Stephen Soame
Sir Stephen Soame was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1601. He served as Lord Mayor of London for the year 1598 to 1599.
Soame was the son of Thomas Soame, of Botely, alias Betely Norfolk and his wife Anne Lehunt widow of Richard Lehunt of Little Bradley Suffolk and daughter of Francis Knighton of Little Bradley.
Soame was originally a member of the Worshipful Company of Weavers, but was ineligible to the office of Lord Mayor "on accounte of belongyng "to an inferior Companie and not one of the twelve greate "Companies," and so petitioned to be admitted to the Worshipful Company of Grocers. He served as Sheriff of London in 1589 and was Lord Mayor of London in 1598. In 1601, Soame was elected Member of Parliament for City of London.
Soame made considerable charitable donations. He restored the great north window of St Paul's Cathedral, restored the roof of Grocers' Hall and gave the company £10 for bread for the poor. He built a free school at Little Thurlow with maintenance for a master and usher and erected almeshouses for nine poor people.
Soame died at the age of 77 at his mansion house in Little Thurlow and was buried in the church at Little Thurlow.
Soame married Anne Stone daughter of William Stone, haberdasher of London and his wife Mercy Gray daughter of John Gray of Barley, Hertfordshire. His son Thomas Soame was also a Sheriff and MP for London.
