Thomas Tesdale

Thomas Tesdale (1547–1610) was an English maltster, benefactor of the town of Abingdon in the English county of Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) and the primary founding benefactor of Pembroke College, Oxford.

Life and career

Thomas was born in Stanford Dingley in Berkshire and attended John Roysse's Free School in Abingdon (now Abingdon School). He became a rich maltster in the town, where he served as mayor, and purchased the manor of Ludwell in Oxfordshire.

Tesdale grew wealthy as maltster in Abingdon, and served as Master of Christ's Hospital of Abingdon. In 1581 he was elected mayor, but he did not serve his term as he had left the borough when he bought the manor of Ludwell in Oxfordshire. Soon after 1586 he moved to Glympton near Woodstock, Oxfordshire, where he rented the manor, raised livestock and grew and milled woad for dyeing. They became known as the Tesdale Ushers.