General Notes

THOMAS ALDRICH

Cozene, Hardy and Kent's "The Mayors of Norwich, 1403-1835" say that Thomas Aldrich was a draper (i.e., a cloth merchant) and was Sheriff of Norwich in 1497 and Mayor in 1507 and 1516. [This would place his birth date at 1473 rather than the 1489 as indicated below.] See below for an account of the city politics in which Thomas Aldrich was involved.

Other Norwich, Norfolk records collected by Connie Service say he was born c. 1489 and was Mayor of Norwich in 1516, and married Elizabeth Wood [Cozene, Hardy and Kent say he married Elizabeth Clark, the daughter of sheriff Gregory Clark]. LDS Ancestral File supplied earlier birth date, marriage date, wife's birth date, and husband's death date. The LDS IGI says he was born around 1472 in Greater Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Quotes from Cozene, Hardy and Kent: The Mayors of Norwich, 1403-1835:

"Thomas Aldrich, a draper, was sheriff in 1497 and mayor in 1507 and 1516. During both years of his mayoralty he went to London on city business. His merchant's mark (dated 1510) is recorded by Ewing. His father and grandfather, each named William, had been bailiffs of Yarmouth. There is some confusion in the pedigree in the Herald's Visitations, but it seems that he married once only, namely Elizabeth daughter of Gregory Clark (sheriff 1477).

Among his issue were Thomas, mayor in 1558 and Margaret "whiche died in hir floryiching youthe" in 1535 and was buried in Yelverton. His eldest son was Gregory and his daughter Anne married Ralf Wilkins, mayor in 1527. He resided in the parish of St. Michael-at-Plea, and owned property in Ber Street and in Swardeston (Mangreen Hall), Dunston and Hemlyngton. He died between January 1528-9 and the following July and was buried in the Lady Chapel in St. Michael-at-Plea. His will was proved in the P.C.C."

"Thomas Codde was one of the most worthy men that ever served the office of mayor. He was sheriff in 1540 and mayor in 1549. He was again chosen on Michaelmas Day 1555 on the death of Felix Puttock, the then mayor. He took his charge on the Sunday before Midsummer Day 1549. He, with Thomas Aldrich, signed the petition of grievances, organized by Kett, and he was therefore in favour with the rebels, when they encamped round about the city. But the city was his first care and he denied them passage and urged them to moderation.

Kett, however, imprisoned Codde and Aldrich in Mount Surrey on Saint Leonard's hill, but afterwards released Codde. The citizens feared that the rebels would destroy him, for they cried: "Let us come together tomorrow, for we shall see a cod's head sold in the camp for a penny." However, he spent most of his time in the camp, and appointed Augustine Steward his deputy. It is said that when Kett demanded the keys of the city, Codde answered: "I will give the blood and and life out of my body before I will by villany treacherously forsake the city, or through fear or cowardice wickedly cast off my allegiance to my king." This great rebellion having at length been ended, he retired to live in his house in King Street, which stood opposite the church of the Greyfriars and was, about 1860, occupied by Thomas Lound. In 1936 it was the residence of Walter Riley, Lord Mayor."
Source: Ancestry.com, Linda Harmon, Lancaster Sowell & Related Families.