Catherine Fenton Boyle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catherine Fenton Boyle
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| Countess of Cork | |
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| Born | Catherine Fenton c. 1588 |
| Died | 16 May 1630 (aged 41–42) Cork House, Dublin |
| Buried | St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin |
| Spouse(s) | Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork |
| Father | Sir Geoffrey Fenton |
| Mother | Alice Weston |
Catherine Fenton Boyle, Countess of Cork (born around 1588 – died 16 February 1630) was an important Irish noblewoman. She was the wife of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork, who was a very powerful and wealthy man in Ireland.
Contents
About Catherine Fenton Boyle
Her Early Life and Marriage
Catherine Fenton Boyle was born around 1588. She was the only daughter of Sir Geoffrey Fenton. Her father was the Secretary of State for Ireland from 1580 to 1608. This was a very important government job. Her mother was Alice Weston. Catherine also had a brother named Sir William Fenton.
On 25 July 1603, Catherine married Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork. She was about 15 years old, and Richard was 37. Catherine brought £1,000 to the marriage as her dowry. A dowry was money or property a bride's family gave to her husband. This money helped Richard Boyle buy large estates in east Cork from Sir Walter Raleigh.
Life with Richard Boyle
Richard Boyle was very much in charge of their household. He made most of the decisions, even about Catherine's clothes and how their money was spent. He also decided how their children would be educated and who they would marry. He described Catherine as "most religious, virtuous, loving and obedient."
In 1605, the family moved to Youghal. Richard bought a former college building there and turned it into their home. He also bought a special chapel, the Chantry of our Blessed Saviour. He made it a family burial place. Richard was later buried there. Catherine was not buried there, but a marble statue of her, dressed as a countess, was placed in the chapel.
Later, her husband bought Lismore Castle. The family then divided their time between Lismore Castle and Cork House in Dublin.
Catherine Boyle died on 16 February 1630 at Cork House in Dublin. She was buried with her father and grandfather in St Patrick's Cathedral. Richard built a beautiful marble tomb for them in the main part of the church. However, a new important official, Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, made him move the tomb to the side of the cathedral.
Richard Boyle never married again after Catherine's death. He spent the anniversary of her death mourning her every year. A book of poems, called Musarum Lachrymae (which means "Tears of the Muses"), was written in her honor by scholars from Trinity College Dublin.
Her Family
Catherine and Richard had 15 children together. Twelve of them lived to be adults. Some of their notable children include:
- Roger Boyle (1606–1615)
- Lady Alice Boyle (1607–1667)
- Lady Sarah Boyle (1609–1633)
- Lady Lettice Boyle (1610–1657)
- Lady Joan Boyle (1611–1657)
- Richard Boyle, 2nd Earl of Cork and 1st Earl of Burlington (1612–1698)
- Lady Katherine Boyle (1615–1691)
- Hon. Geoffrey Boyle (1616–1617)
- Lady Dorothy Boyle (1617–1668)
- Lewis Boyle, 1st Viscount Boyle of Kinalmeaky (1619–1642)
- Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery (1621–1679)
- Francis Boyle, 1st Viscount Shannon (1623–1699)
- Lady Mary Boyle (1625–1678)
- Hon. Robert Boyle (1627–1691) was a famous scientist. He wrote a book called The Sceptical Chymist and is often called the father of modern chemistry.
- Lady Margaret Boyle (1629–1637)
