"The following is the result of an investigation by J. G. Bartlett for this work."
"John Thompson, born probably about 1580, resided on an estate known from time immemorial as 'Sherehouse,' located in the parish of Burford, co. Salop [Shropshire]. 'Sherehouse,' a farmhouse probably built temp. Elizabeth (1558-1603), still exists in its ancient form. John Thompson was a prosperous fanner of good estate; he may have owned 'Sherehouse' in fee by purchase, and so be considered of the minor landed gentry, and he and his son are termed 'gentlemen" in the registers; but he was not an armorial gentleman, as at the Visitation of Shropshire in 1623 he was disclaimed as 'no gentleman;' i. e. as not entitled to bear a coat-of-arms. The time of his death has not been learned and there is no will of his either at Shrewsbury, Lichfield or London."
