Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon 1650-1701

Paternal Family Tree: Hastings

The Huntingdon Peerage Chapter IX Ferdinando Sixth Earl of Huntingdon. FERDINANDO, sixth Earl of Huntingdon, heir and successor of Henry the fifth Earl [aged 21], was born at Ashby [Map], January 11th, 1608. In March, 1627, he was returned to serve in Parliament for the county of Leicester, and two years after was joined with his father in the Lieutenancy of the counties of Leicester and Rutland. By indenture, dated May, 1638, he and his brother Henry, in consideration of the sum of 4,50l. granted, to John Earl of Bridgewater [aged 29] and Thomas Davies, a moiety of the rectory of Mould, otherwise Mouldesdale, in Flintshire. On the 13th of November, 1641, his father being then still living, he had summons to Parliament amongst the barons of the realm; and in 1643 he succeeded to the family honours. He married Lucy, daughter and sole heir to Sir John Davys [aged 38], of Englefield, Berks, Knt. (Premier Serjeant at Law to James the First, and Charles the First, as also Solicitor, and afterwards Attorney General in Ireland, and finally Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench,) by his wife Lady Eleanor [aged 18], youngest daughter of George Lord Audley, Earl of Castlehaven [aged 57], and, settling at Donnington Park, had by her four sons; Henry, John, Ferdinando, and Theophilus, born after the decease of his three brothers; and likewise six daughters, Alice, Eleanor, both of whom died young; Elizabeth, married to Sir James Laughan, of Cottesbroke, in Nottinghamshire, Bart, being his second wife, and dying without issue; Lucy, who died unmarried; Mary, espoused to Sir William Joliffe, of Caverswell Castle in Staffordshire, Knt.; and lastly Christiana.

On 7th August 1623 [his father] Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon [aged 15] and [his mother] Lucy Davies Countess Huntingdon [aged 10] were married. He the son of [his grandfather] Henry Hastings 5th Earl Huntingdon [aged 37] and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon [aged 35]. They were half sixth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 10th December 1650 Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon was born to Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon [aged 42] and Lucy Davies Countess Huntingdon [aged 37].

On 13th February 1656 [his father] Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon [aged 48] died. His son Theophilus [aged 5] succeeded 7th Earl Huntingdon, 12th Baron Botreaux, 11th Baron Hungerford, 9th Baron Moleyns and 9th Baron Hastings.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24th June 1670. Came the Earl [aged 19] of Huntington and [his future wife] Countess [aged 16], with the Lord Sherard [aged 48], to visit us.

On 14th August 1671 John Lewis 1st Baronet [aged 56] died without male issue. Baronet Lewis of Ledstone extinct. His daughters Elizabeth Lewis Countess Huntingdon [aged 17] and Mary Lewis Countess Scarsdale [aged 13] inherited his estates. He and his wife Sarah Foote Lady Lewis [aged 43] were buried at All Saints Church, Ledsham [Map]. Hand On Skull. Sculpted by Thomas Cartwright [aged 36].

Elizabeth Lewis Countess Huntingdon: In 1654 she was born to John Lewis 1st Baronet and Sarah Foote Lady Lewis. John Evelyn's Diary. 24th June 1670. Came the Earl of Huntington and Countess, with the Lord Sherard, to visit us. On 19th February 1672 Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon and she were married. She by marriage Countess Huntingdon. He the son of Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon and Lucy Davies Countess Huntingdon. In 1688 she died.

Mary Lewis Countess Scarsdale: In 1658 she was born to John Lewis 1st Baronet and Sarah Foote Lady Lewis. On 11th February 1672 Robert Leke 3rd Earl Scarsdale and she were married. He the son of Nicholas Leke 2nd Earl Scarsdale and Frances Rich Countess Scarsdale. On 27th January 1681 Nicholas Leke 2nd Earl Scarsdale died. His son Robert succeeded 3rd Earl Scarsdale, 3rd Baron Deincourt of Sutton, 3rd Baronet Leke of Sutton in Derbyshire. She by marriage Countess Scarsdale. In 1684 she died.

Unknown Arms impaled Lewis Arms.

John Evelyn's Diary. 19th August 1671. I dined at the Hamburg Resident's, and, after dinner, went to the christening of Sir Samuel Tuke's [aged 56] son, Charles, at Somerset House, by a Popish priest, and many odd ceremonies. The godfathers were the King [aged 41], and Lord Arundel of Wardour [aged 63], and godmother, the [his mother] Countess of Huntingdon [aged 58]. [Note. This must refer to the Dowager Countess of Huntingdon wife of [his father] Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon since his successor Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 20] didn't marry until 1672.].

On 19th February 1672 Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 21] and Elizabeth Lewis Countess Huntingdon [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Countess Huntingdon. He the son of Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon and Lucy Davies Countess Huntingdon [aged 59].

In 1677 [his son] George Hastings 8th Earl Huntingdon was born to Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 26] and [his wife] Elizabeth Lewis Countess Huntingdon [aged 23].

The History of William Marshal, Earl of Chepstow and Pembroke, Regent of England. Book 1 of 2, Lines 1-10152.

The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 14th November 1679 [his mother] Lucy Davies Countess Huntingdon [aged 66] died.

Around 4th December 1679 Thomas Needham 6th Viscount Kilmorey [aged 20] and [his future wife] Mary Frances Fowler Countess Huntingdon [aged 15] were married.

On 27th January 1681 Nicholas Leke 2nd Earl Scarsdale [aged 69] died. His son Robert [aged 26] succeeded 3rd Earl Scarsdale, 3rd Baron Deincourt of Sutton, 3rd Baronet Leke of Sutton in Derbyshire. [his sister-in-law] Mary Lewis Countess Scarsdale [aged 23] by marriage Countess Scarsdale.

On 19th April 1682 [his daughter] Elizabeth "Lady Betty" Hastings was born to Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 31] and [his wife] Elizabeth Lewis Countess Huntingdon [aged 28].

In 1684 [his sister-in-law] Mary Lewis Countess Scarsdale [aged 26] died.

In 1688 [his wife] Elizabeth Lewis Countess Huntingdon [aged 34] died.

On 8th May 1690 Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 39] and Mary Frances Fowler Countess Huntingdon [aged 26] were married. She by marriage Countess Huntingdon. He the son of Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon and Lucy Davies Countess Huntingdon.

On 11th August 1694 Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 43] wrote to Laurence Cromp of the Herald's Office "I have been this summer, att a considerable charge, to repair and Beautifie a monument to Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon, in Ashby Church".

On 12th November 1696 [his son] Theophilus Hastings 9th Earl Huntingdon was born to Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 45] and [his wife] Mary Frances Fowler Countess Huntingdon [aged 32]. He married 3rd June 1728 Selina Shirley Countess Huntingdon, daughter of Washington Shirley 2nd Earl Ferrers and Mary Levinge Countess Ferrers, and had issue.

1698. Hasting's Chapel, St Helen's Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch [Map]. Part of the monument to Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon and Catherine Pole Countess Huntingdon constructed at the request of Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 47] in 1698 to repair damage caused during the Civil War at which time the monument was moved to the side of the chapel. The inscription of the Urn reads "Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon, as a last service, caused this chapel to be decorated, and this tomb to be restored, in glorious memory of his most illustrious forefathers whose remains are buried here. Done in faith, 1698"."

The top armorial is of Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon.

The bottom armorial is Catherine Pole Countess Huntingdon. Hers possibly bigger, and more prominent as a consequence of her royal ancestry. Quarters, some of which are also quartered. From top to bottom, left to right, somewhat speculatively:

Top Left Quarter: Left Side: Hastings Arms, Unknown Arms, Hungerford Arms, Unknown Arms. Right Side: Unknown Arms, Unknows Arms with frogs which may be a mis-represented version of De La Pole Arms.

Top Right Quarter: York Arms, Unknown Arms, Neville Arms differenced with a label three points argent, Beauchamp Arms, Beaumont Arms.

Bottom Left Quarter: Possible St John Arms, Unknown Arms, Hungerford Arms, Montagu Arms [Note. The or (gold) colour should be argent (white)?].

Bottom Right Corner. Holland Arms, Unknown Arms, Unknown Arms, Quartered: Clare Arms and Despencer Arms.

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.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 10th September 1698 Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 47] wrote to Laurence Cromp of the Herald's Office about his own monument. In the letter he says: "I have now made a perfect agreement, with Mr Gibbons [aged 50] the Carver, in Bow Street for the monument which if made according to the modell, I shall like very well; I therefore desire you, to doe me the kindness to Call on him to see in what forwardnesse it is in, and what your judgement is of itt; particularly as to the armes ....". The Earl then talks about the Hastings Crest Bull's Head. The Earl's own monument does not include a Bull's Head so the letter does not appear to be about this. The wall monument does have a Bull's Head as part of the Hastings coat of arms so it could be this monument which the letter is about. However, the wall monument is similar in style to the chest tomb and so would appear to be of the same date. This would leave unresolved the question of why the Earl wrote at such length about the design of the Bull's Head. It also raises the issue of why there are two monuments to the 2nd Earl considering that the family were heavily in debt at the time. (Richard Parker was paid £20, equivalent to £16,600 today, for a similar chest tomb for the 1st Earl of Rutland). Source Church Monuments Society.

On 5th October 1698. Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 47] wrote to Grinling Gibbons [aged 50]: "I desire you to forbear the carving of the arms till you have finished the rest of the monument, and to not go about them till you first aquaint me".

On 31st July 1699. Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 48] wrote to Laurence Cromp of the Herald's Office: "I have returned this weeke by the derby Carrier, who will be Saturday at the castle in Smithfield, the box you sent down with the Epitaph, which I desire you to send to Mr. Gibbons, the carver in Bow Street; and overlooke the Cutting of the Letters and Cotes of Armes. I caused the Alterations to bee made in the places, wherr there was mistakes, which arr only Litterall, and are - this amended .... [list of corrections]. You may lett Me Gibbons see this letter is you thinke it necessary.

Around 1700 [his daughter] Margaret Hastings was born to Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 49] and [his wife] Mary Frances Fowler Countess Huntingdon [aged 36]. She married 12th November 1741 Reverend Benjamin Ightham.

On 30th May 1701 Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [aged 50] died. His son George [aged 24] succeeded 8th Earl Huntingdon, 13th Baron Botreaux, 12th Baron Hungerford, 10th Baron Moleyns and 10th Baron Hastings. Elizabeth "Lady Betty" Hastings [aged 19] received, after a legal dispute, in 1703, Ledston Hall and £3000 per year.

After 30th May 1701. Hasting's Chapel, St Helen's Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch [Map]. Monument to Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon [deceased] sculpted by Grinling Gibbons [aged 53].

On 26th December 1723 [his former wife] Mary Frances Fowler Countess Huntingdon [aged 59] died.

The Huntingdon Peerage Chapter IX Ferdinando Sixth Earl of Huntingdon. Not long after the death of this so much lamented yomig nobleman his afflicted parents were blest by Providence with another son, Theophilus, who inherited the title, and was seventh Earl.

[his daughter] Anna Hastings was born to Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon and Mary Frances Fowler Countess Huntingdon.

[his daughter] Frances Hastings was born to Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon and Mary Frances Fowler Countess Huntingdon.

Royal Ancestors of Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon 1650-1701

Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 16 Grand Son of King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings Godwinson: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Harold II of England

Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King William I of Scotland

Kings France: Great x 8 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 22 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Kings Spain: Great x 15 Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon

Ancestors of Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon 1650-1701

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Hastings 1st Earl Huntingdon 4 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon 5 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Stafford Countess Huntingdon 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: George Hastings 4th Earl Huntingdon 6 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Pole 1st Baron Montagu 4 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Pole Countess Huntingdon 5 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Neville Baroness Montagu 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Hastings 7 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Port

Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Port Countess Huntingdon

Grandfather: Henry Hastings 5th Earl Huntingdon 8 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Harrington 16 x Great Grandson of Hugh I King of the Franks

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Alexander Harrington 17 x Great Grandson of Hugh I King of the Franks

Great x 2 Grandfather: James Harrington 18 x Great Grandson of Hugh I King of the Franks

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Moton of Peckleton in Leicestershire

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Moton

Great x 1 Grandmother: Sarah Harrington 19 x Great Granddaughter of Hugh I King of the Franks

Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Sidney

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Sidney

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Brandon

Great x 2 Grandmother: Lucy Sidney

Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Pakenham

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Pakenham

Father: Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon 4 x Great Grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Stanley 2nd Earl of Derby 4 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby 5 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Hastings Countess Derby 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby 6 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk 5 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothy Howard Countess Derby 6 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Tilney Duchess Norfolk

Great x 1 Grandfather: Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby 2 x Great Grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Clifford 1st Earl of Cumberland 6 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Clifford 2nd Earl of Cumberland 5 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Percy Baroness Clifford 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Clifford Countess Derby Great Granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk 6 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Brandon Countess Cumberland Granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Tudor Queen Consort France daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Grandmother: Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon 3 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Spencer

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Spencer

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Graunt

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Spencer

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Knightley

Great x 3 Grandmother: Susan Knightley

Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Spencer Countess Derby

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Kitson

Great x 2 Grandmother: Katherine Kitson

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Donnington of Stoke Newington

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Donnington Countess Bath

Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon 5 x Great Grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Davies of Chisgrove

Grandfather: John Davies

Mother: Lucy Davies Countess Huntingdon 9 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Tuchet 8th Baron Audley, 5th Baron Tuchet 4 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: George Tuchet 9th Baron Audley, 6th Baron Tuchet 5 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Griffin Baroness Audley Heighley 11 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Tuchet 10th Baron Audley, 7th Baron Tuchet 6 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Brian Tuke

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Tuke Baroness Audley Heighley

Great x 1 Grandfather: George Tuchet 1st Earl Castlehaven 7 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Grandmother: Eleanor Tuchet 8 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: James Mervyn

Great x 1 Grandmother: Lucy Mervyn Baroness Audley and Tuchet