Mary was born on 30th August 1548 at Sudeley Castle, Somerset. Her parents were two of the highest personages in the land: the Queen Dowager, Katherine Parr and Lord Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry VIII. Mary’s christening took place several days later and Katherine chose her stepdaughter, Princess Mary, as godmother. Her cousin was the King, Edward VI. Within days of her birth though, her social position though was to change drastically.
Death Of Queen Katherine ParrMary's mother, Queen Katherine Parr, died on 5th September 1548. At Katherine’s funeral her ward, the Lady Jane Grey, stood as Chief Mourner. Only six months later, in February 1549, her father was arrested for treason on the charge of planning to overthrow his brother the Lord Protector. Lord Thomas Seymour was also accused of planning to marry the King’s half sister, the fifteen year old Princess Elizabeth. Thomas was consequently executed on 20th March 1549. All of his property and fortune was put under attainder and held by the crown, leaving Mary with no inheritance.
At the age of only seven months old Mary was now a penniless orphan. For one of her rank, this was a humiliating position to find herself in, especially as she was the daughter of a Queen. Her guardianship was placed into the hands of Katherine Willoughby, Dowager Duchess of Suffolk, under the instruction of her father’s will. The Duchess of Suffolk was a great friend of her mother’s, but she found it extremely hard to afford the upkeep of the ‘Queen’s child,’ who was expected to live in ‘luxury and comfort.’ Mary lived on under the Duchess’ care but on the eve of her second birthday, 29th August 1550, all record of her disappears. How strange that the Queen’s child, cousin of King Edward VI, should disappear entirely from history. There are several versions as to her fate, none of which can be confirmed.
Mary Seymour Survived?
The first theory was that Mary Seymour died shortly after her second birthday and was buried in the grounds of the Duchess of Suffolk’s estate. The second theory was that she escaped with the Duchess of Suffolk to France when the persecution of Protestants began under Bloody Mary and returned to England in 1559. Mary is claimed to have died soon afterward of consumption, in 1561, aged thirteen. The third theory, according to historian Agnes Strickland, is that Mary ‘lived to marry Sir Edward Bushel’, who later became a gentleman of the bedchamber to Queen Anne of Denmark. The theory goes that Mary had a daughter from this union, who married a Sir Silas Johnson and inherited part of her mother’s confiscated inheritance. There are even odd rumours that Mary survived into the next century.
The life of Mary Seymour, the Queen’s child, is therefore something of a mystery. None of the theories as to her fate can be proven or substantiated. As there is no proof, one can only speculate that this unfortunate young girl died shortly after her second birthday. Until any evidence is found to contradict this, this is the story that historians will have to accept.
Sources:
Hilliam, David., King, Queens, Bones and Bastards, Sutton Publishinh, 1998.
Hilliam, David, Monarchs, Murders & Mistresses: A Book of Royal Days, Sutton Publishing, 2000.
William, David., Kings & Queens of Great Britain, The Promotional Reprint Company Ltd, 1991.
