Frances Seymour, Duchess of Somerset

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Frances Seymour (née Devereux), Duchess of Somerset (30 September1599[1] – 24 April1674.) was an English noblewoman who lived in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and Kings James I, Charles I and Charles II.

Early Life

Frances was born on 30 September 1599 at Walsingham House, Seething Lane, London, England. She was the youngest child of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex and Frances Walsingham. Her paternal grandparents were Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex and Lettice Knollys. On her mother's side, her grandparents were Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's trusted spymaster, and Ursula St.Barbe. She was also a direct descendant of Mary Boleyn. At the time of her birth, her father, who was a former favourite of Queen Elizabeth and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was under arrest for treasonous behaviour in the Nine Years War during the disastrous Irish campaign in which he parleyed with the rebellious Earl of Tyrone thus incurring the Queen's wrath. Essex was executed on 25 February1601 for allegedly conspiring to murder the Queen, leaving behind his wife and small children. Frances was less than two years in age.[2]Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex was her brother and she had an elder sister, Dorothy.

Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, father of Frances Devereux
Frances Walsingham, mother of Frances Devereux with her son, Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex.

Marriage

On 3 March1616 Frances married at Bassett Drayton, William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset (1588-24 October1660) the son of Lord Beauchamp, and the grandson of Catherine Grey. During the English Civil War he was a Royalist Commander. Frances was his second wife, his first having been Arbella Stuart whom he married secretly in 1610, and without permission from King James, which resulted in their imprisonment in the Tower of London. He later escaped, and fled to the Continent. In 1615, Arbella died in the Tower. William and Frances had seven children. She died on 24 April 1674[3] at the age of seventy-four. Her numerous descendants include Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sarah Ferguson.

List of Children

  1. William Seymour (1621 – 16 June1646)
  2. Robert Seymour (1622 – 1646)
  3. Henry Seymour, Lord Beauchamp (1626 – 30 March1654). Married Mary Capell. Had issue.
  4. Lady Mary Seymour (1636 – 10 April1673.Married Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchelsea. Had issue.
  5. Lady Jane Seymour (6 July1637 – 23 November1679) Married Charles Boyle, 3rd Viscount Dungarvan. Had issue.
  6. Lady Frances Seymour (1642-?)
  7. John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset (born before 1646 – 29 April1675) Married Sarah Alston.

External Links

See Also

References

  1. ^ Du Maurier(1975), 230
  2. ^ Du Maurier(1975), 269-70.
  3. ^ Brian Tompsett's Royal Geneaology Directory
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