| Joan Champernowne | |
| Birth Place: | Modbury, Devon, England |
| Relatives: | Katherine Ashley (aunt) |
| Children: | 12, including Edward |
Joan Champernowne, Lady Denny (died 1553) was a lady-in-waiting at the court of King Henry VIII of England. She became the friend and lady-in-waiting [1] to his sixth wife, Queen Catherine Parr.
Joan was born in Modbury, Devon on an unknown date, but no later than 1513, the daughter of Sir Philip Champernowne and his wife, K(C)atherine Carew. She was the niece of Katherine Ashley née Champernowne, the governess of Queen Elizabeth I. Before her marriage, she served as maid-of-honour to Catherine of Aragon.[2]
In 1525 she married Sir Anthony Denny, who at the end of King Henry's reign was widely considered to be his most trusted servant.[3]
Joan was considered to be both beautiful and intelligent,[4] and a member of the burgeoning Protestant faction at court along with her husband.
In August 1539, she and others ladies of the court visited Portsmouth to see a newly built ship. They sent Henry VIII a joint letter which was signed by Mabel, Lady Southampton, Margaret Tallebois, Margaret Howard (sister of Queen Catherine Howard), Alice Browne, Anne Knyvett (daughter of Thomas Knyvett), "Jane Denny", Jane Meutas, Anne Bassett, Elizabeth Tyrwhitt, and Elizabeth Harvey.[5]
She was appointed lady-in-waiting to queen Catherine Parr, and became the personal friend of the queen.
She had twelve children, including:
The Tudor historian, Joanna Denny, was a descendant of Joan's.