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Anne Seymour, Duchess of Somerset

Born Anne Stanhope (c. 1497) to Sir Edward Stanhope of Sudbury and Elizabeth Bourchier, Anne was through her mother a direct descendant of Thomas of Woodstock, the youngest son of King Edward III of England and his wife, Queen Philippa of Hainault. Anne’s father had been married once before, so Anne had two older half-brothers – Richard Stanhope and Sir Michael Stanhope. The latter was selected for the governorship of Hull, was knighted, and made Shelford Priory his residence.


In 1511 Anne came as a maid of honour to Queen Catherine, and in 1529 Edward Seymour...