TOUKE

Thoroton, in his "History of Nottinghamshire," states that the family of Toke was settled in that county as early as the reign of William Rufus. The pedigree given by that writer has the name spelled in seventeen different ways. Of this family was Sir Bryan Tuke, who was, first, Secretary to Cardinal Wolsey, afterwards, Foreign Secretary to Henry VIII, then, Treasurer of the King's Chamber, and finally, Ambassador to France, with Bishop Tunstall. From this eloquent and learned personage, described by Leland as "Anglicae linguae eloquentiae mirificus," derived Sir Samuel Tuke of Cressing Temple, Essex, who was created a Baronet in 1663-4, and fell at the Battle of the Boyne. Other branches of the descendants of the Norman Touke became seated in the counties of Derby, Nottingham, York, Kent, Cambrldqe, Harts, Dorset, &c. Of the existing families, the chief is that of Godinton, in Kent, now represented by the REV. NICOLAS TOKE of that place. The late Rev. William Tooke, F.R.S., author of the "History of Russia," derived his descent from the Tookes or Tokes of Hertfordshire, themselves scions of the Kentish stock. His sons, Thomas and William, now of London, are the wellnown authors of several learned works.

--(This name appears on the Battle Abbey Roll)