Edward Burgh (knight) facts for kids

Sir Edward Burgh (pronounced "Borough"; died before April 1533) was the oldest son of Sir Thomas Burgh, 1st Baron Burgh and Agnes Tyrwhitt. He is famous for being the first husband of Catherine Parr. Catherine later became the queen of England. For a long time, people confused him with his grandfather, who was also named Edward Burgh.

Who Was Sir Edward Burgh?

The Burgh family of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, was a very old and important family. Sir Edward's great-grandfather, the first Baron Burgh, was a strong supporter of King Edward IV. He was a very determined person. King Henry VII even gave him a special award in 1496. This showed he could adapt to new kings.

His grandfather, also named Edward Burgh, became Baron in 1496. But he faced difficulties. In 1510, he was declared mentally unwell. He had to stay at home in Gainsborough Old Hall. After this, Sir Thomas, his oldest son and Sir Edward's father, took over the family. The grandfather passed away by August 1528.

Clearing Up Confusion About Edward Burgh

For many years, historians like Agnes Strickland mixed up Sir Edward Burgh with his grandfather. They thought that 12-year-old Catherine Parr was sent to marry the older, unwell grandfather. This made for a dramatic story, but it was not true.

New research has cleared up this mistake. Historians like Linda Porter, David Starkey, and Antonia Fraser have studied old documents. They looked at the will of Catherine Parr's mother. These studies confirm that Catherine married the grandson, Sir Edward. He just happened to share his grandfather's name.

Catherine's mother, Maud Green, Lady Parr, mentioned Sir Edward's father, Sir Thomas, in her will. She wrote that she owed him money for her daughter's marriage. This was because the full payment for Catherine's marriage had not been made. At the time of the wedding, Sir Thomas was about 35 years old. This means his son Edward was likely close in age to Catherine.

Sir Edward's Marriage to Catherine Parr

Sir Edward and Catherine Parr married in 1529. Sir Edward was in his early twenties. Not much is known about his personality. However, it seems he was often unwell. Even so, his father trusted him with some family duties. Edward served as a feoffee (a trustee) and a Justice of the Peace.

Life at Gainsborough Old Hall

Life at Gainsborough Old Hall was difficult for Edward. His father was very strict and could be demanding. The family also remembered the recently passed grandfather who had been unwell. Sir Edward's father controlled his family very strongly. He expected everyone to obey him completely.

After Edward and Catherine married, his father even forced another daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Owen, out of the house. He said her children with his younger brother were not legitimate. Sir Edward lived in fear of his own father.

Catherine's main duty as Edward's wife was to have sons. But this did not happen. It might not have been her fault. Catherine grew up in a more open and understanding home with her mother. She was not used to the strict rules at Gainsborough. If Sir Thomas tried to scare Catherine, it did not work. In fact, Sir Thomas found that Catherine was stronger than his own sons.

We don't know if Catherine ever became pregnant by Edward. If she did, no child survived. Her family would have known, but they never spoke of it. There are no records of any children from Sir Edward and Catherine's marriage.

Moving to Kirton-in-Lindsey

For a while, Edward and Catherine lived with Edward's family at Gainsborough Old Hall. If Catherine felt homesick or unhappy, she had good reasons. She often wrote to her mother for advice. Maud Green, Lady Parr visited Catherine in 1530. It was probably because of her mother's urging that Edward and Catherine moved out of the Old Hall. This happened after two years of marriage.

Sir Thomas, Edward's father, was in charge of the manor of Kirton-in-Lindsey. This was a small town about ten miles from Gainsborough. Sir Thomas was convinced to share this role with his son. In October 1530, Edward and Catherine moved to Kirton-in-Lindsey. It was a simple home. But most importantly, it was away from Edward's family. They could now manage their own household. Catherine quickly took charge of their new home. Being away from the Old Hall brought great happiness to both Edward and Catherine.

Sir Edward's Later Life and Death

In 1532, Edward was appointed to various peace commissions in the area. These groups helped keep order and settle disputes. However, Edward and Catherine's marriage ended in April 1533 when Sir Edward Burgh passed away.

After his death, Catherine could not stay at Kirton-in-Lindsey. That property belonged to her father-in-law. Her in-laws did not want her to move back to Gainsborough Old Hall. Lord Burgh gave her income from two of his manors in Surrey and one in Kent. This was her dowry, and that was the end of her ties to the Burgh family. Since they had no children, she had no strong connection to them anymore.

Historian Linda Porter believes that the younger Sir Edward Burgh died in the spring of 1533. Other sources say he died "before April 1533." Sir Edward had no children. On February 28, 1550, Edward's younger brother, William, became the 2nd Baron Burgh after their father passed away.