Thomas Madox facts for kids

Thomas Madox (born 1666 – died January 13, 1727) was an important historian and expert on old legal documents. He was well-known for studying and publishing medieval records and official papers. His most famous work was History of the Exchequer, which explored how the government's money department, called the Exchequer, worked from the time of the Norman Conquest up to the reign of King Edward II. This book became a standard guide for anyone studying English history from the Middle Ages. From 1708 until his death, he held a special job called Historiographer Royal, which meant he was the official historian for the King or Queen.

Madox's Life and Work

Thomas Madox was born in 1666. From a young age, he focused on studying law. He joined the Middle Temple, which is one of the places where lawyers are trained in London, but he never became a practicing lawyer. He worked as an official clerk in the Lord Treasurer's office, which was like a government archive. Later, he became a joint clerk in the Augmentation Office, which managed the King's lands and money.

While working there, he continued his historical research with the support of Lord Somers. Madox first became known as an author in 1702 when he published Formulare Anglicanum. This book was about old official papers and charters. Madox included a very detailed introduction about the topic. He found most of the information for this book in the archives of the Augmentation Office. People at the time said this book was "of unspeakable service" (meaning incredibly helpful) for students of law and history. In January 1708, Madox was chosen to be a member of the Society of Antiquaries, a group dedicated to studying history.

In 1711, he published his most famous book, History of the Exchequer. He dedicated it to the Queen and wrote a long letter to Lord Somers, explaining how he found all the information for the book by researching public records. On July 12, 1714, Madox was officially appointed Historiographer Royal, taking over from Thomas Rymer. This important job came with a salary of £200 a year.

The last book Madox published during his lifetime was Firma Burgi. This book was about early records concerning English towns and boroughs. He dedicated it to King George I, and it was published in 1723. Thomas Madox passed away on January 13, 1727, and was buried in Arlesey, Bedfordshire. Robert Stephens took over his role as Historiographer Royal.

After he died, another one of his books, Baronia Anglica, was published in 1736. This book was about the history and records of feudal barons, who were powerful landowners in medieval times. Madox's wife later gave a large collection of his notes and copies of records to the British Museum. This collection included ninety-four volumes of his work, mostly extracts from records of the Exchequer, the Patent and Close Rolls (which were official government records), and other important libraries. Madox had copied all these documents himself, planning to use them for a huge "Feudal History of England" that would cover everything from the earliest times.

Family Life

Thomas Madox was married to Catharine, who was the daughter of Vigarus Edwards. They did not have any children.

Madox's Books

Here are some of the important books Thomas Madox wrote:

• Formulare Anglicanum, or a Collection of Antique Charters and Instruments of divers kinds, taken from the Originals, placed under several Heads, and deduced (in a Series according to the Order of Time) from the Norman Conquest to the End of the Reign of King Henry VIII. London, 1702. This book collected and organized many old official papers and documents from the Norman Conquest up to the time of King Henry VIII.
• History and Antiquities of the Exchequer of the Kings of England ... from the Norman Conquest to the End of the Reign of ... Edward II, London, 1711. This was his major work about the history of the Exchequer, the government's money department. It covered the period from the Norman Conquest to the end of King Edward II's reign. The book also included a copy of the Dialogue concerning the Exchequer (De Scaccario), which is an old text about how the Exchequer worked. Madox also added his own Latin essay about the Great Roll of the Exchequer (the Pipe rolls), which were detailed financial records.
• An account of all the gold and silver coins ever used in England: particularly of their value, fineness, and allay, and the standards of gold and silver in all the respective reigns for the last six hundred years: likewise of it's plenty and scarcity, London, 1718. This book looked at the history of gold and silver coins used in England, including their value and how pure they were.
• Firma Burgi, or an Historical Essay concerning the Cities, Towns, and Boroughs of England, taken from Records, London, 1723. This book was an essay about the history of cities, towns, and boroughs in England, based on old records.
• Baronia Anglica; an History of Land-honours and Baronies, and of Tenure in capite Verified by Records, London, 1736. This book, published after his death, was a history of land ownership and the system of feudal barons, using official records to prove the information.