Biography of Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote 1584-1631

On 6th April 1584 Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote was born to Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 33) and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 27) at Theobalds House, Hertfordshire.

On 5th June 1588 [her mother] Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 31) died. She was buried at the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey [Map]. She shares a monument with her mother [her grandmother] Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 62). The monument rises to twenty-four feet, and is constructed of various coloured marbles, after a design of the Corinthian order. The Latin inscriptions, which are very long, were written by [her grandfather] Lord Burleigh (age 67) himself, and set forth the varied accomplishments and the virtues of the two ladies who are represented in effigy in the lower part of the monument. The figure of Lord Burleigh, in his robes, and in a kneeling attitude, appears in the upper part of the monument.

In 1591 [her father] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 40) sold Hedingham Castle [Map] to his father-in-law [her grandfather] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 70) in trust for his three daughters [her sister] Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby (age 15), Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 6) and [her sister] Susan Vere Countess Montgomery (age 3) by his first wife [her mother] Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford.

Before 27th December 1591 [her father] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 41) and [her step-mother] Elizabeth Trentham Maid of Honour Countess of Oxford were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. She brought her husband a dowry of £1000 bequeathed to her in her father's will, payable at the rate of 500 marks a year for three years. He the son of [her grandfather] John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford and [her grandmother] Margery Golding Countess of Oxford.

On 28th April 1599 Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire (age 19) and Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 15) were married. She the daughter of Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 49) and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford. He the son of William Norreys and Elizabeth Morrison Countess Lincoln. They were fifth cousin once removed.

On 27th June 1601 Henry Norreys 1st Baron Norreys of Rycote (age 76) died at Rycote, Oxfordshire [Map]. His grandson [her husband] Francis (age 21) succeeded 2nd Baron Norreys of Rycote. Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 17) by marriage Baroness Norreys of Rycote.

Around 1603 [her daughter] Elizabeth Norreys 3rd Baroness Norreys Rycote was born to [her husband] Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire (age 23) and Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 18).

On 24th June 1604 [her father] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 54) died at his home In King Street Covent Garden. His son [her half-brother] Henry (age 11) succeeded 18th Earl of Oxford.

On 28th January 1621 [her husband] Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire (age 41) was created 1st Earl Berkshire, 1st Viscount Thame. Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 36) by marriage Countess Berkshire.

On 29th January 1622 [her husband] Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire (age 42) shot himself with a crossbow at Rycote, Oxfordshire [Map]; probably deliberately.

On 31st January 1622 he died. He was buried at Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire [Map]. His daughter [her daughter] Elizabeth (age 19) succeeded 3rd Baroness Norreys of Rycote. Earl Berkshire and Viscount Thame extinct.

On 27th March 1622 [her son-in-law] Edward Wray and [her daughter] Elizabeth Norreys 3rd Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 19) were married. She the daughter of [her former husband] Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire and Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 37).

Before 1631 Hugh Pollard 2nd Baronet (age 27) and Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 46) were married. She the daughter of Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford. They were second cousin twice removed.

Around January 1631 Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 46) died. She was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].

After 1647 [her former husband] Hugh Pollard 2nd Baronet (age 44) and Mary Stevens (age 28) were married.

On 27th November 1666 [her former husband] Hugh Pollard 2nd Baronet (age 63) died at Whitehall Palace [Map]. His brother [her former brother-in-law] Amyas (age 50) succeeded 3rd Baronet Pollard of King's Knympton in Devon.

[her daughter] Bridget Pollard was born to Hugh Pollard 2nd Baronet and Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote.