Biography of Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland 1560-1616

Paternal Family Tree: Russell

Maternal Family Tree: Margaret Hussey 1389-1418

Before 1548 [her father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 21) and [her mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford (age 14) were married. He the son of John Russell 1st Earl Bedford (age 62) and Anne Sapcote Countess Bedford (age 68).

On 14 Mar 1555 [her grandfather] John Russell 1st Earl Bedford (age 70) died. His son [her father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 28) succeeded 2nd Earl Bedford, 2nd Baron Russell of Cheneys. [her mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford (age 22) by marriage Countess Bedford.

On 07 Jul 1560 Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland was born to Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 33) and Margaret St John Countess Bedford (age 27).

On 27 Aug 1562 [her mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford (age 29) died at Woburn. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Chenies.

On 25 Jun 1566 [her father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 39) and [her step-mother] Bridget Hussey Countess Bedford (age 40) were married. She by marriage Countess Bedford. He the son of John Russell 1st Earl Bedford and Anne Sapcote Countess Bedford. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In Jan 1570 Henry Clifford 2nd Earl of Cumberland (age 53) died. His son [her future husband] George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland (age 11) succeeded 3rd Earl of Cumberland, 13th Baron de Clifford, 13th Lord Skipton. Being underage his wardship went to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 36) who gave it to [her father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 43) whose daughter George subsequently married.

In 1577 George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland (age 18) and Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland (age 16) were married. She being the daughter of Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 50) who had been given George's wardship by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 43). She by marriage Countess of Cumberland. She the daughter of Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 50) and Margaret St John Countess Bedford. He the son of Henry Clifford 2nd Earl of Cumberland and Anne Dacre Countess Cumberland (age 56). They were third cousins.

In 1583 Mid-Seventeeth Century copy. Unknown Painter. Portrait of Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland (age 22).

In 1584 [her son] Francis Clifford was born to [her husband] George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland (age 25) and Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland (age 23).

On 28 Jul 1585 [her father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 58) died. His grandson Edward Russell 3rd Earl Bedford (age 12) succeeded 3rd Earl Bedford, 3rd Baron Russell of Cheneys.

On 21 Sep 1585 [her son] Robert Clifford was born to [her husband] George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland (age 27) and Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland (age 25).

On 08 Dec 1589 [her son] Francis Clifford (age 5) died.

On 30 Jan 1590 [her daughter] Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke was born to [her husband] George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland (age 31) and Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland (age 29) at Skipton Castle [Map].

On 24 May 1591 [her son] Robert Clifford (age 5) died.

In 1592 [her sister-in-law] Frances Clifford Baroness Wharton died.

Death of Queen Elizabeth I Accession of James I

Diary of Anne Clifford 1603. 24 Mar 1603. About 10 o’clock King James was proclaimed in Cheapside by all the Council with great joy and triumph.1 I went to see and hear. This peaceable coming-in of the King was unexpected of all sorts of people. Within two or three days we returned to Clerkenwell again. A little after this Queen Elizabeth’s corpse came by night in a barge from Richmond to Whitehall, my Mother (age 42) and a great company of ladies attending it, where it continued a great while standing in the Drawing Chamber, where it was watched all night by several lords and ladies, my Mother (age 42) sitting up with it two or three nights, but my Lady would not give me leave to watch, by reason I was held too young. At this time we used to go very much to Whitehall, and walked much in the garden which was frequented by lords and ladies, my Mother (age 42) being all full of hopes, every man expecting mountains and finding molehills, excepting Sir R. Cecil (age 39) and the house of the Howards, who hated my Mother (age 42) and did not much love my Aunt Warwick. About this time my Lord Southampton (age 29) was enlarged of his imprisonment out of the Tower. When the corpse of Queen Elizabeth had continued at Whitehall as the Council had thought fit, it was carried with great solemnity to Westminster,2 the lords and ladies going on foot to attend it, my Mother (age 42) and my Aunt of Warwick being mourners, but I was not allowed to be one, because I was not high enough, which did much trouble me then, but yet I stood in the church at Westminster to see the solemnities performed. A little after this my Lady and a great deal of other company as Mrs Eliz. Bridges (age 25), Lady Newtin, and her daughter Lady Finch (age 43) [?], went down with my Aunt Warwick to North Hall, and from thence we all went to Tibbalds to see the King who used my Mother (age 42) and aunt very graciously, but we all saw a great change between the fashion of the Court as it is now and of that in the Queen’s time, for we were all lousy by sitting in the chamber of Sir Thomas Erskine (age 37). As the King came out of Scotland, when he lay at York, there was a strife between my Father (age 44) and Lord Burleigh3 (who was the President,) who should carry the sword, but it was adjudged on my Father’s side because it was an office by inheritance and so it lineally descended to me. From Tibbalds the King went to Charterhouse, where Lord T. Howard (age 41) was created Earl of Suffolk, and Lord Mountjoy (age 40) Earl of Devonshire, and restored Lords Southampton (age 29) and Essex (age 12), who stood attainted, likewise he created many barons, among which my uncle Russell (age 43) was made Lord Russell of Thorney, [sic] and for knights they were innumerable. All this spring I had my health very well. My Father (age 44) used to come to us sometimes at Clerkenwell but not often, for he had at this time as it were wholly left my Mother (age 42), yet the house was kept still at his charge.

Note 1. The first time that King sent to the Lords in England, he gave command that the Earls of Northumberland (age 38), Cumberland (age 44), Lord Thomas Howard (age 41), and Lord Mountjoy (age 40) should be added to the Council.

Note 2. Queen Elizabeth’s funeral was on Thursday, April the 8th.

Note 3. A dispute between George Earl of Cumberland (age 44), and the Lord Burleigh.

In Aug 1603 during a plague in London the royal court moved to Basing House, Old Basing. Francis Palmes of Lindley (age 49) entertained courtiers at his house nearby at Lancelevy, Sherfield on Loddon. The party included [her daughter] Lady Anne Clifford (age 13), her mother Margaret Clifford (age 43), Countess of Cumberland and [her sister] Elizabeth Bourchier, Countess of Bath, who used Lancelevy as a base to visit Anne of Denmark (age 28) and Arbella Stuart (age 28).

On 30 Oct 1605 [her husband] George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland (age 47) died. His brother [her brother-in-law] Francis Clifford 4th Earl of Cumberland (age 46) succeeded 4th Earl of Cumberland. His daughter [her daughter] Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke (age 15) succeeded 14th Baroness de Clifford.

Francis Clifford 4th Earl of Cumberland (age 46) bequeathed to Anne the sum of £15,000 in lieu of the estates she was legally entitled to. She engaged in a long and complex legal battle to obtain the family estates. In 1643, when Henry Clifford 5th Earl of Cumberland (age 14) died she regained her estates.

On 27 Feb 1609 [her son-in-law] Richard Sackville 3rd Earl Dorset (age 19) and [her daughter] Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke (age 19) were married. She the daughter of George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland and Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland (age 48). He the son of Robert Sackville 2nd Earl Dorset (age 48) and Margaret Howard.

On 24 May 1616 Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland (age 55) died at Brougham Castle [Map]. She was buried in St Lawrence's Church, Appleby-in-Westmoreland [Map]. Finely carved alabaster. Jacobean Hooded Monument, Shroud Monument, with Coronet. By Maximilian Colt (age 41).

Royal Ancestors of Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland 1560-1616

Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of William "Lion" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King Franks

Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Louis "Fat" VI King France

Royal Descendants of Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland 1560-1616

Queen Consort Camilla Shand x 1

Ancestors of Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland 1560-1616

Great x 4 Grandfather: Stephen Russell

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Russell

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Russell

Great x 1 Grandfather: James Russell

GrandFather: John Russell 1st Earl Bedford

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Wise

Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Wise

Father: Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Sapcote

Great x 1 Grandfather: Guy Sapcote of Thornhaugh, Bedfordshire

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas de Semarc

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne de Semarc

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Lexham

Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Laxham

GrandMother: Anne Sapcote Countess Bedford

Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John St John

Great x 3 Grandfather: Oliver St John

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Paulet

Great x 2 Grandfather: John St John 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beauchamp 3rd Baron Beauchamp Bletsoe 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Edith Stourton Baroness Beauchamp Bletsoe 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: John St John 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Bradshaigh

Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Bradshaigh

GrandFather: John St John 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip ap Morgan

Great x 3 Grandfather: Jenkyn ap Philip

Great x 2 Grandfather: Morgan ap Jenkin Lord of Langstone

Great x 1 Grandmother: Sybil of Lansgtone Manor

Mother: Margaret St John Countess Bedford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Waldegrave

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Waldegrave

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Waldegrave

GrandMother: Margaret Waldegrave 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Wentworth

Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Wentworth

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Dronsfield

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Wentworth 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Despencer 2nd Baron Despencer 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margery Despencer 3rd Baroness Despencer, Baroness Ros 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Tiptoft Baroness Despencer 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margery Wentworth 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Howard 3 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Howard 4 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Tendring

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Howard 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Hussey 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Hussey 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England