Expert: Joseph Logue - 5/16/2004

Question
After the death of King Henry VIII of England, his widow, Katheryn Parr,  married Thomas Seymour, Baron of Sudeley.  Katheryn and Thomas had a child born in August or September of 1548.  The child was called Mary.
There have been several versions of Mary Seymour's fate. One version is that she died in infancy.  Another version had her being raised by various members of the aristocracy, and marrying one Sir Edward Bushel and left descendants by the name of Johnson and Drayton.

I would like to know what really happened to Mary Seymour, or where can I find documentation as to her fate.  Thank You

Answer
Hello Nell,

It appears that what you've written contains just about everything there is to know about the duaghter of Queen Katherine Parr and her second husband, Thomas Seymour.  This appears to be a child that is lost to history.

Mary was born at the end of August in 1548, and Katherine died shortly thereafter.  Mary's father, the Baron of Sudeley and Lord High Admiral was executed in 1549 for his part in planning to kidnap his nephew King Edward VI.  (Katherine married the brother of Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour.  Small world, huh?)  Some of the information I've found says that the child Mary was then raised by the Duchess of Suffolk, dying young, while other sources say, as you did, that she married Sir Edward Bushel.  The claims of some to be her descendants cannot be wholly endorsed.

There is some information to be had in various biographical databases, but it seems that this is where the story ends.

Thanks for writing, Nell.

Sincerely,

Joseph Logue