Edmund Pelham
Encyclopedia
Sir Edmund Pelham a member of the distinguished Pelham family of Laughton
, was an Irish judge who held the office of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, and was noteworthy as the first judge to hold assizes in Ulster.
He was the fifth son of Sir William Pelham of Laughton and his second wife Mary Sandys, daughter of William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne
.Sir William Pelham (lord justice)
was his brother.
His father died when he was a small child; little is recorded of him from then until 1563 when he was admitted to Gray's Inn
, and he was called to the bar in 1574. He remained at Gray's Inn for 40 years , becoming reader and ancient, but does not seem to have advanced far in his legal career, although he was elected to the House of Commons
as member for Hastings
in 1597. The fact that his wife belonged to an openly Catholic family may have hindered his career.
In 1601 he finally became serjeant
: since he was now close to 70, this might reasonably have marked the height of his progress. However in 1602 Sir Robert Napier
, who had long been recognised as unfit for office,was at last removed as Irish Chief Baron, and Pelham, perhaps because of his brother's long experience there, replaced him.
As Chief Baron he is best remembered for holding the first assizes in Donegal
in 1603. Allowing for an element of self-congratulation, he seems to have been highly successful : he wrote that " the people reverenced him as though he had been an angel from Heaven, and prayed him on their knees to return to minister justice unto them". He was knighted in 1604, went on the Leinster assize in 1605, and acted as Commissioner of the Great Seal the same year. However he was now an old and sick man: he went to Bath
for his health in 1606, but died at Chester
on 4 June. Sir Arthur Chichester praised him as a diligent and very worthy judge.
His marriage to Ellen Darrell of Scotney Castle
, Sussex, was a surprising one for an ambitious lawyer, since the Darrells were notorious recusants who allowed the Jesuits to use Scotney as a refuge. He had at least one son, Herbert (born 1587), ancestor of the Pelhams of Catsfield
.
Laughton
Laughton could be*John Knox Laughton, 1830-1915, British naval historian*Charles Laughton, British actor*Laughton, East Sussex*Laughton, Leicestershire*Laughton, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire*Laughton, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire...
, was an Irish judge who held the office of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, and was noteworthy as the first judge to hold assizes in Ulster.
He was the fifth son of Sir William Pelham of Laughton and his second wife Mary Sandys, daughter of William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne
William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne
William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne was an English Tudor diplomat, Lord Chamberlain and favourite of King Henry VIII....
.Sir William Pelham (lord justice)
William Pelham (lord justice)
Sir William Pelham was an English soldier and lord justice of Ireland.-Life:He was third son of Sir William Pelham of Laughton, Sussex, by his second wife, Mary, daughter of William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne near Basingstoke in Hampshire...
was his brother.
His father died when he was a small child; little is recorded of him from then until 1563 when he was admitted to Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, and he was called to the bar in 1574. He remained at Gray's Inn for 40 years , becoming reader and ancient, but does not seem to have advanced far in his legal career, although he was elected to the House of Commons
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
as member for Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
in 1597. The fact that his wife belonged to an openly Catholic family may have hindered his career.
In 1601 he finally became serjeant
Serjeant
Serjeant may be:*The holder of a serjeanty, a type of feudal land-holding in England*A generally obsolete spelling of Sergeant, although still used in some English regiments, and for Serjeant-at-Arms...
: since he was now close to 70, this might reasonably have marked the height of his progress. However in 1602 Sir Robert Napier
Robert Napier (judge)
Sir Robert Napier was an English-born judge in Ireland.. He was High Sheriff of Dorset in 1606 and Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland. He was a Member of Parliament for Dorchester , Bridport and Wareham ....
, who had long been recognised as unfit for office,was at last removed as Irish Chief Baron, and Pelham, perhaps because of his brother's long experience there, replaced him.
As Chief Baron he is best remembered for holding the first assizes in Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
in 1603. Allowing for an element of self-congratulation, he seems to have been highly successful : he wrote that " the people reverenced him as though he had been an angel from Heaven, and prayed him on their knees to return to minister justice unto them". He was knighted in 1604, went on the Leinster assize in 1605, and acted as Commissioner of the Great Seal the same year. However he was now an old and sick man: he went to Bath
Bath
Bath is a city in the ceremonial county of Somerset in the south west of England. It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. The population of the city is 83,992. It was granted city status by Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1590, and was made a county borough in 1889 which...
for his health in 1606, but died at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
on 4 June. Sir Arthur Chichester praised him as a diligent and very worthy judge.
His marriage to Ellen Darrell of Scotney Castle
Scotney Castle
Scotney Castle is an English country house with formal gardens south-east of Lamberhurst in the valley of the River Bewl in Kent, England. It belongs to the National Trust....
, Sussex, was a surprising one for an ambitious lawyer, since the Darrells were notorious recusants who allowed the Jesuits to use Scotney as a refuge. He had at least one son, Herbert (born 1587), ancestor of the Pelhams of Catsfield
Catsfield
Catsfield is a village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex, England. It is located six miles north of Bexhill, and three miles southwest of Battle. The village once consisted of two manors: Catsfield and Catsfield Levett...
.