Joan Champernowne

Joan Champernowne (died 1553) was a lady-in-waiting at the court of King Henry VIII of England. She became a close friend to his sixth wife, Queen Catherine Parr. She married Sir Anthony Denny, who at the end of King Henry's reign was widely considered to be his most trusted servant.[1]

Biography

Joan was born in Modbury, Devon on an unknown date, but no later than 1513, the daughter of Sir Philip Champernowne and his wife, K(C)atherine Carew. She married Sir Anthony Denny, son of Sir Edmund Denny.

In August 1540 Joan Denny and others ladies of the court visited Portsmouth to see a newly built ship. They sent Henry VIII a joint letter which was signed by Mabel, Lady Southampton, Margaret Tallebois, Margaret Howard (sister of Queen Catherine Howard), Alice Browne, Anne Knyvett (daughter of Thomas Knyvett), "Jane Denny", Jane Meutas, Anne Bassett, Elizabeth Tyrwhitt, and Elizabeth Harvey.[2]

She had twelve children, including:

Joan was considered to be both beautiful and intelligent, and a member of the burgeoning Protestant faction at court, despite her husband's pro-Catholic inclinations. She was the niece of Katherine Ashley née Champernowne, the governess of Queen Elizabeth I. The Tudor historian, Joanna Denny, was a descendant of Joan's.

References

  1. The Last Days of Henry VIII by Robert Hutchinson, p. 154
  2. Henry Ellis, Original Letters, series 1 vol. 2 (London, 1824), pp. 126-7.
  3. Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), Volume I, pg. 1094.
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