The principle object of this Paper is to give and gain information respecting a family long resident in the county of Wiltshire. Any further information will be thankfully received and misstatements corrected by the author, the Rev R.E.H. Duke, Rector of Maltby, Alford, Lincolnshire

There are two main families or possibly branches, bearing the name Duke, sprung from the same progenitor. Once was situate in East Anglia, first at Brampton in Suffolk then at Benhall Lodge, which was built i

n 1638 by Sir Edward Duke, created baronet 16^th July 1661, but his grandson dying without male issue the title became extinct, and the estates passed onto the female line; there are some original letters of this family in the Tanner MMSS., Bodleian Library; subsidiary branches were in Essex and Herts., and it is pretty clear that Richard Duke, the divine and poet, whose father was a London scrivener, sprung from Herts.; he signed a transfer of a mortgage on the manor of Ware 7 May 1668, and sealed it with the arms of the Suffolk family (British Museum Additional Charters 29,553).  Believe the above East Anglian branch claim decent from Roger Duke, Bailiff of London in 1190.

The other main family spread itself in the South of England, and claim descent from the first Mayor of London, commonly called Henry Fitz Alwynne, but by John Ross, Henry Duke, or Dewke; they settled first at Sherborne in Dorset: an early marriage with Cicely, daughter of Roger le Poer of Poerhayes, Devon, brought that barton into the family; the lineal descendant of this marriage, wedded Julian, daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Cossington, be whom the estate of Cossington in Kent came into their possession, whose eldest son George Duke sold the Barton of Poerhayes to his kinsman Richard Duke, whose father had held civic office at Exeter; the lineal descendants of George Duke continued at Cossington and Maidstone till the close of the 18^th century.

Now, to revert to Richard Duke, the purchaser of Poerhayes, he was the chief clerk of the Court of Augmentation, and from the influence he thence derived he purchased from the Crown large estates belonging to the dissolved abbeys, among them Otterton adjoining Poerhayes, and on 6^th October King Edward VI, he granted a lease of Poerhayes estates to Walter Ralegh, esq., and John Ralegh his son for their lives; here Sir Walter Ralegh was born as his letter to Richard Duke now preserved in the Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, testifies; this branch failed in the male line and the estate was sold; Mr Yonge of Puslinch , and Lord Coleridge are the representatives at the present time. Paul Harding, a member of the Devon Family History Society, has kindly provided further information of this branch of the Duke family.

The Heralds St George and Lennard in 1623, at the Wilts Visitation, declared the family at Lake to be a younger branch of the Otterton family, and we have always believed ourselves to be so, but we do not know where the connection is.

The earliest mention of the name in Wiltshire is: - 1404 November 11. Grant for life to the king’s servant John Duc, one of the grooms of the king’s chamber, of the office of bailiff itinerant in the county of Wilts.

1428 Peter Duke was on the jury of an inquisition.

1434 Peter Duke among those whose oaths were to be taken by the Bishop of Salisbury and knights of the shire for the county of Wilts.

1433 List of gentry in Wilts, Peter Duke.

The first name of Duke who is known to have resided at Lake is Michael Duke; he is stated in the declaration of the rentals of the Chantries of Somerset (Land Values Revenue Records, vol. 97) printed by the Somerset Record Society, vol 2, to have been, with others, tenant for the term of their lives, by indenture, from the Guild of Corscombe, of the capital messuage at Lake with all houses, edifices, etc., while Alice Duke was also a tenant there of certain arable lands. She may have been Michael’s mother, and the following entry in the register of Hedington may refer to her: - “Alce dewke buryed ye xxth daie of September 1558”

It is not known whom she married.

Michael Duke had issue-

i.                     John Duke

ii.                   Thomas, whose son Thomas Duke of Trowbridge is a legatee in the will of the above John.

i.                     Jane, the wife of …Bithan.

ii.                   Agnes, mar. at Trowbridge, 28 June 1559, to Edward Chevers, of New Sarum.

iii.                  Alice, the wife of Robert Scutt of Hedington.

All three daughter are legatees in the will of their Brother John.

John Duke, the eldest son, paid subsidy in 1558; married Agnes, daughter of …; and in Hilary Term, 12 Elizabeth purchased from George, Earl of Shrewsbury, a lease of a farm at Wisford, for the life of his second son John. He made his will 26^th Feb 1573-4; pr. 8 June 1574 (P.C.C)

He had issue-

i.                     George, of whom presently.

ii.                   John, of Wilsford, of whom later on,

i.                     Margery.

ii.                   Agnes

He lived at Lake, and was succeeded by George Duke of Lake, the eldest son.

This George purchased the Manor of Lake from John Capelyn, and also a messuage in Lake from Wm. Trenchard for £40; in 1608, he had a lease of the rectory and manor of Bulford for 40 years from the crown; in December 1609 he bought the manor of Salterton for £1,300 from Gerard Errington, to whom he granted a lease thereof for that gentleman’s life.

He married Mary, daughter of Philip Poor of Durrington, by whom he had issue three sons and six daughters.

i.                     John Duke of Lake, of whom presently.

ii.                   George Duke of Bulford, who is stated in the allegation for a marriage licence to have been 26 years old in 1622; he married Catherine Gilbert (she was buried at Bulford, 9 September 1623), by whom he had issue on son, viz., George Duke, bapt. At Milston, 29 June 1623; admitted to the Middle Temple, 1 Feb 1650; a deponent in the Chancery suit Aycliff v Duke (Collins 328 Depositions).

iii.                  Andrew Duke, who was possessed of a moiety of the manor and rectory of Bulford which by his will, dated 24^th May 1633, he devised to his eldest bother John Duke of Lake; he bequested 1000 marks to his nephew George, the son of his brother George, on the condition that he released all his moiety of the manor and rectory of Bulford to the said John Duke of Lake, to the intent that John should have the enjoyment of the whole manor and rectory; he left £10 to Thomas Duke of Trowbridge. He died at Lake, unmarried, 24 June 1633, and was buried in Wilsford Church 27 June; his will was proved 11 July 1633 (P.C.C.)

i.                     Dorothy, mar. at Milston, 1598, Leonard Maton.

ii.                   Mary, mar. Robert Gilbert of New Sarum, see Chancery Proceedings 1635, Chas. 1 Bundle D. 47, No 46; Duke v Gilbert.

iii.                  Elizabeth mar. George Feltham of Wellow.

iv.                  Jane, Mar. at Milston, 2 Feb 1623-4, Nicholas Aldridge

v.                    Anne, mar. at Wilsford, 8 Jan 1616, William Gilbert of Shrewton.

vi.                  Susan, bapt. At Wilsford, 27 Dec. 1590; mar. there 3 July 1614, John Gilbert.

The inquisition on the death of George Duke of Lake is No. 650 in the Chancery Inquisitions taken at Marlborough, 1 August, 16 K. James 1, 1618, wherein it is stated that he died18 May 1618, seized of the manor of Lake, of the manor and capital messuage of Bulford, of the Rectory of Bulford with the tithe of Bulford and Durrington, and also of the manor of Compton. John Duke is his eldest son and heir, and is 33 years of age or more. His widow, Mary Duke, made her will 11 March 1640, proved 6^th July 1642.

John Duke, eldest son and heir, of Lake, was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn, 23 October 1605; he married at Dunsford, 25 Feb1609, Mary dau. Of Edward Young of Little Durnford (she was bapt. 1 April 1588) by whom he had issue-

i.                     George Duke of Salterton, of whom presently.

ii.                   John Duke of Stratford sub Castro, of whom presently.

iii.                  Edward Duke of Wilsford and Winterbourne Stoke, of whom later.

iv.                  Andrew Duke, of Bulford.

i.                     Mary – allegation for marriage licence at Salisbury, dated 13^th January 1629 (her age 19 years) to marry Henry White

ii.                   Barbara, aged 7 in 1623; buried 26 March 1630, at  Wilsford.

John Duke was Sheriff of Wilts 1639-40: he is referred to by John Nicholas in writing to his son Edward “24 February 1639, the Sheriff of Wilts prepares to wait on the Judges very bravely, many friends helping to furnish him with men and horses, I have lent him my man, William Gauntlett, and my best horse”.

He was engaged in a number of lawsuits, where he was described as a man of great wealth, both in lands and money. In his time many of the water meadows were made and the bay and wear in the river were set up for the purpose of irrigating the barren meadows of Woodford.

He bought farms and church lands in the neighbourhood with which he made provision for his three younger sons, the portion for his eldest son being thus described in a fine levied by him in Easter term q637 – the manors of Lake, Salterton and Compton, together with 25 messuages, 5 cottages, 1 water mill, 30 gardens and orchards, 80 acres of arable land, 85 acres of meadow, 90 acres of pasture, 150 acres of gorse and heath, and the fishing in Salterton, Newton and Durnford. A staunch royalist he was charged with riding in company with the High Sheriff, Sir George Vaughan, to raise the posse comitatus to subdue the town of Marlborough. In the register of the Committee of Sequestration for Wilts (British Museum Add.MSS. 22,085), he is stated to have subscribed, 13 June 1645, upon Parliament propositions £50, and again on the 19^th December, in the same year, he had to pay an additional £150 in money and 100 sheep, while his son, George Duke, against whom no fact of delinquency was proved, had to pay £20 and ten horses, one of which was redelivered to him, and his kinsman, George Duke of Burford, the youngest son of his cousin, John Duke of Salisbury, had to pay £5 and one horse; this George was the one who took part in the rising in 1655, of whom more presently.

It is not recorded when his wife[1] died, but her name is joined to her husband’s in the above- mentioned fine in 1637.

Mr Duke lived to a very ripe age, and shortly before his death he left Lake and resided in the Close at Salisbury with his second son John, where he died in 1671, and was buried in Wilsford church, having survived his said second son John a few months. According to the register, where the entry of burial is not contemporary, his age  was 94. In the Visitation of Hampshire, it is 92, but his father’s post mortem inq. Was taken 1 August 1618 where his age was then stated to have been 33 or more, which would make him 87 at his death.

George Duke of Salterton, eldest son and heir, of Salterton, in Great Durnford, matriculated at Magdalen Hall, Oxon., 11 May 1632, aged 19; married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir George Ayliff, knt. Of Rabson or Rabenson, alias north Winterborne (whose sister, Ann Ayliff, was the first wife of Edward Hyde, afterwards Earl of Clarendon and died of  small pox in her first confinement); their marriage settlement is referred to as being dated about 20 August 1636, in Chancery Proceedings, Ayliff v Duke, Hamilton 403 and Collins depositions of witnesses, taken 18 Jan. 1654, at Devizes.

He died 13 October 1655, and was buried at Wilsford Church, his wife survived him and was re-married  to Hampton Jay, she was buried 2 Feb. 1704-5, in Wilsford Church.

By whom he had issue:-

i.          John Duke, died unmarried, and was buried at Wilsford 1657.

ii.          George, bapt. 6 Jan 1638, at Durnford; buried 16 Jan.

iii.         George Duke, of whom presently.

i.          Anne, bapt. 19 Sept. 1641, allegation for marriage licence at Salisbury, dated 29^th August, 1667, to be married to Richard Phelps of Salisbury.

ii.          Elizabeth, bapt. Feb 1642, at Durnford

John Duke, second son of John Duke and Mary his wife, married 1 June 1642, at Tidcombe, Avis, daughter of James Deane of Oxenwood; he died 14 January 1670; buried in Stratford-sub-Castro Church; aged 55. Will dated 30^th September  proved 7 Feb 1670 (P.C.C., Duke 18). She died 15 April 1687; buried at Stratford; M.I. Having had issue –

i.          John, bapt. 9 March 1642, at Tidcombe; died an infant.

ii.          George Duke, bapt. At Tidcombe, 13 August 1644, progenitor of the family at Sarson.

iii.         Charles, a merchant of London.

iv.         Edward.

v.          James, buried 5 July 1679 in Salisbury Cathedral.

i.          Mary, buried in Salisbury Cathedral, 15 Dec. 1679

ii.          Anne, mar. George Smith of Salisbury.

iii.         Avis, mar. John Deane.

iv.         Margaret, mar…Wastfield.

v.                    Jane, Mar., allegation Vicar General, 28 July 1686, to be married to John Meade of St Clement’s Danes.

vi.                  Elizabeth, mar 11. Jan 1676, at St. Thomas’s Salisbury, Edmund Macks; remar. To Daniel Yerbury.

vii.                 Sarah, bapt. 4 Jane 1668, in Salisbury Cathedral; mar. allegation Vicar General, 4 Aug. 1684 to marry William Wansbrough.

George Duke, third but only surviving son, of George Duke of Salterton, by Elizabeth his wife, baptised at Durnford 19 Dec. 1644 succeeded to Lake on the death of his grandfather, John Duke, in 1671; admitted to Lincoln’s Inn 14 April 1668. He married, firstly, at Yaverland, in the Isle of Wight, 26 Feb 1662, Elizabeth, second daughter of John Richards esq., of Yaverland Manor, and granddaughter of Sir John Richards, Knt,. And Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Sir John Hungerford, Knt. The Arms of Sir John Richards are in the hall of Yaverland Manor, viz: - A chevron between three fleur-de-lis; impaling two bars, in chief three plates for Hungerford of Down Ampney.

By his first wife, who died 18 Feb 1673-4 was buried in Wilsford Church, he had issue-

i.                     John Duke, bapt. At Yaverland 26 December. 1663, [check against our family tree and with Chris Balston as the date name and place are the same] his affairs became embarrassed and he cut off the entail in favour of his next brother, Robert Duke, by deed dated 10 March 1689, he died unmarried and was buried in Wilsford Church21.Dec 1690.

ii.                   Robert Duke, of whom presently.

iii.                  German.

i.                     Suzannah, whose birth, 10 April 1672, is recorded in the Wilsford Register, married Samuel Worden.

He married secondly, Anne daughter of Henry Clark of Enford, on June 15, 1674, by whom he had issue –

i.                     George

ii.                   Edmund

On his first marriage he resided in the Isle of Wight till the death of his grandfather, after which he lived at Lake till his second marriage, and then he resided at Bagshot near Hungerford; he sustained an action ay law (Bridges, 456-65) concerning the Weir and Bay in the Avon, which had been set up in his grandfather’s time, but which he pulled down. And, again, 4 Dec 1686, he filed a Bill of complaint against his brother in law, Henry Clarke of Enford, who, he pleaded, had failed to complete the marriage settlement that his father, Henry Clarke, had promised to make when he married Anne Clarke. He died at Lake House and was buried in Wilsford Church 2 April 1690[2]; particulars of his death, which are found in a Chancery suit brought by his son and heir Robert, inadvertently called George, but the answer is directed to correctly to Robert Duke against his tenant Nicholas Coker (Bridges, 110, 10 and 154-36).

Robert Duke, Second Son of George Duke of Lake, and Elizabeth his wife, succeeded to Lake on the death of his father; bapt. 30 October 1665 at Yaverland; married (mar.lic allegation at Salisbury dated 1 Nov. 1691), at Compton Chamberlayn, Jane, dau of Thomas Freke of Hannington, Wilts, whose sister, Elizabeth Freke, married Henry Southby of South Marston.

By whom he had issue-

i.                     Robert Duke, of whom presently.

ii.                   George Duke, of whom later on.

iii.                  Thomas Duke, born at S. Marston 3 Jan 1702

iv.                  Freke Duke, Bapt. 8 June 1704 at Wilsford: mar. 16 July 1728, at Chalbury, Dorset, Lucy, dau. Of Henry Dalicourt, steward to the Earl of Shaftesbury, (Check link with Napier/Sturt) and by her had issue-

i.                     Jane bapt. 3 June 1732, at Chalbury

ii.                   Anne, bapt. 29 Oct. 1735, at Chalbury; mar. to Thomas Sibley, and had issue, Lucy Augusta, a legatee in the will of Mrs Fanny Duke in 1826.

iii.                  Lucy, bapt. 22 Apr 1739, at Chalbury.

Mr. Freke Duke was churchwarden of Chalbury [check Hutchins under Chalbury and Crichel ] in 1755; his wife died 16 May, buried 19 May 1774, at Chalbury; he died and was buried at Farnham, 5 Dec. 1775. His will dated 25 Feb 1775 as of Hockswood, Farnham, proved 16 Feb 1776, a Blandford.

v.          Richards, bapt. 7 March 1705, at Wilsford.

i.                       Elizabeth, bapt. 20 Sept. 1693, at Marston; died an infant

ii.                     Jane, mar. 24 March 1716, at Wilsford, Samuel Andrews, of Salisbury.

iii.                    Mary, mar. John Bowles of Burcombe.

iv.                    Elizabeth Freke, bapt. 29 Sept. 1708; bur. 12 March 1715-16, at Wilsford.

v.                      Susanna, bapt. 31 March; bur. 4 April 1710, at Wilsford

vi.                    Susanna,  born 20, bapt. 25 Jan 1713-14, at Wilsford.

He was buried 19 Nov. 1725, in Wilsford Church, in a vault just under the pulpit, and his wife 30 Sept 1740 in same vault.

Robert Duke, eldest son and heir succeeded to Lake on the death of his father; born at South Marston, 17 May 1696; mar. Frances, daughter of Henry Blaake of Bristol, by Catherine daughter and coh. Of Sir George Hungerford, knt., of Cadenham, by Frances daughter of Lord Seymour of Trowbridge. Mrs Duke is mentioned in the will of her father, Henry Blaake.

By whom he had issue:-

Robert Duke only son and heir.

Mr Duke was buried 23 Nov 1749, in Wilsford Church, Mrs Duke, 20 may 1749, both in the vault under the pulpit. This gentleman sold the Manor of Compton Braemer for £920 to Wm. Hunt in Easter Term 1727.

Robert Duke only son and heir succeeded to Lake on the death of his father; born at Lake House 17 May; bapt. At Wilsford, 3 June 1724; matriculated at Balliol College, Oxon, 21 May 1742, admitted to Lincoln’s Inn; married at St. Andrew’s Holborn, 8 May 1775, Jane, dau of Jonathan Rashleigh of Menabilly Cornwall.

He paid off some mortgages on the estate and took great interest in the family history. He following is a copy of a letter he wrote to his mother concerning his visit to Bristol, consequent on the death of his Aunt Catherine Blaake, whose will is printed in Wilts N. & Q., Vol I, pp 453-4.

“Bristoll, Aug 18, 1747.

Hond. Madam,

I got safe to the White Heart, Sunday, where I found my uncle very well and expecting me, the letter carrier arriving the evening before between six and seven. As soon as I had dined we went to Mrs Hungerford, where all are well and where my uncle and self have eat ever since. On Monday we wait on the Collector who has delivered all the goods up, so as to divide some and sell others as we think proper. Yesterday in the afternoon we divided the plate, rings and other curiosities; this morning my Uncle and I have been making catalogue of the books. I am in too much hurry to tell you things that have fallen to my lot. A letter from my Aunt Blaake brings me word that they are both there, so that I shall invite them to Lake.

Yr most Dutyfull Son,

Robt. Duke.”

He believed that his family were a branch of the wealthier family of Duke, long settled at Poerhays and Otterton in Devonshire, and moreover that, as the head of that family, Robert Duke, was in 1749 an old man without male relatives of his own name, the connection was sufficiently near to warrant his making enquiries concerning the settlement of those estates, accordingly he approached his cousin,  Mr George Hungerford, nephew of Walter Hungerford of Studley House, who in consequence wrote to Mr. Walrond, as the following fragment of a letter still preserved shews.

“To George Hungerford, Esqre., at Studley House, near Calne, Wilts.

As to Mr. Duke’s Enquiry about the settlement of Otterton Estate, I doubt I cannot give him a very favourable Prospect of it, For as I was a Trustee to ye last Heir in ye direct Line, I could not but be acquainted with ye devise of it, wh, was thus, It was left free by ye old Mr Richard Duke to his son Richard Duke, about 35 years since, to settle it farther upon any one of ye collateral Branches, in case his son(who was then an infant) shd die, as accordingly it did, at two years old. And then Richard Duke – ye Father of ys Infant, who had full power made a deed of settlement upon a cousin German of his, of the same name, Richard Duke who had been bred an attorney, and being a Bachelor conveyed it to a Nephew of his eldest Brother, whose name was Robert Duke. And in default of issue male, wh he never had, and is dead, he devised it further to a younger brother of his own called also Robert Duke, who is now in Possession, an old man in a dying case, without issue. Then it is carry’d on to John Heath, nephew to ye said Richard Duke ye Attorney by his sister, taking ye name of Duke, who is like very shortly to possess it, and is chosen member for Honiton with Sir Wm Younge. And in default of Heath’s issue, it is conveyed farther to one of my name Walrond, who s also to take ye name of Duke; and neither of yse has any issue male. From thence to his heirs at law, who are 5 daughter of George Duke of Colaton, eldest Brother of ys Richard Duke ye Attorney who made ys Deed of Settlement, And thus ye Estate has run a begging, tho’ it be a very fine estate in a most pleasant situation, and at least £1,500 per annum with Royalties by sae and land. Such is ye uncertainty of Human enjoyments.

I remain, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servt. Jo Walrond”

By his will, dated 12 Sept. 1778, he confirmed his marriage settlement whereby the Manors of Lake, Salterton, and Newtoun were limited to the use of his wife for her life on failure of issue, and he further devised the said manors to his cousin, Edward Duke of Hungerford, and his issue in tail male; this will was proved in P.P.C. 12 April 1793.

He was buried in Wilsford Church, 2 April 1793. His widow was buried there 16 January 1805, aged 68.

They had no issue, and the representation of the family passed to his cousin and devisee Edward Duke.

George Duke, second son of Robert Duke by Jane Freke his wife, was born 20 march, and bapt. 13 April 1701 at South Marston, Wilts; he was an attorney at law at Andover. He married (mar.lic. allegation at Salisbury dated 14 Oct 1723) at Avington, near Hungerford, 15 Oct. 1723, Sarah, daughter of Edward Hanson. His will dated 23 March 1735-5; pr. 12 Nov. 1735 at P.C.C. He died 8, buried 1 July 1736 at Andover. His wife died 7, buried 10 April 1734 at Andover.

He had issue:-

i.                     George Duke, born 28 Sept 1724; bapt 3 Oct. at Andover; died 1747, unmarried

ii.                   Hanson Duke, bapt 15 Dec 1725, at Andover; bur there 7 April 1728

iii.                  Robert Duke born…1728; bur 24 July 1742, at Andover

iv.                  Edward Duke of whom presently.

v.                    Thomas Duke, born 31 Dec; bapt. 29 Jan 1732, at Andover;  entered the Army and died at Rheine, 23 January 1759.

i.                     Sarah, bapt. 1May 1728, at Hungerford; died an infant.

ii.                   Jane, born 2, bapt. 22 Jan 1727, at Andover; mar to Capt. Lawrence Boyd, R.N., 5 January 1758, by whom he had issue, George Boyd, born 8 Aug. 1762. She made her will as of the parish of S. Dunstan, Stepney, to be buried near her husband in Bethnal Green Churchyard. She gave to her nephew, George Duke, the Brass Images now the property of Constance, wife of Benjamin Hemsworth of Monk Fryston Hal, also the Marble Images no win the possession of R.E.H Duke, dated 11 Sept 1790; pr. 14 July 1792.

iii.                  Sarah, bapt. 8 July 1730; bur. 5 Oct 1731, at Andover.

iv.                  Elizabeth, bapt 25 Jan 1733, died 19 May 1734.

The family bible of George Duke and Sarah his wife, with several entries of their children, is in the possession of R.E.H. Duke.

Edward Duke, fourth son of George Duke by Sarah his wife, a surgeon at Hungerford; born 12 Sept; bapt. 1 Nov. 1731, at Andover; mar. 7 Nov 1771, at St. Michael’s, Queenhithe, Fanny only dau and heiress of John Field, of Field’s  Court, Islington, by Anne, dau of Edward Handons of Hungerford, and great grand- dau of Edward Hanson, whose dau Sarah married George Duke of Andover. She inherited copyhold property at Islington [check against Sturt/Alington landholding ] from her father, and tenements and lands in Hungerford  from her grandfather Edward Hanson.

By her he had issue:-

i.                     George Duke, Bapt 18 Feb. 1774 at Hungerford; bur there 2 Oct 1794

ii.                   Edward Duke, of whom presently.

iii.                  Robert, bapt 28 Oct. 1786 at Hungerford; Bur there 10 March 1787

i.                     Sarah, bapt. 4 Sept 1772; bur at Hungerford, 12 March 1857; she made her Will, 14 June 1855; pr. 30 March 1857, P.C.C. On the death of her father she resided in his house, renting it from her brother Edward, who devised it to his son Edward who sold it after her decease.

ii.                   Jane, bapt. 31 March 1775, at Hungerford; mar there, 23 Oct 1799, to John Westall; she was bur there 26 June 1806

iii.                  Mary, bapt. 15 Nov. 1776, at Hungerford.

iv.                  Lucy, mar William Blandy; will dated 1842, pr. 1847

v.                    Fanny, bapt. 20 Sept. 1782, at Hungerford; bur in Pear Tree Green churchyard, 1 June 1855, aged 72; will dated 1 Oct 1851.

vi.                  Susanna, bapt. 26 Aug. at Hungerford; mar James Prince; she died at Pear Tree Green, near Southampton, where she was buried 23 March 1859.

Mr Duke made his Will 20 1796; proved 27 Nov 1797 (P.C.C.). He devised his house at Hungerford to his son Edward Duke; bur at Hungerford, 31 July 1797. His  widow Fanny made her Will, 2 August 1819; 0r. 12 Aug 1826,  at Salisbury; she left her copyhold property at Islington to her five surviving daughters, and her tenements and lands in and about Hungerford to be sold for the benefit of her daughters and her son-in –law John Westall; she was buried at Hungerford, 11 Jan. 1826, aged 78.

They had issue:-

Robert Rashliegh Duke, third son , born 6 January 1818; bapt. 16 March 1819, at Wilsford, where his birthday is inadvertently entered in the Register incorrectly 5 January; matriculated at Exeter College, Oxon, 3 Feb. 1836, whence be obtained an Exhibition at Queen’s College; B.A. 1849; Rector of Nafford with Birlingham, 1869; Rural Dean of Pershore and Hon. Canon of Worcester, F.S.A.; married at Knowle, Warwickshire (the residence of his mother-in-law), 11 June 1850, Ellen Savage, youngest daughter of Charles Savage Landor, Rector of Colton, and niece of Walter Savage Landor. He died  14 Oct. 1908; buried at Birlingham aged 90. She died 12 May 1891; buried at Birlingham, aged 72.

They had issue:-

i.                     Rashleigh Rosenhagen, bapt. 1 May 1851, at Cheltenham Parish Church; buried at Wilsford, 2 Sept.1851.

ii.                   Rashleigh Edward Hungerford Duke, second but oldest surviving son born 23 June 1855, at Church Eaton Rectory; educated at Radley College; matriculated at Exeter College, Oxon, 16 Jan. 1875; Vicar of Monk Friston, York, 1887-1898, Rector of Maltby from 1898; married at Birkin, 3 April 1888, Elizabeth Sarah, eldest daughter of Benjamin Hemsworth of Monk Fryston Hall, Yorkshire, by whom he has issue-

a.       Michael Duke, born at Lumby House, 10 Jan; bapt at Monk Fryston, 17 Feb1891; educated at Radley College; matriculated at Magdaline College, Cambridge, Sept 1909; B.A. 20 June 1914.

iii.                  Freke Guy Rasheigh, born at Church Eaton Rectory, 5 Nov. 1859; educated at Bradfield College; matriculated at Keeble College, 14 Oct. 1878, F.S.A., died 28 June, at Birlington; buried there 2 July 1907, unmarried.

i.                     Ellen Savage Landor, born Cheltenham; bapt at Swindon, near Cheltenham, 21 Sept. 1853; purchased the old Rectory House at Birlingam in 1910.

ii.                   Catherine Harriet Rosenhagen, born at Church Easton; buried at Wilsford, 10 March 1858, aged 15 months

Edward Duke, eldest son and heir, born at Ivy Church, 6 Dec, 1814; bapt at Wilsford, 11 July 1815; matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford, 7 Feb, 1833, B.A..; 1837, F.G.S.; succeeded to Lake on the death of his father; vicar of Wilsford and Woodford 1882; mar., 27 Nov. 1860, Jane Mervyn, third daughter of Sir Wm. Coles Medlycott of Ven Somerset. He was the author of Beneath the surface or Physical Truths especially Geological shown to be latent in the Holy Scriptures. He died  11 Oct. 1895, at Wickham Rectory; buried at Wilsford 15 Oct.; will dated 23 Oct. 1883; pr. At Salisbury, 30 Oct 1896.

She died at Dummer, 19 Dec 1906; bur. At Wilsford.

He had issue:-

i.                     Edward Mervyn, born 9 Feb.; bapt 15 Mar,; bur. 2 Apr 1863, at Wilsford

ii.                   Edward Hungerford, of whom presently.

iii.                  Walter Medlycott, born 22 July; bapt. 1 Sept 1867; bur. 2 May 1890 at Wilsford.

iv.                  Cecil Rashleigh, bapt. 9 Oct 1870; Vicar of Godmersham; mar Mildred Dorothy, dau of R. E. Ruley.

v.                    Audley Mervyn, bapt. 20 Apr. 1873.

vi.                  Basil Michael, bapt. 13 June 1880

i.                     Harriet Jane

ii.                   Mary Constance, mar. 5 Sept. 1894, at Wilsford, to Rev. Benjamin Hemsworth of Monk Fryston Hall, Yorkshire.

iii.                  Florence Mervyn.

iv.                  Ethel, bapt. 21 Feb 1875; died March 1899, at Dummer; bur at Wilsford.

v.                    Mildred.

The Rev. Edward Duke devised the Manor of Lake to his wife absolutely, and she sold the Manor and Estate in 1897 to Joseph Williams Lovibond of Salisbury, Esq. On 5 April 1812, the house[3] was burned down, and only the outside left standing.

Edward Hungerford Duke, first son, born at Lake House, 17 Nov.; bap. 17 Dec 1865, at Wilsford; Foundation Scholar of Pembroke College, Cambridge; B.A. 1888; Rector of Wickham, Hants, 1893; mar 1893, at Skipsea, Yorkshire, Margaret Hassell, second dau of Rev Robert Thompson, and had issue-

i.                     Robert Edward, born 1894. There is a memorial to him in Saint Nicholas Church at Wickham in Hants.

ii.                   Stephen Michael, born 1900

We  now turn to the cadets of the family and take first, the descendants of John Duke, the younger brother of George Duke, the purchaser of Lake.

John Duke, second son of John Duke by Agnes his wife, [refer back with link], was of Wilsford, mar Jane Stockham, and had issue two sons-

i.                     John

ii.                   George.

John Duke, an attorney of New Sarum mar. Anne, dau of Thomas Lyne, who was bur at Ringwood in Hants, (since 1976 in Dorset) 11 April 1629. He made is will 22 August, proved 23 Nov.1633, and was bur at Ringwood 9 Sept. 1633. By has will he committed his children to the care and custody of his cousin, John Duke of Lake,. He devised the reversion of some lands in Cramborne to his eldest son John; and to the benefit of his two younger sons, Robert and George, he devised tenements in Bulford, Wilts and in Stuckton and Burgate in the parish of Fordingbridge.

He had issue-

i.                     John Duke, bapt at St Thomas’s Church, Salisbury, [refer back with link],  27 April 1621, of Burgate, where he was drowned and buried at Fordingbridge, 15 Aug.  “1662, March 2, Jane the wife of John Duke from Burgate”. – Fordingbridge Register.

ii.                   Robert Duke, second son bapt. 4 March 1623, at St. Thomas’s Church, of Pembroke College Oxford; Lieut.-Colonel in the Royal army, without doubt the Robert Duke who was engaged with Colonel Penduddock in the rising in the West, as he inherited lands in Stuckton with his brother George from his father, and the Robert and George Duke, taken prisoners at South Moulton, are described in Thutloe’s State Papers  as of Stuckton in Fordingbridge. Both brother, Robert and George, were tried at Exeter on Thursday, 19 April 1655, before Judge Glynne, and on Monday following, 23 Apr., were sentenced to be drawn, hanged, and quartered, and on 3 may this sentence was altered to beheading, for Robert Duke whose name in the death warrant was first missed out, then inserted over the line and finally erased, on George Duke the sentence was commuted to banishment the probable reason for assigning the more honourable death to Robert was, he had been brought up at Lake with the cousin John Duke, the High Sheriff for Wilts in 1638, and might have been mistaken for his son. He was reprieved immediate death through the intercession of his sister, but was banished to the East Indies, where he perished. A letter of his addressed to Dr. Gibbons is in the British Museum Add. MSS., No, 21,417, fo.288, dated Aug. 10, ’49, and his examination is in Thurloes’ State Papers,  an account of his tenement at Bulford, and that belonging to his brother George also, is in the Special Commission and Deposition, Exchequer, Commonwealth, Wilts, No 6,124.[4]

He mar. Anne, dau of George Gallopp (see Chancery Proceedings, series 11, No. 64, Mullett v Duke)

[It has been suggested that he was the original of the Curtain Hero in the Spectator,  No. 313, but this is not possible since the one thing really known about the identity of those to school boys at Westminster is that the judge was Sir John Glynne, and the only one of the royalists taken to S. Molton and tried at Exeter who could have been at school with Glynne is Nicholas Mussell, batp. 1601 at Tisbury, son of Tristrum Mussell.]

They had issue-

1         Robert Duke

2         John Duke matriculated at Christ Church College, Oxon., 10 April 1671, aged 17; B.A. 1674; B.D. 1687; Rector to Bishop’s Waltham 1696; will dated 2 Feb. 1705-6, proved 13 April 1706 by Mary his wife, the sole legatee and executrix. She was the dau of Dr Cluterbuck (See Chancery Proceedings, Bridges 537, Depositions, Turner v Duke, the widow living 1710.

3         Charles.

1         Anne

2         Elizabeth

iv.                  George Duke, third son , bapt. At St Thomas’s 31 Dec. 1628; appears before the Committee of Sequestration in 1645 and subscribed a horse worth £7 and £5 in money. See Add. MSS. 22,085, he made oath that he was worth less than £200. He was engaged with Colonel Penruddock and, being taken prisoner, was sentenced to banishment in Barbados, but permission was granted him to go to Virginia instead; in 1659, however, Secretary Nicholas wrote to Mr Mompresson, “Edward Penruddock & Mr Duke are in England and will join you”. Domestic State Papers, 1659. Nothing is known of his life; his burial is recorded in Fordingbridge Register, “George Duke from Iwer Lodge (Eyeworth?), bur. 29 Sept 1670.”

i.                     Anne, bapt. 25 Apr. 1620, at St Thomas’s Church, Salisbury.

ii.                   Mary, bapt. 6 \Sept. 1622, at St Thomas’s Church, Salisbury.

iii.                  Elizabeth, bapt. 30 Sept. 1625, at St Thomas’s Church, Salisbury.

iv.                  Frances, bur at St Edmunds, Salisbury, 1637.

The Rev. Geo. S. Master, in March 1876, kindly gave to Rev. Edw. Duke of Lake, a letter written by their sister, of which the following is a copy. It refers to the aforesaid Colonel Robert Duke:-

“Sir,
I received your sad welcome Letter, sad because it repeated the precious name of my deare Bother and his misfortunes and welcome to find so much integrity and worth from a stranger who hath been pleased to espouse a kindness to a sad family by making a returne of that which in the least we never expected. I have according to your Letter received from my dear Brother’s children (his wife being dead alsoe) the pearle you mention wch were they Ten Thousand time richer cd not countervayle ye worth of your Justice and Friendship. How then to make you a returne, we know not unless by chauyne of wishes and a Roape of Orphan’s Tears like pearls that shall be offered in sacrefice to Heaven for your prosperity, And [that] you shall Returne and make your friends happy her by your presence (as we might have been by my dear Brother’s) our sighs and prayers shall fill your sayles to waft you to your Desires. And much more wealth we cannot brag of since wee lost our all in my Brother and Sister – what remains Sir George Oxenden, to whom our faithful Service and yourself may clayme a share, which I acknowledge to be due unto you from my Brother’s children and on behalf from Sr your most Obliged Friend and Servant

Eliza Duke.”

Address
Mr Straneham Master
At Surratt
In India these
Endorsement
Sarum 1664
Mrs Elizabeth Duke recd.
Per ye Affrican in Suratt, Sept 5 1665"

Next we come to the younger sons of John Duke the High Sheriff, but as the Manor of Sarson which he purchased in 1647 for his second son John, was in Hants, that family left Wilts and we propose to add a tabular pedigree to them later on, and proceed with the family of the third son.

Edward Duke, the third son of John Duke of Lake, and Mary his wife, bapt 11 Feb. 1615 at Wilsford, entered in Woodford Registers; matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford, 24 April 1635; admitted to Middle Temple 4 Nov. 1637, called to the Bar 27 Nov. 1646.

A Master of Chancery extraordinary, he lived partly in London and partly in Wiltshire, and is described variously as of Lake, Wilsford, Winterbourne Stoke, the Close Salisbury.

It is not known whom he married but from a Fine dated Hilary Term, 26-7 King Charles II, Thomas Russell and Samuel Flozer, plaintiffs, and Edward Duke, deforciant, her Christian name was Anne.

On 21.Nov. 1671, in conjunction with his brother Andrew, grant to administer the good of their father was given him. His will is dated 19 Feb. 1696-7 as of Andover, where he probably lived with his son-in-law Benj. Culme, proved 18 Feb 1705, P.C.C.

He had issue:-

i.                     John Duke, matriculated at Magdalen Hall 7 March 167809, aged 15, of the Middle Temple 1681, mar. Rebecca, dau of Timothy Robinson of Hammersmith, she married Paul Priaulx, and thirdly Sir Richard Pigott of Woodford, Essex, Knt., she was buried in Wilsford Church 29^th Nov 1706, and by her John Duke had issue-

1.       Anne, born 6 bapt. 16 January 1687 at Winterbourne Stoke.

2.       Rebecca, bapt. 23 May 1689, wife of George Hely of Kilkenny, in Ireland, she was bur at Wilsford 8 Feb. 1715-16

Buried in Wilsford Church 23 April 1692.-

i.                     Anne, married Thomas Russell a member of the Company of Grocers.

ii.                   Elizabeth, married at Winterbourne Stoke, mar licence allegation at Salisbury 26 Dec. 1679, her age 24, to Dr Edward Thistlethwayte, Rector of West Deane, Wilts, mar at Winterbourne Stoke 5 Jan 1879

iii.                  Mary married to Benjamin Culme, Rector of Winterbourne Stoke 1673, and of Andover 1682. Her father gave £500 for her marriage portion, and there is a Chancery suit about the manner of investing it [Bridges,  154-35. Duke v Lynce and Culme]

iv.                  Barbara, married to James Lynch of Salisbury [married licence allegation, Vicar General, her age 20 dated 7 August 1669].

Edward Duke survived his only son and was buried 2 June 1706 in Wilsford Church.

We now deal with the family of the fourth son on whom the High Sheriff settled the Manor and Rectory of Bulford which continued in his descendants for three generations, and  when Richard Duke died unmarried was bequeathed by him to his sister’s son Richard Southby, whose descendants sold it in 1886 (see Deeds quoted in Chancery Orders and Decrees, Trinity Term, 1675, folio 600).

Andrew Duke the fourth son of John Duke of Lake, by Mary, dau of Edward Young; bapt. 1630, at Wilsford (see Bishop’s Transcripts); mar. Mary, sister of George Turbervile of Bere Regis, Dorset (see Chancery Proceedings, Duke v Turbervile, Colins 59; also Mitford, Duke v Duke, 300-25)

Andrew and Mary his wife were both party to a suit in Chancery, Reynardson, 70-4, filed 13 Jan. 1677-8.

Andrew Duke died Aug. 1678 (see Bils and Answers,  K. Chas. ii, Duke v Batchelor). Administration his goods granted to Mary Duke, his widow, 8 Nov. 1678, in the Archdeaconry Court of Sarum.

They had issue:-

i.                     Andrew, of whom presently.

ii.                   John, bapt at Bulford, 18 December 1663; mar. Elianor Robeinson of Andover; marriage allegation, Vicar- General of Archbishop of Canterbury, dated 3 Sept. 1685. A legatee of an annuity of £5 under the will of his nephew, Andrew Duke of Bulford. But in the will of his nephew, Richard Duke of Bulford, dated 1755, he is mentioned as dead and as having two wives; and a legacy is made of £20 to the surviving daughters by his first wife. Moreover, Richard Duke mentions his cousin, Charles Duke, a tobacconist in Wood Street, as if he were a son of his uncle, John Duke, though he does not actually say so.

i.                     Mary, married licence at Salisbury to marry Richard Barnaby of Amesbury, dated 31 Dec. 1680

ii.                   Dorothy, buried at Bulford, 14 Dec. 1662.

iii.                  Selina, bur at Bulford, 20 April 1666

Andrew Duke, first son and heir, of Bulford[5], mar. Charity, dau of [..]Thompson, 8 Dec. 1685, at Stratford-sub-Castro; he died 23 Feb. 1729, aged 69; buried at Bulford, His wife died 28 July 1719, aged 53; bur at South Marston. He made will, dated 1729, as of Milston; Pr. 15 June 1730, P.C.C. 155 Auber.

They had issue: -

i.                     Andrew Duke of whom presently.

ii.                   Richard Duke, of whom later on.

i.                     Elizabeth, died an infant; bur at Stratford-sub-Castro 1692

ii.                   Jane, wife of Robert Scoles of Wroughton.

iii.                  Anne, of whom presently.

iv.                  Mary, died unmarried. 18 June 1762, aged 50; bur at South Marston. Will dated 18 June 1762; pr. 13 Aug. 1762, in the Peculiar of Highworth

Andrew Duke, first son and heir, of Bulford; matriculated at Hart Hall, Oxon., June 1705, aged 17; mar at Salisbury Cathedral, 17 Jan. 1718, Katherine Davenant. She died 15 December 1719; bur at Bulford. He married secondly, at Luggershall, 27 Oct. 1720, Jane, eldest dau of General Hohn Richmond Webb, some time M.P. for Luggarshall, by the Lady Henrietta Adtley; she died 12 Sept. 1737, in the 45^th year of her age. He died 20 Feb. 1727, in     the 40^th year of his age,  and was bur with his second wife in His Majesty’s Free Chapel of St George, in Windsor Castle, his last resting place being marked by a large blue stone with an inscription, which is printed in Pote’s History of Windsor.

He made his will, dated 17 Sept. 1723, wherein he devised to his wife, Jane Duke, one-third of the manor of Muchendy, als. Muchelndy, Somerset; and he made bequests to his father, Andrew Duke. He made his wife sole executrix, but she renounced, and on 12 May 1731, a commission was granted to William Jones to administer, a law suit pending. He had no issue and was succeeded by his brother, Richard.

There is further reference in Wiltshire Notes and Queries in a paper titled “The original of Sir Roger de Coverly of Addison” and the following extract is note.

“Lancelot Addison, the father, had a farm at Bulford; how he became possessed of it is not known, there is no Fine for it among the wilts Fines, but there is a fine b which he sold it to Andrew Duke in Michaelmas Term, fourth year of William and Mary (1692, wherein Lancelot and Dorothy his wife, deforciants, and Andrew Duke, Plaintiff, for a farm in Bulford, one messuage, one toft, one garden, one orchard, ninety acres of land, six areas of meadow, twelve acres of pasture, and common pasture for 260 sheep, sixteen beasts, and the right of fishing in the water of Bulford for £160.

This evidence is the more remarkable because the farm retained the name of Addison for some time after the sale , for in May 1710, the tenant, James Rattew, having failed to pay his rent, sold to Andrew Duke his landlord

“all my corne and other graine now standing growing and being on a ffarm formerly called Addisons’s ffarme situate in ye parish of Bulford”.

I submit that it is highly probable that the Addison family not only owned and farmed the above farm in Bulford, but also resided on it, and that Lancelot was born on it, and that from their occupation the farm retained the name Addison – the relation tat they would have to the squirearchy at Bulford would be close and intimate, and Joseph Addison from his childhood would be seeing the Duke family and all their belongings”

Richard Duke, second son, heir of his brother and also heir of his father, of Bulford. He died unmarried, 3 Nov. 1757, aged 68 years; bur at Bulford.

His will is dated 6 Aug 1755. Subject to certain charges, he devised to his sister Anne, wife of Anthony Southby of South Marston, one-half of his manor of Bulford, and one-half of the Hundurrington farm, and one-half of the tithes and rectory of Bulford, and of all his lands in Bulford and in Milestone, and also one-half of all his lands in South Marston and Staunton for her life, and after her death to his nephew, Richard Southby, the eldest son of his said sister, Anne Southby, and to his eldest son, an in default of issue in his nephew Richard, then to his nephew Harry Southby, and in default of his issue, then to his nephew Robert Scoles,  son of his late sister Jane Scoles, and to his eldest son, and in default of his issue, to his own right heirs. To his sister Mary Duke he devised the remaining half of the above estates for her life, and after her decease to her sons in tail male, and in default of such issue, then to his nephew Richard Southby, etc., in like manner as the first moiety. He bequeathed the furniture and plate in his house at Bulford and Milestone to go equally with the estates. To his cousin Susanna Worden, £21. To his nephew Richard Southby, his chambers in Lyons’ Inn. He appoints Henry Southby and William Horne, his executors, to take the rents of all his estates for one year after his death, and whereas some of his estates are charged with a capital sum of £2,300, and for the better discharge thereof and for payment of legacies, etc, he empowers his executors to be his trustee and to raise £3,000 or more, if needful, and that as soon as his estates at Bulford, Milestone, South Marston, and Staunton descend to either of his said nephews, the trustees are to apply the rents to pay off the said mortgage, and further the trustees shall afterwards apply the profits and rents of the estates at Bulford and Milestone first to pay off the capital sum of £3,000, which his brother-in0law Anthony Southby had power to raise on his own estates at South Marston and Staunton, and when that is accomplished, then to apply £100 for the erecting of a tiled school house in the churchyard at Bulford, where the old house there stood, with an enlargement into the garden and rick-yard belonging to the Hundurrington farm, and to apply sufficient money to purchase freehold land of the value of £8 yearly in North Wilts to be for ever for a school master to instruct six poor boys and six poor girls in Bulford, and the owner of the estate to appoint the master.

[The part of this devise relating to the purchase of land in North Wilts was never carried out, but the owners of the Bulford estate subscribed what sum was required for the maintenance of the school annually, and this continued till the sale of the estate, when, as there was not found any endowment or charge actually made on the estate, it was treated as lapsed, and the War Office when they became the owners regarded it as null and void by the Statute of Limitations]

iii.                  Anne, the third daughter mar Anthony Southby of South Marston; he died 5 April 1759, aged 68; she died 3 April 1770, aged 72; both bur at South Marston. Their eldest son, Richard Southby, mar Ann, dau of ….., and succeeded to Bulford on the death of his mother and of his aunt, Mary duke. He made his will 30 Jan. 1788; proved 20 Feb 1792. he died 18 Mar. 1791, aged 71; bur at Bulford. In his will he mentions that his eldest son,  Richard Duke Southby, is amply provided for by the late Richard Duke of Bulford, so he appoints his three daughters to be residuary legatees, Charity Anne, Mary, and Elizabeth, executrix his wife Anne, and on 21 June 1825, administration was granted to Dame Charity Anne Pollen, widow, and Mary Southby, spinster, daughter and surviving residuary legatees of the goods of the deceased left un administered by his executrix, who died instate. The eldest son, Richard Duke Southby, succeeded to Bulford on his father’s death, but survived only to 16 Dec. 1791, and was bur in Bulford, aged 33 years; and on 2 July 1792, administration was granted in the Consistory Court of Sarum to the estate of Richard Duke Southby of Bulford, bachelor.

I cannot close this account without saying that it is a family tradition that the picture of Roger de Coverley  was taken by Addison, from one of the Duke family. At the time of Dean Addison’s incumbency of Milestone, the whole, or almost the whole, of Bulford was owned or leased by them, and the will of Richard Duke proves that he exercised complete control over the churchyard. There is strong internal evidence from The Spectator to support the tradition.

We ought to record that in the beginning of the seventeenth century, a certain Richard Duke of Otterton disinherited his eldest son Richard because he matched against his consent. It is believed the cause of complaint was the lady was a Roman Catholic. It is known the son left England in Father White’s party in the Ark in 1634, and settled in Maryland where he was a member of the Council 1637-1653, and a prominent man in the affairs of the County. He returned to England in 1653 with some of his children, but one of his younger sons, James, remained in the Colony and acquired an estate at Brooke lace Manor which his family enjoyed foe some generations. His descendants are still in the States.

Also there was a family of Duke in Barbados, where the name first occurs in the Registers in 1658. Thomas Duke was Treasurer of the Island, to whose memory there is a monument in the Cathedral of Bridgetown with the arms of Duke of Lake impaling Reade. He died in 1750. This family is believed to be extinct, and it is not know whence they sprung.

(to be continued)

[2] an inventory of his goods at Lake House was taken and an account of the rent of his farm at Lake, which is printed in a paper titled An Account of the Family of Duke of Lake; Wiltshire Notes and Queries, March 1915, Vol. 8 pp 193-205

[3] About 1825, or son after, Rev Edward Duke very much altered the old seventeenth century house and its approach. The most important alterations were as follows: Outside he took down the walls of the forecourt, leveled the terraces, removed the round headed doorway into the house and substituted the present one, placing it over he family coat of arms. The drawing room which had been divided into smaller rooms he restored to its original proportions. He inserted a very beautiful staircase which he happened to light on in an Elizabethan house in Dorset that was being pulled down [date coincides with the Hollis Jacobean mansion in Martinstown – Check original Hawkins building specifiaction] and which he purchased for £40. To make room for it, he took down the north-east wall of the Hall which had two round headed doorways, one leading to the kitchen and the other to the staircase which was of the newel type leading  up to the top of the house, removing this staircase and extending the house towards the river. To effect these alterations he pulled down the internal walls.

When Mr Lovibond purchased the property he strengthened the exterior walls by building new walls against them in the inside, and it was owing to the excellent work done by him that the exterior remained standing after the fire, the internal walls being reduced to a heap of ruins, Thus when Mr Lovibond rebuilt the house after the fire, its old outside appearance was completely preserved. It is a curious coincidence, but the Manor House at Yaverland, built in 1620 by Sir John Richards, knt., bears a most striking resemblance to what Lake House must have been originally in its internal arrangements – the same old Hall and exactly the same newel staircase.

[4] Recited in Wiltshire Notes and Queries Vol 8 page 291