This is the Last Will and Testament of me John BLANDAMER of Fordington in the County of Dorset, carrier

I give and bequeath all my household furniture goods chattels and all and singular other my personal estate credits and effects whatsoever and wheresoever unto my brother Thomas BLANDAMER of Dorchester in the said County Innkeeper and my friend William HURDLE of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in the same County cheese factor and the survivor of them and the executors and administrators of such survivor hereafter called my said trustees and trustee -

In Trust as to the accounts and transactions between me and my brother William BLANDAMER and my share of the Ark Brewery and business and matters connected thereunto to settle and arrange the same by reference valuation or otherwise and to act and proceed generally therein as they or he my said trustees or trustee in their or his discretion and judgement may deem advisable with powers to receive and give valid and conclusive receipts acquaintances and discharges for the monies coming to their or his hands thereby and also to permit all or any part of the same to remain on such security and for such time as they or he may think proper, and

In Trust as to the residue of my personal estate and effects to get in convert and dispose of the same in such manner as they or he shall think fit and as to my household goods and furniture to permit my wife Elizabeth Coleman BLANDAMER personally to use and have the same rent free for such period as they or he may deem expedient and with the proceeds to arise from such sale and disposition and monies coming to their and his hands as aforesaid to pay and discharge or satisfy my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and to stand and be possessed of the residue to apply the same and the income and interest thereof respectively in such manner for the support of my said wife Elizabeth Coleman BLANDAMER and for the maintenance clothing education and bringing up of my daughter Elizabeth Coleman BLANDAMER until she attains the age of twenty one years or marries as they or he shall from time to time in their or his discretion think fit and expedient and on her my said daughter attaining that age or marrying then to pay her subject to applying such part thereof and of the accruing interest thereof for the support of my said wife if then living as they or he may think fit the principal of the said Trust monies then remaining in their or his hands or such part thereof as may not have been applied under the power next hereinafter contained the same to be for her separate use benefit and disposal free from marital control debts or interference

Provided that it shall be lawful for my said Trustees and Trustee in their or his discretion to apply any part not exceeding one third of the said principal trust monies for and towards the apprenticing or otherwise for the advancement and benefit of my said daughter during her minority

Provided that that in case my said daughter should die under the said age of twenty one years and without having been married then the said principal monies or so much thereof as shall not have been applied under the trusts and power aforesaid shall be held in trust for my said wife to be applied by way of annuity or otherwise for her benefit as they or he my said trustees or trustee may deem expedient

And I declare that the receipts of my said Trustees and Trustee shall be sufficient discharges and acquittances for all monies and effects to be paid or delivered to them and him by virtue hereof and authorize them and him to deduct and retain all expenses incurred in the execution of the trusts hereby reposed in them and him

And I appoint the said Thomas BLANDAMER and William HURDLE Executors in Trust of this my Will and I commend my said daughter to the careful consideration and attention of my brothers and I revoke all other Wills and Testaments by me at any time heretofore made and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament

In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament written on and contained in three sheets of paper hereunder to this the third and last sheet set my hand and I have also set my hand to each of the two preceding sheets hereof this twenty seventh day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and sixty five

John ('x his mark') BLANDAMER

Signed published and declared by the said Testator John BLANDAMER as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other all being present at the same time hereunder subscribe our names as witnesses

M.J Weston Sol: Dorchester

Geo: CULL Clerk to Mr Weston

Genealogical Notes:

(1) John BLANDAMER was part owner with his brother William of the Old Brewhouse situated in Fordington High Street which they renamed as The Noah's Ark Inn when they purchased it in 1860. [Link to background information on the Noah's Ark Inn ]

(2) John BLANDAMER - for his baptism see entry 495 in St Georges Church parish register for 8th June 1822. He was the 4th child from the marriage of Robert Blandamer to Sarah Sibley at St Georges Church on 18th April 1815.

(3) Elizabeth Coleman HORLOCK the daughter of a labourer Henry HORLOCK and his wife Hannah was baptised at Spetisbury Dorset on 10 Jan 1822

(4) John BLANDAMER married Elizabeth HORLOCK at Blandford Forum on 15th Jan 1848

(5) John & Elizabeth BLANDAMER had the following children

(a) Emma Blandamer - Her baptism entry 1001 is in the parish register St Georges Church Fordington on 9th Jan 1851, father a carter resident at Fordington Cross ; buried FStG aged 2 resident The Church Hill on 13th May 1852.

(b) Fred Blandamer - His birth is recorded at the GRO as Fred Blandamer in the 4th qtr 1852 and his baptism under entry 1133 in the parish register St Georges Church Fordington on 13th Jan 1853 also as Fred Blandamer; his father is a labourer resident at Fordington Cross. He died and was buried in the 2nd qtr 1858. He was probably buried at the Civic Cemetery as the records of burials for that year are missing.

(c) Elizabeth Blandamer - Her birth appears to be registered at the GRO in the last quarter of 1854 as Elizabeth Blandamer and her baptism at entry 1253 in the parish register of St Georges Church in Fordington on 28th Jan 1855 under the same name. Her father is shown to be a publican resident at all Saints Dorchester (Durngate Street is in that parish although physically close to the Noah's Ark Inn). Strangely she is not with her parents in the 1861 Census but recorded in High West Street in Holy Trinity parish as Bessie Blandemer age 6, a lodger with a bootmaker Henry Wilcox and his wife Rachel. In 1865 when she was still only 11 years old she is the main beneficiary under the above Will which places his estate in trust for her benefit. Although she has to look after Elizabeth his widow she is not given any control of the estate and she appears to have died and been buried at Fordington on 2nd Nov 1868 when her age is given as being 48. In 1871 Elizabeth is living with her fathers youngest brother Thomas BLANDAMER (also Trustee of her estate) and his wife and family at the Crown Inn in Durngate street. She then appears to have married at All Saints parish in Dorchester on 2nd Feb 1874 under the name Kate Elizabeth Coleman Blandamer when her age is correctly given as being 19 and her father as John Blandamer a publican. She married presumably with Thomas's consent to William Purchase a 26 year old woodsman from Puddletown. They settle and live in Puddletown in Styles Lane for many years with his widowed father, and raise a family of their own. They move to Dewlish to live prior to 1911.