Paternal Family Tree: Russell
Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Child 1656-1719
On 9th February 1703 [her future husband] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 21] and Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Countess Bridgewater. She the daughter of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough [aged 52] and Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough [aged 42]. He the son of John Egerton 3rd Earl Bridgewater and Jane Paulet Countess Bridgewater [aged 47].
Before 13th August 1703 [her father] Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford [aged 22] and [her mother] Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Duchess Bedford.
In 1707 Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater was born to Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford [aged 26] and Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford [aged 25].
On 26th May 1711 [her father] Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford [aged 30] died. His son [her brother] Wriothesley [aged 3] succeeded 3rd Duke Bedford, 3rd Marquess Tavistock, 7th Earl Bedford, 7th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 5th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 3rd Baron Howland of Streatham.
On 18th June 1720 [her future husband] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 38] was created 1st Duke Bridgewater.
Around 1722 Charles Jervas [aged 47]. Portrait of Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 15].
On 4th August 1722 Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 40] and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Duchess Bridgewater. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford [aged 40]. He the son of John Egerton 3rd Earl Bridgewater and Jane Paulet Countess Bridgewater. They were fifth cousin once removed.
In 1723 [her brother-in-law] Bishop Henry Egerton [aged 33] was appointed Bishop of Hereford.
On 30th April 1723 [her daughter] Louisa Egerton Countess Gower was born to [her husband] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 41] and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 16]. She married 1748 her fifth cousin Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford, son of John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower and Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower, and had issue.
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 1 Chapters 1-60 1307-1342
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel offer one of the most vivid and immediate accounts of 14th-century Europe, written by a knight who lived through the events he describes, and experienced some of them first hand. Covering the early decades of the Hundred Years’ War, this remarkable chronicle follows the campaigns of Edward III of England, the politics of France and the Low Countries, and the shifting alliances that shaped medieval warfare. Unlike later historians, Jean le Bel writes with a strong sense of eyewitness authenticity, drawing on personal experience and the testimony of fellow soldiers. His narrative captures not only battles and sieges, but also the realities of military life, diplomacy, and the ideals of chivalry that governed noble society. A key source for Jean Froissart, Le Bel’s chronicle stands on its own as a compelling and insightful work, at once historical record and literary achievement. This translation builds on the 1905 edition published in French by Jules Viard, adding extensive translations from other sources Rymer's Fœdera, the Chronicles of Adam Murimuth, William Nangis, Walter of Guisborough, a Bourgeois of Valenciennes, Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke and Richard Lescot to enrich the original text and Viard's notes.
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After January 1724 [her brother-in-law] William Capell 3rd Earl Essex [aged 26] and [her sister] Elizabeth Russell Countess Essex [aged 13] were married. She by marriage Countess Essex. She the daughter of [her father] Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and [her mother] Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford [aged 42]. He the son of Algernon Capell 2nd Earl Essex and Mary Bentinck Countess Essex [aged 44]. They were fourth cousins.
On 29th July 1724 [her mother] Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford [aged 42] died.
On 22nd April 1725 [her brother] Wriothesley Russell 3rd Duke Bedford [aged 16] and [her sister-in-law] Anne Egerton Duchess Bedford were married. She by marriage Duchess Bedford. She was the step-daughter of his sister Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 18]. She the daughter of [her husband] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 43] and Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater. He the son of [her father] Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and [her mother] Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford. They were sixth cousins.
On 27th July 1725 [her son] Charles Egerton was born to [her husband] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 43] and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 18]. He died aged five in 1731.
On 29th April 1727 [her son] John Egerton 2nd Duke Bridgewater was born to [her husband] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 45] and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 20].
On 15th January 1728 [her son] William Egerton was born to [her husband] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 46] and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 21]. He died aged one in 1729.
On 10th February 1729 [her son] William Egerton [aged 1] died.
On 3rd March 1731 [her daughter] Diana Egerton Baroness Baltimore was born to [her husband] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 49] and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 24]. She married 9th March 1753 Frederick Calvert 6th Baron Baltimore, son of Charles Calvert 5th Baron Baltimore and Mary Janssen Baroness Baltimore.
On 2nd May 1731 [her son] Charles Egerton [aged 5] died.
On 11th October 1731 [her brother] John Russell 4th Duke Bedford [aged 21] and [her sister-in-law] Diana Spencer Duchess Bedford [aged 21] were married. She the daughter of Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland and Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland. He the son of [her father] Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and [her mother] Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford. They were third cousins.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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On 23rd October 1732 Wriothesley Russell 3rd Duke Bedford [aged 24] died at A Coruña. He was buried at Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies. His brother John [aged 22] succeeded 4th Duke Bedford, 4th Marquess Tavistock, 8th Earl Bedford, 8th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 6th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 4th Baron Howland of Streatham. Diana Spencer Duchess Bedford [aged 22] by marriage Duchess Bedford.
On 21st May 1736 [her son] Francis Egerton 3rd Duke Bridgewater was born to [her husband] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 54] and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 29].
In April 1737 [her brother] John Russell 4th Duke Bedford [aged 26] and [her sister-in-law] Gertrude Leveson-Gower Duchess Bedford were married. She by marriage Duchess Bedford. She the daughter of John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower [aged 42] and Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower. He the son of [her father] Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and [her mother] Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford.
On 11th January 1744 [her husband] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 62] died. His son John [aged 16] succeeded 2nd Duke Bridgewater, 5th Earl Bridgewater, 6th Viscount Brackley, 6th Baron Ellesmere.
On 14th December 1745 Lieutenant-General Richard Lyttelton [aged 25] and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 38] were married. She the daughter of Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford.
In 1748 [her son-in-law] Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford [aged 26] and Louisa Egerton Countess Gower [aged 24] were married. She the daughter of Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 41]. He the son of John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower [aged 53] and Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower. They were fifth cousins.
On 26th February 1748 [her son] John Egerton 2nd Duke Bridgewater [aged 20] died unmarried. His brother Francis [aged 11] succeeded 3rd Duke Bridgewater, 6th Earl Bridgewater, 7th Viscount Brackley, 7th Baron Ellesmere.
On 9th March 1753 [her son-in-law] Frederick Calvert 6th Baron Baltimore [aged 22] and Diana Egerton Baroness Baltimore [aged 22] were married. She by marriage Baroness Baltimore of Longford in Leinster. She the daughter of Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 46].
On 13th August 1758 [her daughter] Diana Egerton Baroness Baltimore [aged 27] died in a carriage accident. She fell out of a Phaeton carriage while accompanied by her husband who was suspected of foul play but no charges were brought.
On 14th May 1761 [her daughter] Louisa Egerton Countess Gower [aged 38] died.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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On 1st October 1770 [her husband] Lieutenant-General Richard Lyttelton [aged 50] died.
On 5th January 1771 [her brother] John Russell 4th Duke Bedford [aged 60] died at Woburn, Bedfordshire. He was buried at Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies. His grandson Francis [aged 5] succeeded 5th Duke Bedford, 5th Marquess Tavistock, 9th Earl Bedford, 9th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 7th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 5th Baron Howland of Streatham.
In 1777 Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 70] died.
Letters of Horace Walpole. The Opposition set out this winter with trying to call for several negotiations during the war; but the great storm which has so much employed us of late, was stirred up by Colonel Lyttelton; (5) who, having been ill-treated by the Duke, has been dealing with the Prince. He discovered to the House some innovations in the Mutiny-bill, of which, though he could not make much, the Opposition have, and fought the bill for a whole fortnight; during the course of which the world has got much light into many very arbitrary proceedings of the Commander-in-chief,(6) which have been the more believed too by the defection of my Lord Townshend's eldest son, who is one of his aide-de-camps. Though the ministry, by the weight of numbers, have carried their point in a great measure, yet you may be sure great heats have been raised; and those have been still more inflamed by a correspondent practice in a new Navy-bill, brought in by the direction of Lord Sandwich and Lord Anson, but vehemently opposed by half the fleet, headed by Sir Peter Warren, the conqueror of Cape Breton, richer than Anson, and absurd as Vernon. The bill has even been petitioned against, and the mutinous were likely to go great lengths, if' the admiralty had not bought off some by money, and others by relaxing in the material points.- We began upon it yesterday, and are still likely to have a long affair of it-so much for politics: and as for any thing else, I scarce know any thing else. My Lady Huntingdon,(8) the Queen of the Methodists, has got her daughter named for lady of the bedchamber to the Princesses; but it is all off again as she will not let her play at cards on Sundays. It is equally absurd on both sides, to refuse it, or to insist upon it.
(5) Richard, third son of Sir Thomas, and brother of Sir George Lyttelton: he married the Duchess-dowager of Bridgewater, and was afterwards made a knight of the Bath.
(6) William Duke of Cumberland. He was "Captain-general of the Forces," having been so created in 1745.-D.
(7) George Townshend, afterwards the first Marquis of that name and title.-D.
(8) Selina, daughter of Washington, Earl Ferrers, and widow of Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon.
[her daughter] Caroline Egerton was born to Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of King Robert III of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of King Philip IV of France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Russell 1st Baron Russell 9 x Great Grandson of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret St John Countess Bedford 
8 x Great Granddaughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford 10 x Great Grandson of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Long Baroness Russel Thornhaugh
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Russell 1st Duke Bedford 9 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Brydges 2nd Baron Chandos 6 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Giles Brydges 3rd Baron Chandos 7 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Braye Baroness Chandos and Knollys 
11 x Great Granddaughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford 8 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Clinton 1st Earl Lincoln 
8 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Clinton 9 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ursula Stourton Baroness Clinton 
9 x Great Granddaughter of King John of England
Grandfather: William Russell 9 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Kerr 10th of Ferniehirst
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst 6 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Ker 5 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset 
7 x Great Grandson of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Carr Countess of Bedford 8 x Great Granddaughter of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk 
7 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk 7 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk 
6 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset 8 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Knyvet 
8 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk 9 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stumpe
father: Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford 9 x Great Grandson of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Wriothesley 1st Earl of Southampton 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Wriothesley 2nd Earl of Southampton
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Cheney Countess Southampton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton 7 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony Browne 1st Viscount Montagu 
5 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Browne Countess Southampton 6 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Radclyffe 
6 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Wriothesley 4th Earl of Southampton 2nd Earl Chichester 7 x Great Grandson of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Vernon 
4 x Great Grandson of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Vernon 5 x Great Grandson of King Henry IV of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Vernon Countess Southampton 6 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Devereux 
5 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Devereux 6 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Hastings 
5 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England
Grandmother: Rachel Wriothesley 8 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Daniel de Massue Seigneur de Rouvigny
Great x 1 Grandmother: Rachel Massue Countess Southampton
Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater 10 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry IV of England
Grandfather: John Howland
mother: Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Child
Great x 1 Grandfather: Josiah Child
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Roycroft
Grandmother: Elizabeth Child