Thomas Williams (speaker)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Williams was a Speaker of the English House of Commons
. He was a lawyer and a member of the Inner Temple
, sat as MP for Exeter (UK Parliament constituency)
during the first and second Parliaments of Elizabeth I and was elected Speaker on 12 January 1563 and remained so until his unexpected death in 1566. His family home was Stowford House in the parish of Harford, Devon
.
Three curlew
s' heads and necks erased.
1. Sable, three curlews' heads erased argent. 2. Ermine, a lion passant gules. [DREWE.] 3. Or, a fess wavy gules between three (?) goats' heads erased of the same. 4. On a chevron sable four bars wavy of the field. [Prideaux.]
5. Azure, a bend per bend indented argent and gules between six escallops or [Cruwys.] 6. Gules, on a bend sable cotised or three boars heads couped
argent. [Edgcombe.]
These records reflect both the tombstones preserved in St Pedroc's Church, Harford and other genealogical records.
Father: Adam Williams b. ca. 1484
Mother: Alice Prideaux b. 1488
Thomas Williams: Only known child
Wife: Emeline (Emliss) Crewes 1515-1602 daughter of William Crewes and Margaret Pollard of Mochard, Devon b. 1492 Married in Chimley 1545
Daughters: Joane Williams wife of Phillip Cole / Emlyn died 12/12/1610? / Thomasina wife of Francis Buller
Sons Thomas 2 ob S.P. / John Williams husband of Marie Drewe of Hayne
Note: John Williams died 01/11/1615 husband of Mary Drew of Hayne. It is John who is reported to have sold the ancestrial home to the Saverys in the reign of Charles 1.
Grandchildren of heir Jone / Arthur / Thomas / Adam
Great grandchildren of heir Richard / Thomas / Anne / Emylyn
He is buried in Harford
Church, South Devon.
His coffin inscription says:
Here lyeth the corps of Thoms Willms esquire
Twice reader he in court was
Whose sacred minde to vertu did aspire
Of Parlament he speaker hence did passé
The comen he studied to preserue
And thew relygion ever to maynetayne
In place of justyce where as he dyd serue
And nowe in heaven wth mightie love doth raigne
Obiit primo die mensis Julii Ao Dni Moccccclxvi.
Aetatis suæ anno quinquagesimo secundo.
The Parliamentary entry states:
Lunae, 30o Septembris
Proceedings on Death of the Speaker.
At which Thirtieth Day of September, 1566, & Anno Octavo Elizabethae Reginae, Mr. Comptroller
, declaring the Death of Mr. Williams, the late Speaker, moved, that some of the House might be sent up to the Lords, to require them, that they would be a Mean to the Queen's Majesty, that this House, by her Majesty's Licence, might proceed (according to the ancient Custom) to the Election of a Speaker: Whereupon immediately Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Secretary, with a convenient Number, went up to the Lords with that Message ; and brought Answer, the Lords would gladly, by a convenient Number, do it; and required, that Four of this House, being of the Privy Council, might join with them therein.
The Lords named were, the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
, the Duke of Norfolk
, the Lord Treasurer, and the Marquis of Northampton.
Of this House were, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Secretary Cicill, Sir Francis Knolles, Vicechamberlain, and Sir Ambrose Cave, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
And then agreed to meet there again at Nine of the Clock the Morrow following, to know the Queen's Majesty's Pleasure.
Entry the Journal of the Proceedings of the House of Lords in the Session of Parliament holden at Westminster, An. 8 Regin. Eliz. A. D. 1566. which began there (after divers Prorogations of the same) on Monday the 30th of September, and then and there continued until the Dissolution thereof on Thursday the 2d day of Jan. Ann. 9. Regin. ejusdem. states:
This day Sir Edward Rogers Knight, Comptroller of her Highness Houshold, Sir Francis Knolles Knight, her Highness Vice-Chamberlain, Sir William Cecill Knight, her Highness Principal Secretary, and Sir Ambrose Cave Knight, Chancellor of her Highness Dutchy of Lancaster, four Chief Members of the House of Commons, and divers others of that Assembly to the number of twenty persons, being sent up to the Lords from that House upon some urgent and weighty occasions, desired to be admitted into the Upper House, there to make known to their Lordships somewhat wherein they should require their advice, and need their assistance; upon which, being admitted, the said Mr Comptroller, assisted with the Personages and Company aforesaid, did in comely order and discreet modesty, make manisest and known unto the said Lords, that Thomas Williams Esquire, their late Speaker in the last Session of this Parliament, in the fifth Year of the Queens Majesty that now is, was bereft from them by Death, which had been openly and manifestly made known and testified unto them; for remedy of which defection, they humbly prayed their Lordships advice; after which the Lord Keeper, first requiring the said Personages a while to withdraw themselves, and then commending the Order of the matter to the Lords sitting in consultation for the same, it was by them all upon considerate advice therein had, thought fit to signifie unto the said Commons by the Personages aforesaid, that they thought it expedient and good, the said Lord Keeper, the Lord Treasurer of England, the Duke his Grace of Norfolk, and the Lord Marquess of Northampton, with the four forecited Personages of the said House of Commons, being also of her Highness most Honourable Privy-Council, should in the name of both of the Assemblies, with all humbleness and due celerity, make intimation of their said Estate, and the Petition thereupon depending, unto her said Highness, to which advice the said House of Commons, upon knowledge had of the same, wholly assented.
Some of the Bills presented to Parliament whilst Thomas Williams was Speaker include:
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
. He was a lawyer and a member of the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, sat as MP for Exeter (UK Parliament constituency)
Exeter (UK Parliament constituency)
Exeter is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
during the first and second Parliaments of Elizabeth I and was elected Speaker on 12 January 1563 and remained so until his unexpected death in 1566. His family home was Stowford House in the parish of Harford, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
Family crest
Three curlew
Curlew
The curlews , genus Numenius, are a group of eight species of birds, characterised by long, slender, downcurved bills and mottled brown plumage. They are one of the most ancient lineages of scolopacid waders, together with the godwits which look similar but have straight bills...
s' heads and necks erased.
Arms
1. Sable, three curlews' heads erased argent. 2. Ermine, a lion passant gules. [DREWE.] 3. Or, a fess wavy gules between three (?) goats' heads erased of the same. 4. On a chevron sable four bars wavy of the field. [Prideaux.]
5. Azure, a bend per bend indented argent and gules between six escallops or [Cruwys.] 6. Gules, on a bend sable cotised or three boars heads couped
argent. [Edgcombe.]
Family links
These records reflect both the tombstones preserved in St Pedroc's Church, Harford and other genealogical records.
Father: Adam Williams b. ca. 1484
Mother: Alice Prideaux b. 1488
Thomas Williams: Only known child
Wife: Emeline (Emliss) Crewes 1515-1602 daughter of William Crewes and Margaret Pollard of Mochard, Devon b. 1492 Married in Chimley 1545
Daughters: Joane Williams wife of Phillip Cole / Emlyn died 12/12/1610? / Thomasina wife of Francis Buller
Sons Thomas 2 ob S.P. / John Williams husband of Marie Drewe of Hayne
Note: John Williams died 01/11/1615 husband of Mary Drew of Hayne. It is John who is reported to have sold the ancestrial home to the Saverys in the reign of Charles 1.
Grandchildren of heir Jone / Arthur / Thomas / Adam
Great grandchildren of heir Richard / Thomas / Anne / Emylyn
Burial details
He is buried in Harford
Harford
-Places:United States:* Harford, New York, a town in Cortland County* Harford County, MarylandUnited Kingdom:* Harford, Carmarthenshire* Harford, Devon-People:* James Harford, British diplomat* John Scandrett Harford, banker, benefactor and abolitionist...
Church, South Devon.
His coffin inscription says:
Here lyeth the corps of Thoms Willms esquire
Twice reader he in court was
Whose sacred minde to vertu did aspire
Of Parlament he speaker hence did passé
The comen he studied to preserue
And thew relygion ever to maynetayne
In place of justyce where as he dyd serue
And nowe in heaven wth mightie love doth raigne
Obiit primo die mensis Julii Ao Dni Moccccclxvi.
Aetatis suæ anno quinquagesimo secundo.
Informing the House of the death of the Speaker
The Parliamentary entry states:
Lunae, 30o Septembris
Proceedings on Death of the Speaker.
At which Thirtieth Day of September, 1566, & Anno Octavo Elizabethae Reginae, Mr. Comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
, declaring the Death of Mr. Williams, the late Speaker, moved, that some of the House might be sent up to the Lords, to require them, that they would be a Mean to the Queen's Majesty, that this House, by her Majesty's Licence, might proceed (according to the ancient Custom) to the Election of a Speaker: Whereupon immediately Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Secretary, with a convenient Number, went up to the Lords with that Message ; and brought Answer, the Lords would gladly, by a convenient Number, do it; and required, that Four of this House, being of the Privy Council, might join with them therein.
The Lords named were, the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, and later of Great Britain, was formerly an officer of the English Crown charged with physical custody of the Great Seal of England. This evolved into one of the Great Officers of State....
, the Duke of Norfolk
Duke of Norfolk
The Duke of Norfolk is the premier duke in the peerage of England, and also, as Earl of Arundel, the premier earl. The Duke of Norfolk is, moreover, the Earl Marshal and hereditary Marshal of England. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the...
, the Lord Treasurer, and the Marquis of Northampton.
Of this House were, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Secretary Cicill, Sir Francis Knolles, Vicechamberlain, and Sir Ambrose Cave, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
And then agreed to meet there again at Nine of the Clock the Morrow following, to know the Queen's Majesty's Pleasure.
Informing the House of Lords of the death of the Speaker
Entry the Journal of the Proceedings of the House of Lords in the Session of Parliament holden at Westminster, An. 8 Regin. Eliz. A. D. 1566. which began there (after divers Prorogations of the same) on Monday the 30th of September, and then and there continued until the Dissolution thereof on Thursday the 2d day of Jan. Ann. 9. Regin. ejusdem. states:
This day Sir Edward Rogers Knight, Comptroller of her Highness Houshold, Sir Francis Knolles Knight, her Highness Vice-Chamberlain, Sir William Cecill Knight, her Highness Principal Secretary, and Sir Ambrose Cave Knight, Chancellor of her Highness Dutchy of Lancaster, four Chief Members of the House of Commons, and divers others of that Assembly to the number of twenty persons, being sent up to the Lords from that House upon some urgent and weighty occasions, desired to be admitted into the Upper House, there to make known to their Lordships somewhat wherein they should require their advice, and need their assistance; upon which, being admitted, the said Mr Comptroller, assisted with the Personages and Company aforesaid, did in comely order and discreet modesty, make manisest and known unto the said Lords, that Thomas Williams Esquire, their late Speaker in the last Session of this Parliament, in the fifth Year of the Queens Majesty that now is, was bereft from them by Death, which had been openly and manifestly made known and testified unto them; for remedy of which defection, they humbly prayed their Lordships advice; after which the Lord Keeper, first requiring the said Personages a while to withdraw themselves, and then commending the Order of the matter to the Lords sitting in consultation for the same, it was by them all upon considerate advice therein had, thought fit to signifie unto the said Commons by the Personages aforesaid, that they thought it expedient and good, the said Lord Keeper, the Lord Treasurer of England, the Duke his Grace of Norfolk, and the Lord Marquess of Northampton, with the four forecited Personages of the said House of Commons, being also of her Highness most Honourable Privy-Council, should in the name of both of the Assemblies, with all humbleness and due celerity, make intimation of their said Estate, and the Petition thereupon depending, unto her said Highness, to which advice the said House of Commons, upon knowledge had of the same, wholly assented.
Bills presented during his term as Speaker
Some of the Bills presented to Parliament whilst Thomas Williams was Speaker include:
- Bills of Restitution including the families of Archbishop Cranmer.
- that the Bible and Book of Service may be in the Welsh Tongue in WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. - for an Office of a Register, to keep the Church Books for Wedding, Christening and Burying.
- to revive the Statute for Punishment of Buggery.
- for Punishment of Invocations of Evil Spirits, Witchcraft, Inchantment, or Sorcery.
- against fond and fantastical Prophecies.
- for Punishment of Perjury by false Witnesses.
- for Relief of the Poor, by weekly AlmsAlmsAlms or almsgiving is a religious rite which, in general, involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue.It exists in a number of religions. In Philippine Regions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor. In Buddhism, alms are given by lay people to monks and nuns to...
in every Parish. - for further Punishment of Vagabonds, calling themselves Egyptians.
- against unlawful Taking of Fish, Deer, Conies or Hawks.
- for unlawful Nets to take Fish in Thamyse.
- for Destruction of Crows, Choughs, Rooks, and other such Vermin.
- touching Buying of Spanish or Ostrich, Wools for Hats or Felts.
- for the Orders and Wages of Servants of Husbandry and Artificers.
- that Cattle, purveyed for the Queen's Household, shall be branded with Pitch.
- that Gifts made by any Person of the Eighth Part of his Goods, within Eight Days before his Death, shall be void.