Lady Mary Seymour was the only child of Queen Kateryn Parr and
her fourth husband, Thomas Seymour. Parr died of child bed fever
shortly after giving birth to Mary, and the baby’s father,
Thomas Seymour, was executed for treason just a few short years
thereafter. But what happened to their child, who seems to have
vanished without trace into history? This is an enduring mystery
and one which has intrigued Tudor readers for years. |Catherine
Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk| According to Parr’s biographer
Linda Porter, “In January, 1550, less than a year after her
father’s death, application was made in the House of Commons for
the restitution of Lady Mary Seymour…she had been made eligible
by this act to inherit any remaining property that had not been
returned to the Crown at the time of her father’s attainder. But
in truth, Mary’s prospects were less optimistic than this might
suggest. Much of her parents’ lands and goods had already passed
onto the hands of others.” |Queen Kateryn Parr| Biographer
Elizabeth N