Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Devon

Margaret Beaufort (c. 1409–1449) was a daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset and Margaret Holland.

She was a younger sister of Henry Beaufort, 2nd Earl of Somerset, John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, Thomas Beaufort, Count of Perche, Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland and Edmund Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset.

She was born in Westminster and raised alongside her siblings. She was married to Thomas de Courtenay, 13th Earl of Devon. They were parents to eight children:

• Thomas Courtenay, 14th Earl of Devon (1432–1461). He supported the House of Lancaster in the Wars of the Roses. He was captured by the House of York during the Battle of Towton and executed later in the same year.
• Henry Courtenay (died 4 May 1466). Heir to his older brother and claimant to the Earldom of Devon which had been attainted. Executed by orders of Edward IV for treason.
• John Courtenay, 15th Earl of Devon (c. 1435 – 4 May 1471). Heir to his older brothers. Restored to the Earldom of Devon by Henry VI in 1470. Killed fighting for the Lancastrian side in the Battle of Tewkesbury.
• Jane Courtenay. Married first Sir Robert Clifford, younger son of Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron de Clifford, and secondly Sir William Knyvett who served as Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. Possibly mother to naval captain Charles Clifford.
• Elizabeth Courtenay. Married Sir Hugh Conway.
• Anne Courtenay. Possibly died young.
• Eleanor Courtenay. Possibly died young.
• Matilda Courtenay. Possibly died young.

Two of her nieces were also named Margaret Beaufort. Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Stafford was the mother of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Margaret Beaufort, Duchess of Suffolk, Countess of Richmond and Derby was the mother of Henry VII.

Ancestry

Sources

• Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy by Alison Weir.