Biography of Mary Mordaunt Duchess Norfolk 1659-1705

In 1644 [her father] Henry Mordaunt 2nd Earl Peterborough (age 22) and [her mother] Penelope O'Brien Countess Peterborough (age 22) were married. She by marriage Countess Peterborough. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Barnabas O'Brien 6th Earl Thomond and [her grandmother] Anne or Mary Fermor (age 52). He the son of [her grandfather] John Mordaunt 1st Earl Peterborough and [her grandmother] Elizabeth Howard Countess Peterborough (age 41).

Around 1659 Mary Mordaunt Duchess Norfolk was born to Henry Mordaunt 2nd Earl Peterborough (age 37) and Penelope O'Brien Countess Peterborough (age 37).

On 8th August 1677 Henry Howard 7th Duke of Norfolk (age 22) and Mary Mordaunt Duchess Norfolk (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Henry Mordaunt 2nd Earl Peterborough (age 55) and Penelope O'Brien Countess Peterborough (age 55). He the son of Henry Howard 6th Duke of Norfolk (age 49) and Anne Somerset Countess Norfolk. They were third cousin twice removed.

John Evelyn's Diary. 9th August 1677. Dined at the [her father] Earl of Peterborough's (age 55) the day after the marriage of my [her husband] Lord of Arundel (age 22) to Lady Mary Mordaunt (age 18), daughter of the Earl of Peterborough.

On 13th January 1684 [her father-in-law] Henry Howard 6th Duke of Norfolk (age 55) died. His son [her husband] Henry (age 29) succeeded 7th Duke Norfolk, 18th or 25th Earl Arundel, 8th Earl Surrey, 5th Earl Norfolk, 2nd Earl Norwich, 18th Baron Mowbray, 19th Baron Segrave, 16th Baron Furnivall, 20th Baron Strange Blackmere, 17th Baron Talbot, 15th Baron Maltravers, 15th Baron Arundel, 2nd Baron Howard of Castle Rising, Earl Marshal. Mary Mordaunt Duchess Norfolk (age 25) by marriage Duchess Norfolk.

Around 28th February 1692 [her husband] Henry Howard 7th Duke of Norfolk (age 37) failed in his attempt to divorce his wife Mary Mordaunt Duchess Norfolk (age 33) for her adultery with [her future husband] John Germain 1st Baronet (age 41).

On 19th June 1697 [her father] Henry Mordaunt 2nd Earl Peterborough (age 75) died. His nephew Charles (age 39) succeeded 3rd Earl Peterborough. His daughter Mary (age 38) succeeded 7th Baroness Mordaunt. Carey Fraser Countess Peterborough and Monmouth (age 37) by marriage Countess Peterborough.

Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason Volume 13. The Proceedings in Parliament upon the Bill of Divorce between his Grace the [her husband] Duke of Norfolk (age 45) and the Lady Mary Mordaunt (age 41): 12 William III A.D. 1700.

Proceedings in the House Of Lords, February 15, 1700.

Upon reading the Petition of Henry duke of Norfolk, praying leave to bring in a bill to dissolve his marriage with the lady Mary Mordant, and to enable him to marry again, he having certain proof of his wife's living in adultery with sir [her future husband] John Germaine (age 49): it is ordered, that the said Petition be taken into consideration to-morrow.

Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason Volume 13. 25th March 1700. And then the Counsel withdrew, and the Committee proceeded upon the Bill clause by clause, and went throug it, and ordered the same to be reported; which was done accordingly; upon which the Bill passed.

Note 1. Henry Howard 7th Duke of Norfolk (age 45) and Mary Mordaunt Duchess Norfolk (age 41) were divorced. She married John Germain 1st Baronet (age 49) a year later.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st April 1700. The [her former husband] Duke of Norfolk (age 45) now succeeded in obtaining a divorce from his wife (age 41) by the Parliament for adultery with [her future husband] Sir John Germaine (age 49), a Dutch gamester, of mean extraction, who had got much by gaming; the Duke had leave to marry again, so that if he should have children, the Dukedom will go from the late [her former brother-in-law] Lord Thomas's children, Papists indeed, but very hopeful and virtuous gentlemen, as was their father. The now Duke their uncle is a Protestant.

On 2nd April 1701 [her former husband] Henry Howard 7th Duke of Norfolk (age 46) died of apoplexy. He was buried in the Fitzalan Chapel, Arundel Castle [Map]. His nephew Thomas (age 17) succeeded 8th Duke Norfolk, 19th or 26th Earl Arundel, 9th Earl Surrey, 6th Earl Norfolk, 3rd Earl Norwich, 19th Baron Mowbray, 20th Baron Segrave, 17th Baron Furnivall, 21st Baron Strange Blackmere, 18th Baron Talbot, 16th Baron Maltravers, 16th Baron Arundel, 3rd Baron Howard of Castle Rising.

On 15th September 1701 John Germain 1st Baronet (age 51) and Mary Mordaunt Duchess Norfolk (age 42) were married. She by marriage Lady Germain of Westminster. She the daughter of Henry Mordaunt 2nd Earl Peterborough and Penelope O'Brien Countess Peterborough (age 79).

On 18th April 1702 [her mother] Penelope O'Brien Countess Peterborough (age 80) died.

On 17th November 1705 Mary Mordaunt Duchess Norfolk (age 46) died. Her first cousin Charles (age 47) succeeded 8th Baron Mordaunt. Her husband [her husband] John Germain 1st Baronet (age 55) inherited her Drayton estates and the rest of her inheritance, valued at £70,000.

On 15th September 1706 [her former husband] John Germain 1st Baronet (age 56) and Elizabeth Berkeley Lady Germain were married. She brought £6000 to the marriage. She the daughter of Charles Berkeley 2nd Earl Berkeley (age 57) and Elizabeth Noel Countess Berkeley (age 52).

On 11th December 1718 [her former husband] John Germain 1st Baronet (age 68) died. Baronet Germain of Westminster extinct. His wife survived him until 1769 when she left his and her etates to George Sackville aka Germain 1st Viscount Sackville (age 2) who adopted the surname Germain.