Isabel (York) Bourchier (1409 - 1484)

Born 1409 in Conisbrough Castle, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Wife of Henry Bourchier KG — married 25 Apr 1426 in England

Descendants

Died 2 Oct 1484 at about age 75 in Little Easton, Essex, England

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Isabel (York) Bourchier is a member of the House of York.

Buography

Isabel, Countess of Essex (1409 – 2 Oct 1484) was the only daughter of Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge and Anne Mortimer. She was the sister of Richard, 3rd Duke of York, and paternal grandchild of Edward III.

Maternally, she's the granddaughter of Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March (grandson of Lionel of Antwerp) and Lady Alianore Holland (granddaughter of Lady Joan of Kent, Princess of Wales).

Her father was beheaded 5 August 1415 being in the Southampton Plot against King Henry V. Although his title was forfeited, he was not attainted. As such, Isabel's brother maintained his status as heir. Within a few months of their father's death, their childless uncle, Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York, was slain at the Battle of Agincourt on 25 October 1415. So Richard became heir to that estate as well.

1412 Marriage to Thomas Grey

THE PEERAGE 101669 At the age of three years of age, Isabel was betrothed to Sir Thomas Grey (1404 – d. before 1426). He was son and heir of Sir Thomas Grey (c.1385-1415) of Heaton in Norham, Northumberland, and Alice, daughter of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland. They had one son.

1426 Marriage to Henry Bourchier

Although married before 25 April 1426, a papal dispensation was issued for her alliance with Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex. They had seven sons and a daughter, Isabel.

• William Bourchier, Viscount Bourchier (d. 1480) m. Anne Woodville, dau of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers and Jacquetta of Luxembourg, parents of Henry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Essex and Cecily Bourchier, wife of John Devereux, 8th Baron Ferrers of Chartley;

• Sir Henry Bourchier (d. 1462), who married Elizabeth Scales, 8th Baroness Scales.

• Humphrey Bourchier (d.14 Apr 1471), 1st Baron Cromwell, slain at Battle of Barnet.

• John Bourchier (d.1495), 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby

m.1 Elizabeth Ferrers

m.2 Elizabeth Chichelle.

• Sir Thomas Bourchier (before 1448 - d.1492) m. Isabella Barre.

• Edward Bourchier (d.30 Dec 1460).Slain at Battle of Wakefield.

• Fulk Bourchier, died young.

• Isabel Bourchier, died young.

Death and Burial

Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex, died 4 April 1483. Isabel remained a widow and died 2 October 1484.^[1] A manuscript calendar records her death on VI Non Oct in 1484. Both were buried at Beeleigh Abbey near Maldon, Essex, but later reburied at Little Easton, Essex.

Her heir was her grandson Henry.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} G. McKelvie and M. Hicks. Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem and other Analogous Documents preserved in The National Archives XXXV: 1 Edward V to Richard III (1483-1485). (London, 2021), pp. 135–139 VitalSource Bookshelf https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781800102651/pageid/179 [accessed 19 April 2021].

• Royal Ancestry by Douglas Richardson Vol. I. page 484
• Royal Ancestry D. Richardson 2013 Vol. V p. 450