Thomas Stephens (abt. 1558 - 1613)

Born about 1558 in Eastington, Gloucestershire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Stone) Stephens — married 24 Apr 1592 in St Bride Fleet Street, London, Middlesex, England

Descendants

Died 23 Apr 1613 at about age 55 in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England

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Thomas Stephens was born in Gloucestershire, England.

Biography

Thomas was born about 1558 and was the third son of Edward Stephens of Eastington and his wife, Joan Fowler. ^[1]

He was educated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, matriculating in 1575. He took his BA in 1578 and then became a Middle Temple lawyer. He was called to the bar in 1585. ^[1] In 1604 he was a Middle Temple bencher.

He obtained a court appointment under King James I. He was Attorney General to both the King's sons, Henry and Charles Stuart. ^[2]

Thomas Stephens married on 24 of Apr 1592 at St.Bride on Fleet Street in London, England to Elizabeth Stone, daughter of John Stone of London, England. ^[1]

A few years before his death, Thomas purchased the manors of Cherington, Over Lypiatt, and Chipping, Little and Old Sodbury.

Thomas had his will drawn up on 08 Mar 1612.^[3] He described himself as being a clerk of the Middle Temple and requested burial in the church at Stroud, Gloucestershire. He made bequests to and mentioned:

• wife Elizabeth
• her deceased father John Stone
• my son Edward
• my son John
• my son Nathaniel
• my brothers in law Thomas Paramour and Edward Mainwaring, esq
• my daughter Mary
• my daughter Elizabeth
• my nieces Sara Giles, Abigail Hill and Sara Willcox
• my cousin William Hill
• my cousin Nathaniel Stephens
• my cousin John Giles, esq
• my cousin Daniel Fowler, gent
• my cousin Ann Perry
• her son Thomas Perry

He died on 26 April 1613 and was buried in the Stephens vault at the church of St.Laurence in Stroud. There is a fine monument to his memory, depicting him in his lawyers robes and kneeling at a prayer desk. ^[2] His epitaph reads ...

​“Died Stephens by the law? The law alas! kills all, That law which doom'd our sinful race to die. But Stephens lives: another law, Christ's law withal, Gives him a crown and immortality.” ^[2]

His last Will was probated on 24 Nov 1613. ^[1]

There is mysterious, glass painted sundial situated in Bucklebury Church in Berkshire that bears the arms of Stephens and Stone and perhaps commemorates their marriage. ^[4] It bears the initials Th. S & St but appears to have been made some 54 years after their marriage.

Children

1. Edward Stevens b: 1584 Lypiot Park, Little Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England
2. John Stevens, b: 1584
3. Elizabeth Stevens, b: 1587
4. Mary Stevens, b: 1589
5. Nathaniel Stevens, b: 1591
6. John Stevens, b: 1595
7. Ann Elizabeth Stevens, b: 1598
8. Nicholas Stevens, b: 1610.

Research Notes

In his will he mentions "my two daughters Mary and Elizabeth". There is no mention of a third daughter Ann.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} History of Parliament online for Thomas STEPHENS (d:1613) of the Middle Temple, London and Over Lypiatt, Gloucestershire, England
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} St.Laurence, Stroud
3. ↑ Will: "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: 122
   Ancestry Sharing Link Ancestry Record 5111 #892884 (accessed 30 August 2021)
   Name: Thoma Stephens [Thomas Stephens]; Residence: Middle Temple; Probate Date: 24 Nov 1613; Death Year: Abt 1613.
4. ↑ Sundial.pdf

• Visitation of Gloucestershire p151 Stephens

• Rootsweb Family Tree