Biography of Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford 1580-1657

Before 1573 [her father] Giles Brydges 3rd Baron Chandos (age 24) and [her mother] Anne Clinton (age 21) were married. She by marriage Baroness Chandos of Sudeley. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Edward Clinton 1st Earl Lincoln (age 60) and [her grandmother] Ursula Stourton Baroness Clinton. They were fifth cousin once removed.

Around 1580 Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford was born to [her father] Giles Brydges 3rd Baron Chandos (age 32) and [her mother] Anne Clinton (age 28).

On 21st February 1594 [her father] Giles Brydges 3rd Baron Chandos (age 46) died. His brother [her uncle] William (age 42) succeeded 4th Baron Chandos of Sudeley. Mary Hopton Baroness Chandos by marriage Baroness Chandos of Sudeley.

On 9th August 1613 William Russell 1st Baron Russell (age 53) died. His son [her future husband] Francis (age 20) succeeded 2nd Baron Russell of Thornhaugh.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 24th June 1616. Upon the 24th my Lord (age 27), Lord [blank in MS.], my Coz. Cecily Neville went by barge to Greenwich and waited on the King and Queen to Chapel and dined at my Lady Bedford (age 36)'s. Where I met my Lord [sic] Hume, my old acquaintance.

After dinner we went up to the Gallery where the Queen used me exceeding well.

Before August 1616 Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 23) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 36) were married.

In August 1616 [her son] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford was born to [her husband] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 23) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 36). He married 11th July 1637 Anne Carr Countess of Bedford, daughter of Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset and Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset, and had issue.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 1st January 1617. Upon New Year's day presently after dinner I went to the Savoy to my Lady Carey and from thence he and I went to Somerset House to the Queen where I met Lady Derby, my Lady Bedford (age 37), my Lady Montgomery, and a great deal of company that came along with the King and the Prince. My Lady Arundel had much talk with me about the business and persuaded me to yield to the King in all things. From Somerset House we went to Essex House to see my Lady of Northumberland. From thence I went to see my Lady Rich and so came home. After supper I went to see my Sister Beauchamp and stay'd with her an hour or two for my Lord (age 27) was at the play at Whitehall that night¹.

Note 1. As the King passed by, he kissed me. Afterwards the Queen came out into the Drawing Chamber where she kissed me and used me very kindly.

This was the rst time I ever saw the King, Queen, or Prince since they came out of the North.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 25th May 1617. The 25th my Lord St. John's tailor came to me hither to take measure of me and to make me a new gown. In the afternoon my [her husband] Coz. Russell (age 24) wrote me a letter to let me know how my Lord (age 28) had cancelled my jointure he made upon me last June when I went into the North, and by these proceedings I may see how much my Lord is offended with me and that my enemies have the upper hand of me. I am resolved to take all patiently, casting all my care upon Gop. His footman told me that my Coz. Russell and my Lady Bedford (age 37) were agreed, and my Lord Herbert and his Lady, and that the next week they were to seal the writings and the agreement, which I little expected.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 31st January 1619. The 31st my [her husband] Coz. Russell's (age 26) wife (age 39) was brought to bed of a son (it being the 7th child) at Chiswick, which was christened in the Church privately and was named [her son] Francis.

On 31st January 1619 [her son] Francis Russell was born to [her husband] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 26) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 39). See Anne Clifford's Diary

Diary of Anne Clifford. 27th July 1619. The 27th about this time my Lady Bedford (age 39) had the smallpox and had them in that extremity that she lost one of her eyes. About this time my Coz. Cilifford's wife was brought to bed at Lanesboro of a son, which lived not seven hours and was christened Francis and was buried there. The same day Lord Rutland and Lady Kath. Manners came and dined here from the Wells and in the evening went to London.

Note. This Sunday my Coz. Oldworth was true and shewed those remembrances me which are to be set up at Cheyneys for my Great Grand Father of Bedford and my Grand Father of Bedford and my Aunt Warwick. About this time my Lady Law was married to Secretary Maunton.

All this Summer Lady Penniston (age 24) was at the Wells near Tunbridge drinking the waters. This coming hither of Lady Penniston's was much talked of abroad and my Lord (age 30) was condemned for it.

In 1620 [her son] Colonel John Russell was born to [her husband] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 27) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 40).

Around 1620 [her daughter] Anne Russell Countess Bristol was born to [her husband] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 27) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 40). She married before 1634 George Digby 2nd Earl Bristol, son of John Digby 1st Earl Bristol and Beatrice Walcott, and had issue.

On 3rd May 1627 Edward Russell 3rd Earl Bedford (age 54) died at Moor Park, Hertfordshire. His first cousin [her husband] Francis (age 34) succeeded 4th Earl Bedford, 4th Baron Russell of Cheneys. Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 47) by marriage Countess Bedford.

In 1629 [her mother] Anne Clinton (age 77) died.

In 1632 [her son-in-law] James Hay 2nd Earl Carlisle (age 20) and [her daughter] Margaret Russell Countess Manchester and Carlisle were married. She the daughter of [her husband] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 39) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 52). He the son of James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle (age 52) and Honora Denny. They were fourth cousins.

Before 1634 [her son-in-law] George Digby 2nd Earl Bristol (age 21) and [her daughter] Anne Russell Countess Bristol (age 13) were married. She the daughter of [her husband] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 40) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 53). He the son of John Digby 1st Earl Bristol (age 53) and Beatrice Walcott.

On 11th July 1637 [her son] William Russell 1st Duke Bedford (age 20) and [her daughter-in-law] 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 [her husband] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 44) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 57).

Before 1638 [her son-in-law] Robert Greville 2nd Baron Brooke (age 30) and [her daughter] Catherine Russell Baroness Brooke were married. She by marriage Baroness Brooke of Beauchamps Court in Warwickshire. She the daughter of [her husband] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 44) and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 57). They were half sixth cousins.

Around April 1641 [her son] Francis Russell (age 22) died.

On 9th May 1641 [her husband] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford (age 48) died. His son [her son] William (age 24) succeeded 5th Earl Bedford, 5th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 3rd Baron Russell of Thornhaugh. [her daughter-in-law] Anne Carr Countess of Bedford (age 25) by marriage Countess Bedford.

On 28th April 1642 [her son-in-law] Francis Newport 1st Earl Bradford (age 22) and [her daughter] Diana Russell Countess Bradford were married at St Giles' in the Fields Church [Map]. She the daughter of [her former husband] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 62).

In 1657 Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 77) died.

[her son] Edward Russell was born to Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford. He married Penelope Hill and had issue.

[her daughter] Diana Russell Countess Bradford was born to Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford. She married 28th April 1642 Francis Newport 1st Earl Bradford, son of Richard Newport 1st Baron Newport and Frances Leveson Baroness Gower, and had issue.

[her daughter] Margaret Russell Countess Manchester and Carlisle was born to Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford. She married (1) 1632 her fourth cousin James Hay 2nd Earl Carlisle, son of James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle and Honora Denny (2) 31st July 1667 Edward Montagu 2nd Earl Manchester, son of Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester and Catherine Spencer.

[her daughter] Catherine Russell Baroness Brooke was born to Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford and Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford. She married before 1638 her half sixth cousin Robert Greville 2nd Baron Brooke and had issue.