48 HEREDITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF NAVAL OFFICERS. 



The father of this fraternity was Humphrey Blake, who was a merchant 

 engaged in Spanish trade. He used to go to sea on his own vessels and would 

 eat and sleep on deck. He had many tales to tell his children of pirates. Although 

 once rich, he lost much money in later life. His father, Robert Blake, was also 

 a merchant in Spanish trade. He was thrice magistrate of his town of Bridgewater 

 and left it by will 240 for the poor and for highways. 



In Robert Blake's fraternity some individuals are characterized by great 

 learning, others by finance and thrift and mercantile life, others by domesticity, 

 and others by nomadism and love of the sea. Robert was a scholar, but also a 

 reformer and a fighter. Certain traits of refinement and dignity doubtless come 

 from the paternal side. Lack of knowledge about the maternal side prevents us 

 from deriving the origin of other traits. 



FAMILY HISTORY OF ROBERT BLAKE. 



II (F F) Robert Blake, a merchant in the 

 Spanish trade, and thrice chief magistrate of 

 Bridgewater. I 2 (F M), Margaret Symonds. I 3 

 (M F), Humphrey Williams, master of Plainfield, 

 Somersetshire. fl 



II 1 (F), Humphrey Blake, a merchant in ^^_^ 



the Spanish trade, who manned his own ships in [i |a |s 4 Is 'je I T J3 1 9 UP JA* 



the Moorish pirate days. II 2 (M), Sara Williams, ffl H D D]O 3 B S 1 1 LJ Jl 

 an heiress. 



Fraternity of Propositus: III 1, Humphrey 

 Blake, at one time captain of a ship-of-war; non- IV 

 conformist. Ill 2, William Blake, a learned man. 



Ill 3, George Blake, a banker. Ill 5, Samuel Blake, a farmer and fighter. Ill 6, Nicholas 

 Blake, in the Spanish trade. Ill 7, Edward, Benjamin, and John Blake. Ill 8, Benjamin 

 Blake, a captain in the navy. Ill 9, Alexander Blake. Ill 11 (Propositus), ROBERT BLAKE. 



IV 1, Benjamin Blake, who had a taste for letters. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

 DIXON, H. 1852. Robert Blake, Admiral and General at Sea. London: Chapman and Hall. 



