Sir Edward Heron, Baron of the Exchequer

Sir Edward Heron of Langtoft, Stamford, and Cressey Hall (which last he purchased about 1600); entered at Lincoln's Inn 12 Feb. 1564-5; called to the Bar 7 Feb. 1574-5; Recorder of Stamford 1588; purchased Langtoft about 15 June 36 Eliz., 1594; Serjeant-at-Law Jan. 1594-5; knighted before 21 Sept. 1605; Baron of the Exchequer; died 4 July 7 Jac. I., 1609. Adm'on (C.P.C) 10 July 1609.

The grandfather of Edward Heron was John Heron, a physician at Barming in Kent, the son of Sir John Heron of Hackney. The judge was the son of Richard Heron, settled at Harsted or Hastings-Hall in Birdbroke, Essex. He pursued his legal studies at Lincoln's Inn, where he was admitted on February 7, 1574, was elected a governor in 1586, and autumn reader in the following year. In 1594 he was called to the degree of serjeant-at-law, which he held for fourteen years before he was advanced to the bench of the Exchequer on November 25, 1607, having been previously knighted. He did not long enjoy his position; his successor, Sir Edward Bromley, being appointed on February 6, 1610.

He was twice married. His first wife was Anne, daughter of David Vincent, Esq., of Bernake in Northamptonshire, the ancestor of the present baronet of that name. By her he had tree sons, Edward, John, and William. His second wife was Dorothy, daughter of Anthony Maxey, Esq., of Bradwell near Coggleshall, who brought him a son, named James, settled at Pantfield.

Source: The Judges of England with sketches of their lives, Vol. VI. 1603-1660, p. 160

Document

Linc. N'hamp. A. 12634. Indenture whereby Edward Heron of Stamforde, co. Lincoln, esquire, covenants with Edward Heron, the younger, his son, for his love to Dorothy his wife, and for her full jointure, and for his love to the said Edward, John and James, his sons, that he will stand seised of the manors of Caswike and Langtoft in the said county, and of all his lands in Uffington, Caswike and Deepinge, and of all his land, &c. in the county of Northampton to the said manors belonging, to the use of himself for life, with remainder as to the manor of Caswike and premises in Uffington to his wife's use for life, with remainder to the use of the said Edward, his son, in tail male, with remainder in default to the use of the heirs male of James, his son, with remainder in default to the use of the heirs male of his own body, and with remainder as to the manor of Langtoft to the use of the said Edward Heron, the younger, and John Heron, his sons, successively in tail male, with remainder in default to the heirs male of his own body; with proviso that this covenant or indenture shall be of no effect on tender of 5s. 'either in sylver or in golde,' to his said sons to avoid it, or on his declaration in writing to that effect, or if his said wife shall not, upon notice of the death of Eleanor Woodhouse, wife of Francis Woodhouse, esquire, sometime wife of John Netlam, surrender her share in the said premises to the next in reversion. 7 October, 86 Elizabeth. English. Cancelled by cuts. Signed Edw. Heron. Seal. Memorandum of voidance, by tender of 5s. endorsed.

Source: 'Deeds: A.12601 - A.12700', in A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 5, ed. H C Maxwell Lyte (London, 1906), pp. 349-366. British History Online