OWEN, THOMAS, a judge of the common-pleas, son of Richard Owen, Esq. of Condoover in Shropshire, was educated at Oxford. Having taken a degree in arts, he left the university, and entered himself of Lincoln's inn in London, where in process of time he became an eminent counsellor. In 1583 he was elected Lent-reader to that society. In 1590 he was made sergeant at law, and queen's sergeant soon after. He arrived at length at the dignity of judge of the common pleas; which office he is said to have executed, during five years, with great abilities and integrity. He died in 1598; and was buried on the south side of the choir in Westminster abbey, where a monument was erected to his memory. He had the reputation of a learned man, and a patron of literature. He was the author of "Reports in the common pleas, wherein are many choice cases, most of them thoroughly argued by the learned sergeants, and after argued and resolved by the grave judges of those times, with many cases wherein the difference of the year-books are reconciled and explained." Lond. 1656, folio.