Frances Aylmer

Frances Aylmer (also spelled Aelmer and Elmer), died 1540, was a lady of the privy chamber to Princess Mary Tudor from at least 1525 until 1533 and returned to her service in 1536. She served as Mary's proxy when Mary was godmother to one of the children of Lord William Howard. In mid-July 1533, Thomas Cromwell wrote to Lord Hussey, Chamberlain of Mary's household, ordering him to have Mary’s jewels and plate inventoried and placed in the custody of Frances Aylmer. This did not happen. The countess of Salisbury, who was Lady Mistress of the household, refused to comply unless she received written orders from the king himself. Frances is probably the same Frances Aelmer whose will was proved March 21, 1540, since she makes reference in it to Sir William and Lady Butts (Margaret Bacon), who were also members of Mary's household. In a query to Notes and Queries in 1896, citing that will, the writer suggests that Frances might have been the mother of John Aylmer, Bishop of London (1520/21-June 3, 1594). This is certainly a possibility. The Oxford DNB entry for Aylmer list his parents as unknown. Online sources say he was the younger son of John Aylmer of Aylmer Hall in Tilney, Norfolk (John Aylmer had another son, Sir Robert Aylmer) but do not give life dates or a name for this senior John Aylmer’s wife.

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The household in 1525-1527 in the Welsh Marches included:

• Lady Catherine Gordon, Chief Lady in Waiting
• Frances Aylmer Alice Baker
• Catherine Brydges, Mrs. Pole
• Cecily Dabridgecourt
• Mary Dannett Anne Darrell (or Darnell or Dannett; possibly *Anne Elmbridge Dannett)
• ___ de Bruxia (wife of Peter)
• Mary Fitzherbert Anne Knyvett (possibly *Anne Shelton, wife of Edmund Knyvett) Elizabeth Pole
• Anne Rede
• Mary Vittorio (Mary Fernando; Mary Victoria)

Chamberers:

____ Baptist

Helen Gwyn

Alice Parker

Between 1530 and 1533:

Frances Aylmer

• Margaret Bacon, Lady Butts Margaret Baynton
• Mary Browne
• ___ de Bruxia (wife of Peter)
• Lady Margaret Douglas, Chief Lady in Waiting
• Joan Duwes (wife of Giles)
• Anne Grey, Lady Hussey
• Katherine Grey, Lady Maltravers
• Frideswide Knight, chamberer Alice Parker, chamberer ____ Rider

before 1536:

• Joan Fermor, maid of honor (according to Oxford DNB entry)

1536:

Forty two people in all, including:

• Frances Aylmer
• Frances Baynham Mary Baynton
• Eleanor Browne, Lady Kempe
• Mary Browne
• Mary Kempe Finch
• Elizabeth Fitzgerald
• Barbara Hawke
• Anne Morgan
• Elizabeth Sidney
• Susan White

http://www.kateemersonhistoricals.com/lists.htm