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Biography of Alice Spencer Countess Derby 1549-1637

Paternal Family Tree: Spencer

Maternal Family Tree: Margaret Donnington Countess Bath 1509-1561

Before October 1545 [her father] John Spencer (age 21) and [her mother] Katherine Kitson (age 21) were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Thomas Kitson and [her grandmother] Margaret Donnington Countess Bath (age 36).

On 4th May 1549 Alice Spencer Countess Derby was born to John Spencer (age 25) and Katherine Kitson (age 25) at Althorp House, Northamptonshire [Map].

In 1576 [her future husband] Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 36) and Elizabeth Ravenscroft (age 32) were married.

Around 1579 Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby (age 20) and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 29) were married. He the son of Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby (age 47) and Margaret Clifford Countess Derby (age 39).

In May 1580 [her daughter] Anne Stanley Countess Castlehaven was born to [her husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby (age 21) and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 30) at Harefield. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

In 1583 [her daughter] Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater was born to [her husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby (age 24) and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 33). She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 8th November 1586 [her father] John Spencer (age 62) died. He was buried at St Mary and All Saints Church, Fotheringhay [Map].

On 8th November 1586 [her mother] Katherine Kitson (age 62) died.

On 6th January 1588 [her daughter] Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon was born to [her husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby (age 29) and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 38) at Knowsley, Lancashire. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 25th September 1593 [her father-in-law] Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby (age 62) died at Lathom, Lancashire. His son [her husband] Ferdinando (age 34) succeeded 5th Earl Derby, 13th Baron Strange Knockin, 9th Baron Mohun of Dunster, 6th Baron Stanley. Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 44) by marriage Countess Derby.

On 16th April 1594 [her husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby (age 35) died from poisoning. His brother [her brother-in-law] William (age 33) succeeded 6th Earl Derby. Baron Mohun of Dunster and Baron Stanley abeyant.

In 1596 [her future husband] Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 56) and Elizabeth More were married.

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On 20th October 1600 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 60) and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 51) were married.

On 15th January 1601 [her son-in-law] Henry Hastings 5th Earl Huntingdon (age 14) and [her daughter] Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon (age 13) were married. She the daughter of [her former husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 51). They were fourth cousins. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 27th June 1602 [her son-in-law] John Egerton 1st Earl Bridgewater (age 23) and [her daughter] Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater (age 19) were married. She the daughter of [her former husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 53).

Coronation of James I

On 21st July 1603 King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 37) created a number of new Baronies ...

[her husband] Thomas Egerton (age 63) was created 1st Baron Ellesmere. Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 54) by marriage Baroness Ellesmere.

Robert Spencer (age 33) was created 1st Baron Spencer Wormleighton.

John Harrington (age 63) was created 1st Baron Harington of Exton. Anne Keilway Baroness Harington (age 49) by marriage Baroness Harington of Exton.

On 28th February 1607 [her son-in-law] Grey Brydges 5th Baron Chandos (age 27) and [her daughter] Anne Stanley Countess Castlehaven (age 26) were married. She the daughter of [her former husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 57). They were half fourth cousin twice removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 7th November 1616 [her husband] Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 76) was created 1st Viscount Brackley. Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 67) by marriage Viscountess Brackley.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 14th March 1617. The 14th I made an end of my Irish stitch cushion. This afternoon Basket came from London and told me that my Lord (age 27) and my Uncle were agreed and the writings sealed.

The King set forward this day on his journey to Scotland, the Queen and Prince going with him to Thibalds1.

Note 1. The 14th being Friday my Uncle Cumberland and my Coz. Clifford came to Dorset House where my Lord and they signed and sealed the writings and made a final conclusion of my business and did what they could to cut me off from my right, but I referred my cause to GOD.

Upon this Friday or Saturday died my [her husband] Lord Chancellor Egerton (age 77), Lady Derby's (age 67) husband.

On 15th March 1617 [her husband] Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley (age 77) died. His son [her son-in-law] John (age 38) succeeded 2nd Viscount Brackley, 2nd Baron Ellesmere. [her daughter] Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater (age 34) by marriage Viscountess Brackley.

On 22nd July 1624 [her son-in-law] Mervyn Tuchet 2nd Earl Castlehaven (age 31) and [her daughter] Anne Stanley Countess Castlehaven (age 44) were married at Harefield. She by marriage Countess Castlehaven. She the daughter of [her former husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby and Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 75). He the son of George Tuchet 1st Earl Castlehaven and Lucy Mervyn Baroness Audley and Tuchet. They were sixth cousins. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

In 1633 [her daughter] Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon (age 44) died.

On 11th March 1636 [her daughter] Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater (age 53) died. She has an inscription of the Great Monument at St Peter and St Paul Church, Little Gaddesden which reads: "ln hope of a happy resurrection, here lieth the Right Honourable and Most Noble Lady Frances Countess of Bridgewater. She was second daughter and one of the coheires of the Right Honourable Ferdinando Earl of Derby, &c. wife to the Right Honourable Sir John Egerton, Knt. of the honourable Order of the Bath, Earl of Bridgewater, Viscount Brackley, Baron of Elesmere, and Lord President of Wales, and the Marches thereof, by whom she was a happy mother of fifteene children, foure sons and, eleven daughters, five of which she buryed young, viz. the Lord James Viscount Brackley, her eldest, the Lord Charles, who succeeded him in birth and honour, seco,nd sonne; the Lady Cecila Egerton, her fourth, Mrs. Alice Egerton her eighth, and the Lady Anne Egerton her tenth daughter, who lyes here jnterred, dying in the eighth yeare of her age. Seven of her daughters she married richly and honourably, viz. the Lady Frances her eldest, the Lady Arabella her second, the Lady Elizabeth her third, the Lady Mary her fifth, the Lady Penelope her sixth, the Lady Katherine her seventh, and the Lady Magdelene her ninth; one of her daughters, viz. the Lady Alice her eleventh, she left unmarried; as she likewise did two of her sonnes, the Lord John Viscount Brackley, her third, and Mr. Thomas Egerton her fourth sonne. She was unparalleled in the gifts of nature and grace, being strong of constitution, admirable for beauty, generous in carriage, of a sweet and noble disposition, wise in her affaires, cheerefull in her discourse, liberall to the poore, pious towards God, and good to all. She lived vertuously 52 yeares; she died religiously the 11th day ,of March, in the yeare of our Lord 1635; and she reigns triumphantly for ever. Psal. cxvi. 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints."

On 23rd January 1637 Alice Spencer Countess Derby (age 87) died.

Royal Descendants of Alice Spencer Countess Derby 1549-1637

Diana Spencer Princess Wales

Ancestors of Alice Spencer Countess Derby 1549-1637

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Spencer

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Spencer

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Spencer

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Spencer

Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Empson

Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter Empson

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Empson

GrandFather: William Spencer

Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabella Graunt

Father: John Spencer

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Knightley

Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Knightley

Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Knightley

GrandMother: Susan Knightley

Alice Spencer Countess Derby

GrandFather: Thomas Kitson

Mother: Katherine Kitson

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Donnington of Stoke Newington

GrandMother: Margaret Donnington Countess Bath