Adventures in Genealogy

Sir John Bourchier, 1st Baron Berners
My 16th Great Grandfather

Born: 1415, Little Eaton, Essex, England
Died: 16 May 1474, Chertsey, Surrey, England

Father: Sir William Bourchier, 1st Count of Eu
Mother: Anne of Gloucester, Countess of Stafford

Wife: Lady Margery Berners
Children: Sir Humphrey Bourchier

Sir John Bourchier was knighted in 1426, and in 1455 the title Baron Berners was created for him. In 1459 he was further honoured when he was made a Knight of the Garter. He also served as Constable of Windsor Castle from 1461 to 1474.

Sir Humphrey Bourchier
My 15th Great Grandfather

Born: 1444, Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk, England
Died: 14 April 1471, Battle of Barnet, Hertfordshire, England

Father: Sir John Bourchier, 1st Baron Berners
Mother: Lady Margery Berners

Wife: Lady Elizabeth Tilney, Countess of Surrey
Children: Lady Margaret Bourchier, Baroness Bryan

Lady Margaret Bourchier, Baroness Bryan
My 14th Great Grandmother

Born: 1 June 1468, Benningborough, Yorkshire, England
Died: 1 June 1551, Cheddington, Buckinghamshire, England

Father: Sir Humphrey Bourchier
Mother: Lady Elizabeth Tilney, Countess of Surrey

Husband: Sir Thomas Bryan
Children: Sir Francis Bryan, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland

Margaret was a Lady-in-Waiting to Catherine of Aragon and was present at Catherine’s wedding to Henry VIII in 1509.

She later became Lady Governess to Princess Mary, Princess Elizabeth, and Prince Edward.

Margaret’s mother Elizabeth Tilney was the grandmother of Anne Boleyn, making Margaret the aunt of her charge, Princess Elizabeth — later Queen Elizabeth I.