Mary Finch facts for kids
Mary Finch (1508-1557) was an English lady who worked closely with Mary I of England, who later became queen. Mary Finch was an important person in the royal court during a time of big changes in England.
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Early Life and Family Connections
Mary Finch was born in 1508. Her parents were Christopher Kempe and Mary Guildford. Her mother, Mary Guildford, later married William Hawte. This made Mary Finch the half-sister of Jane Hawte.
Mary Finch married Lawrence Finch. His family was also well-known. His brother, Thomas Finch, was a Member of Parliament for Canterbury.
Working for Princess Mary
In the 1540s, Mary Finch had important jobs for Princess Mary, who was not yet queen. She was in charge of Princess Mary's personal money, called the privy purse accounts. This meant she managed the princess's daily spending.
Mary Finch was also the keeper of Princess Mary's jewels. She looked after all the valuable necklaces, rings, and other treasures. Princess Mary even gave Mary Finch a special gold chain decorated with black enamel. This shows how much Princess Mary trusted her.
Princess Mary often gave jewels as gifts. Records show that Mary Finch helped keep track of these gifts. For example, Princess Mary gave a gold brooch to Margaret Douglas.
Life at Queen Mary's Court
When Princess Mary became Queen Mary I, Mary Finch continued to serve her. She became a lady of the Queen's privy chamber. This was a very close and trusted position.
Mary Finch was part of Queen Mary's coronation procession. She rode on horseback with other ladies, all dressed in beautiful crimson velvet. This was a grand event celebrating the new queen.
In 1557, Mary Finch gave Queen Mary a special New Year's Day gift. It was a red satin purse holding twelve gold coins. This was a common tradition at court.
Her Legacy and Burial
Mary Finch passed away in 1557. She was buried on September 20, 1557, at the Savoy Chapel.
In her will, Mary Finch left some interesting gifts. She gave away a pair of gold bracelets. She also left money to have 25 special rings made for her friends at court. These rings were called "memento mori" rings. They had a small image of a skull on them. These rings were meant to remind people that life is short and to live it well. Some of her friends who received these rings included the Countess of Kildare, Mary Bassett, Susan Clarencieux, and Jane Dormer.
