Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pickering, Thomas
PICKERING, THOMAS (d. 1475), genealogist, was presumably a native of Pickering in Yorkshire. In 1458 he was precentor of St. Hilda's monastery, Whitby, and on 16 March 1462 he was chosen abbot. His successor was elected on 17 Oct. 1475 (Burton, Mon. Ebor. p. 80, citing the ‘Register’ of W. Booth, p. 72; but Tanner, Bibliotheca, says he occurs as abbot in 1481, and cites Dodsworth MS. 131, f. 74).
Pickering compiled accounts of the family of the Tysons, lords of Bridlington, and the family of Ralph Eure. The latter was written in 1458 by Pickering at Eure's request. A copy of portions of these works was made by Francis Thynne, and this now forms part of the Cotton MS. Cleop. c. iii. f. 318. The same portion of the genealogies is found in a manuscript belonging to the Gurney family (cf. Hist. MSS. Comm. 12th Rep. pt. ix.). In both manuscripts Pickering's genealogies are bound up with a list of the bishops of Hereford 1066–1458; but Tanner's theory that this is also Pickering's work is not established. A third copy of Pickering's genealogies is in Harleian MS. 3648, f. 5.
[Tanner's Bibliotheca; Monasticon Anglicanum, i. 408.]