Richard Gascoigne
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Richard Gascoigne (bapt. 27 May 1579 – 23 August 1661 x 24 March 1664) was an English antiquarian.
Gascoigne was baptised on 27 May 1579 at St Mary the Virgin, Shenfield, Essex. He was the fourth son of George Gascoigne (1531?–1620), a barrister and his wife Mary (née Stokesley; daughter of John Stokesley).[1] At one point George had been of Old Hurst, Huntingdonshire. His family was ultimately descended from one Nicholas Gascoigne, younger brother of Chief Justice Sir William Gascoigne (c. 1350–1419). Richard Gascoigne was also distantly related to Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, a relation he took some pride in.[2]
Gascoigne attended Jesus College, Cambridge as a pensioner, admitted on 21 October 1594 and graduating in the Lent term of 1599. He was forced to leave in September 1599 due to health troubles, later claiming he would have stayed on otherwise and become a fellow.[1]
Gascoigne resided, for most of his life, in Bramham Biggan, Yorkshire; near the end, he moved to Little Turnstile, Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. Gascoigne often found himself in poverty during his life, incarcerated several times in debtor's prisons. He married one Elizabeth Colles at an unknown date. He took on John, a son of his elder brother, Sir Nicholas, as a ward at some point.[1]
Gascoigne composed his will on 23 August 1661. This will made no mention of Elizabeth, suggesting she had predeceased him at that point, but disparaged his ward, John at length for apparently causing his financial troubles. The will was probated by his landlady Frances Dimmock on 24 March 1664, who was also named as his executor and residuary legatee.[2][1] His date of death is not known, but must have been between when his will was composed and probated.[1]
