Bassingbourne Gawdy (died 1590) facts for kids
Bassingbourne Gawdy (1535 – 20 January 1590) was an important English landowner and politician from West Harling, Norfolk. He served as a Justice of the Peace (a type of judge) and was also a Member of Parliament (MP), representing his area in the English government.
Bassingbourne was the second son of Thomas Gawdy and Anne Bassingbourne. He received a good education, studying at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and later learning law at the Inner Temple in London.
He became a Justice of the Peace for Suffolk around 1573 and for Norfolk around 1583. These roles meant he helped keep law and order in his local areas. He was also the High Sheriff of Norfolk from 1578 to 1579, a very important position responsible for enforcing the law and managing elections. In 1584, he was elected as an MP for Eye, Suffolk, allowing him to represent his community in Parliament.
Bassingbourne Gawdy passed away and was buried on 25 January 1590 in West Harling.
Family Life
Bassingbourne Gawdy was married twice during his life.
His first wife was Anne Wootton (1536–1587). They were married on 26 September 1558. Anne was from North Tuddenham, Norfolk. She had been married twice before. Anne was buried at West Harling in 1587.
Bassingbourne and Anne had two sons:
- Bassingbourne Gawdy (the younger), who later became a knight in 1597.
- Philip Gawdy (1562–1617). Philip was an adventurer who joined the famous ship Revenge in 1591. He was captured during a battle but was later freed. His letters, which tell us a lot about life back then, are kept in the British Library.
Bassingbourne's second wife was Margaret Sulyard. They married in December 1588. Sadly, she passed away within two years and was buried on 15 August 1590.
His Portrait
A portrait of Bassingbourne Gawdy was painted by the famous artist Hans Eworth. Eworth also painted a portrait that might be of Bassingbourne's first wife, Anne Wootton. These paintings help us imagine what people looked like hundreds of years ago!
