Bassingbourne Gawdy (died 1590)

Bassingbourne Gawdy (d. 20 January 1590^[1]), of West Harling, Norfolk, was an English landowner, magistrate and Member of Parliament (MP).^[2]

Gawdy was the second son of Thomas Gawdy (d.1556) of Shotesham and Redenhall, Norfolk, by his father's first wife, Anne, daughter and coheiress of John Bassingbourne of Woodhall, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.^[1] He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, matriculating in 1545,^[3] and trained in the law at the Inner Temple.

Gawdy was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Suffolk from about 1573 and for Norfolk from around 1583, and was High Sheriff of Norfolk for 1578–1579.^[1] In 1584 he was elected an MP for Eye, Suffolk.

Gawdy was buried on 25 January 1589/90 at West Harling.^{[4][non-primary source needed][5]}

Family

Gawdry's married twice.

Gawdy's first wife was Anne, the daughter of John Wootton of North Tuddenham, Norfolk.^[6] They were married on 26 September 1558.^[7][8] Through her, Bassingbourne obtained property in West Harling.^[6] She was buried at West Harling on 9 June 1587.^{[9][non-primary source needed]} They had two sons: Bassingbourne Gawdy and Philip Gawdy

Gawdy's second wife was Margaret, the daughter of Eustace Sulyard, and widow of Thomas Darcy of Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex. They married in December 1588: she died within two years, and was buried on 15 August 1590.^{[10][better source needed]}