The year changed on 25th March until the modern calendar was introduced in 1752
Thomas Stanyford named as Thomas Blanckley’s cousin
His residence is given as Portsea in his will
Death of 6th great-grandfather Thomas Blanckley
Henry Blanckley’s relocation to Gibraltar
Record of Thomas Riley Blanckley being made Commissioner of the Victualling Offier, Portsmouth and Henry being awarded clerical job in Gibraltar (coincides with Hervey having turned Portsmouth Naval officers against him)
Henry Blanckley assigned to Gibraltar
5th great-grandfather Henry Blanckley flees a duel
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Thomas Blanckley is a co-inheritor of Henry Stanyford’s estate
Clue to relationship between the Blanckleys and Stanyfords
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Death of 6th great-grandmother Anne
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Birth of 5th great-grandfather
Henry Blanckley
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Death of 7th great-grandmother Jane
Blanckley Timeline 1600s - 1749
Blanckleys 1750 - 1799 Blanckleys 1800 - 1830 The Voyage of Pylades 1831 - 1834 Blanckleys 1832 - 1864 Blanckleys after 1864
The Blanckleys
My Blanckley descent comes through my 2nd great-grandmother Tori (Catherine Nelson Parker Toriana Blanckley 1835 - 1927). I have traced this direct line back to my 7th great-grandfather Thomas Blankley, who was Burgess and Clerk of the Survey in Portsmouth in the late 1600 & early 1700s. As Thomas Blanckley senior, his son and grandson were all Royal Navy clerks, they have left an extensive (although frequently somewhat dry) paper trail, the National Archive’s abstracts of these are transcribed here.
Ancestrally, the Blanckleys appear to have originated from the Leicestershire/Yorkshire area where the surname is historically clustered. The Hampshire Blanckleys are relatively easy to trace as the name is so rare in southern England.
Ancestors in this timeline have: addressed George I; had credit stolen for producing the first English naval dictionary; fled from a dual to Gibraltar; been British Consul to Minorca and Algiers; married Lord Nelson’s niece & grandson (not the same individual!), been made a Royal Navy captain.
Birth of 6th great-grandfather
Thomas Blanckley
1600s
17 Apr 1678
Thomas Blankley, son of Thomas Blankley and Jane was baptised In St Thomas (Cathedral, pictured right), Portsmouth, Hampshire, England (left)
1689
Thomas Blankly, listed as a Burgess of Portsmouth
http://historyinportsmouth.co.uk/people/town-council/burgesses3.htm
This is presumably Thomas Blankley senior (my 7th great-grandfather),
husband of Jane
Name: Thomas Blankely
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 27 Apr 1678
Baptism Place: Saint Thomas, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Father: Thomas Blankely
Mother: Jane
FHL Film Number: 919724, 919725
Source: ancestry.co.uk
Portsmouth Dock 1691 - Work begun on a new Wet Dock (now the reservoir), the Great Stone Dock
(No. 5), The Great Basin (2/3rd of No. 1 Basin) and a building slip on the site of the present No. 3 Dock. All completed by 1698.
Above Treasury and Customs Officials, Officers and Pensioners (1713) pp 136, 137. Source: theoriginalrecord.com
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Name: Anne Blanckley
Gender: Female
Baptism Date: 28 Jun 1716
Baptism Place: Saint Thomas, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Father: Thomas Blanckley
Mother: Anne
FHL Film Number: 919724, 919725
Source: ancestry.co.uk
Name: Thomas Riley Blankley
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 4 Jul 1717
Baptism Place: Saint Thomas, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Father: Thomas Blankley
Mother: Anne
FHL Film Number: 919724, 919725
Source: ancestry.co.uk
A Naval Expositor: s ||| books & manuscripts ||| Sotheby's
18th century clerk: John Larpent (1710–1797), Chief Clerk of the Northern Department
Arundel from british-history.ac.uk
McLynn, Frank. "A satirical print on the duelling mania of the 1770s." Crime and Punishment in Eighteenth-century England. New York: Routledge, 1989. Plate 8.
Gibraltar Museum: once Henry Blanckley’s residence (www.visit-andalucia.com)
The Moorish baths that formed the cellar of Henry Blanckley’s residence in Gibraltar and used as stables (Wikicommons image)
First name(s): Jane
Last name: Blankley
Birth year: -
Denomination: Anglican
Death year: 1712
Burial year: 1712
Burial date: 20 Apr 1712
Burial place: Portsmouth, St Thomas
Dedication: St Thomas of Canterbury
County: Hampshire
Country: England
Register type: Baptisms, marriages & burials
Register year range: CHU 2/1A/4
Archive: Portsmouth History Centre
Source: findmypast.co.uk
Name: Stanyford Blankley
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 11 Jun 1718
Baptism Place: Saint Mary’s, Portsea,
Hampshire, England
Father: Thomas Blankley
FHL Film Number: 0919735, 0919736
Source: ancestry.co.uk
First name(s): Thomas
Last name: Blanckley
Role: Master
Indenture or registration year: 1720
Registration year: 1720
Premium: £63 .0s 0d
Place: Portsmouth
County: Hampshire
Apprentice's first name(s): Henry
Apprentice's last name: Wilson
Master's first name(s): Thomas
Master's last name: Blanckley
Master's occupation: Clerk of the Survey of H.M. Dock
Master's place: Portsmouth
Master's county: Hampshire
The National Archives
reference (IR 1 series): 8 f 87
Society of Genealogists volume: 32
Society of Genealogists page: 6384
Society of Genealogists number: 247689
Notes: Henry WILSON Kinsman to Christopher OBRIAN
Record set: Britain, Country Apprentices 1710-1808
Source: findmypast.co.uk
First name(s: Ann
Last name: Blankley
Birth year: -
Denomination: Anglican
Death year: 1734
Burial year: 1734
Burial date: 26 Apr 1734
Burial place: Portsmouth, St Thomas
Dedication: St Thomas of Canterbury
Next of kin : Thomas Blankley
Next of kin relationship: Wife of
County : Hampshire
Country: England
Archive reference: CHU 2/1A/5
Archive: Portsmouth History Centre
Record set: Hampshire, Portsmouth Burials
Source: findmypast.co.uk
Readying to flee Portsmouth
Left: Wikicommons image of George I , whom Thomas Blanckley Snr. addressed in 1714
Name: Henry Blankley
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 24 Nov 1720
Baptism Place: Saint Marys, Portsea, Hampshire, England
Father: Thomas Blankley
FHL Film Number: 0919735, 0919736
Source: ancestry.co.uk
1700–1749
George I (1714) family tree Naval Expositor 1st published (1732) Henry Blanckley challenged to dual (1747) Henry Blanckley to Gibraltar
In the 17th and 18th centuries there were six Royal Navy dockyards in England, at Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham, Sheerness, Portsmouth and Plymouth. There were also a number of outports in England and overseas yards, including Gibraltar, Halifax and Jamaica.
Officers at the yards were appointed by the Board of Admiralty, but otherwise yards were under the administration of the Navy Board, represented at the yard by a resident commissioner. The principal officers at each yard were:
Master Shipwright: responsible for most workmen and all construction and repair work.
Master Attendant: managed the ships in harbour and saw to the maintenance of the ships in Ordinary, i.e. when the ship was laid up.
Clerk of the Cheque: mustered the workmen, looked after expenses and kept accounts of earnings
Clerk of the Survey: checked the details of all stores received, and issued and surveyed materials.
Clerk of the Ropeyard (at Woolwich, Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth): mustered the men, and received and issued stores.
Source: Royal Museums Greenwich
1701
Samuel Roberts, Robert Blake and Thomas Blanckley, Officers, Portsmouth. Petition for an extra allowance.
Thomas Blanckley senior.
29 Sep 1703
Memorandum by T Blanckley, giving an account of the discovery of a letter directed to the Earl of Nottingham, left in a boarding house by Messrs Smith and Chidley of the Guinea Company
A corresponding record (left) expands the detail and shows T Blanckley (likely the junior Thomas, aged at this time 25) was then clerk to the Clerk of the Survey, Portsmouth, Mr Lea. This record also notes that Blanckley can be spelt with and without the ‘c’.
29 Sept. [1703] Portsmouth Dock.
RICHARD WARRE to NOTTINGHAM. I send enclosed. Commissioner Gifford despatched Mr. Blankley* with it, with orders to deliver to your lordship only. The gentleman desired me by all means to send it away to you ; he not being able to ride post so far. Mr. Ellis tells me the mail was brought to the Post Office this morning by the thief catchers, and that Mr. Tucker's letter to Mr. Cardonnell was opened, [but] that the letter enclosed in it for the Duke of Marlborough and Mr. Stanhope's letter were un-touched. He believes this happened "by the mistake of some
* See the enclosures. This name is spelt is different ways.
person that took it for a portmantow without any desire of robbing the mail." He thereon sent away the Dutch letters to Harwich, and sent word to " the Bath " of the recovery, to prevent people having to make copies. Details.
Pp. 15. (Hol.) Endd. S.P. Dom., Anne 3, 40. Enclosing :—
Captain Gillord to Nottingham.
A. The enclosed disloses a villainous intention, which I am glad to be able to disclose to you if it is true. Blankley is clerk to Mr. Lea, Clerk of the Survey hero He had it from a relation of his, who lets lodgings at Portsmouth,. The letter was left there. [Other details.] I have charged Blankley with secrecy. hope you will come into the truth of all the villainy. I believe the two gentlemen sailed in the fleet that went from St. Helen's yesterday.
Pp. 15. (Hot.) Endd. Ibid, 40 A. Enclosing :—
B. Memorandum by T. Blanckley or Blankley. On 28 September Jane Willshaw, a servant to Richard Waller, of Portsmouth, found in the fore chamber [details] a letter directed to my Lord Nottingham, supposed to be left there by two gentlemen, Smith and Chidley, that lodged at Waller's house a fortnight. Smith was said to be a parson, in orders, but never preached, and believed to be his seal. (both belonging to the Guinea Company). Waller delivered the letter to me to-day (291h), and I showed it to Mr. Lea, Clerk of the Survey of her Majesty's Yard, who went with me to Commissioner Gifford, on sight of which he directed me to make this inquiry. P. Signed. Ibid, 40 B.
1704
Mr. Tho. Blankley, Clerk of the Survey (a top ranking dockyard post, as described below) is listed as a subscriber to Lexicon Technicum (right)
This is presumably Thomas Blankley senior (my 7th great-grandfather),
husband of Jane
19 Jun 1707
Tho. Blankley, Clerk is listed as a present for a survey of New Forest trees (left)
This is presumably Thomas Blankley junior (my 6th great-grandfather),
husband of Jane. There is a Portsmouth, St Thomas burial record for Thomas Blankley Esq. on 24 Apr 1709, but Henry Stanyford’s will a(proved 6 Sep 1735) appears to describe Thomas Blanckley senior as his brother in law (see below). Further, Thomas Blanckley Jr.’s will (proved 10 Feb 1747) names Thomas Stanyford as his cousin)
20 Apr 1712
Thomas Blankley’s mother, Jane is buried In St Thomas (Cathedral), Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
(below left)
1 Jul 1716
Burial of Anne Blanckley, daughter of Thomas Blanckley & Anne, in St Thomas, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England (right).
She died as a tiny baby and the only daughter Thomas and Anne bore.
4 Jul 1717
Baptism of Thomas Riley Blankley, son of Thomas Blankley & Anne, in St Thomas (Cathedral), Portsmouth, Hampshire, England (left)
As we’ll see, Thomas Riley Blanckely later inherited 1) his father’s post of Clerk of the Survey, and, 2) his father’s groundbreaking book, which he took credit for.
11 Jun 1718
Baptism of Stanyford Blankley, son of Thomas Blankley, in St Mary’s, Portsea, Hampshire, England (left)
This record is the first to list Thomas’ s children’s baptisms at St Mary’s (which doesn’t name the mother) in place of St Thomas’s. It’s possible the family had moved house.
21 Aug 1719
Baptism of George Blankley, son of Thomas Blankley, in St Mary’s, Portsea, Hampshire, England (right)
1720
Thomas Blanckley, Clerk of the Survey, Portsmouth, takes on Henry Wilson as an apprentice (left)
This is presumably Thomas Blankley senior (my 7th great-grandfather), widow of Jane
31 Mar 1730
Thomas Blanckley, Clerk of the Survey, Portsmouth. The Clerk of the Cheque thought all the orders in his office should be delivered to him and was told that in future, they would be. All yard Officers have orders in their offices and he has not refused to deliver them. Observes that 1690 is the start of all warrants now in his custody (National Archives record)
1 Apr 1730
Commissioner Richard Hughes, Portsmouth. Mr. Atkins insinuates that Messrs. Allin and Blanckley have neglected to comply with the order. Is sending their answers to his enquiry and ask if the Builder is not allowed the lawful chips his servants made, whether Mr. Blanckley should deliver the orders to him that are in dispute
19 Dec 1730
Commissioner Richard Hughes, Portsmouth. Receipt of warrant for the Advice to be supplied with sails and stores. The sails were surveyed by Mr. Dennis, Captain Wade and Mr. Blanckley. The Oxford arrived yesterday
1732
Thomas Blanckley publishes his Naval Expositor (the first English language naval dictionary) “Ibid. A naval expositor [...] 1732 by T. B" Sotheby's 2008 listing record for Naval Expositor.
18 Apr 1732
Mr Blanckley, Clerk of the Survey, Portsmouth, writing from London. Asks for his allowance for paper to be increased. (National Archives record)
21 Apr 1732
Mr Blanckley, Clerk of the Survey, Portsmouth, asks for an extension to the leave he was granted to deal with his private affairs in London
23 Apr 1732
Commissioner Richard Hughes, Portsmouth. Receipt of letter and warrants to allow leave to Mr Blanckley and for the Officers to report compliance with the instructions of October 1729.
11 May 1733
James Banks, Storekeeper and Thomas Blanckley, Portsmouth. Survey of the Danzig plank and deals and Prussia deals as on the bill of loading of the last ship sent to the Yard by William Astell.
18 Aug 1733
James Allin and Thomas Blanckley, Portsmouth. Are sending a certificate of the Ludlow Castle.
8 Sep 1733
James Bankes, Thomas Blanckley, Caleb Wade, Portsmouth. The warrant of the Boatswain of the Lowestoff did not contain any ships oars as the Captain had stated that he did not want them on board.(National Archives record)
10 Sep 1733
James Allin and Thomas Blanckley, Portsmouth. Request for an urgent supply of pitch from Deptford.(National Archives record)
27 Oct 1733
Joseph Allen, Master Shipwright and Thomas Blanckley, Portsmouth. The Shoreham will be ready to receive men next Wednesday.
07 Jan 1733
James Allin and Thomas Blanckley, Portsmouth. The Lowestoff is ready to receive men.
22 Feb 1733
Caleb Wade and Thomas Blanckley, Portsmouth Officers. Report that the stream cable returned to stores by John Pickering, Boatswain of the Boyne, was found to be shorter than when issued and give an assessment of the value of the loss.
23 Mar 1733
Examinations made by the Portsmouth Officers on the deficient stream cables returned by the Boatswains. Statements made by Mathias Eade, Gunner, John Pilgrim, Carpenter, who cites Mr. Gee, Storekeeper, and Mr. Blanckley in support of his opinion, Robert Portmore, Deputy Purser, William Dawkins, Cook all of the Boyne, and John Glover, Gunner, Jos: Wright, Carpenter, John Hammond, Deputy Purser and Thomas Kew, Cook, all of the Worcester.
6 Sep 1735
Will of Henry Stanyford proved.
His will states that Thomas Blanckley is his brother in law. His son Thomas Stanyford and brother in law Thomas Blanckley are named as guardians of his son George Stanyford while he is in minority.
Source: ancestry.co.uk
This is Thomas Blanckley senior, the widower of Jane. Broader genealogical research suggests Jane’s maiden name had been Riley and her sister, Mary was Henry Stanyford’s widow.
17 Jan 1735
Commissioner Richard Hughes, Portsmouth. Receipt of a copy of Captain Ambrose's account of his cutting away all his masts in a storm in the Chichester Shoals and asking for a vessel and Officer to assist in her recovery. Jeremiah Scarvell, Arundel, Sussex has secured what he believes to be part of the Greyhound's raft. Mr Blanckley is to verify this and to order its retrieval. Receipt of warrants to supply the Master of the Elizabeth and Ann merchant ship with anchors and cables and to be sent the bill of exchange for the owner, Mr Le Quesne, for valuation and to inform what quantity of Sweeds iron Mr Wordsworth has delivered on contract, stating the quantity of the first and second sort of orgrounds. An account of Stephen Curtis's brimstone and train oyle is being sent. The Rose has sailed from Spithead and the Lenox is undocked and replaced by the Torbay. The Edinburgh is ordered to Portsmouth to be cleaned and refitted for Channel service as there is no suitable mooring clear.
23 Jan 1735
Mr Blanckley, Portsmouth Dockyard. Has returned from Arundel. Is sending a list of stores taken up from the Greyhound in Chichester and Littlehampton, Sussex by Jeremiah Scarvell, William Douce, Thomas Emery, Thomas Glaspole, Customs Officer at Climping, Jarvice Smith, fisherman at Climping, Thomas Sparks to Elmer Farm, Middleton and Henry Parr, Felfam.
25 Jan 1735
Commissioner Richard Hughes, Portsmouth. Receipt of letters and warrants to contract with John Grove for pitch and tar and Henry Hounsom for timber knees and plank, to insert a new clause into all future contracts for timber, to give Mrs Dodson directions as to what glass is wanted for the Dunkirk that cannot be supplied from store or from ships and to refit and clean the Greyhound for Channel service. Mr Blanckley has returned from Arundel. Is sending and account of the Greyhound's stores taken up in Sussex and due to be sent from there.
4 Feb 1735
J Morley and Robert Stokes, Custom House, Arundel. Received orders to deliver rigging, masts and sails belonging to the Greyhound, received at Arundel, to the magazine at Portsmouth. Mr Blanckley, Clerk to the Surveyor and Mr Terry, Deputy Purveyor, Portsmouth visited Arundel and despatched the goods.
1737
Thomas Blanckley, Clerk of the Survey, Portsmouth has salary of £200 per annum (over £23,500 in today’s money)
Source: Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia: Or, the Present State of Great Britain; ...By John Chamberlayne (1737)
24 Mar 1737
Copy of Court Roll, Bitterne Manor
Admission of Mary Stanyford (widow of Henry Stanyford esq. deceased), Thomas Blanckley esq. and Thomas Stanyford esq. (son of said Henry) to a close of land called Gernsey's Close, containing 1 acre near Chussell Gate at yearly rent of 4 d. upon which is now built one cottage, which came into the hands of the Lord of the Manor by the death of the said Henry & which the said Henry in his lifetime surrendered to the Lord to the uses of his Will in which he bequeathed the premises to the said Mary, Thomas & Thomas to hold forever according to the custom of the Manor subject to the conditions in his Will. 9 Geo II
This is Thomas Blanckley senior, the widower of Jane.
20 Mar 1739/40
Mr. Blanckley, Portsmouth Dockyard. Request for coals from the smithy
(By) 15 Nov 1740
Thomas Riley Blanckley, Extra Clerk in office by 15 Nov. 1740 (SPB, v f. 7; Adm. 3/44, 13 Nov. 1740). Clerk 18 June 1743-4 May 1753 (Adm. 3/47). D. 4 May 1753 (SPB, vii f. 7). (British History Online)
17 Sep 1741
Richard Dennis and Thomas Blanckley, Portsmouth Dock. Reporting the inspection of some rope in a storehouse at James White's Ropewalk.
7 Oct 1741
Richard Dennis, Richard Jenkins, Joseph Allin and Thomas Blanckley, Portsmouth Dock. Advising proper ordnance stores for the Heyling and Forester Hoys.
18 Mar 1741/42
George Blanckley is listed as Lieutenant (passed examination that year)
Source: threedecks.org
6 Apr 1742
Copy letter from the Portsmouth officers. All the rigging has been delivered to the Princess Amelia, Captain Hemington, except for a few ropes delayed by the works on the Namur. Richard Jenkins and Richard Dennis, Masters Attendant, James Bankes, Storekeeper and J [sic]. Blanckley Clerk of the Survey
21 Jul 1742
Copy survey of the Peregrina Privateer by Portsmouth Officers, Richard Dennis and Richard Jenkins, Masters Attendant, Josh. Allen, Master Shipwright, J [sic]. Blanckley, Clerk of the Survey and J. Poole, Master Shipwright's Assistant
3 Sep 1742
Estimate of the charge of building a ballast wharf in the North part of the Yard with 100' frontage and wings 50' long to be planted up to high water mark on neap tides. P. Lock, Master Shipwright and J [sic]. Blanckley, Clerk of the Survey, Portsmouth
28 Jun 1743
Thomas Blanckley, Clerk of the Survey, Portsmouth. Request for the refreshing of the paint in the small parlour, chamber and garret of his lodgings.
2 Dec 1743
Copy letter from Richard Jenkins, Master Attendant, P. Lock, Master Shipwright and T. Blanckley, Clerk of the Survey, Portsmouth. The petitioners supporting the building of a new wharf are no judges of what the wharf could do to the harbour and do not recommend it is built
29 Jan 1743
P. Lock, Master Shipwright, James Bankes, Storekeeper and Thomas Blanckley, Clerk of the Survey. One warder is insufficient to attend the Dock Gate and propose there should be two. If the Board agrees recommend the removal of Barnard Honey from the North Jetty head to the Dock Gate Enclosed in f85.
4 Feb 1744
Portsmouth Officers, Richard Dennis, P. Lock and T. Blanckley. The refitting of the Roebuck has been delayed by the usual storing of the ships at Spithead. She should be completed by the 15th
11 Jun 1747
An account in Augustus Hervey’s journal of Henry Blanckley fleeing a duel after having drunkenly stood up to his bullying
The 11th I was on shore to settle all my affairs, and dined with Norris, Foulks and others. We supped also at the King's Arms, and at half past 11 at night the drawer came up to me and told me there was one wanted me. I went down (imagining it was some-one wanted a convoy) without hat, sword or cane, and when down I saw behind the door Mr. Blankley (this was a clerk in the dock-yard) whom three days ago had been very impertinent, and who I had threatened to beat, yet he never took any notice of it then. I perceived he was very drunk, and he said I had used him very ill and he was come to ask me satisfaction. I told him it was a very odd time of night and as I saw his condition and had been these two days about the town, I would certainly give it him in the morning in any way he pleased. So as I turned to go up I perceived he made a blow at me with his stick, which I caught and immediately seized him and gave him a very good drubbing with it. As he was drunk I easily threw him down. This made a great bustle, and people came about us; so I returned to my company. We all agreed he was a great scoundrel and a bully, but I determined to see what he was made of the next morning and to thrash him again if he did not give me satisfaction with his sword. At 6 in the morning I went with Norris to Blankley's house and asked for him. His father came out and assured me he was not at home. I told him I was sure he was. At last I spoke to one of the servants who told me he was in bed. I sent for him, and he came down stairs all undressed. I told him to make no noise but dress himself, fetch his sword and pistol and follow me ; I would wait till he came. He seemed greatly surprised. I stayed an hour, sent two or three times, and he not coming, I rung the bell. The servant gave me a very rude answer, and at last a boy told me he was gone out at the back-door. I then called out in the house that he was a scoundrel and a villain, and that wherever I met him I would treat him like one. I told every mortal I met of this, and so did Harry Norris. Every one said he was a villain and the only thing I could do was to treat him as such wherever I met him. I went again about noon, but he was not to be found. In the afternoon (tho' my ship was at St. Helen's under Captain Hill's orders for sailing immediately) yet I went on shore again, but could not find the dog. I told the Commissioner of it, that, as I was obliged to sail, he might know it all. In the morning early the 13th we had the signal for sailing. I wrote to Captain Robinson of Colonel Frazier's Regiment the whole story that he might tell every one what a villain this was, from whom I received a very pretty and satisfactory letter in return. We sailed with above fifty sail under convoy, having orders myself to obey Captain Hill till he was off Lisbon, then I was to proceed with the storeship and Mediterranean trade to Gibraltar, and thence to Mahon and put myself under Admiral Medley's command.
What contemporary author Stephen Banks makes of this exchange:
“It is not always easy to disentangle the desire to eradicate a stain from simple vindictiveness. Sometimes a sense of offence or indeed of malice was maintained over a prolonged period, and men did not seem abashed to declare that this was so. To illustrate, when a naval captain, Augustus Hervey, chose to record in his diary an affront given to him in 1747 he did so in such terms as to suggest that his own capacity to maintain a sense of grievance for years afterwards was evidence of his high honour.” (Banks S., A Polite Exchange of Bullets: The Duel and the English Gentleman, 1750-1850, Boydell Press (2010))
12 Jun 1747
Henry Blanckley granted three appointments at Gibraltar:
Warranted Storekeeper at Gibraltar
Warranted Clerk of the Cheque at Gibraltar
Appointed Clerk of the Survey at Gibraltar
Source: threedecks.org
Jul 1747
Henry Blanckley resigns
Promotions, Deaths, Etc July 1747 Mr Tho. Riley Blanckley, clerk of the survey at Portsmouth–––a commissioner of the victualling office, in room of John Russel, Esq;–––––a commissioner of the navy, in room of James Oswald, Esq; resign'd. Mr Blanckley, brother to the above, ––– clerk of the Cheque at Gibraltar, in room of Mr Russel–––clerk of the survey at Chatham, in room of Daniel Divert, Esq; a commissioner of the navy. Gaz. (The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 17, July 1747)
Thomas Blanckley had evidently retired
8 Sep 1747
Clerk of Survey Blanckley, Portsmouth. Asks to know by what establishment the Assurance is to be supplied with stores.
My 6th great uncle Thomas Riley Blanckley
1 Oct 1747
John Clevland. Henry Blanckley has been appointed Storekeeper and Clerk of the Cheque at Gibraltar, to replace John Russel who has been appointed Clerk of the Survey at Chatham. It will take at least 3 or 4 weeks before Mr. Blanckley can take up his new position. Recommend a single survey and takeover by Mr. Blanckley on his arrival at Gibraltar should be considered, rather than a double survey if Mr. Russell hands over on a temporary basis to someone who is responsible before Mr. Blanckley takes over after another survey
29 Dec 1747
The death of Thomas Blanckley. Record of 31 Dec 1747: Thomas Corbett. Commissioner Hughes reports that Thomas Blanckley, late Clerk of the Survey at Portsmouth, died on the 29th
Death of my 6th great-grandfather, Thomas Blanckley
30 Dec 1747
Commissioner Richard Hughes, Portsmouth. Receipt of letter and warrants to note that the Surveyor General of the Woods is being consulted about the survey proposed of New Forest trees and that money is being sent for the service of the Port, to receive new cordage from the Fougueux French Ship of War, lately taken by Sir Edward Hawke, and to enter a servant to Joiner Charles Bowley. Was told yesterday afternoon that the Clerk of the Survey Thomas Blanckley, died that morning. The day before Vice Admiral Schryver arrived at Spithead with 3 Dutch Men of War and the same number anchored at St Helens.
4 Feb 1747
Clerk of Survey Blanckley, Portsmouth. Asks for an additional Clerk owing to increased business.
This must be my 6th great uncle Thomas Riley Blanckley
10 Feb 1747
Thomas Blanckley’s will is proved naming Thomas Stanyford as his cousin and executor. He also names his sons as Thomas Riley Blankley, Stanyford Blankley, George Blankley and Henry Blankley.
Source: ancestry.co.uk
27 Feb 1747
Clerk of the Survey Blanckley, Portsmouth. Asks for a further supply of coals for his Office.
8 Mar 1747/48
George Blanckley is listed as Commander and Commanding Officer of Deptford (24)
Source: threedecks.org
1749
Henry Blanckley is listed as Storekeeper in Gibraltar with a salary of £200 – approximately £36,000 in today’s money – (left)
A description of the Storekeeper and Ordnance Clerks’ dwellings in Gibraltar at the time Henry Blanckley took his posting – now Gibraltar Museum (below).
“The Bomb-House - The storekeeper and ordnance clerks dwellings, commonly called the bomb-house, was once a fine Moorish building : I take it to have been the residence of their governors, because I have seen the same kind of structures in Spain, and never but one in that style in each town: and that which is peculiar, is the top of the house, which is a flat oblong terrace; round it is a wall of three feet high, and on the wall are stone pillars that support a roof: there houses are much higher than any other building in the town, and command the whole: this upper apartment is at prevent a dwelling room, the spaces between the pillars being filled, and now has windows, and a door place. The cellars remain in their old state, one of which I take to have been the family mosque; the inside is an oblong square, and round the centre are pillars that support a handsome cupola.
Round the architrave is an inscription, but so defaced that I could not make anything of it. This house, when we took the place, was quite entire, and very large; and the complete remains of the Moors, as a dwelling, in the town ; but the changes it has since undergone, have almost diverted it of its ancient beauties; ancient I call it, because it might have been built soon after the coming of those people in seven hundred and eleven . . . . “
1771 - Thomas James - The History of the Herculean Straits
James of the Royal Artillery was stationed in Gibraltar from 1749 to 1753 but must have returned in 1755 as this is the year in which he states in the book that his various descriptions of the Rock refer to.
The Bomb-House is the site of the present day Gibraltar Museum. Those 'pillars supporting a handsome cupola' form part of the Moorish Baths. It was probably built by the Merinid Caliph, Abu-l-hasan, who took over the Rock from the Spaniards in 1333
Quoted on gibraltar-intro.blogspot.co.uk
The basement baths were used as stables during Henry Blanckley’s residence: “[the baths were] used as stables while the building was under control of the British military with a floor of one of the rooms raised so high that horse-drawn coaches could be moved into the remaining space in the room. The site is now smaller than it was originally as the building suffered extensive damage during the Great Siege of Gibraltar. It is one of the best-preserved Moorish bath houses in Europe (wikipedia).
Before 4 Feb 1749/50
Henry Blanckley marriage to Elizabeth
(His will was written 4 Feb 1749/50 naming his dear wife Elizabeth as sole beneficiary)
22 Nov 1714
Captain Henry Stanyford and Mr. Thomas Blankley of Portsmouth address the newly crowned King George I and give fealty to him on behalf of Portsmouth
(The Political State of Great Britain, Volume 8: see below right)
This is presumably Thomas Blankley senior (my 7th great-grandfather), recent widow of Jane
28 Jun 1716
Baptism of Anne Blanckley, daughter of Thomas Blanckley & Anne, in St Thomas (Cathedral), Portsmouth, Hampshire, England (left)
Note: 1) Thomas Junior has evidently married an Anne, 2) Blanckley is spelt with a ‘c’.
24 Nov 1720
Baptism of Henry Blankley, son of Thomas Blankley, in St Mary’s, Portsea, Hampshire, England (right)
My 5th great-grandfather
25 Nov 1720
Folio 138: Commissioner Isaac Townsend, Portsmouth. The Captains of the Lenox, Windsor and Ipswich will be asks to completed their paybooks quickly. Comment on the price of train oil and whether it should be purchased in Poole or London. The Montague is to be experimented on with Lieutenant Colonel Gascherie's compound for preventing worm damage. A letter to Mr Blanckley about canvas will be forwarded.
It is not clear at which point Thomas Blanckley junior, husband of Anne gained his father, Thomas Blanckley senior’s office
30 Mar 1730
George Atkins, Clerk of the Cheque, Portsmouth. Is directed by warrant to take care that all warrants and orders are lodged in the office of the Clerk of the Cheque. Mr. Blanckley has refused to deliver all warrants for the year 1690, which are in his office. We are not to allow any fireing into our lodgings but the Builder's servants carry chips home every day. The Boat crew have gone to the Boatswain by your order (National Archives record)
Julian calendar year started on Lady Day (25th March)
26 May 1734
Commissioner Richard Hughes, Portsmouth. Receipt of letter and warrants to expect tar from Josias Wordsworth, to enter a servant to Thomas Freeman, Quarterman, to grant leave to James Bowyer, Gunner of the Rochester, for Mr Blanckley to provide Captain Fanshaw with the survey book and to confirm the contract made with Henry Hounsom for timber. Is sending a letter from the Clerk of the Cheque. This morning, the Kent sailed from St Helen's and the Ipswich sailed to Spithead.
26 Aug 1734
Burial of Anne, wife of Thomas Blankley in St Thomas (Cathedral), Portsmouth, Hampshire, England (left).
My 6th great-grandmother
Portsmouth Cathedral (St Thomas’s) where Anne Blanckley was buried. Photo by Lewis Hulbert - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35063750
First name(s): ANNE
Last name: BLANCKLEY
Age: -
Birth year: -
Burial year: 1716
Burial day: 01
Burial month: Jul
Parish: Portsmouth St Thomas
County: Hampshire
Country: England
Notes: Anne dau of Thomas
Record set: Hampshire Burials
Source: findmypast.co.uk
Detail of child with the family dog from Family group at a harpsichord, 1739,
George Blankely
Gender: Male
Christening: Aug 21 1719
Saint Marys, Portsea, Hampshire, England
Father: Thomas Blankely
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C06261-1 System Origin: England-ODM GS
Film number: 0919735, 0919736
Source: myheritage.com
18th century portrait of a lawyer with a quill
Detail of The Human Passions, Thomas Sanders, 1773, Walpole Library
Cartoon of 18th century man tired of reading. oldbaileyonline.org/static/Gender.jsp
Augustus Hervey
Thomas Gainsborough, Commodore the Hon. Augustus Hervey, later Vice-Admiral, and 3rd Earl of Bristol (1724-1779) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The French seventy-four, Terrible, was captured by the Royal Navy in 1747.
Gibraltar
Image of 18th century funeral procession
Blanckleys 1750 - 1799
