Martha Denny

Martha Carew ( Denny; 9 January 1572) was an English Catholic recusant, sent to prison in 1562 for having attended mass. Her husband was Sir Wymond Carew, by whom she had 19 children, including lawyer Sir Matthew Carew.

Family and marriage Martha was born at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire in about 1500. Sir Wymond Carew of Antony, Cornwall, by whom she had 19 children,

The Carews lived in extravagant style at their residences in Bletchingley, Surrey, Hertfordshire, and Hackney. When her husband died on 22 August 1549, Martha was left with debts totalling £8,000. As she was unable to pay what was in the 16th century a large sum of money, the manor at Hackney as well as other lands passed to the Crown in 1554.

Recusancy Following the loss of her home at Hackney, Denny moved to London, where on 8 September 1562, she was arrested for having attended a Roman Catholic mass. After being tried and convicted, she refused to pay the required fine of 100 marks and was sent to prison for six months. On 4 April 1568, she was arrested a second time for the same offence; this time, however, she received a pardon from Queen Elizabeth.

Martha Denny died on 9 January 1572, probably in London.