Thomas Owen (died 1598)

Thomas Owen (died 21 December 1598) was an English judge and politician.

Owen was first son of Richard Owen, merchant of Shrewsbury by Mary, daughter of Thomas Otley of Salop. He was educated at Oxford University, (variously stated to have been at Christ Church or Broadgates Hall), gaining a B.A. in 1559. He entered Lincoln's Inn in 1562, and was called to the Bar in 1570.

He served at his Inn of Court as Bencher in 1579, marshal 1582-3, keeper of the Black Book 1586-7, and treasurer 1588-9.

From about 1583 he was a J.P. for Shropshire and other counties. He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Shrewsbury in 1584, and later Recorder of the borough in 1588-92; promoted serjeant-at-law in 1589, and Queen’s serjeant in 1593; member of the Council in the Marches of Wales 1590; ultimately justice of the common pleas in 1595.

Although Owen bought the manor of Condover, near Shrewsbury, in 1586, and built a fine red sandstone house there which was completed in 1598, he does not seem to have lived in it himself. Contrary to legend, it had not been granted him by Queen Elizabeth I, but was purchased from the previously owning family, the Vynars, having previously leased it from 1578. He also bought or leased estates in Montgomeryshire and Essex.

Owen was twice married: first, to Sarah, daughter of Humphrey Baskerville, having by her 5 sons and 5 daughters; second, to Alice, daughter of Thomas Wilkes of London, and widow of William Elkin, alderman of London, and of Henry Robinson, brewer of London. The latter survived him, and lived to found Dame Alice Owen's School in Islington in 1613, the year she died.

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