Thomas Carman was born in 1517 in Hemel Hempstead, England.  He died 19 May 1558 in Lollard's Pit at Bishop's Gate, Norwich, England.  He did marry, although his wife is unknown.

From "Fox's Book of Martyrs" Thomas Hudson, Thomas Carman, and William Seaman were condemned and burned at the stake. Thomas Carman was specifically burned for pledging his allegiance to another Puritan religious leader at his earlier execution by burning in 1557, which is documented in another volume of Fox's books. These were the times of Queen Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Upon completion of the intrigue that put her on the thrown in 1553, she commenced to restore Catholicism to England (something her father had done away with in his famous dispute with the Pope regarding his being granted divorce).  As part of this restoration she brought back the old English law prohibiting heresy against the Catholic church - the penalty death by burning at the stake.  During her reign about 300 people were put to death in this manner (including her rival for the thrown), earning her her nickname "Bloody Mary".  So, being in conflict with the Catholic Church in following his Puritan beliefs, and refusing to denounce them, he and two others were burned in the specially dug pit called "Lollard's Pit", outside the Bishop's Gate to the Town of Norwich.  Only four  burnings took place in Norwich - two in 1557 and two in 1558.  Queen Mary was born a year before Thomas Carman, she died the same year.  On her death her half sister Elizabeth took the thrown and the Anglican Church was restored, and the reign of "Bloody Mary" ended.

As a side note, notice that William Seaman was also burned on the same stake that same day.  The Seaman name was connected with the Carman name for many hundreds of years before, and will remain linked in the hundreds of years to come. Who, specifically was William Seaman, I leave for someone else to solve.

Known children of Thomas Carman and ________:

09/04/2006