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Thomas Smith I (or Smyth or Smythe) (c.1529–1601) was (according to Anthony Wood) the fourth son of Richard Smith of Cuerdley (near Warrington) in Lancashire. His grandfather, Robert Smith, a gentleman of Cuerdley, was the eldest son of Robert Smith of Polehouse in Lancashire. That Robert’s younger brother (and Thomas Smith’s great-uncle) was William Smith, Bishop of Lincoln and founder of Brasenose College, Oxford.

Smith was an Oxford brewer, head of a dynasty that became one of the most important families in Oxford by the end of the sixteenth century.

Smith was admitted free as a hanaster in the mayoral year 1550–1, and on 24 May 1553 he married Rose Buckner at St Aldate’s Church. Rose was the daughter of William Buckner of Botley and Dorothy, daughter of Robert Huckvale of St Mary Magdalen parish.

Anthony Wood states, "From Thomas and Rose are descended all the Smiths of St Aldate’s parish". The parish registers of St Aldate’s Church do not commence until 1560, so that the baptisms of their eldest children (including daughters Agnes and Alice and sons Thomas and William) are not recorded; but the baptisms of Peter (24 December 1560) and John (16 April 1562) are listed.

In October 1556 Smith acted as auditor for St Thomas’s parish. He first came on to the council in September 1565, and was made a Chamberlain in September 1566.

In April 1568 he paid twenty shillings for the Lottery in the South-West Ward, by far the highest contribution in Oxford. In September that year he was elected a Bailiff.

In 1571 Smith became Master of the Guild of Brewers. In November 1571 he took on the responsibility of supplying two load horses to work at the Castle Mills, and in September 1572 was granted for 21 years the reversion of William Richardson’s lease of a tenement in the South-East Ward on Denchworth Bow (the arch by which the road crossed the Shire-lake between 34 and 35 St Aldate’s). In August 1578 he was granted the lease of the game of swans.

In 1577 his son, Peter, died at the age of 17 and was buried in St Aldate’s Church on 4 August, and on 8 June 1579 Agnes, his eldest daughter, married Ralph Flexney (who was himself to be Mayor in 1612) in that church.

In the mayoral year 1579–80 his eldest surviving son, John, was admitted free.

In 1581 the Vice-Chancellor of the University tried to impose a rota on brewing, but Smith refused to accept it and was imprisoned.

Smith’s first wife, Rose, was buried at St Aldate’s Church on 7 September 1582. He soon married again: his new young wife was Alice Mayot, daughter of Richard Mayot of Abingdon. They baptised two sons at St Aldate’s Church: Oliver (21 November 1584) and Ralph (7 September 1592).

In 1583 Smith was elected on to the Mayor’s Inner Council, and is henceforth described as a "gentleman". He was elected Mayor for the first time in October 1585, and immediately nominated his son John, to come straight on to the Common Council as a Chamberlain. The following September he paid a gilt penny to obtain the freedom of his second son, Oliver, who was to be sworn in when he reached the age of 21. Anthony Wood says of Smith:

This mayor, with William Noble and other burgesses, shut the Gild hall dore against the Vice-chancellor, when he came to keep court there.

On 14 September 1590 Smith was elected Mayor a second time, and on 20 October 1590 his son, William, was admitted on to the council for 9s. 6d.

On 16 June 1595 Smith was elected an Alderman, and is believed soon afterwards to have built 1 and 2 Brewer Street for himself.

The arms of the Smith family of Cuerdley (described by Anthony Wood as being "parted per pale or and gules, 3 fleurs-de-luces counterchanged") can be seen in a window of the Lord Mayor’s Parlour (left). They very appropriately overlooking St Aldate’s.

 

In September 1600 Smith was elected for a third term as Mayor, but died in office in the following July and was buried at St Aldate’s Church on 19 July 1601. His young wife Alice was buried there twenty years later on 2 June 1621.