Greater London Region.

London & Middlesex.

London has always been a magnet for people from all over the globe. It is no surprise then to find frequent occurrences of the name throughout the ages. Blakistons from all corners of the UK having settled there at times. It's a difficult task to link all individuals but worthy of mentioning a select few:

Boyd's Inhabitants of London: 

1.       Blaxton, John 1680 (43985)

          John Blaxton m.1680 Mch. 10 at St Duke's Place. Wit. Thomas Morcock to Lettice Porter.

            Citizen &Apothecary, Warden 1700, 1710, 1712. 1696 Ass Oath Roll.

            Children: Edward DR m. Sarah Ashby. Edward is listed as a citizen, draper.

2.        Blaxton, John 1673 (13466)

               John Blackston of St Giles Cripplegate Bn. 1649 m. 1673 Vicar Gen Marr. Lic.   

                Wife Dorothy Parton of Fenchurch St. Bn. 1651 Citizen & Leather Seller.

3.        Richard Blaxton 

               Bn. 1582., m.1627 to Ann Bland widow. Wife Ann  Frith of Hornchurch daughter of

                Avery Frith. Jun Certif of wid Ann I 23 fo 76b

                Arms: Arg. 2 bars & in chief 3 cocks gu a cresc sable etc.

                Wills 1638. Blackeston alias Blason, Ricd., of Godwins Hornchurch, Essex, Gent will [110

                 Lee] pr. Sep 20 by Relict Anne.

                London Marr.Lic 1627 Richard Blackston of St Giles, Cripplegate Bac.45 & Anne Bland

                 40 of Hornchuch widow of Geo Bland of St Gregory's London. 

                1647 Will. Blakeston, Ann of Goodwins, Harold Wood ward, Hornchurch, Essex wid.

                 Will [225 Fines] pr. Nov 2 by Alphonse Frith.

Misc.:

  1. Bourchier Blakiston m. 1698 Elizabeth Penn.

  2. George Blakiston (1675-1717) & Elizabeth (nee Kay). Member of the Cooper's Company of St Paul's Cathedral. Merchant at Covent Gardens. Father of Sir Matthew Blakiston 1st Bt. Sheriff & Lord Mayor of London. This family has been shown to descend from the Blakiston's of Blakiston.

  3. Sir Matthew Blakiston Alderman 1722 m. Margaret Hall

  4. Sir Matthew Blakiston Alderman 1760 m. Anabel Bayley.

  5. Charles Blaxton (~1698-1724) Silkman & Citizen Bowyer of London. Son of Robert Braxtone of Beaulieu, Hants. Father of Sir William Blackstone Judge.

  6. Joseph Blackstone (1796-1874) Surgeon of St Pancras. Born in Beverley, ERY.

Joseph left Beverley at the age of 18 and became a prosperous London, Surgeon. He married Emma Widger in 1832. Descendents include amongst others the firm of Blackstone Engineers from London. (picture provided by Christopher John Blackstone his descendent)

The London Blitz. fire at the Elephant & Castle. Geoffrey Blackstone (Officer in Charge) is at the centre of the group at right centre. (printed with permission of Christopher John Blackstone his son)

London Division of the RNVR 1914. With Harold Blakiston. Last known address West Drayton, c1928. Any clues regarding which he is and any further info would be appreciated by Peter Blakiston.

Greater London West.

(Berkshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxford, Surrey)

Berkshire.

Four references. Three from the I.G.I.:

  1. 1557 William Blackstone Vicar of Aldworth

  2. Edward Blackstone c. 1733 Cookham son of Thomas & Jane

  3. Joseph Blackstone m. 1811 Bisham to Matilda Fisher.

  4. Martha Blackstone c. 1818 Newbury d. George & Martha.

Hampshire, Isle of Wight & Oxford.

It has been stated that Sir William Blackstone Judge was of a Wiltshire family. I would concur with this but only on his mother's side. His father's family being from Beaulieu. In the late 1700's his family are seen in and around Hampshire, Wiltshire & Oxfordshire.

Sir Matthew Blakiston 1st Bt.'s family settled at Lymington, Hampshire. His eldest son the 2nd Bt., being born there in 1806.

Surrey.

Members of the family are frequently seen in Surrey. It is an area in which there was so much crossing county boundaries. particularly with London, Sussex, Kent etc. therefore I won't go into any detail. 

Greater London East.

(Buckingham, Essex, Hertford, Sussex, & Kent)

An early reference is found at St Margaret's Church, Horsmonden, Kent. A list of Rectors include, 1435 Robert de Blakston, alias Blakeston, formerly Rural dean of Malling. (info. provided by Peter Blakiston).

As with Surrey above the crossing of county boundaries is very evident. the name is commonly seen. Many strays exist. Four families are of particular note:

(photo by Michael Blakeston)

  1. The descendents of the Rev. Henry Blaxton of Chichester Cathedral. The above monument to Henry is to be found in Chichester Cathedral. Note the use of the Blakiston arms. On the left, in Latin, is a list of his sons; Henricus, Godfricus, Josvah, Caleb & Othenells. On the right his daughters; Elizabeth, Susannah, Sare & Rabeccah. Underneath a memorial to his descendent Edward Blaxton, Pharmacist. Descendents of the Rev Henry can be found in Guildford, Arundel, Chichester & Southampton to name a few. One descendant Henry Blaxton (1744-1802) an Officer in the Royal Navy was Lieutenant at Haslar Hospital, Southampton. His unfortunate son also Henry died at the hands of Pirates in 1809.

  2. The Blackiston family of Sussex. This family has it's origins in Beverley, ERY. They are well documented by Dawn West of Carshalton, Surrey. 

  3. The Blackstone family of Kent. This family commences with an agricultural labourer William Blackstone (~1773-1858) and lived in and around Eltham & Bexley. They would appear to herald from the 'West of England'. Probably from Devon.

Benjamin Giles & Harriet (nee Blackstone bn 1829, Eltham, KEN, UK)

With permission of Chani Fletcher. Harriet's descendant.

            4.    Douglas Yeoman Blakiston, was the Vicar of East Grinstead, Sussex. He "was appointed Oct. 30th, 1871. The present Vicar is the third son of the late Rev. Peyton Blakiston, M.D., P.R.S., and Frances, eldest daughter of John Folliot Powell. He is a grandson of the late Sir Mathew Blakiston, the second baronet of the present creation, who was born in 1760 at the Mansion House, London, during his father’s Lord Mayoralty, and who married, as his third wife, Annabella, daughter of Thomas Bayley, M.P. for Durham. The Vicar was at one time a student at the Royal Academy and a silver medalist. He married on July 11th, 1861, Sophia Matilda, youngest daughter of the Rev. Wm. Dent, of Crosby Cote, Yorkshire. He was educated at Downing College, Cambridge; took his B.A. degree (2nd Class Theological Tripos) in 1868 and. M.A. 1872. He was ordained Deacon in 1868 and Priest in 1869 at Ely. From 1868 to 1871 he was Curate of Toft-with-Caldecote, Cambridgeshire, and was then presented to the living of East Grinstead by Reginald Earl De la Warr (then Lord Buckhurst, of Knole)". He is the father of H.E.D Blakiston and descendent of Sir Matthew Blakiston, Lord Mayor of London.

                                                                                                                                                       

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