Updates/News Items.
28th April 2004
Had a fab afternoon on Monday which I thought I would share. I met up with Joyce
Blakeston of Thirsk, NRY. I first wrote to Joyce's late husband, Henry Taylor
Blakeston, over 20 yrs ago. We've continued to correspond over the years but
this is the first time we've met.
Between us we had got Henry's family back to a George Blakeston (bn.circa 1695)
of Driffield area, ERY, who married Ann Bowser at
Kirkburn in 1720.
Joyce brought along a whole range of documents I have never seen and kindly
entrusted some to me. Two, in particular, of great interest to me. The first a
book printed in 1670 in London. Entitled 'The Grounds and Occasions of the
Contempt of the Clergy and Religion Enquired into. In a Letter written to R.L'.
Inside the cover is written what Joyce and her family believed was, "Chaz:
Blakeston His Booke 1717. This is a book that was known to be in the possession
of the father of Robert ward bn 1773. The Ward's believed to have married into
Henry's family.
It's fab for me to have a book in my house that was printed, in
London, 4-5yrs after both the Plague and the Fire of London. Also fab in that I
could see the signature is in fact Eliaz: Blakeston & not Chaz:. This allows
me to pin down it's ownership to one of two men Elizard Blakeston (who I know
signed his name Eliaz:) or his son Eleager also known as Eliazard. Both of North
Newbald. Thus a possible connection for Henry to the earlier Newbald family, for
whom I have several generations. Neither of these families can yet be connected
to my own family at Etton, ERY or Beverley. Though one branch of the Newbald family were cordwainers in Beverley.
The second document is also intriguing. A thin strip of original vellum recording 'The View of Frank pledge with the Court Baron &
Copyhold', of lands at Roos in Holderness, ERY. This relates to lands held by
several generations of the Wawne family at Roos and is dated 1651. What
intrigues me is that the steward of the court who certifies the document is one
Francis Smales. At that time in the neighbouring parish was one Rev Francis
Smales. His daughter Frances m. William Blaikestone of Etton bn 1623 heir to the
estate at Etton. Intriguing to me is why Henry's family should have both the
book and this document? Though perhaps a link between these three families as
yet unfound....fab. Had to share that.
2nd May 2004
I have just chanced across the following:
"Blackstone, Blackston, Blackiston, Blakeston, Blakiston, Blaxton from 'A Dictionary of British Surnames' by P.H. Reaney
(i) Blackstan is the first entry in 1086 in the doomsday book for Essex. William Blacston',Blakeston',Blackstan 1235-42 entered in the Fees (Liber Feodorum, 3 vols, London, 1920-31) for Buckinghamshire. Old English Laecstan meaning 'black stone'.
(ii) Philip Atteblakeston' 1275 entered in the Subsidary Rolls for Worcestershire (Worcs History Society, 4 vols, 1893-1900); William de Blakstan 1316 Feet of Fines for Kent (Archaeologia Cantiana 11-15, 18, 20, 1877-93; Kent Records Society 15, 1956). Means 'dweller by the black stone', as at Blackstone Edge (Lancashire) or Blaxton (West Riding of Yorkshire)."
This reference can be found at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Martin_Edwards_2/people.html
Worthy of further research.
July 2004 Website reviewed in 'Family History Monthly', p.73
"Blackstone
family
