Anne Lennard, Countess of Sussex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Countess of Sussex
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Portrait of Anne Lennard by court painter Sir Peter Lely, circa 1665.
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| Born |
Anne Palmer
25 February 1661 Westminster, England
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| Died | 16 May 1721 or 1722 (aged 60 or 61) England
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| Resting place | St Peter and St Paul New Churchyard, Lynsted, Swale Borough, Kent, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Courtier |
| Spouse(s) |
Thomas Lennard, 1st Earl of Sussex
(m. 1674; died 1715) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) | Charles II of England (disputed) Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland |
Anne Lennard, also known as the Countess of Sussex, was born Anne Palmer on February 25, 1661. She was the eldest daughter of Barbara Villiers, a close companion of King Charles II. Anne was known by the name Lady Anne FitzRoy, which meant "daughter of the king." She later married Thomas Lennard, 1st Earl of Sussex.
Her Life
Anne was born in Westminster, England. Her mother, Barbara Villiers, was a well-known figure at the royal court. King Charles II recognized Anne as his daughter. Because of this, she was often called "FitzRoy," which means "son of the king" in old French. This name was used for children of the king who were not born in marriage.
When Anne was thirteen years old, on August 11, 1674, she married Thomas Lennard. He was the 15th Baron Dacre and served the King. Their wedding took place at Hampton Court. King Charles II paid for the wedding and Anne's dowry, which was a gift of money or property given to the husband. After their marriage, Thomas Lennard was given the title of Earl of Sussex.
In 1678, Lady Sussex was living in a convent in Paris. She left the convent with Ralph Montagu, who later became the 1st Duke of Montagu. This caused a lot of talk in Paris. Anne's mother, Barbara Villiers, wrote a letter to King Charles. She was very upset about Anne's actions.
Anne's husband, the Earl of Sussex, was known for spending a lot of money. He lost much of his wealth through gambling. Because of this, he had to sell some of his family's estates, including Herstmonceaux. Anne and her husband separated in 1688. Thomas Lennard passed away in 1715, and Anne became a widow. She died on May 16, 1721, or 1722, at the age of 60 or 61. She was buried in Linsted, County Kent.
Her Children
Anne and Thomas Lennard had five children together. Two sons died when they were very young. Their two daughters, however, lived to be adults. They shared the inheritance of the Barony Dacre title.
- Barbara Lennard (born 1676 in Westminster, London – died 1741 in Paris). She married Charles Skelton, who was a Lieutenant-General in the French army. Barbara did not have any children.
- Charles Lennard, Lord Dacre (born 1682 at Windsor Castle – died 1684). He passed away as a young child.
- Henry Lennard (born around 1683 at Herstmonceaux, Sussex). He also died in infancy.
- Anne Lennard (born 1684 in Sussex – died 1755 in London). She became the 16th Baroness Dacre in her own right. She married four times:
- Her first husband was Richard Barrett-Lennard. They had one son, Thomas Barrett-Lennard, who became the 17th Baron Dacre.
- Her second husband was Henry Roper, the 8th Baron Teynham. They had several children, including Charles Roper.
- Her third husband was Robert Moore. They had one son named Henry.
- Her fourth husband was Joseph Williams. They had one son named Jeremiah.
Images for kids
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Portrait of Anne Lennard by Sir Peter Lely, circa 1665.
