BRAVO @katherineparrsociety!!
The “Elizabeth and Thomas” Soap Opera we dare not discuss. Did Parr try to protect Elizabeth? What did Kat Ashley mean when she confessed that the Dowager Queen held Elizabeth? We’ve discussed it so many times. And Parr’s name has been dragged through the gutter by so many. What really happened?
Elizabeth was welcomed into the household of the Dowager Queen in 1547 at Chelsea Manor. The Queen had remarried to Sir Thomas Seymour, now 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley, months after King Henry died. Weep some more. Henry only gave her a few months to mourn Lord Latimer. She could do what she wanted at this point. She didn’t have to remarry. She could have retained her status at court, but chose to retire to Chelsea after they made it clear she was no longer needed.
In the 16th century—the age a girl could get married was 12.
In 1508, Lady Maud Parr married Sir Thomas who was about 30 yrs old.
Lady Elizabeth Parr, daughter to the Baron FitzHugh, niece of the Kingmaker, married before 14 to King Edward IV’s friend, Sir William Parr. This gave the Parrs royal blood. Elizabeth’s birthdate needs to be researched further.
The Duchess of Suffolk was married to 40 something, Charles Brandon, at 14.
Lady Margaret Beaufort, grandmother to Elizabeth, was only 12.
Lady Anne Vaux, the aunt of the Queen and older sister of Lady Maud Parr, married Sir Nicholas, Baron Vaux who was born around 1460. See above for Maud’s marriage date and age.
Marriage contracts were made as early as 2 yrs old.
It’s a Sign of the Times.
We have evolved. We live longer now. We know more about the human body and the human brain. 🤷🏻♀️
See also
Till death do us part? Divorce in medieval England|Claire Kennan|— National Archives (London)
© 2025 Meg McGath. All research and original commentary belong to the author.
tudorqueen6 by Meg McGath 