John Blacknall

John Blacknall (1583 – 21 August 1625) was a landowner and benefactor to Abingdon-on-Thames.

John Blacknall
Born1583
Died21 August 1625

Early life and education

He was born in 1583, son of William Jr. His grandfather William Sr. was a wealthy landowner and owner of the Abbey mills.[1] William Sr. had originally bought the Abbey land after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.[2]

He is believed to have been educated at John Roysse's Free School in Abingdon, (now Abingdon School) [3] and later studied at The Queen's College, Oxford.[4]

Career

He was a barrister-at-law and qualified from Middle Temple but decided not to practice.[4] His grandfather died in 1585 and when his father died in 1613 he inherited the estate. He married a daughter of a gentry family (the Blagraves of Bulmershe) and had little interest in the business selling the mills but continued to acquire more land.[1]

It is believed that the Blacknall family (and possibly John) commissioned the Abingdon Monks' Map and Blacknall Map.[5]

Death and legacy

He died of the plague on 21 August 1625 and has a Monument with effigies in St Nicolas Church, Abingdon.[4] By his will dated 9 August 1625 he bequeathed 40 shillings per annum for the schoolmaster of Abingdon School.[3] He left £16,000 (a fortune at the time) to his daughter Mary Blacknall.

See also

References
  1. "The Blacknall family". Abingdon.gov.uk.
  2. "The Building". St Nicolas Church.
  3. Preston, Arthur Edwin (1929). St.Nicholas Abingdon and Other Papers, pre isbn. Oxford University Press. p. 341.
  4. Richardson, William H (1905). List of Some Distinguished Persons Educated at Abingdon School 1563-1855. Hughes Market Place (Abingdon). p. 4.
  5. "Monks' map was commissioned by Abingdon landowner". BBC.
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