Thomas William BLAKE 1832-1907
&
Mary Ann CAPP 1832-1914

Thomas William BLAKE b. 1832, Plymouth, Devonshire, England son of Thomas BLAKE and Elizabeth WILLS was married in 1852 at Surrey, England to Mary Ann CAPP, b. 1832, London, England, daughter of William CAPP and Mary Ann ___.

Thomas William BLAKE and Mary Ann CAPP emigrated and arrived with two children on the "Constant" in February 1855 at Portland, S-W Victoria, Australia. They had another ten children in the Glenelg & Wannon area in S-W Victoria up until 1875. He worked as a carpenter and wheelwright in the Merino area in the 1860s and 1870s and constructed the original Merino Cemetery gates.

Thomas BLAKE died in 1907 at Noradjuha, near Natimuk, S-W Victoria and was buried in the local cemetery and his widow Mary Ann died in 1914. His obituary states...

Obituary. Mr Thomas Blake, father of Mr T. W. Blake, an officer of the Borough Council, died on Monday last at the age of 75. Deceased was a farmer at Noradjuha, where he had resided 28 years. He had been 53 years in the colony, landing in 1854 from the ship Constant which ran ashore as she was entering Portland Bay and became a total wreck. For some years Mr Blake followed his trade as carpenter and wheelwright, moving from station to station and earning good money because he was a skilful and reliable tradesman. He first settled at Merino and then at Chetwynd, but in 1882 came to the Wimmera. Mr Blake may justly be classed among the working pioneers who have built up the State for he leaves no fewer than 117 descendants, namely five sons, five daughters, 75 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Mr T. W. Blake, of Horsham, is the oldest of the family and another brother is employed by Messrs Jones and McCann, two are farming near Noradjuha and the fifth is a staff captain of the Salvation Army, at present stationed in Queensland. Mrs Blake, his life-long partner, survives in vigorous health, and both were held in affectionate esteem by neighbors and friends. The interment took place on Wednesday, at Noradjuha Cemetery, a great concourse attending the obsequies at which the Rev. T. J. Payne officiated.

"The Horsham Times" (Vic.) Friday, 26 July 1907

Thomas William BLAKE & Mary Ann CAPP had the following family...

1. Thomas William BLAKE, b. 1851, London, England, d. 1940, Horsham, Vic, m. 1874 to Emily Hobson JOBLING ~1855-1931 (12 children).
2. Mary Ann Matilda BLAKE, b. 1853, Surrey, England, d. 1939, Horsham, Vic., m. 1875 to George BODGER 1848-1911 (7 children).
3. Elizabeth BLAKE, b. 1855, ___ S-W Vic., d. 1917, St Arnaud Hospital, Vic., m. 1874 to Charles Thomas COOK ~1850-1917+, of Natimuk, Woomelang, Hotspur & Hopetoun districts (13 ch'n).
4. Sarah BLAKE, b. 1857, Coleraine, S-W Vic., d. 1950, Horsham, Vic., m. 1874 to Henry BARNETT ~1850-1920, of Chetwynd, Natimuk & Horsham districts (14 ch'n).
5. Alfred BLAKE, b. 1859, Chetwynd, S-W Vic., d. 1951, Horsham, Vic., m. 1884 to Lucy Ellen CARTER 1864-1957, of Noradjuha district (9 ch'n).
6. Anthony BLAKE, b. 1861, d. 1861, Casterton, S-W Vic.
7. Walter BLAKE, b. 1863, Merino, S-W Vic., d. 1915, Noradjuha, Vic., m. 1886 to Emily CARTER 1868-1955, of Noradjuha district (11 ch'n).
8. Henry BLAKE, b. 1865, Merino, S-W Vic., d. 1954, Melbourne, Vic., m. 1896 to Ada Susan REIN ~1871-1951, of Noradjuha & Horsham districts (6 ch'n).
9. Emily BLAKE, b. 1867, Merino, S-W Vic., d. 1967, Swan Hill, Vic., m. 1885 to George CARTER 1860-1938, of Noradjuha, Horsham & Hopetoun districts (5 ch'n).
10. Margaretta BLAKE, b. 1870, Merino, S-W Vic., d. 1944, Bendigo, Vic., m. 1890 to Augist Adolph ROKESKY 1863-1945, of Noradjuha district (4 ch'n).
11. John BLAKE, b. 1872, Merino, S-W Vic., d. 1941, Melbourne, Vic., m. 1898 to Hannah Mary PARKS 1872-1954, Salvation Army officer of Melbourne, etc... (11 ch'n).
12. Anthony Charles BLAKE, b. 1875, d. 1876, Chetwynd, S-W Vic.