Cary Coke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cary Coke
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portrait by Michael Dahl
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| Born | 9 June 1680 |
| Died | 4 August 1707 (aged 27) |
| Spouse(s) | Edward Coke |
| Children | Anne Coke, Edward Coke, Robert Coke, Cary Coke, Thomas Coke |
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Cary Coke (born Newton) (9 June 1680 – 4 August 1707) was an important book collector and a supporter of the British theatre. She was the daughter of Sir John Newton, who was a member of the House of Commons of England, a powerful group of lawmakers. Cary Coke was also the mother of Thomas Coke, who later became the 1st Earl of Leicester.
Contents
Life of Cary Coke
Her Early Life and Family
Cary Newton was born on June 9, 1680. Her father was Sir John Newton, 3rd baronet, from Barrs Court in Gloucestershire. On June 3, 1696, she married Edward Coke. He had inherited a large home and land called Holkham in Norfolk.
Cary and Edward had five children who lived to adulthood. They had three sons and two daughters. Their son, Thomas (1697-1759), later became a very important person, the 1st Earl of Leicester.
Her Love for the Theatre
Both Cary Coke and her husband Edward loved plays and supported the theatre. They were known as "patrons" of the stage. This meant they helped artists and theatre groups. In 1698, a famous writer named Mary Pix even dedicated her play Queen Catherine to Cary Coke. This shows how important Cary was in the theatre world.
Her Legacy
In April 1707, Cary's husband Edward passed away. Just a few months later, on August 4, Cary also died at the age of 27. Her official will, which is a document about her wishes for her belongings, is kept at The National Archives in the United Kingdom.
When they died, Cary and Edward had many debts, over £22,000. Most of their belongings had to be sold to pay these debts. However, their valuable collection of books was saved. Books worth £193 6s were kept for their oldest son, Thomas.
Her Amazing Book Collection
Both Cary and Edward Coke were passionate about collecting books. In 1701, they each had a special bookplate made. A bookplate is like a fancy sticker or stamp that you put inside a book to show who owns it.
Where Are Her Books Now?
Many of the books from their collection are still kept at the Holkham library today. In 1953, the Bodleian Library bought a part of the Holkham Collection. This included 305 English plays from the time period known as the Restoration.
These plays from the Coke collection are very special. They are valuable because they seem to be in their original condition. This means they haven't been changed or taken apart over the years. No books were taken apart to remove extra copies.
