Joan Stewart, Countess of Morton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joan Stewart |
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| Countess of Morton | |
The tombs of Lord and Lady Morton as they appeared in 1902. Note the blank faces and missing hands
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| Born | c. 1428 |
| Died | 22 June 1493 |
| Burial | Dalkeith Collegiate Church |
| Spouse | James Douglas, 1st Earl of Morton |
| House | Stewart |
| Father | James I of Scotland |
| Mother | Joan Beaufort |
Joan Stewart, Countess of Morton, also called Joanna (born around 1428 – died 22 June 1493), was a Scottish princess. She was the daughter of King James I of Scotland. Joan married James Douglas, 1st Earl of Morton. People knew her as the muta domina, which means "mute lady" in Latin. This was because she was deaf and could not speak.
Her Life Story
Joan was born in Scotland around 1428. She was the third daughter of James I of Scotland and Queen Joan Beaufort. Joan had two younger brothers, including James II, who later became king. She also had five sisters. Joan was deaf and unable to speak. She was known as the "mute lady." It is said that Joan used sign language to talk, even when she was in public.
When she was younger, Joan was supposed to marry James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Angus. This plan was made in 1440. However, he died in 1446 before they could get married. In 1445, Joan went to France. She stayed there until 1457. She was also promised to marry the Dauphin of France, who was the French prince. But this marriage did not happen, probably because she could not speak.
Joan married The 4th Baron Dalkeith before May 15, 1459. When they married, he became the first Earl of Morton. Joan and James were related, so they needed special permission from the church to marry. This permission, called a dispensation, was given on January 7, 1463 or 1464. They knew they were related but were encouraged to marry by Joan's brother, King James II. Countess Joanna died in 1493. Her husband, James, died four months after her.
Their Special Tomb
The Earl and Countess of Morton were buried together. Their burial place is in the choir area of St. Nicholas Buccleuch church. This church is also known as the Dalkeith Collegiate Church. It is located in Dalkeith, Scotland. Their tombs are covered with stone statues, called effigies, that look like them. These statues also show their family symbols. This tomb is thought to be the oldest image of a known deaf person in the world.
Today, the choir area of the church is in ruins. This means the tombs are outside in the open. Over many centuries, the weather has worn away their faces. Their hands, which were pressed together in prayer, were probably broken during the Reformation. One visitor said that the tombs, which were once "crisply carved," now look like "sand sculptures after the tide has washed in." Because these tombs are so important to history, a group of volunteers worked to protect them. In 2005, they built a special cover over the statues.
Joan's Children
Joan and her husband James had four children:
- Sir John Douglas, 2nd Earl of Morton (born before 1466–died 1513). He was killed in the Battle of Flodden.
- James (died after 1480). His name appeared in several official papers between 1466 and 1480.
- Janet. She married Sir Patrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell before February 1, 1480 or 1481.
- Elizabeth. She was mentioned in a document from 1479, but nothing else is known about her.
