mary boleyn

[GRENDONIAN]

when was mary boleyn born and was she younger or older then her sister ann

[Grunty]

Nobody really knows for certain when they were born or which was the elder.  Anne was thought to have been born in 1501 or 1502.  Many historians now believe she was born in 1508.  There is speculation that Mary was born in 1509, although she had commonly ben thought to be older.  Unfortunately, accurate records of births didn't begin until Henry VIII started parish registers in about (I think) 1534.  So it is nothing new for a woman's age to be a secret.

[Octavius]

Yes, the fact is nobody really knows.  There is some good info here with a link to a page on Mary as well, but even here although Mary was generally thought to be a few years older than Ann, they cannot be entirely sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Boleyn

[mystress]

I cannot but agree with Grunty & Octavius,that Anne's birth date is very vague,and not really reliable.

I think most authorities agree however that Mary was the elder sister,but how much elder is anyones guess.When Anne went to be a lady in waiting to Mary (Henry VIII's Sister),who was married to Louis XII of France;she was about 14,the minimum age for a Lady in Waiting.As her sister Mary was there already,we must assume she was older?

[Sion]

Try

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/citizens/boleyn.html

[annavc]

I will bow to superior knowledge here but I'd always believed Mary was actually about a year younger than Anne.  I'm sure they were certainly very close in age though whichever way it was.