Susan Bertie

Born in 1554, Susan Bertie was the daughter of Catherine Brandon, Duchess of Suffolk and her second husband Richard Bertie.

As her parents were Protestant, Susan’s family spent the years of the Catholic Queen Mary’s reign abroad to avoid persecution, only returning in 1559 after Elizabeth I became Queen.

At sixteen years of age, Susan married Reginald Grey of Wrest, who was later restored as the fifth Earl of Kent.

Tragically, their marriage was short as her husband died the following year. As they were childless the Earldom passed to Reginald Grey’s brother. Presumably unable to continue living in the new Earl of Kent’s inherited residence, it is likely that she was invited to live at court by invitation of Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1581 Susan remarried to Sir John Wingfield, a nephew of her mother’s friend Bess of Hardwick. They had two sons, Peregrine Wingfield and Robert Wingfield.

Source: Canterbury Museums and Galleries - Susan Bertie