Sir Thomas, judge of the common pleas, was the eldest son of Thomas Westcote, Esq. of the county of Devon, by Elizabeth, sole heiress of Thomas Littleton of Frankley in Worcestershire, at whose request he took the name and arms of that family. He was educated at one of our universities, probably at Cambridge. Thence he removed to the Inner Temple, where he became one of the readers; and was afterwards, by Henry VI. made steward or judge of the court of the palace, or marshallea of the king's household. In 1455, the thirty-third of that reign, he was appointed king's serjeant, and rode the northern circuit as judge of assize. In 1462, the second of Edward IV., he obtained a pardon from the crown; and, in 1466, was appointed one of the judges of the common pleas, and rode the Northamptonshire circuit. In the year 1474 he was, with many of the first nobility, created knight of the Bath. He died in 1481; and was buried in the cathedral church of Worcester, where a marble tomb, with his statue upon it, was erected to his memory. As to his character as a lawyer, it is sufficient to inform the reader, that he was the author of the Treatise upon tenures, on which Sir Edward Coke wrote a comment, well known by the title of Coke upon Littleton.

Littleton, Adam, descended from an ancient family in Shropshire, was born in 1627, educated at Westminster school, and went to Oxford a student of Christ-church, whence he was ejected by the parliament visitors in 1648. Soon after, he became usher of Westminster school, and in 1658 was made second master of Westminster school. After the restoration he taught a school at Chelsea in Middlesex, of which church he was admitted rector in the year 1664. In 1670 he accumulated the degrees in divinity, being then chaplain in ordinary to his majesty. In 1674, he became prebendary of Westminster, of which church he was afterwards sub-dean. Beside the well-known Latin and English Dictionary, he published several other works. He died in 1694, and was interred at Chelsea. He was an universal scholar; and extremely charitable, humane, and easy of access.