
Thomas Smythe or Smith of London,
Ashford Ashford may refer to:
Places
Australia
*Ashford, New South Wales
*Ashford, South Australia
*Electoral district of Ashford, South Australia
Ireland
*Ashford, County Wicklow
*Ashford Castle, County Galway
United Kingdom
*Ashford, Kent, a town
**B ...
and
Westenhanger
Stanford is a village and civil parish in Kent, England. It is part of the Folkestone and Hythe district.
The village developed along the ancient Roman Stone Street and was divided by the construction of the M20 motorway into Stanford North ...
,
Kent
Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...
(1522–7 June 1591)
[.] was the collector of
customs
Customs is an authority or Government agency, agency in a country responsible for collecting tariffs and for controlling International trade, the flow of goods, including animals, transports, personal effects, and hazardous items, into and out ...
duties (also known as a "customer") in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
during the
Tudor period
In England and Wales, the Tudor period occurred between 1485 and 1603, including the Elizabethan era during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603). The Tudor period coincides with the dynasty of the House of Tudor in England, which began with ...
, and a
member of parliament for five English constituencies. His son and namesake, Sir
Thomas Smythe (died 1625)
Sir Thomas Smythe (or Smith, c. 1558 – 4 September 1625) was an English merchant, politician and colonial administrator. He was the first governor of the East India Company and treasurer of the Virginia Company from 1609 to 1620 until envelo ...
, was the first governor of the
East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
, treasurer of the
Virginia Company
The Virginia Company was an English trading company chartered by King James I on 10 April 1606 with the objective of colonizing the eastern coast of America. The coast was named Virginia, after Elizabeth I, and it stretched from present-day ...
, and an active supporter of the
Virginia colony
The Colony of Virginia was a British colonial settlement in North America from 1606 to 1776.
The first effort to create an English settlement in the area was chartered in 1584 and established in 1585; the resulting Roanoke Colony lasted for t ...
.
Family
Thomas Smythe, born in 1522, was the second son
[.] of John Smythe (d. 1538) and Joan Brouncker, the daughter of
Robert Brouncker of
Melksham
Melksham () is a town and civil parish on the Bristol Avon, River Avon in Wiltshire, England, about northeast of Trowbridge and south of Chippenham. The parish population was 18,113 at the 2021 census.
History
Early history
Excavations in ...
, Wiltshire.
John, a substantial
yeoman
Yeoman is a noun originally referring either to one who owns and cultivates land or to the middle ranks of Serfdom, servants in an Peerage of England, English royal or noble household. The term was first documented in Kingdom of England, mid-1 ...
and clothier of
Corsham
Corsham is a historic market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in west Wiltshire, England. It is at the southwestern edge of the Cotswolds, just off the A4 road (England), A4 national route. It is southwest of Swindon, east of ...
,
Wiltshire
Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...
, left Smythe a farm in the
Hundred
100 or one hundred (Roman numerals, Roman numeral: C) is the natural number following 99 (number), 99 and preceding 101 (number), 101.
In mathematics
100 is the square of 10 (number), 10 (in scientific notation it is written as 102). The standar ...
of
Amesbury
Amesbury () is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is known for the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge which is within the parish. The town is claimed to be the oldest occupied settlement in Great Britain, having been first settl ...
, Wiltshire, that provided an annual income of £20. After his father's death, Smythe moved to London to seek his fortune; Smythe was approximately 16 at the time.
Career
Smythe joined his father's merchant guild, the
Haberdashers
__NOTOC__
In British English, a haberdasher is a business or person who sells small articles for sewing, dressmaking and knitting, such as buttons, ribbons, and zippers; in the United States, the term refers instead to a men's clothing stor ...
, and then the
Worshipful Company of Skinners
The Worshipful Company of Skinners (also known as the Skinners' Company) is one of the Livery company, Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London. Originally formed as an association of those engaged in the Skinner (profession), trade ...
. In 1550, Smythe developed a close connection with Sir
Andrew Judde
Sir Andrew Judde or Judd ( – 4 September 1558) was a 16th-century English merchant and Lord Mayor of London. He was knighted on 15 February 1551.
Biography
He was born before February, 1492, in Tonbridge, Kent, the third son of John ...
,
Lord Mayor of London
The Lord Mayor of London is the Mayors in England, mayor of the City of London, England, and the Leader of the council, leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded Order of precedence, precedence over a ...
. About four years later, Smythe married Judde's daughter, Alice Judde.
During the reign of
Mary I of England
Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain as the wife of King Philip II from January 1556 until her death in 1558. She made vigorous ...
, Smythe purchased the Office of the Customs from one Mr. Cocker for £2,500. He was confirmed in his appointment at the Customs on the accession of
Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...
in 1558, and he continued in the office for 11 years. In 1567, he appears to have incurred her Majesty's severe displeasure, having been accused of issuing privy warrants leading to a £6,000 loss; his friend
William Cecil, Lord Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (13 September 15204 August 1598), was an English statesman, the chief adviser of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State (1550–1553 and 1558–1572) and Lord High Treasurer from ...
, intervened and helped Smythe escape imprisonment. Cecil persuaded the Queen to be lenient, arguing that if Smythe was allowed more time he would repay this loss.
Elizabeth began to require larger and larger fines to renew Smythe's leases in order to replenish her exchequer. Over time, Smythe became unable to meet these demands and again fell under her Majesty's severe displeasure. His October 1589 counteroffer of a more modest payment was rejected. Due to his increasing infirmities and perhaps the stress of trying to meet the Queen's demands, Smythe died 18 months later, on 7 June 1591, leaving his widow, then 60 years old, 6 sons and 6 daughters.
Smythe was a
member of parliament (MP) for
Tavistock
Tavistock ( ) is an ancient stannary and market town and civil parish in the West Devon district, in the county of Devon, England. It is situated on the River Tavy, from which its name derives. At the 2011 census, the three electoral wards (N ...
October 1553, for
Aylesbury
Aylesbury ( ) is the county town of Buckinghamshire, England. It is home to the Roald Dahl Children's Gallery and the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Waterside Theatre. It is located in central Buckinghamshire, midway between High Wycombe and Milt ...
April 1554,
Rye
Rye (''Secale cereale'') is a grass grown extensively as a grain, a cover crop and a forage crop. It is grown principally in an area from Eastern and Northern Europe into Russia. It is much more tolerant of cold weather and poor soil than o ...
November 1554,
Winchelsea
Winchelsea () is a town in the county of East Sussex, England, located between the High Weald and the Romney Marsh, approximately south west of Rye and north east of Hastings. The current town, which was founded in 1288, replaced an earli ...
1555, and
Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in En ...
1563.
Marriage and issue

Thomas Smythe had 13 children with his wife, Alice Judde. They are as follows:
*Andrew Smythe, eldest son, who died an infant.
[.]
*
Sir John Smythe (1557–1608), second son,
of Ostenhanger, in 1576 married Elizabeth Fineaux (daughter of
Sir John Fineaux,
Chief Justice of the King's Bench
The Lord or Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary of England and Wales and the president of the courts of England and Wales.
Until 2005 the lord chief justice was the second-most senior judge of the English a ...
).
*
Sir Thomas Smythe (1558–1625),
[.] who married firstly, Judith Culverwell, the daughter of Richard Culverwell; secondly Joan Hobbs, the daughter of William Hobbs; and thirdly, Sarah Blount, the daughter of William Blount. He had no issue by his first two marriages; by his third marriage he had three sons and a daughter. His widow, Sarah, married
Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester (19 November 1563 – 13 July 1626), was an English courtier, soldier, and landowner. He was chamberlain to Anne of Denmark.
Family background
Robert Sidney was the second son of Sir Henry Sidney, was ...
.
*Henry Smythe
of
Corsham
Corsham is a historic market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in west Wiltshire, England. It is at the southwestern edge of the Cotswolds, just off the A4 road (England), A4 national route. It is southwest of Swindon, east of ...
(d. before 1591) married Elizabeth Owen (daughter of Thomas Owen, Justice of the Peace).
*Sir
Richard Smythe
Sir Richard Smythe (1563-1628), of Bromley, Kent and St. Stephen Coleman Street, London; later of Leeds Castle, Kent, was an English Member of Parliament (MP).
Family background
Richard Smythe was a younger son of Thomas "Customer" Smythe o ...
(d. 1628), of
Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle is a castle in Kent, England, southeast of Maidstone. It is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds and is a historic Grade I listed estate.
A castle has existed on the site s ...
, who married firstly Elizabeth Scott, the daughter of
Sir Thomas Scott (and widow of John Knatchbull), and in 1589 married Jane White (daughter of John White of London, widow of Samuel Thornhill).
*Symon Smythe, killed at the
siege of Cadiz
A siege () . is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or by well-prepared assault. Siege warfare (also called siegecrafts or poliorcetics) is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict characte ...
in 1596.
Also said to be of
Highgate
Highgate is a suburban area of N postcode area, north London in the London Borough of Camden, London Boroughs of Camden, London Borough of Islington, Islington and London Borough of Haringey, Haringey. The area is at the north-eastern corner ...
, and to have married Ann Lynford (daughter of William Lynford).
*Elizabeth Smythe, who was unmarried at the time of Smythe's death in 1591,
and later married
Sir Henry Fanshawe (son of Thomas Fanshawe who married secondly Sir Henry's wife's sister).
*Mary Smythe, who married Robert Davy
or Davis of London, Receiver for Wales.
*Joan Smythe, who married
Thomas Fanshawe
Sir Thomas Fanshawe KB (1580 – 17 December 1631) was an English government official and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1601 and 1629.
Biography
Fanshawe was the second son of Thomas Fanshawe and first son by his seco ...
, Esquire of Ware Park (d. 1601).
*Katherine Smythe, who married, at age sixteen,
Sir Rowland Hayward
Sir Rowland Hayward (c. 15205 December 1593) was a London slave merchant, and Lord Mayor of the City in both 1570 and 1591. Through his commercial activities he acquired considerable wealth, and was able to loan money to Queen Elizabeth I ...
,
Lord Mayor of London
The Lord Mayor of London is the Mayors in England, mayor of the City of London, England, and the Leader of the council, leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded Order of precedence, precedence over a ...
in 1571,
then Sir
John Scott (1570-1616) of Nettlestead, Kent, son of Sir Thomas Scott of Scot's Hall in Kent and Elizabeth Baker of
Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst is a small village in the borough of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. Originally called ''Milkhouse Street'' (also referred to as ''Mylkehouse''), Sissinghurst changed its name in the 1850s, possibly to avoid association with the s ...
; her mural monument survives in Nettlestead Church. Thirdly to Sir Richard Sandys.
*Alice Smythe, who married William Harris
*Ursula Smythe, who married William Butler.
Also said to have married Simon Harding of London, then secondly marrying
William Boteler
William Boteler (''fl.'' 1640s and 1650s) was a member of the Parliament of England. After the English Civil War, he was appointed Major-General for Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland during the Rule of the Major-General ...
(Butler) of Bedford.
The family have multiple monuments dedicated to them in St Mary's Church,
Ashford Ashford may refer to:
Places
Australia
*Ashford, New South Wales
*Ashford, South Australia
*Electoral district of Ashford, South Australia
Ireland
*Ashford, County Wicklow
*Ashford Castle, County Galway
United Kingdom
*Ashford, Kent, a town
**B ...
.
Notes
References
*
*
*
*Hearn, Karen, ed. ''Dynasties: Painting in Tudor and Jacobean England 1530-1630.'' New York: Rizzoli, 1995. .
External links
Will of Sir Andrew Judde, proved 16 March 1559, National ArchivesRetrieved 13 April 2013
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smythe, Customer
1522 births
1591 deaths
Members of the Parliament of England for Tavistock
Politicians from London
People from Ashford, Kent
English MPs 1553 (Mary I)
English MPs 1554
English MPs 1554–1555
English MPs 1555
English MPs 1563–1567
People from Westenhanger