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EGLESTON, Thomas (c.1557-c.1608), of Winchelsea, Suss.
Available from Boydell and Brewer
Constituency
Dates
Family and Education
b. c.1557, 1st s. of William Egleston† of Winchelsea by Margaret, da. of James Blenchendon of Kent. m. (1) Susan ?Hales, at least 1 da.; (2) aft. Feb. 1595, Mary, 7th da. of George Woodward of Upton, Bucks., at least 1s. 1da. suc. fa. 1579.1
Offices Held
Jurat, Winchelsea 1585, dep. mayor 1588-9, mayor 1589-90, 1590-1, 1593-4, 1594-5, dep. mayor 1595-6, mayor 1596-7; brodhull rep. at least twice bet. 1586 and 1597; bailiff to Yarmouth ?1594.2
Biography
At his election to Parliament in 1586, Egleston, unlike his fellow-Member, promised to serve without wages. As a burgess for a Cinque Port he was on a committee about fish, 6 Mar. 1587. He was re-elected in February 1604 but, when the warden of the Cinque Ports took offence at not being offered a nomination, the town assembly, ‘upon Mr. Thomas Egleston’s willing resignation’, returned his nominee instead. Egleston had already sent his luggage in advance by sea, and the corporation paid him compensation.3
In his will, made 9 Sept. 1605, Egleston made his second wife executrix and residuary legatee, leaving her all his real estate, with remainder to his son Edward. His two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, were to have portions of 100 marks each, and so was an unborn son or daughter; he hoped that some of these funds could be realised by recovery of the dowry which his first wife should have brought. In the absence of an inquisition post mortem the exact date of Egleston’s death is unknown. His will was proved 14 June 1608.4