Bess of Hardwick & her Ducal descendants
Elizabeth De Hardwick was born in 1521, in Ault Hucknull, Hardwick, Derbyshire.
Her parents were John Hardwick of Hardwick House and Elizabeth Leake daughter of Thomas Leake of Hasland. John died in 1528, and left issue:
- Jane married Godfrey Bosville of Gunthwaite
- John, married three times, but died without issue
- Mary, married to Richard Wingfield
- Alice, married to Francis Leche of Chatsworth
- Elizabeth of Hardwick
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Bess married :
- 1534 - in London, Robert Barlow of Barlow, son of Arthur Barlow and Elizabeth Chaworth, Derbyshire neighbours, whom she met at the London home of her Aunt, and nursed when him he fell ill. His death left Bess a teenage widow.
- 20th August, 1547 at Brodgate, Leicestershire - William Cavendish son of Thomas Cavendish. Of the 8 children of this marriage, 6 survived.
- William St. Loe of Tormarton
- George Talbot, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury in 1567
She died 13th February 1608, at Hardwick Hall and was buried at Allhallows, Derbyshire.
Bess of Hardwick, provides a link with the families of the Dukeries¹.
All were directly descended from her or connected by marriage.
Along with Hardwick and Chatsworth, her marriage with George Talbot brought her Wingfield, Sheffield, Rufford, Welbeck, Tutbury and Bolsover, plus two country houses, one at Handsworth and another at Oldcotes.
Will of Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury
Will: 27 April 1601; Probate: 14 March 1607/8To be buried in All Hallows, Derby, and monument, which now wants only setting up, to be placed there; (£100 for same). £2000 for funeral; Family to be kept at her ordinary expenses until buried, and household servants may remain one month after funeral at Hardwick. £1000 for servants (to be shared as she may settle).
To poor of almshouse she founded at Derby, 1 mourning gown and 20s.
To grandchild Arabella Stewart, cristal glass trimmed with silver and gilt and set with "lapis lazarus" and agates, 1 sable the head being of gold set with stone, 1 white ermine sable with head of gold enamelled and set with stone; all pearl and jewels; also £1000. (Note: all legacies to A.S. I have revoked).
To daughter Grace, wife of Hen. Cavendishe, 100 angels to buy a ring.
To Wm. Cavendishe,son. and heir of son Wm., cup of lapis lazarus with cover garnished with gold enamelled, as an heirloom to go with Hardwick.
To Jas. Cavendishe, son of Wm., £1000 (with interest at 20 nobles in the hundred) when 20, to be paid as one sum.
To Frances Cavendishe, daughter of Wm. £1000 (ditto) when 18; to be paid as 1 sum.
To daughter Frances, wife of Henry Pierrepont, esq., great book of gold set with stones with picture of her father and testator, and £200.
To her son Rob., £30 for a ring, and to her daughter Elizabeth, wife of Rich. Stapleton (son of Brian Stapleton Esq.), £20 for a ring. To their daughter Grace and her husband Geo. Manners, 100 angels to buy a cup, and to their daughter, Eliz. M., £20 for a ring.
To Frances and Marie, daughters of F. Pierrepont, £20 each for a ring.
To daughter Anne Baynton, £5 p.a. during life of her husband only; at his death £50.
As she has built at Chatsworth, Hardwick and Oldcoates and furnished same, now:-
To son Henry Cavendishe with entail, in default to son Wm. and grandsons Wm., with entail, then to daughters or grandaughters. Jas., with entail, and to daughters., then to Arabella Stewart and granddaughter Frances Cavendishe, all stuff at Chatsworth. (Note: all legacies to H.C. I have revoked)
To son Wm. and grandson Wm., with entail, then as above, all stuff at Hardwick and Oldcoates.
All who become entailed to same to have special care to preserve them from "wett, mooth and other hurte or spoile."
In token of loyalty and gratitude, to Queen Elizabeth I, £200 for a gold cup, begs she will look after Arabella Stewart and accept her as an attendant; also that she will be gracious to testator's children.
Son Wm. executor for life, then his son Wm., then his male heirs (or Jas. C.); in case of minority, requests Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Thos. Egerton, John Manners of Haddon , Derbyshire. Esq., and son Hen. Pierrepont of Holme Pierrepont, esq., to be executors pro tem., in respect of £5102 in a chest given to son Wm. for funeral and legacies, etc., and of £1000 each to Jas. and Frances; each of them having £100. These 4 to be supervisors, and keep peace (if need be) among her children.
Forgives wrongs done her by son-in-law Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife, and by son Chas. Cavendish and blesses them as well as all other children.
To John Manners one standing cup about 40oz. which Queen. Eliz. gave her last new year.
All residue to son Wm., also all deeds.
Codicil: revokes bequests to Arabella Stewart and Henry Cavendishe.
Codicil: confirms will and codicil.
Nuncupative codicil, 20 days before death:
£100 for repairing Derby almshouse.
To d. Shrewsbury the pearl bed and its furniture, except hangings.
To son Sir Chas. Cavendishe, 4000 marks for lands for his 2 sons.
To Eliz. Digbie, £100.
To Florence Blackwell, £30.
To Marie Cartwright, £30.
To Dorathie Jepson, £20.
£100 owed her by Mr. Clay of Crich to be £50 for him and £50 for his d. Marie.
To Earl of Salisbury, gold cup worth £100.
To Dean of King James' chapel, and to Sir Walter Cope, £20 each.
¹ The Dukeries is a name used since the 18th century to describe a large tract of Nottinghamshire which formerly contained the estates of 5 dukes: Duke of Portland, Duke of Newcastle, Duke of Kingston, Duke of Leeds, Duke of Norfolk
©2004