Old England, for an unknown home in New England, which was subsequently called Dorchester, in Massachusetts Bay. It does not require a great prophet to foretell, that as our country proceeds from infancy towards maturity, there will be an increasing desire to study the history of the men and times that have passed before us. The people will not be so completely absorbed in acquiring wealth, and indulging in luxury, and making a show; neither' will there be a necessity for so much personal exertion to acquire a competence, as the nation advances in age and resources. This work, though it be small and imperfect, I place before my kinsfolk and the public, feeling assured that, as they contemplate the difficulty of the task, they will readily excuse the errors that occur, and I shall then feel that I have not spent my time in vain, nor labored for nought. Samuel Blake Dorchester, December 4, 1856. * It was mentioned on page 16, that Mr. Blake was a beautiful penman. The signature EXPLANATION. The Roman numerals, in the left hand column, denote the generation to which the children of each family belong. The first column of figures denote the number of each individual, and this numbering is carried through the work. Figures before the head of each family, in the same column, and enclosed in parentheses, thus (29), denote the number of the paragraph or family. Figures immediately after the first name in each paragraph (and in a few instances after the second name also), in brackets, thus [61], refer back to the individual in the family in which he or she is first named. Figures at the extreme right hand of the page, included in parentheses, thus (29), refer forward to the paragraph where that individual's family are traced out. Example.-On page 44, in the left hand column, you find at figure 61, Samuel Blake married Betsey Fay; figure (29), at the end of the line, refers to paragraph (29) on the 59th page, where you find an account of the family of Samuel Blake. In the same paragraph (29), the second line, it reads "She was daughter of Samuel and Lucy (Mayo) Fay," which shows that Mrs. Lucy Fay's maiden name was Lucy Mayo. ABBREVIATIONS, b., born; d., died; m., married; dau., daughter; chil., children; Dor., Dorchester; and other common abbreviations, which will be readily understood by the reader. When a town is named, it must always be understood that it is in Massachusetts, unless some other State is mentioned. BLAKE FAMILY. THE "BLAKE FAMILY" IN ENGLAND. THE earliest accounts that I can gather of the "Blake Family" I have received from John H. Blake, Esq., of Roxbury, who sent to England expressly for the purpose, and obtained the following from the Records there. 1st.-John Blake, of Little Baddow, Co. of Essex, England, Gent. 2d.-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. (i.) Wm. Pascall, and (ii.) Barry. 3d. Richard Blake, m. Mabel, dau. of Coverte of Essex. His chil. were-Giles, who m. Dorothy, dau. of Capt. Twedy, of Essex; Christopher, of Ferling in Essex, Gent., m. Phillipa, dau. of John Rochester, of Ferling; Mabel, m. Isaac Withington, of Northumberland; Richard, John, Thomas, Vincent and Edward, all died without 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 and Arthur, ob., Arthur, Mary, Dorothy. FIRST GENERATION IN NEW ENGLAND. I. 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. Squel. They sailed from Plymouth, England, March 20, and arrived at Nantasket (now Hull) May 30, 1630, having a comfortable though long passage. This was the first vessel that arrived, of a considerable fleet that sailed about the same time from Plymouth, laden with passengers for this then far western world. This company finally set themselves down in Dorchester, and commenced their settlement early in June. For a few years, we do not find any mention of our ancestor, but we may be justified in the belief that it was this William Blake who went to Springfield, with William Pynchon, of Roxbury, and others, early in 1636. Soon after their arrival there, viz., May 16, 1636, they drew up and signed an agreement, by which they would govern themselves, and be governed. It is a document of considerable length, and at its close they say, "We testifie to the order above said, being all of the first adventurers and undertakers for this plantation. William Pynchon, Nath. Michell, Henry Smith, the mark I of Jehue Burr, William Blake, Edmund Wood, the mark T of Thomas Ufford, John Cabel." "Ordered for the disposinge of the hasseky marish, and the granting of home lotts, these five men or theyre Deputyes, are appointed to have power:" Mr. Pynchon, Mr. Michell, Jehue Burr, William Blake, Henry Smith. "Ordered, that William Blake have 16 polle in bredth, for his home lott, and all the marish in bredth abuttinge at the end of it, to the next high land, and three ackers more in some other place. The above five men to lay out highways when they shall see meete." It is afterwards recorded that Blake, with seven others, gave up or sold their allotments to the Company; but whether it was that year, or the following, I am unable to ascertain by the records. It is my opinion, however, that he did not move his family from Dorchester, but was at Springfield through the summer of 1636, and perhaps 1637. Dorchester Town Records, in 1637, state that William Blake is one (about 104 in all) among whom the land on the Neck was divided. We find that William Blake was made freeman of Dorchester, March 14, 1638-9. In the early days of New England it was an indispen |