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Thomas Smythe (customer)
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Thomas Smythe (customer)
Thomas Smythe or Smith (1522 – 7 June 1591), of London, Ashford and Westenhanger, Kent was the collector of customs duties (also known as a "customer") in London during the Tudor period, and a member of parliament for five English constituencies. His son and namesake, Sir Thomas Smythe (died 1625), was the first governor of the East India Company, treasurer of the Virginia Company, and an active supporter of the Virginia colony.
Thomas Smythe, born in 1522, was the second son of John Smythe (d. 1538) of Corsham, Wiltshire and Joan Brouncker, the daughter of Robert Brouncker of Melksham, Wiltshire.. John, a substantial yeoman and clothier, left Smythe a farm in the Hundred of Amesbury, Wiltshire, that provided an annual income of £20. After his father's death, Smythe moved to London to seek his fortune; Smythe was approximately 16 at the time.
At an unknown date Smythe was admitted to his father's merchant guild, the Haberdashers, and subsequently, the Worshipful Company of Skinners, where he secured the favour of Sir Andrew Judde, a wealthy merchant, Kent landowner, and Lord Mayor of London in 1550, to whom he was later related by marriage.
In around 1554, Smythe married Alice Judde, the eldest daughter of Sir Andrew Judde by his first wife, Mary Murfyn, by whom he had 13 children:
Smythe was a member of parliament (MP) for Tavistock October 1553, for Aylesbury April 1554, Rye November 1554, Winchelsea 1555, and Portsmouth 1563.
During the reign of Mary I of England, Smythe purchased the Office of the Customs from one Mr. Cocker for £2,500. He was confirmed in his appointment at the Customs on the accession of Elizabeth I in 1558, and he continued in the office for 11 years. In 1567, he appears to have incurred her Majesty's severe displeasure, having been accused of issuing privy warrants leading to a £6,000 loss; his friend William Cecil, Lord Burghley, intervened and helped Smythe escape imprisonment. Cecil persuaded the Queen to be lenient, arguing that if Smythe was allowed more time he would repay this loss.
Elizabeth began to require larger and larger fines to renew Smythe's leases in order to replenish her exchequer. Over time, Smythe became unable to meet these demands and again fell under her Majesty's severe displeasure. His October 1589 counteroffer of a more modest payment was rejected.
Due to his increasing infirmities and perhaps the stress of trying to meet the Queen's demands, Smythe died 18 months later, on 7 June 1591, leaving his widow, then 60 years old, 6 sons and 6 daughters. He was buried in the Smythe chapel in St Mary's Church, Ashford, where three monuments are dedicated to Thomas and his sons, Richard and John. His widow died in 1593 and was buried beside her husband in St Mary's Church, Ashford.
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Thomas Smythe (customer)
Thomas Smythe or Smith (1522 – 7 June 1591), of London, Ashford and Westenhanger, Kent was the collector of customs duties (also known as a "customer") in London during the Tudor period, and a member of parliament for five English constituencies. His son and namesake, Sir Thomas Smythe (died 1625), was the first governor of the East India Company, treasurer of the Virginia Company, and an active supporter of the Virginia colony.
Thomas Smythe, born in 1522, was the second son of John Smythe (d. 1538) of Corsham, Wiltshire and Joan Brouncker, the daughter of Robert Brouncker of Melksham, Wiltshire.. John, a substantial yeoman and clothier, left Smythe a farm in the Hundred of Amesbury, Wiltshire, that provided an annual income of £20. After his father's death, Smythe moved to London to seek his fortune; Smythe was approximately 16 at the time.
At an unknown date Smythe was admitted to his father's merchant guild, the Haberdashers, and subsequently, the Worshipful Company of Skinners, where he secured the favour of Sir Andrew Judde, a wealthy merchant, Kent landowner, and Lord Mayor of London in 1550, to whom he was later related by marriage.
In around 1554, Smythe married Alice Judde, the eldest daughter of Sir Andrew Judde by his first wife, Mary Murfyn, by whom he had 13 children:
Smythe was a member of parliament (MP) for Tavistock October 1553, for Aylesbury April 1554, Rye November 1554, Winchelsea 1555, and Portsmouth 1563.
During the reign of Mary I of England, Smythe purchased the Office of the Customs from one Mr. Cocker for £2,500. He was confirmed in his appointment at the Customs on the accession of Elizabeth I in 1558, and he continued in the office for 11 years. In 1567, he appears to have incurred her Majesty's severe displeasure, having been accused of issuing privy warrants leading to a £6,000 loss; his friend William Cecil, Lord Burghley, intervened and helped Smythe escape imprisonment. Cecil persuaded the Queen to be lenient, arguing that if Smythe was allowed more time he would repay this loss.
Elizabeth began to require larger and larger fines to renew Smythe's leases in order to replenish her exchequer. Over time, Smythe became unable to meet these demands and again fell under her Majesty's severe displeasure. His October 1589 counteroffer of a more modest payment was rejected.
Due to his increasing infirmities and perhaps the stress of trying to meet the Queen's demands, Smythe died 18 months later, on 7 June 1591, leaving his widow, then 60 years old, 6 sons and 6 daughters. He was buried in the Smythe chapel in St Mary's Church, Ashford, where three monuments are dedicated to Thomas and his sons, Richard and John. His widow died in 1593 and was buried beside her husband in St Mary's Church, Ashford.
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