Biography of Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton 1668-1723

In March 1655 [her father] Henry Bennet 1st Earl Arlington (age 37) and [her mother] Elisabeth Nassau Beverweert Countess Arlington (age 21) were married.

Around 1668 Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton was born to Henry Bennet 1st Earl Arlington (age 50) and Elisabeth Nassau Beverweert Countess Arlington (age 34).

On 1st August 1672 Henry Fitzroy 1st Duke Grafton (age 8) and Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton (age 4) were married. She the daughter of Henry Bennet 1st Earl Arlington (age 54) and Elisabeth Nassau Beverweert Countess Arlington (age 38). He the illegitmate son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 42) and Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 31). They were half sixth cousins.

He was created 1st Earl Euston, 1st Viscount Ipswich, 1st Baron Sudbury. Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton by marriage Countess Euston.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st August 1672. I was at the betrothal of [her father] Lord Arlington's (age 54) only daughter (age 4) (a sweet child if ever there was any to the [her husband] Duke of Grafton (age 8), the [her father-in-law] King's (age 42) natural son by the [her mother-in-law] Duchess of Cleveland (age 31); the Archbishop of Canterbury (age 74) officiating, the King and the grandees being present. I had a favour given me by my Lady; but took no great joy at the thing for many reasons.

Before 1673 William Paston 2nd Earl of Yarmouth (age 18) and [her illegitimate sister-in-law] Charlotte Jemima Henrietta Maria Fitzroy Countess Yarmouth (age 22) were married. She by marriage Countess of Yarmouth. She the illegitmate daughter of [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 42) and Elizabeth Killigrew Viscountess Shannon (age 50). He the son of Robert Paston 1st Earl of Yarmouth (age 41) and Rebecca Clayton Countess Yarmouth (age 37).

In 1673 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Charles Fitzroy 1st Duke Southampton 2nd Duke Cleveland (age 10) was appointed 478th Knight of the Garter by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 42).

On 19th August 1673 Louise Kéroualle 1st Duchess Portsmouth (age 23) was created 1st Duchess Portsmouth, 1st Countess Fareham, 1st Baroness Petersfield by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 43) for life for being his mistress and for having given birth to his son [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Charles Lennox 1st Duke Richmond (age 1).

In 1674 Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 10) was created 1st Earl Lichfield as a consequence of his being betrothed to [her illegitimate sister-in-law] Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 9), a natural daughter of [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 43).

On 16th May 1674 Thomas Lennard 1st Earl of Sussex (age 20) and [her illegitimate sister-in-law] Anne Fitzroy Countess Sussex (age 13) were married at Hampton Court Palace, Richmond [Map]. She the illegitmate daughter of [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 43) and [her mother-in-law] Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 33). They were first cousin once removed.

On 1st October 1674 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] George Fitzroy 1st Duke Northumberland (age 8) was created 1st Earl of Northumberland, 1st Viscount Falmouth, 1st Baron Pontefract by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 44).

On 5th October 1674 Thomas Lennard 1st Earl of Sussex (age 20) was created 1st Earl of Sussex. [her illegitimate sister-in-law] Anne Fitzroy Countess Sussex (age 13) by marriage Countess of Sussex.

In 1675 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Charles Fitzroy 1st Duke Southampton 2nd Duke Cleveland (age 12) was created 1st Duke Southampton, 1st Earl Chichester, 1st Baron Newbury by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 44).

On 28th July 1675 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Charles "Don Carlo" Fitzcharles 1st Earl Plymouth (age 18) was created 1st Earl Plymouth, 1st Viscount Totnes, 1st Baron Dartmouth.

On 9th August 1675 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Charles Lennox 1st Duke Richmond (age 3) was created 1st Duke Richmond, 1st Earl March, 1st Baron Settrington by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 45).

On 11th September 1675 [her husband] Henry Fitzroy 1st Duke Grafton (age 11) was created 1st Duke Grafton by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 45). Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton (age 7) by marriage Duchess Grafton.

On 21st December 1676 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Charles Beauclerk 1st Duke St Albans (age 6) was created 1st Earl Burford, 1st Baron Heddington by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 46).

On 6th February 1677 Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield (age 14) and [her illegitimate sister-in-law] Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield (age 12) were married. She by marriage Countess Lichfield. She the illegitmate daughter of [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 46) and [her mother-in-law] Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 36). He the son of Francis Lee 4th Baronet and Elizabeth Pope Countess Lindsey. They were third cousins.

On 19th September 1678 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Charles "Don Carlo" Fitzcharles 1st Earl Plymouth (age 21) and Bridget Osborne Countess Plymouth were married in Wimbledon, Surrey. She by marriage Countess Plymouth. She the daughter of Thomas Osborne 1st Duke Leeds (age 46) and Bridget Bertie Duchess Leeds (age 49). He the illegitmate son of [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 48) and Catherine Pegge (age 43).

In 1679 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Charles Fitzroy 1st Duke Southampton 2nd Duke Cleveland (age 16) and Mary Wood Duchess Southampton (age 16) were married. She by marriage Duchess Southampton. He the illegitmate son of [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 48) and [her mother-in-law] Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 38).

John Evelyn's Diary. 8th August 1679. I went this morning to show my [her father] Lord Chamberlain (age 61), his [her mother] Lady (age 45), and the Duchess of Grafton (age 11), the incomparable work of Mr. Gibbon (age 31), the carver, whom I first recommended to his [her father-in-law] Majesty (age 49), his house being furnished like a cabinet, not only with his own work, but divers excellent paintings of the best hands. Thence, to Sir Stephen Fox's (age 52), where we spent the day.

John Evelyn's Diary. 6th November 1679. Dined at the Countess of Sunderland's (age 33), and was this evening at the remarriage of the Duchess of Grafton (age 11) to the [her husband] Duke (age 16) his [her father-in-law] Majesty's (age 49) natural son), she being now twelve years old. The ceremony was performed in my [her father] Lord Chamberlain's (age 61) (her father's) lodgings at Whitehall by the Bishop of Rochester (age 54), his Majesty being present. A sudden and unexpected thing, when everybody believed the first marriage would have come to nothing; but, the measure being determined, I was privately invited by my [her mother] Lady (age 45), her mother, to be present. I confess I could give her little joy, and so I plainly told her, but she said the King would have it so, and there was no going back. This sweetest, most hopeful, most beautiful, child, and most virtuous, too, was sacrificed to a boy that had been rudely bred, without anything to encourage them but his Majesty's pleasure. I pray God the sweet child find it to her advantage, who, if my augury deceive me not, will in a few years be such a paragon as were fit to make the wife of the greatest Prince in Europe! I staid supper, where his Majesty sat between the [her mother-in-law] Duchess of Cleveland (age 38) (the mother of the Duke of Grafton) and the sweet Duchess the bride; there were several great persons and ladies, without pomp. My love to my Lord Arlington's family, and the sweet child made me behold all this with regret, though as the Duke of Grafton affects the sea, to which I find his father intends to use him, he may emerge a plain, useful and robust officer: and were he polished, a tolerable person; for he is exceedingly handsome, by far surpassing any of the King's other natural issue.

In 1681 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Charles Lennox 1st Duke Richmond (age 8) was appointed 485th Knight of the Garter by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 50).

On 6th April 1683 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] George Fitzroy 1st Duke Northumberland (age 17) was created 1st Duke Northumberland by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 52).

John Evelyn's Diary. 18th September 1683. I went to London to visit the Duchess of Grafton (age 15), now great with child, a most virtuous and beautiful lady. Dining with her at my Lord Chamberlain's, met my Lord of St. Alban's (age 78), now grown so blind, that he could not see to take his meat. He has lived a most easy life, in plenty even abroad, while his [her father-in-law] Majesty (age 53) was a sufferer; he has lost immense sums at play, which yet, at about eighty years old, he continues, having one that sits by him to name the spots on the cards. He ate and drank with extraordinary appetite. He is a prudent old courtier, and much enriched since his Majesty's return.

John Evelyn's Diary. 10th October 1683. Visited the Duchess of Grafton (age 15), not yet brought to bed, and dining with my [her father] Lord Chamberlain (her father) (age 65), went with them to see Montague House, a palace lately built by Lord Montague (age 44), who had married the most beautiful Countess of Northumberland (age 29). It is a stately and ample palace. Signor Verrio's (age 47) fresco paintings, especially the funeral pile of Dido, on the staircase, the labors of Hercules, fight with the Centaurs, his effeminacy with Dejanira, and Apotheosis or reception among the gods, on the walls and roof of the great room above,-I think exceeds anything he has yet done, both for design, coloring, and exuberance of invention, comparable to the greatest of the old masters, or what they so celebrate at Rome. In the rest of the chamber are some excellent paintings of Holbein, and other masters. The garden is large, and in good air, but the fronts of the house not answerable to the inside. The court at entry, and wings for offices seem too near the street, and that so very narrow and meanly built, that the corridor is not in proportion to the rest, to hide the court from being overlooked by neighbors; all which might have been prevented, had they placed the house further into the ground, of which there was enough to spare. But on the whole it is a fine palace, built after the French pavilion-way, by Mr. Hooke, the Curator of the Royal Society. There were with us my Lady Scroope, the great wit, and Monsieur Chardine (age 39), the celebrated traveler.

On 25th October 1683 [her son] Charles Fitzroy 2nd Duke Grafton was born to [her husband] Henry Fitzroy 1st Duke Grafton (age 20) and Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton (age 15). He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

John Evelyn's Diary. 26th November 1683. I went to compliment the Duchess of Grafton (age 15), now lying-in of her [her son] first child, a son, which she called for, that I might see it. She was become more beautiful, if it were possible, than before, and full of virtue and sweetness. She discoursed with me of many particulars, with great prudence and gravity beyond her years.

In 1684 [her illegitimate sister-in-law] Charlotte Jemima Henrietta Maria Fitzroy Countess Yarmouth (age 34) died.

On 5th January 1684 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Charles Beauclerk 1st Duke St Albans (age 13) was created 1st Duke St Albans by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 53).

On 10th January 1684 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] George Fitzroy 1st Duke Northumberland (age 18) was appointed 489th Knight of the Garter by [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 53).

On 28th July 1685 [her father] Henry Bennet 1st Earl Arlington (age 67) died. His daughter Isabella (age 17) succeeded 2nd Countess Arlington, 2nd Viscountess Thetford, 2nd Baroness Arlington of Arlington in Middlesex and 2nd Baroness Arlington of Arlington in Middlesex.

In 1686 Willem Wissing (age 30). Portrait of Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton (age 18).

In March 1686 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] George Fitzroy 1st Duke Northumberland (age 20) and Catherine Wheatley were married. Soon after the marriage Northumberland and his brother, [her husband] Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton (age 22), allegedly attempted to privately convey her abroad to an English convent in Ghent [Map], Belgium. He the illegitmate son of [her father-in-law] King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland and [her mother-in-law] Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 45).

John Evelyn's Diary. 11th June 1693. I dined at Sir William Godolphin's (age 53); and, after evening prayer, visited the Duchess of Grafton (age 25).

John Evelyn's Diary. 3rd December 1693. Mr. Bentley preached at the Tabernacle, near Golden Square. I gave my voice for him to proceed on his former subject the following year in Mr. Boyle's lecture, in which he had been interrupted by the importunity of Sir J. Rotheram that the Bishop of Chichester (age 59) might be chosen the year before, to the great dissatisfaction of the Bishop of Lincoln (age 57) and myself. We chose Mr. Bentley again. The Duchess of Grafton's (age 25) appeal to the House of Lords for the Prothonotary's place given to the late [her former husband] Duke and to her son by King Charles II, now challenged by the Lord Chief Justice. The judges were severely reproved on something they said.

In 1698 Thomas Hanmer 4th Baronet (age 20) and Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton (age 30) were married. She by marriage Lady Hamner of Hamner in Flintshire. She the daughter of Henry Bennet 1st Earl Arlington and Elisabeth Nassau Beverweert Countess Arlington (age 64).

Around 1700 Godfrey Kneller (age 53). Portrait of Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton (age 32). One of the Hampton Court Beauties.

In August 1701 John Hamner 3rd Baronet (age 69) was killed in a duel (probably). His nephew [her husband] Thomas (age 23) succeeded 4th Baronet Hamner of Hamner in Flintshire. Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton (age 33) by marriage Lady Hamner of Hamner in Flintshire.

On 30th April 1713 [her son] Charles Fitzroy 2nd Duke Grafton (age 29) and [her daughter-in-law] Henrietta Somerset Duchess Grafton (age 22) were married. She by marriage Duchess Grafton. He the son of [her former husband] Henry Fitzroy 1st Duke Grafton and Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton (age 45). They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 18th January 1718 [her mother] Elisabeth Nassau Beverweert Countess Arlington (age 84) died.

On 7th February 1723 Isabella Bennet Duchess Grafton (age 55) died. Her son [her son] Charles (age 39) succeeded 3rd Earl Arlington, 3rd Viscount Thetford, 3rd Baron Arlington of Arlington in Middlesex and 3rd Baron Arlington of Arlington in Middlesex.

In 1725 [her former husband] Thomas Hanmer 4th Baronet (age 47) and Elizabeth Folkes Lady Hamner (age 25) were married. She by marriage Lady Hamner of Hamner in Flintshire. The difference in their ages was 22 years.

On 7th May 1746 [her former husband] Thomas Hanmer 4th Baronet (age 68) died. Baronet Hamner of Hamner in Flintshire extinct.