Career
Parry"s father was Henry Vaughan of Tretower Court, Breconshire, Wales whose father, Sir Thomas Vaughan, had been knighted and later beheaded by King Richard III. Parry was initially known as Thomas ap Harry (Thomas, son of Harry), later modified to Thomas Parry. He is first noticed attending Thomas Cromwell in 1536, having been employed with various tasks and responsibilities attached to the dissolution of monastic properties. Elizabeth was quick to acknowledge his service and loyalty and conferred a knighthood to him upon her accession in 1558 and he was also made a privy counsellor.
The following year, he acquired lands in Berkshire, centred on Hamstead Marshall.
Although Elizabeth was fond of his services, he was not particularly popular at court and is noted to have "died on 15 December 1560, of "mere ill-humour" according to popular report (ib vii 313. Cal State Papers, Dom 1598–1601, p 204), and was buried in Westminster Abbey (Registers, ed Chester, p 113)."
Parry"s eldest son was Sir Thomas Parry, ambassador to Paris, Sheriff and Member of Parliament for Berkshire 1586-1614 and Member of Parliament for Street Albans 1610.
Lady Parry, who was one of the ladies of the privy chamber, was granted, about 1566, an annuity of £50 for thirty-three years (Cal State Papers, Dom 1566–1579, p 25). She retired to Welford Park and is buried beneath a fine monument in the adjoining church.