Catherine Killigrew

Catherine Killigrew (1618–1689) was the daughter of Sir Robert Killigrew and Mary Woodhouse.

Catherine Killigrew died in 1689 in Cumberlow, Hertfordshire, although she has been confused with her sister Kate who died at Spa, Belgium in August 1654, as maid of honour to Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia. She was unmarried in 1656, when she was the admininistrator of the will of her mother Mary, Lady Stafford.

Killigrew is thought to have been the mother of George Elliott, the illegitimate son of Richard Eliot.

Her great-grandson, Granville Elliott, spent much time and trouble trying to prove Killigrew had married Richard prior to George's birth, making him a legal heir. Granville Elliot was unable to show this formally. It is known that Catherine was legally single when she was executor to her mother's will in December 1656, and Richard appears in visitations as ob cael (died a bachelor). Given the amount of effort expended, and the closeness in time, it remains probable that George Elliott was the illegitimate son of Richard and Catherine.

Catherine married the widower Sir Thomas Stanley at some point after 1656, with no issue.