BIGG, Thomas (c.1577-1621), of Lenchwick, Worcs.

Bigg was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Bigg, member for Evesham in 1604. After studying at Oxford he was admitted to the Middle Temple in May 1597, where he was bound with (Sir) Benjamin Rudyard*. He seems to have spent over five years at the Inn, as in June 1602 he was appointed to help provide the reader’s feast.13 MTR, 375, 423.

Bigg undoubtedly owed his election at Evesham in 1614 to his father’s local prominence. He does not appear in any of the surviving records of the Parliament. Elected an alderman and town magistrate in his father’s place in October 1614, by the end of the year he had been appointed to the county bench.14 Evesham Bor. Recs. 15. His younger brother Clement referred to him in his will as ‘captain’, suggesting he was an officer in the militia. On 15 Dec. 1620 Bigg was re-elected for Evesham, perhaps because he agreed to serve without wages,15 Ibid. 22. but played no recorded part in the proceedings of the 1621 Parliament. One week after Parliament adjourned for the summer, on 11 June 1621, he died intestate at Lenchwick. He was subsequently buried in Norton parish church.16 C142/423/75; Nash, Worcs. ii. 196. During his later life he had fallen heavily into debt and his lands were extended. Consequently administration was granted to a creditor on 26 June.17 C142/423/75; C3/330/19; PROB 6/10, f. 117. An inventory compiled on 2 July valued his goods at £714 15s. 8d.18 Inventories of Worcs. Landed Gentry ed. M.D.G. Wanklyn (Worcs. Hist. Soc. n.s. xvi), 142-6. The estate was sold by his heirs and his widow married Sir John Walter*. On 25 Feb. 1656 a further grant of administration was made to his nephew and niece.19 VCH Worcs. ii. 400, 417; PROB 6/32, f. 18.