Agnes Dormer
1472-1565
Born: Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England
Died: Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, England
1472-1565
Born: Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England
Died: Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, England
<p><span style="font-size: small;">A few days ago, I watched a movie titled 'The Other Boleyn Girl' </span><span style="font-size: small;">which is basically about the second wife of Henry VIII and her sister Mary. </span><span style="font-size: small;">It occurred to me that our ancestor Sir John Baldwin (12th grt gf) was high judge of the 'Common Pleas' during the time of Anne Boleyn's trial.<br><br></span><span style="font-size: small;">I looked into it and sure enough he rose quickly from being a JP in Buckinghamshire to this high office by appointment of the King, just about the time the King wanted to be rid of his 2nd wife... So, I wondered what gave Henry such confidence in our ancestor. I discovered that John Baldwin's brother-in-law, Sir Robert Dormer (our 12th grt-grand uncle), was high sheriff of Buckinghamshire and served as a juror at Anne Boleyn's trial AND Sir Robert's son, had recently released from an engagement one Jane Seymour... Henry VIII's new love interest...<br><br>This still did not completely explain the connection, a little more digging and I found the answer.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">John Baldwin's wife, our 12th grt gm, was Agnes Dormer. Her mother was Agnes Woodville, daughter of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers. (Our 14th grt gf) The 1st Earl Rivers was great grandfather to Henry (Tudor) VIII.<br><br></span><span style="font-size: small;">Richard </span><span style="font-size: small;">Woodville was a political schemer, his eldest daughter Elizabeth was married to Edward (Plantagenet) IV in a secret ceremony which is cited as one cause of the War of the Roses. Our ancestor Agnes Woodville was Richard's youngest daughter, 23 years younger than the eldest. Anyway, it is this connection of family that places the Dormers and Baldwins in positions to judge Anne Boleyn. (Edward IV's eldest daughter Elizabeth Plantagenet was married to Henry (Tudor) VII.) So, this makes Henry VIII our 2nd cousin 13x removed. It also means we are very distant cousins to every English monarch since 1509.</span></p>