Fearon, Thomas, of Mockerkin in Loweswater (-1648)

Shoemaker. Literate - books are listed in his inventory.

Two things prove that he was a shoemaker: his probate inventory includes £4 10s in leather and £7 8s in 'bootes and shooes', which would not have been owned in a domestic context; while in his will he gave the tools of his trade to his apprentice, Lancelot Fletcher (later of Low Leys), Lancelot describing himself as a shoemaker in his own will.

The will of William Wood of Mockerkin in 1623 states that Thomas Fearon had four sons. Three (presumably) - John, Thomas, Cuthbert (will beneficiary) - are listed below him in the Protestation. One (possibly) - William (will beneficiary) - is listed above him. As John isn’t in his will, he may have died 1642-48 (a war casualty?).

Thomas’ will lists (together with Cuthbert and William) three (presumably daughter) beneficiaries: Margaret Wilson, Annas Robinson and Ellen Fearon.

His inventory is small and so may suggest (despite having an apprentice) that he was semi-retired with the business really being run by his son William. Or maybe he took on an apprentice because his sons weren’t continuing in the business (Cuthbert was a schoolmaster)?

He is owed money in the probate inventory of William Danson of Mockerkin, when he is described as Thomas Fearon of Mockerkin, senior.