Edith (née Latimer) (Greene) (Mordaunt) Carew (c.1450 – 1518) was my double 14th-great-grandmother; the only child to survive infancy of Sir Nicholas Latimer and Joanna Hody (daughter of John Hody); and one of my gateways into medieval and noble ancestry and royal relations. There is a surviving likeness of her, though the paint has largely worn off ofher effigy. Furthermore, I have an unusual amount of DNA corroboration for portions of my descent from her.
I am descended through her first husband John Greene, while through her second marriage to John Mordaunt she is the ancestor to many prominent individuals, such as for example Lady Di and thus Prince William, heir to the British throne.
My descents go through Mayflower immigrant Henry Samson, her great-great-great-grandson. Likely most of Edith’s North American descendants are through Henry.
Marriages
She was married three times, outliving all her husbands, and had children with the first two.
Greene
Her first marriage was to John Greene. The Greene family was an old and somewhat prominent one, and there is good documentation of their ancestry and relations. Unfortunately, John’s place in this family has not been determined, and so cannot be confidently connected to any of it. Edith had two daughters from this marriage, Cecily (my ancestor) and Elizabeth. John Greene died around 1480.
Mordaunt
She secondly married Sir John Mordaunt, a politician who served in Parliament, including a stint as speaker. They had at least one son and two daughters, with his son John being made a baron. John Mordaunt died in 1504.
Carew
Edith’s third and final marriage was probably to Sir John Carew, although some suggest her husband was Thomas Carew. This marriage produced no children. He predeceased Edith.
Will
Edith’s will is dated 1518-01-01 and was probated 1518-04-25, so she died in the months between, probably closer to the latter date. I have attempted to transcribe it from a copy I purchased from the British National Archives. There may be errors, and some parts (marked with [?]) I found barely or not legible:
In dei nomine amen, the first day of January in the year of our Lord God fifteen hundred and seventeen, I Dame Edyth Carewe widowe dwellinge in Donnttysh in the parisshe of Boclande Abbot in the Countie of Dorsett, in a hole mynd and in good remembrance have made my will and testament in this wise.
First I commende my soule unto almighty god and to our lady and to all the saints in hevyn and my body to be buried in the abbey churche at Turvey[?] before the high awter beneyth the [?] on the right hand at the [?] towards the high awter.
Item I give to our lady Churche of Sarum[?] iijs̑ iiijd.
Item I give to the parisshe Church of Founthall Gifford in the Countie of Wiltshire my Tawny Satin gowne purfiled with blak shanks[?].
Item I give to the covent at coron[?] vvs̑ to pray for me.
Item I give to Cecile Page my daughter my bed in the chamber at the east ende of my hall with the hanging of my said chamber and a gilt cupp with a goblet.
Item I give to Elizabeth Strangways a paire of beads.
Item I give to Eleanor Strangways a paire of beads.
Item I give to Margery Payn a gowne.
Item I give to Dorothye Strode a gowne.
The remainder of myn apparell I give and deliver to my ij doughters Johane Strangways and Elizabeth Marvyne.
Item I give to my servant Richard Strode my bed that he lyeth on with all that longeth to that bed and chamber and vs̑ above his wage.
This don and my detts paid I putt in trust my sonne in lawe Gylys Strangways and him I make my hole executour and he to have and take all my goods detts and catalls and to distribute it for the health of my soule as is thought best by his discreasy.
The will refers to “Cecile Page my daughter”, wife of Richard Page. These are my double 13th-great-grandparents.
Effigy
An effigy of her lying beside her second husband is in a church in Turvey, England, which also has representations of following generations of the Mordaunt family.