Joan Beaufort ( 1377 – 13 November 1440) was the youngest of the four legitimised children and only daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (third surviving son of King Edward III), by his mistress, later wife, Katherine Swynford. She married Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland and in her widowhood became a powerful landowner in the north of England.
Early life
The year and place of Joan's birth is unknown. She may have been born at Kettlethorpe in Lincolnshire, the seat of the Swynford family, or at Pleshey in Essex, the home of Joan FitzAlan. The usual date given for Joan's birth is 1379, as wine was ordered by John of Gaunt to be sent with all speed to Kettlethorpe in that year and he dated a couple of documents at that time from Kettlethorpe; thus, Joan's father may have been present for her birth or arrived shortly thereafter. Alison Weir, however, believes 1377 may be more accurate. Joan may have been named after Joan of Kent, at the time of her birth Dowager Princess of Wales. In September 1396 she, together with her siblings, the children of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford, were legitimised by papal bull.
Marriages and issue
First marriage
In 1386 her father arranged for her to be betrothed to Robert Ferrers, 5th Baron Boteler of Wem (d. c. 1395). The marriage took place in 1391/2 at Beaufort-en-Vallée, Anjou and the couple remained in the household of her father. Ferrers died only three years after the marriage, having had two daughters by Joan: Elizabeth Ferrers, 6th Baroness Boteler of Wem (1393–1474). She married John de Greystoke, 4th Baron Greystoke (1389–1436) on 28 October 1407 in Greystoke Castle, Greystoke, Cumberland, and had issue. She is buried at Black Friars Church, York. Mary or Margery (1394 – 25 January 1457/1458). She married her stepbrother, Sir Ralph Neville, son of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmoreland, before 1411 in Oversley, Warwickshire and had issue.
Second marriage
In November 1396 Joan married, secondly, to the recently widowed Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland (d. 1425), who had twelve children by his first wife and fathered a further fourteen by Joan. On the marriage her father settled on the couple for life an annuity of £206 13s 4d. The couple's primary residence was the ancient Neville seat of Raby Castle in the county of Durham. Joan Beaufort and Ralph Neville had the following 14 children: Lady Katherine Neville (c. 1397 – c. 1483), married, firstly, on 12 January 1411 John Mowbray, 2nd Duke of Norfolk; married, secondly, Sir Thomas Strangways; married, thirdly, John Beaumont, 1st Viscount Beaumont; married, fourthly, Sir John Woodville (d. 12 August 1469). Lady Eleanor Neville (c. 1398 – 1472), married, firstly, Richard le Despenser, 4th Baron Burghersh, married, secondly, Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland. Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury (1400–1460), married Alice Montacute, suo jure 5th Countess of Salisbury. Had issue Henry Neville (c. 1402), died in infancy Robert Neville (1404–1457), Bishop of Durham William Neville, 1st Earl of Kent (c. 1405 – 1463), married Joan Fauconberg John Neville (c. 1406), died in infancy George Neville, 1st Baron Latimer (c. 1407 – 1469) Lady Anne Neville (c. 1408 – 1480), married Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham. Thomas Neville (c. 1410), died as a child Cuthbert Neville (c. 1411), died in infancy Joan Neville (c. 1412 – 1453), became a nun of the Order of St. Clare Edward Neville, 3rd Baron Bergavenny (c. 1414 – 1476), married Elizabeth Beauchamp Lady Cecily Neville (1415–1495) ("Proud Cis"), married Richard, 3rd Duke of York, and mothered kings Edward IV and Richard III.
Life
In 1399 Joan was made a Lady of the Order of the Garter by King Richard II. Although that king had created Ralph as the first Earl of Westmorland, Ralph sided with Joan's half-brother Henry Bolingbroke, who deposed Richard in 1399 and assumed the throne as King Henry IV. Joan and Ralph were granted numerous offices, lands, wardships and pensions under Henry IV. Joan was named in royal grants as "the King's sister."