Thomas Fones II (1573 - 1629)

Born 24 Mar 1573 in London, Middlesex, England

Ancestors

Husband of Anne (Winthrop) Fones — married 25 Feb 1604 (to 20 May 1619) in London, England

Husband of Priscilla Burgess — married 28 Aug 1621 (to 15 Apr 1629) in London, England

Descendants

Died 15 Apr 1629 at age 56 in Groton, Suffolk, England

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Kevin Gerald Ryan [send private message] and Robert Starkins [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Ffones was born 24 Mar 1573 at London, England. He married his first wife, Anna Wynthropp, on 25 Feb 1604-5. Anne Winthrop, the second child of Adam Winthrop and Anne Browne, was born 16 Jan 1585-6 at Groton, Suffolk, England.^[1] Three of their children survived infancy including their daughter, Elizabeth. Anna died in 1618-19 at Groton, Suffolk, England at the age of 33.^[1] She was buried at St. Sepulchre without Newgate Churchyard, London, England. Thomas remarried 28 Aug 1621 when his daughter Bess was 12 years old. His second wife was Priscilla, daughter of John Burgis, D.D. and widow of Bezaliell Shearman.

Children of Anne Winthrop and Thomas Fones

1. Dorothy Fones
2. John Fones
3. Elizabeth (Fones) Hallett; m. second, Robert Feake^[1]
4. Martha (Fones) Winthrop
5. Ann Fones
6. Samuel Fones

Thomas ran an apothecary at the sign of the Three Fawns on Old Bailey Street, recorded there in 1628.^[1] In the apothecary, he prepared herbal preparations to help people heal from, deal with, or prevent illnesses. His daughter Elizabeth and an apprentice worked with him and learned the art.

In addition to his pharmacy responsibilities, Thomas offered general medical advice and a range of services such as surgery and midwifery. He also operated a retail shop selling ingredients for medicines, tobacco and patent medicines. By the 15th century, his profession had gained the status of skilled practitioner. Such work marked the beginnings of chemistry and pharmacology.

It was probably because he was a Puritan that Thomas refused a knighthood to the King who had married a Roman Catholic:^[2]

“Bromsgrove gentlemen fined for refusing a knighthood: The following is a list of gentlemen belonging to Bromsgrove who were fined for not taking the order of Knighthood on the coronation of Charles 1st (1626) Roger Lowe, John Crabbe, Walter Brace, Thomas Fownes – 10 pounds sterling each. Nicholas Lilley 9.6.8 pounds sterling. John Westwood and Richard Burford 12 pounds sterling each.”

Thomas and his family lived in the cramped town house above his apothecary shop in the Old Bailey area of London. He was well educated and relatively prosperous. The household had two servants.

Thomas was a sickly man in mid-life. He died 15 Apr 1629 at Groton, Suffolk, England at the age of 56.^[1] His second wife Priscilla later married the Rev. Henry Painter of Exeter.^[3]

Thomas Ffones’ Will

“Thomas Ffones citizen and apothecary of London 14th April 1629. Having already in acts executed in my life time disposed of the greater part of my personal estate to and among my children and to the use and benefit of my wife I do hereby commit the tuition, education, care and tutelage of my son Samuel Ffones during his minority unto his uncle John Winthrop of Groton in the County of Suffolk Esqur., John White of the Middle Temple London Esqr., and James Thurlby citizen and grocer of London, and do earnestly desire these my loving friends to have a special care that he be brought up in learning and in the fear of God and knowledge of his ways; and do charge and require my son, upon my blessing, to subject himself unto them and to be ruled by them in all things. And the tuition and education of my daughters Elizabeth and Martha I do commit unto my said loving brother John Wynthropp until they shall be married or attain their full age of one and twenty years. The tuition of my youngest daughter Mary I commit to my loving wife her mother. My loving wife Pricella Ffones and my loving brother John Wynthropp to be executors, etc. Witnesses: John Smith, Ri. Ffitch, Tho: Smith” Probate 29 April 1629 (P.C.C.28 Ridley).^[3]

Profile of Thomas Fones

The following is a profile of Thomas Fones: ^{[citation needed]}

Quickly grasped essentials. Strong need for independence. Competitive. Radiated forceful, confident vitality.

Had a solid and accurate business sense and an excellent capacity for bargaining and shrewd negotiating. He instinctively knew how to accomplish things and succeed in business. For the sake of reaching an important goal, he could sacrifice without complaint. He was willing to work hard and postpone relaxation.

A resourceful and determined worker. Great shrewdness. Resourcefulness strong. Great ability to love greatly or hate bitterly. Strong lust for power.

Poetical, psychic and visionary type of mind. Extremely sensitive. Loved music, gentleness and innate refinement. Easily hurt.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000; The Frost Genealogy : Descendants of William Frost of Oyster Bay, New York; showing connections never before published with the Winthrop, Underhill, Feke Bowne and Wickes families; New England Historic Genealogical Society. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston: The New England Historic Genealogical Society. Anne Winthrop, pg. 347 and Thomas Fones, pg. 350
2. ↑ Notes on the Fones (Fownes) family in England By Jill Sothcott EXTRACT FROM “NOTES & QUERIES FOR BROMSGROVE” Vols 1 and 2, 1902
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Notes on the Fones (Fownes) family in England By Jill Sothcott Thomas Fones

• Hull Oliver; Book of the Hulls; Hull Genealogy. Publication by Peter Eckler, New York, NY Book of the Hulls
• Thomas, Lawrence Buckley, The Thomas Book: Giving the Genealogies of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, K.G., the Thomas Family Descended from him , and some Allied Families (New York City: Henry T. Thomas Company, 1896) The Thomas Book
• The Fones Family, Art Reierson; reprinted by Higginson Book Company, Salem MA

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Fones-43 created through the import of Lupton file.ged on Jul 8, 2011 by Kim Ostermyer. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Kim and others.