September 4 – Sir Thomas Paston

On this day in Tudor history, 4th September 1550, Sir Thomas Paston, gentleman of the privy chamber in the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, died.

Paston was a member of the famous Paston family of Norfolk.

Paston had named his wife Agnes as executrix, and their four-year-old son, Henry, was his heir.

Here are some facts about Sir Thomas Paston:

• Paston's birthdate is unknown, but he had been born by 1517 and was the fourth son of Sir William Paston of Caister and Oxnead, Norfolk, and his wife, Bridget, daughter of Sir Henry Heydon of Baconsthorpe, Norfolk.
• By 1538, Paston was serving King Henry VIII as a gentleman of the privy chamber.
• In 1541, he was appointed keeper of the armoury at Greenwich.
• In 1542, Paston was made steward and constable of Castle Rising in Norfolk.
• By 1544, he had married Agnes Leigh, daughter of Sir John Leigh of Stockwell, Surrey. They went on to have two sons and one daughter: Henry, Edward and Catherine. Agnes was pregnant with Edward when Paston died.
• In 1544, Paston accompanied King Henry VIII on his French campaign and he was knighted in 1545 for his service during the capture of Boulogne.
• Also in 1545, Paston was appointed steward of the Essex manors of Navestock, Pyrgo and Stapleford, and was a Member of Parliament for Norfolk.
• In 1547, he was made steward of the Duchy of Lancaster in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and served as a Justice of the Peace for Norfolk.
• In 1549, he served with William Parr, Marquess of Northampton, in putting down the rebels of Kett's Rebellion in Norfolk.
• Paston made his will on 7th October, adding to it on 4th September, the day of his death.

Also on this day in Tudor history...

Notes and Sources

• PASTON, Sir Thomas (by 1517-50), of London. - History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
• Riordan, M. (2012, May 24). Henry VIII, privy chamber of (act. 1509–1547). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 2 Sep. 2023, from https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-70825.