Biography of Anne Spencer Countess Arran 1667-1690

Paternal Family Tree: Spencer

Maternal Family Tree: Anne Windsor 1466-1500

On 20 Sep 1643 [her grandfather] Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland (age 22) died. His son [her father] Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland (age 2) succeeded 2nd Earl of Sunderland, 4th Baron Spencer Wormleighton.

On 09 Jun 1665 [her father] Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland (age 23) and [her mother] Anne Digby Countess Sunderland (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess of Sunderland. She the daughter of George Digby 2nd Earl Bristol (age 52) and Anne Russell Countess Bristol (age 45). He the son of Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland and Dorothy Sidney Countess Sunderland (age 47).

In 1667 Anne Spencer Countess Arran was born to Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland (age 25) and Anne Digby Countess Sunderland (age 21).

In 1686 James Hamilton Duke Hamilton, 1st Duke Brandon (age 27) and Anne Spencer Countess Arran (age 19) were married. He by marriage Duke Hamilton. She the daughter of Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland (age 44) and Anne Digby Countess Sunderland (age 40). He the son of William Hamilton Duke Hamilton (age 51) and Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 54).

In 1688 [her brother-in-law] William Hamilton (age 29) died.

Evelyn's Diary. 12 Jan 1688. My [her husband] Lord Arran (age 29), eldest son to the [her father-in-law] Duke of Hamilton (age 53), being now married to Lady Ann Spencer (age 21), eldest daughter of the [her father] Earl of Sunderland (age 46), Lord President of the Council, I and my family had most glorious favors sent us, the wedding being celebrated with extraordinary splendor.

Evelyn's Diary. 18 Aug 1688. The house, or rather palace, at Althorpe [Map], is a noble uniform pile in form of a half H, built of brick and freestone, balustered and à la moderne; the hall is well, the staircase excellent; the rooms of state, galleries, offices and furniture, such as may become a great prince. It is situated in the midst of a garden, exquisitely planted and kept, and all this in a park walled in with hewn stone, planted with rows and walks of trees, canals and fish ponds, and stored with game. And, what is above all this, governed by a [her mother] lady (age 42), who without any show of solicitude, keeps everything in such admirable order, both within and without, from the garret to the cellar, that I do not believe there is any in this nation, or in any other, that exceeds her in such exact order, without ostentation, but substantially great and noble. The meanest servant is lodged so neat and cleanly; the service at the several tables, the good order and decency-in a word, the entire economy is perfectly becoming a wise and noble person. She is one who for her distinguished esteem of me from a long and worthy friendship, I must ever honor and celebrate. I wish from my soul the [her father] Lord (age 46), her husband (whose parts and abilities are otherwise conspicuous), was as worthy of her, as by a fatal apostasy and court-ambition he has made himself unworthy! This is what she deplores, and it renders her as much affliction as a lady of great soul and much prudence is capable of. The [her grandmother] Countess of Bristol (age 68), her mother, a grave and honorable lady, has the comfort of seeing her daughter and grandchildren under the same economy, especially [her brother] Mr. Charles Spencer (age 13), a youth of extraordinary hopes, very learned for his age, and ingenious, and under a Governor of great worth. Happy were it, could as much be said of the elder brother, the [her brother] Lord Spencer, who, rambling about the world, dishonors both his name and his family, adding sorrow to sorrow to a mother, who has taken all imaginable care of his education. There is a [her sister] daughter (age 17) very young married to the Earl of Clancarty (age 20), who has a great and fair estate in Ireland, but who yet gives no great presage of worth,-so universally contaminated is the youth of this corrupt and abandoned age! But this is again recompensed by my [her husband] Lord Arran (age 30), a sober and worthy gentleman, who has espoused the Lady Ann Spencer (age 21), a young lady of admirable accomplishments and virtue.

Evelyn's Diary. 18 Aug 1688. My [her mother] lady (age 42) carried us to see Lord Northampton's (age 23) Seat, a very strong, large house, built with stone, not altogether modern. They were enlarging the garden, in which was nothing extraordinary, except the iron gate opening into the park, which indeed was very good work, wrought in flowers painted with blue and gilded. There is a noble walk of elms toward the front of the house by the bowling green. I was not in any room of the house besides a lobby looking into the garden, where my Lord (age 23) and his new Countess (age 19) (Sir Stephen Fox's (age 61) daughter, whom I had known from a child) entertained the Countess (age 42) and her daughter the Countess of Arran (age 21) (newly married to the [her husband] son (age 30) of the [her father-in-law] Duke of Hamilton (age 53)), with so little good grace, and so dully, that our visit was very short, and so we returned to Althorpe [Map], twelve miles distant.

In 1690 Anne Spencer Countess Arran (age 23) died.

In 1698 [her former husband] James Hamilton Duke Hamilton, 1st Duke Brandon (age 39) and Elizabeth Gerard Duchess Brandon (age 18) were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years. He the son of William Hamilton Duke Hamilton and Anne Hamilton 3rd Duchess Hamilton (age 66).

Hamilton-Mohun Duel

On 12 Nov 1712 Charles Mohun 4th Baron Mohun Okehampton (age 37) duelled with [her former husband] James Hamilton Duke Hamilton, 1st Duke Brandon (age 54) at Hyde Park [Map] over a legal dispute about the estate and inheritance of the late Earl Macclesfield.

Mohun had married Charlotte Orby Baroness Mohun Okehampton grand-daughter of Charles Gerard 1st Earl Macclesfield. James Hamilton Duke Hamilton, 1st Duke Brandon (age 54) had married Elizabeth Gerard Duchess Brandon (age 32).

On 15 Nov 1712 James Hamilton Duke Hamilton, 1st Duke Brandon (age 54) died from wounds received duelling. His son James Hamilton 5th Duke Hamilton 2nd Duke Brandon (age 9) succeeded 5th Duke Hamilton, 2nd Duke Brandon of Suffolk, 2nd Baron Dutton of Cheshire.

On 15 Nov 1712 Charles Mohun 4th Baron Mohun Okehampton (age 37) died from wounds received duelling; his father had died the same way. Baron Mohun Okehampton and Baronet Mohun of Boconnoc in Cornwall extinct.

Royal Ancestors of Anne Spencer Countess Arran 1667-1690

Kings Wessex: Great x 19 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 22 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of William "Lion" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Philip "The Fair" IV King France

Ancestors of Anne Spencer Countess Arran 1667-1690

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Spencer

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Spencer

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Kitson

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Spencer 1st Baron Spencer

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Catlyn

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Spencer 2nd Baron Spencer 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Willoughby 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Willoughby 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Grey 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Willoughby 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Lyttelton of Frankley 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Lyttelton 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Bridget Packington

GrandFather: Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland 8 x Great Grand Son of Henry IV King England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony Browne 1st Viscount Montagu 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Browne Countess Southampton 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Radclyffe 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Penelope Wriothesley Baroness Spencer Wormleighton 7 x Great Grand Daughter of Henry IV King England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Vernon 4 x Great Grand Son of Henry IV King England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Vernon 5 x Great Grand Son of Henry IV King England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Vernon Countess Southampton 6 x Great Grand Daughter of Henry IV King England

Father: Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Sidney

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Sidney

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Pakenham

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Dudley 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Gamage of Coity Castle 10 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Gamage of Coity Castle 11 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

GrandMother: Dorothy Sidney Countess Sunderland 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

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

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Harbottle 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Neville 4th Baron Latimer of Snape 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Somerset Baroness Latimer Snape 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Devereux 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Hastings 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Knollys

Great x 3 Grandmother: Lettice Knollys Countess Essex 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Carey 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Anne Spencer Countess Arran 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Reginald Digby

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Digby

Great x 2 Grandfather: George Digby 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Throckmorton of Coughton

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Throckmorton 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Vaux 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Digby 1st Earl Bristol 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony Heveningham 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Arthur Heveningham 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Abigail Heveningham 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

GrandFather: George Digby 2nd Earl Bristol 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Beatrice Walcott

Mother: Anne Digby Countess Sunderland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Russell 1st Earl Bedford

Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Sapcote Countess Bedford

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Russell 1st Baron Russell 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John St John 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret St John Countess Bedford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Waldegrave 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford 10 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Long Baroness Russel Thornhaugh

GrandMother: Anne Russell Countess Bristol 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Brydges 2nd Baron Chandos 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Grey Baroness Chandos 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Giles Brydges 3rd Baron Chandos 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Braye 1st Baron Braye

Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothy Braye Baroness Chandos and Knollys 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Halwell Baroness Bray 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Clinton 8th Baron Clinton 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Clinton 1st Earl Lincoln 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Poynings Baroness Clinton 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Clinton 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Stourton 7th Baron Stourton 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Ursula Stourton Baroness Clinton 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Dudley Baroness Stourton 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England