Sir Stephen Soame

  General Notes:

On 3rd December 1588, Sir Stephen Soame purchased the Manor of Brickendon (Brickendonbury) in Hertfordshire from Edmund Allen of Hatfield in Middlesex, plus other estates for £1,000.

Sir Stephen Soame (1544-1619), who built the first Little Thurlow Hall, was Lord Mayor of London in 1598-1599. It was he who erected the almshouses for 'eight single persons of honest life and conversation', and the old schoolhouse for the teaching of Latin to boys, both of which are now private homes. (Scource: AA website).

He was also a successful merchant in London. He was created a knight batchelor on 25 April 1599 at Greenwich, London.

Sir Stephen and Lady Ann Soame had 11 children and 22 Grandchildren.

The following monumental inscription is in the church of Little Thurlow, in Suffolk, gives the best account of Sir Stephen Soame and of his family :—

Consecrated to the Memory of the Right Worshipful Sr. Stephen Soame K'. Lord Mayor of the Citie of London, in the year of our Lord 1598, and Mayor of the Staple there, almost 20 yeares, who was the Second Son of Thomas Soame, of Botely, alias Betely, in the County of Norfolcke, Gentleman, and Anne, his Wife Daughter and heir of Francis Knighton, of Little Bradley in the County of Suffolcke, Esquyer, and the Widowe of Richard Lehunt, of the said Towne, and County, Gentleman. The said Sir Stephen in his Life-time re-edified and newly Glazed the Great North Window of the Cathedral Church of St.Paul in London. Newly settled and adorned at his own charge, the Roof of Grocers' Hall, in that city, gave to the same Company 10£ to be bestowed weekely in bread upon the poor Prisoners of the Counter in the Poultry of London, for ever. In this Towne of Little Thurlow, erected and buylt a Free School, with 20£ maintenance for a Master, and 10£ for the Usher there, yearly for ever, where he erected and endowed an Almshouse besides for 9 poor people, with maintenance for ever, the maintenance of both places to be paid by annuity, forth of the Mannour of Carleton in Cambridgeshire. He departed this life May 23 being Trinity Sunday, 1619, at the age of threescore and fifteene yeares, at his Mansion house, by him formerly buylt in this Parish of Little Thurlowe.

  Research Notes:

http://www.theaa.com/walks/the-estate-villages-of-thurlow-421043

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Sheriff of London, 1589, London.

• Residence: Lord Mayor of London, 1598, London.

• Occupation: MP, 1601, London.

• Marriage: to Ann Stone.

Sir married Lady Ann Stone, daughter of William Stone and Mary Grey. (Lady Ann Stone was born in 1556 in London, christened on 26 November 1556 in St. Lawrence Jewry, London and died on 20 August 1622 in Thurlow, Suffolk.)