Thomas Adams (fl. 1591–1620)
Thomas Adams, bookseller, publisher, music publisher, 1591–1620; against the great north door, 1593; at the White Lion, St .Paul's Chuchyard, 1594; at the Bell / Blue Bell, St. Paul's Churchyard, 1609–1620.
A dictionary of printers and booksellers in England, Scotland and Ireland, and of foreign printers of English books 1557–1640, by R.B. McKerrow (1910)
ADAMS (THOMAS), bookseller in London, 1591–1620; (?) The White Lion in St. Paul’s Churchyard, 1591-1604; (2) The Bell, St. Paul’s Churchyard. Son of Thomas Adams of Nyensavage, co. Salop, yeoman. Apprentice first to Oliver Wilkes and afterwards to George Bishop [Arber, ii. 115, 119]. Took up his freedom in the Company of Stationers on October 15th, 1590. On October 12th, 1591, Robert Walley assigned over to him the copyrights in seventeen books and various ballads, all which were to be printed for him by John Charlewood [Arber, ii. 596]. Thomas Adams at the outset of his career was associated with John Oxenbridge. Together they published Barnaby Rich's Adventures of Brusanus^ Prince of Hungaria, 1592 [Arber, ii. 622], and Greene’s Newes both from Heaven and Hell, perhaps by the same author [Arber, ii. 626]. In 1611 Adams became junior warden of the Stationers' Company, and in the same year acquired the copyrights of the late George Bishop, who had died before January 28th. These were fifty-nine in number and included shares in Hakluyt's Voyages, Camden's Britannia, Chaucer's Works, Holinshed's and Stow's Chronicles and many Greek and Latin classics. As Bishop in his will referred to Adams as his “kinsman," he was probably a relative by marriage. Thomas Adams was the publisher of several music books, e.g., some of Dowland's Books of Songs and Thomas Ravenscroft's Deuteromelia. Thomas Adams was Warden of the Company in 1611, 1614 and 1617, but never rose to the position of Master. He died between March 2nd and May 4th, 1620. In his will mention is made of his three daughters, but no son is named. He bequeathed £100 to the Company of Stationers and a bason and ewer to the Bishop of London. William Leake and George Swinhowe were nominated overseers and William Aspley and Andrew Hebb were among the witnesses [P.C.C., 37, Soame].