Biography of Elizabeth Chudleigh Duchess Kingston upon Hull 1721-1788
Paternal Family Tree: Chudleigh
On 08 Mar 1721 Elizabeth Chudleigh Duchess Kingston upon Hull was born to Thomas Chudleigh (age 33).
On 04 Aug 1744 Augustus John Hervey 3rd Earl Bristol (age 20) and Elizabeth Chudleigh Duchess Kingston upon Hull (age 23) were married privately at Lainston House Winchester. There marriage remained a secret until she wanted to marry Evelyn Pierrepont 2nd Duke Kingston upon Hull (age 33) in 1769 at which time she initiated a suit of jactitation against him requiring him to prove they were married. The court found in her favour.
On 20 Jan 1751 John Hervey 1st Earl Bristol (age 85) died. His grandson [her brother-in-law] George William Hervey 2nd Earl Bristol (age 30) succeeded 2nd Earl Bristol.
Before 1753 [her brother-in-law] Frederick Augustus Hervey 4th Earl Bristol (age 22) and Elizabeth Davers Countess Bristol (age 19) were married.
On 08 Mar 1769 Evelyn Pierrepont 2nd Duke Kingston upon Hull (age 58) and Elizabeth Chudleigh Duchess Kingston upon Hull (age 48) were married. Allegedly bigamously since her first husband Augustus John Hervey 3rd Earl Bristol (age 44) was still living, at Keith's Chapel, Mayfair. She by marriage Duchess Kingston upon Hull.
In 1771 [her daughter] Georgiana Ann Pierrepont was born to [her husband] Evelyn Pierrepont 2nd Duke Kingston upon Hull (age 60) and Elizabeth Chudleigh Duchess Kingston upon Hull (age 49). There is some uncertainty about her parentage.
On 22 Sep 1773 [her husband] Evelyn Pierrepont 2nd Duke Kingston upon Hull (age 62) died without issue at Holme Pierrepoint Hall, Nottinghamshire. He was buried at the Church of St Edmund, Holme Pierrepoint [Map]. Duke Kingston upon Hull and Marquess Dorchester, Earl Kingston upon Hull, Viscount Newark, Baron Pierrepont of Holme Pierrepoint extinct. He left all his wealth and property to his wife Elizabeth Chudleigh Duchess Kingston upon Hull (age 52) on the condition she remain a widow.
In 1775 [her brother-in-law] George William Hervey 2nd Earl Bristol (age 54) died. His brother [her husband] Augustus John Hervey 3rd Earl Bristol (age 50) succeeded 3rd Earl Bristol, 4th Baron Hervey of Ickworth in Suffolk.
In 1775 Elizabeth Chudleigh's (age 53) purported first husband [her husband] Augustus John Hervey 3rd Earl Bristol (age 50) succeeded to the Earldom of Bristol and the issue of whether they were married was raised again. Her late second husband's nephew Evelyn Medows (age 38) brought a charge of bigamy against her with a view to challenging her late husband's will.
In 1776 Elizabeth Chudleigh Duchess Kingston upon Hull (age 54) was tried for bigamy at Westminster Hall [Map] and found guilty by 116 peers without dissent. Absconding with her fortune, she hurriedly left England to avoid further proceedings on the part of the Medows family.
On 23 Dec 1779 [her husband] Augustus John Hervey 3rd Earl Bristol (age 55) died due to a gout in the stomach in St James' Square. His brother [her brother-in-law] Frederick Augustus Hervey 4th Earl Bristol (age 49) succeeded 4th Earl Bristol, 5th Baron Hervey of Ickworth in Suffolk. Elizabeth Davers Countess Bristol (age 46) by marriage Countess Bristol.
On 26 Aug 1788 Elizabeth Chudleigh Duchess Kingston upon Hull (age 67) died. Her estates, and those of her former husband [her former husband] Evelyn Pierrepont 2nd Duke Kingston upon Hull, passed to his sister [her former sister-in-law] Frances' (age 75) son Charles Medows aka Pierrepont 1st Earl Manvers (age 50).
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Chudleigh
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Chudleigh 1st Baronet
Great x 1 Grandfather: George Chudleigh 2nd Baronet
GrandFather: George Chudleigh 3rd Baronet
Father: Thomas Chudleigh