Who were the Nuns?

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• Professed after 1600165017001750
• Professed before 1650170017501800
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Details

Mary Petre, in religion Mary Xaveria.
Died: 8 Jan 1724 in Gravelines, aged 28.

father: Joseph Petre Esq of Fithlers, Essex
mother: Catherine Andrews of Downham, Essex

Augustinians, Bruges choir nun.
She was clothed 2 Jan 1713.
She left 25 Oct 1714 for health reasons.

Poor Clares, Gravelines choir nun.
She entered 6 Feb 1717.

She professed 6 Feb 1718, aged 22.

She was the great aunt of Anne Canning.
She was the sister of Bridget Petre, Hellen Petre.
She was the niece of Mary Petre, Helen Andrews, Ann Andrews, Ann Petre.
She was the great niece of Dorothy Mannock, Teresa Mannock, Teresa Mannock, Margaret Mannock.

Sources: CRS 14: 134; Bruges Annals I: 212, 285, 291, 302, 318-21, 336-7.

Quotations
Family tree (Paris of Linton)
Family tree (Petre of Writtle)

Notes:

On 17 July 1701, she had been received as a convictress at the Bruges Augustinians having arrived with Charlotte Stanley. She was just under six years old at the time.

On 22 November 1710 she returned to England to secure her pension and portion for her to profess at the Bruges Augustinian convent. She returned on 4 July 1711 having secured her father's and brother's promises for a pension of £100 and a £400 payment before her profession.

Despite excelling as a novice, the community regretted that they had to let her go. Firstly, it appeared that payment was a problem, even though the nuns were willing to negotiate the fee. However, she was then struck by severe mental illness and eventually had to be taken back to England by Barbara Devery.

She sent several letters to the Bruges Augustinians once her health had recovered asking if she could return, though she feared the community would be reluctant because of previous events. Some were very opposed to this idea but as she had previously been such a good novice, she was invited to return. However, in October 1716 she went from England to be present at the profession of her two younger sisters at the Gravelines Poor Clares and was so impressed that she decided to join them.