Lady Catherine Gordon

Catherine Gordon (c. 1474–October 1537) was a Scottish noblewoman and the wife of Yorkist pretender Perkin Warbeck, who claimed he was Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York. After her imprisonment by King Henry VII of England, she became a favoured lady-in-waiting of his wife, Elizabeth of York. She had a total of four husbands, but there are no records she had any surviving children.

7. Lady Catherine Gordon (dsp. Oct 1537), mar. (1) Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be Richard, Duke of York (d. 23 Nov 1499), (2) bef. 13 Feb 1512 James Strangways, of Fyfield (d. 1515), (3) 1517 Sir Matthew Cradock, of Swansea (d. c. Jul 1531), and (4) Christopher Assheton, of Fyfield

The lady was reported to be "singularly beautiful" and that Henry VIII "much marveled at her beauty and amiable countenance, and sent her to London to the Queen". Records of Aboyne (1894), 409-10 & 410 n. *.

She was a kinswoman of James IV of Scots, who gave her in marriage to the English pretender Perkin Warbeck. She [Did not] bore two children to Perkin Warbeck. She accompanied him on his 1497 invasion of England, and was captured with him. After Warbeck's execution, she received estates in England from Henry VII and lived in honorable estate appropriate to her status as a kinswoman of the Scottish king. There were rumors that she became a mistress of Henry VII after the death of his wife. She remained a widow until after Henry's death, then married three times. Her children by Warbeck disappeared from history, but there were later rumors that one of them was raised in Wales. The Perkins families of Rhos-y-Gelli and Reynoldston both claimed descent from Perkin Warbeck. Katherine had no children from her subsequent marriages.

Family

Lady Catherine Gordon married, firstly, Perkin Warbeck in January 1495/96.3

She married, secondly, James Strangeways before 13 February 1512.3

She married, thirdly, Sir Matthew Cradock in 1517.3

She married, fourthly, Christopher Ashton.2
She died in October 1537, without issue.1

Her will was probated on 5 November 1537 at London, England.3

She was the daughter of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly and Lady Elizabeth Hay.1 Her married name became Ashton.2 From January 1495/96, her married name became Warbeck.3 From before 13 February 1512, her married name became Strangeways.3 From 1517, her married name became Cradock.3 Her last will was dated 12 October 1537.3

Citations

[S323] Sir James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage: founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's The Peerage of Scotland (Edinburgh, Scotland: David Douglas, 1904), volume IV, page 531. Hereinafter cited as The Scots Peerage.

[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 2, page 2011. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.

[S323] Sir James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage, volume IV, page 530.

Sources

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• An historical genealogy of the royal house of Stuarts, from the reign of k. Robert ii. to that of k. James vi (Google eBook).  Mark Noble, 1795.  Page 105
• The Scots Peerage Vol IV page 530
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Catherine_Gordon
• http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/cgordon.html
• Archaeologia: Or, Miscellaneous Tracts, Relating to Antiquity.., Volume 32 By Society of Antiquaries of London. Page 448. GoogleBooks
• Four Weddings and a Conspiracy: The Life, Times and Loves or Lady Katherine Gordon. Conclusion. The Final Years. WENDY E.A. MOORHEN. PDF