Francis Leke, 1st Earl of Scarsdale

Origins

He was the son and heir of Sir Francis Leke (d.1626) by his first wife Frances Swifte, a daughter and co-heiress of Robert Swifte of Bayton, by his wife Ellen Wickersley, daughter and heiress of Nicholas Wickersley of Yorkshire. His half brother William Leke was the father of Sir Francis Leke, 1st Baronet.

Career

Leke was created a baronet in 1611, and in 1624 was raised to the peerage as Baron Deincourt (or d'Eyncourt) of Sutton. Robert Thoroton supposed a d'Eyncourt connection through Morton and Parkhall in Derbyshire, once belonging to the d'Eyncourts, later to the Leke family.(Burke 1852, p. 1381) In 1629, Baron Deincourt was the subject of legal action by his widowed mother over non-payment of monies owed to his dead father.

In the Civil War, st the beginning of April 1643, Deincourt began to fortify his house at Sutton. Sir John Gell, 1st Baronet sent his brother Colonel Thomas Gell, with 500 men and three pieces of ordnance, to besiege it. Deincourt was summoned, but refused to surrender, and for some time obstinately defended himself. The house was taken, and Deincourt and his men were made prisoners; the works were demolished, and Deincourt was set at liberty, on giving his word that he would go to Derby within eight days and submit himself to the Parliament. Sir John Gell observes, that the forfeiture of his word, on this occasion, was revenged by the garrison at Bolsover, who some time afterwards, when that castle was in the hands of the Parliament, plundered Deincourt's house at Sutton. In the same year, fighting under Lord Deincourt's banner, two of his sons were killed fighting for the king at the Battle of Lansdowne, on 5 July 1643.