Who were the Nuns?

• Convent: Augustinians, BrugesAugustinians, LouvainAugustinians, ParisBenedictines, BrusselsBenedictines, CambraiBenedictines, DunkirkBenedictines, GhentBenedictines, ParisBenedictines, Boulogne, PontoiseBenedictines, YpresBridgettines, Rouen, LisbonCarmelites, AntwerpCarmelites, HoogstratenCarmelites, LierreDominicans, BrusselsFranciscans, Brussels, Nieuport, BrugesMary Ward InstitutePoor Clares, AirePoor Clares, DunkirkPoor Clares, GravelinesSepulchrines, LiègePoor Clares, RouenConceptionists, ParisCarmelites, Port Tobacco, Md
Include:
choir
lay
white
unknown
• Professed after 1600165017001750
• Professed before 1650170017501800
• Occupation: AbbessApothecaryCellarerChantressDeanDepositoryDiscreetDispenserGuardrobeInfirmarianMusicianNovice MistressPortressPrioressProcuratrixSacristanSchool MistressSecretarySub-PrioressSuperiorThourierVicaress
• Place association:
  AmericaBedsBerksBucksCambsChesCornwCumbdDerbysDevonDorsetDurhamEnglandEssexEuropeFranceGermanyGloucsHantsHerefsHertsHuntsIrelandItalyKentLancsLeicsLincsLondonLow CountriesMiddxMonmthsNorfolkNorthantsNorthdNottsOxonPortugalRutlandScotlandShropsSomersetStaffsSuffolkSurreySussexUnidentifiedWalesWarwsWestmldWiltsWorcsYorks

Details

Mary Jane Butler, in religion Mary Joseph.
Died: 22 Dec 1723 in Ypres.

father: Toby Butler of Callan, co Kilkenny, Ireland
mother: Anne Audley of Essex

Benedictines, Boulogne choir nun.
She was clothed 5 Oct 1656.
She left 1682 to help found another convent.

Benedictines, Ypres choir nun.
She joined c 1682 as a founder member.

She professed 4 Nov B 1657. Her dowry was 3,900 livres. [Professed when the convent was at Boulogne]

Abbess 1686 - 1723 , Ypres

subject: portrait see Nolan

She was the kinswoman of Mary Knatchbull, Mary Barker, Anna Agnes Barker.
She was the great niece of Mary Knatchbull, Margaret Knatchbull.

Sources: ODNB; VO 68H10; Nolan: 45, 54, 77, 78-80, 99, 104, 149-51, 166, 167, 208, 363-8, 492-3; Register Pontoise: 283.

Quotations
Family tree (Audley)
Family tree (Knatchbull)

Notes:

Source gives arrival at Ypres as 1682 or 1683.

In July 1714 she stayed with the Bruges Augustinians during her return trip from business elsewhere. (Bruges Augs I ann 318)

Went to Dublin to establish a convent at request of James II: left following King's defeat July 1690: Nolan 149-151

On her return from Dublin lived with only 4 lay sisters: received 4 novices 1695 but only 2 stayed and these were not professed until 1700: Nolan 209

Letters to and from Stuarts 363-415, 492-3

Her mother was niece of Abbess Mary Knatchbull of Ghent GB118. She was Anne Audley of Essex, daughter of Catherine Knatchbull's first marriage, and had married her step-brother through her mother's second marriage to Piers Butler of Callan Castle, co. Kilkenny, Ireland.