Biography of Ferdinando Gorges 1565-1647

In or before 1565 [his father] Edward Gorges (age 27) and [his mother] Cecily Lygon (age 24) were married. They were fourth cousin once removed.

Around 1565 Ferdinando Gorges was born to Edward Gorges (age 28) and Cecily Lygon (age 25).

On 29th August 1568 [his father] Edward Gorges (age 31) died.

After 29th August 1568 [his mother] Cecily Lygon (deceased) died.

Around 23rd April 1593 [his son] John Gorges was born to Ferdinando Gorges (age 28).

Before 31st December 1596 Hugh Smyth (age 22) and [his future wife] Elizabeth Gorges (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Gorges of Longford Castle (age 60) and [his future mother-in-law] Helena Snakenbourg Marchioness Northampton (age 47).

On 5th June 1600 Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex (age 34) was tried by before a commission of 18 men. He had to hear the charges and evidence on his knees. Essex was convicted, was deprived of public office, and was returned to virtual confinement. Ferdinando Gorges (age 35) testified against Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex.

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts. The 19th of February [1601] the Earl [of Essex] was arraigned (together with Southampton) in Westminster Hall before 25 peers, the Lord Treasurer (age 66) [Buckhurst] sitting as Lord Steward. At the bar the Earl laboured to extenuate his ftiult, by denying that ever he meant any harm to her Majesty's person, and by pretending that he took arms principally to save himself from my Lord Cobham (age 37) and Sir Walter Ralegh (age 48), who (he gave out) should have murdered him in his house on Saturday night. He pretended also an intention he had to have removed me with some others from the Queen, as one who would sell the kingdom of England to the Infant of Spain, with such other hyperbolical inventions. But before he went out of the Hall, when he saw himself condemned, and found that Sir John Davys (age 40), Sir Ferdinando Gorges (age 37), Sir Charles Davers, and Sir Christopher Blunt had confessed all the conferences that were held at Drury House, by his directions, for the surprising of the Queen and the Tower, which argued a premeditated treason (which he laboured to have had it prove only a sudden putting himself into strength, and flying into the city for fear of being committed over night when the Lords sent for him, which upon my faith to you, to whom I will not lie, was only to have reproved him for his unlawful assemblies, and to have wislied him to leave the city and retire into the country), he then break out to divers gentlemen in these words, that his confederates wlio now had accused him had been principal inciters of him, and not he of them, even ever since August last, to work his access to the Queen with force.

Before 31st July 1620 [his son] John Gorges (age 27) and [his daughter-in-law] Frances Clinton (age 17) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Clinton 3rd Earl Lincoln and Elizabeth Knyvet Countess Lincoln (age 42). They were fifth cousins.

On 21st September 1629 Ferdinando Gorges (age 64) and Elizabeth Gorges (age 51) were married at Wraxall, Somerset [Map]. She the daughter of Thomas Gorges of Longford Castle and Helena Snakenbourg Marchioness Northampton (age 80). They were first cousin once removed.

Before 31st October 1642 [his step-son] Thomas Smyth (age 33) died of smallpox. His body was buried in the Chancel of the Church of All Saints, Long Ashton [Map].

On 24th May 1647 Ferdinando Gorges (age 82) died.

In 1659 [his former wife] Elizabeth Gorges (age 81) died.