Thomas Covell ( – August 1, 1639) was the keeper of

Lancaster Castle Lancaster Castle is a medieval castle and former prison in Lancaster, Lancashire, Lancaster in the English county of Lancashire. Its early history is unclear, but it may have been founded in the 11th century on the site of a Roman fort ove ...

for 48 years and mayor of

Lancaster Lancaster may refer to: Lands and titles *The County Palatine of Lancaster, a synonym for Lancashire *Duchy of Lancaster, one of only two British royal duchies *Duke of Lancaster *Earl of Lancaster *House of Lancaster, a British royal dynasty ...

six times. He is known for jailing the

Pendle witches The trials of the Pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in English history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century. The twelve accused lived in the area surrounding Pendle Hill in Lancashire, and were charged ...

Biography

Career

Thomas Covell was well known in Lancaster during the 17th Century. He held a number of positions in the city including magistrate, coroner, keeper of

, and mayor of the city. Covell was keeper of Lancaster Castle for 48 years, from 1591 until his death. Whilst keeper of the castle he would have been responsible for the

' time there. He was also Mayor of Lancaster six times during his life, though the only known years are 1621 and 1628, and a coroner for 46 years from 1593.

Personal life

Covell married Dorothy Watson, with whom he had one daughter named Elizabeth in 1601. There are records of the birth of a son named Phillip, but no further information is available on him. He built Judges' Lodgings in Lancaster where he lived at the time of his death on August 1, 1639. Covell had made his will the day before his death, asking to be buried in

Lancaster Priory Lancaster Priory, formally the Priory Church of St Mary, is the Church of England parish church of the city of Lancaster, Lancashire, England. It is located near Lancaster Castle and since 1953 has been designated a Grade I listed building ...

. At the time of his death the value of the goods in his inventory totalled £3047, and he also owned a number of properties. Buried in the church's

chancel In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the Choir (architecture), choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may termi ...

, a brass memorial was also fixed to the floor.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Covell, Thomas Mayors of Lancaster, Lancashire 1639 deaths 1560s births