Brief Life History and Relationship to Sir Lewis John Latham - My 11th great-grandfather

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Relationship to Sir Lewis John Latham - Falconer To King Charles I Lewis was born circa 1584 at Elstow or Elveston, Bedfordshire, England.5 Little is known of the early life of Lewis Latham but it is known that he was a gentleman and trained in the art of falconry. He was falconer to Richard Berrick and under-falconer to Charles, Prince of Wales, who on ascending the throne as King Charles I, retained his falconers, and in 1627 promoted Lewis to sergeant-falconer. Latham doubtless remained in office until his death in 1655. Evidence of his service in such a capacity is provided in extracts from the Calendars of State Paper, one of which says: "1625, Jul. 15. Warrant to pay to Andrew Pitcairn, Master of the Hawks, to the use of Lewis Latham, Eustace Norton, and the rest of the under falconers, the stipend formerly allowed them when the King was Prince of Wales." (Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1625-6, 544.). Marriage: Lewis Latham falconer to Charles I, King of England married Elizabeth (?). Their children: i. FRANCES (<1609-1677) ii. John iii. Henry iv. Maria v. Katherine married a Mr. Garrett vi. Elizabeth baptized 25 September 1617; married Mr. Bibble vii. Sarah viii. Ann married a Mr. Seager ix. Ellen. baptized in 1619. Ellen first married ? SHERRINGHAM. Ca 1663 Ellen second married Rev. William WICKENDEN. William died on 23 Feb 1678.6 Marriage #2 circa 1622 About 1622, Lewis married Winifred Downes. He was about 38 years old.6 Will 6 May 1653 Lewis Latham falconer to Charles I, King of England left a will dated 6 May 1653 His will, dated 6 May 1653, proved at London 1 September 1655, and registered in the prerogative court at Canterbury, mentions his sons Henry and John and daughters Ann Seager, Francis Clarke, Catharine Garrett, Elizabeth Bibble and Ellen Sherringham..7 Death 15 May 1655 Lewis died on 15 May 1655 at Elstow or Elveston, Bedfordshire England.5

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Family History

"Lewis Latham: Falconer to King Charles I "This ancestor of so many Rhode Island families was descended from a junior branch of the Lathams of Lancaster County, and he bore the same coat of arms as that family. The senior branch had ended with Isabel, daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Latham of Latham. He died in 1385 and his daughter Isabel married Sir John Stanley, KT., from whom were the Stanleys, Earls of Derby. The estates thus passed into another name and were long held by the Stanley Family. Latham House was defended with much heroism, and successfully, by the Countess of Derby, in 1644; her forces numbering three hundred men, while the Parliamentary army, under Sir Thomas Fairfax, besieged her with two thousand soldiers. After three months of siege the redoubtable countess was relieved by the forces of Prince Rupert. This old house or castle had a moat twenty-four feet wide and six feet deep, with an outer barrier of palisades, and the outer walls had nine towers with six pieces of artillery to each.­The present Latham House was built about 1750 by the celebrated architect Leoni, and is situated in the middle of a large park, its dimensions being one hundred and fifty-six feet by seventy-five feet, and the architecture of the Grecian style.­At Knowsley Park [location of the Latham House] may be seen many interesting family portraits. (Much of the foregoing is from Sir Bernard Burke's publications.) "For many generations the Lathams exerted a powerful influence in the county of Lancaster; and to all descendants of Lewis Latham, the manor which bears his name, and where his ancestors lived for so long a period, must ever be cherished with interest as great as the place where he actually abode. "'Lewis Latham of Elstow, County Bedford, Gent.' is the designation often found applied to the subject of this sketch. Elstow, where he was buried, and where doubtless he lived most of his life (save when his avocation took him to London), is situated two miles from Bedford, in the county of that name. Here the celebrated John Bunyan was born in 1628. "The office of Falconer, in the reign of Charles I, was one of importance and distinction. The Master Falconer was Sir Patrick Hume, who had thirty-three other gentlemen associated with him as Falconers, one of whom was Lewis Latham. The latter also served under Andrew Pitcairn.­ "Lewis Latham, in carrying out the duties of his office, was stationed near London, or at any of the places where the king might desire his attendance. It is impossible to rightly appreciate the office or the man occupying it wihout some general idea of falconry, which was an art requiring careful and patient study. Strangely enough the only English authority cited in the article on Hawking (or Falconry) in the British Encyclopedia, is one written by Simon Latham , who must have been a relative, and doubtless a near one, of Lewis Latham. The latter was holding his office under the king when the work was published. There are three editions in the British Museum of the work alluded to (1615, 1633 and 1652) and the title page of one of these books is curiously illustrative of the purpose of the work. The title is as follows: 'Lathams Falconry, or the Falconers Lure and Cure, in Two Books'.­ "The portrait of Lewis Latham, fortunately preserved through the care of many generations of descendants, bears an inscription to the effect that it is 'The effigy of the Honourable Lewis Latham, Falconer to his Majesty King Charles I, who died at age of one hundred years.' "A descendant (James Barker), who was born only seventy years after his death, makes the following incidental reference to him: 'Frances the wife of William Vaughan, died September 1677, in the 67th year of her age. She was daughter of Lewis Latham. She was sometime wife of Lord Weston, then wife to William Dungan, by whom she had one son and three daughers. Her son Thomas Dungan married, and settled in Pennsylvania, and was the first Baptist minister in them parts. Her daughter Barbara married toJames Barker of Rhose Island. After Mr. Dungan died she married Mr. Jeremiah Clarke and came over to New England with her four children above mentioned. She had by her husband Clarke five sons. After he died she married Mr. Vaughan.' "Through Lewis Latham's daughter Frances, his blood, though not his name, has been perpetuated to an extraordinary degree both in Rhode Island and in other parts of the United States. She doubtless brought with her the portrait of her father on coming to America with her third husband." Lewis Latham was from Estow, County Bedford, England. He was of a Cadet branch of the Lathams of County Lancaster England and bore the arms of that family. He was falconer to Richard Berrick and under-falconer to Charles, Prince of Wales, who on ascending the throne as Charles I, retained his falconers and in 1627, promoted Lewis Latham to the office of Sergeant- falconer. He was stationed near London or wherever the King desired his residence. He was son of Thomas Dungan, Gent of Lincoln's Inn and nephew of Sir Walter Dungan, Bart., of Castletown, Kildrought and Possecktown Co, Kildare, Ireland, ancestor of the earls of Limerick and of royal descent. His daughter, Frances, is said to have brought to New England a portrait of her father thought to have been painted by Sir Peter Lely, which is now owned by one of her descendants, the late Honorable William Lukens Elkins of Philadelphia. "Last Will and Testament: "Extracted from the Principal Registry of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice" "IN THE PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY. "In the name of God, amen. The sixth day of May in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty and three, I Lewis Latham of Elveston in the county of Bedford, gentleman being of perfect health and memory doe make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form followinge, that is to say: First and especially I bequeath my soule into the hands of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer with the full and certain assurance of the free pardon and remission of all my sinnes in and by and through the merritts, death and passion of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer and my body to the earth from whence it came to be buried att the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named, and for my wordly goods as followeth: IMPRIMIS: I give and bequeath to my two sonnes HENRY LATHAM and JOHN LATHAM twelve pence a piece, if they demand it. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughters ANN SEAGAR FRANCES CLARKE KATHARINE GARNETT and ELIZABETH BIBBLE twelve pence a piece if they come to demand it. ITEM: I give and bequeath to ELLEN SHERRINGHAM my daughter twelve pence if she come and demand it. ITEM: I give to Winyfred Dewnes one bedsteade without furniture thereto belonging. All the rest of my goods chattels and cattles whatsoever I give and bequeath to WHINETHRED my loving wife whom I make Executrix of this my last will and Testament, and I doe hereby utterly revoke and disannul and make voyde all and every other and former will whatsoever heretofore made by me the sayd Lewis Latham. In witness whereof I the sayd Lewis Latham have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and year first above written. The marke of Lewis Latham, read, signed, sealed and deliv'd in the presence of Robert FerneldlúJane FarnellúSusanna Farnell. This will was proved at London the 1st day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty and five before the Judges for Probate of Wills and Grantinge administrations lawfully authorized by the oath of Winythred Latham, the relict of the sayd deceased and sole Executrix named in the last will and Testament of the sayd deceased to whom was committed admon. of all and signlar the goods chattels and debts of the sayd deceased shee the sayd Sinythred Latham being firste sworn by virtue of a commission well and truly to adminis the same." The following is furnished by Frederic A. Holden, Esq. of Washington, D.C. "To the Editor of the Newport Historical Magazine: "The following statement may be of some use and interest, I trust, to your Rhode Island readers. The Roman numerals represent successive generations: I. HENRY TORBECK. II. ROBERT FITZ HENRY, Founder of Burscough. III. RICHARD FITZ ROBERT. IV. RICHARD LATHAM, paid 100 s. for his relief of 3 Carucates of land in Lodhun & Henry III. A.D. 1221. V. ROBERT, LORD OF LATHAM, lived temp. Henry III. 1216ú1272, and temp. Edward I. 1272ú1307. Married Amicia, sister and co-heir of Thomas, Lord and Baron of Alfreton and Norton. VI. SIR ROBERT De LATHAM in 20 Edward I. A. D. 1292, gave Musborough to his brother, he died 18 Edward II. A.D. 1325; married Katharine, daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas de Knowsley, by whom that estate was brought into the family. VII. EDWARD LATHAM, styled Latham of Parabold, in a deed dated 89 Edward III. A.D. 1366, from whom Latham of Parabold. "The descent from Edward Latham is not recorded, (Baine's Hy. Lancaster, England, Vol. III. p. 479), but among the pleadings in the Duchy Court in 9 Elizabeth A.D. 1567, Richard Latham claims, as seized in fee of the manor of Perbolde, from a number of persons, retns, services, and suit to the Court called the Halmote at Perbolde. (Duchy Records Vol. 32. I. n. 9.) "The last named Richard was grandfather of Richard Latham of Parbold, born 1620 and married Katharine Daughter of Sir William Massey of Puddington. There is a brak for200 years in the Records we have in America, brought from Lancaster County, and the history above cited says Edward's descent is not recorded. But in 1567 Richard Latham claims rents &C &C when the Hon. Lewis Latham, Falconer to the King was 12 years of age. "The coat of arms on the Lewis Latham portrait and those of the Latham family in England are identical. He was a venerable looking man, with a long flowing beard, reaching to his bosom, and wearing a dress appropriate to his station.

Story of Latham House

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English Civil War 1644

Posted on February 15, 2018

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1644 was a year where no one gained the upper hand and the casualties of war grew.  The arrival of the Scots in the Civil War ultimately tipped the balance of power in Parliament’s favour but as a result of amateur approaches to warfare the Second Battle of Newbury failed to end matters once and for all.  This had the knock on effect of ensuring the rise of the New Model Army and Cromwell’s Ironsides.

January 1644 started with the usual petitions and recruitment.  Pay remained an issue.  For example Hopton who led the rather successful Western Army for the king in 1643 found himself dealing with mutineering.  Five hundred of his men simply marched off with their weapons to join the Parliamentarians in Poole.  In the midlands as armies ebbed and flowed Nottingham fell once more into Parliamentarian hands and Newstead Abbey, the home of Lord Byron, was looted whilst he was besieging Nantwich on behalf of the king.  This resulted in the necessity of Fairfax crossing the Pennines to Manchester with a view to relieving the siege.  The result is the Battle of Nantwich on 26th January 1644 which Parliament won despite the bad weather and prevailing soggy conditions.  He went on to besiege Latham House near Ormskirk on 28th February where the Countess of Derby held out for the king.  Her husband was on the Isle of Man.  Rather than a direction confrontation she played for time which worked to a degree although Fairfax ordered his men to build earthworks around the house.

At the beginning of February, Newcastle was back in Newcastle to stop the Scots from occupying it on Parliament’s behalf and the royalist garrison at Newark started to feel a bit uncomfortable as well they should because by the end of February, which was a leap year, Sir John Meldrum had besieged the town.  He had 5,000 men and rather a lot of ordinance but the royalists held out. Prince Rupert marched his men from Wolverhampton to Newark to relieve the siege on the 21st of March.

Meanwhile two of the Parliamentarian generals were at loggerheads with one another.  Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex felt that Edward Montagu, Earl of Manchester  (pictured above) was getting the better part of the deal from Parliament.  Montagu, married to a cousin of George Villiers in the first instance married for a second time to Ann Rich, the daughter of the Earl of Warwick – the Parliamentarian Lord Admiral.  He turned from Court towards a more Puritan way of thinking and did not support the king in the Bishop’s War.  He was also the peer who supported John Pym at the opening of the Long Parliament  and was the one member of the House of Lords who Charles I wanted to arrest at the same time as the five members of the House of Commons.  In 1642 he was on his third wife (another member of the Rich family) and had become the Earl of Manchester upon his father’s death.  Manchester had been at the Battle of Edgehill but his was one of the regiments that had fled the battlefield.  After that he was eventually appointed to the command of the Eastern Association Army – regiments covering Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridge.  By the end of 1643 East Anglia was very firmly in Parliamentarian hands and Manchester’s men had broken out into Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.  This should be contrasted with Essex and the Western Association Army performance.  It is perhaps not surprising that Parliament effectively allowed Manchester to by pass Essex and to liaise with the Scots and with the Fairfaxs.

 

By April Selby was back in Parliamentarian hands as Lord Fairfax retrieved the ground that had been lost the previous year.  Newcastle also returned to Yorkshire and occupied York. The Earl of Manchester was ordered to York at the same time as Parliament realised that Prince Rupert and his men were also heading in that direction.  Inevitably York now found itself besieged with the royalists inside and Lord Fairfax outside.  It would have to be said that before that point had been reached Newcastle had got most of his cavalry out of the city.

Meanwhile on the other side of the Pennines Sir Thomas Fairfax was throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, at Latham House.  On the 23rd April he asked the Countess of Derby to surrender.  She declined. At the other end of the country parliamentarian Lyme Regis also declined to surrender.  The townsfolk were hoping that the Earl of Warwick and his navy were going to come to their rescue.  Oxford prepares to be besieged by the Earl of Essex who took nearby Abingdon which the Royalists had abandoned.  Charles I had to leave the city for fear of capture.

Meanwhile the Royalists in York could look over the city walls and watch as the Earl of Manchester and his men arrived. Its best to think at this point of Prince Rupert haring around the countryside relieving Parliamentarian sieges and helping Royalist besiegers to storm their targets.  He did not cover himself in glory at Bolton where the defenders were slaughtered.  The war was beginning to take a decidedly less gallant turn.  Essentially large houses across the country swapped hands – some with the modicum of upset, others after much ammunition had been used.  Meanwhile the king arrived in Worcester and the Parliamentarian armies of Waller and Essex chased after him although somehow Waller managed to lose the king and end up in Gloucester.

The movements of the armies and key figures seem to be very much like a game of strategy where nobody is quite sure of the rules.  The king, for instance, next surfaces in Buckingham, whilst Prince Rupert rocks up  in Knaresborough.  His job is to relieve the siege of York.

With so many men and armies in the vicinity it is perhaps no surprise that July 2nd saw the Battle of Marston Moor.  The Parliamentarians on hearing the news that Rupert was int he area had withdrawn from around York and taken up a position to bar Rupert’s approach to the city. Rupert did not take the bait, he crossed around behind the Parliamentarians at Poppleton and wrote a note to Newcastle telling him to get himself and his lambs into position.  Newcastle wasn’t terribly happy with these orders.  All he wanted was for the Parliamentarians to march off and leave York in peace.

Fairfax and Manchester,along with the Scots under the command of Leven were at Tadcaster when Rupert assumed the correct position for battle on the morning of the 2nd.  A messenger carried the news to the Parliamentarians to the effect that Rupert was “up for it.” Consequently the parliaments had to turn around and go back.  The Royalists had the moor and the Parliamentarians had farmland.  There was a ditch between the two sides. By four in the afternoon there had been no move to battle and by seven the royalists had settled down by their campfires.  At which point the Parliamentarians made their move – which though not particularly gallant was militarily rather sensible.

Fairfax opposed Goring on the right wing: Goring 1 – Fairfax O.  Goring and his men got side tracked by the baggage wagons.  Crowell was on the left wing facing Lord John Byron (pictured right): Ironsides 1 – Royalists 0.  Prince Rupert turned the fleeing royalists round and sent them back into battle.  Rupert and his men were evenly matched with the Ironsides.  Essentially they hacked one another to a standstill at which point the Scottish cavalry charged in on the Royalist flank and scattered them.

Fairfax needing to communicate with Cromwell took off his sash and his field sign and rode across the battlefield, paling through Royalist lines as he did so, to provide Cromwell with accurate information about what was happening.  Cromwell, and his men circled the field and came up behind Goring and his men who were busily looting Fairfax’s baggage train.

Meanwhile Newcastle’s lambs at the centre had fought doggedly through the whole encounter.  Now they were forced back and rather than leave the field they died to a man. William Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle was the last royalist commander left on the battlefield. As his men were slaughtered he ultimately made his way back to York and from there to Scarborough.  At Scarborough he sailed for Hamburg.  The North was lost to the Royalists.  More than 4,000 of their number died at Marston Moor.

In the Midlands, Welbeck Abbey, one of William Cavendish’s homes, fell to the Parliamentarians – who helped themselves to tapestries and silver plate.  Royalist Newark began to feel the pinch once more and Rupert made his way back to the SouthWest where Essex wasn’t having such a victorious feeling as his counterparts in the North.  Ultimately he had to make an undignified escape from Lostwithiel.  Basing House in Hampshire was still being pummelled.

The king seems to have spent much of the second half of the year popping up all over the country being pursued by various parliamentarians. He had planned to relieve Basing House but that went awry so he decided, instead, to relieve Donnington Castle – bearing in mind there was no such thing as a motorway network the various armies marched huge distances a the drop of a hat.  This meant that they were required to live off the land – which was not good news for anyone who happened to be in the path of any army and its destination.  On the 22nd October Charles was in Berkshire, near Newbury.  Cromwell, Manchester and Waller took to the field but the king escaped under cover of darkness and scarpered in the direction of Bath. From there he returned to Oxford – as clearly the Parliamentarians had cleared off by that time.

As the year drew to the close Parliamentarian generals were still writing to London politely suggesting that their men should be paid, Rupert was still popping up like a jack in the box and Basing House was still under siege.  Lord Fairfax was quietly sitting outside the castles of Pontefract and Knaresborough but had been given orders to sort out the royalists in Newark as well.  Knaresborough did surrender by the end of the year, not that it was much consolation to Lord Fairfax who felt that he was being over-stretched with insufficient men or money to do Parliament’s bidding.

In London, Parliament was pointing fingers about who was responsible for the failure to administer a crushing defeat on the king at the Second Battle of Newbury  and the Self-Denying Ordinance is proposed which would prevent members of Parliament (Lords or Commons) from holding military command.  Whilst the Commons agreed to the idea the Lords were less keen but would pass a revised version of the ordinance in 1645.

All in all – a very depressing year and that’s without considering Scotland, the Covenanters and the Earl of Montrose.

Emberton, Wilfred. The Civil War Day by Day.

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