TREVOR, Thomas (c.1573-1656), of Trevalyn, Denb.; London; Enfield, Mdx. and Leamington Hastings, Warws.

Family and Education
b. c. 1573, 5th and yst. s. of John Trevor of Trevalyn by Mary, da. of Sir George Brydges of London; bro. of John and Sir Richard. educ. Shrewsbury 1581; Clifford’s Inn; I. Temple 1593, called 1603. m. (1) Prudence (d.1615), da. of Henry Butler, 1s.; (2) Frances (d.1625), da. and h. of Daniel Blennerhasset of Norf., s.p.; (3) Ellen (d.1654), da. of one Poyntell, wid. of Edward Allen, alderman of London, s.p. Kntd. 1619.1DNB; DWB; E. Jones, Trevors of Trevalyn, 55-63 and ped. at end; Trans. Cymmrod Soc. 1937, p. 165n; Arch. Camb. (ser. 2), v. 100; PCC 211 Alchin.
Offices Held

Jt. steward of Windsor castle 1605; auditor, I. Temple 1614, 1616, bencher May 1617, summer vacation reader 1620; solicitor-gen. to Prince Charles by 1611; serjeant-at-law 1625; baron of the Exchequer 1625 – 49; member, ct. of high commission. 2I.T. Recs. ii. passim; Add. 33378, f. 74.

Address
Main residences: Trevalyn, Denb and London and and Enfield, Mdx and Leamington Hastings, Warws.
biography text

Trevor’s father made precise provision in his will for his education and he was to be ‘ordered’ by Robert Sackville, Lord Buckhurst’s heir. While Trevor was at the Inner Temple two cf his brothers entered the service of Charles Howard I, the lord admiral, and Trevor himself followed their example, certainly by October 1604. Meanwhile, in 1601 he had been returned to Parliament for Tregony through the influence of his brother John’s wife’s family, the Trevanions. It was probably John who was the Mr. Trevor mentioned in the journals of this Parliament.3J. Whitelocke, Liber Famelicus (Cam. Soc. lxx), 103; PCC 64 Leicester; EHR, lix. 360; HMC Hatfield, xvi. 335; xvii. 347.

Though a contemporary held Trevor to be ‘no great lawyer’ he served as a judge throughout Charles’s reign, achieving some notoriety for his defence of ship money and for his condemnation of John Hampden, a relative, for refusing to pay it. He resigned from the bench after the King’s execution and retired to his estate at Leamington Hastings, where he died, aged about 84, 21 Dec. 1656, having outlived his three wives. His only son and heir, Thomas, also represented Tregony in Parliament, and was created a baronet, the title dying with him.4PCC 8 Ruthen; Dugdale, Warws. i. 318-19.

Author
M.R.P.
Volume
Commons 1558-1603
Notes
  • 1. DNB; DWB; E. Jones, Trevors of Trevalyn, 55-63 and ped. at end; Trans. Cymmrod Soc. 1937, p. 165n; Arch. Camb. (ser. 2), v. 100; PCC 211 Alchin.
  • 2. I.T. Recs. ii. passim; Add. 33378, f. 74.
  • 3. J. Whitelocke, Liber Famelicus (Cam. Soc. lxx), 103; PCC 64 Leicester; EHR, lix. 360; HMC Hatfield, xvi. 335; xvii. 347.
  • 4. PCC 8 Ruthen; Dugdale, Warws. i. 318-19.