Thomas Mallet, MP

Family and Education b. 31 May 1546, 1st s. of Richard Mallett of Currypool by Elizabeth, da. of Sir Andrew Luttrell of Dunster Castle. educ. I. Temple 1560. m. by June 1566, Elizabeth, da. of Humphrey Colles†, half-sis. of John Colles, Mallett’s co-Member for Minehead, at least 2s. 2da. suc. fa. 1551.1

Offices Held

J.p. Som. by Sept. 1574,2 sheriff 1576-7.

Biography A ward of the lord chamberlain, Sir Thomas Darcy†, 1st Baron Darcy of Chiche, Mallett inherited large estates in Somerset, with property at Dewdon and South Molton in Devon, Wraxhall in Wiltshire, and Shirehampton and elsewhere in Gloucestershire. At the 1569 Somerset musters he was heavily assessed for the provision of armour, and in addition supplied three horses, two from Currypool park, where he was keeper. His return to the 1571 Parliament was no doubt due to his mother’s relatives the Luttrells, who owned Dunster Castle near Minehead, and were patrons of the borough.3

Mallett’s name occurs in only a few scattered references before his premature death. In November 1578 the Privy Council ordered him to help his step-father Sir George Speake to settle a dispute involving a local attorney, Richard Cornish, and he was one of the three justices who in the following summer were asked to prevent the Taunton clothiers from disobeying the law by exploiting weavers and tuckers.4

Mallett died either 15 or 16 Oct. 1580. The will he made on his deathbed was proved 1 Feb. following. He left £1,000, plate and cattle, to his wife; 1,000 marks to each of his two daughters at their marriages or 18th birthdays; and £500, as well as lands in Gloucestershire and Somerset, to his younger son George. The heir, John, who was only about seven years old, was named as sole executor, with Sir George Speake, ‘my brother John Colles’ and two others as overseers. For some reason the taking of the inquisition post mortem was delayed for six years.5

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603 Author: N. M. Fuidge Notes 1. Wards 7/6/3, 27, 55; Vis. Som. ed. Weaver, 43, 45-6; PCC 4 Darcy, 24 Holney. 2. Som. Rec. Soc. li. 83. 3. CPR, 1550-3, p. 312; Wards 7/6/3, 27, 55; Som. Rec. Soc. xx. 248, 252. 4. APC, x. 406; xi. 126. 5. PCC 4 Darcy; C142/210/114, 214/233. The two inquisitions post mortem differ as to whether he died on 15 or 16 Oct. The will was drawn up on the first of these dates.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=hayes%2Dd...

Name: Thomas MALET Given Name: Thomas Surname: MALET Suffix: of Enmore Name: Mallett Sex: M Birth: EST 1548 in Enmore, Somerset, England 1 2 Death: ABT 1580 in Enmore, Somerset, England 1 2 1 3 2 4 5

Father: Richard MALET b: 1523 in Enmore, Somerset, England Mother: Elizabeth LUTTRELL b: EST 1523

Marriage 1 Elizabeth COLLES b: EST 1548 in Barton

   Married: EST 1572 1 3

   Note:

Excerpt from "Notices of an English Branch of the Malet Family", by Arthur Malet, published 1885, pp 45, appendices R1-3:
THOMAS MALET OF ENMORE AND DEANDON.
Thomas Malet, son and heir of Richard Malet and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Andrew Luttrell. Thomas Malet succeeded his father, who died in 1552. As his father's first wife was alive in 1547-8, his son Thomas must have been very young at the time of his father's decease.
Thomas Malet was Sheriff of Somerset in 1576; he married* Elizabeth, daughter of Humphrey Colles of Barton and his wife Elizabeth; they had four children:
1. John Malet, afterwards knighted.

       2. George Malet.

       3. Dorothy, married first to Sir Thomas Palmer,** who died in Spain, second to Sir Ralph Gray.

       4. Mary, married Arthur Hatch, who, born in 1557, died June 7th , 1625.

George Malet received a license, 42 Elizabeth, A.D. 1600, to alienate lands in East Pennard, Ditcheat, and Wotton, Somerset, to William Malet and Edward White, gents.
As Thomas Malet's will,*** in which he enumerates many of his manors, was proved in 1580-1, he could not have been more than thirty years of age at his death.
* From the Rev. F. Brown's Extracts.
Humphry Colles of Barton, Somerset, June 10, 1565.[Crynaer, 24.] My wife Elisabth--My son John Colles--My daughter Philippa--marriage had between Thomas Malet, Esq. and Elisabeth Colles my daughter--My daughter Jane, etc.--My sons Amos Poulett and Thomas Malet, etc. May 3, 1571.
** Sir Thomas Palmer of Fairfield, Somerset, deceased, 1605-6. Feb. 8. Administration granted to Lady Dorothy Palmer relict. He died in partibus ultra maribus.
*** [Darcy, 4.] To my son John Malet my chayne of gold and all my household stuffe; my wife to have the occupation of them during her life; she to be under obligation of £500 to leave the same and the value to him--To my wife L1,000 and jewels and plate, and the tenement called Quantock in the parish of Spaxton--To everie of my two daughters 1,000 marks at 18 or marriage. If they die, then to my son John Malet -- 500 marks to my son George -- £20 to the poor -- My son John executor, my father-in-law Sir John Speke, Knight [who had married his mother] -- My brother John Colles, Esq., my brother Pymme, Esq., and George Dodington of Dodington, overseers -- To my son George Malet my house and demaine of Shirehampton, he paying to my heirs £4 yearly, and lands in Pennard -- to my wife my house and Demayne of Corypoole and lands called Swingdon and Padnaller during her widowhood.
Until my son John Malet come to 21 my overseers shall receive rents, etc., of my Manors of Aysserberte, Oke, Lydeard, Shirehampton, Laurence Weston, Wraxhall, Pennard, Charlinch, Dowdon, and Coursely, and after the death of my wife of the Manors of Enmore, Sutton, etc., until my eldest son is 21. Witness, Alexander Pym, etc.
Proved by John Coles, Alexander Pym, and George Dodington, overseers, during the minority of John Malet. Feb. 1, 1580-1. 6
Children

   Has Children John MALET b: EST 1573 in Enmore, Somerset, England

Has No Children George MALET b: EST 1575 in Enmore, Somerset, England
Has No Children Dorothy MALET b: EST 1577 in Enmore, Somerset, England
Has Children Mary MALET b: EST 1579 in Enmore, Somerset, England
Sources:

   Author: Arthur Malet

   Title: Notices of an English Branch of the Malet Family

   Abbrev: Family History, Malet

   Publication: Harrison & Sons, St. Martin's Lane, London, England, MDCCCLXXXV (1885)

   Repository:

       Name: Unknown

       Note:

       Record originated in...

       Date: 27 JAN 2009

   Note:

   Record originated in...

   Date: 28 JAN 2009

   Page: p. 45

   Author: Arthur Malet

   Title: Notices of an English Branch of the Malet Family

   Abbrev: Family History, Malet

   Publication: Harrison & Sons, St. Martin's Lane, London, England, MDCCCLXXXV (1885)

   Repository:

       Name: Unknown

       Note:

       Record originated in...

       Date: 26 JAN 2009

   Note:

   Record originated in...

   Date: 27 JAN 2009

   Page: p. 45

   Title: ThomasMALET.ged

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   Merged 27/01/2009 06:17

   Date: 27 JAN 2009

   Note: Record originated in...

   Title: Baldwin Malet descendants.ged

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   Merged 26/01/2009 21:17

   Date: 26 JAN 2009

   Note: Record originated in...

   Title: File (merged): C:\Users\Nick\Documents\Elizabeth Speke ancestors.ged

   Note:

   Merged 09/01/2009 01:37

   Date: 27 JAN 2009

   Note: Record originated in...

   Author: Arthur Malet

   Title: Notices of an English Branch of the Malet Family

   Abbrev: Family History, Malet

   Publication: Harrison & Sons, St. Martin's Lane, London, England, MDCCCLXXXV (1885)

   Repository:

       Name: Unknown

       Note:

       Record originated in...

       Date: 27 JAN 2009

   Note:

   Record originated in...

   Date: 28 JAN 2009

   Page: pp 45