Biography of John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck 1591-1658

Before 1587 [his father] George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 42] and Audrey Saunders [aged 35] were married.

After 1590 [his father] George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 46] and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 20] were married. Some sources describe their relationship as being half-first cousin? His mother Collette Clarke was first married to her uncle Richard Beaumont so there is no relationship between George Villiers of Brokesby and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham. The difference in their ages was 26 years.

Around 1591 John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck was born to George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 47] and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 21].

In 1606 [his brother-in-law] William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 19] and [his sister] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 23] were married. She the daughter of [his father] George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 62] and [his mother] Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 36].

After 1606 Thomas Compton and [his mother] Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 36] were married. He the son of Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton and Anne Spencer Countess Dorset. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 4th January 1606 [his father] George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 62] died. He was buried at the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey [Map].

On 5th January 1617 [his brother] George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 24] was created 1st Earl Buckingham by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 50]; his favourite.

On 29th September 1617 John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck [aged 26] and Frances Coke Viscountess Purbeck [aged 15] were married at Hampton Court Palace, Richmond [Map]. King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 51] gave away the bride. He the son of George Villiers of Brokesby and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 47].

In 1618 [his brother] George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 25] was created 1st Marquess of Buckingham.

Around 13th August 1618 [his mother] Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 48] was created 1st Countess Buckingham. It appears this title was for life only since her sons did not inherit it?

Diary of Anne Clifford. 28th June 1619. The 28th my Lady Walton borrowed my Lord's [aged 30] coach and went to London, for altogether, as I think for Jemima, she came not to avoid the King's importunity for the passing of Purbeck whereof her son-in-law [aged 28] was made Viscount.

On 19th July 1619 John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck [aged 28] was created 1st Viscount Purbeck. [his wife] Frances Coke Viscountess Purbeck [aged 16] by marriage Viscountess Purbeck.

On 16th May 1620 [his brother] George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 27] and [his sister-in-law] Katherine Manners Duchess Buckingham [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Countess Buckingham. She the daughter of Francis Manners 6th Earl of Rutland [aged 42] and Frances Knyvet Lady Bevill. He the son of [his father] George Villiers of Brokesby and [his mother] Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 50].

On 30th December 1620 [his brother-in-law] William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 33] was created 1st Viscount Feilding, 1st Baron Feilding of Newnham Paddocks in Warwickshire. [his sister] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 37] by marriage Viscountess Feilding.

In 1621 [his wife] Frances Coke Viscountess Purbeck [aged 18] deserted her husband John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck [aged 30] and went to live with Robert Howard [aged 37] with whom she had a son.

On 27th March 1622 Edward Wray and Elizabeth Norreys 3rd Baroness Norreys Rycote [aged 19] were married at Church of St Mary Aldermary. Christopher Villiers [aged 29], brother of George, Duke of Buckingham [aged 29], had, with Royal encouragement, sought her hand. To avoid being forced into a marriage with him she eloped with Edward Wray. She the daughter of Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire and Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [aged 37].

On 14th September 1622 [his brother-in-law] William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 35] was created 1st Earl Denbigh. [his sister] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 39] by marriage Countess Denbigh.

Before 18th April 1623 [his brother] Christopher Villiers 1st Earl Anglesey [aged 30] and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Sheldon Countess Anglesey [aged 15] were married. He the son of [his father] George Villiers of Brokesby and [his mother] Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 53].

On 18th April 1623 [his brother] Christopher Villiers 1st Earl Anglesey [aged 30] was created 1st Earl Anglesey, 1st Baron Villiers of Daventry. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Sheldon Countess Anglesey [aged 15] by marriage Countess Anglesey.

On 18th May 1623 [his brother] George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 30] was created 1st Duke of Buckingham by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 56] for being his favourite; what favourite means is open to debate. [his sister-in-law] Katherine Manners Duchess Buckingham [aged 21] by marriage Duchess of Buckingham.

On 19th October 1624 Robert Wright aka Villiers aka Danvers was born illegitimately to Robert Howard [aged 40] and [his wife] Frances Coke Viscountess Purbeck [aged 22] in Cripplegate Ward. Illegitimate. His father probably Robert Howard with whom his mother was having a long term affair. His mother was married to John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck [aged 33]. He was baptised Robert Wright.

On 29th November 1628 John Felton [aged 33] was hanged at Tyburn [Map] for having murdered the [his brother] Duke of Buckingham.

On 3rd April 1630 [his brother] Christopher Villiers 1st Earl Anglesey [aged 37] died at Windsor, Berkshire [Map]. He was buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle [Map]. His son [his nephew] Charles succeeded 2nd Earl Anglesey, 2nd Baron Villiers of Daventry.

In January 1631 Frederick Cornwallis 1st Baron Cornwallis [aged 19] and Elizabeth Ashburnham [aged 18] were married. After the wedding King Charles I [aged 30], Henrietta Maria [aged 21] and [his sister] Susan Feilding, Countess of Denbigh [aged 48] wrote to congratulate his mother Jane, Baroness Cornwallis Bacon [aged 50], and ask her to forgive him for his disobedience and return him to her favour. Denbigh said Ashburnham was her cousin "though her family be unfortunate".

On 19th April 1632 [his mother] Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 62] died. She was buried at the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey [Map] with her husband. Their monument comprises an altar-tomb surmounted with effigies. Earl Buckingham extinct.

In or before 1642 Chichester Fortescue [aged 25] and [his future wife] Elizabeth Slingsby were married.

On 4th June 1645 [his wife] Frances Coke Viscountess Purbeck [aged 42] died at Oxford, Oxfordshire [Map]. She was buried at the Church of St Mary the Virgin.

In 1652 [his sister] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 69] died.

Before 18th February 1658 John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck [aged 67] and Elizabeth Slingsby were married. He the son of George Villiers of Brokesby and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham.

On 18th February 1658 John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck [aged 67] died without issue. Viscount Purbeck extinct although Robert Wright aka Villiers aka Danvers [aged 33], illegitimate son of his wife Frances Coke Viscountess Purbeck and Robert Howard attempted to claim the title.

In 1695 [his former wife] Elizabeth Slingsby died.