Gascoigne family

The Gascoignes were an ancient family and it is reputed that they came over to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. The family seat was Gawthorp Hall, Harewood,where some of their tombs can still be seen.

The most notable member was Sir William Gascoigne who became Lord Chief Justice of England, dying in 1419. When Henry of Lancaster was banished by Richard II, Gascoigne was appointed one of his attorneys, and soon after Henry's accession to the throne was made chief justice of the court of King's Bench. After the suppression of the rising in the north in 1405, Henry eagerly pressed the chief justice to pronounce sentence upon Lord Scrope, the Archbishop of York, and the Earl Marshal Thomas Mowbray, who had been implicated in the revolt. This he absolutely refused to do, asserting the right of the prisoners to be tried by their peers. Although both were later executed, the chief justice had no part in this. It has been doubted whether Gascoigne could have displayed such independence of action without prompt punishment or removal from office

The popular tale of his committing the Prince of Wales (the future Henry V) to prison must also be regarded as unauthentic, though it is both picturesque and characteristic. It is said that the judge had directed the punishment of one of the prince's riotous companions, and the prince, who was present and enraged at the sentence, struck or grossly insulted the judge. ... more

Monument of Sir William Gascoigne and his wife Margaret Percy, c. 1487

• A1. William Gascoigne;
  • B1. William Gascoigne;
    • C1. William Gascoigne of Harwood, d:1222;
      • D1. William Gascoigne, d:1270, m. Elizabeth Boston;
        • E1. William Gascoigne, d:1351, m. Mansilda Gawkethorpe;
          • F1. William Gascoigne of Gawthorpe, m. Agnes Frank;
            • G1. Anne Gascoigne, m. Sir Robert Constable;
              • H1. Margaret Constable, m. Sir William Eure;  <==  Eure family
            • G2. Sir William Gascoigne, Lord Chief Justice, d:1419, m. Elizabeth Mowbray;  ==>  Mowbray family
              • H1. William Gascoigne, d:1429, m. Elizabeth Wyman;
                • I1. Sir William Gascoigne, Sheriff of Yorkshire, m. Margaret Clarell;
                  <=======
  • J1. Sir William Gascoigne, m. Joane Neville;  ==>  Neville family
    • K1. Anne Gascoigne, m. Hugh Hastings;  <==  Hastings family
    • K2. Sir William Gascoigne, m. Margaret Percy;  ==>  Percy family
      • L1. Elizabeth Gascoigne, m. Sir George Tailboys;  <==  Tailboys family
      • L2. Sir William Gascoigne, d:1529, m. Margaret Frognall;
        • M1. Sir William Gascoigne, m. Alice FitzWilliam;  ==>  FitzWilliam family
          • N1. Alice Gascoigne, m. John Haselwood;
            • O1. Alice Haselwood, lvd:1525/1612, m. Francis Bernard;  <==  Barnard family