Thomas Kitson (died 1603)

His mother died in 1561 and left him £200 worth of silver plate, his father's best gold chain and turquoise ring, and fifteen pieces of tapestry that had belonged to her third husband, the Earl of Bath.

[2] His sister Dorothy's first husband Thomas Pakington died in 1571, and he wrote to her, offering to help with legal issues concerning her jointure property, ready to "performe the dutye of a frend and naturall love of a brother".

[3] Kitson and his second wife Elizabeth Cornwallis were patrons of the madrigalist John Wilbye and the composer Edward Johnson.

He bought a pair of virginals in London in 1575 and hired a musician called Cosen to teach their daughters to play.

In August he had his timber-framed London House in Coleman Street plastered and white-washed and the beams painted black.

[8] According to Thomas Churchyard, at Hengrave, "the fare and banquet did so exceed a number of other places that it is worthy the mention.

Thomas Kitson continued to assert that Mary Cornwallis was the rightful Countess of Bath and made a statement in her favour in his will.

Bess of Hardwick wrote in January 1581 that her son Charles "is to joyne with so good frendes" and Margaret Kitson had a "vertuous demeanure".

She was bought jewels, ruffs, partlets, embroidered smocks, and a nightgown faced with black velvet.