Sir Thomas Gower () was an English soldier and Marshal of Berwick-upon-Tweed. He was the son of Sir Edward Gower of Stittenham,

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...

, commissioner of the peace for that county in 1536. His mother was Margery, daughter of Sir Robert Constable of Flamborough. Thomas Gower was

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...

of Berwick, and in 1543 was made the

receiver-general A receiver general (or receiver-general) is an officer responsible for accepting payments on behalf of a government, and for making payments to a government on behalf of other parties. See also * Treasurer * Receiver General for Canada * Recei ...

and supervisor of all the buildings and fortifications of Berwick and of Wark Castle. Early in the reign of Edward VI, Gower was appointed surveyor of the royal estates in

Northumberland Northumberland () is a county in Northern England, one of two counties in England which border with Scotland. Notable landmarks in the county include Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall and Hexham Abbey. It is bordered by land on ...

and captain of

Eyemouth Eyemouth ( sco, Heymooth) is a small town and civil parish in Berwickshire, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It is east of the main north–south A1 road and north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The town's name comes from its location at th ...

, near Berwick (1 September 1547). In July he had reported to the

Privy Council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...

that the 'Power of Scotland' was prepared. He was captain of a band of light horsemen in the army with which the

Lord Protector Lord Protector (plural: ''Lords Protector'') was a title that has been used in British constitutional law for the head of state. It was also a particular title for the British heads of state in respect to the established church. It was sometimes ...

, the Duke of Somerset, invaded Scotland. At the Battle of Pinkie (10 September), Gower was one of three cavalry officers taken prisoners through 'their own too much forwardness' (

Holinshed Raphael Holinshed ( – before 24 April 1582) was an English chronicler, who was most famous for his work on ''The Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande'', commonly known as ''Holinshed's Chronicles''. It was the "first complete printe ...

, p. 980). Gower had to pay a considerable ransom, and 'as he was a poor man', was much burdened by expenses at Eyemouth, and had to appoint a deputy in his office as surveyor. For a time, he was a commander at Haddington while

James Wilsford Sir James Wilsford (about 1516–1550) was an English soldier and politician, who was commander at the Siege of Haddington in the war known as the Rough Wooing and also sat as Member of Parliament for Barnstaple. Origins James Wilsford was bor ...

went to London. In 1549, he went to London to claim eighteen months' arrears of sums due for Eyemouth, and complained that other services had not been rewarded. Three years later (9 June 1552), £100 of his debt of £300 to the crown was remitted by the king through the Duke of Northumberland's influence. In November 1552,

Christopher Rokeby Christopher Rokeby, Rokesby, Rooksby, or Rooksbie (died 1584) was an English soldier and secret agent. Rokeby's family home was Mortham Tower at Rokeby in County Durham. He was a son of Thomas Rokeby (died 1567) and his wife Jane, a daughter of Ro ...

was appointed marshal of Berwick in Gower's place.''Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, Elizabeth with Addenda'' (London, 1870), p. 417 no. 18: John Gough Nichols, ''Literary Remains of King Edward the Sixth: The Journal'', vol. 2 (London, 1857), p. 462. In 1558 Gower is mentioned as master of the

ordinance Ordinance may refer to: Law * Ordinance (Belgium), a law adopted by the Brussels Parliament or the Common Community Commission * Ordinance (India), a temporary law promulgated by the President of India on recommendation of the Union Cabinet * ...

in the north parts. In 1559, he complained that one Bennett had been appointed over his head, and was apparently replaced, as he held the post in 1560, when he was made master of the ordinance in the army sent to besiege

Leith Leith (; gd, Lìte) is a port area in the north of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith. In 2021, it was ranked by '' Time Out'' as one of the top five neighbourhoods to live in the world. The earliest ...

. On his return, he continued to be employed in surveying defences. In 1569, the

Earl of Sussex Earl of Sussex is a title that has been created several times in the Peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. The early Earls of Arundel (up to 1243) were often also called Earls of Sussex. The fifth creation came in the Peera ...

sent him to assist the mayor in the fortification of Newcastle. In 1577, he is last mentioned in a letter sent to the Council from the Earl of Huntingdon, enclosing a report from him on Kingston-upon-Hull, whither he had been sent to survey the castle and forts. He is spoken of as a "man well given in religion, and of good experience". By his first wife, Anne, daughter of James Mauleverer, Esq., he left a son and successor, Edward. tate Papers, Domestic, Addenda, 1547–65 and 1566–79, Foreign Ser. 1558–59, 1559–60; Holinshed, pp. 978, 980; Stow's Annals, p. 641; Collins's Peerage, v. 140.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gower, Thomas Year of birth unknown Place of birth unknown Year of death unknown Place of death unknown Military personnel from Yorkshire 16th-century English soldiers People from Berwick-upon-Tweed