Biography of Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale 1741-1824

Paternal Family Tree: Stewart

Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Sheppard 1617

On 28 Jan 1723 [her grandfather] James Stuart 2nd Earl Bute (age 27) died. His son [her father] John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 9) succeeded 3rd Earl Bute. [her mother] Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute (age 4) by marriage Countess Bute.

Around 20 Aug 1736 [her father] John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 23) and [her mother] Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute (age 18) were married. He the son of James Stuart 2nd Earl Bute and Anne Campbell Countess Bute (age 50).

Around 1741 Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale was born to John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 27) and Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute (age 22).

On 07 Sep 1761 James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 25) and Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale (age 20) were married. She the daughter of John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 48) and Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute (age 43).

On 24 May 1784 [her husband] James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 47) was created 1st Earl Lonsdale. Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale (age 43) by marriage Countess Lonsdale.

On 24 May 1784 [her husband] James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 47) was created 1st Baron Lowther. Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale (age 43) by marriage Baroness Lowther.

On 10 Mar 1792 [her father] John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 78) died. His son [her brother] John Stuart 1st Marquis of the Isle of Bute (age 47) succeeded 4th Earl Bute. Charlotte Jane Windsor Marchioness Bute (age 46) by marriage Countess Bute.

On 26 Oct 1797 [her husband] James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 61) was created 1st Viscount Lowther. Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale (age 56) by marriage Viscountess Lowther.

On 24 May 1802 [her husband] James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 65) died. His third cousin once removed William Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 44) succeeded 2nd Viscount Lowther, 2nd Baron Lowther. Augusta Fane Countess Lonsdale (age 40) by marriage Viscountess Lowther.

On 05 Apr 1824 Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale (age 83) died.

Cumbria and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society. I propose to give you his results, with the aid of a map traced from the Ordnance Survey, (see Plate I). On that map is a farm house, called Brackenbyr, about 100 yards south of the railway station, and nearly opposite the Greyhound Inn, at Shap, which is on the east side of the high road, while the farm is on the west. Here Dr. Simpson thinks he could, in 1859, from tradition and from various indications, make out that there once was a stone circle, 400 feet in diameter, with a large stone in the centre. There is a legend of a huge stone which once stood here, and was cut up into seven pairs of "yat-stoops" (gate posts).1 From this circle at Brackenbyr, an avenue or double row of stones ran to the south and terminated in a stone circle, of which some five stones2, as well as three forming part of the avenue, are still to be seen on the west side of the L. and N. W. Railway, which, most unluckily, on its formation in 1844, passed over and destroyed the remains of the avenue, leaving only the eight stones just mentioned. The diameter of the circle was 30 yards3, and it is at a place called Shapsey, about half a mile to the south of Brackenbyr. With this paper is given, (Plate II) a reproduction of a drawing, made in 1775, by Lady Lowther, wife of Sir James Lowther, afterwards Earl of Lonsdale. This shows the avenue, and is taken from the Shapsey, or south end of it, looking north. Returning again to the Brackenbyr circle, Dr. Simpson makes out a single row of large stones (the huge pyramidal stones) running from that circle in a north-westerly direction, of which four stones remain at Karl Lofts4, about 200 yards north of the Greyhound Inn at Shap. Seven or eight others, including the Guggleby, are yet to be found, and tradition says they extended as far as Moor Divock. Dr. Simpson's restoration of the Shap Stones is reproduced here as Plate III, which gives a ground plan, while Plate IV gives his idea of the appearance presented by the single row of large stones (the huge pyramidal stones) running from the Brackenbyr circle in a north-westerly direction. We are inclined to think he shows far too many stones. Canon Greenwell appears to approve of Dr. Simpson's restoration: at any rate, he writes:—

The large series of standing stones at Shap, however, once consisting of at least a circle and an avenue, is now almost entirely destroyed; but from such parts of it as are left, and from old accounts and the traditional knowledge of the place, the Rev. Dr. Simpson, LL.D., has been enabled to reconstruct it.5

Note 1. The O.S. (six inch scale) shows one stone at Brackenbyr: this would be part of Dr. Simpson's large circle.

Note 2. The five stones, part of the destroyed circle, are shown on the O. S, (six inch scale), and are marked ' Druidical Circle ' in old English letters. The O. S. also shows a single stone at Force Bridge, (close to the east side of the high road, and just south of the water), and three stones about half way between Force Bridge and Brackenbyr; those would from part of the avenue. An isolated stone to the end of the railway is not éonformable.

Note 3. See Dr. Simpson's Paper, ut ante p. 28.

Note 4. Dr. Simpson uses the words 'Karl Lofts' in a two-fold sense, which is rather puzzling. Here he means the four stones north of the Greyhound Inn, at Shap, but in a passage which we have quoted from him at the beginning of this paper, he means the district south to Shap down to Shapsey.

Note 5. British Barrows,: Greenwell and Rolleston, pp. 381-2.

Royal Ancestors of Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale 1741-1824

Kings Wessex: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Robert "The Bruce" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France

Ancestors of Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale 1741-1824

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Stuart of Ardmaleish 10 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: James Stuart 1st Baronet 11 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Dugald Stuart 2nd Baronet 12 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: James Stuart 1st Earl Bute 13 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

GrandFather: James Stuart 2nd Earl Bute 14 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Father: John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Archibald Campbell 7th Earl Argyll 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Archibald Campbell 1st Marquess Argyll 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Douglas Countess Argyll 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Archibald Campbell 9th Earl Argyll 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Douglas 7th Earl Morton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Douglas Marchioness Argyll 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Keith Countess Morton 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Archibald Campbell 1st Duke Argyll 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: James Stewart 3rd Earl Moray 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 3 Grandfather: James Stewart 4th Earl Moray 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Gordon Countess Moray 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Stewart Countess Argyll 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Home 1st Earl of Home

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Home Countess Moray 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Dudley Countess Home 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

GrandMother: Anne Campbell Countess Bute 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Lionel Tollemache 1st Baronet

Great x 3 Grandfather: Lionel Tollemache 2nd Baronet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Cromwell 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Lionel Tollemache 3rd Baronet 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Stanhope 1st Baron Stanhope 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stanhope Lady Talmash 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Macwilliams Baroness Stanhope

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Tollemache Duchess Argyll 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Murray

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Murray 1st Earl Dysart

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Murray Duchess Lauderdale

Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Sidney Montagu 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Harrington

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 1st Earl Sandwich 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Pepys of Impington

Great x 3 Grandmother: Paulina Pepys

Great x 1 Grandfather: Sidney Wortley-Montagu 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Crew

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Crew 1st Baron Crew

Great x 4 Grandmother: Temperance Bray

Great x 2 Grandmother: Jemima Crew Countess Sandwich 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Waldegrave 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Jemima Waldegrave Baroness Crew 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Sarah Higham

GrandFather: Edward Wortley-Montagu 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Mother: Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Pierrepont of Thoresby 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Pierrepont 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Harries aka Harris 1st Baronet

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Harries aka Harris

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Gifford

Great x 1 Grandfather: Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Evelyn of West Dean

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Evelyn of Wiltshire

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Evelyn

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Coxe

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Coxe

GrandMother: Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh

Great x 3 Grandfather: George Feilding 1st Earl Desmond

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Feilding 2nd Earl Desmond 3rd Earl Denbigh 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Michael Stanhope 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Bridget Stanhope Countess Desmond 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Read

Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Fielding Countess Kingston upon Hull 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Carey 1st Earl Monmouth 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Carey 2nd Earl Monmouth 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Trevannion Countess Monmouth

Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Carey Countess Desmond and Denbigh 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Lionel Cranfield 1st Earl Middlesex

Great x 3 Grandmother: Martha Cranfield Countess Monmouth

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Sheppard