Update: As of 21 August 2025, I’m thrilled to tell you this whole collection is now in the very safe hands of a lady and her family who are descendants📚

Chapter 8

The Blake Humfrey Family

Continuing from the last Chapter is a little more information about Margaret Blake Humfrey the eldest of Robert Blake and Charlotte’s (Harvey) children. The 1861 census was taken on 7 April 1861. Margaret and her husband Harvey who had married in January 1860 were miles apart, their first child a son Bertram had been born on 10 February 1861.

Bertram Humfrey Ranking died on 23 April 1861 he was just ten weeks old. I wanted to know why, when he had been in Norfolk his death was registered in Essex. So his death certificate tells the story, that he was at Stisted Hall, Stisted, Epsom, Essex and Onley Savill Onley was in attendance, I shall return to this Onley family in a later Chapter.

The cause of death was ‘Cynanche Maligna’ “A severely inflamed throat with tissue destruction and fetid odour, often due to strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis) or diphtheria” from the Harvard Library. Bertram had been ill for 8 days, so sad.

This family are connected to the Holworth couple by marriage, the male of my couple was the Grand Nephew of Margaret Blake Humfrey‘s husband Harvey Ranking. The family have stories to tell. It’s fascinating to see how old photos get to be passed down the generations of the different branches of a family, that’s why when I am researching a collection I find it is always best to try and add not only children of the couples on your tree but marriage partners also, those extra surnames can be vital, the wider you spread the more likely you are to find a match, especially with a large collection like this, I now have almost 1400 people on the family tree!

This is an absolutely fabulous CDV to start this Chapter with. It has so much information on the back for a family historian, proving once again that all these families in this collection are inextricably linked.

My first thought without any information would have been a husband and wife with their four daughters, but now I know differently because of the writing on the back.

With one hand: Mr & Mrs Blake Humfrey. Caroline. Isabel. of Wroxham House, Norfolk. He lost a leg in the Penninsula War, when an …. of 17- & was the oldest pensioner in the British Army.

In another hand in pencil: Mrs Lee Warner & Mrs Lacon.

Then in another later hand: son of Robert Harvey of St Clements, Norwich & Thurston Hall, Norfolk (The Harvey Family will be in my next Chapter but I think at the moment that this might be referring to another photo and not this one)

Mr and Mrs Blake Humfrey

Robert Blake Humfrey. Born Robert BLAKE on 23 November 1795 in Norwich, Norfolk, his father was Thomas Blake and his mother was Theodora Martha (Colombine). Robert married Charlotte (Harvey) on 7 August 1838 in November, after a long honeymoon trip to France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Switzerland, they took up their “abode at Swafield”. Robert had moved there in 1835. The couple lived there until 1847 when their name changed and they inherited Wroxham Hall, and their first five children were born there. Swafield Hall has an interesting history and I found a wonderful history of the place on their website, it now offers luxury holiday accommodation at the Grade II listed Hall: Swafield Hall History

Robert Blake Humfrey was a Justice of the Peace, Deputy Lieutenant, and served in the Peninsular War as an officer under the Duke of Wellington. In 1847, by Royal sign manual, he obtained the additional surname and arms of Humfrey. Robert and Charlotte had seven children.

Robert died on 15 October 1886 in Wroxham, Norfolk.

As you can see above in the family group sheet, Robert and his wife Charlotte. Then as identified in the photo were the two younger daughters of the couple Caroline and Isabel.

Robert Blake Humfrey

The Foxearth & District Local History Society Website has an excellent concise Biography about him. The report is from the Norfolk Chronicle dated 15 October 1886.

Died, at his residence, Wroxham House, Mr. Robert Blake-Humfrey, second son of Mr. Thomas Blake, of Norwich and Scottow. Born on 23 November 1795, he was educated at Norwich Grammar School under Dr. Forster, and afterwards under Valpy. At the early age of 16½ years, he was gazetted to an ensigncy by purchase in the 3rd Regiment (the Buffs) and joined the 2nd Battalion at Walmer Barracks. In July 1813, he went out with a detachment of 100 men to join the 1st Battalion in Spain and arrived off St. Sebastian during the siege. His detachment, with some companies of the 43rd and 52nd, were immediately ordered to march up the country. The force to which the Buffs were attached having taken Vieux Moguere, they were in turn driven out of it the next day, and the light company in which Blake was serving covered the retreat. On the order to face about the British drove back the enemy and retook the village, and in the assault, the young officer was wounded in both legs by a grapeshot. Amputation of the left leg was rendered necessary, and his military career ended. With pay and pension and a very small fortune from his father, Mr Blake retired to a quiet life in Norfolk. In 1838 he married Charlotte, the youngest daughter of Colonel Harvey, of Thorpe, by whom he left three sons and four daughters. On the death of the Rev. John Humfrey, in 1847, he succeeded under his will to the Wroxham estate and other property and assumed the surname of Humfrey after and in addition to the name of Blake. Mr Blake Humfrey spent much time in drawing and etching and in the study of heraldry and archæology. He compiled a complete history in MS (Manuscript) of the Sheriffs of Norfolk, with their coats of arms most beautifully emblazoned. Mr Blake Humfrey was a magistrate for the county of Norfolk.

Also from the Norfolk Chronicle. 19 Oct 1886: Obliged by the loss of his leg to lead a quiet life, Mr Blake Humfrey has occupied much of his time in drawing and etching and in the study of heraldry and archaeology. His heraldic illuminations are well-known to his friends to be done in the highest style, and he has compiled a complete history in M.S. of the Sheriffs of Norfolk, with their coats of arms most beautifully emblazoned. In public life, Mr Blake Humfrey has been active in attending as a magistrate at petty and quarter serving on grand juries and on many of the county committees.

‘9 August 1847. The “London Gazette” announced that the Queen had granted to Robert Blake, of Swafield, her Royal license and authority, in compliance with a wish expressed in the will of the Rev. John Humfrey, of Wroxham, to take the surname of Humfrey immediately after that of Blake, and to quarter the arms of Humfrey with those of Blake‘. From the Book Norfolk Annals.

On the death of the Rev. John Humfrey in 1847, Robert Blake succeeded, under his will, to the Wroxham and other property, and assumed the surname of Humfrey, after and in addition to the name of Blake. His eldest brother, Doctor Thomas Blake 1790-1868(Thomas was an Esq of Horstead, Justice of the Peace, and Deputy Lieutenant and was succeeded by his brother Robert) had inherited the family estate at Scottow, which he sold, and purchased the Heggatt property in Horstead, and dying in 1868 he left it to his brother Robert Blake Humfrey.

Mrs Lee Warner.

Mrs Lee Warner was Eleanor BLAKE HUMFREY she was born in 1846 in Swafield, Norfolk, the second daughter of Robert and Charlotte. She married Henry LEE WARNER on 20 December 1868 in Wroxham, Norfolk.  I have found no children of the couple. Henry her husband was M A Cambridge, a clerical Master at Rugby School, Warwickshire, and they lived at Beardsley House. Henry LEE WARNER was born in 1842 in Walsingham, Norfolk, his father was Henry and his mother was Ann. Henry died in 1925 at the age of 83. Eleanor died on 11 December 1937 in Swaffham, Norfolk, at the age of 91.

Caroline Blake Humfrey

Caroline BLAKE HUMFREY was born in 1850 in Wroxham, Norfolk, the third daughter of Robert and Charlotte. She married Henry Savill MARSHAM (1847-1937) on 17 March 1883 in Norfolk. They had four children during their marriage, Robert, Arthur, Caroline and Margaret. Caroline died on 25 December 1933 in Aylsham, Norfolk, at the age of 83.

Isabel Charlotte Blake Humfrey

The youngest daughter of Robert and Charlotte was a well-known English philanthropist.

Following info Wikipedia: Isabel Charlotte 20 December 1851-22 February 1932. In 1871 she married John Gurney (1845–1887), a wealthy Norwich banker. The couple had five sons and two daughters.

They included Sir Eustace Gurney, diplomat Hugh Gurney and scientist Robert Gurney. She and her husband were deeply involved in many educational and philanthropic projects in Norwich, including converting Norwich Castle into a city museum. With John Gurney’s health failing, in 1886 they moved to Cannes, France, where he died the following year, aged 41.

Isabel returned to their home at Sprowston Hall and lived there until 1898, when she moved to Grosvenor Place, London, and became a notable hostess. In December 1901 she married Richard Wogan Talbot, 5th Baron Talbot de Malahide (1846–1921) and moved to his home at Malahide Castle, County Dublin, where she continued her philanthropic work. During the First World War, she served as president of the County of Dublin Branch of the British Red Cross Society and the Irish Joint Red Cross and the St John Executive Committee. For this work, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours. I was thrilled to find this beautiful photo below of Isabel Charlotte

Lord Talbot de Malahide died in 1921 and his widow Isabel moved back to London. She became heavily involved with the Women’s Institute and founded a branch (and served as its president) near her country home at Compton Regis, near Shrivenham, Berkshire.

Lady Talbot was a talented artist in both watercolours and oils. She published two books, Foundations of National Glory and Golden Opportunities.

Mrs Lacon

Henrietta Julia HARVEY was born on 3 June 1846 in Norwich, Norfolk, her father was Robert John Harvey HARVEY and her mother was Henrietta Augusta (Lambart). She married Edmund Broughton Knowles LACON on 9 May 1868 at Saint John The Evangelist, Paddington, Hyde Park Crescent, Westminster, England.

This was part of the account of the wonderful wedding reported by the Norfolk News on Saturday 16 May 1868 “The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. Dr. Blackwood, assisted by the Rev. Henry Long, uncles the bride. The bride was most elegantly and richly attired, wore a long veil, with orange flowers, and was accompanied to the church by her father, where she was met by the bridegroom, who was accompanied by Captain Simpson as his best man. The following ladies, relatives of the bride, were the bridesmaids, and were dressed in white tarlatan, trimmed with mauve, and with light and elegant white hats, adorned with mauve flowers: Miss Ida Harvey and Miss Alicia Harvey, Miss Onley, Miss Lacon, Miss Bouwens and Miss Bouwens, Miss Blake-Humfrey, Miss Long, Miss Duncombe, and Miss Kerrison. After the ceremony, the happy pair adjourned to the residence of Lady Julia Bouwens, aunt of the Bride, in Connaught Place, where a very large party of about a hundred friends of both families partook of a sumptuous wedding breakfast. Previous to the dejeuner the guests inspected the wedding presents, which were exceedingly numerous and valuable“. (Tarlatan or Tarlatane is a thin open-weave cotton that is stiffened, giving it more shape than gauzy muslins. This was desirous as it could provide the shape of similarly patterned silks and taffetas with the prettiness of sheer cotton). I do love reading reports of Weddings in the Newspapers back then, thanks to the British Newspaper Archive, so descriptive and just a joy.

Before she married in 1868 at the age of 14 she was with the Blake Humfrey Family at Wroxham House in the census of 1861, she was a niece of Charlotte Harvey.

Just two years after her marriage her father Sir Robert John Harvey HARVEY killed himself on 19 July 1870, more on him and the Harvey family in the next Chapter.

Henrietta Julia died in September 1873 in Norfolk at the age of 27 and was buried at Ormesby St Margaret with Scratby, Norfolk. 

Cause of Death: Pulmonary Consumption: TB, Tuberculosis, also known as consumption, is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs. Tragic for someone so young. Henrietta and Edmund had no children.

Edmund remarried on 16 February 1878 to Florence Amelia Foster. This was also another splendid wedding day reported in the Newspapers in 1878, one example below from the Bury and Norwich Post on Tuesday 26 February 1878.

Edmund and Amelia had no children either and Edmund succeeded his father in becoming the 4th Baron on 6 September 1888 on his father’s death. He was Baron for almost 11 years until his sudden death in Iceland.

Cause of Death on from various Newspaper reports: ‘Owing to the fact that he was away from England on a yachting cruise, information regarding his death is meagre, but it is to the effect that he died on Friday, the 11th of August (1899) off the coast of Iceland. With friends he was fishing from his steam yacht Cecile at half past 6 in the evening, being apparently in his usual health. Still, at dinner, he was suddenly taken ill, and death ensued shortly afterwards from the rupture of one of the vessels of the heart.

‘The Lacons are a great brewing and banking family in the Eastern Counties, and the deceased baronet represented Great Yarmouth and North Norfolk for over 30 years‘. Various members of the connected families were also involved in these businesses.

Info from the Eastern Press when their family home was up for sale in September 2020: ‘Positioned in the centre of Ormesby St Margaret, yet giving the feeling of being completely in the countryside, Great Ormesby Hall is approached by a private drive, past secure double gates topped with falcon statues a clue as to its past owner the founder of Lacons Brewery. The brewery dates to the 1760s and grew into a massive enterprise in Great Yarmouth, which, by the 1860s was dispatching more than 50,000 barrels of beer to London alone. It shut down in 1968 but was relaunched in 2013. A falcon is still the emblem of the brewery‘.

Another Blake this time Robert and Charlotte’s eldest son also changed his surname from Robert Harvey BLAKE HUMFREY to MASON on 12 July 1880.

William Blake, another family member changed his name. He was an Esquire of Swanton Abbotts, Justice of the Peace, and Deputy Lieutenant, who was born in 1758. He assumed the additional surname and arms of Jex upon his 1785 marriage to Catharine, daughter of Robert Ferrier. Here’s the notification I found: 26 August 1837. Royal licence and authority were granted to Mr William Blake, of Swanton Abbots, to assume and use the surname of Jex in addition to and before that of Blake, and to bear the arms of Jex quarterly in the second quarter with those of Blake.

I came across the account above and the name change of Robert Blake Humfrey in this book. I love Google eBooks, and although the actual Book to buy used is a lot of money, I bought the eBook for £2.49! Bargain: Norfolk Annals A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteenth Century, Vol. 1 Author: Charles Mackie. November 25, 2010 [eBook #34439]Transcribed from the 1901 edition by David Price. This report below is also from the book Norfolk Annals:

“11 Sep 1832. A curious incident was witnessed at the marriage, at Guestwick, by the Rev J Blake, of Mr Samuel Goldsmith, miller, of Corpusty, to Miss Mary Goldsmith, of the former place. “The ceremony being over and the clergyman about to retire, the gentleman who gave away the bride, Mr George Barton, of Wood Dalling, unexpectedly took another licence from his pocket and called out, ‘Stay, sir, and marry me.’ The ceremony was again repeated, and Mr Barton was united to the bridesmaid, Miss Hannah Goldsmith, the sister of the other bride, Mr and Mrs Goldsmith performing in their turn the necessary offices for this couple. The village bells rang gaily, and a great deal of merry-making followed these nuptials.” Nice to end this Chapter with a smile.

Chapter 9 will be about the Harvey family.

Till next time then…….