Thomas Smith (abt. 1540 - abt. 1600)

Born about 1540 in Earls Colne, Essex, England [uncertain]

Husband of Alice (Unknown) Smith — married about 1560 (to 25 Mar 1585) in Earls Colne, Essex, England

Husband of Joan (Turnyshe) Smith — married 26 May 1589 in Earls Colne, Essex, England

Descendants

Died about 1600 at about age 60 in Earls Colne, Essex, England [uncertain]

Biography

Thomas Smith was born in Earls Colne, Essex, England.

Thomas was born about 1540.

c1560 Thomas Smith married an unnamed woman, probably Alice who died in 1585.

He had a son Thomas by his first wife, whose baptism is not in evidence but he reached the age of 21 in 1589, so was born c1568^[1]

1589 Thomas Smith married to Joan Abbott 26.5.1589^[2]

Thomas must have been a interesting and possibly dangerous person to know. He witnessed a number of wills and it could be imagined that he had a wide circle of friends. Some of his exploits are listed below.

1574 He had taken up conjuring and kept a school without licence and ‘for his manners very unmeet’.^[3]

1583 A victualler.^[4]

1585 A constable, charged with not keeping watch.^[5]

1587 A Tanner and a Victualler.^[6]

1587 Vehemently suspected of sorcery^[7] Books were found in his house ‘ concerning astronomy surgery and physic’^[8]

He died c1600.

Abbreviated Will of Thomas Smith

Emphasis on profile links
Dated 26 Oct 1599

Thomas Smith of Earls Colne, Tanner.

Transcription

D/ACW 4/43 (Subscription)

Proved ?

Beneficiaries: Wife Joan. Children Jane Hammond, Elizabeth Smith, John Smith, Thomas Smith

Executor : Son Thomas

Supervisor : William Adhams, Henry Abbott Jr

Witnesses : William Adhams clerk Hen Abbott jun by me Francis Hampton scriptor

Links to Other Wikitree Documents

Earls Colne Parish Records

Earls Colne One Place Study

Smith Family in Earls Colne

Notes

Also recorded, in part, by the wider Earls Colne Project Person S696

All Dates are New Style.

ERO Essex Record Office documents. (Subscription content)

Research Notes

Earls colne project has Alice married to Henry Smith S577 being the Alice that died in 1585 but there is no marriage record for another wife prior to the birth of his two children,

There is no evidence for Thomas’s daughter Elizabeth. It may have been an alternative name for Ann who is not mentioned in his will.

Sources

1. ↑ Earls Colne Manor Court Rolls (ERO D/DPr91) 18.3.1589 (Tuesday 18 March 1589) document 66700462
2. ↑ Marriage register 1559 to 1599 (D/P209/1/1) 26.5.1589 (Monday 26 May 1589) document 8801473
3. ↑ Consistory Court Office Act Book (LRO DL/C/615) 17.12.1574 (Sunday 17 December 1574) document 2100017
4. ↑ Quarter Sessions: Licences of alehouses and victuallers (ERO Q/RLV3) 21.2.1583 (Thursday 21 February 1583) document 21900119
5. ↑ Queen's Bench Ancient Indictments (PRO KB9/681 p1 49) 3.9.1585 (Friday 3 September 1585)document 13700102
6. ↑ Quarter Sessions: Licences of alehouses and victuallers (ERO Q/RLV6) 2.2.1587 (Thursday 2 February 1587) document 21900310
7. ↑ Archdeaconry Act Book (ERO D/ACA16) 9.10.1587 (Monday 9 October 1587) document 1101442
8. ↑ Archdeaconry Act Book (ERO D/ACA16) 25.10.1587 (Wednesday 25 October 1587) document 1101724