Yet Another C.P. Addition: Isabel, daughter of Henry of Lancaster and Isabel de Beaumont
Douglas Richardson
It is commonly thought that Henry of Lancaster (died 1361), Duke of
Lancaster, Earl of Derby, etc., and his wife, Isabel de Beaumont, had
only two daughters, Maud (wife of Ralph de Stafford and William I,
Duke of Bavaria, Count of Hainault, Holland, and Zeeland, lord of
Friesland) and Blanche (wife of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster).
This is the view presented by Complete Peerage, 7 (1929): 410 (sub
Lancaster).
However, before the births of these two known daughters, it appears
that there was an earlier hitherto unnoticed daughter, Isabel of
Lancaster, presumably born in or before 1338/9, when the record below
is dated.
In Bateson, Records of the Borough of Leicester, 2 (1901): 46, there
is record of a gift made to the Countess of Derby [i.e., Isabel de
Beaumont] and the lady Isabel the daughter of the lady Countess:
"Sent to the Countess of Derby and the lady Isabella the daughter of
the lady Countess, in 2 gallons of white wine, 1s.8d., price of each
gallon 10d." END OF QUOTE.
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Just before this record was made, Henry of Lancaster was created Earl
of Derby 16 March 1336/7, and was summoned as such to Parliament in
April 1337. Therefore, there can be no question that the reference to
the Countess of Derby is to his wife, Isabel de Beaumont.
Henry of Lancaster and his wife, Isabel de Beaumont, are known to have
married before 23 June 1330. Their previously only known children
were Maud, born about 1339-1341, and Blanche, born about 1340-1343.
The daughter Isabel would easily fit in the period between 1330 and
1339, when no children are known to have been born to Henry and his
wife, Isabel. The daughter, Isabel, must have died fairly young, as
there is no record of her ever having married or being betrothed in
marriage.
Sincerely, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah