Bridget Annesley facts for kids

Bridget Annesley was an important lady who worked for Anne of Denmark, the wife of King James VI and I of Scotland and England. She was active at court between about 1610 and 1630.

Bridget's father was Robert Annesley, who owned land in Ireland and England. Her mother was Beatrix Cornwall. The family name "Annesley" was sometimes spelled "Anslow" or "Anslowe."

Life at the Royal Court

Bridget Annesley became one of Queen Anne's trusted helpers, known as a "maid of honour" or "chamberer." By 1609, she was a "lady of the bedchamber," which meant she had a very close role in the Queen's personal household.

How She Got Her Job

It's thought that Bridget got this important job through her mother's family. They lived near a powerful couple, the Earl and Countess of Bedford. The Countess of Bedford was very influential with the Queen. Also, a town called Newport Pagnell, where Bridget's family lived, belonged to the Queen herself, which might have helped.

Gifts from the Queen

Queen Anne often gave gifts to Bridget Annesley. For example, in 1610, Bridget received a fancy nightgown made of pink and white silk. Later that year, she got a dove-colored silk gown that the Queen had worn before. When the Queen's son, Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, sadly passed away in 1612, Bridget received special mourning clothes. In 1614, the Queen even bought her a new horse, a bay gelding, because her old one was lame.

Helping Her Brother's Career

Bridget Annesley was known as "the queen's servant Mrs Anslow" in 1616. Around this time, her brother, Francis Annesley, became a joint-secretary for Ireland. Bridget might have used her connections at court to help her brother. She may have helped him get the attention of George Villiers, a new favorite of the King. Villiers was known for helping his friends get good jobs and promotions.

After the Queen's Death

When Queen Anne died in 1619, Bridget Annesley was still one of her close attendants. She walked in the Queen's funeral procession alongside other important ladies from the royal household.

Other Ladies at the Funeral

Some of the other ladies who walked with Bridget at the funeral included Elizabeth Murray, Marie Mayerne, Elizabeth Devick, Mary Gargrave, and Elizabeth Foukes.

Later Years and Family Ties

In 1627, Bridget Annesley asked for money that she was owed, which was a large sum of £866. Even after the Queen's death, the connections Bridget made at court remained strong. In 1637, her niece, Beatrice Annesley, married James Zouch. James was the son of Dorothea Silking, who had also worked with Bridget in the Queen's bedchamber, and Sir Edward Zouch.

The exact dates of Bridget Annesley's birth and death are not known.