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 Lin-
coln's inn in London, where in process of time he be-
came an eminent counsellor. In 1583 he was elected
Lent-reader to that society. In 1590 he was made ser-
geant at law, and queen's sergeant soon after. He ar-
rived 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 ex-
plained." Lond. 1656, folio.