Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings 1842-1907

On 5th August 1819 [her father] Henry Paget 2nd Marquess Anglesey [aged 22] and Eleanora Campbell were married. He the son of [her grandfather] Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey [aged 51] and [her grandmother] Caroline Elizabeth Villiers Duchess Argyll [aged 44].

On 27th August 1833 [her father] Henry Paget 2nd Marquess Anglesey [aged 36] and [her mother] Henrietta Bagot Marchioness Anglesey were married. He the son of [her grandfather] Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey [aged 65] and [her grandmother] Caroline Elizabeth Villiers Duchess Argyll [aged 58]. They were fifth cousin once removed.

In August 1842 Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings was born to Henry Paget 2nd Marquess Anglesey [aged 45] and Henrietta Bagot Marchioness Anglesey.

Adeline Horsey Recollections. We usually spent Christmas at Beaudesert, [her grandfather] Lord Anglesey's [aged 75] lovely old place. We were always a merry party, and we dined in the large hall, which is one of the chief features of the house. Lord Anglesey was very fond of me, and used to write to me as "My dear Prima Donna!" Some of the friends staying at Beaudesert were Lord [aged 38] and [her aunt] Lady Sydney [aged 33], Lord [aged 52] and Lady Winchilsea, Lord [aged 25] and Lady Desart [aged 22], Lord Anson [aged 48], Lord Ward, M. and Madame Dietrichstein, and the Duke of Northumberland [aged 51], then Lord Percy. In 1846 I was bridesmaid to Lady Constance Paget [aged 20], who married Lord Winchilsea [aged 28]; and my great friend, Florence Paget [aged 1], afterwards married the last Marquis of Hastings [aged 1].

In 1845 [her half-brother] Henry Paget 3rd Marquess Anglesey [aged 23] and [her sister-in-law] Sophia Eversfield Marchioness Anglesey [aged 26] were married. He the son of [her father] Henry Paget 2nd Marquess Anglesey [aged 47] and Eleanora Campbell.

On 6th August 1846 [her brother-in-law] George Finch-Hatton 6th Earl Nottingham 11th Earl Winchilsea [aged 31] and [her half-sister] Constance Henrietta Paget Countess Nottingham Winchilsea [aged 23] were married. She the daughter of [her father] Henry Paget 2nd Marquess Anglesey [aged 49] and Eleanora Campbell. He the son of George Finch-Hatton 5th Earl Nottingham 10th Earl Winchilsea [aged 55] and Georgiana Charlotte Graham Countess Nottingham Winchelsea.

1850. Henry Richard Graves [aged 32]. "The Pocket Venus" aks "Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 7] as a Girl".

On 17th January 1851 Paulyn Reginald Serlo Rawdon-Hastings 3rd Marquess Hastings [aged 18] died. His brother [her future husband] Henry [aged 8] succeeded 4th Marquess Hastings, 9th Earl Loudon, 5th Earl Moira, 21st Baron Grey of Ruthyn, 20th Baron Botreaux, 19th Baron Hungerford, 17th Baron Moleyns and 17th Baron Hastings. Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 8] by marriage Marchioness Hastings.

On 29th April 1854 [her grandfather] Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey [aged 85] died. His son [her father] Henry [aged 56] succeeded 2nd Marquess Anglesey, 3rd Earl Uxbridge, 11th Baron Paget Beaudasert, 5th Baronet Bayly of Plas Newydd in Anglesey. [her mother] Henrietta Bagot Marchioness Anglesey by marriage Marchioness Anglesey.

On 8th January 1858 George Finch-Hatton 5th Earl Nottingham 10th Earl Winchilsea [aged 66] died at Haverholme Priory, Lincolnshire [Map]. His son [her brother-in-law] George [aged 42] succeeded 6th Earl Nottingham, 11th Earl Winchilsea, 11th Viscount Maidstone, 6th Baron Finch Daventry, 12th Baronet Finch of Eastwell in Kent. [her half-sister] Constance Henrietta Paget Countess Nottingham Winchilsea [aged 34] by marriage Countess Nottingham.

On 30th July 1858 Charles Abney-Hastings 2nd Baronet [aged 65] died. Baronet Hastings of Willesley Hall in Derbyshire extinct. His estates of Blackfordby and Packington were inherited by Henry 4th Marquess Hastings [aged 16]. Willesley Hall and its estate were left to Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings 10th Countess Loudon [aged 24] and her husband Charles Frederick Abney-Hastings 1st Baron Donington [aged 36] who changed his surname to Abney-Hastings.

26th October 1860. Camille Silvy. Photograph of Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 18].

In 1864 Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin [aged 23] and Florence Paget [aged 21] were engaged to be married; the King Edward VII of the United Kingdom [aged 22] offered his congratulations. However, during their engagement Florence had secretly fallen in love with [her future husband] Henry Rawdon-Hastings, 4th Marquess of Hastings [aged 21]. Just before her wedding, she had Chaplin take her to Marshall & Snelgrove's on Oxford Street to add to her wedding outfit. While Chaplin waited in the carriage outside, Florence walked straight through the shop and out to the other side, where Hastings waited for her in a carriage. Hastings and Florence were married on the same day.

Henry Chaplin A Memoir: Youth VI. It was only a few days before the date fixed for the ceremony that the blow fell with dramatic suddenness. Felicitations and presents had been received, the invitations to the wedding had been issued and every detail arranged. The young Squire, proud, happy, and unsuspecting, was busy, in the intervals of the social claims of the London season, in preparing Blankney to receive his bride [Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 21]]. On a certain Thursday in July Lady Florence paid a visit for the day to her future home and went round the stables and kennels with Mr. Chaplin to inspect the recent improvements. The following evening they were together at the Opera, and on Saturday morning she showed herself to her father in her wedding dress, which had just been sent home.

The popular legend has it that she afterwards went out driving with Mr. Chaplin and disappeared at the door of Marshall & Snelgrove's — to reappear ultimately as the wife of Lord Hastings. As a matter of fact, it did not happen in this manner, and the story probably arose from the fact that she had been constantly seen driving with Mr. Chaplin in the Park in his smart "cab" with the little tiger standing up behind and a single horse stepping "up to its nose" On this fateful morning, Lady Florence, on the plea of making some final purchases, drove alone—unattended by a servant, which was unusual in those days—in her father's brougham to the Vere Street entrance of Marshall & Snelgrove. She walked straight through the shop to the door in Oxford Street where she was met by Lord Hastings, and the two were presently seen by a common friend driving in a cab in the direction of Euston. There are many who may have cause to be grateful that a beneficent Providence intervened to prevent them from marrying their first love, but happily few suffer so cruel an awakening.

On 16th July 1864 Henry Weysford Charles Plantagenet Rawdon-Hastings 4th Marquess Hastings [aged 21] and Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 21] were married. The marriage created a scandal as the bride had been engaged to Henry Chaplin [aged 23] and had eloped with her husband the day before her planned wedding to Chaplin. Chaplin later got his revenge by outbidding Hastings for the horse Hermit which went on to win the 1867 Derby and against which Hastings had bet heavily. The loss led Hastings into heavy debt and drinking. He died some four years later in poverty. She the daughter of Henry Paget 2nd Marquess Anglesey [aged 67] and Henrietta Bagot Marchioness Anglesey. He the son of George Augustus Francis Rawdon-Hastings 2nd Marquess Hastings and Barbara Yelverton Marchioness Hastings.

Adeline Horsey Recollections. 16th July 1864. Those days were rather noted for elopements, and two of my friends, Baroness Rose Somerset [aged 35] and Lady Adela Villiers, were among the numerous romantic girls who were married in haste and sometimes repented at leisure. Florence Paget's [aged 21] elopement with the [her husband] last Marquis of Hastings [aged 21] on the eve of her marriage with Henry Chaplin [aged 23] is too well known for me to repeat the story.

On 22nd May 1867 The Derby, run during a freak snowstorm, was won by Hermit [aged 3], owned by Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin [aged 26]. The jockey was John Daley. Hermit was bred by Mr William Blenkiron and trained by Mr Bloss at Newmarket. There were 29 runners from an initial entry of 256. The winner won by a neck in 2 mins 52 secs, with a good distance between second and third. The winner won a first prize of £7,000. As a result of betting against Hermit [her husband] Henry Hastings, 4th Marquess [aged 24], who had three years earlier eloped with Henry Chaplin's fiancé Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 24], was ruined. Henry Chaplin's, who had bet on his horse Hermit, whose odds had lengthened out to 66-1 as a result of doubts about his pre-race fitness, won a fortune.

On 10th November 1868 [her husband] Henry Weysford Charles Plantagenet Rawdon-Hastings 4th Marquess Hastings [aged 26] died. Marquess Hastings and Earl Moira extinct. Baron Botreaux, Baron Hungerford, Baron Hastings, Baron Moleyns and Baron Grey of Ruthyn abeyant. His sister [her sister-in-law] Edith [aged 34] succeeded 10th Countess Loudon.

On 7th February 1869 [her father] Henry Paget 2nd Marquess Anglesey [aged 71] died. His son [her half-brother] Henry [aged 47] succeeded 3rd Marquess Anglesey, 4th Earl Uxbridge, 12th Baron Paget Beaudasert, 6th Baronet Bayly of Plas Newydd in Anglesey. [her sister-in-law] Sophia Eversfield Marchioness Anglesey [aged 50] by marriage Marchioness Anglesey.

On 24th March 1869 George Chetwynd 3rd Baronet [aged 59] died. His son [her future husband] George [aged 19] succeeded 4th Baronet Chetwynd of Brocton Hall in Staffordshire.

In 1870 George Chetwynd 4th Baronet [aged 20] and Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 27] were married. She the daughter of Henry Paget 2nd Marquess Anglesey and Henrietta Bagot Marchioness Anglesey. They were fifth cousins.

In 1874 [her son] Guy Chetwynd 5th Baronet was born to [her husband] George Chetwynd 4th Baronet [aged 24] and Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 31].

On 2nd February 1874 [her brother] Henry Paget 4th Marquess Anglesey [aged 38] and [her sister-in-law] Blanche Mary Boyd were married. He the son of [her father] Henry Paget 2nd Marquess Anglesey and [her mother] Henrietta Bagot Marchioness Anglesey.

On 10th March 1876 [her daughter] Lilian Florence Chetwynd Marchioness of Anglesey was born to [her husband] George Chetwynd 4th Baronet [aged 26] and Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 33]. She married (1) 20th January 1898 her first cousin Henry Cyril "Toppy" Paget 5th Marquess Anglesey, son of Henry Paget 4th Marquess Anglesey and Blanche Mary Boyd (2) 11th December 1909 John Francis Grey Gilliat and had issue.

On 5th March 1878 [her half-sister] Constance Henrietta Paget Countess Nottingham Winchilsea [aged 55] died.

On 30th January 1880 [her half-brother] Henry Paget 3rd Marquess Anglesey [aged 58] died without issue at Albert Mansions Victoria Street. His half brother Henry [aged 44] succeeded 4th Marquess Anglesey, 5th Earl Uxbridge, 13th Baron Paget Beaudasert, 7th Baronet Bayly of Plas Newydd in Anglesey.

On 26th June 1880 [her brother] Henry Paget 4th Marquess Anglesey [aged 44] and [her sister-in-law] Mary Livingston "Minna" King Marchioness Anglesey [aged 25] were married. She by marriage Marchioness Anglesey. He the son of [her father] Henry Paget 2nd Marquess Anglesey and [her mother] Henrietta Bagot Marchioness Anglesey.

On 20th January 1898 [her son-in-law] Henry Cyril "Toppy" Paget 5th Marquess Anglesey [aged 22] and Lilian Florence Chetwynd Marchioness of Anglesey [aged 21] were married in a Catholic ceremony at The Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity with Saint Jude, Sloane Street. She the daughter of George Chetwynd 4th Baronet [aged 48] and Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 55]. He the son of Henry Paget 4th Marquess Anglesey [aged 62] and Blanche Mary Boyd. They were first cousins.

On 13th October 1898 [her brother] Henry Paget 4th Marquess Anglesey [aged 62] died. He was buried at St Edwen's Church, Llanedwen [Map]. His son [her son-in-law] Henry [aged 23] succeeded 5th Marquess Anglesey, 6th Earl Uxbridge, 14th Baron Paget Beaudasert, 8th Baronet Bayly of Plas Newydd in Anglesey. [her daughter] Lilian Florence Chetwynd Marchioness of Anglesey [aged 22] by marriage Marchioness Anglesey.

On 7th November 1900 [her daughter] Lilian Florence Chetwynd Marchioness of Anglesey [aged 24] obtained a decree nisi. The marriage of [her son-in-law] Henry Cyril "Toppy" Paget 5th Marquess Anglesey [aged 25] and Lilian Florence Chetwynd Marchioness of Anglesey was later annulled on the grounds of non-consummation.

The Times. 4th February 1905.

We have to announce the death of Florence, Marchioness of Hastings [aged 64], wife of [her former husband] Sir George Chetwynd, Bart., which took place on Sunday morning at Long Walk House, Windsor, after a few days' illness. The funeral will take place at Grendon, Atherstone, on Thursday next, at 2 o'clock.

On 3rd February 1907 Florence Cecilia Paget Marchioness Hastings [aged 64] died.

On 10th March 1917 [her former husband] George Chetwynd 4th Baronet [aged 67] died. His son Guy [aged 43] succeeded 5th Baronet Chetwynd of Brocton Hall in Staffordshire.

Adeline Horsey Recollections. After my marriage Lord Cardigan and I always went to the different meetings, and generally met all our friends; among others, Lord and Baroness Westmorland, Lord and Baroness Hastings, the Duchess of Beaufort, Willie Craven, George Bruce, and Prince Batthyany. Newmarket was quite a charming rendezvous of society then, so different from the mixed crowd that goes there nowadays, and it could be easily re-christened "Jewmarket", for the Chosen are everywhere.