from
http://www.netcentral.co.uk/steveb/biographies/lake_thomas.htm

 
  LAKE, Thomas (1788/9-1872), upholsterer and cabinet maker, Stoke
  upon Trent.

  Thomas Lake was born in 1788 or 1789 at Draycott, Staffordshire. He
  earned his living as an upholsterer and cabinet maker but posterity
  remembers him as parish clerk of Stoke upon Trent for 50 years. It
  was written of him that 'His face was disciplined into a becoming
  gravity and he was properly conscious of his dignity as a licensed
  parish clerk.'  In an 1818 trade directory he is listed as "Cabinet
  Maker - Stoke". In the 1851 White's trade directory he is listed under
  a number of headings as follows: "Thomas Lake, clerk of St. Peters and
  tax collector". "Fire & Life Offices for Phoenix". "Cabinet Maker".
  He was listed in the 1851 census as married with two children who
  occupied premises in Glebe Street: Samuel and Thomas.  According to the
  1851 White's trade directory his son Thomas occupied number 2 Glebe
  Street as a grocer and the 1881 census has Samuel at number 11 as a
  cabinet maker.  He qualified as an improvement commissioner in 1857.

  Number 1 Glebe Street
  Thomas Lake died at 1 Glebe Street, Stoke upon Trent, on 2 February
  1872 and was buried in Stoke churchyard.

  Thomas Lake's wife was named Jane
  Children: Ann, b. abt 1814 John, b. abt 1817 Sarah, b. abt 1818 Jane,
    b. abt 1820 Thomas, b. abt 1822 Samuel, b. abt 1826

  Thomas Jr. married Elisabeth Anne Hayes
  Children: Charles J., b. abt 1857 Albert E., b. abt 1862 Alexandra,
    b. 4 Jul 1864

  From the 1881 Census: Samuel Lake's wife name was Emma (maiden name
  unknown)
    Samuel and Emma had 8 children: Charles, b. abt 1855 (cabinet maker)
    George, b. abt 1857 (writing clerk) Samuel, b. abt 1859 (agent)
    Arthur J., b. abt 1860 (writing clerk) Emma, b. abt 1862 Jane,
    b. abt 1870 Ernest, b. abt 1872


  SOURCES: R. A. Cason, Time and the Place; Census 1851; Dir. 1851, 1872;
  People of the Potteries; 1851 White's Trade Directory; Alexander Lake's
  great-granddaughter - Jane Gillard.