Thomas Stedman the elder

     Thomas Stedman the elder was of Biddenden, Kent, England.² He was the son of Gilbert Stedman and Tomasyn (—?—) (Stedman).¹ He married Elizabeth Fuller on 7 May 1548 at All Saints Church, Biddenden, Kent.^2,3,4 A Thomas Stedman was buried on 5 November 1557 in Biddenden.^2,3,4 However, he is probably the Thomas Stedman who was buried there 4 December 1564 as administration on his estate was granted to his widow in February following.^2,5,4
     
     The tax lists show him to have been the most prosperous member of the family. It is very difficult to tell which entries in the parish registers refer to Thomas the elder and which to Thomas the younger, as only once, in the baptismal entry of Gilbert Stedman, son of Thomas the elder, is any distinction made between the two brothers.² There are probably several other children whose identity is uncertain, among them probably a daughter who married John Johnson.²

     Thomas was named in his father's will of 2 April 1546 in Biddenden, Kent,: "To John Stedman, Richard Stedman, Nichas Stedman, and Thomas Stedman the elder 6s. 8d. apiece."⁶

     Administration on the estate of Thomas Stedman was granted to _____, the relict, on 21 February 1564/65 at Biddenden. Stephen Bateman of Biddenden, clothier, and John Warden, of the same, clothier, bondsmen in £20.⁷