Rachel Blake 1741-1825
no. 223782
Miss Rachel Blake was the last Blake to live in the Blake House. Upon her death in 1825, the house was sold to Caleb Williams.
Rachel Blake was born in 1741, one of five children of John Blake, cordwainer, and Abigail (Preston) Blake. Upon her father’s death in 1772, the absence of a will caused his estate, which included the subject house and barn [or parts thereof], as well as some thirteen acres of surrounding land, to be divided equally among his children. Each of the individual shares of the surrounding land was sold off eparately at different times, and by surviving her four siblings, Rachel ultimately gained full possession of the house [or her half of it]. The other half of the house was owned by John and Sarah Clapp Hawes, but they had moved to South Boston about 1804.
the following is from: Ebenezer Clapp. The Clapp Memorial. Record of the Clapp Family in America. (Boston, 1876), 260 footnote.
In the early part of the present century [i.e., the 19th century], this house was the secluded residence of two aged sisters, Miss Rachel Blake and Mrs. Elizabeth, widow of Daniel Fairn. Mr. Fairn married, first, May 8, 1753, Mindwell Clapp , who died March 17, 1767, … He married, second, November 24, 1768, Dorcas Davenport, who died September 22, 1780. He married, third May 22, 1781, Elizabeth Blake, daughter of John and Abigail Blake, who died January 8, 1817, aged 85 years. He died March 14, 1795, in the 63d year of his age. … The two sisters, above named, lie buried near each other in the Old Dorchester Burying Ground, with the following epitaphs.
In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Fairn
Widow of
Mr. Daniel Fairn
Who died Jan. 8, 1817,
Aged 85 years.
How very few like me survive
And reach the age of eight five.
Long time I trod this veil of tears,
till, bending with a weight of years,
I calmly sunk into the Grave
Trusting Almighty Power to save.
Miss Rachel Blake
Died Aug. 13, 1825
Aged 84 years.
Serene I walked life’s journey
o’er
Till I arrived at eighty-four.
then calm descended here to rest
It hopes to be forever blest.