Page 28 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

For our purposes, the first individual unequivocally linked to my Blaker lineage
is Richard Blaker, who was born in c. 1502 – when Henry VII was King of
England.

6.2 Richard Blaker (1502-1546)
Born: c. 1502, Sussex
Married: Unknown date, married Agnes
Died: May 1546
Buried: May 1546, Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield, Sussex

No unambiguous information has emerged about Richard’s lineage. The main
information about him is derived from tax records and from his will. The later
document confirms that his wife was Agnes.

6.2.1 Agnes Unknown
Born: ?
Married: Unknown date, married Richard Blaker
Died: ?

Apart from mention in her husband’s will, nothing else is known about Agnes.

6.2.2 Richard Blaker and Agnes
Very little is known about Richard and Agnes. It is understood that they had at
least 3 children:
• John: b. 1525
• Amy (Amny): b. 1526
• Jane (Jone): b. 1527

The first definitive written record for Richard occurs in the 1523/4 Lay Subsidy
Rolls of the Hundred of Buttinghill (which includes Cuckfield), Richard Blaker
was recorded with ‘Goodes £20 taxed 20s’. The Lay Subsidy was a tax levied on
lay people on their movable property, rather than land. The tax was usually
raised, as and when needed, to fund a particular venture, such as a military
campaign. The Hundred of Buttinghill contained the parishes of Ardingly;
Balcombe; Bolney; Clayton; Crawley; Cuckfield with Haywards Heath; West
Hoathly; Hurstpierpoint; Keymer with Burgess Hill; Slaugham; Twineham; and
Worth.

Richard appeared in the 1543/4 Lay Subsidy Rolls of the Hundred of Buttinghill,
where he was recorded with ‘Goodes £16 taxed 10s 5d’.

Nothing further is recorded about either Richard or Agnes until Richard
executed his Will. Richard’s Will described him as Richard Blaker of ‘Cokefeld’
(i.e. Cuckfield). His Will, which was proved on 6 May 1546, in the Archdeaconry
Court of Lewes, directed that he should be buried within the church of Cuckfield
and bequeathed:
‘to the high alter 1s., and to the reparation of the church 6s. 6d., and to the poor
20s., and providing for four masses at his burial, and four others at his obits’, he
bequeathed to his wife Agnes 'Three kine (i.e. cattle), one whyte maire, ten ewes,