Biography of Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon 1866-1954

Paternal Family Tree: Browne aka Duncombe

Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Helena MacDonnell 1747-1796

On 07 Aug 1851 [her father] William Duncombe 1st Earl Feversham (age 22) and [her mother] Mabel Violet Graham Countess Feversham (age 18) were married. They were second cousins.

In 1866 Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon was born to William Duncombe 1st Earl Feversham (age 36) and Mabel Violet Graham Countess Feversham (age 32) at 20 Grosvenor Square, Belgravia. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.57%.

1888. James Lafayette (age 35). Photograph of sisters Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon (age 22) and [her sister] Hermione Wilhelmina Duncombe Duchess Leinster (age 23).

Hermione Wilhelmina Duncombe Duchess Leinster: On 30 Mar 1864 she was born to William Duncombe 1st Earl Feversham and Mabel Violet Graham Countess Feversham. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.57%. On 17 Jan 1884 Gerald Fitzgerald 5th Duke Leinster and she were married. She the daughter of William Duncombe 1st Earl Feversham and Mabel Violet Graham Countess Feversham. He the son of Charles William Fitzgerald Fitzgerald 4th Duke Leinster and Caroline Leveson-Gower Duchess Leinster. He a great x 5 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. On 10 Feb 1887, coincidentally the same day his father died, 10 February, Charles William Fitzgerald Fitzgerald 4th Duke Leinster died at Carton House, Carton, Kildare, County Kildare. His son Gerald Fitzgerald 5th Duke Leinster succeeded 5th Duke Leinster. She by marriage Duchess Leinster. On 19 Mar 1895 Hermione Wilhelmina Duncombe Duchess Leinster died of tuberculosis at Menton.

In 1890 Edgar Vincent 1st Viscount D'Abernon (age 32) and Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon (age 24) were married. She the daughter of William Duncombe 1st Earl Feversham (age 60) and Mabel Violet Graham Countess Feversham (age 56).

1899. Alice Hughes (age 42). Photograph of Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon (age 33).

1904. John Singer Sargent (age 47). Portrait of Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon (age 38).

1914. Yevonde Cumbers aka Madame Yevonde (age 20). Photograph of Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon (age 48). © National Portrait Gallery.

In 1914 [her husband] Edgar Vincent 1st Viscount D'Abernon (age 56) was created 1st Baron D'Abernon of Esher in Surrey. Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon (age 48) by marriage Baroness D'Abernon of Esher in Surrey.

The Times. 27 Jan 1916. MARRIAGE OF LORD GRANBY.

The marriage of the Marquess of Granby (age 29), only son of the Duke (age 63) and Duchess of Rutland (age 59), to Miss Kathleen Tennant (age 21), youngest daughter of Mr. (age 54) and Mrs. Frank Tennant (age 52), of Innes House, took place yesterday at St. Margaret's [Map]. There was a very large attendance, and a number of those present brought young children with them.

The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a Venetian gown of white satin with a gold, brocade train four yards long and a short mantlet of old Venetian family lace; the sleeves were long and close-fitting, and she had a long white net veil with a wreath of orange blossoms. She carried a copy of the marriage service embroidered in seed pearl and coloured silks, worked by her mother after an old design in the British Museum.

Lady Diane Manners (age 24), who was one of the bridesmaids, designed the bridesmaids' gowns in the medieval manner; they were of white chiffon belted in silver worn with flowing veils of blue tulle held by silver bands. Each of the bridesmaids carried a tail branch of almond blossom; the others were Miss Elizabeth Asquith (age 18), Miss Mary Lyttelton, and Miss Violet Warrender. The Hon. Stephen Tennant (age 9), who wore a Romeo suit with a jewelleed belt, was the page. Captain Charles Lindsay, Grenadier Guards, was best man. Canon Sheppard (age 35), Sub-Dean of the Chapels Royal, and the Rev. F. W. Knox, the Duke of Rutland's chaplain, performed the ceremony.

SOME OF THE GOWNS. The Duke of Rutland was among the first to come to the church, and most of the guests were there early. The Prime Minister (age 63) arrived with Mr. (age 35) and Mrs. Bonham-Carter (age 28), and Mr. Balfour with a party which included Mr. and Mrs. William Balfour. The Duchess on Rutland wore gold charmeuse with gold tissue in her hat and a rose pink velvet cloak bordered with fur. The Marchioness of Anglesey (age 32), in white box-cloth, brought her little daughter, Lady Carolinie Paget (age 2), in a little Ermine coat and hat. Mrs. Asquith (age 51), who was with Mrs. Graham Smith (age 56), wore a black charmeuse gown made with a ruched cape and trimmed with chinchilla; her hat was black with emerald feathers.

Mrs. Tennant wore black and white embroidered taffetas; Lady Robert Manners had a long muauve coat trimmed with skunk; and the Countess of Wemyss (age 53) was in black and white. Lady Tree had a pervenche panne long coat made tight-fitting and a plain black sailor hat. The Countess of Drogheda (age 29) wore black and gold, Lady D'Abernon (age 50) grey chinchilla furs with a black coat and skirt, and Lady Arthur Paget a musquash coat bordered with skunk. Mrs. Guy Charteris (age 28) brought her baby, and the Hon. Mrs. George Keppel (age 45), in black and white, was accomapanied by her two daughters, and Mrs. McKenna by her two sons. Mrs. Hwfa Williams and Lady Randolph Churchill (age 62) (who was with Mrs. Churchill (age 30)) both were black velvet.

The Guests. Among those present were:

The Italian Ambassador, the Spanish Ambassador, the Duchess of Buccleuch (age 44), and Lady Margaret Scott, etc.

A small reception was held after the ceremony at Lord (age 56) and Lady Glenconner's (age 45) house in Queen Anne's gate, and the bride and bridegroom subsequently left for Belvoir Castle [Map], where the honeymoon will be spent.

Red Cross and Berlin Embassy. October 5th 1916. In the late Autumn of 1916 I [Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon (age 50)] was on a return journey to England from Chatel Guyon, where the base hospitals for Verdun were situated. I had spent four months there, assisting French surgeons by administering anjesthetics, and in Paris I was fortunate enough to obtain, through their intervention, a sauf-conduit to visit Rheims.

Red Cross and Berlin Embassy. Hotel Vouillement. Monday November 11th 1918.

At 10 a.m. the proprietor of the hotel came to my room and told me that the Articles of the Armistice had been actually signed. After a few overwhelming moments the joy of the fait accompli drew me from my room into the street. People had not yet heard the news, but every face was smiling and hopeful. I secured, in a little shop, an English cockade, but the French colours were already sold out, so I went on to the Printemps and bought a piece of tricolor ribbon to tie round the cockade and pinned them together on to my coat. As I left the Printemps the first Victory gun was fired. At once every man, woman and child rushed out into the streets which soon became impassable and completely blocked; American cars and gay little midinettes being much in evidence.

Later in the day I was starting to saunter round the corner to the Embassy when Marquise (Corise) de Noailles arrived in her tiny car to fetch me. French flags were tied all over it, and a croix de guerre adolescent classe dix-huity was on one step, and an intoxicated Belgian on the other. They insisted on handshakes and accolades and only after much delay could they be induced to start the engine and allow us to move off. When we turned into the Faubourg St. Honord the crowd pressing towards the Embassy was so great that Lord Derby’s car, which was coming out of the courtyard to take him to the Chamber of Deputies, could hardly move,, so Corise put me down and escaped by a side-street, arranging to call for me to-night at 10 p.m. and promising an escort of cavaliers, so that we may patrol the Boulevards and take part in popular rejoicings.

In 1926 [her husband] Edgar Vincent 1st Viscount D'Abernon (age 68) was created 1st Viscount D'Abernon of Esher and Stoke D'Abernon in Surrey. Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon (age 60) by marriage Viscountess D'Abernon of Esher and Stoke D'Abernon in Surrey.

On 16 May 1954 Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon (age 88) died.

Royal Ancestors of Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon 1866-1954

Kings Wessex: Great x 25 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 22 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 28 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 23 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 24 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Philip IV King France

Ancestors of Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon 1866-1954

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Browne

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Duncombe

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary aka Ursula Duncombe

Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Slingsby Duncombe 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Slingsby 4th Baronet 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Sarah Slingsby 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Sarah or Susan Savile

Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Duncombe 1st Baron Feversham 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

GrandFather: William Duncombe 2nd Baron Feversham 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Legge 1st Earl Dartmouth

Great x 3 Grandfather: George Legge 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Finch Countess Dartmouth 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Legge 2nd Earl Dartmouth 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Arthur Kaye 3rd Baronet

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Kaye Baroness North and Guildford

Great x 1 Grandmother: Charlotte Legge Baroness Feversham Duncombe Park 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Gounter

Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Gounter Nicoll

Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Catherine Gounter Nicoll Countess Dartmouth

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Blundell of Basingstoke in Hampshire

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Blundell

Father: William Duncombe 1st Earl Feversham 14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: James Stewart 5th Earl Galloway 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Stewart 6th Earl Galloway 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Montgomerie Countess Galloway 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Stewart 7th Earl Galloway 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Cochrane 4th Earl Dundonald 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Cochrane Countess Galloway 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: George Stewart 8th Earl Galloway 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Dashwood

Great x 3 Grandfather: James Dashwood 2nd Baronet

Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Reade

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Dashwood Countess Galloway

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Spencer

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Spencer Lady Dashwood

GrandMother: Louisa Stewart Baroness Feversham Duncombe Park 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Bayly-Paget 1st Earl Uxbridge 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Paget 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Caroline Paget Lady Plas Newydd Anglesey 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Jane Paget Countess Galloway 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Very Reverend Arthur Champagné

Great x 2 Grandmother: Jane Champagné Countess Uxbridge

Helen Venetia Duncombe Viscountess D'Abernon 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Graham 2nd Baronet

Great x 3 Grandfather: Very Reverend William Graham

Great x 2 Grandfather: Reverend Robert Graham

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Offley

Great x 1 Grandfather: James Graham 1st Baronet

GrandFather: James Graham 2nd Baronet 14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: James Stewart 5th Earl Galloway 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Stewart 6th Earl Galloway 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Montgomerie Countess Galloway 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Stewart 7th Earl Galloway 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Cochrane 4th Earl Dundonald 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Cochrane Countess Galloway 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Stewart Lady Graham 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Dashwood

Great x 3 Grandfather: James Dashwood 2nd Baronet

Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Reade

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Dashwood Countess Galloway

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Spencer

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Spencer Lady Dashwood

Mother: Mabel Violet Graham Countess Feversham 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Colonel James Campbell of Ardkinglass

GrandMother: Frances "Fanny" Callander Lady Graham 20 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Macdonnell 3rd Earl Antrim

Great x 3 Grandfather: Randal MacDonnell 4th Earl of Antrim

Great x 4 Grandmother: Helena Burke Countess Antrim

Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander MacDonnell 5th Earl of Antrim 18 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Rachel Skeffington Countess Antrim 17 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Rachel Hungerford Viscountess Massereene 16 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Helena MacDonnell 19 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England