Nat Gould

Edward Coke 1758-1836

Edward Coke was born in 1758, the second son of Wenman Coke and his wife nee Elizabeth Chamberlayne-Denton. He succeeded his father to the estates at Longford in Derbyshire in 1776. He married Grace Colhoun on 9 April 1792.

Edward Coke was Sheriff of Derbyshire 1819-1820 and Member of Parliament for Derby from 1780 until 1818. He was a Whig, like his famous brother Thomas Coke, who became Earl of Leicester. Edward Coke supported the administrations of Rockingham and Portland. He voted in opposition against North and, with Fox opposed Pitt’s ministry (1).

On his Longford estate, where he was a benevolent landlord (2).

Among his tenants at Longford was John Gilman Greensmith farming at Mammerton in Longford parish (3). He eloped with his landlord's daughter Maria Jane Coke (4) and they were married at Gretna Green in Scotland on 3 April 1816 (5). They moved to the Isle of Man, where they settled at Onchan, having married again there on 30 July 1816 (6). They had three children, born in the Isle of Man: Eliza Jane Greensmith 1818-1906, the Reverend John Francis Greensmith 1819-1865, and Emily Maria Greensmith 1827-1865.

Grace Coke nee Colhoun died at Rouen in France on 9 October 1832 (7).

Edward Coke died at Longford Hall on 28 July 1836 (8). On his death the estate there passed to his his brother Thomas William Coke 1754-1842. Longford Hall was destroyed by fire in 1942 and rebuilt, but the Coke family no longer live there.

(1) The History of Parliament 1754-1790 L. Namier and J. Brodie, editors (1964).

(2) "At the rent audit of E. Coke, Esq of Longford Hall in this county, which was held on the 25th ult. he generously and unsolicitedly returned 15 per cent. to his numerous tenants. Mr. Coke not only pays his tenants' tithes, but sets his farms such rents, as rank him with the best landlords in England." Derby Mercury 11 May 1831.
"At the Rent Audit of Edward Coke, Esq of Longford Hall, in this county, which was held on the 24th, that Gentleman, with his usual liberality returned 15 per cent. to his numerous Tenentry [sic]." Derby Mercury 2 May 1832.

(3) The inscription on the gravestone of his father John Greensmith 1746-1792 at Longford reads: "John Greensmith of Mammerton".

(4) "Curious Anecdote. Mr. Coke, of Longford, in the county of Derby, (brother to Mr. Coke, of Norfolk,) is the father of several amiable and accomplished daughters. One of the tenants on his estate, a young farmer of superior address and attainments, had by the depression of the times become in arrears for his rent; his landlord sent for him and expostulated with him on the subject, and hinted to him, that with his handsome person he might easily obtain a wife amongst some of his richer neighbours, that would soon enable him to pay off his arrears, and place him in better circumstances in the world. The young farmer listened to the advice, looked thoughtful, and departed. In a few days he returned again, and told his landlord he had been seriously reflecting on their last conversation, and would follow his counsel. At this interview one of the daughters of his wealthy landlord was present. In a short time afterwards it was discovered, that John Greensmith, (the name of the young farmer,) had effectually taken the hint, and, by an elopement to Gretna Green, had become the dutiful son-in-law of the gentleman who had thus unwittingly bestowed upon him this sage advice." Yorkshire Gazette 7 December 1822.
A similar report appeared in the Sheffield Independent on the same date.

(5) The date given on the Gretna Green certificate is 30 April, but the entry in the register is dated 3 April 1816.

(6) Isle of Man Marriage Index 1606-1984 Isle of Man National Heritage Museum MS09754/3/1. The marital status of the bride and groom is not stated, nor are the names of their fathers.

(7) Derby Mercury 24 October 1832; Leicester Journal 26 October 1832.

(8) Leicester Mercury 6 August 1836. Many of the references online, including The History of Parliament 1754-1790, incorrectly give the year of his death as 1837.