Mary Vere

Mary Vere (1581–1671) was an English letter writer.

Background She was born Mary Tracy, a daughter of Sir John Tracy (died 1591) of Toddington, Gloucestershire and his wife Anne, a daughter of Thomas Throckmorton (died 1568). Her brother Sir Thomas Tracy was a member of the household of Anne of Denmark, as an usher of her privy chamber.

Career She married firstly, William Hoby (died 1603). They had two children.

In October or November 1607, she married the veteran soldier Horace Vere. In 1608 she donated a book to Sir Thomas Bodley's library, and asked that it be inscribed in Latin as a gift from the daughter of Sir John Tracy. A number of religious works were dedicated to her.

She was widowed in 1635. Mary Vere lived at Hackney. Her chaplain Samuel Rogers kept a diary. He much preferred her to Margaret Denny, the widow of Edward Denny, his previous patron.

Death At the death of the widow of Lord Vere's eldest brother, John Vere, she inherited Kirby Hall, where she died on Christmas Eve 1671, aged 90.