Biography of Rachael Fane Countess Bath and Middlesex 1613-1680

On 15th February 1598 [her father] Francis Fane 1st Earl of Westmoreland (age 18) and [her mother] Mary Mildmay Countess of Westmoreland (age 16) were married.

On or before 28th January 1613 Rachael Fane Countess Bath and Middlesex was born to Francis Fane 1st Earl of Westmoreland (age 32) and Mary Mildmay Countess of Westmoreland (age 31) at Mereworth Castle. She was baptised at Mereworth on 28th January 1613.

On 23rd March 1629 [her father] Francis Fane 1st Earl of Westmoreland (age 49) died. His son [her brother] Mildmay (age 27) succeeded 2nd Earl of Westmoreland, 5th Baron Despencer, 9th Baron Abergavenny, 7th Baron Abergavenny, 2nd Baron Burghesh in Suffolk. Grace Thornhurst Countess of Westmoreland (age 25) by marriage Countess of Westmoreland.

[her brother] Francis Fane (age 18) inherited Fulbeck Hall. The Hall was confiscated from him during the Commonwealth; he bought it back.

On 18th December 1638 Henry Bourchier 5th Earl Bath (age 51) and Rachael Fane Countess Bath and Middlesex (age 25) were married at Church of St Bartholomew the Great. She by marriage Countess Bath, Countess Eu. The difference in their ages was 26 years. She the daughter of Francis Fane 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Mary Mildmay Countess of Westmoreland (age 56). They were second cousin twice removed.

On 9th April 1640 [her mother] Mary Mildmay Countess of Westmoreland (age 58) died.

On 16th August 1654 [her husband] Henry Bourchier 5th Earl Bath (age 67) died. Earl Bath extinct. His Irish estates passed to his widow Rachael Fane Countess Bath and Middlesex (age 41), then to her nephew Henry Fane (age 4), then to his son Charles Fane 1st Viscount Fane.

On 1st May 1655 Lionel Cranfield 3rd Earl Middlesex (age 30) and Rachael Fane Countess Bath and Middlesex (age 42) were married at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street. She by marriage Countess Middlesex. She the daughter of Francis Fane 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Mary Mildmay Countess of Westmoreland. He the son of Lionel Cranfield 1st Earl Middlesex and Anne Brett Countess Middlesex.

On 13th June 1661 Lionel Cranfield 3rd Earl Middlesex (age 36) and Rachael Fane Countess Bath and Middlesex (age 48) were divorced by decree of the Court of Arches having previously obtained a royal warrant dated 19 Mar 1661 to retain her precedency as Countess of Bath.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 2nd December 1666. Lord's Day. Up, and to church, and after church home to dinner, where I met Betty Michell and her husband, very merry at dinner, and after dinner, having borrowed Sir W. Pen's (age 45) coach, we to Westminster, they two and my wife and I to Mr. Martin's, where find the company almost all come to the christening of Mrs. Martin's child, a girl. A great deal of good plain company. After sitting long, till the church was done, the Parson comes, and then we to christen the child. I was Godfather, and Mrs. Holder (her husband, a good man, I know well), and a pretty lady, that waits, it seems, on my Lady Bath (age 53), at White Hall, her name, Mrs. Noble, were Godmothers. After the christening comes in the wine and the sweetmeats, and then to prate and tattle, and then very good company they were, and I among them. Here was old Mrs. Michell and Howlett, and several married women of the Hall, whom I knew mayds. Here was also Mrs. Burroughs and Mrs. Bales, the young widow, whom I led home, and having staid till the moon was up, I took my pretty gossip to White Hall with us, and I saw her in her lodging, and then my owne company again took coach, and no sooner in the coach but something broke, that we were fain there to stay till a smith could be fetched, which was above an hour, and then it costing me 6s. to mend.

On 26th October 1674 [her former husband] Lionel Cranfield 3rd Earl Middlesex (age 49) died without issue. Earl Middlesex, Baron Cranfield of Cranfield in Bedfordshire extinct.

On 11th November 1680 Rachael Fane Countess Bath and Middlesex (age 67) died.

On 20th January 1681 Rachael Fane Countess Bath and Middlesex was buried at St Peter's Church, Tawstock [Map]. Inscription Rachel Comitissa [her former husband] Henrico digna, vix altera e sexu vel animo, vel virtute aequipollens Rebus demisticis civilibus sacris, ingenio pluaquam virili, at materno (quo suo tempore vix maius dabatur in terris) Ecclesiae Anglicanae Filia humilis, et devota, et iniquis temporibus eiectorum Patrum mater et hie pene unica fautrix Unicum Lugendum quod in se perjisset nobile Bourchieri nomen, ni sat illa habuit virtutum vel illu immortale reddere Er liset improlis plus mille liberorum Parens, quos liberalissime educavit, doravit, sacravit, et nobilitavir Adhuc vivit et nunquam moritura dum his Regionibus supersunt grata pectora.