William Lok facts for kids

Sir William Lok (1480 – 24 August 1550) was an important person in England during the time of Henry VIII. He worked for the King as a gentleman usher. He was also a very successful merchant, known as a mercer, and held important roles in London as an alderman and sheriff. He is also famous for being the great-great-great-grandfather of the well-known philosopher, John Locke.

Who Was William Lok's Family?

William Lok was the second son of Thomas Lok. His father was also a mercer in London. A mercer was someone who traded in valuable fabrics like silk and velvet. William's grandfather, John Lok, was also a mercer. He even served as the Sheriff of London in 1461. William's mother was Joan Wilcock. She was from Rotherham, a town in Yorkshire.

William Lok's Career and Business

William Lok became a member of the Mercers' Company in 1507. This was a group for merchants who traded in fine textiles. Even before joining, he was already selling expensive fabrics to Henry VIII. These included special cloths made of gold and silver.

Traveling Merchant and Royal Spy

As a mercer, William Lok often traveled to big markets in Europe. He visited places like Antwerp and Bergen op Zoom in the Low Countries. While there, he didn't just do business. He also collected important information for King Henry VIII. He would then pass this information on to the King and his main advisor, Thomas Cromwell.

Other Business Ventures

In 1527, William Lok received a special permission. He was the only one allowed to bring silks, jewels, and other mercery items into England for royal parties. Besides selling fabrics, he also exported beer. In 1528, he supplied the royal army with six hundred leather harnesses. He was also involved in shipping. In 1531, a ship he hired was stopped in Lisbon. This ship was carrying goods from Chios. It seems he also visited Crete at some point. This suggests he might have traded in wine or currants. By 1535, he was a very wealthy merchant. Records show his wealth was estimated at £1000.

Supporting King Henry VIII

Anne Boleyn, for whom Lok brought French translations of the Gospels from overseas

William Lok and his wife were Protestants. They supported King Henry VIII's decision to divorce Catherine of Aragon. His daughter, Rose Lok, later shared an interesting story about her father. She said he bravely took down a special paper from the Pope. This paper, called a Papal bull, had criticized King Henry VIII. The Pope was unhappy about the King's marriage to his second wife, Anne Boleyn.

Rose Lok wrote that for this brave act, the King rewarded her father. He gave him £100 a year. He also made him a Gentleman of his Privy Chamber. This meant he was a close helper to the King. The King even ate dinner at William Lok's house. He was also knighted by the King. This was a special honor, especially since he had only been Sheriff of London, not Mayor.

William Lok also brought French copies of the Gospels and Epistles from Europe. These were for Anne Boleyn, the King's second wife.

Later Life and Honors

In 1545, William Lok was chosen as an alderman for Vintry ward in London. In 1549, he became Sheriff. The young King Edward VI knighted him. This made him "Sir William Lok." In October 1549, he was part of the group that took Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, to the Tower of London. This happened after Somerset lost his power.

William Lok passed away on 24 August 1550. He was buried near his parents and his first wife in London. His fourth wife, Elizabeth Meredith, was also buried there later. In his will, he left many properties. These included houses and shops in London. He also owned twelve farms near London and an inn called the Dog's Head.

William Lok's Marriages and Children

Sir William Lok was married four times during his life.

First Marriage

His first wife was Alice Spenser. She passed away in 1522. She was one of the early people to become a Protestant.

Second Marriage

His second wife was Katherine Cooke. She died in 1537. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Cooke.

Third Marriage

His third wife was named Eleanor. She passed away in 1546. She had been married before to Walter Marsh.

Fourth Marriage

His fourth wife was Elizabeth Farthing. She died in 1551. She had also been married twice before.

William Lok had a total of nineteen children. Five sons and seven daughters lived to be adults. These children were from his first two marriages. Many of his sons became mercers, just like their father. It is thought that his daughters likely became silkwomen.

Here are some of his children:

• Thomas Lok (1514–1556): He was a mercer and the oldest son who lived to adulthood from his father's first marriage.
• Matthew Lok (died 1551): He was a merchant in London.
• Dorothy Lok: She married two different merchants.
• Katherine Lok: She also married two different men.
• Rose Lok (born 1526): She was a mercer's wife and later became a Marian exile. This means she left England because of her Protestant beliefs during a time when Protestants were not safe.
• John Lok: He was a merchant who traveled to faraway places like Jerusalem and Guinea.
• Henry Lok (died 1571): He was a merchant and mercer in London. He was the father of the poet, Henry Lok.
• Michael Lok: He was a merchant in London.
• Elizabeth Lok (1535–c.1581): She married a mercer and alderman, and later a bishop.