Description:Sir Thomas Gower married Frances Leveson, the grandaughter of Sir John Leveson of Halling (1555-1615) in 1631. By this time Frances Leveson's Father Sir John Leveson, the eldest son of Sir John Leveson of Halling (1555-1615) had died, leaving Frances Leveson's Uncle Sir Richard Leveson (1598-1661) responsible for the Leveson family’s finances. An early letter from Sir Thomas to Sir Richard suggests that the two men were in disagreement about financial affairs, particularly the dowry which Frances would receive on her marriage to Sir Thomas.
Sir Thomas’s letter states that he had ‘received little satisfaction’ from Sir Richard in answer to his enquiries over receiving the money promised to his wife on their marriage. He goes on to write ‘you cannot thinke but that findinge my wives portion due from the day of marriage, and that as well acknowledged by your owne hand, as by the assurances from her Grandfather, but I should expect some monies this tearme, or at least some appointed time whereon to rely’.
The letter reflects the importance of financial transactions in marriages at this time, with marriages treated as financial contracts between two families.
Sir Thomas's letter also suggests that the status of the family which a person married into was extremely important at this time. His letter reminds Sir Richard that his marriage to Frances and the subsequent union of the Levesons and the Gowers would be advantageous for both families. He writes ‘I shall account it a secondinge of my good fortune in any alliance to your worthy family, that I find my selfe thought fittinge to be rather added to it by friendship, then divided from it by a (I do professe) unwillinge separation’.
It is significant when reading Sir Thomas's letter to note that the letter book in which Sir Thomas's letters are kept begins with a genealogical history of Sir Thomas Gower and his family. This indicates that both the Leveson and Gower families were aware of the advantages gained from the union of their two families. The notes suggest that the wealthy Levesons were interested in the heritage of the ancient Gowers, whereas Sir Thomas's letter reflects his awareness of the wealth of the ‘worthy’ Leveson family.