Background
He was born probably at Bristol before 1399, a member of a wealthy family of merchants and cloth manufacturers in that city.
He was born probably at Bristol before 1399, a member of a wealthy family of merchants and cloth manufacturers in that city.
One of Thomas"s younger brothers was the great Bristol merchant William II Canynges(d1474). Thomas"s grandfather William I Canynges(d1396) was also a great Bristol merchant and was also 5 times Mayor of Bristol and 3 times Member of Parliament for Bristol, in 1383, 1384 and 1386. Thomas Young before 1450 entered into the household of Richard, Duke of York(d1460), the Yorkist contender for heirship to the Throne then occupied by Henry VI(1422-1461).