She was baptised Katherine Smith on 06 Dec 1561 at All Hallows Lombard Street, City of London[1].

Katherine was recorded in the Smythe pedigree taken during the Visitation of London in 1568[2] and the Visitation of Kent in 1619[3] as the daughter of Thomas Smythe and Alice Judde.

Katherine married firstly Sir Rowland Hayward of London and secondly Sir John Scott of Scot's Hall and Nettlestead, Kent[4]. Dates and places for the marriages are unknown, although she was said to have been a 'grave matron of 16 years' when she married Sir Rowland Hayward[5].

In the will of her father, the will made on 22 May 1591 and proved on 29 October 1591[6] she was noted as the wife of Sir Rowland 'Heyward'. Her father bequeathed £250 to the children (not named) of Katherine and Sir Rowland, the sum to be equally divided between them.

Katherine was a beneficiary of the will of her mother, Alice, the will made on 10 Jul 1592[7]. The will referred to her husband Sir Rowland Hayward and their children: sons George and John, and daughters Alice, Katherine, Mary and Anne.

She was a beneficiary of the will of her first husband, Sir Rowland Hayward, the will being dated 17 November 1592 and proved 4 March 1594 [8] and noted on the memorial to Sir Rowland Hayward at St Alphage, City of London[9].

In the will of her brother, Roberte Smithe, gentleman of London, the will made on 01 Dec 1600 and proved on 28 Jan 1600/1601, she was recorded as Lady Scott[10].

She was also as a beneficiary of the will of her second husband, Sir John Scott, the will made 18 Sep 1616 and proved 17 Jan 1617/1618. Lady Katherine received the estate at Nettlested, Kent, for her life[11].

In the will of her brother, Sir Thomas Smythe (the will made in Jan 1621/1622 and proved in 1625)[12] she was noted as being deceased.

A portrait of Lady Katherine (Smythe) Scott from 1610 is held at the North Carolina Museum of Art [1].

Katherine and her children were recorded in the Stemmata Chicheleana, a pedigree of the Chichele family, her Chichele Ancestry being derived from her great great grandmother Philippa Chichele[13].

The arms at the top are arranged unusually, a form of impalement. Her first husband's arms occupy the 1st quarter, her second husband's the 2nd, while her own paternal arms appear beneath each, in the 3rd and 4th quarters.