Thomas Tesdale (1547 - 1610)

Born 1547 in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, England

Ancestors

Died 1610 at about age 63 in Glympton, Oxfordshire, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Elizabeth Viney [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Tesdale is Notable.

Thomas was born in 1547, the son of Thomas and Joan. He was baptised at Stanford Dingley, Berkshire on 13 Oct 1547. ^[1] When he was a child, his father moved the family to FitzHarris Farm at Abingdon, Berkshire. When his father died in 1556, ^[2]Thomas's uncle Richard Tesdale, a sadler, was charged with his upbringing. ^[3] His uncle sent him to school, firstly at the old Grammar School in Stert Street, and afterwards, when Thomas was nearly sixteen, he was chosen and admitted by John Royse as the first scholar in his Free School in Abingdon.^[4]

During his teenage years, Thomas set up a successful malting business at Fitzharris. He soon gained wealth and reputation and held many offices in the town. Like his father before him, Thomas became a governor of Christ's Hospital in Abingdon. He served in that capacity from 1577-81, and then as Master in 1579. ^[5]

Thomas was named as a brother in law in the 1573 will of Richard Bennett, his sister's husband.^[6]

He spent a large part of his career as an entrepreneurial farmer at Glympton in Oxfordshire, where he made his fortune by growing and processing woad, an expensive dyestuff which mostly came from France.^[7]

That fortune was largely expended after his death for the benefit of Abingdon. Part of it went to Abingdon School – now refounded by the munificence of John Roysse – developing the scheme to provide scholarships for poor Abingdon boys, the ‘Bennett boys’ from the name of his step-uncle who originated it, and providing the means to employ a second schoolmaster to teach them. And, perhaps even more important, a large sum went towards the eventual foundation of Pembroke College in Oxford which was to be where Abingdon School leavers would go to train for the ministry. ^[8]

In Feb 1608/9 Thomas, described as "my uncle Thomas Tesdale" was a beneficiary in the will of his sister's son William Bennett. His legacy was to be used to support six poor children of Abingdon to be brought up in the school.^[9]

Thomas had his will drawn up on 28 Feb 1609/10. ^[10]He made bequests to and mentioned:

• my wife Maud
• Richard Bennet
• his sons Raph and Thomas my nephews
• his son Sir John Bennet my nephew
• his sons Edmond and Dr Walter Bennet my nephews
• my niece Ann Vawre
• my niece Margaret Brickendon
• my niece Elizabeth Peerse
• my kinsman William Bennet of Abingdon, deceased
• my brother (in law) Richard Forster
• my cousins Francis and Jasper Tringe
• my cousin Benjamin Watkins
• my cousin Browne
• my cousin Ellis Browne, daughter of Benjamin Watkins
• my cousin Dennys Cole
• my cousin Lawrence Stevenson
• my godson Robert Stevenson, son of Lawrence
• my cousin Anthony Tesdale
• his sons Thomas and Elias Tesdale
• his daughter Joan Tesdale
• Edward Richatrds
• his daughter Elizabeth Richards
• my cousin Christopher Tesdale
• his children John, Benjamin, Christopher, Joshua, Elizabeth and Frances
• my cousin Richard Tesdale, deceased
• his daughter Elizabeth Tesdale
• my cousin Elias Tesdale
• his sons Thomas and Anthony
• my wife's nephew Tesdall Coates
• William Stampe, my brother (in law)
• his sons John, Timothy and Thomas Stampe

Thomas also left several large legacies which had a lasting impact on educational institutions. He bequeathed tithes and land at Upton in Warwickshire for the support of an Usher at Roysse's School. He also set aside a sum of £5,000 for the reception and training at one of the Oxford colleges of seven fellows and six scholars from Abingdon School. This eventually led to him becoming one of the primary founders of Pembroke College, Oxford.

Thomas died on 13 Jun 1610 and was buried two days later on 15 Jun at Glympton, Oxfordshire.

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 . Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.Ancestry Record 9841 #61625557
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. UK, Extracted Probate Records, 1269-1975 . Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. Ancestry Record UKprobate #1216676
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-22 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors. Original data:Stephen, Sir Leslie, ed. Dictionary of National Biography, 1921–1922. Volumes 1–22. London, England: Oxford University Press, 1921–1922. Dictionary of National Biography, 1921–1922, Oxford University Press, London, England.
4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Thomas Tesdale," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Tesdale&oldid=1029419935 (accessed June 29, 2021).
5. ↑ Christ's Hospital of Abingdon Historical Figures
6. ↑ Will of Richard Bennett: "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 56
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 5111 #905246 (accessed 4 June 2022)
   Will of Rici Bennett of Wallingforde, Berkshire, England, granted probate on 3 Jul 1574. Died Abt 1574.
7. ↑ A P Baggs, Christina Colvin, H M Colvin, Janet Cooper, C J Day, Nesta Selwyn and A Tomkinson. "Parishes: Glympton," in A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 11, Wootton Hundred (Northern Part), ed. Alan Crossley (London: Victoria County History, 1983), 120-131. British History Online, accessed May 22, 2022, BHO
8. ↑ Jones, John. Balliol College: a history. United Kingdom: OUP Oxford, 1997.Google Books
9. ↑ Will of WIlliam Bennett: "England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 113
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 5111 #890231 (accessed 4 June 2022)
   Will of Willielmi Bennet of Markborow, Wiltshire, England, granted probate on 22 Feb 1608. Died Abt 1608.
10. ↑ Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013), Ancestry.com, The National Archives; Kew, England; Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 116. Record for Thomas Tesdale. Ancestry Record CanturburyPrerogativeCourt #864396