Biography of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632

Paternal Family Tree: Brienne

Maternal Family Tree: Anne Armstrong 1544

Around 1570 Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham was born to [her father] Anthony Beaumont [aged 48] and [her mother] Anne Armstrong [aged 26].

In 1583 [her daughter] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh was born to [her future husband] George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 39] and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 13]. She married 1606 William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh and had issue.

Before 1587 [her future husband] George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 42] and Audrey Saunders [aged 35] were married.

After 1590 George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 46] and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 20] were married. Some sources describe their relationship as being half-first cousin? His mother Collette Clarke was first married to her uncle Richard Beaumont so there is no relationship between George Villiers of Brokesby and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham. The difference in their ages was 26 years.

Around 1591 [her son] John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck was born to [her husband] George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 47] and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 21]. He married (1) 29th September 1617 Frances Coke Viscountess Purbeck (2) before 18th February 1658 Elizabeth Slingsby.

On 28th August 1592 [her son] George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham was born to [her husband] George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 48] and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 22] at Brooksby, Leicestershire. He married 16th May 1620 Katherine Manners Duchess Buckingham, daughter of Francis Manners 6th Earl of Rutland and Frances Knyvet Lady Bevill, and had issue.

Around 1593 [her son] Christopher Villiers 1st Earl Anglesey was born to [her husband] George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 49] and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 23]. He married before 18th April 1623 Elizabeth Sheldon Countess Anglesey and had issue.

In 1606 [her son-in-law] William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 19] and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 23] were married. She the daughter of George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 62] and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 36].

After 1606 Thomas Compton and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 36] were married. He the son of Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton and Anne Spencer Countess Dorset. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 4th January 1606 [her husband] George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 62] died. He was buried at the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey [Map].

William of Worcester's Chronicle of England

William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.

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On 27th November 1614 [her father] Anthony Beaumont [aged 92] died.

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 2.252. [14th November 1616] On Saterday the Knights of the Bath were entertained by the Lord Mayor at Drapers Hall with a supper and a play, where some of them were so rude and unruly and caried themselves so insolently divers wayes but specially in putting citizens wives to the squeake, so far foorth that one of the sheriffes brake open a doore upon Sir Edward Sackvile [aged 25], which gave such occasion of scandall, that they went away without the banket though yt were redy and prepared for them. Neither did they forbeare these disorders among themselves, for there were divers picques and quarrells at their severall meetings, but specially at the Miter in Fleetstreet, insomuch that younge Parker [aged 16] sonne to the Lord Mountegle [aged 41], and Will Howard the Lord Treasurers [aged 55] youngest sonne went into the feild, but were there prevented and reconciled. There was a greater busines towards in that kind betwixt the earle of Dorset [aged 27] and the Lord Clifford [aged 25], upon notice wherof the King and counsaile have taken order that they forbeare one another, and try out theyre controversies by warres in Westminster Hall. The Lady Compton [aged 46] (the Lord Villers [aged 24] mother) appeares not here this terme, which is much noted, and thought to be sore against her will, but the reason is saide to be certain letters from her sonne with advise to forbeare, for that her entermedling in matters is not so well taken. The Lord Chauncellor [aged 76] comes litle abrode since his new dignitie¹, beeing overtaken with a cold, or as some interpret yt in suspence what wold become of the Lord Cooke.

Note 1. Thomas Egerton was created Viscount Brackley on the 7th November 1616.

On 29th September 1617 John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck [aged 26] and Frances Coke Viscountess Purbeck [aged 15] were married at Hampton Court Palace, Richmond [Map]. King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 51] gave away the bride. He the son of George Villiers of Brokesby and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 47].

Letters of the Court of James I 1618. [13th August 1618]. The new Countess of Buckingham [aged 48] went on Monday to dinner to the lord chancellor's at Gorhambury or Verulam, to see her patent sealed and delivered.

Around 13th August 1618 Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 48] was created 1st Countess Buckingham. It appears this title was for life only since her sons did not inherit it?

On 16th May 1620 George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 27] and Katherine Manners Duchess Buckingham [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Countess Buckingham. She the daughter of Francis Manners 6th Earl of Rutland [aged 42] and Frances Knyvet Lady Bevill. He the son of George Villiers of Brokesby and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 50].

Before 18th April 1623 Christopher Villiers 1st Earl Anglesey [aged 30] and Elizabeth Sheldon Countess Anglesey [aged 15] were married. He the son of George Villiers of Brokesby and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 53].

Murder of the Duke of Buckingham

On 23rd August 1628 George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 35] was murdered at Greyhound Pub, Portsmouth by a disgruntled soldier John Felton [aged 33]. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son George succeeded 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 2nd Marquess of Buckingham, 2nd Earl Buckingham.

Felton was considered a hero by many who blamed Buckingham for the failures of the 1625 Cádiz Expedition and 1627 Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. Felton was subsequently hanged.

On 3rd April 1630 Christopher Villiers 1st Earl Anglesey [aged 37] died at Windsor, Berkshire [Map]. He was buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle [Map]. His son Charles succeeded 2nd Earl Anglesey, 2nd Baron Villiers of Daventry.

On 19th April 1632 Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 62] died. She was buried at the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey [Map] with her husband. Their monument comprises an altar-tomb surmounted with effigies. Earl Buckingham extinct.

Letters of Horace Walpole. 5th August 1752. From Sevenoaks [Map] we went to Knowle. The park is sweet, with much old beech, and an immense sycamore before the great gate, that makes me more in love than ever with sycamores. The house is not near so extensive as I expected:³³⁰ the outward court has a beautiful decent simplicity that charms one. The apartments are many, but not large. The furniture throughout, ancient magnificence; loads of portraits, not good nor curious; ebony cabinets, embossed silver in vases, dishes, etc. embroidered beds, stiff chairs, and sweet bags lying on velvet tables, richly worked in silk and gold. There are two galleries, one very small; an old hall, and a spacious great drawing-room. There is never a good staircase. The first little room you enter has sundry portraits of the times; but they seem to have been bespoke by the yard, and drawn all by the same painter; One should be happy if they were authentic; for among them there is Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, Gardiner of Winchester, the Earl of Surry, the poet, when a boy, and a Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, but I don't know which. The only fine picture is of Lord Goring and Endymion Porter by Vandyke. There is a good head of the Queen of Bohemia, a whole-length of Duc d'Espernon, and another good head of the Clifford, Countess of Dorset, who wrote that admirable haughty letter to Secretary Williamson, when he recommended a person to her for member for Appleby: "I have been bullied by an usurper, I have been neglected by a court, but I won't be dictated to by a subject: your man shan't stand. Ann Dorset, Pembroke and Montgomery." In the chapel is a piece of ancient tapestry: Saint Luke in his first profession is holding an urinal. Below stairs is a chamber of poets and players, which is proper enough in that house; for the first Earl wrote a play³³¹, and the last Earl was a poet³³², and I think married a player³³³ Major Mohun and Betterton are curious among the latter, Cartwright and Flatman among the former. The arcade is newly enclosed, painted in fresco, and with modern glass of all the family matches. In the gallery is a whole-length of the unfortunate Earl of Surry, with his device, a broken column, and the motto Sat superest. My father had one of them, but larger, and with more emblems, which the Duke of Norfolk bought at my brother's sale. There is one good head of henry VIII, and divers of Cranfield, Earl of Middlesex, the citizen who came to be lord treasurer, and was very near coming to be hanged.³³⁴ His Countess, a bouncing kind of lady-mayoress, looks pure awkward amongst so much good company. A visto cut through the wood has a delightful effect from the front: but there are some trumpery fragments of gardens that spoil the view from the state apartments.

Note 329. Only son of Dr. Richard Bentley, the celebrated Divine and classical scholar. He was educated at Trinity College, under his father. Cumberland, who was his nephew, describes him as a man of various and considerable accomplishments; possessing a fine genius, great wit, and a brilliant imagination; "but there was," he adds, "a certain eccentricity and want of prudence in his character, that involved him in distresses, and reduced him to situations uncongenial with his feelings, and unpropitious to the cultivation and encouragement of his talents."-E.

Note 330. Evelyn in his Diary for July 25, 1673, says, "In my way I visited my Lord of Dorset's house at Knowle, near Sevenoaks, a greate old-fashion'd house."-E.

Note 331. Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, while a student in the Temple, wrote his tragedy of Gordobuc, which was played before Queen Elizabeth, at Whitehall, in 1561. He was created Earl of Dorset by James the First, in 1604.-E.

Note 332. Charles Sackville, sixth Earl of Dorset. On the day previous to the naval engagement with the Dutch, in 1665, he is said to have composed his celebrated song, "to all you Ladies now on Land."-E.

Note 333. On the contrary, he married the Lady Frances, daughter of the Earl of Middlesex, who survived him.-E. [Note. This appears to be a mistake insofar as Richard Sackville 5th Earl Dorset married Frances Cranfield Countess Dorset who was the daughter of Lionel Cranfield 1st Earl Middlesex. Charles Sackville 6th Earl Dorset 1st Earl Middlesex married firstly Mary Bagot Countess Falmouth and Dorset and secondly Mary Compton Countess Dorset and Middlesex. There, however, references to his marrying an actress Alice Lee with whom he appear to have had a daughter Mary Sackville Countess Orrery.]

Note 334. Lionel Cranfield, Earl of Middlesex, married two wives: the first was the daughter of a London citizen; the second, the daughter of James Brett, Esq. and half-sister of Mary Beaumont, created Countess of Buckingham. To this last alliance, Lord Middlesex owed his extraordinary advancement.-E.

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[her father] Anthony Beaumont and [her mother] Anne Armstrong were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years.

Ancestors of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaumont 4th Baron Beaumont 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Beaumont 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Everingham Baroness Beaumont

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Beaumont 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Philippa Maureward

Great x 1 Grandfather: George Beaumont 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Darcy 5th Baron Darcy of Knayth 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Darcy 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Grey Baroness Darcy Knayth 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Darcy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Greystoke 4th Baron Greystoke 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joane Greystoke Baroness Darcy Knayth 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ferrers Baroness Greystoke Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

GrandFather: William Beaumont 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: George Pauncefote

Father: Anthony Beaumont 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Bassett 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Bassett 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Bassett 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Bassett 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

GrandMother: Mary Bassett 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

GrandFather: Thomas Armstrong

Mother: Anne Armstrong

Biography of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632

Royal Ancestors of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632

Royal Descendants of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Ancestors of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632

Biography of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632

Royal Ancestors of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632

Royal Descendants of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Ancestors of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632

Royal Descendants of Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham 1570-1632
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.