Thomas Whittaker was born at Burnley and when quite young went to study for the priesthood at the English College at Valladolid. He was ordained and sent on the English mission in 1638. For the next few years he worked very successfully in his native Lancashire until he was arrested in 1643. On the way to Lancaster Castle the party stopped at an inn for refreshment, and the guard got drunk. Thomas took advantage of the situation and escaped naked into the night. Fortunately a loyal Catholic, hearing of his plight, took him in and provided him with clothing, food and shelter until it was safe for him to continue his work. For some time he ministered to Catholics in Cloughton-on-Brock, near Garstang, where he was sheltered by the Midgeall family. The local Catholic Church still possesses his oak desk, a small box in which he kept the Blessed Sacrament and other relics of this martyr. His second period of freedom lasted only a few months. He was arrested at Goosnargh, where he was severely beaten until he confessed to being a Catholic priest. In Lancaster Castle he was put in the lowest and darkest dungeons, where he remained for six weeks before being allowed the liberty given to other prisoners.

On August 7th 1646 he was taken from the Castle to Quernmore, where after a few moments of prayer, he was hanged and cruelly butchered.

Source: Edward Popham, The Martyrs of the Salford Diocese