Francis Leke, 1st Earl of Scarsdale
Encyclopedia
Francis Leke, 1st Earl of Scarsdale (1581–1655) fought for the Royalist cause in the English Civil War
.
in 1611, and Lord Deincourt (or d'Eyncourt) of Sutton in 1624.
At the beginning of April 1643 Lord Deincourt began to fortify his house at Sutton. Sir John Gell
sent his brother, Colonel Thomas Gell, with 500 men and three pieces of ordnance, to besiege it. Lord Deincourt was summoned, but refused to surrender, and for some time obstinately defended himself. The house was taken, and Lord Deincourt and his men made prisoners: the works were demolished, and Lord Deincourt set at liberty, on giving his word that he would go to Derby within eight days, and submit himself to the Parliament. Sir John Gell observes, that the forfeiture of his word, on this occasion, was revenged by the garrison at Bolsover, who some time afterwards, when that castle was in the hands of the Parliament, plundered Lord Deincourt's house at Sutton. In the same year, fighting under Lord Deincourt's banner, two of his sons were killed fighting for their King, at the battle of Lansdowne
, on 5 July 5, 1643.
In 1645, Lord Deincourt was created Earl of Scarsdale
. Having rendered himself very obnoxious to the Parliament, by his exertions in the royal cause, during the First English Civil War
, his estates were sequestered; and as he refused to compound
, they were sold. His son procured some friends to be the purchasers, he paying the sum of £18,000, fixed by the Parliamentary commissioners as the composition.
Earl of Scarsdale having devoted himself, his family, and fortune, to the cause of King Charles I
and monarchy, became so much mortified at the execution of King Charles, that he dressed himself in sackcloth, and having his grave dug some years before his death, laid himself down in it every Friday, exercising himself frequently in divine meditations and prayers. He died at his house at Sutton, in Scarsdale, 9 April 1655, and was buried in the church there.
The title became extinct by the death of Nicholas, the 4th Earl
, in 1736. After this event, the large estates belonging to this family were sold for the payment of debts.
, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and they had the following children:
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Biography
Francis Leke, of Sutton was the son and heir of Sir Francis Leke (d. 1601) by his first wife, Frances, daughter and co-heir of Robert Swifte of Bayton, and Ellen his wife, daughter and heir of Nicholas Wickersley, County York. He was created a baronetBaronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1611, and Lord Deincourt (or d'Eyncourt) of Sutton in 1624.
At the beginning of April 1643 Lord Deincourt began to fortify his house at Sutton. Sir John Gell
Sir John Gell, 1st Baronet
Sir John Gell, 1st Baronet was a Parliamentarian politician and military figure in the English Civil War.-Background:...
sent his brother, Colonel Thomas Gell, with 500 men and three pieces of ordnance, to besiege it. Lord Deincourt was summoned, but refused to surrender, and for some time obstinately defended himself. The house was taken, and Lord Deincourt and his men made prisoners: the works were demolished, and Lord Deincourt set at liberty, on giving his word that he would go to Derby within eight days, and submit himself to the Parliament. Sir John Gell observes, that the forfeiture of his word, on this occasion, was revenged by the garrison at Bolsover, who some time afterwards, when that castle was in the hands of the Parliament, plundered Lord Deincourt's house at Sutton. In the same year, fighting under Lord Deincourt's banner, two of his sons were killed fighting for their King, at the battle of Lansdowne
Battle of Lansdowne
The English Civil War battle of Lansdowne was fought on 5 July 1643, near Bath, southwest England. Although the Royalists under Lord Hopton forced the Parliamentarians under Sir William Waller to retreat from their hilltop position, they suffered so many casualties themselves and were left so...
, on 5 July 5, 1643.
In 1645, Lord Deincourt was created Earl of Scarsdale
Earl of Scarsdale
Earl of Scarsdale was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1645 for Francis Leke, 1st Baron Deincourt, an ardent supporter of Charles II during the Civil War...
. Having rendered himself very obnoxious to the Parliament, by his exertions in the royal cause, during the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
, his estates were sequestered; and as he refused to compound
Committee for Compounding with Delinquents
In 1643, near the start of the English Civil War, Parliament set up two committees the Sequestration Committee which confiscated the estates of the Royalists who fought against Parliament, and the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents which allowed Royalists whose estates had been...
, they were sold. His son procured some friends to be the purchasers, he paying the sum of £18,000, fixed by the Parliamentary commissioners as the composition.
Earl of Scarsdale having devoted himself, his family, and fortune, to the cause of King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
and monarchy, became so much mortified at the execution of King Charles, that he dressed himself in sackcloth, and having his grave dug some years before his death, laid himself down in it every Friday, exercising himself frequently in divine meditations and prayers. He died at his house at Sutton, in Scarsdale, 9 April 1655, and was buried in the church there.
The title became extinct by the death of Nicholas, the 4th Earl
Nicholas Leke, 4th Earl of Scarsdale
Nicholas Leke, 4rd Earl of Scarsdale was an English politician and courtier.- Biography :Leke was the nephew of Robert Leke, 3rd Earl of Scarsdale, succeeding him when Robert died childless in 1707....
, in 1736. After this event, the large estates belonging to this family were sold for the payment of debts.
Family
Francis Leke married Anne, daughter of Sir Edward Gary of Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, and sister of Henry, Viscount FalklandHenry Cary, 1st Viscount Falkland
Henry Cary, 1st Viscount Falkland ; son of a Hertfordshire knight; said to have studied at Oxford; served abroad; gentleman of the bedchamber to King James I; K.B., 1608; controller of the household, 1617-21; created Viscount Falkland in the Scottish peerage, 1620; lord-deputy of Ireland, 1622;...
, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and they had the following children:
- Francis, slain in France;
- Nicholas, Lord Deincourt, his successor;
- Edward and Charles, who were slain at the battle of Lansdowne;
- Henry, who died unmarried.
- Anne, his eldest daughter married Henry Hildeyard of Winestcad, Yorkshire
- Catherine, married Cuthbert Morley;
- Frances, married Viscount GormanstonViscount GormanstonViscount Gormanston is a title in the Peerage of Ireland held by the head of the Preston family. It was created in 1478. The holder is the senior Viscount of Ireland, as well as the bearer of the oldest vicomital title in either Britain or Ireland. The Preston family descends from Sir Robert...
, in Ireland; - Penelope, married Charles, Lord LucasCharles LucasSir Charles Lucas was an English soldier, a Royalist commander in the English Civil War.-Biography:Lucas was the son of Sir Thomas Lucas of Colchester, Essex. As a young man Lucas served in the Netherlands under the command of his brother, and in the "Bishops' Wars" he commanded Cheesea troop of...
of Shenfield; - Elizabeth and Muriel, died unmarried.