Thomas Sotherton, Mayor of Norwich

Thomas Sotherton, son of Nicholas & Agnes Sotherton, d. will dated 1583 ( Norwich Consistory Court ); bur. 30 Jul 1583, St. Andrew . W. 1583 N.C.C.; m. Elizabeth Steward , daughter of Augustino & Elizabeth (Read) Steward , bur. 1 Dec 1575, St. Andrew .

Thomas Sotherton was the heir of Hellesdon. He was a grocer. He served as sheriff in 1558; Member of Parliament in 1557; and mayor in 1565.

Family and Education

b. by 1525, 1st s. of Nicholas Sotherton of Norwich by Agnes Wright; bro. of George†. m. Elizabeth, da. of Augustine Steward of Norwich, 4s. 4da. suc. fa. 10 Nov. 1540.1

Offices Held Common councilman, Norwich prob. 1547-54, common speaker 1554, 1555, auditor 1547, 1550, 1555, 1558, 1560, 1569, sheriff 1556-7, alderman 1557-d., mayor 1565-6.2

Biography

Thomas Sotherton, grocer, was admitted to the freedom of Norwich on 22 Dec. 1546 as the son of a citizen and alderman. Under his father’s will of six years before he had been given the reversion of the family house in Norwich on his mother’s death and £100 when he reached the age of 24. His early civic career is liable to confusion with his uncle’s of the same name, but he was probably a councilman from 1547, auditor in that and later years and twice common speaker. At the close of his term as sheriff in 1557, during which he had served with his brother Leonard, he was granted ‘his two free men’, that is, two nominations to the freedom, ‘as is accustomed to the sheriffs’. As sheriff he had to play his part in the Marian persecution.3

Sotherton was connected by marriage with many leading citizens: he and his brother John each married a daughter of Augustine Steward, whose will he was to supervise and who left him £10, and his sister married John Aldrich. It was during Aldrich’s mayoralty that Sotherton was first elected to Parliament. Of his part in that or the succeeding Parliament nothing has come to light. He died in 1583.4

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558 Author: Roger Virgoe Notes

1. Date of birth estimated from admission as freeman. Misc. Gen. et Her. (ser. 5), ix. 129-31; Vis. Norf. (Harl. Soc. xxxii), 269; Blomefield, Norf. iv. 291; PCC 21 Alenger; Norwich consist. ct. 122 Bate.
2. Norwich ass. procs. 2 and 3 passim.
3. Ibid. 2, f. 197v; 3, f. 36; PCC 21 Alenger.
4. PCC 43 Holney; Norwich consist. ct. 122 Bate.

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References

• http://crossedbrushstudio.com/windowsintoourpast/Vol2/sotherton.htm
• Reference: SOTHERTON, Thomas (by 1525-83), of Norwich, Norf.
• An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk ..., Volume 5 By Francis Blomefield Page 1353: Sotherton Pedigree. <GoogleBooks>
• http://www.ludhamarchive.org.uk/sotherton.htm