Biography of Anne Seymour 1538-1588

Paternal Family Tree: Seymour

Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Bourchier 1472-1557

1537 Birth and Christening Edward VI

1552 Trial and Execution of Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset and his Supporters

1553 Grey and Dudley Triple Wedding

1554 Execution of Lady Jane Grey and her Faction

1557 Battle of St Quentin

In 1527 [her father] Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset (age 27) and Catherine Filliol (age 20) were married.

Before 09 Mar 1535 [her father] Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset (age 35) and [her mother] Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset (age 38) were married. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 05 Jun 1536 [her father] Edward Seymour (age 36) was created 1st Viscount Beauchamp. See Letter 1074 and Letter 1075.

Birth and Christening Edward VI

On 15 Oct 1537 the future Edward VI was christened by Bishop John Stokesley (age 62) at the Chapel Royal in Hampton Court Palace [Map]. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (age 48) performed the Baptismal Rites, and was appointed Godfather. Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 64) and Queen Mary I of England and Ireland (age 21) were Godparents.

King Edward VI of England and Ireland was created Duke Cornwall, 1st Earl Chester.

Henry Bourchier 2nd Earl Essex 3rd Count Eu carried the Salt. Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 53) was Godfather and supported the Marchioness of Exeter. Richard Long (age 43) was knighted. Thomas Cromwell 1st Earl Essex (age 52), Philip Boteler (age 45), John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 66) and John Gage (age 57) attended. Mary Scrope (age 61) carried Lady Mary's train. Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 54) carried a covered basin. Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 54) carried the canopy.

[her father] Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset (age 37) helped his young niece the future Elizabeth I to carry the Crisom. Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter (age 41) supported his wife Gertrude Blount Marchioness of Exeter (age 34) to carry the child. Thomas Boleyn 1st Earl Wiltshire and Ormonde (age 60) bore a taper of virgin wax. William Fitzalan 18th Earl Arundel (age 61) carried the train of the Prince's robe. Christopher Barker proclaimed the Prince's titles. Arthur Hopton (age 48) attended.

Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset (age 37) was created 1st Earl Hertford.

Nicholas Carew (age 41), Francis Bryan (age 47), Anthony Browne (age 37) and John Russell 1st Earl Bedford (age 52) surrounded the font.

Henry Knyvet of Charlton Wiltshire (age 27), Edward Neville (age 66), [her uncle] Thomas Seymour 1st Baron Seymour (age 29), Richard Long (age 43) and John Wallop (age 47) carried the canopy.

Bishop Robert Parfew aka Warton and Bishop John Bell attended.

William Fitzwilliam 1st Earl of Southampton (age 47) was created 1st Earl of Southampton. Mabel Clifford Countess Southampton (age 55) by marriage Countess of Southampton.

In 1538 Anne Seymour was born to Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset (age 38) and Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset (age 41).

Diary of Edward VI. 03 Jun 1550. The King came to Schein, wher was a mariag mad(e) betwen the [her husband] lord Lisle (age 23), th'erle of Warwic's (age 46) sone, and the ladi Anne (age 12), daughter to the duke of Somerset (age 50)3, wich don and a faire diner made, and daunsing finished, the King and the ladies went into tow chamhers mad of bowis, wher first he saw six gentlemen of on(e) side and six of another rune the course of the field, twis over, Ther names hiere do folow:

The lord [her half-brother] Edward (age 21).1a

Sir Jhon Aplebey.

(The rest omitted.)

And afterward cam three mascers of one side and tow of another, wich rane fowre courses apece. Ther names be (left blank).

Last of al came the count of Ragonne,2a with 3 Italians, who ran with al the gentlemen fowre courses, and afterward fought at tornay. And so, after souper, he (the King) retorned to Whestmuster.

Note 3. On this occasion Dudley (age 46) must have held out a brother's hand to Seymour (age 50), and hopes must have been entertained that the alliance would cement their future friendship, and secure the position of both parties. The result, as is well known, was otherwise. Little is on record of the history, and less of the character, of the bridegroom. When earl of Warwick, he was condemned with his father the duke of Northumberland in 1553, and he died without children in 1554, within ten days after his release from the Tower. The bride (age 12) — one of the "trois belles chanteresses "(as they were styled by the poet Ronsard) who under the guidance of their tutor Denisot celebrated in French verse the death and virtues of Marguerite de Valois, queen of Navarre — suffered severely from the miseries to which her high birth subjected her. After losing her father by decapitation in 1552, and having her husband (age 23) condemned to the like fate in the following year, — after attending him in the Tower, and losing him (probably from the effects of his confinement), — the countess (age 12) was remarried on the 29th April, 1555, to Edward Unton (age 16), a Berkshire squire, afterwards a knight of the Bath. By an inquisition taken many years after, it was found that she had been a lunatic from the year 1566. She was however the mother of seven children by sir Edward Unton (age 16), and the younger surviving son was the celebrated sir Henry Unton, ambassador in France, whose dispatches have been edited for the Roxburghe Club by Mr. Stevenson. For more minute particulars relative to the countess see the memoir of the Unton Family, by the present Editor, prefixed to the Unton Inventories, printed for the Berkshire Ashmolean Society in 1841.

Note 1a. Lord Edward Seymour (age 21), the duke of Somerset's (age 50) eldest son. [Note. In 1550 the Duke's eldest son John Seymour (age 23) was alive; he would die in 1552.]

Note 2a. On the 20th April, in the year before us, the council had issued a "warrant to (blank) to pay cxxvli. to the young conte Rangone for the half-yeres pension of one thousand crownes by the yere assigned to him during his abode in the King's majesties service, as well in respect of the young gentleman's good will and towardnesse, as for the love of his father, being a nobleman of Italie, and one that hath alwaies borne unto the King's majestic and his most noble father a singuler afiection: for a token whereof he sent this his eldest sonne hither to serve his highnesse." (Council Book.) This annuity of 250l. to Pallavicino Eangoni, during pleasure, was confirmed by letters patent dated the 20th Jan. 4 Edw. VI. 1550-1, printed in Rymer, xv. 252.

On 03 Jun 1550 John Dudley 2nd Earl Warwick (age 23) and 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.

In 1551 Henry Sidney (age 22) and [her sister-in-law] Mary Dudley (age 21) were married. She the daughter of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 47) and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland (age 42).

Trial and Execution of Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset and his Supporters

On 22 Jan 1552 [her father] Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset (age 52) was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. He was buried at St Peter ad Vincula Church, Tower of London [Map]. Duke Somerset, Earl Hertford, Viscount Beauchamp forfeit. His great-grandson William Seymour 2nd Duke Somerset was restored to the titles in 1660.

1553 Grey and Dudley Triple Wedding

On 25 May 1553 a triple wedding was celebrated at Durham Place, the London townhouse of [her father-in-law] John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 49), father of [her brother-in-law] Guildford Dudley (age 18) and [her sister-in-law] 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.

Before 22 Aug 1553 [her brother-in-law] Henry Dudley (age 22) and Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk (age 13) were married. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 49) and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland (age 44). They were third cousin once removed.

Execution of Lady Jane Grey and her Faction

On 12 Feb 1554 [her brother-in-law] Guildford Dudley (age 19) was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. An hour later his wife Lady Jane Grey (age 18) was beheaded at Tower Green [Map] by order of Queen Mary I (age 37). They were buried at St Peter ad Vincula Church, Tower of London [Map].

On 21 Oct 1554 [her husband] John Dudley 2nd Earl Warwick (age 27) died at Penshurst Place, Kent [Map].

In or after 1555 [her daughter] Anne Unton was born to [her future husband] Edward Unton (age 21) and Anne Seymour (age 17).

On 29 Apr 1555 Edward Unton (age 21) and 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.

Around 1556 [her son] Edward Unton was born to [her husband] Edward Unton (age 22) and Anne Seymour (age 18).

Battle of St Quentin

On 10 Aug 1557 [her former brother-in-law] Henry Dudley (age 26) was killed at the Battle of St Quentin.

Around 1558 [her son] Henry Unton was born to [her husband] Edward Unton (age 24) and Anne Seymour (age 20).

Around 1561 [her daughter] Cicely Unton was born to [her husband] Edward Unton (age 27) and Anne Seymour (age 23).

Henry Machyn's Diary. 19 Nov 1562. The xix day of November at after-non was [a] fray with-owtt Tempull-bare agaynst [her husband] master Huntun (age 28) ['s house?] that mared my lady of Warwyke (age 24) and ther was sl[ain] master Banaster, servand unto master Huntun, by (blank)

Note. P. 296. Master Hunton that married my lady of Warwick. Sir Edward Unton, K.B. on the 29th April, 1555, married Anne, one of the daughters of the protector Somerset, and widow of John Dudley, earl of Warwick, the eldest son of John duke of Northumberland. See the memoirs prefixed to Unton Inventories, 1841, 4to. p. xxxvii.

In 1573 John Harington 1st Baron Harington (age 33) and [her sister-in-law] Anne Keilway Baroness Harington (age 19) were married. His father James Harrington (age 62) gave him Burley-on-the-Hill House as a wedding present.

In or before 1579 [her son] Edward Unton (age 23) and [her daughter-in-law] Dorothea Knightley (age 18) were married. There were no children from the marriage.

In 1579 [her son] Edward Unton (age 23) and [her daughter-in-law] Katherine Hastings (age 22) were married. There were no children from the marriage. She the daughter of George Hastings 4th Earl Huntingdon (age 39) and Dorothy Port Countess Huntingdon.

In 1580 [her son] Henry Unton (age 22) and [her daughter-in-law] Dorothy Wroughton Lady Shirley (age 10) were married.

On 16 Sep 1582 [her husband] Edward Unton (age 48) died. He was buried at All Saints' Church, Faringdon. The inscription on his monument ... Here lyeth Sir Edward Unton, Knight of the Noble Order of the Bathe, whoe married Anne Countess of Warwick (age 44), daughter of Edwarde Seymer Duke of Somersett and Protector of England, by whome he had ffive sonnes, whereof 3 died younge in the life of their father; Two, namelye Edwarde (age 26) and Henry (age 24) onely, survyved and succeeded him, the one after the other in their father's inheritance; and two daughters, Anne (age 27) married to Sir Valentine Knightley (age 27), Knight, and Scissil (age 21) married to John Wentworth (age 18), Esquire.

On 09 Aug 1586 [her former sister-in-law] Mary Dudley (age 56) died.

On 16 Apr 1587 [her mother] Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset (age 90) died.

In 1588 Anne Seymour (age 50) died.

John Croke and Elizabeth Unton were married.

Royal Ancestors of Anne Seymour 1538-1588

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 18 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of William "Lion" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of Philip "The Fair" IV King France

Royal Descendants of Anne Seymour 1538-1588

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 1

Ancestors of Anne Seymour 1538-1588

Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Seymour 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Seymour 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Esturney

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Seymour 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Williams

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Seymour 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Coker

GrandFather: John Seymour 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Darell

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Darell

Great x 2 Grandfather: George Darell of Littlecote

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Darell 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Stourton 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Stourton 1st Baron Stourton 6 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Stourtron 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Father: Edward Seymour 1st Duke Somerset 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Wentworth

Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Wentworth

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Dronsfield

Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip Wentworth 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Despencer 2nd Baron Despencer 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margery Despencer 3rd Baroness Despencer, Baroness Ros 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Tiptoft Baroness Despencer 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Wentworth 4th Baron Despencer 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Clifford 6th Baron Clifford 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Clifford 7th Baron Clifford 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ros Baroness Clifford 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Clifford Baroness Despencer 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry "Hotspur" Percy 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Percy Countess of Westmoreland 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Mortimer Baroness Camoys Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

GrandMother: Margery Wentworth 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Saye 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Saye 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Saye 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Saye Baroness Despencer 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cheney

Great x 3 Grandfather: Lawrence Cheney

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cheney 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Cockayne

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cockayne 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ida Grey 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Anne Seymour 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Stanhope

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Stanhope

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Stanhope

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Stanhope

GrandFather: Edward Stanhope

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Jerningham

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret or Mary Jerningham

Great x 4 Grandfather: Gervase Clifton

Great x 3 Grandfather: Gervase Clifton

Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabel Clifton

Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Finch

Mother: Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Bourchier

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Bourchier 1st Count Eu

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Louvaine

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Bourchier Baron Fitzwarin Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne of Gloucester Plantagenet Countess Eu and Stafford Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

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

Great x 1 Grandfather: Fulk Bourchier 10th Baron Fitzwarin 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Hankford

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Hankford

Great x 2 Grandmother: Thomasine Hankford 9th Baroness Fitzwarin 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Fulk Fitzwarin 6th Baron Fitzwarin 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzwarin 8th Baroness Fitzwarin 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

GrandMother: Elizabeth Bourchier 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England