Robert Jacobe
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Jacob or Jacobe (1573-1618 ) was Solicitor General for Ireland between 1606 and 1618. He was a friend and close associate of Sir John Davies, the Attorney General who was the key figure in the Irish administration.
in Dorset
, the second son of Robert Jacob and Anne Steldon. The Jacob family were descended from William Jacob who lived at Tolpuddle
in 1450. Robert valued his association with both towns and in applying for a coat of arms called himself Robert Jacob of Tolpuddle and Bockhampton.
About 1603 he married Mary Lynch, widow of David Targett; she was the daughter of William Lynch, a merchant of Southampton
. Mary was a colourful character with a reputation for wit, who once publicly ridiculed the Spanish Ambassador, Count Gondomar. They has five children, Robert, Arthur, Francis, Mary and Anne. All five were still alive in 1617 when they are mentioned in William Lynch's will but only the younger Mary is definitely known to have been living in 1623. She married Sir James Hamilton of Manor Elieston, a cousin of the Earl of Abercorn.
as member for Carlow
in the Parliament of 1613-1615. The 1613 election was noted for the number of disputed results and Jacob, who had the usual settler's prejudice against the Irish, wrote that "Irish lawyers did more harm than the priests all combined in opposing the Crown's work " and complained that they were electing " seditious schismatics " as M.P.s.
He seems to have been a highly competent lawyer, prosecuting regularly before the Court of Castle Chamber and giving detailed advice in 1611 on the legal aspects of the forfeiture of the O'Farrell lands in Longford
. Like Davies however he was as much politician as lawyer and was deeply concerned about the future of English rule in Ireland. After the Flight of the Earls
he warned in a famous phrase that " there are 2000 idle men that had no means but to feed on the gentlemen of this country..he was accounted the bravest man that comes attended with most of these followers ". He appears to have thought briefly that the killing of Cahir O'Doherty
in 1608 would restore peace; yet the following year warned of the possible return of Hugh O'Neill and the consequences for Ulster :" there are great probabilities that all the people of that province would easily run into rebellion if Tyrone should return, or if any munition or aid should be sent to them from foreign parts ". In 1612 he wrote at length on the weakness of English rule, for which he proposed two main remedies : the restoration of a standing army , and the expulsion of the Irish chiefs from troublesome parts of the country, and their replacement by large numbers of settlers. The poorer Irish in his view could be left in peace, while loyal Irish chiefs would be required to surrender only a small part of their lands to the Crown ( thus increasing Crown revenue).
Jacob's ambition and ability suited him to play a leading part in Irish affairs if Davies was recalled, but in the event he died in 1618 while Davies was still in office. Mary quickly remarried the well- known poet Christopher Brooke
, though she kept the title Lady Jacob. She had at least one more child and died in 1622.
" If your son Jack were now put into the hands of some skillful men, he might be brought to speak. For he is wonderfully mended in his understanding of late, for he understands anything that is spoken to him without making any signs , so as it is certain he hath his hearing".
Family
He was born at BockhamptonBockhampton
Bockhampton is the name of several villages in England, mainly in Dorset:*Bockhampton, Berkshire, an area of Lambourn.*Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, birthplace of Thomas Hardy, and site of Thomas Hardy's Cottage*Middle Bockhampton, Dorset...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, the second son of Robert Jacob and Anne Steldon. The Jacob family were descended from William Jacob who lived at Tolpuddle
Tolpuddle
Tolpuddle is a small village in the southern English county of Dorset, situated in the Piddle valley, eight miles east of Dorchester and 12 miles west of Poole. The village has a population of 331 ....
in 1450. Robert valued his association with both towns and in applying for a coat of arms called himself Robert Jacob of Tolpuddle and Bockhampton.
About 1603 he married Mary Lynch, widow of David Targett; she was the daughter of William Lynch, a merchant of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. Mary was a colourful character with a reputation for wit, who once publicly ridiculed the Spanish Ambassador, Count Gondomar. They has five children, Robert, Arthur, Francis, Mary and Anne. All five were still alive in 1617 when they are mentioned in William Lynch's will but only the younger Mary is definitely known to have been living in 1623. She married Sir James Hamilton of Manor Elieston, a cousin of the Earl of Abercorn.
Solicitor General
Jacob was knighted in 1601, and in 1606 sent to Ireland as Solicitor General. He was admitted to the King's Inn in 1607 and given chambers there in 1612. Like all successful men at the time he found jobs for his family: his brother Hammett became Clerk of the Crown for Dublin .Robert sat in the Irish House of CommonsIrish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
as member for Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
in the Parliament of 1613-1615. The 1613 election was noted for the number of disputed results and Jacob, who had the usual settler's prejudice against the Irish, wrote that "Irish lawyers did more harm than the priests all combined in opposing the Crown's work " and complained that they were electing " seditious schismatics " as M.P.s.
He seems to have been a highly competent lawyer, prosecuting regularly before the Court of Castle Chamber and giving detailed advice in 1611 on the legal aspects of the forfeiture of the O'Farrell lands in Longford
Longford
Longford is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 7,622 according to the 2006 census. Approximately one third of the county's population resides in the town. Longford town is also the biggest town in the county...
. Like Davies however he was as much politician as lawyer and was deeply concerned about the future of English rule in Ireland. After the Flight of the Earls
Flight of the Earls
The Flight of the Earls took place on 14 September 1607, when Hugh Ó Neill of Tír Eóghain, Rory Ó Donnell of Tír Chonaill and about ninety followers left Ireland for mainland Europe.-Background to the exile:...
he warned in a famous phrase that " there are 2000 idle men that had no means but to feed on the gentlemen of this country..he was accounted the bravest man that comes attended with most of these followers ". He appears to have thought briefly that the killing of Cahir O'Doherty
Cahir O'Doherty
Cahir O'Doherty was the last Gaelic Lord of Inishowen in north-west Ireland.The son of Shane Og O'Doherty, he was 14 when his father died and had to spend the next few years gaining control of his lordship. He was knighted by Lord Mountjoy...
in 1608 would restore peace; yet the following year warned of the possible return of Hugh O'Neill and the consequences for Ulster :" there are great probabilities that all the people of that province would easily run into rebellion if Tyrone should return, or if any munition or aid should be sent to them from foreign parts ". In 1612 he wrote at length on the weakness of English rule, for which he proposed two main remedies : the restoration of a standing army , and the expulsion of the Irish chiefs from troublesome parts of the country, and their replacement by large numbers of settlers. The poorer Irish in his view could be left in peace, while loyal Irish chiefs would be required to surrender only a small part of their lands to the Crown ( thus increasing Crown revenue).
Jacob's ambition and ability suited him to play a leading part in Irish affairs if Davies was recalled, but in the event he died in 1618 while Davies was still in office. Mary quickly remarried the well- known poet Christopher Brooke
Christopher Brooke
Christopher Brooke was an English lawyer, politician and poet. He was Member of Parliament for York in six parliaments , and was also elected for Newport in 1624.-Life:...
, though she kept the title Lady Jacob. She had at least one more child and died in 1622.
Character
Jacob's attitude to the Irish was stern and ruthless, but in private he seems to have been a kindly enough man. In 1617 he wrote a warm and encouraging latter to Davies about Davies' son Jack, who was deaf and dumb, and generally thought to be mentally deficient:" If your son Jack were now put into the hands of some skillful men, he might be brought to speak. For he is wonderfully mended in his understanding of late, for he understands anything that is spoken to him without making any signs , so as it is certain he hath his hearing".