Biography of Catherine Grey Countess Hertford 1540-1568

Paternal Family Tree: Grey

Maternal Family Tree: Jeanne Sabran

1551 Edward VI's 14th Birthday

1553 Grey and Dudley Triple Wedding

1554 Execution of Lady Jane Grey and her Faction

1559 Funeral of Frances Brandon

1563 Talbot Herbert Double Wedding

On 10 Oct 1530 [her grandfather] Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset (age 53) died. His son [her father] Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 13) succeeded 3rd Marquess Dorset, 3rd Earl Huntingdon, 9th Baron Ferrers of Groby, 9th Baron Harington, 4th Baron Bonville.

In 1533 [her father] Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 16) and [her mother] Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (age 15) were married. She by marriage Marchioness Dorset. She the daughter of Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 49) and Mary Tudor Queen Consort France (age 36). He the son of Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset and Margaret Wotton Marchioness Dorset (age 46). They were half second cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 25 Aug 1540 Catherine Grey Countess Hertford was born to Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 23) and Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (age 23) at Bradgate Park, Leicestershire. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 03 Jun 1550 John Dudley 2nd Earl Warwick (age 23) and [her future sister-in-law] Anne Seymour (age 12) were married. She the daughter of Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset (age 50) and Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset (age 53). He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 46) and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland (age 41). She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Edward VI's 14th Birthday

11 Oct 1551, the day before his fourteenth birthday, King Edward VI (age 13) celebrated at Hampton Court Palace [Map] by rewarding his guardians; it may have been a case of his guardians rewarding themselves.

John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 47), leader of the Council, was created 1st Duke Northumberland. Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland (age 42) by marriage Duchess Northumberland. His son Henry Dudley (age 25) was knighted.

[her father] Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 34) was created 1st Duke Suffolk for having married King Edward VI's (age 13) first cousin [her mother] Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (age 34). Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (age 34) by marriage Duchess Suffolk.

William Paulet (age 68), Master of the Kings Wards, was created 1st Marquess Winchester. Elizabeth Capell Marchioness Winchester by marriage Marchioness Winchester.

His guardian [her future father-in-law] William Herbert (age 50) was created 1st Earl Pembroke. Anne Parr Countess Pembroke (age 36) by marriage Countess Pembroke.

Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset (age 51), the King's (age 13) uncle attended.

Henry Dudley (age 25) was knighted at Hampton Court Palace, Richmond [Map].

1553 Grey and Dudley Triple Wedding

On 25 May 1553 a triple wedding was celebrated at Durham Place, the London townhouse of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 49), father of Guildford Dudley (age 18) and Katherine Dudley Countess Huntingdon (age 15) ...

Guildford Dudley (age 18) and Lady Jane Grey (age 17) were married. She the daughter of Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 36) and Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (age 35). He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 49) and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland (age 44). They were third cousin once removed. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Henry Hastings 3rd Earl Huntingdon (age 18) and Katherine Dudley Countess Huntingdon (age 15) were married. She the daughter of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 49) and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland (age 44). He the son of Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon (age 39) and Catherine Pole Countess Huntingdon (age 42).

Henry Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 15) and Catherine Grey Countess Hertford (age 12) were married. She the daughter of Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 36) and Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (age 35). He the son of William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 52) and Anne Parr Countess Pembroke. They were fourth cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Execution of Lady Jane Grey and her Faction

On 01 Mar 1555 [her step-father] Adrian Stokes (age 35) and [her mother] Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (age 37) were married. She the daughter of Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk and Mary Tudor Queen Consort France. She a granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 29 Apr 1555 Edward Unton (age 21) and [her future sister-in-law] Anne Seymour (age 17) were married. They had seven children. She the daughter of Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset and Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset (age 58). She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1559 [her future husband] Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford (age 19) was created 1st Earl Hertford, 1st Baron Beauchamp of Hatch Beauchamp in Somerset.

On 20 Nov 1559 [her mother] Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (age 42) died at Richmond, Surrey [Map]. She was buried at Chapel of St Edmund, Westminster Abbey [Map].

Funeral of Frances Brandon

On 05 Dec 1559 [her mother] Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (deceased) was buried in St Edmund's Chapel in Westminster Abbey [Map] at a ceremony conducted by Bishop John Jewel (age 37). Her daughter Catherine Grey Countess Hertford (age 19) was Chief Mourner. [her sister] Mary Grey (age 14) was present. Her effigy was paid for by [her step-father] Adrian Stokes (age 40): recumbent effigy is dressed in the Ermine robes signifying she was a duchess with a pendant around her neck possibly designed by Cornelius Cure.

Before 25 Dec 1560 Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford (age 21) and Catherine Grey Countess Hertford (age 20) were married in secret by an anonymous clergyman at Hertford House Canon Row. She the daughter of Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk and Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk. He the son of Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset and Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset (age 63). He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

After 25 Dec 1560 Catherine Grey Countess Hertford (age 20) was imprisoned in the Tower of London [Map] for having married [her husband] Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford (age 21).

In 1561 Edward Warner (age 50) was responsible for the custody of Catherine Grey Countess Hertford (age 20) who had fallen into disgrace as a consequence of her secret marriage to [her husband] Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford (age 21).

In 1561 [her sister-in-law] Jane Seymour (age 20) died.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 21 Sep 1561. The xxj day of September was browth [to bed of] a [her son] sune my lade Katheryn Gray (age 21), the dowther of the duke [of Suffolk] that was heded on the Towre hylle [Map], and ys brodur lord Thomas Gray the sam tyme.

On 21 Sep 1561 [her son] Edward Seymour was born to [her husband] Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford (age 22) and Catherine Grey Countess Hertford (age 21) at Tower of London [Map]. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 25 Sep 1561. The xxv day of September was cristened with-in the Towre [Map] my lorde Harford('s) (age 22) [her son] sune by my lade Katheryn Gray (age 21), late dowther of the duke of Suffoke-Gray.

Note. P. 268. Christening of the earl of Hertford's son. This was the first offspring of the stolen alliance noticed in the preceding page. The son was christened Edward, but died in infancy; and the second son, whose birth is afterwards mentioned in p. 300, received the same name.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 10 Feb 1563. The x day of Feybruary was browth a-bed within [the] Towre with a [her son] sune my lade Katheryn Harfford (age 22), wyff to the [her husband] yerle of Harfford (age 23), and the god-fathers wher ij warders of the Towre, and ys name was callyd Thomas.

On 10 Feb 1563 [her son] Thomas Seymour was born to [her husband] Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford (age 23) and Catherine Grey Countess Hertford (age 22) at Tower of London [Map]. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

1563 Talbot Herbert Double Wedding

On 17 Feb 1563 at Castle Baynard [Map] a double wedding between two pairs of siblings, Talbot and Herbert, took place ...

[her husband] Henry Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 25) and Catherine Talbot Countess Pembroke (age 13) were married. She the daughter of George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 35) and Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 38). He the son of William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 62) and Anne Parr Countess Pembroke. They were third cousin once removed.

Francis Talbot (age 11) and [her sister-in-law] Anne Herbert (age 13) were married. She the daughter of William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 62) and Anne Parr Countess Pembroke. He the son of George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 35) and Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 38). They were third cousin once removed.

On 26 Jan 1568 Catherine Grey Countess Hertford (age 27) died at Cockfield Hall, Suffolk.

After 26 Jan 1568. Monument at Salisbury Cathedral [Map] to [her former husband] Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford (age 28) and Catherine Grey Countess Hertford (deceased). She placed higher than her husband on the monument given her Royal descent; she was a great gran-daughter of King Henry VII.

On 21 Apr 1577 [her former husband] Henry Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 39) and Mary Sidney Countess Pembroke (age 15) were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. The difference in their ages was 23 years. He the son of William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke and Anne Parr Countess Pembroke.

In 1582 [her former husband] Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford (age 42) and Frances Howard Countess Hertford (age 28) were married. She by marriage Countess Hertford. He the son of Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset and Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset (age 85). He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 19 Jan 1601 [her former husband] Henry Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 63) died. His son William Herbert 3rd Earl Pembroke (age 20) succeeded 3rd Earl Pembroke.

On 27 May 1601 [her former husband] Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford (age 62) and Frances Howard Duchess Lennox and Richmond (age 22) were married. She by marriage Countess Hertford. The difference in their ages was 39 years. He the son of Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset and Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset. They were half third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 06 Apr 1621 [her former husband] Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford (age 81) died. He was buried at Salisbury Cathedral [Map].

[her son] Edward Seymour and Honora Rogers were married. He the son of Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford and Catherine Grey Countess Hertford. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Henry Seymour and Joan Percy were married. She the daughter of Thomas Percy 7th Earl of Northumberland and Anne Somerset Countess Northumberland. He the son of Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset and Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Edward Seymour and Margaret Walshe were married. He the son of Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset and Catherine Filliol.

Catherine Grey Countess Hertford 1540-1568 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

King Edward IV of England 1442-1483

Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York 1415-1495

Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 1407-1462

Richard Neville 5th Earl Salisbury 1400-1460

Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke York 1411-1460

Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 1415-1472

King Henry VII of England and Ireland 1457-1509

Royal Ancestors of Catherine Grey Countess Hertford 1540-1568

Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Kings Scotland: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of William "Lion" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 4 Grand Daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France

Royal Descendants of Catherine Grey Countess Hertford 1540-1568

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom x 1

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 2

Ancestors of Catherine Grey Countess Hertford 1540-1568

Great x 4 Grandfather: Reginald Grey 3rd Baron Grey Ruthyn 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Grey Baron Ferrers of Groby 6 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Astley Baroness Grey Ruthyn 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Grey 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Ferrers 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ferrers 6th Baroness Ferrers Groby 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Mowbray Baroness Berkeley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Grey 1st Marquess Dorset 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Woodville

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Bittelsgate

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margherita Baux 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

GrandFather: Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Bonville 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Grey 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Bonville 6th Baron Harington 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Harrington

Great x 1 Grandmother: Cecily Bonville Marchioness Dorset 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Neville 5th Earl Salisbury Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Katherine Neville Baroness Bonville and Hastings 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Holland 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Father: Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Nicholas Wotton

Great x 2 Grandfather: Nicholas Wotton

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Corbie

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Corbie

Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Wotton of Boughton Malherbe

GrandMother: Margaret Wotton Marchioness Dorset

Catherine Grey Countess Hertford Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Brandon

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Brandon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Ada Calthorpe

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Brandon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Wingfield 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Wingfield 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Wingfield 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Goushill

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Goushill 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

GrandFather: Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ingram le Bruyn

Great x 3 Grandfather: Morice Bruyn

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Pole

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Bruyn aka Darcy

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bruyn

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Darcy

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Dracy

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Darcy

Mother: Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Maredudd Tudor 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Owen Tudor 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund Tudor 1st Earl Richmond 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabeau Wittelsbach Queen Consort France 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: King Henry VII of England and Ireland 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Duke Somerset Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beauchamp 3rd Baron Beauchamp Bletsoe 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Edith Stourton Baroness Beauchamp Bletsoe 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

GrandMother: Mary Tudor Queen Consort France Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard of Conisbrough 1st Earl Cambridge Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke York Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Mortimer 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: King Edward IV of England 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth York Queen Consort England Daughter of King Edward IV of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Woodville

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Bittelsgate

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margherita Baux 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England