Egerton Roll 8797

Inventory of the possessions of Alice Smythe (née Judde), widow of Thomas Smythe (1522-1591) of London. Seen, valued and appraised on 30 June 1593 by Richard Rogers, goldsmith, Richard Osborne, draper, William Greenway, merchant tailor, and Hugh Sherriot, merchant tailor, citizens of London, appointed by John Spencer, alderman of Langbourn Ward. Lists the contents of each room in her house in Fenchurch Street, London, with her brass, pewter, jewellery, plate, credit, debts, ready money, and funeral expenses listed separately.

Notarised copy by William Woodhall, notary public, dated 10 May 1598, with an addendum recording Alice’s widow’s portion from her husband’s estate, also notarised by Woodhall and dated 13 May 1598.

Endorsed (in a late 16th century hand): ‘The inventarie of the goods la[te] of Mrs Smythe / wife to the late customar Smythe.’

An earlier copy from 1593 without Woodhall's addendum survives as Egerton Roll 8798.

Thomas Smythe was the collector of customs duties for London, for which he was known as Customer Smythe. He and Alice’s second surviving son, also called Thomas (c. 1558-1625), became the first governor of the East India Company.