Jacob Blakeway facts for kids

Jacob Blakeway (born in 1583) was part of a famous event in England during the 1600s. This event caused a big stir and led to the four More children being sent to America on the ship Mayflower in 1620.

For many years, historians wondered why the More children's father sent his young kids to the New World with other people. In 1959, the puzzle was solved. Jasper More, a family member of Samuel More, found an old document from 1622 in his attic. This document explained the legal fights between Katherine and Samuel More and what really happened to the children. It showed that Samuel did not believe the children were his. He arranged for them to go to the Colony of Virginia.

Early Life

Jacob Blakeway was born in July 1583. He was baptized on July 25, 1583, in Stanton Long Parish in Corvedale. He was the oldest son of Edward Blakeway and Anceret. By 1608, the Blakeway family had lived on the estate of Jasper More of Larden Hall for many years. Their home was about half a mile from Brockton, where the Blakeways lived.

Court Battles

Jacob Blakeway and Katherine More said they had promised to marry each other before Katherine married Samuel. In June 1616, Jacob and Katherine asked a court to cancel Katherine's marriage to Samuel so they could marry each other. If they could prove this earlier promise to marry, they would have had a strong case. At that time, the law recognized a promise to marry as a real contract, even without a church ceremony. They only needed two witnesses, but the people who might have witnessed Jacob and Katherine's promise were all gone.

In 1616, Samuel More, following his father's advice, took all four children from Larden Hall. He placed them with some of his father's tenants nearby. This happened in late April or May, because the youngest child had just been baptized on April 16.

After the children were taken from Larden Hall, Jacob Blakeway faced more legal action. Samuel More said that Jacob was called before special courts, the High Commission Court and the Council of the Marches.

Samuel's records show that Jacob and Katherine continued to live at Larden during this time (1616–1618). The next legal step against Jacob was an accusation of trespass. Samuel More's account states that Jacob was brought before a judge in 1618. Samuel was awarded £400 in damages, which was a very large sum of money back then. Samuel said that Jacob appealed to a higher court, the Kings Bench, but the decision was upheld. After this, Jacob "fled" to avoid paying the money. Nothing more is known about Jacob Blakeway after this.

Katherine More kept trying to get her children back through the courts. But after a four-year legal fight, she lost the case around July 8, 1620. After this final court decision, Katherine's four children were moved without her knowing or agreeing. They were placed with different Pilgrim families who were about to leave for the New World on a ship called the Mayflower. In his statement, Samuel More wrote that he took this action because he believed the children were not his. He sent them to America to "provide for the education and maintenance of these children in a place remote from these parts where these great blotts and blemishes may fall upon them." This meant he wanted them raised far away where the family's troubles wouldn't affect them. No records of Katherine are found after June 1622.

The More Children and the Mayflower

When the Mayflower sailed in September 1620, the children were between four and eight years old. They were sent as indentured servants, meaning they would work in the colony of Virginia (which is now Long Island). This was the Mayflower's planned destination until bad winter weather forced the ship to stop at Cape Cod. Many people traveled as paying passengers on the Mayflower. It's not fully known what explanation was given for the More children being there. Many children from London who had no homes were sent to the New World as workers, and the More children were part of this group.

• Elinor More, also called Ellen More, was 8 years old. She was assigned to be a servant for Edward Winslow. She died in November 1620, soon after the Mayflower arrived at Cape Cod Harbor. Her burial place is unknown, but she might have been buried on Cape Cod, like her brother Jasper a few weeks later. Her name is on the Pilgrim Memorial Tomb in Plymouth, Massachusetts, along with many others who died that winter.
• Jasper More was 7 years old and a servant for John Carver. He died from a "common infection" in December 1620 while the Mayflower was in Cape Cod Harbor. He was buried on shore in what is now the Provincetown area. Provincetown has a memorial plaque with his name and the names of four others who died at sea in November/December 1620.
• Mary More was 4 years old and assigned to be a servant for William Brewster. She died sometime in the winter of 1620/1621. Her burial place is unknown, but she might have been buried on Cole's Hill in Plymouth in an unmarked grave, like many others that winter. Her name is also on the Pilgrim Memorial Tomb in Plymouth.
• Richard More was 6 years old and a servant for William Brewster. He lived with the Brewster family until about mid-1627, when his service agreement ended. Around this time, his name appears in a census at age 14 as a member of the Brewster family in 'New Plimouth'. By 1628, Richard was working for Pilgrim Isaac Allerton, who was involved in trading across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Mayflower arrived at Provincetown Harbor in November 1620. Sadly, tragedy struck soon after the ship's arrival. Elinor More died in November 1620. Jasper More died one month later in December 1620 from "a common infection." Mary More died that first winter of 1620/1621.

After the Mayflower sailed, Katherine tried again to challenge the court's decision. This legal action in early 1622, before Chief Justice James Ley, led to Samuel's statement. This statement explained where he sent the children and why, giving us most of the historical information about these events.