Thomas Smythe, born in 1522, was the second son[3] of John Smythe (d. 1538) and Joan Brouncker, the daughter of
Robert Brouncker of
Melksham, Wiltshire.[2] John, a substantial
yeoman and clothier of
Corsham,
Wiltshire, left Smythe a farm in the
Hundred of
Amesbury, Wiltshire, that provided an annual income of £20. After his father's death, Smythe moved to London to seek his fortune; Smythe was approximately 16 at the time.[3]
During the reign of
Mary I of England, Smythe purchased the Office of the Customs from one Mr. Cocker for £2,500. He was confirmed in his appointment at the Customs on the accession of
Elizabeth I in 1558, and he continued in the office for 11 years. In 1567, he appears to have incurred her Majesty's severe displeasure, having been accused of issuing privy warrants leading to a £6,000 loss; his friend
William Cecil, Lord Burghley, intervened and helped Smythe escape imprisonment. Cecil persuaded the Queen to be lenient, arguing that if Smythe was allowed more time he would repay this loss.[5]
Elizabeth began to require larger and larger fines to renew Smythe's leases in order to replenish her exchequer. Over time, Smythe became unable to meet these demands and again fell under her Majesty's severe displeasure. His October 1589 counteroffer of a more modest payment was rejected. Due to his increasing infirmities and perhaps the stress of trying to meet the Queen's demands, Smythe died 18 months later, on 7 June 1591, leaving his widow, then 60 years old, 6 sons and 6 daughters.[6]
Sir Thomas Smythe (1558–1625),[10] who married firstly, Judith Culverwell, the daughter of Richard Culverwell; secondly Joan Hobbs, the daughter of William Hobbs; and thirdly, Sarah Blount, the daughter of William Blount. He had no issue by his first two marriages; by his third marriage he had three sons and a daughter. His widow, Sarah, married
Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester.[11]
Henry Smythe[10] of
Corsham (d. before 1591) married Elizabeth Owen (daughter of Thomas Owen, Justice of the Peace).[citation needed]
Sir Richard Smythe[10] (d. 1628), also said to have been of
Leeds Castle, who married firstly Elizabeth Scott, the daughter of
Sir Thomas Scott (and widow of John Knatchbull), and in 1589 married Jane White (daughter of John White of London, widow of Samuel Thornhill).[citation needed]
Sir Robert Smythe of Leeds Castle, fourth son, who married Elizabeth Scott, the daughter of
Thomas Scott of
Scott's Hall,
Kent.[12]
Symon Smythe, killed at the
siege of Cadiz in 1596.[10] Also said to be of
Highgate, and to have married Ann Lynford (daughter of William Lynford).[citation needed]
Elizabeth Smythe, who was unmarried at the time of Smythe's death in 1591,[10] and later married
Sir Henry Fanshawe (son of Thomas Fanshawe who married secondly Sir Henry's wife's sister).
Mary Smythe, who married Robert Davy[10] or Davis of London, Receiver for Wales.[citation needed]
Joan Smythe, who married
Thomas Fanshawe, Esquire of Ware Park (d. 1601).
Katherine Smythe, who married, at age sixteen,
Sir Rowland Hayward,
Lord Mayor of London in 1571,[10] then Sir
John Scott (1570-1616) of Nettlestead, Kent, son of Sir Thomas Scott of Scot's Hall in Kent and Elizabeth Baker of
Sissinghurst; her mural monument survives in Nettlestead Church. Thirdly to Sir Richard Sandys.[citation needed]
Ursula Smythe, who married William Butler.[10] Also said to have married Simon Harding of London, then secondly marrying
William Boteler (Butler) of Bedford.[citation needed]