Bassingbourne Gawdy (died 1590), of West Harling, Norfolk, was an English politician.[1]
He was the second son of Thomas Gawdy (d.1556) of Shotesham and Redenhall, Norfolk, by his father’s first wife, Anne, daughter and coheiress of John Bassingbourne of Woodhall, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.[2] He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, matriculating in 1545,[3] and trained in the law at the Inner Temple.
In 1557 Bassingbourne was investigated for selling wood at Middleton Hall.[4] On 26 September 1558 Gawdy married Anne Wotten.[5] [6] Through Anne Wotten Bassingbourne obtained property in Hawling.
He was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Suffolk from c. 1573 and for Norfolk from c. 1583, and was High Sheriff of Norfolk for 1578–79.[2] In 1584 he was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) for Eye, Suffolk.
Bassingbourne Gawdy was buried on 25 January 1589/90 at West Harling.[7]
Marriages
He married twice. According to the Visitations, his first wife was Anne, the daughter of John Wootton of North Tuddenham, Norfolk,[8] and the widow both of Thomas Woodhouse of Hickling, Norfolk (son of Sir William Woodhouse),[9] and widow also of Henry Reppes of Mendham, Suffolk, the widower of Bess Holland.[10] The two were married on 26 September 1558 at Redenhall with Harleston and Wortwell.[11] She was buried at West Harling on 9 June 1587.[12] By Anne Wootton, Bassingbourne Gawdy had two sons:
- His son Bassingbourne Gawdy, who was knighted as Sir Bassingbourne in 1597, succeeded him
- His son Philip Gawdy (1562-1617) in 1591 joined the Revenge under Sir Richard Grenville, Knight, and was captured at the Battle of Flores, but was redeemed and lived afterwards at West Harling. Philip's letters are held by the British Library[13]
His second wife was Margaret, daughter of Eustace Sulyard, and widow of Thomas Darcy of Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex.
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b J.H., 'Gawdy, Bassingbourne I (d.1590), of West Harling, Norf.', in P.W. Hasler (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603 (from Boydell and Brewer, 1981), History of Parliament Online.
- ^ "Gawdy, Bassingborne (GWDY545B)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ^ Gowdy, Mahlon Myron (1919). A Family History Comprising the Surnames of Gade-Gadie--Gaudie--Gawdie--Gawdy--Gowdy--Goudy-Goudey--Gowdey--Gauden--Gaudern--and the Variant Forms, from A. D. 800 to A. D. 1919 Compiled from Authentic Public and Private Records Embracing a Compendium of Family History, Genealogy and Biography Covering a Period of Eight Hundred Years. Supplemented by an Appendix of Gleanings Illustrated with Portraits, Views of Family Seats. Journal Press.
- ^ 'The king and prince at Culford, 1618-19', in J. Nichols, The Progresses, Processions and Magnificent Festivities of King James the First, 3 vols (J.B. Nichols, London 1828), III, at pp. 525-6 from BL MS 4173.(Google).
- ^ H. L. Meakin, The Painted Closet of Lady Anne Bacon Drury (Ashgate, Aldershot, 2013), pp. 32-3, has the visit at Redgrave.
- ^ Norfolk Record Office PD 27/1.
Bassingborne Gawdye sen. esquier was buried xxv. daye of January 1589
- ^ 'Hundred of Giltcross, West-Herling', in F. Blomefield, ed. C. Parkin, An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk, Volume I (William Miller, London 1805), at pp. 305-06; 'St Cleere's Manor, North Tudenham', Volume X (William Miller, London 1809), pp. 297-312, pp. 263-64 (Google).
- ^ 'Woodhouse', in W. Rye (ed.), The Visitacion of Norfolk, made and taken by William Hervey, Clarencieux King of Arms, anno 1563, enlarged with another Visitacion made by Clarenceux Cook: with many other descents (etc.), Harleian Society XXXII (London 1891), pp. 320-23, at p. 321 (Internet Archive).
- ^ 'Reppes', in Rye (ed.), The Visitacion of Norfolk, pp. 230-31 (Internet Archive).
- ^ Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers.
The names of such persons as were joyned togither in matrimony in ye yeare of our Lord 1558: [...] Bassingbourne Gawdy gent and Anne Woodhouse alias Repps gent were married ye 26th day of September
- ^ Norfolk Record Office PD 27/1.
Mrs Anne Gawdye ye wife of mr Bassingborne Gawdy se.[nior] was buried ix° Junij 1587
- ^ I.H. Jeayes (ed.), Letters of Philip Gawdy of West Harling, Norfolk, and of London to various members of his family, 1579-1616 (J.B. Nichols, London, 1906), Internet Archive.