Biography of Anne Carr Countess of Bedford 1615-1684
Paternal Family Tree: Kerr
Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Stumpe
In 1603 [her step-father] Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex (age 11) and [her mother] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 12) were married. They were separated after the wedding given their young age. Essex went on a European tour from 1607 to 1609. When he returned she avoided him having fallen for [her father] Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 16) whilst her husband was away. He was ill with smallpox. She sought an annulment with her father Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and uncle Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton (age 62) acting for her. She maintained the marriage had not been consummated and was examined by ten matrons and two midwives who found her hymen intact. It was widely rumoured at the time that Sir Thomas Monson's (age 38) daughter was a substitute, which is possible because she had requested to be veiled during the examination "for modesty's sake". He maintained he was capable with other women, but was unable to consummate his marriage blaming her. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 41) and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 39). He the son of Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex (age 36). They were fourth cousins.
On 24 Mar 1611 [her father] Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 24) was created 1st Viscount Rochester and to the Privy Council. Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 24) was now the Kings (age 44) favourite.
On 03 Nov 1613 [her father] Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 26) was created 1st Earl Somerset.
On 26 Dec 1613 [her father] Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 26) and [her mother] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 23) were married. She by marriage Countess Somerset. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 52) and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 49).
Her marriage with her first husband [her step-father] Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex (age 22) had been annulled on the grounds of his impotence three months before causing something of a scandal.
On 09 Dec 1615 Anne Carr Countess of Bedford was born to Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 28) and Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 25).
Diary of Anne Clifford 1616. 20 Jun 1616. Upon the 20th my Lord (age 27) and I, Dr Layfield and K. Baston went up to London and the same day I passed (by fine before my Lord (age 27) Hubbard) the inheritance of Westmoreland to my Lord (age 27) if I had no heirs of my own body, and upon the 21st being Friday my Lord (age 27) wrote his letters to my Lord William and gave directions to Mr Marsh to go with them and that the possession of Brougham Castle [Map] should be very carefully looked to, the same day he went to Horseley to see the Child at his sisters.1
Note 1. About this time I went into the Tiltyard to see my Lord Knoles where I saw Lady Somerset’s (age 26) little Child. (Note: Afterwards Countess of Bedford. Her Portrait in the Leicester Gallery) being the 1st time I ever saw it.
Diary of Anne Clifford 1619. 28 Apr 1619. The 28th my Lord (age 30) and I, my Coz. Sackville and Lady Windsor went to the Tower to see my [her mother] Lady Somerset (age 28), where we saw her little child (age 3)1. My Lord (age 30) went to see Earl of Northumberland (age 55)2 and I and the Lady Windsor went to see Lady Shrewsbury (age 63)3, and after supper my Lord (age 30) and I went by water to Channel Row to see my Lord of Hertford (age 79)4 and his Lady (age 40) where we found my Lady Beauchamp5, my Lord Essex’s (age 28) Sister, then I went to Arundel House and talked with her about Lords being made Knights of the Garter. 
Note 1. “Her little Child,” Anne Carr (age 3), afterwards married to [her future husband] William 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Bedford (age 2).
Note 2. Henry (age 55), 6th Earl, a Prisoner since the time of the Gunpowder Plot.
Note 3. Mary Cavendish (age 63), wife of Gilbert 7th Earl of Shrewsbury, was sent to the Tower in June 1611, at the same time with her niece the Lady Arabella Stuart first cousin of King James. Lady Arabella died, in the Tower, in 1615.
Note 4. Earl of Hertford (age 79) son of Protector Somerset, and his 3rd wife Frances (age 40), d. of Thomas Viscount Howard of Bindon, widow of Henry Pranell, Esq., and married, 3rdly to Ludovick Stuart Duke of Lenox and Richmond (age 44).
Note 5. Lady Frances Devereux (age 19), and wife of William Lord Beauchamp (age 31), afterwards Marquis of Hertford; daughter of Queen Elizabeth’s favourite, and sister of the Parliament’s General (age 28).
On 23 Aug 1632 [her mother] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 42) died.
Around 1635 Anthony Van Dyck (age 35). Portrait of Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 19).
On 11 Jul 1637 William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 20) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 21) were married. She the daughter of Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 50) and Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset. He the son of Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 44) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 57).
Before 1638 Robert Greville 2nd Baron Brooke (age 30) and [her sister-in-law] Catherine Russell Baroness Brooke were married. She by marriage Baroness Brooke of Beauchamps Court in Warwickshire. She the daughter of Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 44) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 57).
In 1638 [her son] Francis Russell was born to [her husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 21) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 22).
On 29 Sep 1639 [her son] William Russell was born to [her husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 23) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 23).
Around Apr 1641 [her brother-in-law] Francis Russell (age 22) died.
On 09 May 1641 [her father-in-law] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 48) died. His son [her husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 24) succeeded 5th Earl Bedford, 5th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 3rd Baron Russell of Thornhaugh. Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 25) by marriage Countess Bedford.
In 1643 [her son] Edward Russell was born to [her husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 26) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 27).
Around 1645 [her son] Robert Russell was born to [her husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 28) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 29).
On 17 Jul 1645 [her father] Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 58) died without male issue. Earl Somerset, Viscount Rochester extinct.
In 1650 [her daughter] Anne Russell was born to [her husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 33) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 34).
In 1651 [her son] James Russell was born to [her husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 34) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 35).
In 1652 [her son] George Russell was born to [her husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 35) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 36).
On 09 Apr 1652 [her daughter] Diana Russell Baroness Latimer Willoughby Broke Alington was born to [her husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 35) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 36).
On 31 Aug 1656 [her daughter] Margaret Russell Countess Orford was born to [her husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 40) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 40).
In 1657 [her daughter] Anne Russell (age 7) died at Woburn.
On 21 Dec 1665 [her brother-in-law] Edward Russell died.
On 29 Aug 1667 [her son-in-law] Greville Verney 17th Baron Latimer 9th Baron Willoughby (age 18) and [her daughter] Diana Russell Baroness Latimer Willoughby Broke Alington (age 15) were married. She by marriage Baroness Latimer of Corby, Baroness Willoughby Broke. She the daughter of William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 51) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 51).
In 1668 [her son] Edward Russell (age 25) and [her daughter-in-law] Frances Williams were married. He the son of William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 51) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 52).
In 1669 [her son] William Russell (age 29) and [her daughter-in-law] Rachel Wriothesley (age 33) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Wriothesley 4th Earl of Southampton 2nd Earl Chichester and Rachel Massue Countess Southampton. He the son of William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 52) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 53).
On 15 Jul 1675 [her son-in-law] William Alington 1st and 3rd Baron Alington (age 35) and [her daughter] Diana Russell Baroness Latimer Willoughby Broke Alington (age 23) were married. She by marriage Baroness Alington of Killard. She the daughter of William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 58) and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 59).
On 01 Dec 1676 [her sister-in-law] Catherine Russell Baroness Brooke died.
In 1678 [her son] Francis Russell (age 40) died.
On 21 Jul 1683 [her son] William Russell (age 43) was beheaded by Jack Ketch at Lincoln's Inn for his involvement in the Rye House Plot. The executioner was so inept that he took four axe blows to separate the head from the body. After the first failed blow his victim looked up and said "You dog, did I give you 10 guineas to use me so inhumanely?".
A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 3: Parishes: Chenies. [her son] Lord William Russell (age 43), son of the fifth earl, is perhaps the most interesting figure in connexion with Chenies [Map]. As a member of the country party in the House of Commons he backed the Bill excluding the Duke of York from the throne. Being afterwards implicated in the Rye House Plot he was executed for treason in Lincoln's Inn Fields on 21 July 1683 and has earned for himself the name of 'patriot' or martyr of the Revolution52. He was buried at Chenies and his widow [her daughter-in-law] Lady Rachel Russell (age 47) visited the church in later years, when she decided to 'make a little monument' and erected the one to the fifth earl (age 66) and his wife (age 67) with medallions of their children, conspicuous among which is that of Lord William Russell (age 43), ranged in rows on either side54. Chenies has remained in the Russell family until the present day55, the present Duke of Bedford being lord of the manor, but it is many years since the family ceased to use the old manor-house as a residence.
Note 53. Dict. Nat. Biog.; G.E.C. Complete Peerage.
Note 54. Froude, op. cit. iv, 517.
Note 55. 55. Feet of F. Div. Co. Mich. 8 & 9 Eliz.; Chan. Inq. p.m. (Ser. 2), ccxi, 132; ccccxxxv, 118; Cal. S. P. Dom. 1581-90, p. 380; Acts of P.C. 1601-4, p. 145; Hist.MSS. Com. Rep. xii, App. v, 131; Recov. R. Hil. 11 Jas. I, m. 97; Mich. 14 Jas. I, m. 136; Mich. 6 Geo. II, m. 291; Mich. 1 Geo. III, m. 139; Trin. 49 Geo. III, m. 152; Fine R. 16 Jas. I, pt. i, no. 4; Lysons, Mag. Brit. i (3), 584.
On 10 May 1684 Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 68) died.
On 07 Sep 1700 [her former husband] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 84) died at Bedford House Covent Garden. His grandson Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford (age 19) succeeded 2nd Duke Bedford, 2nd Marquess Tavistock, 6th Earl Bedford, 6th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 4th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 2nd Baron Howland of Streatham.
[her daughter] Catharine Russell was born to William Russell 1st Duke Bedford and Anne Carr Countess of Bedford.
Edward Russell and Penelope Hill were married. He the son of Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford.
Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of Robert "The Bruce" I King Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of Philip "The Fair" IV King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew Kerr
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Kerr of Smailholm later of Ferniehurst
Great x 2 Grandfather: Andrew Kerr of Ferniehirst
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Kerr 10th of Ferniehirst
GrandFather: Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst 12 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Kerr Lord of Cessford
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Kerr of Calverton 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Hay Lady Kerr
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Andrew Kerr of Cessford 10 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Ker 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Crichton 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Crichton 2nd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marion Stewart
14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Agnes Crichton 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Maxwell
14 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marion Margaret Maxwell 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Father: Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset 13 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Anne Carr Countess of Bedford 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Tilney Countess of Surrey
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Howard 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stafford Duchess Norfolk 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Percy Duchess Buckingham 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John de Vere
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Colbroke
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Vere Countess of Surrey 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Trussell
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Trussell Countess of Oxford 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Donne 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
GrandFather: Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Audley
Great x 3 Grandfather: Geoffrey Audley
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Audley 1st Baron Audley Walden
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Grey 1st Marquess Dorset
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily Bonville Marchioness Dorset
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Grey Baroness Audley 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Wotton of Boughton Malherbe
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Wotton Marchioness Dorset
Mother: Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Knyvet 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Knyvet 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Knyvet of Charlton Wiltshire 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Muriel Howard Viscountess Lisle 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Tilney Countess of Surrey 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Knyvet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Pickering 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Christopher Pickering 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Pickering 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Lewknor
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Lewknor 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Tuchet
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
GrandMother: Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stumpe
