Thomas Fairfax (Gilling)
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Fairfax was an owner of Gilling Castle
, near Gilling East, North Yorkshire, England. He is the last known ancestor of both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
, was presumably a supporter of the House of York
in the Wars of the Roses
. His original home was near the site of the Battle of Towton
. Based on the 1349 marriage between Margaret de Etton and their ancestor, a third Thomas Fairfax of Walton, the elder Thomas Fairfax successfully claimed the ownership of the Gilling Estate during two inquisitions, the first of which was in 1489.
The elder Thomas Fairfax married Elizabeth Sherburne of Stoneyhurst. Their son, the younger Thomas Fairfax, was the eldest of nine children; his brothers' names were Richard, Robert and John, and his sisters were Jane, Elizabeth, Isabel, Anne and Dorothy.
on his expedition to Flanders
. He was knighted when the city of Tournai
, now in Belgium
, surrendered to the king. Upon his father's death in 1505, the younger Thomas Fairfax inherited the Gilling estate.
), daughter of Lady Margaret Percy
, daughter of Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland
. Agnes' father was Sir William Gascoigne of York, son of another Sir William Gascoigne
. Fairfax had six sons and six daughters.
He and his wife are the last confirmed common ancestors of both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, making them at most fifteenth cousins.
It is through the Earl of Northumberland that the Duchess of Cambridge is descended from Edward III
.
Gilling Castle
Gilling Castle is a castle near Gilling East, North Yorkshire, England . The castle was originally the home of the Etton family, who appeared there at the end of the 12th century...
, near Gilling East, North Yorkshire, England. He is the last known ancestor of both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Sir Thomas Fairfax (father)
Fairfax's father, also named ThomasThomas Fairfax (Walton)
Sir Thomas Fairfax was the first member of the Fairfax family to own Gilling Castle, near Gilling East, North Yorkshire, England. He is a direct ancestor of both Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and The Duchess of Cambridge....
, was presumably a supporter of the House of York
House of York
The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
in the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
. His original home was near the site of the Battle of Towton
Battle of Towton
In 1461, England was in the sixth year of the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster over the English throne. The Lancastrians backed the reigning King of England, Henry VI, an indecisive man who suffered bouts of madness...
. Based on the 1349 marriage between Margaret de Etton and their ancestor, a third Thomas Fairfax of Walton, the elder Thomas Fairfax successfully claimed the ownership of the Gilling Estate during two inquisitions, the first of which was in 1489.
The elder Thomas Fairfax married Elizabeth Sherburne of Stoneyhurst. Their son, the younger Thomas Fairfax, was the eldest of nine children; his brothers' names were Richard, Robert and John, and his sisters were Jane, Elizabeth, Isabel, Anne and Dorothy.
Career
In 1513, The younger Fairfax served with Henry VIIIHenry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
on his expedition to Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
. He was knighted when the city of Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
, now in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, surrendered to the king. Upon his father's death in 1505, the younger Thomas Fairfax inherited the Gilling estate.
Marriage and Family
The younger Fairfax's wife was Agnes (or Anne} GascoigneAnne Gascoigne
Anne Gascoigne , was the daughter of Sir William Gascoigne and Lady Margaret Percy. Through her mother, she is descended from Edward III...
), daughter of Lady Margaret Percy
Margaret Percy (1447)
Margaret Gascoigne was an English Noblewoman, the daughter of Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Eleanor Poynings....
, daughter of Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland was the son of Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland and Lady Eleanor Neville, daughter of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland and his second wife Joan Beaufort.-Family:...
. Agnes' father was Sir William Gascoigne of York, son of another Sir William Gascoigne
William Gascoigne
Sir William Gascoigne Kt. was Chief Justice of England during the reign of King Henry IV. Sir William Gascoigne was born in Gawthorpe W-Riding, Yorks. In 1369, William married Elizabeth de Mowbray...
. Fairfax had six sons and six daughters.
- Upon his death, he left his estate to his son Nicholas, an ancestor of William, Duke of Cambridge's maternal ancestors, the SpencerEarl SpencerEarl Spencer is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain that was created on 1 November 1765, along with the title Viscount Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northamptonshire, for John Spencer, 1st Viscount Spencer, a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough...
family. - William was Nicholas' twin and settled at Bury St. EdmundsBury St. EdmundsBury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...
, being buried in Walsingham. William, was an ancestor of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's paternal ancestors, the Middleton familyMiddleton familyCatherine, Duchess of Cambridge comes from a branch of a Middleton family. The Duchess's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, whose wealth derives from their party supplies business, have featured in the world media in the run up to their first daughter's wedding to Prince William of Wales and...
. - His third son, Thomas, became a priest in the Church of EnglandChurch of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. - The other sons were named Miles of Gilling, Guy and Robert.
He and his wife are the last confirmed common ancestors of both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, making them at most fifteenth cousins.
It is through the Earl of Northumberland that the Duchess of Cambridge is descended from Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
.