Thomas Scott (abt. 1535 - 1594)

Born about 1535 in Scot's Hall, Smeeth, Ashford District, Kent, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Baker) Scott — married 13 Oct 1560 in England

Descendants

Died 30 Dec 1594 at about age 59 in Scot's Hall, Smeeth, Ashford District, Kent, England

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Biography

Sir Thomas Scott was born about 1535, ^[1] at his parents' estate known as Scot's Hall, in Smeeth, Ashford District, Kent, England.

Sir Thomas was the eldest son and heir of Sir Reginald Scott, Captain of Calais by his 1st wife, Emeline Kempe.

When only 19 years old, freshly graduated from London's Temple (Law School), Thomas Scott married Elizabeth Baker, daughter of Sir John Baker, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Speaker of the House of Commons, and Ambassador to Denmark. The Bakers owned Sissinghurst Castle, also in Kent. Some sources say Elizabeth was born in 1519 but it would have been highly-unlikely for a 35 year old woman to marry a 19 year old husband. Also, her last son was safely born in 1577, impossible for a 58-year-old woman. She was most-likely born in 1539 and married at 15 in November 1554, by family arrangement. Their first daughter, Mary Scott, was born in 1557 and their oldest son, Thomas Scott II, Esquire, was born in 1560.^[2]

Sir Thomas Scott and Elizabeth (Baker) Scott had 10 sons:^[3]

1. Thomas, Esquire, b: 1560
2. Sir Edward
3. Sir John
4. Richard
5. Reginald
6. Sir William
7. Joseph
8. Anthony
9. Benjamin
10. Robert, b: 1577

and 4 daughters:

1. Mary, b: 1557, wife of Anthony Sentleger, Esquire
2. Anne, wife of (1) Richard Knatchbull II & (2) Sir Henry Bromley
3. Elizabeth, wife of (1) John Knatchbull & (2) Sir Richard Smythe
4. Emeline, wife of Sir Robert Edolphe

In November 1554, although not yet 21, Sir Thomas Scott married Elizabeth Baker, who died in November 1683. In December of the same year he married his 2nd wife, Elizabeth Heyman and thirdly widow Dorothy Bere^[4]. All of his children were with his first wife of 29 years, Elizabeth Baker.

Sir Thomas Scott died on 30 December 1594, at Scot's Hall; he had been sole master of that stately house for 38 years. Although citizens of his native Ashford District petitioned to have him interred locally, his body was buried with his Scott family ancestors in the Anglican Church of Saint Mary the Blessed Virgin, in Brabourne, Kent, England. His epitaph was written by a cousin, Reginald Scott:^[5]

"Praises on tombs are honours vainly meant, A well-spent life is the best monument."

He left a will (written & signed on 17 December 1594, proved on 7 January 1594/95). In it he named his to oldest sons: Thomas and John, with his brother Charles Scott, as Executors. He bequeathed certain jewels, clothing, household goods to his 3rd wife, Dorothy Bere Scott. His two older sons: Thomas (eldest) and Sir John (2nd son), were his principal heirs; Thomas received most of the extensive Scott Kent landholdings, as eldest son & heir, while Sir John received money and his mother's jewels, including a priceless ruby heirloom, for his wife. John had earlier been gifted Pympe's Court at nearby Nettlestead, so he was already a wealthy landowner. Thomas' still-living younger sons: Charles, Richard, Edward and Robert, were each given minor land holdings while 3 sons-in-law: Sir Henry Bromley, Anthony Sentleger and Richard Smithe, Esquires, received their pick of his prize horses, 1 apiece. Other minor bequests completed the inheritance.^[6]

Notes

The testatrix’ (Eleanor Browne) five daughters by Sir Thomas Kempe were:

Emmeline Kempe, who married, before 1537, Sir Reynold Scott (c.1511 - 16 December 1554) of Scott’s Hall in Smeeth, Kent by whom she had one son, Sir Thomas Scott (c.1537 – 30 December 1594), who married Elizabeth Baker, daughter of Sir John Baker (c.1489–1558), Speaker of the House of Commons, and two daughters, Katherine Scott, who married John Baker (c.1531-c.1604), son of Sir John Baker (c.1489–1558), Speaker of the House of Commons, by whom she was the mother of the chronicler, Sir Richard Baker (c.1568–1645), and Anne Scott, who married Walter Mayney (d.1577) of Spilsill manor, Staplehurst, Kent. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ " Memoirs of the Family of Scot of Scot's-Hall in the county of Kent..." by James Renat Scott. 1876. London, states he died 30 Dec. 1594, "aged fifty-nine years" (pg. 196). Another source states he was "age 39 in 1576" which would have made him born ca. 1536-37.
2. ↑ History of Parliament online - Scott, Sir Thomas: 1535-94. This usually-reliable source gives their November 1554 marriage date, remarking on how young Thomas Scott was and that he did not come into his majority until 1556. His father died in Dec. 1554, likely the reason for marrying his son & heir beforehand.
3. ↑ At least 2 sources ("Memoirs of the Family Scott," and "History of Parliament Online") state they had 17 children: 11 boys and 5 girls; doubtlessly some died in infancy, as happened all-too-often in that time and place, even among the wealthy.
4. ↑ Memorials of the family of Scott, of Scot's Hall in the County of Kent. James Renat Scott. 1876. London.
5. ↑ " Memoirs of the Family of Scot of Scot's-Hall in the county of Kent..." by James Renat Scott. 1876. London, pg. 196.
6. ↑ See preceding Note; pg. 203.
7. ↑ THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES PROB 11/43/638, p. 3, added 2015 February 26, amb

• Richardson, Douglas: Plantagenet Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, Royal Ancestry series, 1st edition, ed. Kimball G. Everingham, (Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co, 2004), p 335-6, 631.

• Richardson, Douglas: Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, Royal Ancestry series, 1st edition, ed. Kimball G. Everingham, (Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co, 2005), p. 352.

• Richardson, Douglas: Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, Royal Ancestry series, 2nd edition, 4 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham, (Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 2011), vol III p 482, vol IV p 2-3.

• Richardson, Douglas: Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, Royal Ancestry series, 1st edition, 5 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham, (Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 2013), vol IV p 535, 594-5.

• Marlyn Lewis.

http://www.thepeerage.com/p14830.htm#i148294

• History of Parliament online - Scott, Sir Thomas: 1535-94

• Thomas Skott of Smeeth, miles and Elizabeth Heiman of Sellinge. 22 Feb 1583. Canterbury Marriage Licences. First Series 1568-1618. Edited by Joseph Meadows Cowper. 1892, p 369 family search.

• Thomas Scott of Smeeth, miles, and Dorothy Finche of Sheldwiche, widow. 10 Sep 1585. Canterbury Marriage Licences. First Series 1568-1618. Edited by Joseph Meadows Cowper. 1892, p 369 family search.