Anne Lovelace, 7th Baroness Wentworth facts for kids

Anne Lovelace, born Anne Wentworth, was an important English noblewoman. She was born on July 29, 1623, and passed away on May 7, 1697. She held the title of the 7th Baroness Wentworth.

Early Life of Anne Wentworth

Anne was the daughter of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland and Anne Crofts. Her father was a powerful landowner and a general for the King during the English Civil War.

Anne had an older brother named Thomas. He became a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire. In 1640, he inherited the title of Baron Wentworth. After Anne's mother died in 1638, her father married Lucy Wentworth. They had another daughter, Catherine.

Anne's grandparents were Henry Wentworth, 3rd Baron Wentworth, and Anne Hopton. Her grandfather owned a large estate in Suffolk. He was also one of the judges who decided the fate of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1586.

Becoming a Baroness

When Anne married, she became Baroness Lovelace. This was because of her husband's title.

Her older brother, Thomas, died in 1665. This was two years before their father passed away. Thomas's daughter, Henrietta, then inherited the title of Baroness Wentworth. However, her father's higher title, the Earldom of Cleveland, ended.

When Henrietta died on April 23, 1686, Anne became the 7th Baroness Wentworth. She inherited this title herself, which is called suo jure. She also became the 11th Baroness le Despencer.

Anne's Family Life

Portrait of her son, John Lovelace, 3rd Baron Lovelace, by Godfrey Kneller, c. 1670

Anne married John Lovelace, 2nd Baron Lovelace. He inherited his father's title in 1634. They lived at a place called Ladye Place in Hurley, Berkshire. This estate belonged to her husband's family.

Anne and John had several children:

• John Lovelace, 3rd Baron Lovelace (born around 1640, died 1693). He married Martha Pye in 1662.
• Hon. Margaret Lovelace (born around 1644, died 1671). She married Sir William Noel, 2nd Baronet, in 1660.
• Hon. Anne Lovelace, who never married.
• Hon. Dorothy Lovelace (1650–1684). She married Henry Drax, a plantation owner from Barbados.

Lord Lovelace, Anne's husband, died in 1670. Anne Lovelace, the Lady Wentworth, died on May 7, 1697. Her son, John, had died before her. So, her title passed to her granddaughter, Hon. Martha Johnson. Martha was married to Sir Henry Johnson, a shipbuilder. Martha also inherited Anne's estates in Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire.

After Anne's son died, the Lovelace barony went to his cousin, John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace. This John later became the Governor of the Province of New York.

Anne's Grandchildren

Through her daughter Margaret, Anne was the grandmother of Sir Thomas Noel, 3rd Baronet and Sir John Noel, 4th Baronet.

Through Sir John, Anne was the great-grandmother of Sir Clobery Noel, 5th Baronet. Clobery was a Member of Parliament for Leicestershire. He was the father of Edward Noel. Edward inherited the title of 9th Baron Wentworth from Anne's granddaughter, Martha, in 1745. Edward was later given the higher title of Viscount Wentworth in 1762.