Thomas Stoughton, Reverend

Notes:

Dissident Preacher and Writer. Fellow of Queens College, Cambridge.

Stoughton matriculated pensioner from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1573, received his B.A. from Queens College 1577, his M.A. 1580. He was ordained deacon and priest at Lincoln Cathedral on Feb. 13, 1582, and was brought to the attention of Robert, 3rd Lord Rich by John Butler of Thoby Priory, Essex, and continued to benefit from Rich's patronage for many years. He was rector of Naughton from 1586 until 1594, at which time he was made curate of Great Burstead, Essex. He published A general treatise against poperie, and in defence of the religion by publike avthoritie professed in England and other churches reformed (Cambridge, 1598), which was dedicated to Lord Rich. In 1600 he was instituted vicar at Coggeshall at Lord Rich's presentation, but due to his nonconformity he was admonished by Bishop Richard Vaughan and deprived of Coggeshall by the High Commission in 1606. Despite being removed from his living it was reported in 1606 that he 'doeth often expound the Word in his deske'. In 1610 at Great Totham, Essex, he signed the dedicatory epistle to his work The dignitie of Gods children. By 1616 he had returned to his native Sandwich, where he remained living in poverty until his death. He continued to expound on his beliefs, publishing Two Profitable Treatises in 1616, followed up in 1622 with The Christians Sacrifice, a text of some 251 pages, which was dedicated to his patron, who had since purchased the title Earl of Warwick. He signed the dedicatory epistle to this on 20 Aug. 1622 from 'my poore lodging in the poor Hospitall called S. Bartholomewes by Sandwich in Kent', and further stated he was now 'ready to be dissolved, and to laye down my earthly Tabernacle...the time of my departing being at hand...' Two days later he appended the work with The Authors postscript to his Children as it were his Last Will and Testament unto them.

At the end of his life he recalled being present at Hampton Court 43 years earlier, where he heard ministers preaching before Queen Elizabeth.

In 1606 Stoughton was a legatee, along with others, in the will of Timothy Saint Nicholas, who 'moste humblie thanckinge them for their faithefull endeavor and for their earnest labour and paines for the instruction of my conscience and the consciences of many men in the knowledge of Gods truthe and relligion'. Described as 'a silenced preacher', he received a bequest in the 1610 will of Alice Wade of Bildeston, Suffolk, and in 1612 was mentioned in the will of his first cousin Thomas Stoughton of St Paul's Parish, Canterbury. In the 1619 will of Charles Eure, esquire, fourth son of William, 2nd Lord Eure, Stoughton being described as of St Bartholomews in Sandwich, Kent, received the generous bequest of £10.

Thomas married Katherine Evelyn Montpesson in 1585 in Naughton, Suffolk, England. Katherine was born in 1564 in Naughton, Suffolk, England; died on 18 Apr 1603 in Naughton, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Christian Stoughton was born in 1578 in Coggeshall, Essex, England; died on 19 Apr 1659 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
2. Mary Stoughton was born in 1586 in Naughton, Suffolk, England; died on 17 Dec 1591 in Naughton, Suffolk, England.
3. Thomas Stoughton was born on 9 Jul 1588 in Naughton, Suffolk, England; died on 25 Mar 1661 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
4. Abigail Stoughton was born in 1590.
5. Elizabeth Anne Stoughton Scudder Chamberlaine was born in 1591 in Naughton, Suffolk, England; died in 1647 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA.
6. Nicholas Stoughton was born on 20 Sep 1592 in Stoughton, Surrey, England; died on 4 Mar 1648 in Stoughton, Surrey, England.
7. John D Stoughton was born on 23 Jan 1594 in Naughton, Suffolk, England; died on 4 May 1639 in London, London, England.
8. Annie Stoughton was born in 1595 in Naughton, Surrey, England; died in 1691 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.
9. Judith Stoughton was born on 3 Jul 1599 in Coggeshall, Essex, England; died on 18 Mar 1639 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA.
10. Israel Stoughton was born on 18 Feb 1603 in Coggeshall, Essex, England; died on 1 Jul 1644 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: , , , USA

Notes:

Francis left a will on 28 July 1551 at Sandwich, Kent, England. He provided for his wife, his only son, Thomas and his sister Alice. He bequeathed to his son, Thomas, more than 3 pounds yearly to keep him in school. He left is brother, Thomas Stoughton of St Martin's Canterbury, his lands, tenements, etc. until his son reached 21. He asked to be buried in the chancel of St John's in the Church of St Peter, Sandwich. He died between 28 July 1551 and 30 Sep 1557 when his estate was probated at Sandwich.

Francis married Agnes Tringall. Agnes was born in 1535 in Naughton, Suffolk, England; died in 1557 in Naughton, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Edward married Mary Exhurst. Mary was born in 1505 in Ash, Kent, England; died in 1550 in Ash, Kent, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]