Catherine Carey

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Lady Catherine Carey (c. 1524/1529 - 15 January 1568) was Chief Lady of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth I of England.

Catherine Carey was the daughter of Sir William Carey, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and Esquire of the Body to King Henry VIII of England, and his wife Lady Mary Boleyn, who had once been mistress of King Henry VIII. Although rumour had it that Catherine and her brother Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon were fathered by Henry VIII, himself this is unknown. However, large grants of lands and titles to the Boleyn family around the time of Henry's birth may validate this rumour. If Catherine was born in or around 1524, as is sometimes asserted, she may have also been a royal bastard. If she was born later, her birth would have fallen after the acknowledged affair between her mother and Henry VIII had ended, and she could have been the daughter of Sir William Carey.

She was married to Sir Francis Knollys. Her husband was named a Knight of the Garter in 1593. They had a total of twelve children:

• Lettice Knollys (c. 1543 - 25 December 1634). She married first Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, secondly Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester and thirdly Sir Christopher Blount.
• Sir Henry Knollys (c. 1545 - 1583). He was a Member of Parliament representing first Shoreham, Kent (1563) and then Oxfordshire. Esquire of the Body to Elizabeth I. He was married to Margaret Cave (1549 - 1600), daughter of Sir Ambrose Cave and Margaret Willington.
• Elizabeth Knollys. She married Sir Thomas Leighton, son of John Leighton of Watlesburgh and Joyce Sutton, in 1578. Her husband served as governor of Jersey.
• William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury (c. 1545 - 25 May 1632). He was married first to Dorothy Bray and secondly to Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk and his second wife Catherine Knyvett.
• Edward Knollys (1546 - 1580). He was a Member of Parliament.
• Sir Robert Knollys (1547 - 1626). Member of Parliament representing Reading, Berkshire (1572 - 1589), Brecknockshire (1589 - 1604), Abingdon, Oxfordshire (1604, 1624 - 1625) and finally Berkshire (1626). He married Catherine Vaughan, daughter of Sir Rowland Vaughan of Porthamel.
• Richard Knollys (1548 - 21 August 1596). Member of Parliament representing first Wallingford (1584) and then Northampton (1588). Married Joan Heigham, daughter of John Heigham of Cliffords.
• Sir Francis Knollys "the Young" (c. 1552 - 1643). Member of Parliament representing first Oxford (1572 - 1588) and then Berkshire (1597, 1625). Married Lettice Barrett, daughter of John Barrett of Hanham. Father-in-law of John Hampden.
• Sir Thomas Knollys. Better known for service in the Eighty Years' War (1568 - 1648). Governor of Ostend in 1586. Married Odelia de Morana, daughter of John de Morada, Marquess of Bergen.
• Anne Knollys (c. 1553 - last reported alive 30 August 1608). Married Thomas West, 2nd Baron De La Warr. Mother to Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr.
• Catherine Knollys (c. 1560 - 20 December 1620). Married first Gerald Fitzgerald, Baron Offaley and secondly Sir Phillip Butler of Watton Woodhall, a possible descendant of James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde.
• Cecily Knollys. No known descendants.

Her niece was Katherine Carey, who became Countess of Nottingham.