Margaret Bourchier, Countess of Bath (''née'' Donington; – 20 December 1561) was an English Tudor noblewoman. She is notable for the three high-profile and advantageous marriages she secured during her lifetime, and for her success in arranging socially impressive marriages for many of her children. Through her descendants she is common ancestor of many of the noble families of England. Margaret was the only daughter and sole heiress of John Donington, a member of the

Worshipful Company of Salters The Worshipful Company of Salters is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, 9th in order of precedence. The Company originated as the Guild of Corpus Christi, which was granted a Royal Charter of incorporation in 1394. Further Char ...

, and Elizabeth Pye. Through her first marriage she became the owner of

Hengrave Hall Hengrave Hall is a Grade I listed Tudor manor house in Hengrave near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, England and was the seat of the Kitson and Gage families 1525–1887. Both families were Roman Catholic recusants. Architecture Work on the ho ...

, where she installed a tomb and stained glass window to the memory of her three husbands, who all predeceased her. She is buried in Hengrave Church.

Marriages and issue

First marriage

Her first marriage was to Sir Thomas Kitson, a wealthy merchant and

Sheriff of London Two sheriffs are elected annually for the City of London by the Liverymen of the City livery company, livery companies. Today's sheriffs have only nominal duties, but the historical officeholders had important judicial responsibilities. They have ...

, as his second wife. Together they had five children: * Sir Thomas Kitson (1540–1603), who married firstly Jane Paget, the daughter of

William Paget, 1st Baron Paget William Paget, 1st Baron Paget of Beaudesert (15069 June 1563), was an English statesman and accountant who held prominent positions in the service of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I. Early life He was the son of John Pachett or Paget, one ...

, by whom he had no issue, and secondly Elizabeth Cornwallis, the eldest daughter of Sir Thomas Cornwallis (d.1604), by whom he had a son who died as an infant and two daughters. From the daughters are descended the

Dukes of Devonshire Duke of Devonshire is a title in the Peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This (now the senior) branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the wealthiest British aristocratic families since the 16th century and has b ...

, the

Dukes of Newcastle Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne was a title that was created three times, once in the Peerage of England and twice in the Peerage of Great Britain. The first grant of the title was made in 1665 to William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle, Willi ...

and the

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. *Katherine Kitson, who married Sir John Spencer (1524 – 8 November 1586), by whom she had four sons and six daughters. Their descendants include the

Earls Spencer Earl Spencer is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain that was created on 1 November 1765, along with the title Viscount Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northampton, for John Spencer, 1st Viscount Spencer. He was a member of the prominen ...

, the

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and the Barons Monteagle. * Dorothy Kitson (1531–1577), who married firstly Sir Thomas Pakington (died 2 June 1571) by whom she had four sons, including Sir John Pakington and three daughters. Dorothy married secondly

Thomas Tasburgh Thomas Tasburgh (c. 1553 – c. 1602), originally of South Elmham, Suffolk, afterwards of Hawridge and latterly of Beaconsfield and Twyford, Buckinghamshire, was a member of the English landed gentry, a magistrate, member of parliament, High ...

(c. 1554 – c. 1602) by whom she had no issue. *Frances Kitson, who married firstly on 11 December 1548 her step-brother John Bourchier, Lord FitzWarin (who predeceased his father), eldest son of

John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath, (1499 in Devon – 10 February 1560/61) was an Earl in the peerage of England. He also succeeded to the titles of 12th Baron FitzWarin, Baron Daubeney and 4th Count of Eu. Origins He was the son of John Bourc ...

, by whom she had a son,

William Bourchier, 3rd Earl of Bath William Bourchier, 3rd Earl of Bath (29 Sep 1557 – 12 July 1623) was Lord Lieutenant of Devon. His seat was at Tawstock Court, three miles south of Barnstaple in North Devon, which he rebuilt in the Elizabethan style in 1574, the date being ...

, and secondly she married William Barnaby. Frances' descendants include the

Earls of Stamford Earl of Stamford was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1628 for Henry Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Groby. This Grey family descended through Lord John Grey, of Pirgo, Essex, younger son of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset ...

. *Anne Kitson, who married, as his first wife, Sir William Spring. Their descendants include the

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. Through this marriage Dame Margaret inherited extensive property, including

in Suffolk.

Second marriage

Margaret's marriage to the courtier Sir Richard Long took place in 1540, a few months after the death of her first husband. The couple had four children: *Jane Long (1541-1562) *Mary Long (born 1543) * Henry Long (1544-1573), godson of

Henry VIII of England Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...

. He married Dorothy Clark, and their daughter, Elizabeth, married

William Russell, 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh William Russell, 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh (died 9 August 1613) was an English nobleman, politician, peer, and knight. He was the younger son of Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford and his first wife Margaret St. John. His birthdate is un ...

and is an ancestor of the

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. *Catherine Long (born 1546), married Edward Fisher in 1561.

Third marriage

Her final marriage was to

on 11 December 1548, after which Margaret was styled Countess of Bath.Peter W. Hammond (Ed.), ''The Complete Peerage or a History of the House of Lords and All its Members From the Earliest Times'', Volume XIV: ''Addenda & Corrigenda'' (Stroud, Gloucestershire, U.K.: Sutton Publishing, 1998), page 71 Before the marriage she insisted that at the same time as her marriage to Bourchier, his son and heir, Lord FitzWarin, should marry her own daughter from her first marriage, Frances Kitson. The marriage settlement also ensured that Margaret retained control over her property. The Earl and Countess of Bath made Hengrave Hall their primary residence. The couple had two daughters: *Lady Susanna Bourchier *Lady Bridget Bourchier, who married Thomas Price.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bath, Margaret Donnington, Countess of 1561 deaths 16th-century English nobility Margaret English countesses Wives of knights 16th-century English women Year of birth uncertain