Mary de Braose, Countess of Norfolk

Other Events and Attributes:

• Legal: 18 Dec 1338

Notes:

Name:
Father: Sir Peter de Braose
Mother: Agnes Clifford

Birth:
Father: Sir Peter de Braose (1273-1312)
Mother: Agnes Clifford (c1275-1332)

Legal:
On 15 December 1338, she was assigned dower, but protested that she should be given dower in all of the Brotherton lands, even those missed by the inquisitions following Thomas's death. She was already proving to be sharper and more protective of her interests than Thomas had been of his. She must have assembled a strong team of administrators and attorneys as her council, for she pursued her rights vigorously. In 1339, she petitioned for her proper dower as laid out in Magna Carta, and the proper arrears of her dower in the revenues from Norwich Castle. In 1344, the earl of Salisbury whom the king had appointed marshal of England following Thomas's death, died. Mary successfully petitioned for dower from the office of marshal, and that same year even pursued her rights to dower in three of the manors that Thomas had surrendered in 1332. The king, impressed with the countess of Norfolk's abilities, granted her the wardship of the lands of Oliver de Ingham during the minority of one of his coheirs, and Mary took her responsibilities seriously enough to personally oversee the extent of the dower lands assigned to Ingham's widow. Countess Mary continued officially to pursue and defend her rights into the early 1350s, and was such an effective administrator that her son John Cobham partnered with her in managing his estates even after he attained his majority.

Mary married Sir Ralph Cobham about 1320. Ralph was born about 1290 in Ardington, Berkshire, England; died in 1326. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Issue:
1. Sir John Cobham (1324-1378)

Mary married Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk, Marshall of England in 1334. Thomas (son of Edward I "Longshanks", King of England and Marguerite of France) was born on 1 Jun 1300 in Brotherton, Yorkshire, England; died on 23 Aug 1338 in Framlingham, Suffolk, England; was buried in Bury St Edmunds Abbey, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
It was a second marriage for both Thomas and Mary.