Thomas Palasor
Encyclopedia
Thomas Palasor was an English Roman Catholic priest. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1987.
, parish of Catterick
, North Riding
of Yorkshire
. He arrived at Reims
on 24 July 1592, and set out for the English College, Valladolid
on 24 August 1592. There, he was ordained priest in 1596.
He was arrested in the house of John Norton, of Ravenswroth, nearly Lamesley
, County Durham
. Norton seems to have been the second son of Richard Norton, of Norton Conyers, attainted for his share in the Rising of the North
in 1569. Norton and his wife (if the identification is correct, she was his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Christopher Redshaw of Owston) were arrested at the same time, and with them John Talbot, one of the Talbots of Thornton-le-Street
, North Riding of Yorkshire.
All four were tried at Durham
and condemned to death, Palasor for being a priest, and the others for assisting him. Another gentleman was condemned at the same time but saved his life by conforming to the Church of England
, as the others might have done. Mrs. Norton, being supposed to be with child, was reprieved. The others were executed together.
Richard Challoner
tells how an attempt to poison Palasor and his companions made by the gaoler's wife resulted in the conversion of her maid-servant Mary Day.
Life
Palasor was born at Ellerton-on-SwaleEllerton-on-Swale
Ellerton-on-Swale or Ellerton is a small village and civil parish about a mile east of Catterick with a population of 140 in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. It is said that it is the birthplace of Henry Jenkins, who died in 1670 and is reported to have lived to an incredible...
, parish of Catterick
Catterick, North Yorkshire
Catterick , sometimes Catterick Village, to distinguish it from the nearby Catterick Garrison, is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England...
, North Riding
North Riding of Yorkshire
The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. He arrived at Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
on 24 July 1592, and set out for the English College, Valladolid
English College, Valladolid
The Royal English and Welsh College, Valladolid, under the patronage of St Alban, was founded in 1589 during the protestant reformation for the training of Catholic priests for the English and Welsh Mission....
on 24 August 1592. There, he was ordained priest in 1596.
He was arrested in the house of John Norton, of Ravenswroth, nearly Lamesley
Lamesley
Lamesley is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The village is situated towards the south of Gateshead, near to Birtley and Kibblesworth. The parish includes Lamesley village, Kibblesworth, Eighton Banks and the Northside area of Birtley...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. Norton seems to have been the second son of Richard Norton, of Norton Conyers, attainted for his share in the Rising of the North
Rising of the North
The Rising of the North of 1569, also called the Revolt of the Northern Earls or Northern Rebellion, was an unsuccessful attempt by Catholic nobles from Northern England to depose Queen Elizabeth I of England and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots.-Background:When Elizabeth I succeeded her...
in 1569. Norton and his wife (if the identification is correct, she was his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Christopher Redshaw of Owston) were arrested at the same time, and with them John Talbot, one of the Talbots of Thornton-le-Street
Thornton-le-Street
Thornton-le-Street is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the A168 , about three miles north of Thirsk....
, North Riding of Yorkshire.
All four were tried at Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
and condemned to death, Palasor for being a priest, and the others for assisting him. Another gentleman was condemned at the same time but saved his life by conforming to the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, as the others might have done. Mrs. Norton, being supposed to be with child, was reprieved. The others were executed together.
Richard Challoner
Richard Challoner
Richard Challoner was an English Roman Catholic bishop, a leading figure of English Catholicism during the greater part of the 18th century. He is perhaps most famous for his revision of the Douay Rheims translation of the Bible.-Early life:Challoner was born in the Protestant town of Lewes,...
tells how an attempt to poison Palasor and his companions made by the gaoler's wife resulted in the conversion of her maid-servant Mary Day.