Biography of Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt 1632-1679

In 1632 Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt was born to Thomas Carey (age 16) and Margaret Smith.

On 9th April 1634 [her father] Thomas Carey (age 18) died. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].

In 1648 [her mother] Margaret Smith died.

On 7th May 1657 John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt (age 30) and Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt (age 25) were married. He the son of John Mordaunt 1st Earl Peterborough and Elizabeth Howard Countess Peterborough (age 54). They were second cousin once removed.

In 1658 [her son] Charles Mordaunt 3rd Earl Peterborough 1st Earl Monmouth was born to [her husband] John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt (age 31) and Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt (age 26).

On 10th July 1659 [her husband] John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt (age 33) was created 1st Viscount Mordaunt of Avalon, 1st Baron Mordaunt of Reigate. Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt (age 27) by marriage Viscountess Mordaunt of Avalon.

On 29th March 1663 [her son] Lieutenant-General Harry Mordaunt was born to [her husband] John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt (age 36) and Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt (age 31) at Parsons Green Farm, Middlesex.

John Evelyn's Diary. 30th December 1665. To Woodcot, where I supped at my Baroness Mordaunt's (age 33) at Ashsted [Note. Possibly in Fulham where Baroness Mordaunt was subsequently buried?] where was a room hung with pintado, full of figures great and small, prettily representing sundry trades and occupations of the Indians, with their habits; here supped also Dr. Duke, a learned and facetious gentleman.

In 1666 [her daughter] Anne Mordaunt was born to [her husband] John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt (age 39) and Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt (age 34).

John Evelyn's Diary. 23rd November 1666. At London, I heard an extraordinary case before a Committee of the whole House of Commons, in the Commons' House of Parliament, between one Captain Taylor and my Lord [her husband] Viscount Mordaunt (age 40), where, after the lawyers had pleaded and the witnesses been examined, such foul and dishonorable things were produced against his Lordship, of tyranny during his government of Windsor Castle [Map], of which he was Constable, incontinence, and suborning witnesses (of which last, one Sir Richard Breames was most concerned), that I was exceedingly interested for his Lordship, who was my special friend, and husband of the most virtuous lady (age 34) in the world. We sat till near ten at night, and yet but half the counsel had done on behalf of the plaintiff. The question then was put for bringing in of lights to sit longer. This lasted so long before it was determined, and raised such a confused noise among the members, that a stranger would have been astonished at it. I admire that there is not a rationale to regulate such trifling accidents, which consume much time, and is a reproach to the gravity of so great an assembly of sober men.

In 1670 [her son] Lewis Mordaunt was born to [her husband] John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt (age 43) and Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt (age 38).

Around 1670 [her son] George Mordaunt was born to [her husband] John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt (age 43) and Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt (age 38).

On 5th June 1675 [her husband] John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt (age 48) died. He was buried at All Saints Church, Fulham. His son [her son] Charles (age 17) succeeded 2nd Viscount Mordaunt of Avalon, 2nd Baron Mordaunt of Reigate.

John Evelyn's Diary. 2nd December 1675. Being returned home, I visited Baroness Mordaunt (age 43) at Parson's Green, my Lord, her son, being sick. This pious woman delivered to me £100 to bestow as I thought fit for the release of poor prisoners, and other charitable uses.

John Evelyn's Diary. 21st December 1675. Visited her Ladyship (age 43) again, where I found the Bishop of Winchester (age 77), whom I had long known in France; he invited me to his house at Chelsea.

John Evelyn's Diary. 16th March 1676. The Countess of Sunderland (age 30) and I went by water to Parson's Green, to visit my Baroness Mordaunt (age 44), and to consult with her about my [her former husband] Lord's monument. We returned by coach.

In 1678 [her son] Charles Mordaunt 3rd Earl Peterborough 1st Earl Monmouth (age 20) and [her daughter-in-law] Carey Fraser Countess Peterborough and Monmouth (age 18) were married.

On 5th April 1679 Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt (age 47) died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 14th July 1679. I went to see how things stood at Parson's Green, my Lady Viscountess Mordaunt (now sick in Paris [Map], whither she went for health) having made me a trustee for her children, an office I could not refuse to this most excellent, pious, and virtuous lady, my long acquaintance.

John Evelyn's Diary. 26th November 1679. I met the Earl of Clarendon with the rest of my fellow executors of the Will of my late Lady Viscountess Mordaunt, namely, Mr. Laurence Hyde (age 37), one of the Commissioners of the Treasury, and lately Plenipotentiary-Ambassador at Nimeguen; Andrew Newport (age 59); and Sir Charles Wheeler (age 59); to examine and audit and dispose of this year's account of the estate of this excellent Lady, according to the direction of her Will.

John Evelyn's Diary. 30th April 1680. To a meeting of the executors of late Viscountess Mordaunt's estate, to consider of the sale of Parson's Green, being in treaty with Mr. Loftus, and to settle the half year's account.

[her son] Osmund Mordaunt was born to John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt and Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt.

[her father] Thomas Carey and [her mother] Margaret Smith were married. He the son of [her grandfather] Robert Carey 1st Earl Monmouth and [her grandmother] Elizabeth Trevannion Countess Monmouth.

[her daughter] Charlotte Mordaunt Lady Alston was born to John Mordaunt 1st Viscount Mordaunt and Elizabeth Carey Viscountess Mordaunt.