For Mark Grady Mark I have just updated my data on George Blake of Kings Sutton (1848-1929) and Ellen Hone who appears to have been a daughter of William Hone, plush hand loom loom weaver of Adderbury and his wife Mary Ann nee Elliot. Trustee of Kings Sutton Primitive Methodist Church. Awarded a Diploma of Honour from the Band of Hope Union in recognition of services 1877-1912. At George's funeral in 1929 the King's Sutton Band of Hope and Temperance Society sent a wreath and Mr P.Meadows represented the Ancient Order of Rechabites. In 1881 George and his wife Ellen were living at Whittle Street Kings Sutton. They had no children but a 12 year old nephew Thomas Holmes was boarding with them. According to the 1881 census Thomas' mother Ann Holmes (nee Hone) was a 40 year old widow working in Reading as a domestic servant for a Joseph and Mary Huntley who may have been related in some way as they were both born in Adderbury. When George Blake retired from his butchers's shop in or around 1910, it was sold to a Mr Simms. However after 3 years the shop burnt to the ground so George bought the ruins and presented the site to the Primitive Methodist Church to bulid a new chapel at some future date. George and Ellen celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1927 when they were presented with a silver teapot by the Rev W. Turner of Kings Sutton Primitive Methodist Chapel. The cake was suppleid by Mr R.J. England of North Newington. Ministers taking part in the funeral of George Blake were Rev.R. Bolton, Rev C.Thompson, Rev.W.Tuner of Hungerford. There was a service at the home followed by interment in the cemetary. Mourners included nearly all the members of the Primitive Methodist Church, also Mr. E. Blake (brother), Mrs Stanley(sister), Mr and Mrs A. Stanley (nephew and neice), Mr T.Holmes (nephew), Mr and Mrs C. Butler (nephew and neice), Mr W. H. Collett (nephew), Mrs F. C. Grimsley (niece), Mr and Mrs Howes (nephew and niece), Mr. R. Plackett, Mr. O. Banwell. Mrs.W.Tturvey, Mr and Mrs England, Mr F. Bailey, Mr F Humphries, Mrs T.Gardner, Mrs Freeman (Tysoe), Mrs Brailsford, Mrs Boswell (Banbury), Mr A. Jennings, Mrs Trinder, Mrs Neal, Messrs F F Plank, Mr E.Plank, Mr and Mrs J Cousins. When the new Methodist Church was built at Kings Sutton in 1936 there was a plaque put up "To the glory of God and in honour of all who laid foundation stones and bricks. Also in grateful memory of George Blake". Along with his brother Edwin, George was one of the executors and trustees of his Aunt Fanny Blake's will (1894) from which he inherited an annual sum of £3 pa payable half-yearly. I've included the list of mourners at George's funeral, as apart from the Blake and Stanleys, the other relatives must all be from the Hone side of the family. From the entry on the 1881 census Mr R. Plackett was probably Richard A. Plackett, a cousin of Ellen's. Do you know when Ellen died? Ann Johnston --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.788 / Virus Database: 533 - Release Date: 01/11/04