BREWES, Thomas (c.1406-82), of Fressingfield, Suff. and Topcroft, Norf.

Family and Education

b. c.1406, s. and h. of Sir Robert Brewes (d.1424) of Fressingfield by Ela (d.1456), da. of Sir Miles Stapleton (d.1419) of Bedale, Yorks. and Ingham, Norf.; cousin and h. of (Sir) John Shardelowe*. CIPM, xxiv. 13; CP, ii. 306; vii. 62-3; F. Blomefield, Norf. viii. 249; Norf. RO, Norwich consist. ct., Reg. Brosyard, ff. 23-24. m. (1) Margaret, da. of Sir John Calthorpe (d.1415) of Burnham Thorpe, Norf., sis. of William Calthorpe*, 2s. 1da.; C.E. Moreton, Townshends, 96; CAD, ii. C2631; F.A. Crisp, Fragmenta Genealogica, viii. 57. (2) by 1440, Elizabeth (d.1503), da. of Gilbert Debenham I*, 4s. ?5da. Moreton, 96; Norf. RO, institutions bk., 1472-86, DN/REG7 bk. 12, ff. 242-3; Crisp, viii. 57-58; CP25(1)/224/119/14; PCC 17 Blamyr (PROB11/13, ff. 32v-34v). Both CP, ii. 306, and HP Biogs. ed. Wedgwood and Holt, 108, mistakenly refer to Brewes’s first wife as William Calthorpe’s ‘grand-daughter’. There is also some confusion as to her name, since some sources refer to her variously as Joan, Anne or Mary. Dist. 1458, 1465; Kntd. 23 May 1465. Coronation Elizabeth Wydeville ed. G. Smith, 63.

Offices Held

Attestor, parlty. elections, Norf. 1429, 1431, 1442, Suff. ?1433, Uncertain owing to damaged return. 1449 (Feb.), 1449 (Nov.), 1450, 1455, 1459, 1461. KB145/7/1.

Escheator, Norf. and Suff. 3 Nov. 1434 – 6 Nov. 1435.

Commr. to distribute tax allowance, Suff. Jan. 1436, June 1445, July 1446, June 1468; of array Jan. 1436, Sept. 1457, Dec. 1459, Mar., May 1472; oyer and terminer, Norf., Suff. Sept. 1444; inquiry, Suff. May 1446 (inheritance of Thomas Barker), Feb. 1448 (concealments, illegal granting of liveries and shipping of uncustomed and uncocketed merchandise), Essex, Glos., Mdx., Lincs., Norf., Northumb., Suff., Yorks. Aug. 1451 (ships evading the king of Denmark’s staple at Bergen), Suff. Feb. 1463 (misdeeds of John Strange*), Aug. 1473 (unpaid farms), Aug. 1475 (estates of attainted earl of Oxford), Sept. 1476 (riots and illegal gatherings); to treat for loans June 1446; of gaol delivery, Ipswich Oct. 1449, May, Oct. 1456, Oct. 1457, Oct. 1459, May, Oct. 1461, Oct. 1470, Norwich castle Sept. 1470; C66/491 m. 18d; 471 m. 14d; 481 m. 189d; 482 m. 16d; 484 m. 13d; 488 m. 19d 492 mm. 3d, 14d; 526 m. 6d. to assess subsidy, Suff. Aug. 1450, July 1463; collect loan from Alice de la Pole, duchess of Suffolk, Oct. 1450; of sewers, Suff. Nov. 1452, May 1458 (from Minsmere harbour to Yoxford bridge); to organize coastal watches Nov. 1456; assign archers Dec. 1457; of arrest, Norf. June 1459, Suff. Nov. 1470, May 1473; to resist Richard, earl of Warwick, and his supporters Feb. 1460; urge the raising of a fleet against the King’s enemies of France and Scotland, Essex, Herts., Suff. June 1461.

Sheriff, Norf. and Suff. 3 Nov. 1438 – 4 Nov. 1439, 6 Nov. 1442 – 3 Nov. 1443.

J.p. Suff. 12 Aug. 1442 – July 1458, 8 Aug. 1459 – Mar. 1460, 12 May 1460 – June 1470, 16 July – Dec. 1470, 13 Dec. 1473 – d.

Parlimentarian

BREWES, Thomas (c.1406-82), of Fressingfield, Suff. and Topcroft, Norf.

Main residences: Fressingfield, Suff.; Topcroft, Norf.

Breux, Brewese, Brews, Brewse, Brewys, Browes

Author

C.E.M.

Volume

Commons 1422-1461

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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