Katherine Brettargh (Bruen)

Katherine Bruen, February 1579-May 31, 1601, was the daughter of John Bruen of Bruen Stapleford, Cheshire (1510-1587) and Dorothy Holford. From the age of eight, she was raised by her older brother, John Bruen (1560-1625), who enforced a strict religious regimen that included prayers seven times a day and attendance at two sermons every Sunday. In about 1599, Katherine married William Brettargh of Brettargh Hall near Liverpool (c.1571-1602+). He was a puritan, almost as strict as her brother. They lived at Little Woolton in Childwall, Lancashire and had one child, Anne, before Katherine contracted an unknown illness and, facing death, lost her faith. Her death inspired an account of her life—actually two sermons that attempted to explain what had happened to her—printed later that same year, and spawned a debate about which religious beliefs led to a more merciful death. Biography: Oxford DNB entry under “Brettargh [n%C3%A9e Bruen], Katherine.”