Catherine Petre, Baroness Petre facts for kids
Catherine Stourton, Baroness Stourton, was born Catherine Walmesley on January 6, 1697. She was a very wealthy heiress from Lancashire, England. She later became known as Catherine Petre, Baroness Petre, and then Catherine Stourton, Baroness Stourton. She passed away on January 31, 1785.
Becoming Baroness Petre
Catherine came from an old and important Catholic family in Lancashire who owned a lot of land. Her parents were Bartholomew Walmesley and Dorothy Smith. She was the last person in her family line. When she was just 13, her 15-year-old brother Francis died, and she inherited all of her family's wealth.
Because she was so rich, many people wanted to marry her. On March 1, 1712, she married Robert Petre, 7th Baron Petre. She brought a very large sum of money, £50,000, into the marriage. Lady Petre was a strong supporter of the Jacobites, who wanted to bring the old royal family back to the throne. Some people even thought she might marry important Jacobite leaders like Bonnie Prince Charlie or James Stuart.
Sadly, her marriage was very short. Just a year later, Lord Petre died from smallpox. Lady Petre was expecting a baby at the time. Three months later, she gave birth to a son named Robert. He became the 8th Baron Petre as soon as he was born.
Becoming Baroness Stourton
While her son was still young, Lady Petre received many marriage proposals, but she turned them all down. She was known for being very kind and charitable. It's even said that she cut up her late husband's fancy robes, which he wore for Parliament, to give to people who needed clothes. This surprised some people in her family!
When her son became an adult and got married in 1732, Lady Petre (who was now a widow) finally agreed to marry again. She accepted the proposal of Charles Stourton, 15th Baron Stourton. Interestingly, he had first proposed to her on the very same day as her first husband! In 1744, she became Baroness Stourton when her husband became the 15th Baron after his uncle.
Catherine and Charles did not have any children together. She became a widow again in 1753. Her son, Robert, had passed away in 1742. So, when Lady Stourton made her will, she left her property to her grandson, Robert Petre, 9th Baron Petre. This included her house in Grosvenor Square, London.
