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Petyt is known to have been a printer in St. Paul's Churchyard between 1536 (STC 16795) and 1561 (STC 12106), but another book printed by him (STC 11392) may date as early as 1530. Duff (p. 120) notes his imprisonment in 1543 for printing unlawful books. Petyt's 1547 edition of Dean Richard Smith's Brief Treatise Setting Forth Divers Truths (STC 22818) appears in a list of unlawful books found in John Stowe's study in 1568/9 (Arber, I, 394). According to Petyt's will, dated 18 May 1565, he was a member of the Drapers' Company; he describes himself in the document as "Thomas Petyt Citizen and draper of London beinge sicke of bodie" (P.R.O., Prob. 11. 48/Crymes 4)[7] and leaves to his wife Joane his property in the parishes of Greenstead and Stanford Rivers, Essex. He bequeaths a silver pot and spoon to his kinswoman Agnes Vincent (wife of one Vincent) in the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, and a similar gift to Alice Birde (wife of one Birde) of London. He leaves to the wife of the London stationer Ryddall (i.e., William Riddell) a little silver pot parcel gilt with Roman letters about the midst of it, together with a spoon with a maidenhead. He makes additional silver-pot-and-spoon bequests to four of his wife's daughters by a previous marriage: Marie Wood (or Wodd), Margaret Wood, Dennys Wood, and Elizabeth. He gives a featherbed to his godson John Marchall of Greenstead, Essex, and makes a further bequest to William Wood, his wife's son-in-law (i.e., step-son).

Petyt mentions at least five other stationers (besides Riddell) in his will: his kinsman Anthony Kydson (i.e., Kitson), Abraham Veale (to whom a goblet parcel gilt), John Wight (to whom his best furred gown and damask cassock), John Cawood (to whom his lesser hoop of gold), and Thomas Wight (John's son and Petyt's godson, who was to publish from 1590 to 1608).[8] Other

persons mentioned in the will are his wife's son John Wood, William Bull, Steaven Tenaunte (the Lord Treasurer's chaplain), his servant Margaret White, and Thomas Vincent (son of Vincent of Sheppey). He forgives his old tenant Benton part payment of debts due. Petyt notes that he receives 10s. annually out of certain property in Stanford Rivers that he purchased from King Edward VI, 20s. of which (two years' rent) is to go toward repairing the steeple of Greenstead. He leaves money to the poor of Greenstead and Stanford Rivers, and bequeaths the residue of his estate to his wife Johane (Joane) Pettit, whom he names sole executrix. He designates Gefferey Finche of Greenstead as supervisor of the will, which was witnessed by Thomas Fynche, John Tymon(d), Anthony Pepper (all three of Stanford Rivers), Robert Shingleton alias Le, and Thomas Alsopp. His widow Joanne Petyt probated the will in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 13 February 1565/6.