Sir Edward Lake, 1st Baronet (1600 – 18 July 1674) was a lawyer who became advocate general of Ireland. He was a Royalist, badly wounded in the Battle of Edgehill, and was the first of the Lake baronets. Sir Edward also became chancellor and vicar General of the diocese of Lincoln, England.
Origins Edward Lake was the oldest son of Richard Lake and his first wife Anne, (or Ann) née Wardall This surname was sometimes spelled as "Wardell".Lincolnshire Pedigrees vol. 2, Canon A R Madison, Harleian Society 1903, p.577 His parents were married on 18 May 1600 in Keelby, Lincolnshire."Lincolnshire Marriages Image.", KEELBY PAR/1/1: Keelby Parish Register 1565-1705: Baptisms, Burials & Marriages (1600), Lincolnshire Archives, p.19A.Via find my past."England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NF3Y-6QL : 9 March 2018), Richard Laye and Ann Wardall, 18 May 1600; citing Keelby, Lincoln, England, reference M02948-3, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,541,933. On the same day at Keelby, Anne's sister Margaret, married John Markham."England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NF3Y-NCG : 9 March 2018), John Markam and Margaret Wardall, 18 May 1600; citing Keelby, Lincoln, England, reference M02948-3, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,541,933. Anne was a daughter of Edward Wardall, a yeoman,"Inventory - Woodale, Edward (1619-1620)." INV/123/492: Yeoman, Keelby, Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire Archives, via Lincs to the past. who was a Churchwarden of Keelby in 1600.His name is listed as a Churchwarden at the bottom of the same register page on which the marriages of his two daughters Ann, and Margaret were recorded at Keelby."KEELBY PAR/1/1: Keelby Parish Records - Baptisms, Burials & Marriages (1600)." p.19a, image p.12. Retrieved October 8, 2020.Appleby, D.H., Keelby Bishops Transcripts, Section 1, p.28. Lincolnshire Archives. Ann's mother, "Jannett Wardell" was buried in Habrough, on 15 May 1595."Lincolnshire Burials Image Copyright Lincolnshire Archives." HABROUGH PAR/1/1: Habrough Burials 1538-1601, Lincolnshire Archives, p.26. Via find my past. Edward Lake's maternal grandfather Edward Wardall, was buried on 8 July 1619 in Keelby."Lincolnshire Burials Image, copyright Lincolnshire Archives." KEELBY PAR/1/1: Keelby Parish Records - Baptisms, Burials & Marriages (1619), Lincolnshire Archives, p.41. Via find my past."England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JCMK-TX6 : 9 March 2018), Edward Wardall, burial 08 Jul 1619; citing Keelby, Lincoln Co., England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,541,933. Edwards Lake's father, Richard, was born in 1570 in Irby upon Humber and baptised there on 16 July. He was a son of John Lake."England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NX1D-SZW : 10 February 2018, Richard Lakes, ); citing 2:336C41B, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,541,933. Irby is just over five and a half miles from the village of Keelby. Richard's first wife died before 1615. His second wife was Anne Morrelly (or "Morriley"). She was baptised in Claxby, Lincolnshire, on 1 February 1583."England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3SC-MJL : 11 February 2018, Anne Morreleay, 01 Feb 1583); citing, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 421,967. Their oldest son, Thomas Lake, was baptised in Tetney, on 11 August 1615."England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3Q5-3B9 : 11 February 2018, Thomas Lakes, 11 Aug 1615); citing, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 505,760. Richard Lake was a Tailor, and died in 1626 in Tetney. He made his will on 2 September 1626."Richard Lakes, Tailor, Tetney." Lincoln Consistory Court Wills, Tetney 1626, no.572. Lincolnshire Archives.
Early life and education Edward was born in 1600"Lake of Irby & Lincoln."Visitation of Lincolnshire 1666, Lincoln Record Society vol.8, pub. 1917, p.35 and baptised on 22 February 1600, in Tetney, Lincolnshire."England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3Q5-34W : 11 February 2018, Edward Laikes, 22 Feb 1600); citing, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 505,760. This was nine months after his parents were married, as prior to 1752, England used the Julian Calendar, and the year began on 25 March."Colonial Records & Topics: The 1752 Calendar Change." Accessed via the Connecticut State Library online. Retrieved 16 August 2021. A memorial inscription in All Saints' Church, Normanton, Yorkshire states that he was 77 when he died on 18 July 1674, which would point to him being born in about 1597. However, it was not uncommon at this time for there to be errors on ages at burial.
When his father Richard died in Tetney in September 1626, Edward was named as Richard's oldest son in his will. Richard left Edward two shillings. The rest of Edward's half-siblings were to have thirty shillings each. Edward's stepmother died a year later in Tetney. He was not mentioned in the will of his stepmother. But Edward's half-siblings, Thomas, Ambrose, John, Luke, and Anne all were. These five half-siblings of Edward were all previously mentioned in the will of Richard Lake. Thomas, John, and Luke, were later mentioned in Edward's original will, dated 8 April 1665 in Lincoln."Will of Sir Edward Lake of Lincoln, Lincolnshire".PROB 11 - Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers. PROB 11/348/267 . The National Archives, Kew. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original Data: The National Archives; Kew, England; Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 348"INTRODUCTION."Sir Edward Lake's Account of His Interviews With Charles I. On Being Created A Baronet, And Receiving An Augmentation To His Arms, edited by T. P. Taswell-Langmead for Camden Society's Miscellany. vol. iv, 1858.p.vii Anne's brother, John Morriley of Claxby, was named as the executor of her will. John had previously been named as Richard's brother in-law, and executor of Richard Lake's will in 1626."Anne Lakes, Widow, Tetney." Lincoln Consistory Court Wills, Tetney 1627, no.321. Lincolnshire Archives.
He studied at St Catharine Hall, Cambridge, and gained a BA in 1626. He then studied at St Alban's Hall, Oxford (now incorporated into Merton College), and graduated as a BCL (Bachelor of Civil Law), from there on 24 January 1628."INTRODUCTION."Sir Edward Lake's Account of His Interviews With Charles I. On Being Created A Baronet, And Receiving An Augmentation To His Arms, edited by T. P. Taswell-Langmead for Camden Society's Miscellany. vol. iv, 1858. p.iv In the following year, Edward received a Master of Arts from Cambridge University. In 1636, he was incorporated at Cambridge as an LL.B (Bachelor of Laws), graduating in 1637 as an LL.D (Legum Doctor).
Adult life Edward Lake became a lawyer and was appointed Advocate general of Ireland. From 1639 he represented Cavan in the Irish Parliament, and helped to draft the clerical subsidies bill in the following year. But he was expelled from the Commons in Ireland on 9 November 1640. This was as a result of "misconduct" while on a grand committee that was set up to investigate certain privileges which had been claimed by Michael Stanhope, the register."Enforcing the new order, 1635-40." The Reconstruction of the Church of Ireland: Bishop Bramhall and the Laudian Reforms, 1633-1641, (Cambridge Studies In Early Modern British History),John McCafferty, Cambridge University Press, 26 July 2007. p.166"The downfall of reconstruction, 1640-1641."The Reconstruction of the Church of Ireland: Bishop Bramhall and the Laudian Reforms, 1633-1641, (Cambridge Studies In Early Modern British History),John McCafferty, Cambridge University Press, 26 July 2007. p.211
Following the outbreak of the English Civil War he joined the Royalist forces and fought in the Battle of Edgehill, on Sunday 23 October 1642. In this battle he received sixteen wounds. His left arm was wounded by a shot. He bravely held the bridle of his horse with his teeth, while fighting with his sword in the right hand.Sir Edward Lake's Account of His Interviews With Charles I. On Being Created A Baronet, And Receiving An Augmentation To His Arms, edited by T. P. Taswell-Langmead for Camden Society's Miscellany. vol. iv, 1858.p.16.Foster, Peerage and Baronetage 1882, p.369 He was captured and imprisoned at Great Crosby, Lancashire, but escaped after seven weeks. Edward was safe in Bangor, Caernarvonshire by Christmas of 1642.
On 30 December 1643 King Charles I awarded him a warrant for a baronetcy in recognition of his services, but no patent was taken out at the time.Sir Edward Lake's Account of His Interviews With Charles I. On Being Created A Baronet, And Receiving An Augmentation To His Arms, edited by T. P. Taswell-Langmead for Camden Society's Miscellany. vol. iv, 1858.p.17 Charles I also promised him some compensation for the loss of his estates. Following the Restoration, he petitioned for the restoration of lands, preferment, and the award of the baronetcy. He was made Chancellor of the diocese of Lincoln in 1660.Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1660–1, pp. 41, 53Burke's Peerage 1938 p.1472 In this position Edward was the Bishop's Chancellor. This was a separate role from the Chancellor of the cathedral.
The copy of a Patent confirming the armorial augmentations to Sir Edward Lake were signed and sealed by Sir William Dugdale, Norroy King of Arms on 12 June 1661.Sir Edward Lake's Account of His Interviews With Charles I. On Being Created A Baronet, And Receiving An Augmentation To His Arms, edited by T. P. Taswell-Langmead for Camden Society's Miscellany. vol. iv, 1858.p.19. He was not given back his lands but was given a baronetcy. He was given the baronetcy of Carnow, County Wicklow Ireland, by patent. This baronetcy was created on 10 July 1661. Cockayne, G.E., Complete Baronetage Vol.III, 1903, p.313.
The Augmentation to his Coat of Arms included an addition of a second crest which was a picture of him, reins in teeth, sword in right hand, and in some, 16 drops of blood. Photo attached of coat of arms.
Sir Edward became Vicar General of the diocese of Lincoln in 1661. In this role, Edward was the principal official of the Bishop of Lincoln."Case 20. Lake Bar. versus King.", The Reports of the Most Learned Sir Edmund Saunders, Knt: Of Several Pleadings and Cases in the Court of King's Bench, in the Time of the Reign of His Most Excellent Majesty King Charles the Second. [1666-1672], Volume 1 p.120