Biography of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax 1633-1695

On 29th December 1629 [his father] William Savile 3rd Baronet [aged 17] and [his mother] Anne Coventry Baroness Savile [aged 17] were married.

On 11th November 1633 George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax was born to [his father] William Savile 3rd Baronet [aged 21] and [his mother] Anne Coventry Baroness Savile [aged 21] at Thornhill.

On 24th January 1644 [his father] William Savile 3rd Baronet [aged 32] died. His son George [aged 10] succeeded 4th Baronet Savile of Thornhill.

Around 1655 [his step-father] Thomas Chicheley of Wimpole [aged 40] and [his mother] Anne Coventry Baroness Savile [aged 43] were married.

In 1656 George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 22] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Lady Savile of Thornhill. She the daughter of Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland and Dorothy Sidney Countess Sunderland [aged 38]. They were half sixth cousins.

Around 1661 [his son] Henry Savile was born to George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 27] and [his wife] Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile [aged 21]. He married before 11th April 1684 Esther de la Tour de Gouvernet.

On or before 31st July 1662, the date she was buried, [his mother] Anne Coventry Baroness Savile [aged 50] died.

In 1663 [his daughter] Anne Savile Countess Carbery was born to George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 29] and [his wife] Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile [aged 23]. She married 10th August 1682 John Vaughan 3rd Earl Carbery, son of Richard Vaughan 2nd Earl Carbery and Frances Altham Countess Carbery, and had issue.

In 1665 [his son] William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax was born to George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 31] and [his wife] Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile [aged 25]. He married (1) 24th November 1687 Elizabeth Grimston, daughter of Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet and Elizabeth Finch, and had issue (2) 2nd April 1695 his fourth cousin Mary Finch Duchess Roxburghe, daughter of Daniel Finch 2nd Earl Nottingham 7th Earl Winchilsea and Essex Rich Countess Nottingham, and had issue.

On 9th June 1665 [his brother-in-law] Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland [aged 23] and Anne Digby Countess Sunderland [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess of Sunderland. She the daughter of George Digby 2nd Earl Bristol [aged 52] and Anne Russell Countess Bristol [aged 45]. He the son of Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland and [his mother-in-law] Dorothy Sidney Countess Sunderland [aged 47]. They were half fifth cousins.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 1st January 1668. Thence I to White Hall, and there walked up and down the house a while, and do hear nothing of anything done further in this business of the change of Privy-counsellors: only I hear that Sir G. Savile [aged 34], one of the Parliament Committee of nine, for examining the Accounts, is by the King [aged 37] made a Lord, the Lord Halifax; which, I believe, will displease the Parliament.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 3rd July 1668. Betimes to the office, my head full of this business. Then by coach to the Commissioners of Accounts at Brooke House, the first time I was ever there, and there Sir W. Turner [aged 52] in the chair; and present, Lord Halifax [aged 34], Thoms[on] [aged 61], Gregory, Dunster, and Osborne. I long with them, and see them hot set on this matter; but I did give them proper and safe answers. Halifax, I perceive, was industrious on my side, in behalf of his uncle Coventry [aged 40], it being the business of Sir W. Warren. Vexed only at their denial of a copy of what I set my hand to, and swore. Here till almost two o'clock, and then home to dinner, and set down presently what I had done and said this day, and so abroad by water to Eagle Court in the Strand, and there to an alehouse: met Mr. Pierce, the Surgeon, and Dr. Clerke, Waldron, Turberville [aged 56], my physician for the eyes, and Lowre, to dissect several eyes of sheep and oxen, with great pleasure, and to my great information. But strange that this Turberville should be so great a man, and yet, to this day, had seen no eyes dissected, or but once, but desired this Dr. Lowre to give him the opportunity to see him dissect some.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 4th July 1668. Up, and to see [his uncle] Sir W. Coventry [aged 40], and give him account of my doings yesterday, which he well liked of, and was told thereof by my Lord Halifax [aged 34] before; but I do perceive he is much concerned for this business. Gives me advice to write a smart letter to the Duke of York [aged 34] about the want of money in the Navy, and desire him to communicate it to the Commissioners of the Treasury; for he tells me he hath hot work sometimes to contend with the rest for the Navy, they being all concerned for some other part of the King's expenses, which they would prefer to this, of the Navy. He shewed me his closet, with his round table, for him to sit in the middle, very convenient; and I borrowed several books of him, to collect things out of the Navy, which I have not, and so home, and there busy sitting all the morning, and at noon dined, and then all the afternoon busy, till night, and then to Mile-End with my wife and girl, and there drank and eat a joie of Salmon, at the Rose and Crown, our old house; and so home to bed.

John Evelyn's Diary. 3rd August 1668. Mr. Bramstone (son to Judge B), my old fellow-traveler, now reader at the Middle Temple, invited me to his feast, which was so very extravagant and great as the like had not been seen at any time. There were the Duke of Ormond [aged 57], Privy Seal [aged 62], Bedford [aged 52], Belasis [aged 54], Halifax [aged 34], and a world more of Earls and Lords.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 1st March 1669. Up, and to White Hall to the Committee of Tangier, but it did not meet. But here I do hear first that my Lady Paulina Montagu [deceased] did die yesterday; at which I went to my Lord's lodgings, but he is shut up with sorrow, and so not to be spoken with: and therefore I returned, and to Westminster Hall [Map], where I have not been, I think, in some months. And here the Hall was very full, the King [aged 38] having, by Commission to some Lords this day, prorogued the Parliament till the 19th of October next: at which I am glad, hoping to have time to go over to France this year. But I was most of all surprised this morning by my Lord Bellassis [aged 54], who, by appointment, met me at Auditor Wood's, at the Temple [Map], and tells me of a duell designed between the Duke of Buckingham [aged 41] and my Lord Halifax [aged 35], or [his uncle] Sir W. Coventry [aged 41]; the challenge being carried by [his sister] Harry Saville [aged 27], but prevented by my Lord Arlington [aged 51], and the King told of it; and this was all the discourse at Court this day. But I, meeting Sir W. Coventry in the Duke of York's [aged 35] chamber, he would not own it to me, but told me that he was a man of too much peace to meddle with fighting, and so it rested: but the talk is full in the town of the business.

In 1670 [his wife] Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile [aged 30] died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st September 1671. Dined with the Treasurer [aged 41], in company with my Lord Arlington [aged 53], Halifax [aged 37], and Sir Thomas Strickland [Note. Possibly Thomas Strickland [aged 49] or Thomas Strickland 2nd Baronet [aged 32].]; and next day, went home, being the anniversary of the late dreadful fire of London.

In 1672 George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 38] and Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax were married. She by marriage Lady Savile of Thornhill. They were third cousins.

John Evelyn's Diary. 15th August 1676. Came to dine with me my Lord Halifax [aged 42], Sir Thomas Meeres [aged 42], one of the Commissioners of the Admiralty, Sir John Clayton, Mr. Slingsby [aged 55], Mr. Henshaw [aged 58], and Mr. Bridgeman.

On 25th December 1676 William Cavendish 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 84] died at Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire [Map]. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son Henry [aged 46] succeeded 2nd Duke Newcastle upon Tyne, 2nd Earl Newcastle upon Tyne, 10th Baron Ogle.[his sister-in-law] Frances Pierrepont Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 46] by marriage Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne.

Around 1677 [his daughter] Elizabeth Savile was born to George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 43] and [his wife] Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax. She married 1692 her fifth cousin once removed Philip Stanhope 3rd Earl Chesterfield, son of Philip Stanhope 2nd Earl Chesterfield and Elizabeth Dormer Countess Chesterfield, and had issue.

On 31st December 1677 George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 44] was created 1st Viscount Halifax, 1st Baron Savile of Elland. [his wife] Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax by marriage Viscountess Halifax.

Around 1678 Mary Beale aka Cradock [aged 44]. Portrait of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 44].

In 1679 George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 45] was created 1st Earl Halifax. [his wife] Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax by marriage Countess Halifax.

In 1682 George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 48] was created 1st Marquess Halifax. [his wife] Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax by marriage Marchioness Halifax.

On 10th August 1682 [his son-in-law] John Vaughan 3rd Earl Carbery [aged 43] and Anne Savile Countess Carbery [aged 19] were married. The difference in their ages was 23 years. She the daughter of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 48] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile. He the son of Richard Vaughan 2nd Earl Carbery [aged 82] and Frances Altham Countess Carbery.

Before 11th April 1684 Henry Savile [aged 23] and Esther de la Tour de Gouvernet [aged 18] were married. He the son of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 50] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile.

John Evelyn's Diary. 17th February 1685. This morning his Ma* [aged 51] restor'd the staffe and key to Lord Arlington [aged 67], Chamberlaine; to [his sister] Mr. Savell [aged 43], Vice-chamberlaine; to Lords Newport [aged 64] and Malnard [aged 62], Treasurer and Comptroler of the Household; Lord Godolphin [aged 39] made Chamberlaine to ye Queene [aged 26]; Lord Peterborow [aged 63] Groome of ye Stole in place of the Earle of Bath [aged 56]; the Treasurer's staff to the Earle of Rochester [aged 42]; and his brother the Earle of Clarendon Lord Privie Seale in place of the Marquis of Halifax [aged 51], who was made President of the Council; the Secretarys of State remaining as before.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24th December 1685. We were all three Commissioners sworne on our knees by the Cleark of the Crowne, before my Lord Chancellor [aged 40], three severall oathes; allegiance, supremacy, and the oath belonging to ye Lord Privy Seal [aged 52], wch last we tooke standing. After this the Lord Chancellor invited us all to dinner, but it being Christmas-eve we desir'd to be excus'd, intending at three in ye afternoone to seale divers things which lay ready at ye office; so attended by three of the Clearks of ye Signet, we met and seal'd. Amongst other things was a pardon to West, who being privy to the late conspiracy, had reveal'd the accomplices to save his owne neck. There were also another pardon and two indenizations; and so agreeing to a fortnight's vacation, I return'd home.

John Evelyn's Diary. 6th July 1686. I supp'd with the Countesse of Rochester [aged 40], where was also the Dutchesse of Buckingham [aged 47] and Madame de Governe, whose [his daughter-in-law] daughter [aged 20] was married to ye Marquess of Halifax's [aged 52] sonn. She made me a character of ye French King [aged 47] and Dauphin [aged 24], and of ye persecution. That they kept much of the cruelties from the King's knowledge; that the Dauphin was so afraid of his father, that he durst not let any thing appeare of his sentiments; that he hated letters and priests, spent all his time in hunting, and seem'd to take no notice of what was passing.

In 1687 [his son] Henry Savile [aged 26] died. His will written 07 Oct 1687...

Wheras my father [aged 50], the Lord Marquess of Halifax, by indenture 11 Apr., 36 Chas. II, did settle the reversion of a certain fee farm rent of £550 out of the manors of Bradbury and Hilton, co. Durham, after the death of the now Queen Dowager [aged 45], unto himself, and after his decease unto me and my heirs. I give unto my dear wife [his daughter-in-law] Hester, Lady Eland [aged 18], and her heirs, all such rent of £550, and other rents issuing out of the said manors. I make my wife sole executrix, and give her all my money, plate, jewels, furniture, and personal estate whatsoever. In presence of [his son-in-law] Carbery [aged 44], Tho. Tenison [aged 47], Wm. Smythe, Edward Browne. Proved 8 June, 1688, by Hester Savile.

On 24th November 1687 William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax [aged 22] and Elizabeth Grimston were married. He the son of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 54] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29th October 1688. There was a Council called, to which were summoned the Archbishop of Canterbury [aged 71], the Judges, the Lord Mayor, etc. The Queen Dowager [aged 49], and all the ladies and lords who were present at the Queen Consort's [aged 30] labor, were to give their testimony upon oath of the Prince of Wales's birth, recorded both at the Council Board and at the Chancery a day or two after. This procedure was censured by some as below his Majesty [aged 55] to condescend to, on the talk of the people. It was remarkable that on this occasion the Archbishop, Marquis of Halifax [aged 54], the Earls of Clarendon and Nottingham [aged 41], refused to sit at the Council table among Papists, and their bold telling his Majesty that whatever was done while such sat among them was unlawful and incurred praemunire;-at least, if what I heard be true.

John Evelyn's Diary. 21st February 1689. Innumerable were the crowds, who solicited for, and expected offices; most of the old ones were turned out. Two or three white staves were disposed of some days before, as Lord Steward, to the Earl of Devonshire [aged 49]; Treasurer of the household, to Lord Newport; Lord Chamberlain to the King, to my Lord of Dorset [aged 46]; but there were as yet none in offices of the civil government save the Marquis of Halifax [aged 55] as Privy Seal. A council of thirty was chosen, Lord Derby [aged 34] president, but neither Chancellor nor Judges were yet declared, the new Great Seal not yet finished.

In January 1690 [his daughter] Anne Savile Countess Carbery [aged 27] died in childbirth. She was buried at St Andrew's Church, Holborn [Map].

John Evelyn's Diary. 2nd February 1690. The Parliament was dissolved by proclamation, and another called to meet the 20th of March. This was a second surprise to the former members; and now the Court party, or, as they call themselves, Church of England, are making their interests in the country. The Marquis of Halifax [aged 56] lays down his office of Privy Seal, and pretends to retire.

In 1692 [his son-in-law] Philip Stanhope 3rd Earl Chesterfield [aged 18] and Elizabeth Savile [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 58] and Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax. He the son of Philip Stanhope 2nd Earl Chesterfield [aged 58] and Elizabeth Dormer Countess Chesterfield. They were fifth cousin once removed.

On 2nd April 1695 William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax [aged 30] and Mary Finch Duchess Roxburghe [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Marchioness Halifax. She the daughter of Daniel Finch 2nd Earl Nottingham 7th Earl Winchilsea [aged 47] and Essex Rich Countess Nottingham. He the son of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 61] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile. They were fourth cousins.

On 5th April 1695 George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 61] died apparently as a consequence of eating undercooked chicken. He was buried in the north aisle of the King Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son William [aged 30] succeeded 2nd Marquess Halifax, 2nd Earl Halifax, 2nd Viscount Halifax, 2nd Baron Savile of Elland, 5th Baronet Savile of Thornhill. Mary Finch Duchess Roxburghe [aged 18] by marriage Marchioness Halifax.

John Evelyn's Diary. 7th April 1695. Lord Halifax [deceased] died suddenly at London, the day his daughter [aged 18] was married to the Earl of Nottingham's [aged 61] son [aged 22] at Burleigh. Lord H. was a very rich man, very witty, and in his younger days somewhat positive.

On 1st October 1727 [his former wife] Gertrude Pierrepont Marchioness Halifax died. She was buried with her husband George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax in the North Aisle of the King Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [Map].