Thomas Smythe (abt. 1558 - 1625)

Born about 1558 in London, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Judith (Culverwell) Smythe — married about 1585 in London, England [uncertain]

Husband of Joan (Hobbs) Smythe — married 21 Apr 1588 in St Michael Bassishaw, City of London, England

Husband of Sarah (Blount) Sidney — married 20 Dec 1594 in St Michael Bassishaw, City of London, England

Descendants

Died 4 Sep 1625 at about age 67 in Sutton at Hone, Kent, England

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Note: Sir Thomas Smythe-97 was not the father of Christopher Smith/Smyth-713 of Burnley, Lancashire.

Biography

Sir Thomas Smythe, Knight, of the City of London and Sutton at Hone, Kent

A life of Sir Thomas Smythe was published by Wadmore in 1893.^[1] More recently, there has been a lecture by Archer on the life of Smythe.^[2]

Thomas was born around 1558/1559 the son of Thomas Smythe and Alice (Judde) Smythe.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

The precise date and place of his birth are unknown. Unlike eleven of his twelve siblings, his baptism was not recorded in the parish register of All Hallows, Lombard Street, City of London.

In the 1963 edition of the 1568 Visitation of London^[5] he was noted as 8 years and 9 months old at the time of the Visitation on 01 May 1568 suggesting he was born around July 1559. However, his brother John, was recorded as being less than 9 months older suggesting the ages may not be particularly accurate. However, as John was baptised in Sep 1557 and Thomas' younger sister Joan was baptised in Oct 1560, Thomas was most likely born in either 1558 or 1559.

In the will of his father, the will made on 22 May 1591 and proved on 29 October 1591^[11] Thomas was bequeathed £100.

Thomas was a co-Executor of the will of his mother Alice, the will made on 10 Jul 1592.^[12] This very detailed will made no reference to any children of Thomas and hence it is assumed that he had no living children at this time. His mother made a charitable bequest to the Company of Skinners for support of six almshouses founded by her father Sir Andrew Judde (six times Master of the Skinners) at St Helen's Bishopsgate, City of London. Thomas himself became a Skinner and an important benefactor of the school at Tonbridge, Kent, which Sir Andrew Judde had founded.

Marriages

Thomas Smythe married three times:

1. Judith Culverwell
2. Jane Hobbs
3. Sara Blount

His first marriage was to Judith Culverwell, daughter of Richard Culverwell a wealthy merchant of the City of London.^[3][8]

The will of Richard Culverwell, Mercer of London, made on 01 Dec 1584, with a Codicil of 01 Feb 1585/1586 and proved on 18 Feb 1585/1586^[13] indicated that his daughter Judith was unmarried on 01 Dec 1584 but had married by the time of his Codicil of 01 Feb 1585/1586. In the Codicil the Testator recorded that he had promised to pay his son in law Thomas Smith, gent, £1000, for the preferment of his daughter, Judith. It is probable that Thomas married Judith Culverwell at St Martin in the Vintry, the City of London parish of Richard Culverwell. There are, however, no known records for St Martin in the Vintry prior to 1617.

Thomas married second 'Jeene Hobbes' [Jane Hobbes] on 21 Apr 1588 at St Michael Bassishaw, City of London.^[14] She was the daughter of William Hobbes, Draper, of St Michael Bassishaw.^[15][16]

There is no known issue from the first two marriages.

His third marriage was to Sara Blount on 20 Dec 1594, also at St Michael Bassishaw, City of London.^[17] Thomas was noted in the will of his father in law William Blunt, gentleman of the City of London, the will dated 24 April 1596 and proved 12 March 1596/1597.^[18]

Sir Thomas Smythe was recorded in the Smythe pedigree taken during the Visitation of Kent^[3] in which he was noted as having been married to Judith Culverwell and Sarah Blount. The Visitation of Gloucester in 1623 recorded that he had married Sara Blount, daughter of William Blount and Anne 'Barnard'.^[19]

Children

• [Sir] John Smythe^[20] (died 1640)^[21]
• Thomas Smythe^[20] (died 1618)^[22]

The marriage to Sarah Blount is known to have yielded two sons, John (the eldest) and Thomas. They were recorded in the will of Sir John Smythe, elder brother of Sir Thomas Smythe, the will made on 16 Mar 1607/1608 and proved on 25 May 1609.^[20]

However, in the will of Sir Thomas Smythe^[23], John Smythe was the only issue of Sir Thomas Smythe that was recorded suggesting that his second son, Thomas, had predeceased him. Indeed, a "Mr Thomas Smyth, son of Sir Thomas Smith, Knight", was buried at St Dionis Backchurch, City of London, in 1618.^[22]

It has been suggested^[8][15] that Sir Thomas Smythe had a further son and a daughter, but as yet no evidence has come to light to substantiate these children. There is no evidence of them in the wills of Sir Thomas Smythe, in the will of his third wife, or in the wills of the brothers and sisters of Sir Thomas Smythe. Stocker's suggestion^[8] of a third son (not named) who married a daughter of a Blount without the consent of his father and then left the country, may well be a conflation with John the eldest son. Stocker^[8] also indicated there was a daughter Dorothy who died unmarried and was buried on 22 Nov 1627, but provided no source.

It would appear that the male line of Sir Thomas Smythe ended with his great great great great grandson Sir Sidney Stafford Smythe.^[9]

NB There are internet genealogies elsewhere that link Sir Thomas Smythe as the father of Christopher Smith of Burnley, Lancashire. However, there is no evidence at all that Sir Thomas Smythe had a son Christopher, nor any link with Burnley, Lancashire, and hence a relationship with Christopher Smith can be discounted.

Early Career

Thomas Smythe was educated at the Merchant Taylors’ School.^[2] Trade was in his blood and he joined the Haberdashers’ Company and Skinners’ Company. He became a captain of the Trained Bands of London (the London Militia).^[2]

Thomas Smythe became Sheriff of London in Nov 1599 but his office was curtailed in Feb 1600/1601 in the aftermath of the attempted insurrection against Queen Elizabeth by the Earl of Essex.^[1]

Around the 13 Feb 1600/1601 his brother John Smythe was recorded having spoken to Thomas about the visit of the Earl of Essex to the house of Thomas Smythe on the 8th February. Thomas stated that he had only spoken with the Earl once previously and that was nine years earlier. On the arrival of the Earl to his house Thomas had left to get the assistance of the Lord Mayor. However, the Earl of Rutland stated that the Earl of Essex had told him that Smythe had promised to get as many men as he could to assist him.^[24]

A letter from John Chamberlain dated 24 Feb 1600/1601 about the arraignment of the Earl of Essex noted that: "Sir Harry Bronksy [or Bromley] has been committed to the Tower, it is feared that Sir John Scott [brother in law of Thomas Smythe] may follow him" .."Sheriffe Smith [Thomas Smythe] and his wife are likewise in durance, and is thought are in danger of misprison, once he is set besides his offices and another alderman and another sheriffe chosen in his roome".^[25][26]

Thomas was taken to the Tower on 2nd March, he made his statement on 05 April 1601, and he and Sir Henry Nevill were put in front of the Council on 8th July. Sir Henry Nevill was fined but Thomas Smythe was not sanctioned.^[27]

Thomas Smythe remained close to his brother in law Sir John Scott and in Scott's will made on 18 Sep 1616 and proved on 17 Jan 1617/1618, he referred to "his ancient appoved and moste faythfull frende" Sir Thomas Smythe of Philpot Lane, London, knight.^[28]

Thomas Smith of Kent was knighted on 13 May 1603 at the Tower of London.^[29][30]

Ambassador to Russia 1604-1605

A particularly interesting episode in the life of Thomas occurred in 1604-1605 when he acted as the English Ambassador to Russia to encourage the nascent trade with Russia. This extraordinary journey was captured in a travelogue of the day.^[31]

He met King James I at Greenwich on 10 Jun 1604 and then embarked with his party on the 'John' and other ships at Gravesend on 12 June. The journey to Archangel took 40 days. The Ambassador's party travelled south by river and then by land, reaching the city of Yerri-Slave (Yaroslavl) on 19 Sep 1604. The party finally entered Moscow on horseback on 04 Oct 1604 and a grand meeting took place with the Emperor of Russia (Boris Feodorovich Godunov, Boris I) on Oct 11th.

However, a rebellion in Russia commenced shortly after the meeting which would have occupied much of the Emperor's time leaving the Ambassador’s party to overwinter in Moscow. The rebels were defeated (temporarily) on 08 Feb 1604/1605. A second meeting with the Emperor took place on 10 Mar 1604/1605 in which it was established that peaceful relations and trade between Russia and England were to continue.

On 20 Mar the Ambassador departed from Moscow (‘almost weeping’) to begin the journey north to Archangel. After passing through Yaroslavl and arriving at Vollagde they heard the news of the Emperor’s sudden death. The story is then told how the Emperor’s son committed suicide as the rebels gained support with Dimitriy Ioannovich (known as false Dimitry) becoming the new Emperor. The new Emperor wrote to the English party to indicate his support for peace and trade between Russia and England. On the 28 May 1605 the Ambassador’s party took to the ships at Archangel and, after an eight day wait for the wind, they were able to set sail and return to England.

Later Career: Mercantile Activities

Archer^[2] described Thomas Smythe's extensive mercantile activities.

The East India Company was granted its first charter in 1600. Thomas Smythe became its first Governor and was involved with the company through to 1621.

Smythe was the leading mover of the Virginia Company, as Treasurer, raising funds for the colonization of this new land. This aspect of career has been well documented elsewhere.^[1][2][32] Interestingly, between 1613 and 1616, three 'Virginians out of Sir Thomas Smith's howse' were buried at St Dionis Backchurch, London.^[22][33]

Smythe also participated in trading with Russia (Muscovy Company) and the Levant.

Sir Thomas Smythe was an Overseer of the will of Sir Thomas Dale the will made in 1617 and proved on 15 Jan 1620/1621.^[34]

Thomas Smythe was involved in many other aspects of society. He was a member of Parliament on a number of occasions.^[2][15] In 1604 he and his brother Richard were appointed receivers for the Duchy of Cornwall. For a period he acted as Commissioner for the Royal Navy and was involved in maintaining a fleet for the suppression of piracy.^[1]

Smythe's extensive involvement in trade appears to have led to his interest in exploration and he is remembered for posterity in the names of places around the world. Indeed, while Archer concentrates on Thomas Smythe as one of the great merchants of his day, he concludes his lecture with:

“Smythe’s place in the intellectual life of early modern London is worth thinking about. He can be seen as a patron of applied science. Not only did he sponsor Hood’s mathematical lectures, but he was also the dedicatee of John Woodhall’s treatise on naval surgery. Just what kind of house did he preside over? By the 1610s his mansion in Philpot Lane was thronged with the investors in the Virginia Company and prospective colonists, who would also have seen the city tycoons who ran the trading companies whose boards met under his roof. What did they make of the exotica of international travel, like the Inuit canoe suspended from the ceiling of the great hall? And what kind of colonial encounters took place in the exchanges between the English visitors, and the Hottentot and native Americans receiving instruction? We can but speculate, but the evidence puts Smythe among London’s thirsters for knowledge and seekers after curiosity.”

Thomas Smythe was committed to charitable causes and continued to support the Judd School at Tonbridge founded by his grandfather, Sir Andrew Judde, and made various provisions in his will the benefits of which still support charitable activities today (see below).

Portraiture/Paintings

Portraits of Thomas Smythe, his brothers and sisters and parents, were painted by Cornelis Ketel in 1579-1580^[35][36][37] and most (including the one of Thomas) are now owned by the Skinners' Company of the City of London. On the painting of Thomas is written aetatis 20 (meaning age 20 or in the 20th year) indicating he may have been born around 1559.

Of a series of paintings produced by Brangwyn in the first decade of the 20th Century for the great hall in London of the Company of Skinners^[38] one depicts the departure of Sir James Lancaster for the East Indies in 1594. "In front, upon the steps of a jetty at Deptford, near the home of Sir Thomas Smythe, that worthy skinner, is bidding ‘good voyage’ to his brother of the Guild, Sir James Lancaster".

A portrait of Sir Thomas Smythe as an older man is also at Skinners' Hall.

Sir Thomas Smythe

The above image of Sir Thomas Smythe is from an engraving by Simon de Passe of 1616 which was published in John Woodall's The Surgions Mate.^[39][40]

Arms

The engraving by Simon de Passe depicts the following arms:^[41]

Smythe, Judde, Chiche, Criol, Crevequer, Averenches, Chichele, Apuldrefield and Murfyn/Mirfine

Wadmore^[1] stated that the arms on his monument at Sutton at Hone, Kent, are Smythe, Judde, Chiche, Criol, Averenches, Crevecour, Chichele, and Stafford. Presumably the identification of the last coat as Stafford was an error and is Murfyn.

Death and Burial 1625

Sir Thomas Smythe died on 04 Sep 1625 (see monumental inscription below) and was buried on 05 Sep 1625 at Sutton at Hone, Kent.^[42]

Monument at Sutton at Hone, Kent

There is a substantial monument within the church at Sutton at Hone to Sir Thomas Smythe.

Monument to Sir Thomas Smythe

The inscription is:^[1]

To the glorie of GOD and to ye pious Memorie of the honble Sr THOMAS SMITH, Kt, late GOVERNOR of ye East Indian, Moscovia, French, & Sommer Iland Companies; Treasurer for the Virginian PLANTATION, Prime VNDERTAKER (in the year 1612) for that noble Designe the Descoverie of the NORTH WEST PASSAGE. Principal COMMISSIONER for the London expedition against ye PIRATES, & for a Voiage to ye Ryver SENEGA upon ye Coast of AFRICA. One of ye cheefe Commissioners for ye NAVIE ROIAL, & sometyme AMBASSADOVR from ye Matie of Gr. Brit. to ye Emperovr and Great Duke of RVSSIA & MOSCOVIA &c. Who having judiciously conscionably, & with admirable facility managed many difficult & weighty Affaires to ye honour & profit of this NATION, rested from his labour the 4th day of Septem. 1625, and his Soul returning to Him that gave it, his body was here laid up in ye hope of a blessed Resurrection.

On a slab below:

From those large KINGDOMES where the SVNN doth rise:

From that rich newe found world that Westward lies:

From VOLGA to the flood of AMAZONS:

From under both the POLES, on all the ZONES:

From all the famous RYVERS, LANDES & SEAS,

Betwixt this PLACE and our ANTI=PODES

He gott intelligence what might be found

To give contentment through the massie ROVND.

But finding Earthly things did rather tire

His Longing SOVL, then answer her desire:

To this obscured VILLAGE he with drewe,

From hence his Heavenlie VOIAGE did persue.

Here summed up all, And when his GALE of Breath

Had left Becalmed in the PORT of DEATH

The Soul's fraile BARK (and safelie landed her,

Wher FAITH his FACTOR and his HARBINGER,

Made place before) he did no doubte obtaine

That wealth wch here on Earth we seek in vain.

Summary of the Will of Sir Thomas Smythe 1625

In his will made on 30 January 1621/1622 (with a codicil of 04 Sep 1624) and proved 12 October 1625, he was recorded as Sir Thomas Smithe of London, Knight.^[23]

The first part of the will was concerned with charitable bequests. He granted lands, messuages tenements etc. in Paulesgate at the west end of Watling Street in the City of London, and messuages/tenements in Lynestreete, London to the Company of Skinners. He willed that the rents from these bequests should be used for particular charitable purposes. He specified that the Skinners should provide monies to parsons or churchwardens in three parishes in Kent, who in turn should provide one loaf of bread per week to the poor of their respective parishes; namely to six poor people in Bidborough, twelve in Tunbridge, and six in Spelhurst. The Skinners should also each year provide good cloth to the 24 poor people to make winter garments.

He similarly required the Skinners to provide monies for a weekly loaf of bread for six poor people in the parish of Otford, six in Sutton at Hone, and five in Durrant, parishes also in Kent.

He required ten pounds to be paid annually to the chief Schoolmaster of the free school of Tunbridge and five pounds to the Usher of the same school.

He specified that ten pounds per year should be paid to each of six scholars from the free school of Tunbridge to study divinity at the Universities.

Concerning the rest of his manors, messuages, houses, lands, tenements etc. one half was granted to his wife, dame Sara Smithe for and during the term of her natural life, and after her decease unto his son Sir John Smithe. The other half was granted to his son, Sir John Smithe. If Sir John Smithe should die without issue then he willed that various parts of the estate should pass to particular nephews. The lands etc. were mostly in Kent in the parishes of Bidborough, Tunbridge, Pentherst, Spelhurst, and Lewisham with his estates of Otford Park (in Otford Sevenoaks and Seale) and Cottington (near Sandwich), with additional estates of Saltang Grange (in Kinningham, Yorkshire) and Halstead in Essex. The nephews named were:

• Thomas Smithe of Ostenhanger, Kent, son and heir of Sir John Smithe his late brother, deceased;
• Thomas Smith son of his brother Sir Richard Smithe, Knight;
• John Smith son of his late brother Robert Smith, deceased;
• Thomas Fanshawe son of Lady Fanshawe ;
• Sir Thomas Butler and Oliver Butler, sons of his sister Ursella Butler;
• Sir Arthur Harris son of his late sister Alice Harris, deceased;
• Thomas Fanshaw and William Fanshaw sons to his sister Joane Fanshaw.

As concerning the rest of his personal estate including goods, chattels, leases, plate, jewels, ready money, debts etc. he specified that, in accordance with the custom of the City of London, these should be divided into three parts: one part to his wife dame Sara Smithe; one part to his son Sir John Smithe and the third part to be divisible by Sir Thomas Smithe himself. This third part was used for a number of bequests including that at the time of his burial the executors of his will should provide good cloth to the value of £100 to be given to poor people in most need; sums were bequeathed to the four hospitals in or near the City of London, namely St Bartholomew's hospital, Christe hospital, the hospital of Bridewell, and St Thomas' hospital in Southwark; and bequests to his servants. Bequests were also made to family members as follows to:

• the children of his sister Mistress Joane Fanshawe to each of them a ring of five pounds price;
• the children of his late sister Ursula Butler to each of them a ring of five pounds price;
• his sister the Lady Fanshawe the sum of twenty pounds, and to her children to each of them a ring of five pounds price except her son Richard Fanshaw his godson to whom he gave the sum of ten pounds;
• Lady St Leger his goddaughter the sum of twenty pounds, and to every one of the rest of the children of his late sister the Lady Katherine Hayward alias Scott to each of them a ring of five pounds price;
• the children of his late sister the Lady Alice Harris, deceased to each of them a ring of five pounds price;
• his nephew Thomas Smith of Ostenhanger, son and heir of his late brother Sir John Smith, Knight, deceased, the sum of two hundred pounds to buy him a coach and coach horses, and to his two sisters Katherine the Lady Baker and Elizabeth the Lady Nevell fifty pounds each;
• the children of his late brother Henry Smithe, deceased, to each of them a ring of five pounds price;
• his brother Sir Richard Smith the sum of twenty pounds, and to his wife the Lady Smith the sum of ten pounds;
• Sir John Smith the son of his brother Sir Richard Smith, the sum of ten pounds, and to the other children of his brother Sir Richard Smith, to each of them a ring of five pounds price;
• his nephew John Smith, son of his late brother Robert Smith a ring of five pounds price.

He concluded with bequests to various other persons and organizations including the sum of £500 to the “company of merchants in London for discovery of new trades commonly knowne by the name of the Muscovia Company, who have testified their love for me many yeeres” for and toward the payment of such debts that were due by the said company upon the old joint stock, and £100 to the companies for the “plantacon in Virginia and the Somer Ilands commonly called the Virginia companie and the Bermudaes Company” to be equally divided between those two companies towards the building of two churches, one for each plantation.

All the rest and residue of his personal estate was to pass to his wife dame Sara Smith and his son Sir John Smith.

His wife dame Sara Smith, son Sir John Smith, brother Sir Richard Smith and friends Sir David Watkins and Mr Nicholas Crispe, were nominated executors.

[See also, Virginia Gleanings].^[43]

Full Transcript.^[44]

Sir Thomas Smythe's Charity

The Skinners' Company continue to administer a Charity founded by Sir Thomas Smythe's will of 1625. The Charity provides financial and pastoral support to individuals in need, and grants to welfare organisations, in designated parishes of West Kent.^[45]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Wadmore, J F (1893) Sir Thomas Smythe Knt (A.D. 1558-1625). Archaeologia Cantiana Vol 20 pp 82-103 KAS.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Archer, I W. Sir Thomas Smythe (c.1558-1625). A lecture delivered at Skinners’ Hall, London, 26 November 2007.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} The Visitation of Kent. Taken in the Years 1619-1621. The Publications of the Harleian Society Vol XLII. Edited by Robert Hovenden, 1898. Smith Pedigree pp 113-114 Internet Archive.
4. ↑ Visitation of London 1568. Publications of the Harleian Society. Edited by Howard and Armytage. 1869. Smythe Pedigree p 69 Internet Archive.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Visitation of London, 1568: With Additional Pedigrees, 1569-90, the Arms of the City Companies, and a London Subsidy Roll, 1589. Publications of the Harleian Society. Vols 109-110. London H S and Rawlins S W. 1963. Smyth Pedigree pp 17-18.
6. ↑ Visitation of London 1633, 1634 and 1635. Vol. II. Publications of the Harleian Society. Edited by Joseph Jackson Howard. 1883, p 245 Smyth Pedigree Internet Archive.
7. ↑ Wiltshire Visitation Pedigrees 1623. With additional pedigrees and arms collected by Thomas Lyte of Lyte's Cary, Co. Somerset 1628. The Publications of the Harleian Society. Vol LV and LVI. Edited by G D Squibb. 1954, pp 180-181.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} Stocker, J J. Pedigrees of Smythes of Ostenhangar; Kent; of Smythes of Bidborough and Sutton-at-Hone; and of the Smythes of Viscount Strangford, of Dromore, Ireland. Archæologia Cantiana, being Transactions of the Kent Archæological Society. Vol. XX, 1893, pp 76-81 pdf.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Buckler, Benjamin. Stemmata Chicheleana. Oxford Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1765. See No. 1 and 147 Internet Archive.
10. ↑ Wadmore, J F. Thomas Smythe, of Westenhanger, Commonly Called Customer Smythe. Archæologia Cantiana, being Transactions of the Kent Archæological Society, vol. XVII, 1887, pp 193-208 pdf.
11. ↑ Will of Thomas Smythe of London. 29 Oct 1591. PROB 11/78/226. The National Archives, Kew.
12. ↑ Will of Alice Smythe, Widow of London. 11 May 1598. PROB 11/91/377. The National Archives, Kew.
13. ↑ Will of Richard Culverwell, Mercer of Saint Martin in the Vintry, City of London. 18 February 1586. PROB 11/69/107. The National Archives, Kew.
14. ↑ St Michael Bassishaw, City of London. Register. Accessed via Ancestry.
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2} Smythe, Sir Thomas (c.1558-1625), of Philpott Lane, London and Bounds Place, Bidborough, Kent. Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010 HOP.
16. ↑ Will of William Hobbes, Draper of London. 12 Dec 1581. PROB 11/63/623. The National Archives, Kew.
17. ↑ St Michael Bassishaw, City of London. Register. Accessed via Ancestry.
18. ↑ Will of William Blunt, Gentleman of City of London. 12 March 1597. PROB 11/89/218. The National Archives, Kew.
19. ↑ Visitation of the County of Gloucester 1623. Maclean and Heane (Eds). Publications of the Harleian Socitey Vol XXI. 1885. Blount Pedigree p 24 Internet Archive.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1 20.2} Will of Sir John Smyth of Ashford Kent. 25 May 1609. PROB 11/113/462. The National Archives, Kew.
21. ↑ Smythe, Sir John III (c.1599-1640), of Sutton-at-Hone, Kent. Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010 HOP.
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1 22.2} The Reiester Booke of Saynte De'nis, Backchurch parishe (city of London) for maryages, christenyges, and buryalles, begynnynge in the yeare of Our Lord God 1538. Chester J L (Ed). Publications of the Harleian Society. Registers - Vol III. London. 1878 Internet Archive.
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1} Will of Sir Thomas Smithe of London. 1625. PROB 11/147/84. The National Archives, Kew.
24. ↑ Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, Elizabeth, 1598-1601. HMSO, 1869, pp 558-562. Internet Archive.
25. ↑ Letters written by John Chamberlain during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Edited from the Originals by Sarah Williams. Camden Society, Vol. 79, 1861, p 106 google books.
26. ↑ Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, Elizabeth, 1598-1601. HMSO, 1869, p 590 Internet Archive.
27. ↑ Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, Elizabeth, 1601-1603; with Addenda, 1547-1565. HMSO, 1870, p 26, 89, 90. HathiTrust.
28. ↑ Will of Sir John Scott of Smeeth, Kent. 17 January 1618. PROB 11/131/34. The National Archives, Kew.
29. ↑ Shaw, W A (1906) The Knights of England. A complete record from the earliest time to the present day of the knights of all the orders of chivalry in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and of knights bachelors, incorporating a complete list of knights bachelors dubbed in Ireland. Vols 1 & II. London. Reprinted 1971, p 109 Internet Archive.
30. ↑ Nichols, J. The Progresses etc of King James I. Vol. I, 1828, p 120 HathiTrust.
31. ↑ Sir Thomas Smithes Voiage and Entertainment in Rushia. London. 1605.
32. ↑ Fox Bourne, H R. Famous London merchants. A book for boys. 1869, pp 102-138 Internet Archive.
33. ↑ Neil, E D. Virginia Carolorum. 1886, p 29 HathiTrust.
34. ↑ Will of Sir Thomas Dale of London. 15 January 1621. PROB 11/137/60. The National Archives, Kew.
35. ↑ Hearn K (1995) Dynasties : painting in Tudor and Jacobean England 1530-1630. Tate Publishing.
36. ↑ Treasures of the Royal Courts. Tudors, Stuarts & the Russian Tsars. Dmitrieva O and Murdoch T (Eds). V&A Publishing, 2013.
37. ↑ A Set of Portraits of the Family of Thomas 'Customer' Smythe by Cornelis Ketel. Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. Expert's Statement. Arts Council, abt 2015.
38. ↑ The historical paintings in the great hall in London of the worshipful Company of skinners. 'Brangwyn' with notes by W H Draper. 1909. London. Bodleian Library.
39. ↑ Sir Thomas Smythe. ODNB, 2004.
40. ↑ Woodall, J. The Surgion's Mate. 1617 Internet Archive.
41. ↑ British Armorial Bindings armorial.
42. ↑ Sutton at Hone, Kent. Parish Register. P358/1/1. Medway Archives & Local Studies Centre.
43. ↑ Virginia Gleanings in England. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. Vol. 26, No. 3 (Jul., 1918), pp 267-282 jstor.
44. ↑ Will of Sir Thomas Smithe of London. 1625. PROB 11/147/84. The National Archives, Kew. Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason, 9th January 2022 Link.
45. ↑ Sir Thomas Smythe's Charity. Skinners' Company website accessed December 2022 Skinners.

See also:

• Sir Thomas Smythe Tonbridge History.
• Sir Thomas Smythe: Governor of the East India Company and Patron of Bermuda. By Sir Stanley Spurling. 1955.
• Grizzard, F E. Jamestown Colony: A Political, Social, and Cultural History. 2007, p 209 google books.
• Dictionary of National Biography: Index and epitome. Edited by Sir Sidney Lee. 1906, p 1216 google books.
• Leslie A and Lee S. Dictionary of National Biography, 1st ed. Smith Elder & Co., Vol. 53, 1898, pp 128-129 Internet Archive, google books.
• Stevens, H. The dawn of British trade to the East Indies as recorded in the Court minutes of the East India Company, 1599-1603 ... London: H. Stevens & son. 1886, p 256 HathiTrust.
• Gaisford, J. Capital in the Countryside: Social Change in West Wiltshire, 1530-1680. PhD Thesis. 2015. Birkbeck, University of London. Pedigree 5: Brouncker of Erlestoke and Melksham pdf.
• Wikipedia entry for Thomas Smythe
• 'Jane Austen's Family through Five Generations' by Maggie Lane, published by Robert Hale Limited, London. ISBN 0 7090 4832 7. Includes extensive family trees. Details of contemporaries and other connections are also mentioned in the text.Jane Austen's Family through Five Generations