Dorothy Kitson facts for kids

Dorothy Kitson (born around 1531 – died 1576/1577) was an important woman in Tudor England. She was also known as Dorothy, Lady Pakington. Her father, Sir Thomas Kitson, was a very rich merchant from London. He built the famous Hengrave Hall in Suffolk.

Dorothy's first husband was Sir Thomas Pakington. They had a son, Sir John Pakington, who became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. After Sir Thomas Pakington passed away, Dorothy married Thomas Tasburgh.

Dorothy Kitson was special for her time. She was one of the few women in Tudor England who could choose people to represent a town in Parliament. She also made her own will, deciding what would happen to her belongings, even while her second husband was still alive. This was very unusual for women back then.

Her Family and Home

Hengrave Hall, built by Dorothy Kitson's father, Sir Thomas Kitson

Dorothy Kitson was the daughter of Sir Thomas Kitson and his second wife, Margaret Donnington. Her father, Sir Thomas Kitson, was a very successful merchant. He built the beautiful Hengrave Hall, a large country house in Suffolk.

Dorothy had a brother and three sisters:

• Her brother, Sir Thomas Kitson, later took over the family estates.
• Her sister, Katherine Kitson, married Sir John Spencer. Katherine had several daughters, including Elizabeth, Anne, and Alice. These three sisters are even mentioned in poems by the famous writer Edmund Spenser.
• Her sister, Frances Kitson, married John Bourchier, 5th Baron FitzWarin.
• Her sister, Anne Kitson, married Sir William Spring.

After Dorothy's father died, her mother, Margaret, married two more times. Her third husband was John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath.

Dorothy's Life and Achievements

Dorothy Kitson needed special permission to marry her first husband, Sir Thomas Pakington. They married in 1546. Sir Thomas Pakington inherited control over choosing Members of Parliament for the town of Aylesbury.

After Sir Thomas Pakington died, Dorothy, as his widow, took over this important role. She chose two people, Thomas Lichfield and George Burden, to be Members of Parliament in 1572. This was very rare! Most widows in early modern England did not have this power. The government was unsure about allowing women to do this, but they also didn't want to stop people from controlling their own property.

Dorothy's oldest son, Sir John Pakington, became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. The Queen invited him to her court after meeting him in 1572.

Dame Dorothy's memorial inscription at Hawridge, Buckinghamshire, 1577

Dorothy was also one of the few women in Tudor times who made a will while her husband was still alive. She got permission from her second husband, Thomas Tasburgh, to do this unusual thing. She made her will in April 1577, and it was approved in June 1577. This showed her independence and control over her own affairs.

Dorothy Kitson is buried in the church at Hawridge. There is a special brass plaque there to remember her.

Marriages and Children

Dorothy Kitson first married Sir Thomas Pakington (who died in 1571). He was the son of Robert Pakington, a London merchant who was killed in 1536.

Dorothy and Sir Thomas Pakington had four sons and three daughters:

• Sons: Sir John Pakington, Henry, Robert, and Thomas.
• Daughters: Mary, Katherine, and Margaret.

Dorothy then married Thomas Tasburgh (who died around 1602). He was a lawyer and worked for the government. They did not have any children together.