Family and Education

3rd s. of Thomas Beake of Whiteknights, nr. Reading, by Joan, da. of Nicholas Thorne of Sonning. m. Elizabeth, da. of Thomas Reade (d.1575) of Barton, nr. Abingdon, 1s. 4da.

Offices Held

Equerry (later chief equerry) of the stable bef. 1557; keeper of Donnington castle.

Biography

Beake was a member of the royal household, whose lands were assessed for the 1558 subsidy at £20. His property included the messuages, lands, tithes and profits of Hannington manor and rectory in Wiltshire, formerly belonging to the college of the Annunciation of St. Mary in the Newarke, Leicester. He also leased property in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, and owned or leased the manor of Shinfield, Berkshire. He was returned for Abingdon at a by-election through the patronage of Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, high steward of the borough, and, as master of the horse, his superior at court. In his will, made 4 Jan. and proved 21 Aug. 1599, Beake requested burial in the west aisle of Haddenham church. He appointed his wife as sole executrix, and the overseers were Thomas Reade and Edward Martyn, his brothers-in-law, and Edward Wright, his son-in-law. His heir Richard later married Coleberry, daughter of Richard Lovelace and sister to Sir Richard, 1st Baron Lovelace.

Vis. Berks. (Harl. Soc. lvi), 2; (lvii), 204-5; Lansd. 3, ff. 89, 200; CPR, 1560-3, p. 177; DL1/88/S19; Topog. and Gen. ed. Nichols, iii. 156; PCC 67 Kidd.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: M.N.

Notes

• 1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament.