Edmund Pelham facts for kids
Sir Edmund Pelham (around 1533 – 1606) was an important member of the Pelham family from Laughton, East Sussex. He became a judge in Ireland, holding a high position called Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He is especially remembered as the first judge to hold court sessions, known as assizes, in Ulster.
His career faced challenges because some people suspected he was secretly a Roman Catholic. These suspicions grew because he married into a well-known family who chose to follow the Catholic faith instead of the official Church of England. Also, both he and his wife did not seem very interested in the Anglican faith.
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Who Was Edmund Pelham?
Edmund Pelham was the fifth son of Sir William Pelham of Laughton in East Sussex. His mother was Mary Sandys. His older brother, Sir William Pelham, was also a very important person who served as Lord Justice of Ireland.
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Early Life and Legal Training
Edmund's father passed away when Edmund was about five years old. We don't know much about his early life until 1563. That year, he joined Gray's Inn, which was a place where lawyers trained. He became a lawyer in 1574.
He stayed at Gray's Inn for 40 years, taking on important roles there. However, he didn't seem to get many high-level legal jobs for a long time. He was elected to the House of Commons (a part of the English government) for Hastings in 1597.
His wife, Ellen Darrell, came from a family that openly followed the Catholic faith. This likely made it harder for his career to advance. Some people even accused him of not being a strong supporter of the Protestant faith. He rarely went to Church of England services and hardly ever took Holy Communion. At that time, not attending church regularly was against the law.
Working as a Judge in Ireland
In 1601, Edmund finally became a Serjeant-at-law, which was a senior legal position. He was almost 70 years old, so this might have seemed like the peak of his career. However, in 1602, the previous Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, Sir Robert Napier, was removed from his job. Edmund Pelham was chosen to take his place. Perhaps his brother's experience in Ireland helped him get this role.
Some people joked that Edmund was scared of the Spanish invasion of Ireland and the Battle of Kinsale. They said he purposely waited to go to Ireland until the fighting stopped. It seems he only accepted the job because he thought it was just for one year. When he arrived, he even had an argument with the previous Chief Baron about who should get the last quarter's salary.
As Chief Baron, Edmund Pelham is best known for holding the first assizes (court sessions) in Donegal in 1603. He wrote that the people respected him greatly, as if he were "an angel from Heaven." They even knelt and asked him to return to provide justice for them.
King James I of England made him a knight in 1604 at Greenwich. He also worked on a group that looked into damage caused during the Nine Years War. In 1605, he went on the Leinster assize and helped as a Commissioner of the Great Seal.
By 1606, Edmund was an old and sick man. He went to Bath to try and get better, but he passed away in Chester on June 4. Sir Arthur Chichester, who was the main leader in Ireland, praised Edmund as a hardworking and worthy judge. However, he also noted that Edmund's illness had made it harder for the Exchequer (the government department dealing with money) to run smoothly.
His Family Life
Edmund married Ellen (or Helen) Darrell. Her father was Thomas Darrell of Scotney Castle in Sussex. This marriage was a bit surprising for a lawyer who wanted to advance his career. The Darrell family was known for being Catholic and even allowed Jesuits (a Catholic religious order) to use Scotney Castle as a safe place.
Edmund and Ellen had five sons, including their oldest son Herbert (born 1587). Herbert's family later became the Pelhams of Catsfield. They also had three daughters, including one named Ellen. After Edmund's death, his wife Ellen continued to face legal problems because of her Catholic faith. Edmund got along well with his wife's brothers, George and Christopher, and even became a partner in their iron foundry business.
Images for kids
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Scotney Castle, the home of Pelham's wife Ellen Darrell
