Thomas Minors facts for kids

Thomas Minors (born October 16, 1609 – died September 1677) was an English businessman and politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like a part of today's Parliament, at different times between 1654 and 1660.

Early Life and Local Roles

Thomas Minors was the only son of Robert Minors and Gertrude Hunt. He grew up in a time when England was going through big changes, including the English Civil War.

He became a draper, which means he sold cloth and fabrics, in the city of Lichfield. He was also involved in local government. From 1642 to 1643, he served as the sheriff of Lichfield. A sheriff was an important local official, responsible for keeping order and carrying out laws.

Even though the city of Lichfield was controlled by people who supported the King during the Civil War, Thomas Minors did not join the fighting. He was a Presbyterian, a type of Protestant Christian, and he likely supported the Parliament's side in the war.

He held several other important jobs in his community:

• From 1647 to 1652, he was a commissioner for assessment, helping to collect taxes.
• From 1648 to 1649, he was a bailiff, another local official.
• In 1653, he became a commissioner for poor prisoners, working to help people in jail who couldn't afford to pay their debts.
• He also became a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Staffordshire, which meant he helped keep the peace and dealt with minor legal cases, until 1660.

A Member of Parliament

Thomas Minors became a national politician when he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Lichfield in 1654. He served in the First Protectorate Parliament. He was re-elected as an MP for Lichfield in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament.

He continued to serve in various roles, including:

• Being a commissioner for assessment again in 1657.
• Serving as bailiff again from 1657 to 1658.
• Working as a commissioner for assessment from 1660 to 1661.
• Becoming a commissioner for the militia (local armed forces) in 1660.

In 1660, he faced a challenge in the election for MP, but he eventually won his seat back after a special review. He continued to be a commissioner for assessment until he passed away.

Because he was a Presbyterian, Thomas Minors faced some challenges. In 1669, he had to explain himself to the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the King, because he was holding religious meetings in his home. Later, his house was officially allowed to be used for Presbyterian worship under a special rule called the Declaration of Indulgence.

Founding a School

One of Thomas Minors' most lasting contributions was his work in education. In 1670, he started a school in Lichfield for 30 boys from poor families. He wanted these boys to learn to read English. He even provided a house on Bore Street in Lichfield for the school.

He continued to support this school until his death in 1677. In his will, he made sure the school would continue. He left property and land to provide money for the school, so that 30 poor boys could always be "taught to read English until they could well read the bible." This shows how much he cared about helping children get an education.

Family and Legacy

Thomas Minors passed away at the age of 67. He was buried in St Mary's church in Lichfield on September 30, 1677.

He was married twice. His first wife was Sarah Burnes, and they had a son. After Sarah died in 1667, he married Dorothy Jesson.

Thomas Minors is remembered not just as a politician and businessman, but also as someone who cared deeply about his community and believed in the power of education for all children.