Thomas Gawdy (died 1556)

Thomas Gawdy (by 1509 – 1556), of Shotesham and Redenhall, Norfolk, was Serjeant-at-law, an English barrister, Recorder, and member of parliament.[1]

Career

Family and name

There were three sons of Thomas Gawdy of Harleston, Norfolk, by three different wives, each of whom received the baptismal name of Thomas.[2] There was the present Thomas Gawdy (d.1556), and Thomas Gawdy (d.1588), and Francis Gawdy, who was baptised Thomas but changed his name at confirmation. The subject of this article was the eldest one, by his father’s first wife Elizabeth Hellows.

Apart from his distinguished legal career, Gawdy was a Member of Parliament for Salisbury in 1545, Lynn in 1547, and Norwich in October 1553.[3]

Marriages

By 1530 he had married Anne, daughter and coheiress of John Bassingbourne of Woodhall, Hatfield, Hertsfordshire. He married secondly Elizabeth, daughter of John Harris of Radford, the widow of Walter Staynings of Honeycott, Somerset. He married thirdly by settlement dated 9 July 1554, Katherine (d.1564[4]), the daughter of Robert Lestrange and sister of Sir Thomas Lestrange, the widow of Sir Hugh Hastings of Elsing in Norfolk.[3]

He had several children. With his first wife Anne Bassingbourne, he had the children:

  • Thomas Gawdy of Gawdy Hall in the parish of Redenhall in Norfolk, who married Honour, daughter of Walter Staynings of Honycott in county Somerset.[5] Thomas Gawdy, Esq. bought the manor of Holebrook in Redenhall from Edward Bacon, ward of the Queen’s Majesty. Edward Bacon (b.1552) later married his daughter Catherine at Redenhall on 16 October 1569.
  • Bassingbourne (d.1590),[3] and through him he was the grandfather of Sir Bassingbourne Gawdy
  • Catherine, who married Henry Everard of Lynsted in Suffolk[5]

By his second wife Elizabeth Harris he had the son:

  • Anthony Gawdy, also a member of parliament, who died unmarried, but was very close to his two nephews, the sons of Bassingbourne.[6]

References
  1. J. Rowe, 'Gawdy family (per. c. 1500–1723)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press 2004, updated version 2008), subscription required for internet access.
  2.  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Gawdy, Francis". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  3. "GAWDY, Thomas I (by 1509-56), of Shotesham and Redenhall, Norf. - History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
  4. "CatalogueRef: NCC will register Knightes 355. Title: Hastings, alias Gawdy, Katharine, Dame, of Elsing, Gressenhall, etc. Date: 1564. Description: Will. Level: Item. Repository: Norfolk Record Office". Published by FamilySearch here.
  5. Rye, Walter; Hervey, William; Cooke, Clarenceux; Raven, John. The visitacion [i.e., visitation] of Norfolk, made and taken by William Hervey, Clarencieux King of Arms, anno 1563, enlarged with another visitacion [sic] made by Clarenceux Cook : with many other descents, and also the vissitation [sic] made. Family History Library. p. 126.
  6. "GAWDY, Anthony (d.1606), of ?Norwich and Castle Acre, Norf. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 3 January 2022.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.