Thomas Gage, 1st Viscount Gage

Thomas Gage, 1st Viscount Gage (c. 1695 – 21 December 1754) of High Meadow, Gloucestershire and later Firle Place, Sussex, was a British landowner and politician who sat in the

Early life

Gage was the eldest son of Joseph Gage of Shirburn Castle and Elizabeth Penruddock, the daughter and heiress of Sir George Penruddock. He succeeded his father-in-law to High Meadow in 1714.

He converted to the Church of England in 1715, perhaps to enable him to sit in parliament.^[1]

Career

Gage was elected

On 23 April 1744, his cousin,

Under a marriage settlement dated 3 October 1713, he married Benedicta Maria Theresa Hall, daughter and heiress of Henry Benedict Hall of High Meadow, Gloucestershire and his wife Frances Fortescue.[2]

Through his marriage to Benedicta, Thomas acquired wealthy estates in Gloucestershire in 1714 including High Meadow house, which became his principal residence, and the sinecure of Verderer of the Forest of Dean. ^{[2] [6]} Their marriage, although unfortunately unhappy,^[6] still produced two sons and one daughter. ^[2]

1.

2. General, the Hon. Thomas Gage, born on 10 March 1718/19 at Firle and christened on 31 March 1719 at Westminster St James, Middlesex, England. ^{[9] [10]}

3. Hon. Benedicta Maria Teresa Gage, married on 6 March 1755, at St George's, Hanover Sq, a catholic, George Tasburgh of Bodney, Norfolk, died without issue. ^{[11] [12] [1]}

Benedicta died at Bristol on 25 July 1749, and was buried on 30 July 1749 at Newland, co. Gloucester,^[13][14] having long been separated from Thomas, who married Jane Bond within a year of Benedicta's death.^[6][2]

Second Wife

He married secondly on 26 December 1750, Jane Bond 'daughter of one Godfrey', and widow of Henry Jermyn Bond, Esq. of Bury St. Edmunds.^[1] Her first husband Henry was a nephew (via his wife) of a Gage cousin, Sir William Gage, 2nd Baronet of Hengrave. Jane died without issue,^{[2] [12]} shortly after Thomas, on 8 October 1757 in Dover St, Piccadilly, London. Her will was proved 1757,^[14] and she was buried in Hengrave Church, Sussex (Suffolk?).^[1]

Later life

He had extensive remodelling work done on Firle Place between 1743 and 1753, and was involved in a number of

Gage and his son were defeated at the 1754 general election, having decided not to respond to the threats of his voters only to vote for candidates who promised to give £1,500 towards mending the roads.^[2]

Death and legacy

Gage died on 21 December 1754 and was buried at

See also

• Viscount Gage

References

• Alden, John R (1948). General Gage in America. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press.
  OCLC 181362
  .