Biography of Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle 1667-1730

On 3rd September 1660 [her father] James, Duke of York (age 26) and [her mother] Anne Hyde (age 23) were married in secret. She by marriage Duchess York. She gave birth to their son [her brother] Charles Stewart seven weeks later. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon (age 51) and [her grandmother] Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon (age 43). He the son of [her grandfather] King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland and [her grandmother] Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England (age 50).

In 1667 Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle was born to James Duke of York (age 33) and Anne Hyde Duchess of York (age 29).

On 31st March 1671 [her mother] Anne Hyde Duchess of York (age 34) died.

On 20th September 1673 [her father] James, Duke of York (age 39) and [her step-mother] Mary of Modena Queen Consort England Scotland and Ireland (age 14) were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years. He the son of [her grandfather] King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland and [her grandmother] Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England.

On 29th November 1683 Henry Waldegrave 1st Baron Waldegrave (age 22) and Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle (age 16) were married. She the daughter of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 50) and Anne Hyde Duchess of York.

In 1684 [her son] James Waldegrave 1st Earl Waldegrave was born to [her husband] Henry Waldegrave 1st Baron Waldegrave (age 23) and Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle (age 17). He a grandson of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland.

Around 1684 [her father-in-law] Charles Waldegrave 3rd Baronet (age 58) died. Around 1684 His son [her husband] Henry (age 23) succeeded 4th Baronet Waldegrave of Hever Castle. Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle (age 17) by marriage Lady Waldegrave of Hever Castle.

In 1686 [her husband] Henry Waldegrave 1st Baron Waldegrave (age 25) was created 1st Baron Waldegrave Chewton Somerset by [her father] King James II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 52) three years after Henry Waldegrave 1st Baron Waldegrave married the King's illegitimate daughter Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle (age 19). Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle by marriage Baroness Waldegrave Chewton Somerset.

John Evelyn's Diary. 6th January 1686. Passed the Privie Seale, amongst others, the creation of Mrs. Sedley J (concubine to) Countesse of Dorchester (age 28), which the [her step-mother] Queene took very grievously (age 27), so as for two dinners, standing neere her I observed she hardly eate one morsel, nor spake one word to the [her father] King (age 52), or to any about her, tho' at other times she us'd to be extreamly pleasant, full of discourse and good humour. The Roman Catholics were also very angry, because they had so long valu'd the sanctity of their religion and proselytes. Dryden (age 54) the famous playwriter, and his two sonns, and Mrs. Nelly (age 35) (Misse to ye late) were said to go to masse; such proselytes were no greate losse to the church. This night was burnt to the ground my Lord Mountague's palace in Bloomsbury, than wch for painting and furniture there was nothing more glorious in England. This happen'd by the negligence of a servant, airing, as they call it, some of the goods by the fire in a moist season; indeede so wet and mild a winter had scarce ben seene in man's memory. At this Seale there also pass'd the creation of [her husband] Sr H. Walgrave (age 25) to be a Peere. He had married one of the King's natural daughters (age 19) by [her mother] Mrs. Churchill. These two Seales my brother Commissioners pass'd in the morning before I came to towne, at. wch I was not displeas'd. We likewise pass'd Privy Seales for 5.2/6,000 upon severall accounts, pensions, guards, wardrobes, pri vie purse, &c. besides divers pardons, and one more wch I must not forget (and wch by Providence I was not present at) one Mr. Lytcott to be Secretary to the Ambassador to Rome. We being three Commissioners, any two were a quorum.

On 24th January 1689 [her husband] Henry Waldegrave 1st Baron Waldegrave (age 28) died. His son [her son] James (age 5) succeeded 2nd Baron Waldegrave Chewton Somerset, 5th Baronet Waldegrave of Hever Castle.

On 3rd April 1695 Piers Butler 1st Earl Newcastle (age 43) and Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle (age 28) were married. She by marriage Countess Newcastle in Limerick. She the daughter of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 61) and Anne Hyde Duchess of York.

On 20th May 1714 [her son] James Waldegrave 1st Earl Waldegrave (age 30) and [her daughter-in-law] Mary Webb (age 19) were married. He the son of [her former husband] Henry Waldegrave 1st Baron Waldegrave and Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle (age 47). They were fourth cousins. He a grandson of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 3rd April 1730 Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle (age 63) died.

On 18th June 1740 [her former husband] Piers Butler 1st Earl Newcastle (age 88) died without surviving issue. Earl Newcastle in Limerick extinct.

[her daughter] Arabella Waldegrave was born to Henry Waldegrave 1st Baron Waldegrave and Henrietta Fitzjames Countess Newcastle. She a granddaughter of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland.