Katherine Ferrers
English heiress and alleged highwaywoman known as the 'Wicked Lady'.
Katherine Ferrers was born on 4 May 1634 in Bayford, Hertfordshire, to Knighton Ferrers and his wife Katherine (or Catherine) Walters, who brought a large fortune to the marriage. The Ferrers family, staunch Protestants, had been favoured by Henry VIII and Edward VI; the latter gave them extensive lands in Hertfordshire, including Bayford, Ponsbourne, Agnells, the family home at Flamstead, and the manor house of Markyate Cell. Knighton Ferrers died in 1640, and soon after so did Katherine’s grandfather, Sir George Ferrers. Because her brother—the original heir—had already died young, a court decree in October 1640 made Katherine the sole heir to her grandfather’s estates. That same year, her widowed mother married Sir Simon Fanshawe, a committed Royalist. When the Civil War began in 1642, Simon, his new wife, and Katherine joined King Charles I in Oxford. Her mother died that winter, leaving eight-year-old Katherine in her stepfather’s care. Simon fought at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644 and was captured two years later. During this period, Katherine became a ward of Simon’s brother Richard and his wife Ann, and was sent to live with Simon’s sister Alice at Hamerton in Huntingdonshire.
In 1643, Parliament’s Sequestration Committee took control of estates belonging to known Royalists, diverting their rents and income. The Royalist side relied on voluntary donations, fines, and looting, and the Fanshawes had given heavily to the cause, leaving their own assets cut off. To secure Katherine’s fortune, the family arranged for her to marry Thomas Fanshawe, her stepfather’s nephew, when she came of age. The ceremony took place at Hamerton in April 1648, just before her 14th birthday; her 16-year-old husband then took control of her considerable inheritance. Much of it was quickly sold: the manor at Flamstead went in 1654, and Markyate Cell—leased to tenants after her father’s death—along with its farms, was disposed of the following year.
After Oliver Cromwell’s death in 1658, the Protectorate collapsed and the monarchy was restored. Thomas Fanshawe had joined Booth’s uprising, a Presbyterian rebellion in the north, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London in September 1659, though he was released in February 1660. Charles II entered London in May; Katherine is recorded as having lodged in the Strand during the celebrations. She died in the first two weeks o
- born
- 4 May 1634
- died
- c. 13 June 1660
- field
- Gentlewoman, heiress
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Legend of being the 'Wicked Lady' highwaywoman
Lore & Background
Katherine Ferrers was born on 4 May 1634 at Bayford in Hertfordshire to Knighton Ferrers and his wife, the former Katherine Walters, and heiress to a considerable fortune. The Ferrers family were fervent Protestants and great favourites of both Henry VIII and Edward VI. Knighton Ferrers died in 1640, and Katherine's grandfather, Sir George Ferrers, died soon after. Katherine's brother, who was the heir, had died young, so by court decree in October 1640, she was appointed sole heir to her grandfather's estates. Her widowed mother married Sir Simon Fanshawe later that same year. The Fanshawe family were committed Royalists, and when the Civil War broke out in 1642, Simon, his new wife and stepdaughter joined King Charles I in Oxford. Her mother died that winter, leaving eight-year-old Katherine in the care of her stepfather. During the fighting, Fanshawe was at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644, and was taken prisoner two years later. Katherine was then made a ward of the court by Simon Fanshawe's brother, Richard, and his wife Ann, and sent to live with Simon's sister, Alice, at Hamerton in Huntingdonshire.
In April 1648, when she was just shy of 14, Katherine married Thomas Fanshawe, her stepfather's nephew, at Hamerton, whereupon her 16-year-old husband took control of her considerable fortune. Many of her inherited assets were quickly disposed of: the manor at Flamstead was sold in 1654; and Markyate Cell, which had been leased to tenants, and the farms around it, were disposed of the following year. After Cromwell's death in 1658, Thomas Fanshawe became involved in Booth's uprising and was imprisoned in the Tower of London in September 1659, although he was released in February 1660. Katherine died sometime in the first two weeks of June 1660, at the age of 26, and was buried at St Mary's church in Ware on 13 June 1660. She died childless.
Reader's Guide
Katherine Ferrers is primarily remembered through the persistent legend that she was the 'Wicked Lady', a highwaywoman who robbed travellers in Hertfordshire. The unknown circumstances of her early death have fuelled speculation, with the rumour that she was shot on Nomansland Common and died of her wounds while trying to ride back to a secret staircase entry at Markyate Cell. However, there is a serious inconsistency in this story as there is no record of Katherine ever having lived in Markyate Cell, as it was leased to tenants after her father's death and had actually been sold five years earlier. J.E. Cussens suggested in his History of Hertfordshire (1870–81) that the term 'wicked' came to be linked with Katherine Ferrers long after her death not through any nefarious actions on her part, but through confusion with the 'Wicked' Lord Ferrers, Laurence Shirley, Earl Ferrers, who was executed in 1760. Cussans notes that there is no contemporary mention of her career and death as a highwayman in histories published before the 4th Earl Ferrers's execution. While it is possible that Katherine Ferrers could have turned to highway robbery, there seems to be no historical proof that her accomplice 'Ralph Chaplin' ever existed. The legend has been kept alive by stories of hauntings and the discovery of a secret chamber at Markyate Cell in the 1800s.
Did You Know?
- Katherine Ferrers was appointed sole heir to her grandfather's estates by court decree in October 1640 after her brother died young.
- She married Thomas Fanshawe in April 1648 at age 13, and her husband took control of her fortune.
- The legend that she was the 'Wicked Lady' highwaywoman has no contemporary historical proof, and her supposed accomplice 'Ralph Chaplin' likely never existed.
- J.E. Cussens suggested the term 'wicked' may have come from confusion with the unrelated 'Wicked' Lord Ferrers, executed in 1760.
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