Joan Chaworth facts for kids

Joan Chaworth (who died on August 29, 1507) was an important lady in old England. She inherited a large estate called the manor of Alfreton. Her father was Sir William Chaworth.

Joan Chaworth's Life

Joan Chaworth was the daughter of Sir William Chaworth and Elizabeth Bowett. Her family, the Chaworths, were very important landowners. Joan had an older brother named Thomas.

Becoming an Heiress

Sadly, many of the men in Joan's family passed away early. Her father, Sir William, was not well and died in 1467. Her brother, Thomas, also became ill and died in 1483 without having any children.

Because of these sad events, Joan became the main heir to most of the large Chaworth family lands. This made her a very important person in her time.

A Special Title

The Chaworth family also had a special noble title called a "barony." When Joan's brother died, this title didn't pass directly to anyone. Instead, it went into something called "abeyance." This means the title was put on hold, as there was no clear male heir to inherit it.

Her Memorial

Joan Chaworth passed away on August 29, 1507. You can find a special memorial for her and her husband, John Ormond, in the church at Alfreton. It's a tablet with their pictures carved into brass plates.

Her Marriage and Family

In 1458, Joan Chaworth married John Ormond. He was an esquire, which was a title for a gentleman. John Ormond and his two brothers were the sons of a nobleman named John Butler, the 6th Earl of Ormond.

Joan's Daughters

Joan and John Ormond had three daughters:

• Joan Ormond: She married twice. First, she married Thomas Dynham and had several children. Later, she married a man named FitzWilliam.
• Elizabeth Ormond: She married Anthony Babington. Her great-grandson, also named Anthony Babington, became famous later during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
• Anne Ormond: She married William Mering from Nottinghamshire, but she did not have any children.