The disappearance of a Queen's daughter

[Eldorado]

Within the walls of one of England’s most picturesque castles, a queen gave birth to her only child and set in motion a chain of events that would become one of Tudor England’s most intriguing mysteries.  The birth had been much anticipated and much talked about.

The baby, a little girl, was immediately taken off to a nursery decked in scarlet and gold where a string of attendants awaited her every demand.

And yet within days, this child’s life was turned upside down and just a few months afterwards her whole future was called into question.

For later historians, her very existence has led to endless speculation and now only scraps of evidence remain to tell the story of Mary, the queen’s daughter.

Mary Seymour was the only child of Katherine Parr – Henry VIII’s last wife

Full story at Royal Cemtral UK: Link

Mary Seymour: Wikipedia

[+susieice]

This is really strange. All the people in this child's life and no one mentions her. Ever. She just disappears. It seems the Duchess of Suffolk had even talked to Parr's brother, William Marquis of Northampton, about taking the child. He had gotten possession of Sudeley Castle after Thomas' execution. The Duchess says he would have taken Mary if she came with everything that had been alloted to her upkeep.  I wonder if Sudeley would have been in Mary's reinstatement to her father's estate? Edward Seymour had been given an allotment for Mary's care but it was not passed on when she was sent to the Duchess. Edward would find himself in the Tower not long after this. The Duchess seems to have stopped talking about the child. If Mary had died, you would think she would have told someone. Some historians say she buried the child somewhere in the vicinity of her home at Grimsthorpe. She also wrote to William Cecil, several times as she didn't receive what had been promised to her for the child's care? What happened to it? She never claimed the estate. It's hard to grasp that no one mentions this child. Not even to say they attended a funeral.

Did she grow up and marry a man named Sir Edward Bushel as some have speculated? This is a great article but answers no questions.

https://tudorsdynasty.com/the-disappearance-of-lady-mary-seymour/

While this does not say what the letter was about, we could assume it’s about Mary, but it could have also been about a multitude of other things. All we know for certain, is that Lady Mary Seymour was alive on 22 January 1550, and that is the last record of her existence. The last evidence, the last proof that she existed.

In his biography on Edward VI, Chris Skidmore claimed (without evidence given) that Thomas Seymour asked to see his daughter prior to his death. He states, whether or not he was able to see her is unknown.⁹

Something else that we must consider is that the dowager Duchess of Suffolk lost both of her sons to The Sweat in 1551, it is possible that little Mary Seymour also contracted and died from the disease? We will never know. There is no evidence to suggest this to be true.

Edited April 5, 2021 by susieice

[+susieice]

Mary was a first cousin to the King and her mother was dear to both Mary and Elizabeth, who were aware of Mary's birth. Yet, no one knows where this child is or what happened to her? Never mentions her or her death if that's what happened. It's just really strange. The death of a Queen's daughter and relative of the royal family should absolutely be recorded somewhere and spoken of. It's a true puzzle.

https://www.katherinethequeen.com/440049039

Edited April 5, 2021 by susieice

[+susieice]

At the end of 1549, Edward Seymour was arrested and put into the Tower of London. He was released for a short time but was put on trial and condemned. He was put back in the Tower. Mary was last known to be alive on January 22, 1550. Exactly 2 years later, on January 22, 1552, Edward Seymour was executed. Perhaps Edward VI confiscated his possessions when he was arrested, including what had been allotted to Mary? She doesn't seem to be the only thing that disappeared.

https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-execution-of-edward-seymour-duke-of-somerset/

Edited April 5, 2021 by susieice