William Blake was born c1562 in Over Stowey, Somerset, England, per a deposition he gave later in life and was the youngest child of John Blake and his wife, Joan (MNU).
William Blake married Anne (MNU), c1585 and the family removed about 20 miles from Over Stowey to Pitminster, still in Somerset, England.
William and Anne were the parents of seven children, all baptized at Pitminster, with the exception of Robert, who was possibly their eldest child:
- (Possibly) Robert, born c1587; married Sarah Wicham, 3 March 1616/17, Pitminster, Somerset, England
- Grace, baptized 9 February 1588/89; buried 5 January 1621/22, Pitminster, Somerset, England
- Eme, baptized 3 December 1592; buried 27 July 1593, Pitminster, Somerset, England
- William, baptized 10 February 1594; died 25 October 1663, Dorchester, Massachusetts; married Agnes (MNU) Band, c1617
- John, baptized 19 June 1597; no further record
- Anne, baptized 12 October 1600; no further record
- Richard, baptized 17 April 1603; no further record
William and Anne (MNU) Blake’s lives prove what a struggle life was. Of seven children, only William and possibly Robert were still living when William Blake was buried on 13 June 1642 in Pitminster, Somerset, England.
Perhaps that was one of the reasons that led William Jr. to seek a new life in Massachusetts.