A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Braddon, Laurence
Admitted 20 November, 1677.
Second son of William Braddon, of Trenorgy, Cornwall. He is now remembered for the inquiry he set on foot respecting the death of the Earl of Essex in the Tower in 1683, who, he affirmed, had been murdered. For this action he was arrested and tried in 1683 on an accusation of conspiring to spread a false belief, and of suborning witnesses. Being found guilty he was fined £2,000, and, in default, committed to prison, where he remained till the landing of William III. in 1688, when he was liberated. He was called to the Bar 24 Nov. 1693, and subsequently obtained the appointment of Solicitor to the Wine Licence Office. He died 29 Nov. 1724.
Besides his writings relating to the supposed murder of the Earl of Essex, he published a book on the Constitutions of the Company of Watermen and Lighterman, and some pamphlets on the condition of the Poor. His trial is reported in Cobbet's State Trials.