[1][2] He was born at Naworth Castle, Cumberland, on 27 October 1387, and baptized the following day in Brampton church.

[3][4] Thomas received livery of his father's lands at age 21 on 10 November 1408, and was summoned to parliament from 1 December 1412 as 'Thomas Dacre of Gillesland' (Gisland).

[10] The other sons – Ralph, Richard, George, and John – are thought to have died young.

After Thomas's death in 1458, his granddaughter Joan (daughter of his eldest son) and her husband Richard Fiennes were recognized as heirs to the barony of Dacre.

His second and third sons, Randolf and Humphrey, on the other hand, were each summoned to parliament as lords Dacre, in 1459 and 1482 respectively.