From: flake at suscom.net (Frank Lake)
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 16:24:28 -0500
Subject: Henry E. Huntington Library (fwd)

Dear Phyllis and Marshall,

Thank you very much for the information and for forwarding it.

I did try the library catalog and did not get as much as you did. Perhaps
you know how to search such things better than I do. I do see some mention
of JavaScript and maybe that was the problem as I often get error messages
to that effect. I do have it turned on in IE but it probably has something
to do with the Microsoft - Sun battle and Microsoft not supporting the later
versions of Java.

The reference 1 about an apology for a pamphlet criticizing the Pope's
letter etc., is new to me. It sounds as if Edward wanted to show his support
for Charles I - perhaps to get a position in court.

Reference 2 is the document referenced by the Historic Manuscripts
Commission and written after the Restoration (of the Monarchy in 1660). I
have been told that Sir Edward petitioned Charles II for various positions
and for the losses of lands? and monies during the Commonwealth period.
Perhaps this is what this is or reasons why he did or said certain things
during the same period. I do not know when he was given the Chancellorship
of the Diocese of Lincoln but it may well be before this document.

Reference 3 was published in the 19th Century and I have a copy. I think it
was (Sir) Edward blowing his own trumpet so that he could get his baronetcy
and maybe a job. It is interesting reading and like his will, very long.

I do appreciate the information on Sir Edward. I am fascinated by him and
his half-brothers, Thomas, John and Luke. They were the sons and grandsons
of tailors in  tiny villages in NE Lincolnshire, England - a backwater.
Their grandfather and also my ancestor, John Lake died when his eldest son,
Richard, was only 5. Richard died when Edward was 21 and his oldest
half-brother, Thomas was about 7. Thomas's mother died the following year.
Edward was bequeathed ten shillings (not much) and the other children monies
for their apprenticeships and if any remainder to be shared.

Edward was baptized on 23 Feb 1600/1. I have seen the parish record so
believe the reference in the Huntingdon Library to be incorrect. I think by
the time of his father's death, Edward was at either Oxford or Cambridge
University ( he did go to both ) - perhaps his father had already given him
money for his education although I do not believe it was usual for the son
of a tailor to go to University. He became a lawyer and I believe, somehow
became part of Charles I's court. He was the Advocate General in Ireland
serving under Thomas Wentworth, the Lord Protector and the Member of the
Irish Parliament for Cavan. I imagine it was at this time he made his
money - by means unknown. Just before the Civil was in 1642, he was back in
England serving in the 'court' of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Laud. Both
Laud and Wentworth were the King's main advisors and hated by the House of
Commons. At the Battle of Edgehill, Edward (maybe already Sir by a
knighthood) was in the cavalry for the King. He was wounded, captured,
escaped, recovered from his wounds and eventually presented to the King.
According to Sir Edward's story, the King was taken by the fact that a forty
year old lawyer would fight for him. He then told Edward he would make him a
baronet after he had won the war. He told Edward to keep quiet about it but
did give him a letter to that effect. Sir Edward was a Royalist through and
through and a staunch believer in the established Church of England. He
professes as much in his will.

I know less of Thomas bapt 1615 and John 1618 until they reached Boston Mass
about 1650. John was a tailor but Thomas may have come from New Haven as he
had married one of the Deputy Governor's daughters. Thomas was regarded as a
successful merchant and traded with the Indians - presumably for skins. He
two sons who survived to their majority, Stephen and Thomas, both went to
London to become lawyers and both in their turn became executors and the
major beneficiaries of Sir Edward's will. (If Sir Edward had a son, he died
young and Stephen died when 21). By being in Boston MA, must have had to
profess allegiance to the non-conformist church and possible support of
Parliament against the King. While in Thomas's case, he may well have been a
merchant first and a church member and Parliamentarian second. The family
was connected to the non-conformist church after Thomas's death by the
marriage of the only surviving daughter, Ann, first to the minister John
Cotton and second to Increase Mather. Marshall through your postings you
have given me a number of facts particularly of Thomas Lake in Boston.

What surprises and fascinates me is that the children of Richard Lake, a
village tailor, were so successful and possibly on opposite sides in the
Civil War. I wonder whether Edward used his connections to get Thomas a good
apprenticeship in London. Thomas's father-in-law was Stephen Goodyear a
London goldsmith or more likely a member of the Guild of Goldsmiths and a
merchant adventurer. He traveled back and forward to New England a number of
times and put money into a number of projects. It could well be that Thomas
married in London and not New Haven.

Again thank you both for the information. As you can see it interests me
greatly. Marshall, if you have managed to get this far you might be thinking
about copying it to the mailing list. I did not do so since I believe I have
said all these things before. However, I have no objection if you wish to do
so.

Best regards from PA under at least two feet of snow. Roll on Summer.

Frank