Sir Thomas, Customer, Smith, 13th Great Grandfather

January 6, 2013 — customs, Smith, Tudor

Sir THOMAS

My 13th great grandfather pissed off the Tudors several times. It appears that the customs office of the queen was privately held somehow, like outsourcing.  Elizabeth I gave him the job of collecting customs fees, but he was taken to court for shortages more than once.  His son, Sir Thomas Smith was instrumental in colonizing the world from the British Isles.  Just like my mother’s  Taylors, these Smiths marry some other Smiths down the line, just to keep everyone guessing.

Sir Thomas SMITH was born 1522 in Weston Hanger, Kent Co, England. He died 7 Jun 1597 in Kent, England. Sir married Alice JUDDE on 1554 in Weston Hanger, Kent Co, England
The Harris and Smith families were interested in the discovery and development of Virginia. He is referred to as “Customer” Smith and rose from obscurity in Queen Elizabeth’s time by marrying the daughter of Sir Andrew Judd, the Lord Mayor, of humble origins himself. THOMAS SMYTHE of Corsham, Wiltsbire, England was born in 1522 and died 7 June 1591 leaving a will. He married ALICE JUDDE, daughter of Sir ANDREW and MARY Mirfyn/Mervyn JUDDE. “Item. I give and bequeath to the children of my sonne in law, WILLIAM HARRIS, Esquire,BR> which he hath or shall beget uppon the bodie of my daughter ALICE, his wife, the like somme of five hundred and fiftie pounds to be equally divided between them. And if any of them shall fortune to decease, then the parts and portion of such as shall decease to remayne and be paid and divided indifferently between the Survivors of them.”
27. Alice JUDDE was born 1535 in Weston Hanger, Kent, England. She died 1593 in England.
ALICE (Judde) SMYTHE, widow of THOMAS, dau of ANDREW and MARY JUDDE, left a will dated 10 July 1592 London, proved 1598 in Prerogative Court of Canterbury. “Item. I bequeath to my daughter HARRIS my Jewell Ringe, an of Diamonds, A table cloth of Damask of the Story of Samyell conteyn inge five yeards in length, A doble Lowell and two dozen of napkins and two chayres of crymson silk taffeta. “Item. I give to her sonne THOMAS HARRIS twentie pounds, and to Arthur, her sonne, tenne pounds to be paid at theire ages of twentie and one yeres. “item. To her daughter Al ice, twentie pounds, And to her daughter Dorathie tenne pounds to be payde to the same daughters at their marriages or ages of twentie and one yeres, whichsoever of the same time shall first happen.”