Biography of Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater 1687-1714

Evelyn's Diary. 01 Dec 1702. After the excess of honor conferred by the Queen (age 37) on the [her father] Earl of Marlborough (age 52), by making him a Knight of the Garter and a Duke, for the success of but one campaign, that he should desire £5,000 a year to be settled on him by Parliament out of the Post Office, was thought a bold and unadvised request, as he had, besides his own considerable estate, above £30,000 a year in places and employments, with £50,000 at interest. He had married one [her sister] daughter (age 21) to the son (age 24) of my Lord Treasurer Godolphin (age 57), [her sister] another (age 19) to the Earl of Sunderland (age 27), and a third (age 15) to the [her future husband] Earl of Bridgewater (age 21). He is a very handsome person, well-spoken and affable, and supports his (age 52) want of acquired knowledge by keeping good company.