Thomas Fairfax (Gilling) facts for kids
Sir Thomas Fairfax (born around 1475 – died 1520) was an important person who lived at Gilling Castle in Gilling East, North Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Sir Thomas Fairfax's Family History
Sir Thomas Fairfax's father was also named Thomas Fairfax. His family had supported the House of York during the Wars of the Roses. These wars were a series of battles fought in England between two powerful families, the Yorks and the Lancasters, who both wanted to rule the country.
The Fairfax family had lived near the place where the Battle of Towton happened. Sir Thomas's father successfully gained ownership of the Gilling Estate. This happened because of a marriage in 1349 between one of their ancestors and Margaret de Etton.
Sir Thomas's father, Thomas Fairfax, married Elizabeth Sherburne. They had nine children. The younger Thomas Fairfax, the subject of this article, was their oldest child. His brothers were Richard, Robert, and John. His sisters were Jane, Elizabeth, Isabel, Anne, and Dorothy.
Sir Thomas's Life and Work
In 1505, when his father passed away, the younger Thomas Fairfax inherited the Gilling Estate. This meant he became the new owner of Gilling Castle and the lands around it.
In 1513, Sir Thomas joined King Henry VIII on a military trip to Artois, a region in what is now France and Belgium. During this trip, the city of Tournai (which is now in Belgium) gave up to the king. Because of his service, Thomas Fairfax was made a knight. Being knighted was a great honor given by the king.
Marriage and Children
Sir Thomas Fairfax married Agnes (also known as Anne) Gascoigne. Agnes was the daughter of Lady Margaret Percy. Lady Margaret was related to Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland, and through him, to King Edward III. This meant Sir Thomas's wife had a very important family background.
Sir Thomas and Agnes had a large family with six sons and six daughters.
- When Sir Thomas died, he left his estate, including Gilling Castle, to his son Nicholas.
- William was Nicholas's twin brother. He later lived in Bury St. Edmunds.
- Their third son, Thomas, became a priest in the Church of England.
- His other sons were named Miles, Guy, and Robert.
A famous distant relative of Sir Thomas Fairfax was Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron. He was a general and a very important leader for the Parliament during the English Civil War.
Sir Thomas Fairfax made a will on November 26, 1520. In his will, he named his wife, Dame Anne Fairfax, as someone who would help manage his estate after he died. She was officially given this role on April 11, 1521.
