Thomas was born about 1538 in St. Chad's, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, the son of unknown parents.
He died about 20 DEC 1598 in London, England.
His wife was Sara de Baskerville. They were married, but the date and place have not been found. They had no known children.
| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | ABT 1538 |
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| Death | ABT 20 DEC 1598 |
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Note 1
!Source: WikiTree Thomas Owen https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Owen-1945
Born about 1538 [uncertain] in Shrewsbury St Chad, Shropshire, England
Died about 20 Dec 1598 [uncertain] at about age 60 in City of London, England
Thomas Owen
Son of Richard Owen and Mary Owen
Brother of Richard Owen, Robert Owen Gent, John Owen and Elizabeth Phillips
Husband of Sara Owen — married about 1569 in City of London, England map icon [uncertain] Husband of Alice Owen — married 3 Mar 1595 in St Pancras, Soper Lane, City of London, England map icon
Father of Jane Norton, Elizabeth Ayliffe, Roger Owen, Thomas Owen, Margaret Mytton, Richard Owen, Peter Owen, William Owen, Sara Newton and Mary Kynaston
Biography
Thomas Owen was a son of Richard Owen and Mary Oteley of Shrewsbury, Shropshire.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
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He was born in the parish of St Chad Shrewsbury, Shropshire.[10] His year of birth is unknown but may have been c 1538.
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He was educated at Christ Church or Broadgates Hall, Oxford, with his BA in 1559.[8]
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Thomas erected a monument to his brother Richard Owen in the church of St Chad, Shrewsbury. The Inscription also made reference to another brother John Owen, and to their father Richard Owen, who were both also buried at St Chad.[11]
Marriages
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Sara Baskerville, daughter of Humphrey Baskerville and Jane Pakington[1][2]
Alice Wilkes, daughter of Thomas Wilkes of Islington, Middlesex; widow of Henry Robinson and William Elkin[1][10]
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The date and place of the marriage of Thomas Owen and Sara Baskerville are unknown. It is presumed they were married c 1569 in the City of London.
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On 7 September 1589 an infant of Mr Thomas Owen was buried at St Michael, Bassishaw, City of London. Six days later on 13 September 1589, Sara Owen, wife of Thomas, was buried at St Michael Bassishaw, City of London.[12]
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"Thomas Judge Owen and Alice Elkyn were married the thirde daye of Marche AD 1594" [i.e. 3 March 1594/1595] at St Pancras Soper Lane, City of London.[13]
Children
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All the children of Thomas Owen were by his first wife Sara Baskerville:
Jane Owen [1][2][10][14][15]
Elizabeth Owen [1][2][10][15][16]
[Sir] Roger Owen [1][2][3][10][15][17]
Thomas Owen [1][12]
Margaret Owen [1][10][12]
Richard Owen [1][10][12]
Peter Owen [1][10][12]
[Sir] William Owen [1][2][3][5][10][12][18]
Sara Owen [1][2][10][12]
Mary Owen [1][2][10][12]
Thomas Owen [12]
Career
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The following is summarised from Foss:[19]
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18 April 1562. Admitted at Lincoln’s Inn
4 June 1570. Called to the bar
1583. Reader in Lent
1589. Appointed a Serjeant at Law
1593. Appointed a Queen’s Serjeant
21 January 1594. Appointed a Chief Justice and Judge of the Common Pleas
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In the will of his grandmother Joan Birington of Condover and Shrewsbury, the will dated 20 June 1560 and proved 3 November 1561, the Testatrix made a bequest to "Thomas Owen sonne of Richarde Owen and Marie my doughter".[20] There were also bequests to Richard, Humphrey, Robert and Jane, the siblings of Thomas.
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Regarding the Manor of Condover, Shropshire:[21]
"Henry Vyner, sold the estate his father had so carefully built up, and a portion was bought by Thomas Owen, Judge of the Common Pleas, who already possessed an interest in the parish by virtue of land on Berrywood, called Houghton fields, which had been left him by his grandmother, the widow of Thomas Oteley and Thomas Berington, and heiress of the family of Walker of Condover, who had owned the fulling mill of the village."
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"Thomas Owen's interest in Condover begins with lands at Burywood called Houghton Fields, which his grandmother, Joan Walker, the widow of Thomas Oteley, and of Thomas Berrington, left to him in 1560".[22]
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Thomas Owen was bequeathed £100 by Thomas Smythe Thomas Smythe in the will of the latter made in 1591.[23] The Testator referred to him as "my lovinge ffreinde Thomas Owen Seriannt at Lawe". Elizabeth the daughter of Thomas Owen had married Henry the son of Thomas Smythe. NB A Serjeant at law, socially, ranked above Knights Bachelor and Companions of the Bath.[24]
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Thomas was also noted in the will of Alice Smythe, the wife of Customer Smythe, the will made in 1592.[25] She bequeathed "Master Sariannte Owen for a Ringe, three Poundes".
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Thomas Owen, Serjeant at law, was an Overseer of the will of Steven Duckett esq of Pinhills, Wiltshire, the will made on 29 April 1591 and proved on 8 May 1591. Steven Duckett was the husband of Anne Baskerville, Thomas' sister in law.[26]
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In 1597 he was noted in the will of a Richard Owen, gentleman of Shrewsbury.[27] Thomas was bequeathed a hoope ringe of gold and was desired to be good to the Testator's son, Humfrey Owen.
Arms
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Though no longer existing, the following bearings are recorded to have been originally on the monument to Thomas Owen in Westminster Abbey:[2][28][29]
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Quarterly of Twelve, viz:
I. Arg. A Lion ramp, and a Canton, Sab. [Owen. Also referred to as the arms of his direct male ancestor Jevan ap Jevan Voel Frych of Kaereinion]
2. Arg. a Cross Patonce Sab. betw. four Cornish Choughs Prop, a Chief Az. [Owen. Also referred to as the arms of his direct male ancestor Idnerth Benvras]
3. Gu. six Fleurs de Lis Arg. [Ireland]
4. Arg. on a Bend Az. Three Garbs Or. [Oteley]
5. Arg. a Chev. Gu. betw. three Scorpions, erected,Sab. [Cole]
6. Gu. an Eagle displayed, with two Heads, Or. [Eyton]
7. three Barrulets, and in Chief three Griffins' Heads, erased, Or.
8. Gu. three Birds, each perched on the Stump of a Tree, erased, Arg.
9. Arg.a Fess betw. three Birds in Chief and one in Base, Sab. [Onslow]
10. Arg. a Chev. betw. three Talbots passant, Sab. [Talbot]
11 Gu. a Fleur de Lis Or.
12. Az. a Fess betw. six Cross Croslets, fitchee, Or.
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Documentary evidence indicates that [No. 4] Oteley was his mother and [No. 3] Ireland his paternal grandmother. The connections with Cole, Eyton, Talbot and Onslow are indicated in the Eyton pedigree[30] and Cole pedigree[4] in the Visitation of Shropshire.
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The notes in the Owen of Shrewsbury pedigree in the Visitation of Shropshire[1] suggest that No. 7 may represent Barker alias Coverall; No. 8 is unknown; No. 11 may be Gerband, Lord of Treffnant 1274; and No. 12 is Pipe.
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Regarding No. 10: "Argent, a chevron between three talbots passant sable" [Talbot], the traditional arms of the Talbots of Shropshire/Herefordshire were quite different: Gules, a lion rampant or, a bordure engrailed of the last.[31] NB similarity between No. 10 and the arms of Chantarell of Devon: "Sable, a chevron between three talbots passant argent".[32]
Death and Burial
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Thomas Owen was buried in Westminster Abbey. The Neale Transcript of the Inscription on his monument recorded that he 'slept in Christ' on 21 December 1598.[28] However, the Transcript in Macleane[7] recorded the date as 16 December 1598.
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The Register of St Michael Bassishaw, City of London, contains the following entry:[33]
"20 Dec 1598 was buryed Mr Thomas Owen"
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The Harleian Society Transcript for this entry in the St Michael Bassishaw register stated that he was buried in the Abbey of Westminster and he died in this parish.[34]
Monument
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The tomb of Thomas Owen is in the the south choir aisle of Westminster Abbey. His reclining effigy in judicial robes rests on his elbow.
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Translation of the monumental inscription:[35]
"Sacred to the Triune God expecting the second coming of Christ our Redeemer, under this tomb lies Thomas Owen Esq. son of Richard Owen, by Mary, daughter of Thomas Otley of the county of Salop [Shropshire] Esq., who from his youth instructed in the study of the municipal laws of England, so prospered in industrious application, readiness and judgment, that he was first chosen Serjeant at Law to Queen Elizabeth, afterwards one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, among whom he had sat five years with singular integrity, equity and commendable prudence, And by Sarah his wife, only daughter and heir of Humphrey Baskervile, had had five sons and as many daughters. And married Alice his second wife, who survives him. He devoutly slept in Christ the 21st day of December in the year of our Redemption 1598. Roger Owen, his most afflicted son, hath, as a proof of his officious duty, and regard to the memory of this best of fathers, erected this monument. The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God."
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Summary of the Will of Thomas Owen 1599
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In his will made on made 9 December 1598 and proved on 28 February 1598/1599 he was recorded as “Thomas Owen of Condover in the Countie of Salope one of her Maties Justices of the Comon Plees”.[10] His will was that if he were to die in London then he was to be buried at Westminster and if he were to die in Salop then he was to be buried in the church at Condover.
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He noted that he had been born in the parish of St Chad Shrewsbury and that he had long dwelt in the parish of St Michael Bassishaw in the City of London.
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He made a number of bequests including to:
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his sons Roger Owen , Peter Owen and William Owen ;
his daughters Sarah and Mary Owen, both unmarried;
his daughter Jane, wife of Bonham Norton, and their son William Norton his godson;
his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Henrie Smith, and their son Thomas his godson;
his daughter Margaret, wife of Richard Mytton, and their son Thomas his godson;
his wife Alice, formerly the wife of William Elkyn and Henry Robinson;
his brother Robert Owen;
Sarah Hunt, formerly the wife of his brother Richard Owen, deceased;
Elizabeth, Sara and Martha, the daughters of his brother [Richard];
Richard Owen, his brother's son;
his ‘brother’ Beniamyn Gonson and his wife;
his ‘brother’ Thomas Duckett;
his ‘brother’Thomas Edwardes and his wife; and
his cousin Thomas Owen Merchant Taylor.
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His Executors were his cousin Edward Owen of Shrewsbury, gent, his son in law Bonham Norton, gent, his friend John Lutwich of Lincoln's Inn, gent, and his son Roger Owen.
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His Overseer was the Right honorable Sir Thomas Egerton, knight, Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England.
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Full transcript.[36]
Extract from Macleane
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The following is from Macleane.[28]
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Thomas Owen, born at Condover, Salop, the son of Richard, a Shrewsbury merchant of old descent, was 'for some time conversant among the Muses either in Broadgates Hall or in Ch. Church. From thence he retired to Lincoln's Inn, where by his unwearied industry, advanced by a good natural genie and judgment, he became a noted Councellour and much resorted to for his advice. In 25. Elizab. dom. 1583. he was elected Lent-Reader of that house [Treasurer 1589-1598], in 1590 he was by Writ called to the degree of Serjeant at Law, and about that time [1594] made the Queen's Serjeant, and at length one of the Justices of the Common Pleas [1594], which last place he executed for 5 years with great integrity, equity, and prudence. He was a learned man, and a great lover of learning and those that professed it. He dying 21. Decemb. in fifteen hundred ninety and eight, was buried on the S. side of the Choire of St. Peter's Church in Westminster. Over his grave was soon after erected a noble monument of Alabaster, Marble, and divers coloured stones, adorned with Arms, and gilt with Gold, with his Image in scarlet robes lying thereon which remains to this day. He left behind him a Son named Roger, who was a Knight, and [Camden writes] for his manifold learning, a right Worthy Son of so Good a Father. This Sir Roger2, who had been a great Friend to the Clergy, by vindicating them when aspersed in open Parliament, 11 Jac. I. dyed in a distracted condition to their great reluctancy, 29. May, being Holy Thursday, in 1617.' Nothing is extant of Thomas Owen's but his Reports in the Common Pleas.
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West of the transept, next the bust of Pasquale da Paoli. The inscription is as follows:—
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Deo Trino Et Uni Sacrum.
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Secundum Christi Redemptoris adventu sub hoc tumulo expectat Thomas Owen, Arm. filius Richardi Owen ex Maria altera filia et haerede Thomae Oteley de comitatu Salopiae arm. Qui ab adolescentia studiis juris municipalis Angliae innutritus ita industria ingenio et judicio claruit ut primum electus fuerit Dnae Reginae Elizab. serviens ad legem inde in consessum Justiciariorum Communium placitorum co-optatus, inter quos cum quinq; annos singulari intergritatis acquitatis et prudentiae laude sedisset, et ex Sara uxore charissima filia et una haeredum Humfredi Baskerville quinq; filios et totidem filias suscepisset, Alicia fideli uxore secunda superstite, pie in Christo obdormivit xvi die Decemb. Ano Salutis M. D. xcviii.
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Rogerus Owen filius maestissimus patri optimo et charissimo officiosae pietatis et memoriae ergo hoc monumentum posuit.
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Below on either side: 'Justorum animae in manu Dei sunt' and 'Spes vermis et ego.'
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Owen married twice, Sarah, sister of Sir Humphrey Baskerville, Alice, widow of Mr. Elks, mercer and alderman of London. She endowed a hospital at Islington for ten poor women, and a school for thirty boys, in grateful remembrance of her escape in childhood, when an arrow pierced her hat. To Bodley's library in 1606 she gave £100. The estate of Condover is still in the Owen family.
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He was M.P. for Shrewsbury and for Shropshire, and sheriff. Another son, Richard, was also a lawyer.