Robert was born before 1515, probably c1505 from education record, the 1st son of Thomas Broke of Claverley, Salop by Margaret, daughter of Humphrey Grosvenor of Farmcote, Salop. [1]
Education
1519 B. Gramm.
1521, BA at Oxford University
Studied at Strand Inn, and from there was admitted to Middle Temple at some point between 1525 and 1528. [2][3]
1545-54 Recorder of London. He was also granted Freedom of the City of London, a status tied to his membership of the Worshipful Company of Mercers,
1547- MP in London (1547-52, 1553, 1554)
1552 Serjeant-at-law
1554 Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
1555 Knighted by King Philip.
Family
In his memorial he was said to have had 18 children in total, 14 are listed in Shropshire visitations.[5]
By 1537 he was married to Anne Waring daughter of Nicholas Waring of Shrewbury and widow of Nicholas Hurleston. They had at least 3 sons together and a daughter. [1]
John d 1598 æt 60 buried at Madeley married Anna daughter of Franciscus Shierley (Frances Sherley) of Staunton Leicestershire (d 19 sept 1608 buried at Madeley)
Robert's second wife whom he married by settlement dated 19 September 1544, was Dorothy Gatacre, daughter of William Gatacre of Gatacre, Shropshire. They had at least 5 sons and 5 daughters. [1]
He fell into conflict with the court's Puisne Justices when he appointed Thomas Gatacre, his wife's brother, as Chief Prothonotary in 1557. The justices rejected him the appointment.[3]
Land Ownership
The family historically held minor holdings but fuelled by the Dissolution of the Monasteries he was able to build on this. Of greatest importance was the acquisition of the manor of Madeley, Shropshire, which he purchased in 1544; it remained the seat of the Brooke family for two centuries. With its extensive minerals it was to prove one of the focal points of England's Industrial Revolution. [3]
In 1548 he bought the manor of Lapley from Sir Richard Manners and settled it on his second wife, Dorothy Gatacre, at their marriage which she obtained it on his death. [3]
His family lived generally in Shropshire which he visited periodically, but most of the time lived in one of his London houses, at Carter Lane or in Putney. [3]
Legacy
He was renowned for his great learning and probity as a judge. His most important work was La Graunde Abridgement (A collection of cases compiled out of the Year Books providing a summary of English law). Though based on Fitzherbert's Abridgement, it contained much new material. He abridged nearly 21,000 cases and digested them alphabetically. It was published posthumously in 1573.[6]
Abbreviated Will of Robert Broke
Emphasis on profile links
Dated: 7 Jan 1557/8 Proved : 12 Oct 1558[7]
I Sir Robert Broke of London
Beneficiaries : Wife Dorothy (1/3 part goods and chattels, manor of Madley)
Daughter leveson and her husband (Gold items)
’Unadvanced’ daughters (£8 ea at marriage or 24)
Sons with no land (£40 ea when learning complete)
Remainder to my 8 heirs
Sons John, Richard (Rings)
Cousin Richard Whorewood clerk (£3 6s)
Sister Harrington and Francis Harrington
Other Mentions : Poor honest maidens marriage.
Hospitals in my parish and Putney
William Hordemony
Marriage covenants with father in [Cawe Warying?] which appear in my book of hours but Elisabeth Kinge, his daughter and executive could not find it.
1/3 to performance of will.
Servants
Children of first wife
Overseers: William Gatacre father, M Cawe
Executors: Wife Dorothy, Humphrey Molseley, Richard Harrington my brother in law, Roger Barney
Witnessed: Roger Barney, Roberto Gravenor, Ritho Whorewoodd, Henrico Bones, Richardo Leme
Here lyeth the body off Robert Brooke famous in his time for virtue and learning advanced to be Com'on Serjaunt of the Citie of London, Recorder of London, Serjaunt at Law, Speaker of P'lyament, and Chiefe Justice of the Com'on Pleace who visiting his frendes and country deceased the 6th day of September 1558 after he had begotten of Anne and Dorothea his wiefs xviii children, upon whose sowles God have Mercy
Inquisition Post Mortem
His inquisition post mortem states that he died on 5 September at Patshull in Staffordshire, a few miles from Claverley.
Research Notes
The speculative history of the Brooke family prior to Richard Brooke is set out in a publication by Culver. There is no evidence that he is the son of this Robert Broke, though he did have a son named Richard mentioned in his Will. More research is needed. In Shropshire Visitations, Richard has a son Walter, who does not appear in the Culver publication also a birth in Hampshire is inconsistent [9]
↑ 1.01.11.21.3BROKE, Robert (by 1515-58), of London. Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982 Available from Boydell and Brewer Author: Helen Miller
↑ The Knights of England. A complete record from the earliest time to the present day of the knights of all the orders of chivalry in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and of knights bachelors, incorporating a complete list of knights bachelors dubbed in Ireland
by Shaw, William Arthur, 1865-1943; Burtchaell, George Dames, 1853-1921 Publication date 1906 Vol 2 Page 69
↑ The visitation of Shropshire, taken in the year 1623 by Treswell, Robert; Vincent, Augustine, ca. 1584-1626; Camden, William, 1551-1623; Grazebrook, George, 1831-1917 ed; Rylands, J. Paul (John Paul), b. 1846 joint ed; College of Arms (Great Britain) Publication date 1889 Vol 28 Page 80
↑ National Archives PROB 11/41/124
D946159 Will of Sir Robert Broke of London
↑ Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society by Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (Great Britain)Publication date 1882 Vol 5 Page 367
↑ Our genealogies: Brooke, Buell, Culver, Dillon, Griffith, McFadden by Culver, Reuben Dillon.Publication date 1925 Page 16
↑ Antiquities of Shropshire by Robert William EytonPublication date 1856 Page 103
Biographia Juridica A Biographical Dictionary of the Judges of England from the Conquest to the Present Time, 1066-1870 By Edward Foss · 1870 Page 129
Industrialisation and identity in Shropshire: the Brookes of Madeley 1544-1646 Paul Belford PhD University of York Archaeology
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Brooke-1881 and Broke-16 appear to represent the same person because: They have the same death date and place, same birth place and parents. They both refer to the politician who was chief justice of the common pleas in the 1550s.
Broke was the more accepted surname at the time. Also he was simply Robert, not Thomas Robert.
I'm currently working on the transcription of the last Will and Testament of John Tamworth MP (abt.1524-abt.1569). At the start of page 3 of his Will there is a legacy which, if previous conditions were not satisfied could be given to "my cousin John Brooke son of Sir Robert Brooke knight late chief Justice of the common pleas at Westminster". This confirms that Robert had a son John Brooke. However, so far it has nothing further to say about him.
Broke was the more accepted surname at the time. Also he was simply Robert, not Thomas Robert.
I'm currently working on the transcription of the last Will and Testament of John Tamworth MP (abt.1524-abt.1569). At the start of page 3 of his Will there is a legacy which, if previous conditions were not satisfied could be given to "my cousin John Brooke son of Sir Robert Brooke knight late chief Justice of the common pleas at Westminster". This confirms that Robert had a son John Brooke. However, so far it has nothing further to say about him.
Roy