Biography of Robert Maxwell 1st Earl Nithsdale 1586-1646

Paternal Family Tree: Maxwell

Maternal Family Tree: Agnes Stewart Countess Bothwell 1469-1557

Around 17th February 1571 [his father] John Maxwell 1st Earl Morton (age 17) and [his mother] Elizabeth Douglas Countess Morton were married. She by marriage Countess Morton. She the daughter of [his grandfather] David Douglas 7th Earl Angus and [his grandmother] Margaret Hamilton Countess Angus (age 46). They were fourth cousins.

After 1586 Robert Maxwell 1st was born to [his father] John Maxwell 1st Earl Morton (age 32) and [his mother] Elizabeth Douglas Countess Morton.

On 7th December 1593 [his father] John Maxwell 1st Earl Morton (age 40) was killed during a fight with the Johnstones of Annandale over an ongoing feud at Dryfe Sands Lockerbie Dumfries and Galloway.

In 1594 [his step-father] Alexander Stewart 6th of Garlies (age 43) and [his mother] Elizabeth Douglas Countess Morton were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] David Douglas 7th Earl Angus and [his grandmother] Margaret Hamilton Countess Angus (age 69).

On 31st October 1597 [his step-father] John Wallace 13th of Craigie (age 44) and [his mother] Elizabeth Douglas Countess Morton were married. The date being only some twenty-five days after the death of her previous husband [his step-father] Alexander Stewart 6th of Garlies (deceased)? She the daughter of [his grandfather] David Douglas 7th Earl Angus and [his grandmother] Margaret Hamilton Countess Angus.

In 1617 Robert Maxwell 1st (age 30) was restored 10th Lord Maxwell.

On 28th October 1619 Robert Maxwell 1st (age 33) and Elizabeth Beaumont Countess Nithsdale were married. He the son of John Maxwell 1st Earl Morton and Elizabeth Douglas Countess Morton.

In 1620 [his son] Robert Maxwell 2nd Earl Nithsdale was born to Robert Maxwell 1st (age 33) and [his wife] Elizabeth Beaumont Countess Nithsdale.

On 29th August 1620 Robert Maxwell 1st (age 34) was created 1st Earl Nithsdale. [his wife] Elizabeth Beaumont Countess Nithsdale by marriage Countess Nithsdale. The following year the family lands were regranted to him by charter.

Before 19th August 1622 Spencer Compton 2nd Earl of Northampton (age 21) and [his sister-in-law] Mary Beaumont Countess of Northampton (age 18) were married. He the son of William Compton 1st Earl of Northampton and Elizabeth Spencer Countess Northampton (age 47).

William of Worcester's Chronicle of England

William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 24th June 1630 William Compton 1st Earl of Northampton died. His son Spencer (age 29) succeeded 2nd Earl of Northampton, 3rd Baron Compton of Compton in Warwickshire. [his sister-in-law] Mary Beaumont Countess of Northampton (age 26) by marriage Countess of Northampton.

In 1645 the lands and titles Robert Maxwell 1st (age 58) were declared forfeit for his support of the King during the Civil War; Earl Nithsdale forfeit.

In May 1646 Robert Maxwell 1st (age 60) died. His son Robert (age 26) succeeded 2nd Earl Nithsdale, 11th Lord Maxwell.

In 1671 [his former wife] Elizabeth Beaumont Countess Nithsdale died.