| Anne Welles | |
|---|---|
| Countess of Ormond | |
| Spouse(s) | James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond |
| Issue | |
| James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond Anne Butler Sir Richard Butler Sir Philip Butler Sir Ralph Butler |
|
| Father | John de Welles, 4th Lord Welles |
| Mother | Maud de Ros |
| Born | 1360 Gainsby, Lincolnshire, England |
| Died | 13 November 1397 |
Anne Butler (née Welles), Countess of Ormond (1360 – 13 November 1397), was the first wife of James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond, and the mother of James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond. She was the first Countess of Ormond to live at Kilkenny Castle, County Kilkenny. Upon her marriage she assumed the title of Countess of Ormond.
Contents |
Anne Welles was born in Gainsby, Lincolnshire, England in 1360, the daughter of John de Welles, 4th Lord Welles (23 August 1334- 11 October 1361) and Maud de Ros (died 9 December 1388). She had an elder brother John de Welles, 5th Lord Welles (born 20 April 1352), who married Eleanor de Mowbray, by whom he had issue. She had a sister Margery de Welles, who married firstly, John de Huntingfield, and secondly, Lord Scrope of Masham.
Her paternal grandparents were Sir Adam de Welles, 3rd Lord Welles and Margaret Bardolf, and her maternal grandparents were William de Ros, 2nd Lord Ros and Margery Badlesmere eldest daughter of Bartholmew de Badlesmere, 1st Lord Badlesmere and Margaret de Clare.
Anne Welles was the great-great-great-grandmother of Anne Boleyn.[1][2][3]
Prior to 17 June 1386, Anne Welles married James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond (died 6 September 1405), son of James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond and Elizabeth Darcy. He was Lord Justice of Ireland. He was also a fluent speaker of Irish.[4] In September 1391, he purchased Kilkenny Castle from Hugh le Despenser, which the Ormonds made their chief residence. Previously they lived at Gowran Castle, which James Butler had built. James and Anne hosted King Richard II when he visited Kilkenny Castle.[4]
James and Anne had five children:[5]
Anne Welles died on 13 November 1397, around the age of 37.[6] On 26 June 1397, Anne issued a lease to Sir John Drayton, of the manor of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and rents and appurtences of the towns of Aylesbury and Burton.[7]
The Earl of Ormond married secondly, Katherine FitzGerald of Desmond, by whom he had four children. The Earl had an illegitimate son, Thomas Le Boteller Prior of Kilmainham by an unknown mistress.[8] He is often incorrectly listed as a child of Anne Welles.[4]