BEAUMONT, Thomas (d.c.1582), of Norwich, Norf.

Beaumont, a draper, owned property in the city and, in 1571, headed a committee which drew up a book of orders governing the disposal of weekly contributions made towards poor relief. He and his parliamentary colleague in 1572, John Aldrich, were paid 3s. a day wages at least for the first session; they promoted a suit in Parliament, and in 1582 received £6 13s.4d. ‘for certain writings at the parliament time’. The corporation also lent them £17 0s.10d. which was never repaid. Beaumont did not appear for the session of 1581, Edward Flowerdew, who had hitherto sat for Castle Rising, coming in his place. The House refused to permit the substitution but, on being informed that Beaumont was incurably sick, issued a new writ. It is unlikely that the ‘Mr. Beaumont’ mentioned in the journals as serving on several committees in the 1572 Parliament was Thomas Beaumont: Francis Beaumont seems a more likely candidate.

Beaumont was dead by 1583, when his will was proved in the Norwich consistory court.1Cal. Norwich Freemen, 11-13; claviour’s bk. 1550-1601; H. Le Strange, Norf. Official Lists, 108; bk. of city revenues and letters; Norwich Recs. ed. Hudson and Tingey, ii. 347; Norf. Rec. Soc. xxi. 16.