CP Addition: Katherine de Montagu
The...@aol.com
Dear Chris (et al.),
CP lists the children of John de Montagu and Margaret de
Monthermer as three sons,
' ... and four daughters, Eleanor, Sibyl (a nun,
afterwards Prioress of Amesbury...), Katherine
and Margaret (a nun). ' [1]
A prior SGM thread discusses the identity of Eleanor, but no
evidence of the fate of Katherine de Montagu had been noted
until now. The record of a lease, given below, indicates that
'Katharine de Monte Acuto' (evidently the missing Katherine) was
prioress of Bungay in Suffolk in 1389.
A slight but interesting piece of supporting evidence can be
found in the will of Katherine's father Sir John de Montagu,
wherein he devised (in part),
' to my daughter Alianore a gilt cup of the best sort;
to Richard, my son, and to Sibyll, Catherine and
Margaret, my daughters, a cup and ewer each;
to Alianore, my daughter, the crown which my wife
had in her custody;
&c. ' [2]
The gifts to the daughters Sibyl and Margaret, known to have
been nuns, stand in contrast to those given to their sister
Alianore/Eleanor. This makes sense given the limited needs of
(or allowance for worldly goods for) nuns at the time, while
their sister Alianore was evidently living the secular life
(probably as wife of John de Dinham, as held elsewhere). The
fact that Katherine was treated in the same manner as Sibyl and
Margaret confirms that she too had entered into the religious
life. For her to have subsequently become prioress of Bungay
would befit someone of her familial standing.
Cheers,
John *
_______________________________________
From the PRO site:
Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich Branch: The Iveagh (Phillipps) Suffolk
Manuscripts [HD 1538/270 - HD 1538/347]
Catalogue Ref. HD 1538
Creator(s):
Cornwallis family of Suffolk
Phillipps, Sir, Thomas, 1792-1872, 1st baronet, antiquary and
bibliophile
SIBTON
Reference: HD 1538/345/1/5
Lease
Creation dates: 3 Oct 1389
Physical characteristics: Turn-up, seal and tag cut away
Language: Latin
1. Katharine de Monte Acuto, Prioress of Bungeye [Bungay]
2. John Arford of Stowe market [Stowmarket]
(1) to (2), manor of Lymburne [in Southelmham], for 5 years from
feast of St Michael 13 Ric.II, paying 7 marks annually at
Bungeye, in equal portions at feasts of Purification and
Nativity of St John the Baptist. Proviso for distraint in case
of arrears. (2) and Robert Towere of Homerisfeld [Homersfield]
bound in 40 marks for greater security. Given at Bungeye, Sunday
after feast of St Michael, 13 Ric.II.
________________________________________________
NOTES
[1] CP IX:88, note (f).
[2] Testamenta Vetusta, p. 124.
* John P. Ravilious