Aieux Morris

Laurent Holker, écuyer, échevin de la ville (de Londres) et du comté de Middlesex; anno 1766, et du conseil ordinaire de cette ville; fils unique et héritier, né à Gravesend le 14 août 1729.

LAURENCE HOLKER
Male
Christening: 15 SEP 1729 Gravesend, Kent, England
Father: LAURENCE HOLKER

écuyer, échevin de la ville (de Londres) et du comté de Middlesex; anno 1766, et du conseil ordinaire de cette ville

On the north wall is a plain tablet, on which is the following inscription:
"Under the pew beneath this tablet is deposited the body of LAWRENCE HOLKER, Esq. Attorney at Law, of Great St. Thomas Apostle, and Bourne-House, near Bexley in Kent, who departed this life, with pious resignation, en the 7 Nov. 1793; in the 64th year of his age. He was the only Son of Lawrence Holker, M. D.of Milton, near Gravesend, by Catharine, daughter of Stephen Allen, Esq. They had also one Daughter, Catharine, who deceased Jan. 10, 1789, wife of John Thorpe, Esq. F. S. A. of Bexley in Kent, who died August 2, 1792. He was 32 years a faithful and useful member of the common council of this city for the ward of Vintry, to which he was a benefactor at his death. He was well known and much regarded in his professional character for integrity, honour, and moderation; and no less esteemed in his retirement for the virtues of a private station. This memorial of a praise- worthy example is inscribed at the desire of his two nieces and coheiresses at law, Catharina-Elizabetha Meggison and Ethelinda-Margareta Potts, surviving daughters of the above named John and- Catharina Thorpe, in grateful respect of their affectionate and honoured relation."

[Nov. 1793] Obituary of considerable Persons; with Biographical Anecdotes.
On the same day, at this house in St. Thomas the Apostle, in his 65th year, about six hours after his friend deputy Wilson, to whom he had bequeathed 100 guineas, Lawrence Holker, of Bourn house, in Bexley, esq. the next senior member of the common-council. He had been indisposed with a gouty complaint for a few days; and the medical gentlemen who attended him considered him in no danger; yet, strange to say, he died in half an hour after the last visit. Mr. H. was descended from a very ancient family, seated at Holker, near Furness abbey, in the Northern part of the county palatine of Lancaster. After the Norman Conquest, surnames were attached to families by slow degrees: they were not fully settled till about the 14th century. As some were denominated from their occupations, characters, &c. so were many also from their possessions. This family flourished there for many descents. Being attached to the royal cause during the civil wars in the reign of Charles I., when the Earl of Derby besieged Manchester, Laurence Holker, esq. was there imprisoned; and, as record yet in the family do testify, all his estates, as delinquent, were sequestered. His descendant John Holker, esq. for adhering to the same family in 1715, suffered many years imprisonment. John, his son, in 1745, was likewise imprisoned in Newgate, whence he escaped to France. See his short history, vol. LV p. 441). Laurence H. above mentioned being driven from Lancashire, settled at Gravesend, in Kent, in the name of Charles II., where this family have since resided ant flourished. His grandson, Laurence H. M.D. Cantab. died there a young physician in great practice, in 1738, leaving his only son, the above Mr. H. and an only daughter, married to the late John Thorpe, of Bexley, esq. F.A.S. (sell vol. LII). Mr. H. served his clerkship to Martin Dickenson, esq. alderman of London, and attorney-at-law, whom he also succeeded in business. He was never married. His paternal, as well as his acquired and accumulated, fortune, which is very considerable, descends to the two daughters of his only sister above-mentioned, and their families; the eldest of whom is married to Thomas Meggison, esq. of Hatten-garden, and the other to Cuthbert Potts, of Pall-mall, surgeon ; both of whom have children. His remains were buried, by his desire, in the church of St. miry Alderatary, Bow-lane, under his own pew, which is in the centre of the North aile, and close to the wall of the church; the grave being uncommonly deep, not less than 11 feet 6 inches below the floor.

Will of Lawrence Holker of St Thomas Apostle, London (1794)

To each of the city of London's common council and to each of his cousins - a mourning ring.

To brother in law John Thorpe and his wife and daughter - a ring.

To servant Susanna Allen - a ring and annuity of 10 guineas, charged on his farm at Hook Green, Meopham.

Real estate belonging to his honoured brother for her (his mother?) natural life, and then to his sister Catherine Thorpe, and then to her children.

Mother aforesaid appointed executor.

Dated before 1779 (4 codicils not checked yet)

Proved (London) 12 March 1794