Gerrard Fowke

Gerrard Foulke or Fowke (1626 – October 15, 1669) was an English merchant who became a planter, military officer and politician in the Colony of Virginia, then the Maryland Colony. He succeeded his brother and business partner Thomas Fowke and represented Westmoreland County in the House of Burgesses, before marrying a widow, moving to Port Tobacco and representing Charles County in the Maryland Assembly.

Early and family life Born in 1626 in Staffordshire, England, to the former Mary Bayley of Lee Hall in Staffordshire and her husband Roger Fowke (1598-1649). A Royalist, he and two brothers emigrated across the Atlantic Ocean during the English Civil War. Capt. Thomas Fowke (d. 1663) initially partnered with his brother and traveled between England and the colonies.Richard Fowke outlived both his brothers, dying in 1677 after settling in Maryland near this brother.

Career In April 1655, Fowke, who identified himself as a merchant and lived on Potomac Creek, was appointed a justice of the peace for Westmoreland County (the justices jointly administering the county at the time). He was named lieutenant Colonel of the county militia in 1661. In May 1660, Thomas Fowke signed a partnership agreement with his brother Gerrard, which merged their real and personal estates for seven years, during which time he made his will and died, leaving 2/3 of his estate to Gerrard, who was appointed executor. However, the werowance died soon after returning from the capital, and his tribesmen had left Westmoreland County. By 1673 the Doegs were living near the headwaters of Passapatanzy Creek, just west of modern Dogue, and from 1714 to 1720 were mentioned as living on the upper reaches of the Mattaponi River. Meanwhile, Fowke acquired the land which had underlain their village, and built a house he called Gunston Hall after the family's residence in Staffordshire, but soon sold it to the Mason Family.

In 1663 and 1665 Westmoreland County voters elected Fowke to replace his brother Thomas in the House of Burgesses.

According to Tyler, Fowke moved across the Potomac River, to Port Tobacco, Maryland, after marrying the widow of Col. Job Chandler of Port Tobacco. Anne Fowke bore another son, Gerrard Fowke Jr. who survived to adulthood, as did daughters Mary and Elizabeth from this second marriage. His daughter Mary married George Mason II and thus was the grandmother of founding father George Mason.

Death and legacy

When Fowke died, his widow was appointed to administer his estate, and she survived for decades. His will confirmed transfer of an enslaved Negro girl from her grandmother to his daughters. His namesake son also served in the Maryland Assembly. The Fowke family continued in the Potomac River basin and maintained a close relationship with the Mason family, who also owned land on both sides of the Potomac River.