Biography of Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland 1577-1635

1545. Wenceslaus Hollar. Engraving of Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland.

On 25th November 1572 [his father] Jerome Weston (age 16) and [his mother] Mary Cave (age 16) were married.

On 1st March 1577 Richard Weston was born to Jerome Weston (age 21) and Mary Cave (age 20).

Around 1593 [his mother] Mary Cave (age 36) died.

Around 1596 Richard Weston (age 18) and Elizabeth Pinchon were married.

Around 1602 [his daughter] Mary Weston was born to Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland (age 24) and [his wife] Elizabeth Pinchon.

Around 1603 Richard Weston (age 25) and Frances Waldegrave (age 25) were married.

Before 15th February 1603 [his wife] Elizabeth Pinchon died.

On 31st December 1603 [his father] Jerome Weston (age 47) died.

On 16th December 1605 [his son] Jerome Weston 2nd Earl of Portland was born to Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland (age 28) and [his wife] Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland (age 28).

On 8th June 1607 [his daughter] Catherine Weston was born to Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland (age 30) and [his wife] Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland (age 30).

On 9th October 1609 [his son] Thomas Weston 4th Earl of Portland was born to Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland (age 32) and [his wife] Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland (age 32) at Nayland, Suffolk [Map].

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 22nd June 1621. About Friday the 22nd of this month was Doctor Williams (age 39), Dean of Westminster, sworn of the Privy Council, after he bad been first made Bishop of Lincoln; and the Earl of Southampton (age 47) was committed prisoner to him at his Deanery of Westminster¹. For what cause none of his own servants yet knew, from which imprisonment he was again awhile after freed by the mediation of some noble persons with the beloved Marquis of Buckingham (age 28), whom the issue showed he had only offended, crossing him often during the continuance of Parliament, and answering him shortly since it had been adjourned.

Note 1. "The Earl of Southampton is committed to Dr. Dean of Westminster, his keeper being Sir Richard Weston (age 44). The Earl desired three things of the Lords, 1. That in regard his lady (age 49) was much subject unto sudden grief and passion, his letter might be the first messenger of his detainment, 2. That because his son (age 16) was ready to go to travel, he might first speak with him and give some directions. 3. That he might be permitted, in his Majesty's presence, to answer all that should be objected against him. The two former were granted conditionally, that Sir Richard Weston might see the one and hear the other; which were accordingly performed. The third was not in them to grant, but in his Majesty, and therefore put it off." - HarL MSS,

In 1623 [his son-in-law] John Netterville 2nd Viscount Netterville (age 20) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Weston were married. They had eleven children. She the daughter of Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland (age 45) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Pinchon.

On 13th April 1628 Richard Weston (age 51) was created 1st Baron Weston of Nayland in Suffolk. [his wife] Frances Waldegrave (age 51) by marriage Baroness Weston of Nayland in Suffolk.

In 1629 [his son-in-law] Walter Aston 2nd Baronet (age 19) and [his daughter] Mary Weston (age 27) were married. She the daughter of Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland (age 51) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Pinchon.

On 10th June 1632 [his son] Jerome Weston 2nd Earl of Portland (age 26) and [his daughter-in-law] Frances Stewart Countess Portland (age 15) were married. She the daughter of Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox and Katherine Clifton Duchess Lennox (age 40). He the son of Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland (age 55) and [his wife] Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland (age 55).

On 17th February 1633 Richard Weston Baron Weston (age 55) was created 1st Earl of Portland. [his wife] Frances Waldegrave (age 55) by marriage Countess of Portland.

Before 10th March 1635 [his son-in-law] Basil Feilding 2nd Earl Denbigh (age 27) and [his daughter] Anne Weston were married. She the daughter of Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland (age 58) and [his wife] Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland (age 58). He the son of William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh (age 48) and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh (age 52).

On 10th March 1635 [his daughter] Anne Weston died without issue.

On 13th March 1635 Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland (age 58) died. He was buried at Winchester Cathedral [Map] where he has a monument. The marble elments sculpted by Isaac Besnier, Sculptor in Ordinary and Keeper of the Statues to Charles I until 1643, when he was superseded by his son Peter; the bronze elements perhaps cast by Hubert le Sueur. His son [his son] Jerome (age 29) succeeded 2nd Earl of Portland, 2nd Baron Weston of Nayland in Suffolk. [his daughter-in-law] Frances Stewart Countess Portland (age 18) by marriage Countess of Portland.

Jerome Weston 2nd Earl of Portland: On 16th December 1605 he was born to Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland and Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland. On 10th June 1632 he and Frances Stewart Countess Portland were married. She the daughter of Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox and Katherine Clifton Duchess Lennox. He the son of Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland and Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland. On 17th March 1663 he died. His son Charles succeeded 3rd Earl of Portland, 3rd Baron Weston of Nayland in Suffolk.

Frances Stewart Countess Portland: In 1617 she was born to Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox and Katherine Clifton Duchess Lennox. In 1694 Frances Stewart Countess Portland died.

On 24th February 1644 [his former wife] Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland (age 66) died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 18th October 1671. I returned to Euston, in Lord Henry Howard's (age 43) coach, leaving him at Norwich, in company with a very ingenious gentleman, Mr. White, whose father and [his daughter] mother (daughter to the late Lord Treasurer Weston, Earl of Portland) I knew at Rome, where this gentleman was born, and where his parents lived and died with much reputation, during their banishment in our civil broils.

[his daughter] Elizabeth Weston was born to Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland and Elizabeth Pinchon.

Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason Volume 3. After he had received the said Commission he commanded an O Yes to be made, by one of the Serjeants at Arms, for a general silence: and then delivered the said Commission to sir Thomas Fenshaw, Clerk of the Crown, to be openly read. Which being done, Mr. Maxwell kneeled down and presented his lordship with a white staff verge of state, which he gave to one of the Serjeants at Arms, who held the same up by the cloth of state on the right hand thereof. And after the Commission was read, and the staff received as aforesaid, his grace commanded a solemn O Yes to be made; and then gave leave to all the lords, tbe peers, and the judges, and to all privy counsellors there present, to be covered; and command was given, that none under that degree should keep on their hats upon pain of imprisonment. And then the peers were severally called by thieir names, and each of them answered particularly, viz. 1. Lord Weston, Lord High Treasurer of England; 2. Earl of Manchester, Lord Privy Seal; 3, Eari of Arundel and Surrey, Earl Marshal; 4. Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery Lord Chamberlain; 5. Earl of Kent; 6. Earl of Worcester; 7. Earl of Bedford; 8. Earl of Essex; 9. Earl of Dorset; 10. Earl of Salisbury; 11. Earl of Leicester; 12. Earl of Warwick; 18. Earl of Cariisle; 14. Earl of Holland; 15. Earl of Berks; 16. Earl of Denbigh;. 17. Viscount Wimbledon; 18. Visc. Conway; 19. Visc. Dorchester; 20. Visc. Wentworth; 21. Lord Percy; 22. Lord Strange; 23. Lord Clifford; 24. Lord Petre; 25. Lord North; 26. Lord Goring; 27. Lord Howard.

[his daughter] Anne Weston was born to Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland and Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland.