He was educated at Durham School, and admitted as a sizar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge 1 June 1676.
He had been ordained as a deacon of York in 1681 and was Vicar of Merrington in County Durham from 1682 to 1720.
He was Vicar of Croft, Lincolnshire from 1720 and a lecturer at St Giles in the Fields in London.
It is not known whom he married, but his son (also Thomas) was baptised 5 March 1691 in Newcastle.
This son was also admitted to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and died there on 31 July 1709.