Elizabeth FitzHugh, Baroness Vaux of Harrowden
Encyclopedia
Lady Elizabeth FitzHugh (1455/65 - before 10 July 1507) was an English noblewoman as Lady Parr of Kendal. She is best known for being the grandmother of Catherine Parr
, sixth queen consort to Henry VIII
, and her siblings Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke
, and William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
.
in North Yorkshire
, England
. She was the daughter of Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron Fitzhugh of Ravensworth (descendant of King John
) and Lady Alice Neville
, daughter of Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury
and Alice Montagu, 5th Countess of Salisbury. Through her mother Alice, she descended from Edward III and was niece to Warwick, the 'Kingmaker'
. Elizabeth had nine siblings, including Alice FitzHugh
, Lady Fiennes and Henry, 6th Baron FitzHugh who married Elizabeth Burgh or Borough, daughter of Sir Thomas Burgh, 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough and his wife Margaret De Ros. Their son, George FitzHugh, inherited the barony but after his death in 1513, the barony fell in abeyance between Elizabeth and her older sister Alice
. This abeyance continues today between the two families.
The current co-heirs to the barony are:
's queen consort, her cousin, Anne Neville
. Elizabeth would be second in a four generation span of family that would serve England's queens which started in 1483 with her mother, the redoubtable Alice Neville, Lady FitzHugh
. Her granddaughter, Anne Parr
would continue the tradition by becoming lady-in-waiting to all six of Henry VIII
's wives. Even Anne's sister, Catherine Parr
, who later became queen served in the household of the Princess Mary
until she caught the eye of King Henry.
Elizabeth was lucky enough to remarry. After the overthrow of the House of York
, Elizabeth made a dubious second marriage with a protege of Margaret Beaufort, Sir Nicholas Vaux
(later Baron Vaux), which saved the family fortunes.
; who by marriage was a cousin to him. He fought with the Nevilles
on the Yorkist
side at Banbury
. Elizabeth did not give birth to her first child until the age of sixteen.
Elizabeth and William had the following children:
After the death of Sir William Parr c. 1484, Elizabeth re-married Sir Nicholas Vaux
c. 1483/4 as his first wife. Their issue includes:
Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
, sixth queen consort to Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, and her siblings Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke
Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke
Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, Baroness Herbert of Cardiff was lady-in-waiting to each of Henry VIII of England's six wives. She was the younger sister of his sixth wife, Catherine Parr.-Early years:...
, and William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, 1st Earl of Essex and 1st Baron Parr, KG was the son of Sir Thomas Parr and his wife, Maud Green, daughter of Sir Thomas Green, of Broughton and Greens Norton...
.
Family
Elizabeth was born at the family's ancestral home, Ravensworth CastleRavensworth Castle (North Yorkshire)
Ravensworth Castle is a ruined 14th century castle in the village of Ravensworth, North Yorkshire, England. It has been designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage.-History:...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She was the daughter of Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron Fitzhugh of Ravensworth (descendant of King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
) and Lady Alice Neville
Alice Neville
Alice Neville , Baroness FitzHugh of Ravensworth, was the wife of Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron FitzHugh. She is best known for being the great-grandmother of Queen consort Catherine Parr and her siblings, Anne and William, as well as one of the sisters of Warwick the 'Kingmaker'. Her family was one of...
, daughter of Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury
Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury
Richard Neville, jure uxoris 5th Earl of Salisbury and 7th and 4th Baron Montacute, KG, PC was a Yorkist leader during the early parts of the Wars of the Roses.-Background:...
and Alice Montagu, 5th Countess of Salisbury. Through her mother Alice, she descended from Edward III and was niece to Warwick, the 'Kingmaker'
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville KG, jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury and 8th and 5th Baron Montacute , known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was an English nobleman, administrator, and military commander...
. Elizabeth had nine siblings, including Alice FitzHugh
Alice FitzHugh
Alice FitzHugh, Lady Fiennes was the eldest daughter and co-heiress of Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron FitzHugh, and Lady Alice Neville. Alice was born at the ancestral castle of Ravensworth. She married Sir John Fiennes, the son of Sir Richard Fiennes and Joan Dacre, 7th Baroness Dacre...
, Lady Fiennes and Henry, 6th Baron FitzHugh who married Elizabeth Burgh or Borough, daughter of Sir Thomas Burgh, 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough and his wife Margaret De Ros. Their son, George FitzHugh, inherited the barony but after his death in 1513, the barony fell in abeyance between Elizabeth and her older sister Alice
Alice FitzHugh
Alice FitzHugh, Lady Fiennes was the eldest daughter and co-heiress of Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron FitzHugh, and Lady Alice Neville. Alice was born at the ancestral castle of Ravensworth. She married Sir John Fiennes, the son of Sir Richard Fiennes and Joan Dacre, 7th Baroness Dacre...
. This abeyance continues today between the two families.
The current co-heirs to the barony are:
- Rachel Douglas-Home, 27th Baroness DacreRachel Douglas-Home, 27th Baroness DacreRachel Leila Douglas-Home, 27th Baroness Dacre is a British peeress, daughter of Thomas Brand, 4th Viscount Hampden & 26th Baron Dacre and Leila Emily Seely, a granddaughter of Sir Charles Seely, 1st Baronet, and a great-great granddaughter of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford.She is a great...
née Brand (b. 1929) - Hon. Tessa Ogilvie Thompson née Brand (b. 1934)
- Francis Brand, 7th Viscount HampdenFrancis Brand, 7th Viscount HampdenFrancis Anthony Brand, 7th Viscount Hampden is a British peer. He inherited the title upon his father's death on 4 January 2008.His heir apparent is the Hon. Lucian Anthony Brand .- References :...
(b. 1970) - William Herbert, 18th Earl of PembrokeWilliam Herbert, 18th Earl of PembrokeWilliam Alexander Sidney Herbert, 18th Earl of Pembroke, 15th Earl of Montgomery , inherited the title in 2003 following the death of Henry Herbert, 17th Earl of Pembroke.-Estate:...
(b. 1978)
Life
Elizabeth had an easy-going and pleasure-loving disposition. After her husband Sir William Parr died in 1483, Elizabeth, who was twenty three at the time, was left with four small children. As a widow, Elizabeth's life revolved around the court. Elizabeth served as lady-in-waiting to Richard IIIRichard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
's queen consort, her cousin, Anne Neville
Anne Neville
Lady Anne Neville was Princess of Wales as the wife of Edward of Westminster and Queen of England as the consort of King Richard III. She held the latter title for less than two years, from 26 June 1483 until her death in March 1485...
. Elizabeth would be second in a four generation span of family that would serve England's queens which started in 1483 with her mother, the redoubtable Alice Neville, Lady FitzHugh
Alice Neville
Alice Neville , Baroness FitzHugh of Ravensworth, was the wife of Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron FitzHugh. She is best known for being the great-grandmother of Queen consort Catherine Parr and her siblings, Anne and William, as well as one of the sisters of Warwick the 'Kingmaker'. Her family was one of...
. Her granddaughter, Anne Parr
Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke
Anne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, Baroness Herbert of Cardiff was lady-in-waiting to each of Henry VIII of England's six wives. She was the younger sister of his sixth wife, Catherine Parr.-Early years:...
would continue the tradition by becoming lady-in-waiting to all six of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's wives. Even Anne's sister, Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
, who later became queen served in the household of the Princess Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
until she caught the eye of King Henry.
Elizabeth was lucky enough to remarry. After the overthrow of the House of York
House of York
The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
, Elizabeth made a dubious second marriage with a protege of Margaret Beaufort, Sir Nicholas Vaux
Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden
Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden was a soldier and courtier in England and an early member of the House of Commons...
(later Baron Vaux), which saved the family fortunes.
Marriages and Issue
Elizabeth was married twice. At the age of twelve, she married firstly William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Kendal, a man twenty eight years her senior. William was a Knight of the Garter who was held high in favour with King Edward IVEdward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
; who by marriage was a cousin to him. He fought with the Nevilles
House of Neville
The House of Neville is a noble house of early medieval origin, which was a leading force in English politics in the later middle ages...
on the Yorkist
House of York
The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
side at Banbury
Battle of Edgecote Moor
The Battle of Edgecote Moor took place 6 miles northeast of Banbury , England on 26 July 1469 during the Wars of the Roses. The site of the battle was actually Danes Moor in Northamptonshire, at a crossing of a tributary of the River Cherwell. The battle pitted the forces of Richard Neville, 16th...
. Elizabeth did not give birth to her first child until the age of sixteen.
Elizabeth and William had the following children:
- Anne Parr (c. 1456-1513), who married Sir Thomas Cheney of Irthlingborough. Their daughter Elizabeth, would go on to marry the son of Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of HarrowdenNicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of HarrowdenNicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden was a soldier and courtier in England and an early member of the House of Commons...
by his second wife, Anne Green; aunt of Catherine ParrCatherine ParrCatherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
. When Elizabeth married Lord VauxThomas Vaux, 2nd Baron Vaux of HarrowdenThomas Vaux, 2nd Baron Vaux of Harrowden , English poet, was the eldest son of Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux and Anne Green, daughter of Sir Thomas Green and Lady Joan Fogge.-Life:...
, she was age 18 and he was age 14. While there were no blood relations, Lord Vaux's father, NicholasNicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of HarrowdenNicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden was a soldier and courtier in England and an early member of the House of Commons...
, had been previously married to Elizabeth Cheney's grandmother, and had issue (see below), making Hon. Catherine, Alice, and Anne Vaux maternal aunts to Elizabeth Cheney. Through these connections Elizabeth, Lady Vaux and the 2nd Lord had Throckmorton cousins in common.
- Sir Thomas ParrSir Thomas ParrSir Thomas Parr was an English knight, courtier and Lord of the Manor of Kendal in Westmorland during the Tudor period. He is best known as the father of Catherine Parr, queen consort of England and the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII.-Life:Thomas was the son of Sir William Parr of Kendal...
(c. 1483–1517), who was the eldest son, was knighted and was sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1509; he was master of the wards and comptroller to Henry VIII. He was rich, owing to his succeeding, in 1512, to half the estates of his cousin, Lord Fitz-Hugh, and also to his marriage with Maud GreenMaud Green, Lady ParrMaud Green was best known as the mother of Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII of England. She was a close friend and lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon...
, daughter and coheiress of Sir Thomas GreenSir Thomas GreenSir Thomas Green was Lord of Greens Norton, Northamptonshire, England. He was the son of Sir Thomas Greene , Lord of Greens Norton, and Matilda Throckmorton. He is best known for being the father of Maud Green and grandfather to queen consort Katherine Parr and the last male heir to the Lordship...
of Boughton and Greens Norton in Northamptonshire. He died on 12 November 1518, and was buried in Blackfriars Church, London. His widow died on 1 September 1532, and was buried beside him. Of their children, Katherine ParrCatherine ParrCatherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
, queen consort of Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, and, William ParrWilliam Parr, 1st Marquess of NorthamptonWilliam Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, 1st Earl of Essex and 1st Baron Parr, KG was the son of Sir Thomas Parr and his wife, Maud Green, daughter of Sir Thomas Green, of Broughton and Greens Norton...
(afterwards Marquess of Northampton) are separately noticed; while a daughter, AnneAnne Herbert, Countess of PembrokeAnne Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, Baroness Herbert of Cardiff was lady-in-waiting to each of Henry VIII of England's six wives. She was the younger sister of his sixth wife, Catherine Parr.-Early years:...
, married William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke of the tenth creation. The current Earl of PembrokeWilliam Herbert, 18th Earl of PembrokeWilliam Alexander Sidney Herbert, 18th Earl of Pembroke, 15th Earl of Montgomery , inherited the title in 2003 following the death of Henry Herbert, 17th Earl of Pembroke.-Estate:...
, Earl of MontgomeryEarl of MontgomeryThe title Earl of Montgomery was created in the Peerage of England in 1605 for Sir Philip Herbert, younger son of the 2nd Earl of Pembroke. The first Earl inherited the Earldom of Pembroke in 1630 from his brother, the 3rd Earl, and the two titles have been united ever since.* Philip Herbert, 4th...
, and Earl of CarnarvonEarl of CarnarvonEarl of Carnarvon is a title that has been created three times in British history. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1628 in favour of Robert Dormer, 2nd Baron Dormer. For more information on this creation, which became extinct in 1709, see the Baron Dormer.The title was created...
are descendants of Anne and William.
- William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Horton (c. 1483–1547), the second son, was knighted on 25 December 1513, was sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1518 and 1522, and after his niece's, Katherine ParrCatherine ParrCatherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
's promotion to queen consort, he became her chamberlain. On 23 December 1543 he was created Baron Parr of Horton, Northamptonshire. He died on 10 September 1547, and was buried at Horton (for his tomb, see Bridges, Northamptonshire, i. 370). By Mary, daughter of Sir William Salisbury, he left four daughters. His daughter Maud and her husband, Sir Ralph Lane, are ancestors of Albert II of Monaco. The late Princess of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer, was also a descendant of Maud and Mary Parr.
- John Parr, Esq. (d. 8 September 1508), married Constance, daughter of Sir Henry Vere of Addington, Surrey. They had no issue.
After the death of Sir William Parr c. 1484, Elizabeth re-married Sir Nicholas Vaux
Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden
Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden was a soldier and courtier in England and an early member of the House of Commons...
c. 1483/4 as his first wife. Their issue includes:
- Hon. Katherine Vaux (abt 1490-c. 1571), married Sir George ThrockmortonGeorge ThrockmortonSir George Throckmorton of Coughton Court was an English politician and a member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII...
of Coughton and had issue. Their descendants include the current queen of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II, the Duchess of Cornwall and the late Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
. - Alice Vaux (d. 1543), married Sir Richard Sapcote c. 1501. No issue known from this marriage.
- Anne Vaux, married Sir Thomas Le Strange (1493–1545) and had issue.