Biography of Isabella Lawson

Isabella Lawson was born to Admiral John Lawson and Isabella Jefferson.

Around 1664. Peter Lely (age 45). Portrait of Isabella Lawson.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 7th January 1664. At noon, all of us to dinner to Sir W. Pen's (age 42), where a very handsome dinner, [her father] Sir J. Lawson (age 49) among others, and his [her mother] lady and his daughter, a very pretty lady and of good deportment, with looking upon whom I was greatly pleased, the rest of the company of the women were all of our own house, of no satisfaction or pleasure at all. My wife was not there, being not well enough, nor had any great mind. But to see how Sir W. Pen imitates me in everything, even in his having his chimney piece in his dining room the same with that in my wife's closett, and in every thing else I perceive wherein he can. But to see again how he was out in one compliment: he lets alone drinking any of the ladies' healths that were there, my Lady Batten and Lawson, till he had begun with my Baroness Carteret (age 62), who was absent, and that was well enough, and then Mr. Coventry's (age 36) mistresse, at which he was ashamed, and would not have had him have drunk it, at least before the ladies present, but his policy, as he thought, was such that he would do it.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 6th July 1665. So home to the office, and thence to Sir W. Batten (age 64), and spent the evening at supper; and, among other discourse, the rashness of [her father] Sir John Lawson (deceased), for breeding up his daughter so high and proud, refusing a man of great interest, Sir W. Barkeley (age 26), to match her with a melancholy fellow, [her future father-in-law] Colonell Norton's' (age 49) [her future husband] son, of no interest nor good nature nor generosity at all, giving her £6000, when the other would have taken her with two; when he himself knew that he was not worth the money himself in all the world, he did give her that portion, and is since dead, and left his wife and two daughters beggars, and the other gone away with £6000, and no content in it, through the ill qualities of her father-in-law and husband, who, it seems, though a pretty woman, contracted for her as if he had been buying a horse; and, worst of all, is now of no use to serve the mother and two little sisters in any stead at Court, whereas the other might have done what he would for her: so here is an end of this family's pride, which, with good care, might have been what they would, and done well.

Before 29th August 1666 [her husband] Daniel Norton of Southwick Hampshire died.

Before 29th August 1666 Daniel Norton of Southwick Hampshire and Isabella Lawson were married.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 29th August 1666. Thence took leave, and found Sir W. Pen (age 45) talking to Orange Moll, of the King's house, who, to our great comfort, told us that they begun to act on the 18th of this month. So on to St. James's, in the way Sir W. Pen telling me that [her husband] Mr. Norton, that married [her father] Sir J. Lawson's daughter, is dead. She left £800 a year jointure, a son to inherit the whole estate. She freed from her [her father-in-law] father-in-law's (age 50) tyranny, and is in condition to helpe her [her mother] mother, who needs it; of which I am glad, the young lady being very pretty.

After 29th August 1666 Rear-Admiral John Chicheley (age 26) and Isabella Lawson were married.

Around 1680. Circle of Peter Lely (age 61). Portrait of Isabella Lawson.

On 20th March 1691 [her husband] Rear-Admiral John Chicheley (age 51) died. He was buried at St Giles' in the Fields Church [Map].