Sir Thomas Gower, 2nd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Gower, 2nd Baronet of Sittenham (c. 1605–1672) was twice High Sheriff of Yorkshire
and supported the Royalist cause
during the English Civil War
.
of Stittenham, in his estate, and title of Baronet. He was a sufferer for his loyalty to Charles I
, having been twice High Sheriff of Yorkshire
(1641 and 1662), and attended on the King when he was shut out of Hull
. He raised a regiment of dragoons at his own expense, of which his younger brother, Doyley was colonel.. After the Restoration he served in Parliament as Member for Malton
from 1661 until his death in 1672.
, and secondly, Frances daughter and coheir of Sir John Leveson, of Haling in Kent, and of Lilleshul in com. Salop, by Frances his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Sondes, of Throwley in Kent, (elder brother of Sir Michael Sondes, who was grandfather to George Sondes, 1st Earl of Feversham
) by Margaret, sister of Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham
. By which last Lady, this Sir Thomas Gower had issue two sons, Edward, and William, ancestor to George Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Marquess of Stafford; also a daughter Frances; but by his first Lady had no issue.
High Sheriff of Yorkshire
The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. A list of the sheriffs from the Norman conquest onwards can be found below...
and supported the Royalist cause
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Biography
Gower was knighted at Whitehall on 24 June 1630, and succeeded his father, Sir Thomas GowerSir Thomas Gower, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Gower, 1st Baronet of Stittenham , was eight weeks old in September 1584, and having been knighted by James I was created a baronet on 2 June 1620...
of Stittenham, in his estate, and title of Baronet. He was a sufferer for his loyalty to Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, having been twice High Sheriff of Yorkshire
High Sheriff of Yorkshire
The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. A list of the sheriffs from the Norman conquest onwards can be found below...
(1641 and 1662), and attended on the King when he was shut out of Hull
Siege of Hull (1642)
The Siege of Hull in 1642 was the first major action of the English Civil War.As both sides moved towards war, Parliament had access to more military materiel, due to its possession of all major cities including the large arsenal in London...
. He raised a regiment of dragoons at his own expense, of which his younger brother, Doyley was colonel.. After the Restoration he served in Parliament as Member for Malton
Malton (UK Parliament constituency)
Malton, also called New Malton, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England in 1295 and 1298, and again from 1640, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885...
from 1661 until his death in 1672.
Family
Gower had two wives, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Howard of Naworth Castle, sister to Charles Earl of CarlisleCharles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle
Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle was an English politician and military leader.The first in the Howard line of earls, he was the son and heir of Sir William Howard, of Naworth in Cumberland, by Mary, daughter of William, Lord Eure, and great-grandson of Lord William Howard, "Belted Will" , the...
, and secondly, Frances daughter and coheir of Sir John Leveson, of Haling in Kent, and of Lilleshul in com. Salop, by Frances his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Sondes, of Throwley in Kent, (elder brother of Sir Michael Sondes, who was grandfather to George Sondes, 1st Earl of Feversham
George Sondes, 1st Earl of Feversham
George Sondes, 1st Earl of Feversham KB was an English peer and member of the House of Lords.-Life:He was born at Lees Court, in the parish of Sheldwich, near Feversham in Kent, the son of Sir Richard Sondes of Throwley, by his wife Susan, daughter of Sir Edward Montagu of Boughton...
) by Margaret, sister of Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham
Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham
Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham was an English peer who was implicated in the Main Plot against the rule of James I of England.- Life :...
. By which last Lady, this Sir Thomas Gower had issue two sons, Edward, and William, ancestor to George Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Marquess of Stafford; also a daughter Frances; but by his first Lady had no issue.
Further reading
- Newman, P. R. (1993). The old service: Royalist regimental colonels and the Civil War, 1642-46, Manchester University Press ND, ISBN 0719037522, 9780719037528 p. 124: Suspicion as to his loyalty and capture in 1645.