According to Threlfall’s GMC50395, Thomas Blower, “a tanner of Lavenham, Suffolk, England, came from a family that had lived nearby for many generations.” Threlfall identifies a number of possible ancestors and relations of Thomas, but the exact connections among them are not established. Threlfall continues: “Thomas Blower married first, on 10 August 1574 at Long Melford, Suffolk, Alice Sparpointe. She died in 1581, and he married secondly, on 27 February 1581/2 at Bildeston, Susan Vincent, daughter of Andrew and Alice Vincent of Bildeston. Alice was born about 1560. [“Alice” in this last sentence must refer to Alice Sparpointe, not Alice Vincent, but this would mean Alice Sparpointe married Thomas Blower when she was about 14 years old.]

“[p. 82] On 28 September 1597, sick and knowing that death was near, he made his will and died, probably the next day. He was buried at Lavenham on 1 October 1597. Except for the religious preamble, his will is given in full below. No further record of Susan can be found.” A transcript of Thomas’s will follows along with a facsimile of his signature.