Who were the Nuns?

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Details

Susannah Rookwood, in religion Susannah.
Born: 1583.
Died: 25 May 1624 in Naples.

father: Edward Rookwood Esq of Euston, Suffolk
mother: Elizabeth Browne of Elsing, Norfolk

Mary Ward Institute choir nun.
She entered 1609.
St Omer

Superior 1618 - 1621 London
Superior 1623 - 1624 Naples

She was the sister of Dorothy Rookwood, Elizabeth Rookwood.

Sources: companions: 26-9; Mary Ward texts.

Family tree (Browne Lords Montaigu)
Family tree (Rookwood and Foster of Copdock)

Notes:

One of the original companions. She was in St Omer or Liège 1609-18 when she was appointed Superior in London to succeed Anne Gage at a very dangerous time for the Institute, being sent to prison five times herself. Recalled to Flanders in 1621 and accompanied Mary Ward to Rome. She was recorded as being at Rome in 1623 acting as Mary Ward's secretary, before participating in the foundation in Naples in the same year. Was appointed Superior in Naples by Mary Ward.

Her brother, Robert Rookwood, was a priest and served as confessor to the Poor Clares at Gravelines (1626 c - 1644 c) and then Rouen (1644 c - 1668). Their father had entertained Queen Elizabeth I in 1578 but died in prison at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, in 1598 (Anstruther II, pp.271-2).

Her cousin Ambrose Rookwood was executed in 1606 because of his part in the Gunpowder Plot.