Elizabeth FitzHugh

Lady Elizabeth FitzHugh
Lady Parr of Kendal
Spouse(s) Sir William Parr of Kendal
Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harrowden
Issue
Anne Parr, Lady Cheney
Sir Thomas Parr
William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Horton
John Parr, Esq.
Katherine Vaux, Lady Throckmorton
Alice Vaux
Anne Vaux, Lady Strange
Father Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron Fitzhugh of Ravensworth
Mother Lady Alice Neville
Born 1455/65
Ravensworth, Yorkshire, England
Died before 10 July 1507[1]
Harrowden, Northamptonshire, England

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.

Contents

Family

Elizabeth was born at the family's ancestral home, Ravensworth Castle in North Yorkshire, England. She was the daughter of Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron Fitzhugh of Ravensworth (descendant of King John)[2] 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,[3] 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.[4]
The current co-heirs to the barony are:

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 III'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.[5]

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.[5]

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 IV; 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.[6] Their issue includes:

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ Douglas Richardson. Plantagenet Ancestry, Genealogical Publishing Com, 2004. pg 562.
  2. ^ Douglas Richardson. Plantagenet Ancestry, Genealogical Publishing Com, 2004. pg 144, 561.
  3. ^ The Complete Peerage vol.V, pp. 428-429
  4. ^ Crofts Peerage Online Baron FitzHugh
  5. ^ a b c James, Susan. Catherine Parr: Henry VIII's Last Love. (2009), pg 15, 81.
  6. ^ History of Parliament, a biographical dictionary of Members of the House of Commons
  7. ^ "Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron". http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/FITZHUGH.htm#Henry%20FITZHUGH%20%285%C2%BA%20B.%20Fitzhugh%29. Retrieved 2010-09-29 
  8. ^ "Alice Neville". http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/NEVILLE2.htm#Alice%20NEVILLE%20%28B.%20Fitzhugh%29. Retrieved 2010-09-27