Family and Education

bap. 7 Jan. 1717, 1st s. of Philip Roberts of Husborne Crawley, Beds. by Anne, da. of Edward Coke of Holkham, Norf., sis. of Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. m. (2) bef. 1754, Elizabeth, da. of George Chamberlayne of Hillesden, Bucks., 2s. 3da. suc. to Longford estate of uncle Robert Coke, M.P., 1750; to Holkham, the estate of Thomas, Earl of Leicester, on d. of his wid. 28 Feb. 1775.

Offices Held

Gent. usher to Prince of Wales 1738-51.

Biography

Wenman Roberts was the grandson of Gabriel Roberts. His mother, who eloped with his father in 1715,1 was the sister of Thomas Coke, created Earl of Leicester in 1744. On the death of his first cousin, Edward, Viscount Coke, in 1753, he became heir to the estates of his uncle, Lord Leicester, assumed the name of Coke and was returned in succession to his cousin at Harwich on Pelham’s nomination.2 The father of the well-known ‘Coke of Norfolk’, he died 11 Apr. 1776.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

• 1. C. W. James, Chief Justice Coke, his Family and Descendants, 197-200.
• 2. Namier, Structure, 365.