Biography of Mary Lucas Countess Kent 1644-1700

On 17th December 1628 [her father] John Lucas 1st Baron Lucas Shenfield [aged 22] and [her mother] Mary Neville [aged 17] were married.

Around 1644 Mary Lucas Countess Kent was born to John Lucas 1st Baron Lucas Shenfield [aged 37] and Mary Neville [aged 33].

On 28th May 1651 Henry Grey 10th Earl Kent [aged 56] died. Monument made in 1658 at the De Grey Mausoleum, St John the Baptist Church, Flitton [Map]. His son [her future husband] Anthony [aged 5] succeeded 11th Earl Kent.

On 22nd August 1660 [her mother] Mary Neville [aged 49] died.

Between 2nd March 1662 and 1671 Anthony Grey 11th Earl Kent [aged 16] and Mary Lucas Countess Kent [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Countess Kent. He the son of Henry Grey 10th Earl Kent and Amabel Benn Countess Kent [aged 54].

On 7th May 1663 Mary Lucas Countess Kent [aged 19] was created 1st Baroness Lucas of Crudwell with a special remainder to her heirs male by her husband Anthony Grey 11th Earl Kent [aged 17], and failing which, to her heirs female without division; an unusual provision meaning it wouldn't become abeyant in the event of more than one daughter.

John Evelyn's Diary. 3rd May 1664. Came the [her husband] Earl of Kent [aged 18], my kinsman¹, and his Lady [aged 20], to visit us.

Note 1. John Evelyn [aged 43] and Anthony Grey 11th Earl Kent were first cousin twice removed; Anthony Grey's maternal grandmother was Jane Evelyn [aged 76]. She and John Evelyn had the same grandfather George Evelyn of Long Ditton.

John Evelyn's Diary. 26th November 1669. I heard an excellent discourse by Dr. Patrick, on the Resurrection, and afterward, visited the Countess of Kent [aged 25], my kinswoman.

In 1671 [her son] Henry Grey 1st Duke Kent was born to [her husband] Anthony Grey 11th Earl Kent [aged 25] and Mary Lucas Countess Kent [aged 27]. He married (1) 20th April 1695 Jemima Crew Marchioness Kent, daughter of Thomas Crew 2nd Baron Crew and Anne Armine, and had issue (2) 24th March 1729 Sophia Bentinck Duchess Kent, daughter of William Bentinck 1st Earl of Portland and Jane Martha Temple Countess Portland, and had issue.

On 2nd July 1671 [her father] John Lucas 1st Baron Lucas Shenfield [aged 64] died. His nephew Charles [aged 40] succeeded 2nd Baron Lucas of Shenfield although technically illegitimate his parents had married after his birth.

On 20th April 1695 Henry Grey 1st Duke Kent [aged 24] and Jemima Crew Marchioness Kent [aged 19] were married. They had five sons and seven daughters of whom only three surviving her. He the son of Anthony Grey 11th Earl Kent [aged 49] and Mary Lucas Countess Kent [aged 51].

On 19th August 1702 [her husband] Anthony Grey 11th Earl Kent [aged 57] died. His son Henry [aged 31] succeeded 12th Earl Kent. Jemima Crew Marchioness Kent [aged 27] by marriage Countess Kent.

On 1st November 1702 Mary Lucas Countess Kent [aged 58] died. Her son Henry [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Baron Lucas of Crudwell.