William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire 1552-1626

In 1524 [his father] William Cavendish [aged 19] and Margaret Bostock [aged 16] were married.

In 1542 [his father] William Cavendish [aged 37] and Elizabeth Parker were married. They had three children, none of which survived to adulthood.

In 1543 Robert Barlow aka Barley [aged 14] and [his mother] Bess of Hardwick [aged 16] were married.

On 20th August 1547 [his father] William Cavendish [aged 42] and [his mother] Bess of Hardwick [aged 20] were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years.

On 27th December 1552 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire was born to William Cavendish [aged 47] and Bess of Hardwick [aged 25].

On 25th October 1557 [his father] William Cavendish [aged 52] died.

Around 27th August 1559 [his step-father] William St Lo [aged 41] and [his mother] Bess of Hardwick [aged 32] were married. They were half third cousin twice removed.

Around 1564 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 11] educated at Clare College, Cambridge University.

In January 1565 [his step-father] William St Lo [aged 47] died suddenly in the company of his brother Edward St Lo [aged 46]. He was buried in St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate. Given that he had Anne St Lo William's wife [his mother] Bess of Hardwick [aged 38] five years before it is possible Edward had poisoned William. Edward St Lo contested his brother's will unsuccessfully.

On 6th February 1568 [his brother-in-law] Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 15] and [his sister] Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford [aged 12] were married. She the daughter of William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford [aged 41]. He the son of [his step-father] George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 40] and Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford. They were sixth cousins.

Three days later on Gilbert and Mary would become step-siblings when their father and mother respectively George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Bess of Hardwick were married. She by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury Countess Waterford. It is likely the latter marriage a condition of the former. He the son of Francis Talbot 5th Earl of Shrewsbury and Mary Dacre. They were fifth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

In 1574 [his brother-in-law] Charles Stewart 5th Earl Lennox [aged 16] and [his sister] Elizabeth Cavendish Countess Lennox [aged 18] were married. Elizabeth Cavendish Countess Lennox by marriage Countess Lennox. She the daughter of [his father] William Cavendish and [his mother] Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford [aged 47]. He the son of Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox and Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox [aged 58].

Around 21st March 1580 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 27] and Anne Keighley [aged 17] were married. He the son of William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford [aged 53].

On 21st January 1582 [his sister] Elizabeth Cavendish Countess Lennox [aged 26] died.

In 1586 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 33] was elected MP Liverpool.

In 1588 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 35] was elected MP Newport.

Around 1590 [his son] William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire was born to William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 37] and [his wife] Anne Keighley [aged 27]. He married 10th April 1608 Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire and had issue.

On 18th November 1590 [his step-father] George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 62] died. He was buried at Sheffield Cathedral [Map]. His succeeded son [his brother-in-law] Gilbert [aged 37] succeeded 7th Earl of Shrewsbury, 7th Earl Waterford, 12th Baron Furnivall, 16th Baron Strange Blackmere, 13th Baron Talbot. [his sister] Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford [aged 34] by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury Countess Waterford.

Around 1593 [his daughter] Frances Cavendish was born to William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 40] and [his wife] Anne Keighley [aged 30]. She married 1608 William Maynard 1st Baron Maynard.

In 1595 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 42] was appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire.

Before 1603 Richard Wortley [aged 37] and [his future wife] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire [aged 34] were married.

In 1603 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 50] was appointed Justice of the Peace Derbyshire.

After 1603 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 50] and Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire [aged 35] were married. He the son of William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford [aged 76].

In 1605 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 52] was created 1st Baron Cavendish Hardwick. [his wife] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire [aged 37] by marriage Baroness Cavendish Hardwick.

In 1608 [his son-in-law] William Maynard 1st Baron Maynard [aged 21] and Frances Cavendish [aged 15] were married. Their 3 children predeceased him. She the daughter of William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 55] and Anne Keighley [aged 45].

On 10th April 1608 William Cavendish 2nd Earl Devonshire [aged 18] and Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire were married. He the son of William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 55] and Anne Keighley [aged 45].

In or before 1611 Henry Crofts [aged 20] and [his step-daughter] Elizabeth Wortley [aged 20] were married. She the daughter of Richard Wortley and [his wife] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire [aged 42].

In 1613 [his daughter] Frances Cavendish [aged 20] died.

On 18th January 1618 [his son] John Cavendish died.

On 2nd August 1618 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 65] was created 1st Earl Devonshire, at the Bishop's Palace, Salisbury Cathedral. [his wife] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire [aged 50] by marriage Countess Devonshire.

In 1625 [his wife] Anne Keighley [aged 62] died.

On 3rd March 1626 William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 73] died. His succeeded son William [aged 36] succeeded 2nd Earl Devonshire, 2nd Baron Cavendish Hardwick. Christian Bruce Countess Devonshire by marriage Countess Devonshire. On 12th October 1616 Henry Cavendish died. Both were buried at St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map].

The monument was behind the altar in the original church but moved to a separate chapel in the new church.

Monument formed two bodies under a low four-poster with black Ionic columns and black covering slab. The monument has been attributed to Maximilian Colt [aged 51].

In 1642 [his former wife] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire [aged 74] died.

[his son] John Cavendish was born to William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire and Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire.

[his son] Gilbert Cavendish was born to William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire and Anne Keighley.