Esq. who sent to England expressly for the purpose and obtained from the records there the follow-
Ing: 1st. John Blade of Little Baddow, Co. of Essex, England, Gent.
2nd. John Blake of Little Baddow, Gent. He m. Anna, dau. And heir of Rawson.
His children were Richard, John, Robert, Francis, Humphrey, Christopher, and
Anna who m. (1) Wm. Pascall and (2) ____ Barry.
3rd. Richard Blake m. Mabel dau. of Covert of Essex. His chil. were ____ Giles
who m. Dorothy dau. of Capt. Twedy of Essex; Christopher of Ferling in Essex;
Gene m. Phillipa dau. of John Rochester of Ferling; Mabel m. Isaac Withington
Of Worthumberland; Richard, John, Thomas, Vincent and Edward, all died with-
Out issue.
4th. Giles Blake m. Dorothy Twedy. She was dau. of Capt. Twedy of Essex. Chil.
William b. 1594 m. Agnes: Giles, Richard, John, Thomas, Arthur, Mary, Dorothy
First Generation in New England
1. William Blake m. Agnes. He was son of Giles and Dorothy (Twedy) Blake of Little Baddow, Essex England. He emigrated to America in 1630, with his wife
Agnes, and their children. They came in the Ship “Mary and John” Capt. Squeb.
They sailed from Plymouth, England March 20 and arrived at Nantasket (New
Hull) May 30, 1630 having a comfortable though long passage. A considerable
Fleet sailed from Plymoth about the same time laden with passengers, and this
Was the first vessel that arrived. This company finally set themselves down at
“Mattapan” now Dorchester, Mass. and commenced their settlement early in June.
For several years the records of Dorchester are silent regarding Mr Blake,. The
Town records of Dorchester in s637 state that William Blake is one among 104
Persons whom the land of Dorchester Neck was divided. He was made freeman
Of Dorchester March 14 1638-9. In that early day church membership was an
Indispensable qualification to be admitted as freeman, but at what time Mr. Blake
Joined the church does not appear. He was chosen one of the Select Men for the
Years 1645, 1647 and 1651. In 1645, he was on the committee for building the
New meeting house. In 1656 the “Annals” of Dorchester by James Blake great-grandson of William says, “This year Wm. Blake, Sen. was chosen Recorder for
Ye Town & Clerk of ye Writs for ye County of Suffolk; He was to have 20s per
Year & be Rate-free.” In 1663 the same author says “This year died Mr. William
Blake, who had been Clerk of ye Writs for the County of Suffolk & Recorder of
Ye Town near 8 years. He was also Clerk of ye Training-band. He died ye 25th of ye 8th Mo. 1663 in ye 69th year of his age .”His widow Agnes survived him 15
Years and died July 22, 1678. Her maiden name and her birthplace in England is
Unknown. William Blake left a will which stands upon the records of Suffolk
County, Mass. It is short and explicit and shows him to have been a man of
Ability and character, He gave one half of his estate (which was quite ample for
Those days) to his wife Agnes. The other half he gave in equal parts to his five
Children. A portion of his estate has remained in the family until the present day.
As evidence of the public spirit of the man an extract from his will is here given.
“It. I give & bequeath unto ye town of Dorchester twenty shillings to be be-
stowed for ye Repairing of ye Buringplace, so ye swine & other vermine may not
Anoy ye Graves of ye saints; provided it be Repaired within one yeare after my
Decease.” Though this request was but a trifle compared with the present estimate of money , it shows this principle and taste of the man, and was a considerable sum for him, and the times in which he lived. The provision was compiled with by the town. In all probability William and Agnes lie within this
Ancient burial ground, which he regarded with so much reverence, but sad to
Relate, no monument marks the last resting place of him who was among the
First and most distinguished of the settlers of Dorchester. The graves of his descendants for several generations are indicated by monuments in the same burial
Ground.
II. Children of William1 and Agnes Blake probably all born in England. 5 children 2nd. Gen.
(The no. 1 was omitted in the original document.)
1. William b. 1620; d, 1703 in Milton, Mass.
2. James b. 1623; m. Elizabeth Clapp of Dorchester
d. June 28, 1700 in Dorchester
1. Edward b. about 1625; d. in Milton, Mass. Sept. 3, 1692.
2. John b.______; d. 1688 in Boston
3. Ann b.______; m. Jacob Legare of Boston.
Second Generation
[4] Edward2 Blake m. Patience Pope of Dorchester July 27, 1689. d. in Milton, Mass.
He was third son of William an Agnes Blake of Dorchester. He and his brother William
Settled in Milton, Mass. which was originally a part of Dorchester. He left a will show-
Ing that he possessed a very considerable estate which he divided among two sons and
Five daughters. Giving to Jonathan, who was the sixth child, the largest share for the
Reason that he was afflicted with a lameness. Patience Pope died in Milton, Mass. Aug.
4, 1690.
Children of Edward 2 and Patience (Pope) Blake of Milton, Mass.
9 Children 3d Generation
7. Jane b. in Boston Sept. 29, 1658: