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Biography of William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire 1552-1626

Paternal Family Tree: Cavendish

Maternal Family Tree: Margaret Vaux 1465

In 1524 [his father] William Cavendish (age 19) and Margaret Bostock (age 16) were married.

In 1542 [his father] William Cavendish (age 37) and Elizabeth Parker were married.

In 1543 Robert Barlow aka Barley (age 14) and [his mother] Bess of Hardwick (age 16) were married.

On 20 Aug 1547 [his father] William Cavendish (age 42) and [his mother] Bess of Hardwick (age 20) were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years.

On 27 Dec 1552 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire was born to William Cavendish (age 47) and Bess of Hardwick (age 25).

On 25 Oct 1557 [his father] William Cavendish (age 52) died.

Around 27 Aug 1559 [his step-father] William St Lo (age 41) and [his mother] Bess of Hardwick (age 32) were married.

Around 1564 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 11) educated at Clare College, Cambridge University.

In Jan 1565 [his step-father] William St Lo (age 47) died suddenly in the company of his brother Edward St Lo (age 46). He was buried in St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate. Given that he had been suspected of poisoning William's wife [his mother] Bess of Hardwick (age 38) five years before it is possible Edward had poisoned William. Edward St Lo contested his brother's will unsuccessfully.

On 06 Feb 1568 Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 15) and [his sister] Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 12) were married. She the daughter of [his father] William Cavendish and [his mother] Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 41). He the son of [his step-father] George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 40) and Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford.

Three days later on Gilbert and Mary would become step-siblings when their father and mother respectively George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Bess of Hardwick were married. She by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury Countess Waterford. It is likely the latter marriage a condition of the former. He the son of Francis Talbot 5th Earl of Shrewsbury and Mary Dacre. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Around 21 Mar 1580 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 27) and Anne Keighley (age 17) were married. He the son of William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 53).

In 1586 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 33) was elected MP Liverpool.

In 1588 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 35) was elected MP Newport.

Around 1590 [his son] William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire was born to William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 37) and [his wife] Anne Keighley (age 27).

Around 1593 [his daughter] Frances Cavendish was born to William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 40) and [his wife] Anne Keighley (age 30).

In 1595 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 42) was appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire.

Before 1603 Richard Wortley (age 38) and [his future wife] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire (age 34) were married.

In 1603 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 50) was appointed Justice of the Peace Derbyshire.

After 1603 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 50) and Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire (age 35) were married. He the son of William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 76).

In 1605 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 52) was created 1st Baron Cavendish Hardwick. [his wife] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire (age 37) by marriage Baroness Cavendish Hardwick.

In 1608 [his son-in-law] William Maynard 1st Baron Maynard (age 21) and [his daughter] Frances Cavendish (age 15) were married. Their 3 children predeceased him. She the daughter of William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 55) and [his wife] Anne Keighley (age 45).

Death of Bess of Hardwick

On 13 Feb 1608 [his mother] Bess of Hardwick (age 81) died. She was buried in All Saints Church, Derby [Map]. Her monument, which she had constructed before her death, was designed by Robert Smythson (age 38). She left nothing in her will for her 'bad son' [his brother] Henry Cavendish (age 57). He did, however, inherit Chatsworth House [Map] which he subsequently sold in 1609 to his brother William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 55) for £10,000.

The date of her funeral somewhat complicated. Rawsons 1910 book "Bess of Hardwick and her Circle" quotes Simpson's National Records of Derby for 1608: "The old Countess of Shrewsbury died about Candlemas this year, whose funeral was about Holy Thursday. A great frost this year. The witches of Bakewell hanged." Holy Thursday, the Feast of the Ascension, is thirty-nine days after Easter. Easter in 1608 was on the 6th of April, putting Holy Thursday on the 15th of May.

Ethel Carleton Williams "Bess of Hardwick", 1959, has a note: "9. The date of Bess of Hardwick's funeral is uncertain. The date on the coffin plate is said to be February 1608 (Cox and Hope, Chronicles of the Collegiate Church of All Saints, Derby), but on 31 March 1608 Gilbert Talbot wrote to Robert Cecil, excusing himself for not attending St George's Feast on the ground that his mother-in-law's funeral was to be on St George's Day (23 April). Later, on 3rd of April, the Earl of Arundel wrote to Gilbert (his father-in-law), 'the funeral at Derby is appointed to be either on the fourth or fifth of May, which Garter yet knoweth not, but rather thinketh on the fourth because the other is a holy day'".

Neither of which provide a definite answer. The former being around the 15th of May, the latter 'rather thinketh' the 4th of May. Are there any other contemporary sources available?

On 10 Apr 1608 [his son] William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire (age 18) and [his daughter-in-law] Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire were married. He the son of William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 55) and [his wife] Anne Keighley (age 45).

In or before 1611 Henry Crofts (age 20) and [his step-daughter] Elizabeth Wortley were married. The difference in their ages was 25 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of Richard Wortley and [his wife] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire (age 42).

On 02 Aug 1618 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 65) was created 1st Earl Devonshire, at the Bishop's Palace, Salisbury Cathedral. [his wife] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire (age 50) by marriage Countess Devonshire.

In 1625 [his wife] Anne Keighley (age 62) died.

On 03 Mar 1626 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 73) died. His son [his son] William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire (age 36) succeeded 2nd Earl Devonshire, 2nd Baron Cavendish Hardwick. [his daughter-in-law] Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire by marriage Countess Devonshire. On 12 Oct 1616 [his brother] Henry Cavendish (age 65) died. Both were buried at St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map].

The monument was behind the altar in the original church but moved to a separate chapel in the new church.

Monument formed two bodies under a low four-poster with black Ionic columns and black covering slab. The monument has been attributed to Maximilian Colt (age 51).

Extremely grand architecture above the two martial flanking figures, then arches with, on the left armour, and on the right purple, coronet, and sword hung up, and in the middle an angel holding the black inscription tablet and blowing a trumpet. The whole is surmounted by a big broken pediment.

Henry appears as a skeleton on a straw mat.

William in his shroud with his face exposed.

In 1642 [his former wife] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire (age 74) died.

[his son] John Cavendish was born to William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire and Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire.

[his son] Gilbert Cavendish was born to William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire and Anne Keighley.

Royal Ancestors of William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire 1552-1626

Kings Wessex: Great x 16 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 11 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 17 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 12 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 12 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 15 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France

Royal Descendants of William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire 1552-1626

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Diana Spencer Princess Wales

Ancestors of William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire 1552-1626

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Cavendish

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Cavendish

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Odingsells

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Cavendish

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Clopton

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Clopton

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ivetta Grey

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Cavendish

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Staventon

GrandFather: Thomas Cavendish 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Scudamore

Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Scudamore 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Gruffudd Fychan II Mathrafal

Great x 3 Grandfather: Owain ap Gruffudd "Glyndŵr" Mathrafal Prince Powys 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elen 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Alys Mathrafal 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: David Hamner

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Hamner

Father: William Cavendish 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Carrington Smith

GrandMother: Alice Smith

William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Harwick

GrandFather: John Hardwick 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Pinchbeck

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Pinchbeck 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Green

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Green 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Talbot 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Greene 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary aka Marina Bellers

Mother: Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Simon Leeke

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Leeke of Cotham

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Leeke of Lakeford

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Leeke of Hasland

GrandMother: Elizabeth Leeke

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Vaux

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Vaux

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Vaux of Harrowden

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Vaux