Biography of Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 1527-1608

In 1512 [her father] John Hardwick (age 17) and [her mother] Elizabeth Leeke (age 15) were married at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire [Map].

In 1524 [her future husband] William Cavendish (age 19) and Margaret Bostock (age 16) were married.

Around 1527 Bess of Hardwick was born to John Hardwick (age 32) and Elizabeth Leeke (age 30).

On 29th January 1528 [her father] John Hardwick (age 33) died.

On 28th April 1539 [her future husband] George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 11) and Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 14) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland (age 47) and Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland (age 44). He the son of Francis Talbot 5th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 39) and Mary Dacre. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1542 [her future husband] William Cavendish (age 37) and Elizabeth Parker were married.

In 1543 Robert Barlow aka Barley (age 14) and Bess of Hardwick (age 16) were married.

On 24th December 1544 [her husband] Robert Barlow aka Barley (age 15) died.

On 20th August 1547 William Cavendish (age 42) and Bess of Hardwick (age 20) were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years.

On 18th June 1548 [her daughter] Frances Cavendish was born to [her husband] William Cavendish (age 43) and Bess of Hardwick (age 21).

Before 1549 [her future husband] William St Lo (age 30) and Jane Bayntun (age 25) were married.

In 1549 the Leche family sold Chatsworth House, Derbyshire [Map] to [her husband] William Cavendish (age 44). His wife Bess of Hardwick (age 22) had persuraded him to sell his ancestral lands around Cavendish, Suffolk [Map] and buy land around her ancestral lands.

On 10th June 1549 [her daughter] Temperance Cavendish was born to [her husband] William Cavendish (age 44) and Bess of Hardwick (age 22). She died a year later.

Before 1550 [her step-father] Ralph Leche of Chatsworth (age 55) and [her mother] Elizabeth Leeke (age 52) were married.

In 1550 [her daughter] Temperance Cavendish died.

On 17th December 1550 [her son] Henry Cavendish was born to [her husband] William Cavendish (age 45) and Bess of Hardwick (age 23).

On 27th December 1552 [her son] William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire was born to [her husband] William Cavendish (age 47) and Bess of Hardwick (age 25).

In 1553 [her husband] William Cavendish (age 48) and Bess of Hardwick (age 26) commissioned the building of a new house [Chatsworth House, Derbyshire [Map]]. She selected a site near the river, which was drained by digging a series of reservoirs, which doubled as fish ponds.

On 28th November 1553 [her son] Charles Cavendish was born to [her husband] William Cavendish (age 48) and Bess of Hardwick (age 26).

On 31st March 1555 [her daughter] Elizabeth Cavendish Countess Lennox was born to [her husband] William Cavendish (age 50) and Bess of Hardwick (age 28) at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire [Map].

Around 1556 [her mother] Elizabeth Leeke (age 59) died.

In January 1556 [her daughter] Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford and [her daughter] Lucrece Cavendish were born to [her husband] William Cavendish (age 51) and Bess of Hardwick (age 29).

On 25th October 1557 [her husband] William Cavendish (age 52) died.

Around 27th August 1559 William St Lo (age 41) and Bess of Hardwick (age 32) were married. They were half third cousin twice removed.

Around March 1561 Bess of Hardwick (age 34) was poisoned. Both [her husband] William St Lo (age 43) and his mother Margaret Kingston believed William's younger brother [her brother-in-law] Edward St Lo (age 42) to be guility. Edward St Lo feared he would lose his inheritance if William and Bess had a child. William St Lo, probably as a consequence of his brother's actions, ‘did of very good will toward [his wife] convey [his lands] unto her'. Edward had previously been suspected of poisoning his first wife's husband John Scutt and, following their marriage, his wife Bridget Malte.

In January 1565 [her husband] William St Lo (age 47) died suddenly in the company of his brother [her brother-in-law] Edward St Lo (age 46). He was buried in St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate. Given that he had been suspected of poisoning William's wife Bess of Hardwick (age 38) five years before it is possible Edward had poisoned William. Edward St Lo contested his brother's will unsuccessfully.

Around 1567 Bess of Hardwick (age 40) was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 33).

On 6th February 1568 Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 15) and Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 12) were married. She the daughter of William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 41). He the son of George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 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.

On 9th February 1568 [her son] Henry Cavendish (age 17) and [her daughter-in-law] Grace Talbot (age 18) were married. The marriage, unhappy, produced no issue. She being the daughter of his step-father [her husband] George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 40). She the daughter of George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford. He the son of [her former husband] William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 41). They were sixth cousins.

On 26th January 1569 Mary Queen of Scots (age 26) was moved to the custody of [her husband] George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 41) and his wife Bess of Hardwick (age 42) at Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire [Map].

On 17th March 1570 William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 69) died at Hampton Court Palace, Richmond [Map]. His son Henry (age 32) succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke. [her step-daughter] Catherine Talbot Countess Pembroke (age 20) by marriage Countess Pembroke.

In 1574 [her son-in-law] Charles Stewart 5th Earl Lennox (age 16) and [her daughter] Elizabeth Cavendish Countess Lennox (age 18) were married. She by marriage Countess Lennox. She the daughter of [her former husband] William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 47). He the son of Matthew Stewart 4th Earl Lennox and Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 58).

On 12th May 1576 [her step-daughter] Catherine Talbot Countess Pembroke (age 26) died.

Around 21st March 1580 [her son] William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 27) and [her daughter-in-law] Anne Keighley (age 17) were married. He the son of [her former husband] William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 53).

On 21st January 1582 [her daughter] Elizabeth Cavendish Countess Lennox (age 26) died.

In 1583 [her step-son] Edward Talbot 8th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 21) and Joane Ogle Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury Countess Waterford. He the son of [her husband] George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 55) and Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford. They were fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward IV of England.

Before 1584 [her son-in-law] Henry Pierrepont (age 37) and [her daughter] Frances Cavendish (age 35) were married. She the daughter of [her former husband] William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 56). They were sixth cousins.

Before 18th November 1590 [her step-son] Francis Talbot (age 39) died.

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

1592. Rowland Lockey (age 27). Portrait of Bess of Hardwick (age 65).

Before 6th December 1592 [her son] Charles Cavendish (age 39) and [her daughter-in-law] Catherine Ogle 8th Baroness Ogle (age 22) were married. He the son of [her former husband] William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 65).

After 1603 [her son] William Cavendish 1st Earl Devonshire (age 50) and [her daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire (age 35) were married. He the son of [her former husband] William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 76).

On 19th March 1616 [her son-in-law] Henry Pierrepont (age 70) died. Church of St Edmund, Holme Pierrepoint [Map]. Designed by John Smythson. Probably carved by Hugh Hall who also carved the monument to Thomas Smith originally at Wybynbury but since moved to Nantwich [Map]. Elizabethan Period. Armorials:

Top left Cavendish Arms - he was married to [her daughter] Frances Cavendish (age 67) daughter of [her former husband] William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick.

Top right Pierrepoint Arms.

Centre Bottom: Quartered 1&4 Pierrepoint Arms 2&3 Unknown Arms impaled Quartered 1&4 Cavendish Arms 2&3 Unknown Arms.

Frances Cavendish: On 18th June 1548 she was born to William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick. Before 1584 Henry Pierrepont and she were married. She the daughter of William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford. They were sixth cousins. In January 1632 Frances Cavendish died.