Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland
Lady Joan Beaufort LG (* 1379 in Beaufort-en-Champagne , † November 13, 1440 ) was an English noblewoman . By marriage she was at times both Baroness Ferrers of Wemme and Countess of Westmoreland .
She was the fourth child and only daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster , and his lover Catherine Swynford . She was born out of wedlock but was legitimized by parliament in 1397 after her father married her mother. Shortly afterwards she was accepted into the Order of the Garter.
In 1391 she married Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Baron Ferrers of Wemme († 1396), with whom she had two daughters:
- Elizabeth Ferrers (1393–1434), ⚭ John de Greystock, 4th Baron Greystock ;
- Mary Ferrers (1394–1458), ⚭ Sir Ralph Neville († 1458), son of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland .
After the death of her husband and her legitimation, she married Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland, as his second wife in 1397 . She had the following children with him:
- Katherine Neville , ⚭ (1) John Mowbray, 2nd Duke of Norfolk , ⚭ (2) Sir Thomas Strangways, ⚭ (3) John Beaumont, 1st Viscount Beaumont , ⚭ (4) John Woodville ;
- Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury ;
- Eleanor Neville , ⚭ (1) Richard le Despenser, 4th Baron Burghersh , ⚭ (2) Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland ;
- Robert Neville († 1457), Bishop of Durham;
- William Neville, 1st Earl of Kent ;
- Edward Neville, 1st Baron Abergavenny († 1476);
- Anne Neville , ⚭ Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham ;
- Cecily Neville (1415–1495), ⚭ Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York , mother of the later English kings Edward IV and Richard III. ;
- George Neville, 1st Baron Latimer ;
- John Neville, died as a child;
- Cuthbert Neville, died as a child;
- Thomas Neville, died as a child;
- Henry Neville, died as a child;
- Joan Neville, nun.
Ralph Neville left all his fortune to his widow after his death in 1425, resulting in an estrangement between Joan and her stepchildren. When Joan died on November 13, 1440, the wealthy Neville fortune was divided among her children. Joan herself was buried next to her mother in a magnificent tomb in Lincoln Cathedral.
Web links
- Lady Joan de Beaufort on thepeerage.com , accessed July 26, 2015.
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SURNAME | Beaufort, Joan, Countess of Westmoreland |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Beaufort, Joan, Baroness Ferrers of Wemme |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | English nobles |
DATE OF BIRTH | 1379 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Beaufort-en-Champagne |
DATE OF DEATH | November 13, 1440 |