Thomas Tesdale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Tesdale
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Photograph of a Thomas Tesdale portrait, in the Amey Theatre at Abingdon School
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| Born | 1547 Stanford Dingley, Berkshire
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| Died | 13 June 1610 Glympton, Oxfordshire
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| Occupation | Maltster, woad grower and dyer |
| Known for | Benefactor of Abingdon School and Pembroke College, Oxford |
| Spouse(s) | Maud Stone |
Thomas Tesdale (1547–1610) was an important English businessman. He made his money as a maltster, which means he prepared grain for making drinks like beer. Thomas Tesdale was also a generous person who gave a lot of money to help the town of Abingdon and to help start Pembroke College, Oxford, a famous university college.
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Who Was Thomas Tesdale?
Thomas Tesdale was born in 1547 in a place called Stanford Dingley in Berkshire, England. When he was a boy, he went to a school in Abingdon called John Roysse's Free School. This school is now known as Abingdon School.
After finishing school, Thomas Tesdale became very successful in his business. He worked as a maltster, preparing grain. He became quite wealthy in Abingdon.
Tesdale's Life in Abingdon
Thomas Tesdale was a respected member of the Abingdon community. He even served as the Master of Christ's Hospital of Abingdon, which was a charity organization. In 1581, he was chosen to be the mayor of Abingdon. However, he did not serve his full term as mayor.
This was because he had bought a large estate, known as a manor, in Oxfordshire. This estate was called Ludwell. Soon after 1586, he moved to Glympton, a village near Woodstock, Oxfordshire. There, he rented another manor. He continued to be a successful businessman, raising animals and growing a plant called woad. Woad was important because it was used to make blue dye for coloring clothes.
Thomas Tesdale's Generosity
Thomas Tesdale and his wife, Maud Stone, did not have any children. When he passed away in 1610, he decided to use his wealth to help others. He left a large sum of money, £5,000, to support students from Abingdon at Balliol College, Oxford. This money was meant to help seven fellows (senior students or teachers) and six scholars (students) get an education.
Founding Pembroke College
A few years later, in 1623, another generous person named Reverend Richard Wightwick added more money to Tesdale's gift. Instead of using the money for Balliol College, they decided to use it to create a brand new college. They transformed an existing building called Broadgates Hall into a new college.
This new college was named Pembroke College, Oxford. It was named after William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, who was the Chancellor of Oxford University at the time. So, Thomas Tesdale is known as a main founder of Pembroke College because of his very important donation.
Helping Abingdon School
Thomas Tesdale also made sure to help his old school, Roysses School (now Abingdon School). He left money that would be paid every year. This money allowed the school to hire an "Usher," which was like a second master or assistant teacher. This support lasted for many years, from 1610 all the way until 1870. The people who held this position were known as the Tesdale Ushers.
See also
- List of Old Abingdonians
