Thomas of Chobham in Surrey

Thomas of Chobham

● ROBERT THOMAS, probably the Gunner of St.Katherine by the Tower of London whose will was pr. 15th June 1566, was father of

● SAMUEL THOMAS, Master Gunner of England. He mar. JOAN, daughter of ANTHONY FENROTHER of London and Chobham in Surrey, also sometime a Master Gunner who was stationed at Upnor Castle in Kent. Samuel died in 1573. His widow died on 12th December 1638 aged 90, and there is a floor-slab commemorating her in the chancel of Chobham Church. They left a son,

● Sir ANTHONY THOMAS of Chobham. After spending much time in debtors prison, he obtained some wealth by becoming heavily involved in the venture of draining the Great Level fen along with his father-in-law Sir William Ayloffe. This was hardly a glorious deed, for they did little more than seize the drainage works built by the local population, then sell off the surrounding land for their own gain. About 1615 he mar. MARY dau. of Sir WILLIAM AYLOFFE, 1st Baronet of Great Braxted in Essex by his 1st wife, CATHERINE dau. and heiress of THOMAS STERNE of Meldreth in Cambridgeshire. He died on 7th May 1641. His will was pr. 5th February 1648. His widow died on 25th August 1658. There is a floor-slab commemorating them in Chobham Church. They had a son and daughter,

Anthony Thomas, of whom presently.
MARY, wife of the Rev. RICHARD MILWARD, Rector of Great Braxted in Essex and Canon of Windsor. They had issue one daughter and heiress,

MARY MILWARD, born about 1658. On 9th June 1682 at St.Nicholas Cole Abbey in London she married Sir ANTHONY ABDY, 2nd Baronet of Felix Hall in Essex. They had 12 children (see ABDY).

The only son,
● Anthony Thomas of Chobham, was born about 1615. He matric. at New Inn Hall Oxford on 4th November 1631 aged 16. B.A. 13th February 1633. He was admitted to Grays Inn in 1650. A Justice of the Peace. He mar. 1stly Elizabeth, widow of John Hare of Abbotley in Huntingdonshire and dau. and heir of David Hopkins of London, but they had no issue. He married 2ndly at St.Giles in Surrey (mar. lic. 15th May 1678) Anne daughter of Erasmus Gainsford of Crowhurst in Surrey by his wife Elizabeth Dayne. Anne died in 1689 and was buried in linen in Chobham Church. Anthony died on 25th December 1696. His will pr. 17th June 1697. They had issue

1. Anthony Thomas, elder son and heir, born about 1680. He died unmarried on 17th June 1701. His will pr. 3rd November 1701. He was succeeded in his estates by his younger brother,
2. Gainsford Thomas, born about 1683/4. He matriculated at Merton College Oxford on 25th May 1699 aged 15. A student of the Middle Temple in 1700. He died unmarried on 15th May 1721 leaving his estate at Chobham to his cousin, Mary Milward, wife of Sir Anthony Abdy (see above).
1. Anne Thomas, born about 1678. She probably died young.