Thomas Denys

Sir Thomas Denys (c.1477–1561) of Holcombe Burnell, near Exeter, Devon, was a prominent lawyer who served as Sheriff of Devon nine times between 1507/8 to 1553/4 and as MP for Devon. He acquired large estates in Devon at the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

He was the son and heir of Sir Thomas Denys (d.1498) of Holcombe Burnell by his wife Joan (alias Janera) Loveday, daughter of Philip Loveday of Sneston in Suffolk.

Sir Thomas is notorious as having supervised in Exeter, in his capacity as Sheriff of Devon, the burning at the stake of the Protestant martyr Thomas Benet in January 1531/2. The burning took place outside the eastern side of the city walls, near the Livery Dole where in 1592 his son Sir Robert Dennis (d.1592) commenced the building of an almshouse, possibly an act of atonement for his father's action.

He married twice:

His eldest son was Sir Robert Denys (d.1592), MP for Devon in 1555 and Sheriff of Devon, who acquired the manor of Bicton, on the other side of Exeter (i.e. the eastern side) to Holcombe Burnell. It is likely that the Easter Sepulchre in the church is his tomb and monument.

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