Catherine Pole was born after 1520. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Pole, 1st Lord Montagu and Jane Neville.1

She married Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, son of George Hastings, 1st Earl of Huntingdon and Lady Anne Stafford, on 5 June 1532.1

She died on 23 September 1576.1

From 5 June 1532, her married name became Hastings. As a result of her marriage, Catherine Pole was styled as Countess of Huntingdon on 24 March 1544. In 1554/55 she was restored in blood after the reversal of her father's attainder by Parliament.1

Children of Catherine Pole and Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon

1. * Lady Elizabeth Hastings+2 d. 24 Aug 1621
2. * Lady Frances Hastings+
3. * William Hastings3
4. * Lady Mary Hastings4
5. * Lady Ann Hastings5
6. * Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon3 b. c 1536, d. 14 Dec 1595
7. * George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon+3 b. c 1540, d. 31 Dec 1604
8. * Sir Edward Hastings+3 b. 1542, d. 1603
9. * Walter Hastings+4 b. 1544, d. Aug 1616
10. * Sir Francis Hastings4 b. c 1545, d. Sep 1610

Citations

  1. [S8] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volumes (Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999), volume 1, page 16. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition.
  2. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume XII/2, page 856. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
  3. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 2, page 2005. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.
  4. [S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 2, page 2006.
  5. [S3470] Marian Hastings, "re: Hastings Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 31 Deember 2008. Hereinafter cited as "re: Hastings Family."

Catherine Pole

was the daughter of Henry Pole, baron Montagu, and Jane Neville; and married Francis Hastings, son and heir of George Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, in 1532, at the same time her sister, Winifred, married his brother, Thomas. Dispensation for the marriages were needed, because they were related in the 3rd and 4th degrees of kindred. In 1538, Catherine’s father was executed for treason. Her grandmother, Lord Montagu’s mother, Margaret Plantagenet, Countess of Salisbury, was executed on the same charge in 1541. Their only crime was having a claim to the throne. Although Catherine’s husband was under suspicion for a time, he was careful to stay out of politics. He succeeded his father, becoming 2nd Earl of Huntingdon in 1544.

Their oldest boy, Henry, was a schoolmate of the future Edward VI and the family fortunes improved during Edward’s short reign. When Mary Tudor became Queen, Catherine promptly contacted her uncle, Cardinal Reginald Pole, who had been in exile since 1538, and upon his return to England asked him to be the godfather of her youngest son, Walter. In 1554/55 she was restored in blood after the reversal of her father's attainder by Parliament.

When Catherine’s husband died, he left her with five sons and five daughters, all but the oldest boy and girl under age. It was her oldest son, Henry, the new Earl, however, who had the responsibility for supporting them and arranging their marriages. Catherine assisted in this financially. In 1562 she leased him all her lands except the manor of Lubbesthorpe, where she lived until her death, for an annuity of £960 and his promise to double his sisters’ dowries. This lease was cancelled in 1564. In exchange Catherine granted him the lease of the manor of Stokenham in Devon and gave him permission to sell some of her lands in Cornwall. In 1574, she assigned the park of Ware, Hertfordshire to him (he needed to pledge property for his debts to the crown) and received in return an annuity of £33. 6s. 8d. Most of her estates, however, remained in her possession. She remained a Catholic sympathizer, if not actively a recusant, even though her oldest son was a staunch protestant. Her youngest son, Walter, shared her beliefs. -------------------- Children:

Frances Ann Hastings 1533-1574

Henry Earl Hastings 1533-1595

William Hastings 1535-Deceased

Francis Hastings 1539-1610

George Hastings 1540-1604

Elizabeth Hastings 1540-1621

Sir Walter Hastings 1541-1600

Catherine Hastings 1542-1576

Catherine Hastings 1542-1576

Countess Of Lincoln Catherine Hastings 1542-1576

Edward Hastings Sir 1542-1603

Elizabeth ' Hastings 1546-1621

Elizabeth Hastings 1550-Deceased

Mary 1551-Deceased

Mary Hastings 1552-Deceased

Ann Hastings 1552-Deceased

Elizabeth Hastings 1585-Deceased