'Catherine Killigrew' (
1618-
1689) was the daughter of Sir
Robert Killigrew and
Mary Woodhouse.
Some reports erroneously have Catherine dying at
Spa, Belgium in August 1654, as maid of honour to the Princess of Orange.
Her great-grandson,
Granville Elliott, spent much time and trouble trying to prove that Catherine had legally married
Richard Eliot, the wayward son of Sir
John Eliot, and had a son and legal heir
George Elliott (Granville's grandfather) by him around 1636. However, Granville was unable to show this formally. It is known that Catherine was legally single when she was executor to her mother's will in December
1656, and Richard appears in visitations as 'ob cael' (died a bachelor). Given the amount of effort expended, and the closeness in time, it remains probable that George Elliott was the illegitimate son of Richard and Catherine.
Catherine married Sir
Thomas Stanley at some point after 1656.