Thomas Usborne (abt. 1513 - 1591)

Born about 1513 in Staplehurst, Kent, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Jan 1591 at about age 78 in Staplehurst, Kent, England

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Biography

Overview

Thomas, the first son of Thomas Usborne, was born about 1513. He probably married about 1538 but the identity of his spouse is unknown. He died in or near Staplehurst, Kent England in early 1590/1.

Early Life

Thomas was likely born in Staplehurst, England, the oldest of three siblings.^[1] The family probably occupied a house and lands approximately 350 meters north of the parish church in Staplehurst, England, now known as Londendon Manor. As a child, Thomas probably learned the tannery trade from his father.

Marriage

The name of Thomas' wife has not been determined and neither has the date of their marriage,^[2] although, based on the birthdate of their oldest child, it likely occurred in or near 1538. Thomas' wife died in 1580/1 and was buried on February 18, 1580/1 in the churchyard of the parish church at Staplehurst, England.^[3]

Children

Thomas had at least nine children:

• James;
• Katherine;
• Cicely;^[4]
• Isabel;
• a son (unnamed);
• Cicely;
• Thomas;^[5]
• Walter; and
• Margaret

Home Life

In 1563/4, his household consisted of his wife, at least one unmarried daughter and four servants.^[6] In addition to his tannery business, Thomas held substantial agricultural interests, cultivating more than one hundred acres. ^[7] His stock included six oxen, thirty additional cattle, seven horses and twenty sheep.^[8]

Public Life

Thomas, like his forbearers, was a tanner. He greatly expanded the family business and was actively involved in the London leather trade.^[9] He was fined at least twice, in 1562 and 1573, for violating production or pricing regulations.^[10] By 1572, he was among the most affluent householders in his parish.^[11] By the time of his death in 1590/1, Thomas was among the three wealthiest men in his parish. His business and agricultural holdings put him in a class with the wealthiest clothiers, the top yeoman farmers and, possibly, the lesser gentry.^[12]

Land and Property

Thomas Usborne's will identifies several pieces of property: a three acre parcel known as "High Fielde" in the "Den of Loddynden" likely the same one mentioned in the will of his great-grandfather, Osbert Usborne; the mansion house at Loddynden; land called Adcockes; three parcels at Clappers purchased from John Dunberye; three pieces of land and a messuage in the "Den of Weevinden" in Staplehurst purchased from Thomas Moore and Thomas Taylor; and a messuage and land called "Grangers" purchased from kinsman, John and Robert, sons of Robert Osborne of Staplehurst (probably Thomas' cousin and son of his uncle, John Usborne).

Death and Burial

Thomas Usborne died shortly before January 25, 1590/1, the date of his burial.^[13] He was buried on that date in the churchyard of the parish church at Staplehurst, England.^[14][15]

Estate

The will of "Thomas Osborne, the elder of Staplehurst", dated November 11, 1588 was proved on March 2, 1590/1. ^[16]Peter Bridgland, Robert Hills and Walter Mascall were witnesses to the will. ^[17]

In his will, Thomas made a monetary bequest to the poor of the parish.^[18] He also made a specific request to widow Margaret Aldridge, daughter of John Forman, deceased, without specifying his relationship, if any, to Margaret.^[19] The remainder of his personal property, presumably including his tanning equipment was left to his son, Thomas, who was also named executor.^[20]

Thomas directed that some of the income from his Highfield property be given to Margaret Aldridge.^[21] Thomas left the home at Loddynden, the Adcockes property, the Clappers property and the Weevinden property to his son Thomas and left Grangers property to son Walter.^[22]

Notes

1. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
2. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
3. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
4. ↑ The Old Register of Staplehurst, Page 14.
5. ↑ The Old Register of Staplehurst, Page 43.
6. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
7. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
8. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
9. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
10. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
11. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
12. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
13. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
14. ↑ 'Henry S. Cowper, Loddenden & the Usbornes of Loddenden, Page 13.
15. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 19.
16. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 20.
17. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 20.
18. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 20.
19. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 20.
20. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 20.
21. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 20.
22. ↑ Mahler: Vol. 165, Page 20.

Sources

• Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, vol. 48, f. 81 [FHL 0,188,946].
• Cowper, Henry. S. Loddenden & the Usbornes of Loddenden: The Story of a Kentish Homestead. Ashford, England: Kentish Express Office, 1914.
• Mahler, Leslie. The English Ancestry of Elizabeth Usborne, First Wife of Abraham Cruttenden of Guilford,Connecticut., The New England Historical & Genealogical Register Vol. 165, Pages 15-26. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 2011).
• The Old Register of Staplehurst, 1538-1558, and List of Rectors, with Introduction. Canterbury, England: Gibbs and Sons, 1907.
• "The Staplehurst Branch.” The Usborne Family (http://www.usbornefamilytree.com/decsofosbert/staplehurstbranch.htm : accessed 21 June 2017).
• Zell, Michael. '"Industry in the Countryside: Wealden Society in the Sixteenth Century." Cambridge Studies in Population, Economy and Society in Past Time. No. 22 (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1994).