Background
Thomas was born in Stanford Dingley in Berkshire and attended John Roysse"s Free School in Abingdon (now Abingdon School).
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.
In 1623, this money was augmented by the Reverend Richard Wightwick of East Ilsley and used instead for the transformation of Broadgates Hall into Pembroke College, named after the Chancellor, William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke.