Thomas Swancote
Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Death: between 28 April 1557 and 13 November 1557.
Place of Death: probably Eccleshall, Staffordshire.
The dates are when Thomas’s will was made and when it was proved.
Relationships
Father: unknown.
Mother: unknown.
Spouse: Joan.
Joan is named as Thomas’s wife in his will.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Agnes Swancote married Thomas Dudley.
Evidence
A Chancery case (National Archives catalogue C/1/1334/60-63):
Brockhurste v Gervis.
Plaintiffs: William Brockhurste and Anne his wife.
Defendants: Joan Gervis and Thomas Swancote.
Subject: Cattle, deeds, etc., late of Robert Badger, deceased, father of the said Anne. Staffordshire.
Date: 1553-1555.
A Chancery case (National Archives catalogue C/1/1419/38-41):
Clyffe v Swancote
Plaintiffs: Agnes Clyffe and Christopher Wotton.
Defendants: Thomas Swancote (Sawncote)
Subject: Moiety of lands in Ecclesall, formerley of Elizabeth daughter of Stephen Brodhurst, ancestress of complainants. Pedigree given. Staffordshire.
Date: 1556-1558.
An abstract of Thomas’s will (CHS, p. 13):
Thomas Swancote of Eccleshall.
23 April, 1557.
Described as “yoman.” To be buried in the middle aisle of the parish church of Eccleshall fast by William ollderyche. My lands at Tong to Thomas Dudley the younger “(my wiffes joynter except) after the death of my doughter his mother.” To Agnes Dudley my daughter my best mare. To Robert Hudson “one Cowe in his fathers kepinge.” To every godchild 6d. To Jane Dod 20s. Tob Margaret Walter 10s. To Alys Gallymore my servant 40s. To Robert Dudley the cupboard inthe house wholly as it standeth and all the “sylynge” in the house. To John Tagge a hosecloth which lies in my coffer. To William Bedullff 3s. 4d. To Agnes Hudson my servant one heifer calf which I had of Henry Lovatt and 10s. of money. To Thomas Dudley, jun. after the death of his mother Agnes a great pot, the pest pan, a bason and a laver, “the which ben the heyre lomes of Tonge.” To John Wotton of Eccleshall on heifer. To each of Thomas Dudley’s children 40s., except Thomas his son and heir to whom “a gowne clothe” and all the best of my wearing apparel. To Sir Geoffrey Goslinge 3s. 4d. To Joane Pygott 2s. To Eccleshall church for the reparation of the middle aisle 13s. 4d. To William Whytmore my servant 3s. 4d. The residue to my wife, “yf she kepe her ynmarryed & beare my name,” otherwise one half and her jointure, and the other half to Agnes Dudley and her children.
Executors: my wife, Sir Geoffrey Goslynge, clerk, Thomas Dudley, the elder and his wife Agnes.
Overseers: Francis Broughton of Broughton, gent., & Thomas Dudley the younger.
Witnesses: William Palmer of Chebsey, Rondull Dod, Thomas Cronkehorne and Robert Heath.
Debts owing.
Thomas Dudley my son-in-law £6.
Small sums from Richard Beckett of Stafford, Thomas Allatt of Eccleshall, will. Bedulph, John Iremonger, will. Bromley, Richard Bromley, Thomas Stone, Thomas Brasenhill, Thomas Hopton “for corne harme,” Henry Lovatt, Thomas Walter “for ij fyshes” (2s. 4d.), Thomas Wykes for hey for his oxen, Humfrey Turnour of the Hye Hall for five steers at 19s. 4d. each, and other five at 18s. 4d. The said Humfrey oweth me ten crowns “for the abatement of the first fall of money, the which money be paid vnto me for currant after the proclamation made……”
John Biddulph for barley from the Barbors field and the Horse leasoes. The same for damage by his cattle “in the dallas.”
Debts I owe.
To Mr. Thomas Skrymshere of Johnson £8 13s. 4d.
To John Bedulph iiij yeres rent of xj days work of ground in Eccleshall field.
To Thomas Holme of Stafford 2s. 1d.
To Randulph Dod 20s.
Proved 13 Nov., 1557 by Joane, relict, power reserved, &c., on 6 August 1558, Thomas Dudley venit &c. et Inv. &c.
References
Glazebrook, Henry Sydney. “An account of the Younger Branches of the Family of Sutton alias Dudley” (continuation) in Collections for a History of Staffordshire v. 10 pt 2 (1889).
“A Register of Stafford and Other Local Wills” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire (Staffordshire Record Society (William Salt Archaeological Society), 3rd series, 1926.