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The Blaker Society © tax returns, which are more or less complete . About 100 men are listed in

‘Villata de Prestone’ is included in Whalesbone hundred in the 1379 poll
1
Preston. No Blaker or variant appears in the whole of the hundred. In fact, the
2
only Blakers listed in the whole county are a John Blakere and Walter Blakere
at Cuckfield , and an Alice Blokere at Southwick . So we are reasonably sure
3
that the Preston Blakers arrived there after 1379. 4
However, Southwick is but a mile away from Preston, whereas Cuckfield
is several miles inland. There are 28 people listed at Southwick: Alice was most
likely a widow. Southwick lay in Fishersgate half hundred, i.e., that part of
Fishergate hundred that lay in Bramber rather than Lewes rape. This small
geographical shift therefore brings with it new considerations as to the available
records.
We know that in 1579 Christian Blaker of Portslade widow left money to
5
the poor of Southwick , Edward Blaker of Portslade in his will of 1571 having
‘latelye purchased’ a house and land there : and, equally, there are parish
6
registers at Southwick surviving from an early date — but this is all far too late
to be relevant to the Blokers or Blakers of Southwick of 1379.

1 PRO E 179/189/41/5 and 179/189/55
2 and 179/41/6 and 179/41/25
3 Fenwick, p. 609
4 Fenwick, p. 587
5 Sussex Arch Coll xix 200-201
6 Sussex Arch Coll xxxix 217-218