Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk 1582-1640

Before 1572 [his father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 10] and Mary Dacre [aged 8] were married. She by marriage Baroness Audley Walden in Essex. She died six years later three months short of her fifteenth birthday. She being his step-sister. An unusual example of a Marriage of Three Sets of Siblings where, in this case, three brothers, married three sisters, who were also step-siblings, as a means of keeping the sisters inheritance. She the daughter of Thomas Dacre 4th Baron Dacre Gilsland 8th Baron Greystoke and Elizabeth Leybourne Duchess Norfolk. He the son of [his grandfather] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 35] and [his grandmother] Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk. They were half third cousin once removed.

Before 1580 Richard Rich and [his mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 15] were married.

Before 1582 [his father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 20] and [his mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Baroness Audley Walden in Essex. He the son of [his grandfather] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk and [his grandmother] Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk. They were third cousins.

On 13th August 1582 Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 20] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 18] at Saffron Walden, Essex [Map].

Before 1595 [his future brother-in-law] William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 50] and Dorothy Braye Baroness Chandos and Knollys [aged 70] were married. The difference in their ages was 20 years; she, unusually, being older than him.

In 1603 [his brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 11] and [his sister] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset [aged 12] were married. They were separated after the wedding given their young age. Essex went on a European tour from 1607 to 1609. When he returned she avoided him having fallen for Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset [aged 16] whilst her husband was away. He was ill with smallpox. She sought an annulment with her father Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and uncle Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton [aged 62] acting for her. She maintained the marriage had not been consummated and was examined by ten matrons and two midwives who found her hymen intact. It was widely rumoured at the time that Sir Thomas Monson's [aged 38] daughter was a substitute, which is possible because she had requested to be veiled during the examination "for modesty's sake". He maintained he was capable with other women, but was unable to consummate his marriage blaming her. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 41] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 39]. He the son of Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex [aged 36]. They were fourth cousins.

On 23rd December 1605 [his brother-in-law] William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 61] and [his sister] Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 22] were married. She by marriage Baroness Knollys. The difference in their ages was 39 years. She the daughter of [his father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 44] and [his mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 41]. They were third cousin once removed.

On 1st December 1608 [his brother-in-law] William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury [aged 17] and [his sister] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of [his father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 47] and [his mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 44]. He the son of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 45] and Elizabeth Brooke. They were fifth cousins.

In 1610 Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 27] by writ of acceleration 2nd Baron Howard de Walden.

In 1612 Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 29] and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 13] were married. She the daughter of George Home 1st Earl Dunbar and Elizabeth Gordon Countess Dunbar [aged 37]. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 50] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 48].

On 25th September 1613 [his brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 22] and [his sister] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset [aged 23] marriage annulled by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 47]. She married Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset [aged 26] three months later.

In 1614 [his brother] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire [aged 26] and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter [aged 48] and Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter [aged 35]. He the son of [his father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 52] and [his mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 50]. They were fourth cousins.

On 10th February 1619 [his son] James Howard 3rd Earl Suffolk was born to Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 36] and [his wife] Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 20]. His godfathers were King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 52] and George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 26]. He married 1. 1st December 1640 his fifth cousin Susannah Rich Countess Suffolk, daughter of Henry Rich 1st Earl Holland and Isabel Cope Countess Holland, and had issue 2. February 1650 Barbara Villiers Countess Suffolk and had issue 3. before 8th May 1682 Anne Montagu Countess Suffolk, daughter of Robert Montagu 3rd Earl Manchester and Anne Yelverton Countess Manchester.

On 24th June 1621 [his son] Thomas Howard was born to Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 38] and [his wife] Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 22].

Around 11th February 1622 [his daughter] Margaret Howard Countess Orrery was born to Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 39] and [his wife] Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 23]. She married Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery, son of Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork and Catherine Fenton Countess Cork, and had issue.

Around 1623 [his daughter] Elizabeth Howard Countess Northumberland was born to Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 40] and [his wife] Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 24]. She married 1st October 1642 her fourth cousin once removed Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland, son of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland and Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland, and had issue.

Around 1624 [his brother] Edward Howard 1st Baron Howard [aged 22] and [his sister-in-law] Mary Boteler Baroness Howard were married. He the son of [his father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 62] and [his mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 60].

On 17th July 1625 [his son] George Howard 4th Earl Suffolk was born to Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 42] and [his wife] Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 26]. He married 1686 Anne "Mary" Wroth Countess Suffolk.

On 28th May 1626 [his father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 64] died at Charing Cross [Map]. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. His son Theophilus [aged 43] succeeded 2nd Earl Suffolk. [his wife] Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 27] by marriage Countess Suffolk.

In 1627 Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 44] was appointed 426th Knight of the Garter by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 26].

On 18th July 1627 [his son] Henry Howard 5th Earl Suffolk was born to Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 44] and [his wife] Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 28]. He married 1. before 1670 Mary Stewart, daughter of Andrew Stewart 3rd Baron Castle Stuart, and had issue 2. after 10th May 1682 Mary Ronkswood 3. 22nd November 1691 Mary Upton Countess Suffolk.

On 11th March 1630 [his brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 39] and Elizabeth Paulet Countess Essex were married. She by marriage Countess Essex. He the son of Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex [aged 63]. They were fourth cousins.

Around 30th June 1632 [his brother-in-law] Edward Vaux 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden [aged 43] and [his sister] Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 49] were married some five weeks after the death of her first husband William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [deceased] on 25th May 1632. They, Edward and Elizabeth, when teenagers, had been subject to marriage negotiations which broke down as a consequence of the Gunpowder Plot and she had married William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury some thirty-nine years her senior. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 68]. They were fifth cousin once removed.

On 19th August 1633 [his wife] Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 34] died.

On 10th April 1637 [his nephew] Charles Howard 2nd Earl Berkshire [aged 22] and Dorothy Savage Countess Berkshire were married. She the daughter of Thomas Savage 1st Viscount Savage and Elizabeth Darcy 1st Countess Rivers [aged 56]. He the son of [his brother] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire [aged 49] and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire [aged 41]. They were third cousin once removed.

On 11th July 1637 William Russell 1st Duke Bedford [aged 20] and [his niece] Anne Carr Countess of Bedford [aged 21] were married. She the daughter of [his former brother-in-law] Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset [aged 50] and [his sister] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset. He the son of Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford [aged 44] and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford [aged 57].

In 1638 [his mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 74] died.

In May 1638 [his son-in-law] George Stewart 9th Seigneur D'Aubigny [aged 19] and Catherine Howard Countess Newburgh were married. They married in secret against the wishes of King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 37]. She the daughter of Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 55] and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk. He the son of Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox and Katherine Clifton Duchess Lennox. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 4th March 1639 William Cavendish 3rd Earl Devonshire [aged 21] and [his niece] Elizabeth Cecil Countess Devonshire [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Countess Devonshire. She the daughter of [his brother-in-law] William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury [aged 47] and [his sister] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury [aged 49]. He the son of William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire and Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire.

On 3rd June 1640 Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 57] died at Suffolk House, Suffolk Street. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. His son James [aged 21] succeeded 3rd Earl Suffolk, 3rd Baron Howard de Walden.

[his daughter] Catherine Howard Countess Newburgh was born to Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk. She married 1. May 1638 her half fifth cousin once removed George Stewart 9th Seigneur D'Aubigny, son of Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox and Katherine Clifton Duchess Lennox, and had issue 2. September 1648 James Livingston 1st Earl Newburgh and had issue.

[his daughter] Anne Howard was born to Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk. She married Thomas Walsingham and had issue.

[his daughter] Frances Howard was born to Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk. She married before 1651 Edward Villiers and had issue.