Smyth, Thomas, Sir, 1st Baronet (1602 -1668)

Identified by W.Y. Fletcher as Sir Thomas Smith (1512-1577), Secretary of State to Edward VI and Elizabeth I, but more likely to be Sir Thomas, the third, but second surviving, son of Sir William Smith, of Hill Hall, Essex, and Bridget, daughter of Thomas Fleetwood, of the Vache, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire. In 1631 he succeeded his elder brother, Sir William, to the family estates. High Sheriff of Essex in the same year, he was created a baronet 28 November 1661. He married, firstly, in 1632, Johan, daughter of Sir Edward Altham, of Mark Hall, Essex. She died 14 July 1658, and he married, secondly, in 1664, Beatrice, daughter of Francis Annesley, Viscount Valentia, and widow of Sir John Lloyd, 1st Baronet. Sir Thomas's great grandfather, John Smith of Saffron Walden, married about 1508, Agnes, daughter and heir of the ancient family of Charnock in Lancashire.