Jane Lewkenor facts for kids

Jane Lewkenor, Lady Pole (born around 1492, died 1562) was an important woman from a noble family in England. She lived in a place called Trotton in Sussex.

Jane's Family

Jane Lewkenor was born around 1503. Her father was Sir Roger Lewkenor, who lived in Trotton, Sussex. He was an important knight and landowner. Her mother was Eleanor Tuchet, whose father was John Tuchet, 6th Baron Audley.

Jane's father married two more times after her mother died. He had three more daughters with his third wife. These daughters were Jane's half-sisters and shared in the family inheritance:

• Katherine, who married William Morgan.
• Mabel, who married Anthony Stapley.
• Constance, who married Edward Glentham.

Jane's Marriages

Jane Lewkenor married three times during her life.

First Marriage

Her first husband was Sir Christopher Pickering. They were married before 1516. Sir Christopher was from Yorkshire and passed away in 1516.

Second Marriage

Jane's second husband was Arthur Pole. He was the son of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, a very important noblewoman. Jane and Arthur married around 1526. They had at least four children together: Henry, Jane, Margaret, and Mary.

After Arthur Pole died, his mother, Lady Salisbury, and his brother, Lord Montague, did not want Jane to marry again. They wanted to keep her wealth within the Pole family for Arthur's children. They tried to make Jane become a nun at Syon Abbey.

However, Jane was only a beginner (a novice) at the abbey. She was later allowed to leave by William Barlow, who was a bishop. He told her that as a novice, she was not fully committed and could choose to leave.

Third Marriage

In 1539, Jane married Sir William Barentyne. He was a sheriff, which meant he was a high-ranking official in Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

Their marriage was at first declared invalid in 1540 because of Jane's earlier vow of chastity when she was at the abbey. But Jane and William worked to make their marriage legal. In 1544, they succeeded in getting a special law passed by Parliament. This law made their marriage valid and declared their children legitimate.

Jane's Children

Jane had several children from her marriages:

• Anne Pickering (born around 1514, died 1582). Anne married three times. Her first husband was Sir Francis Weston. Her second was Sir Henry Knyvet. Her third husband was John Vaughan. Anne had several children:
  • Sir Henry Weston
  • Anne Weston
  • Sir Henry Knyvet
  • Margaret Knyvet
  • Catherine Knyvet
  • Elizabeth Knyvet
  • Sir Thomas Knyvet
  • Alice Knyvett
  • Anne Knyvett
  • Frances Vaughan

• Margaret Pole (born 1527)
• Mary Pole (born 1529)
• Jane Pole
• Henry Pole (born around 1525)
• Drew Barentyne
• Charles Barentyne

Jane Lewkenor, Lady Pole, passed away on March 12, 1562 or 1563.

Fictional Portrayals

Jane's story, especially her marriage to Arthur Pole and the disagreements with his family, is told in the 2014 novel The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory.