Jane Cornwallis facts for kids
Jane Meautys (1581–1659) was an important English lady who lived a long time ago. She was known as Lady Cornwallis and later Lady Bacon. Jane was a courtier, which means she worked in the royal court, serving the queen. She also wrote many letters, and some of them were even published! Her letters help us learn about life in England during her time.
Jane Meautys was the daughter of Hercules Meautys and Philippe Cooke.
Contents
Jane, Lady Cornwallis: Life at Court
Jane became a lady of the bedchamber for Anne of Denmark, who was the Queen of England and wife of King James I. This important job likely happened because of Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford, a powerful lady at court.
In 1609, Jane married Sir William Cornwallis. He was more than thirty years older than her. King James gave her a special jewel as a wedding gift. Sadly, Sir William Cornwallis died in 1611. Their only son, Frederick, was born in March 1611. He would later become a very important person, known as Lord Cornwallis.
Queen Anne of Denmark was very generous to Jane. At her wedding, the Queen gave her a beautiful gold jewel with diamonds. In the years that followed, the Queen also gave Jane four fancy gowns. Another lady at court, Bridget Markham, who was a cousin of the Countess of Bedford, left Jane a set of diamond and ruby buttons in her will.
Jane, Lady Bacon: Family and Later Years
On May 1, 1614, Jane married Nathaniel Bacon. He was a painter and came from a well-known family in Suffolk. Even after marrying Nathaniel, Jane was still called "Lady Cornwallis" because she was the widow of a knight. She only became "Lady Bacon" after Nathaniel was made a Knight of the Bath in 1626.
Jane and Nathaniel lived at Brome Hall in Suffolk. This property belonged to the Cornwallis family. Jane held it in trust for her young son, Frederick, until he was old enough to manage it himself.
Family Matters and Advice
In January 1631, Jane's son, Frederick Cornwallis, married Elizabeth Ashburnham. The wedding happened at court, but Jane did not attend. She was upset with Frederick because of something he had done. Elizabeth's cousin, Susan Feilding, Countess of Denbigh, wrote to Nathaniel Bacon, mentioning that Elizabeth's family was having money problems after her father died.
Dorothy Randolph, a close friend and cousin of Jane's family, helped Frederick find a suitable wife. Dorothy also sent news from London and gave fashion advice. In spring 1632, she wrote to Jane:
"I have sent you some patterns of stuff such as is worn by many, but not much lace upon those wrought stuffs; but the newest fashion is plain satin, of what colour one will, emboidered all over with 'alcomedes' (jewels and stones), but it is not like to hold past summer. They wear white satin waistcoats, plain, raised, printed, and some embroidered with lace, more than any one thing, and white Holland (linen) ones much".
This shows us what kind of clothes were popular back then!
In 1639, Jane's daughter, Anne Bacon, married Thomas Meautys. Anne later married Harbottle Grimston. Another daughter, Jane Bacon, sadly died when she was young. Jane, Lady Bacon, was also the grandmother of Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis.
Later Life and Legacy
Jane, Lady Bacon, passed away at Culford on May 8, 1659. A few years before she died, in 1657, she made plans for her marble monument. She worked with a mason named Thomas Stanton to design it for her burial place at Culford.
A painting that hangs in Government House, Sydney has recently been identified as a portrait of Jane Cornwallis. It is believed to have been painted by her husband, Nathaniel Bacon. You can even see the garden side of Brome Hall in the background of the painting!
