Elizabeth (Somerset) Brereton (1497 - 1545)

Biography

Lady Savage’s first husband was the grandson of Sir John Savage who had been a Lancastrian commander at the battle of Bosworth in 1485. When the grandson had fallen into debt and was also being held in the Tower for murder, all his lands were forfeited to the crown, and Brereton, as the king’s man in Cheshire, was given the job of looking after them. Savage died and Brereton’s marriage to Lady Savage established a family relationship with the King and thus cemented Brereton’s position as a royal servant

Birth

Born about 1497

Marriages

In early 1504, a marriage contract was drawn up to the effect that Elizabeth would marry John Savage, son and heir of Sir John Savage, when she turned 12 and he turned 14. ^[1]

Sir John Savage died in 1528 and Elizabeth married William Brereton about 1529. Elizabeth was again a widow in 1536. ^[2]

Death

Elizabeth died in 1545. Elizabeth's will mentions her children John Savage, Harry Savage, Harry Brereton, Thomas Brereton, Margaret (Savage) Bulkeley, and connections (likely through her two marriages) Sir Uryan Brereton, Sir Edmund Savage, Sir Richard Bulkeley, Isabel and Jane Bostock.

Movingly, Elizabeth leaves to her son Thomas Brereton, "one bracelet of gold...the same the which was the last token his father sent to me" prior to the latter's judicial murder in 1536. ^[3]

Title

Title: Lady

Sources

1. ↑ Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies Service CHOLMONDELEYOF CHOLMONDELEY Catalogue Ref. DCH Creator(s): Cholmondeley family, Marquesses of Cholmondeley ROCKSAVAGE & CLIFTON SECTION FILE [notitle] - ref. DCH/E/293 - date: 1503/4, 14. Mar [from Scope and Content] MARRIAGE CONTRACT between 1) Sir Charles Somerset Kt. Lord Herbert and Dame Elizabeth his wife, and 2) Sir John Savage Kt. and Dame Anne his wife, whereby it is agreed that John Savage, son and heir of the said Sir John and Dame Anne, shall marry Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the said Lord Somerset and Dame Elizabeth when the said John attains the age of 14 and the said Elizabeth of 12, or other daughter or son if either party dies before the said marriage; the said Sir John, within 40 days of the said marriage, is to make an estate of the yearly value of £76-13-4 within Co. SALOP or elsewhere, whereof £10 is to be of lands and tenements parcel of the Manor of KYNDERTON (Co. Ches.), to Richard Bishop of Wynchestre, Geoffroy Blythe Bishop of Chester, Richard Earl of Kent, Sir George Nevile Kt., Lord Bergebenny, Sir Richard Pole Kt., Christopher Baynebrige Dean of York, Sir George Marris Kt., Sir Thomas Parr Kt., Sir John Both Kt., Sir Thomas Boteler Kt., Sir John Werburton Kt., William Hanford, John Maynwaryng and Richard Herbert, to the use of the said John Savage and Elizabeth, so married, and their heirs, or to such son and daughter so married, and their heirs; and the said Sir John and Dame Anne are to make an estate to the said feoffees, of all other manors, lands and hereditaments of inheritance of the said Sir John which they have in the Counties of Chester, Lancs., Salop, Derby and Notts., or elsewhere, except the manors etc: granted by the King to Sir John Savage, father of the said Sir John, and his heirs male; to the use of the said Sir John for life, remainder to his said son so married, and his heirs, and in default of issue to the use of the said Sir John and his heirs. Provision is made for the inheritance of the said Dame Anne, and for marriage portions of Sir John's daughters. Cons. 600 marks.
2. ↑ "In June 1536 Elizabeth Savage, late the wife of William Brereton, was granted all the goods, chattels, rents, fees, and annuities, belonging to her husband at the time of his conviction." The Tudor Law of Treason, John Bellamy
3. ↑ Reference: DCH/E/294 Description: WILL of Lady Elizabeth Savage, widow, late wife of Sir John Savage Kt., deceased; she directs that she is to be buried in the new chapel adjoining the parish church of Macclesfelde; makes bequests to her sons John Savage, Harie Savage, Harye Brereton and Thomas Brereton, her daughter Mergrett Bulkeley, her cousin Sir Uryan Brereton Kt., Groom of the King's Privy Chamber, her brother in law Sir Uryane Brereton, her brother in law Sir Edmonde Savage Kt., and to various servants (named); refers to William Brereton esq., her late husband; appoints Sir Urian Brereton Kt., Sir Richard Bulkelei Kt., Sir Edmonde Savage Kt., and Sir Urian Brereton of Handforde Kt., her executors, and her brother Henry Earl of Worcester, overseer of her will. There is a list of creditors. Seal: red, illegible. Parchment. Storage FH. Date: 1545, 28. Mar Held by: Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, not available at The National Archives Language: English Physical condition: Note: this document is affected by damp and in parts illegible.

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