First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of St Andrew’s Church, Old Headington

James Jonathan BLAKE (1884–1918)

James Jonathan Blake was born in London in 1884, the son of Thomas Blake (born at Boarstall, Buckinghamshire in c.1837) and Eliza Blake (born at Boarstall in 1844). His parents were married in 1864 and had seven children (two who died in infancy). The ones who survived were:

• Mary Ann Blake (born in St John’s parish, Westminster, London in 1869/70)
• John Thomas Blake (born in Westminster, London in 1873, registered third quarter at St George’s, Hanover Square)
• Walter Joseph Blake (born in Westminster, London in 1876/7, registered first quarter of 1877 at St George’s, Hanover Square)
• Elizabeth Blake (born in Westminster, London in 1879, registered second quarter at St George’s, Hanover Square)
• James Jonathan Blake (born in Westminster, London in 1884, registered third quarter at St George’s, Hanover Square).

The 1871 census shows James’s father, who was working as a labourer, lodging in London with his wife and baby daughter Mary Ann at 119 Regent Street in the home of another couple (a modeller and laundress who also had a baby). In about 1879/80 James’s mother appears to have become disabled, as the 1901 census records that he had been paralyzed for 21 years.

By 1881 the Blakes had a home of their own at 3 St George’s Place, Westminster, and there were now four children: Mary (11), John (7), Walter (4), and Elizabeth (1). John’s father, however, was not at home on census night: he was a patient in the Metropolitan Convalescent Institution at Walton-on-Thames.

By 1891 the family were living at Binsey in Oxford. James’s father was a farm labourer; his brother John (17) was a grocer’s assistant, and Walter (14) an errand boy, while Elizabeth (11) and James himself (6) were still at school.

By 1901, the family was back in London, living at 64 Bessborough Place, and James’s father (63) was working as a bricklayer’s labourer. Only two of their children were at home: James himself (16), who was an apprentice to a vellum bookbinder, and John (28), who was a bricklayer’s labourer.

By the time of the 1911 census James’s parents had returned to Oxford and were living at 104 Bridge Street, Osney, and his father (73) was now a pensioner. James (27), who was working as a bookbinder with Oxford University Press, was the only one of their children still at home. They also had a visitor in the house: Emma J. Howell (22), a cook born in Westminster, who was evidently James fiancée.

♥ In the second quarter of 1911 James Jonathan Blake married Emma Jessie Howell in the Oxford registration district. They had the following children:

• Christina F. E. Blake (born in Oxford in 1912, registered first quarter)
• Elizabeth Jessie Blake (born at 104 Bridge Street, Oxford in 1913, registered second quarter and baptised at St Frideswide’s Church on 1 May 1913)
• Robert William Blake (born in Oxford in 1915, registered second quarter, and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 16 May 1915)
• James Thomas Blake (born in Headington in 1916, registered second quarter, and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 20 December 1916).

James and Emma evidently began their married life in Oxford, possibly with James’s parents, but in about 1914 they moved up to Headington and lived in Old High Street. When Robert was baptised James was described in the St Andrew’s register as a bookbinder, but he enlisted just two weeks later.

In the First World War James Blake enlisted as a volunteer on 31 May 1915, and served as a Lance Corporal, for a few months in the Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 201792), and then in the Labour Corps (Service No. 346609). He was retained on Home Service throughout. He suffered from heart-strain when serving in the west of England in 1916, and again in Northumberland in 1918. He was discharged, incapacitated, on 11 October 1918 and died in Headington of heart disease on 21 October 1918 at the age of 34. He is buried at Botley Cemetery in Oxford (I1. 131), and  is listed on the roll of honour of St Andrew’s Church in Old Headington.

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Postscript

James’s parents

• Thomas Blake (born 1837) died at the age of 85 in 1923 (registered Headington district, fourth quarter)
• Eliza Blake (born 1844) died at the age of 81 in 1927 (registered Headington district, second quarter)

James’s widow

• Mrs Emma Blake was back living in Westminster in London (at 65 Pulford/Lupus Street) just after the war.