Thomas Pope, 2nd Earl of Downe facts for kids
Thomas Pope, 2nd Earl of Downe (1622–1660) was an English nobleman. He was a Royalist, meaning he supported King Charles I during the English Civil War.
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Early Life and Family
Thomas Pope was born in 1622 near Witney, England. He was the oldest of three sons. His parents were Sir William Pope and Elizabeth Watson. After his father died, his mother married Sir Thomas Penyston.
His grandfather, Sir William Pope, became the first Earl of Downe. When his grandfather passed away in 1631, young Thomas inherited the title. He also inherited large family lands in Oxfordshire.
Education and Marriage
Thomas grew up with his guardian, John Dutton. In 1638, he married Lucy, his guardian's daughter. A year later, in 1639, he started studying at Christ Church, Oxford University. However, he had some trouble with the rules there. He left the university before 1641.
Role in the Civil War
When the First English Civil War began, Thomas Pope supported the King. He formed a group of soldiers on horseback to fight for the Royalist side. In 1643, he was with King Charles I in Oxford. The King even stayed at Thomas's wife's house in Gloucestershire a few times.
After the war, the government fined people who had supported the King. Thomas's lands were worth a lot of money. He was fined £5,000, which was a huge amount back then. He had difficulty paying this fine and other debts. To pay off his debts, he had to sell most of his family's lands. He only kept a few areas, including Cogges and Enstone.
Later Years and Death
After the war and selling his lands, Thomas Pope left England. He traveled in France and Italy for some time. He returned to England and passed away in Oxford on December 28, 1660. He was buried with his ancestors at Wroxton.
Family Legacy
His wife, Lucy, Countess of Downe, died in 1656. Thomas and Lucy had one child, a daughter named Elizabeth. She was born in 1645. Elizabeth later married Sir Francis Lee. The Enstone property, which Thomas had kept, passed down through Elizabeth's family. Since Thomas had no sons, his title of Earl of Downe went to his uncle, Thomas Pope, 3rd Earl of Downe.
