Sir Thomas Stokes

Sir Thomas Reginald Stokes (?-1567) was the first husband of Lady Mary Seymour and Great-nephew of Lady Frances Brandon (mother of Lady Jane Grey). There is much speculation AbOUT his earlier life and not much is known about him. However, historians have concluded that Sir Thomas was probably introduced to Lady Mary by Adrian Stokes (Lady Frances’s second husband) and was probably raised as a stable hand at the court of Queen Mary (aiding his Great-Uncle in his duties as Master of the horse). Furthermore, it is speculated that Sir Thomas was favored by the sovereign as is evident from his subsequent knighthood.

Through his political connections, he contracted a marriage to Lady Mary Seymour (daughter of Queen Catherine Parr). Nobody knows why this marriage took place as it was later evident that the two were unhappy. All is known is that the marriage was arranged by Lady Frances in her duties as a guardian. The probable reason for the marriage was the link between Lady Mary and her biological mother Queen Catherine Parr who was thought of favorably by her Step-daughter Queen Mary. Therefore, it seems likely that Sir Thomas expected favors from the sovereign that were not granted. It is generally believed that Sir Thomas and Lady Mary had a child whom Lady Mary miscarried in 1566.

Sir Thomas was a great philanderer and had a huge reputation as an infamous womanizer. However when Sir Thomas was found dead sometime in 1567, stabbed in a cornfield, rumors circulated that Sir Thomas had been involved in a prostitution scandal and was killed to failing to pay for services acquired. During these turbulent and stressful times, his wife found solace in the hands of another stable hand (probably a colleague of Sir Thomas) who helped her through these difficulties. After Sir Thomas’s death in 1567, the man (Mark Chatsworth) and Lady Mary were married.