Dorothy Smith, Lady Pakington facts for kids

Dorothy Erskine, Countess of Kellie (born Smith, and later known as Barnham, Pakington, and Needham) was an important public figure who lived in the 1600s. She was married four times. Her second husband, John Pakington, was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. Dorothy was also involved in a family disagreement that was heard by the Attorney General, Francis Bacon, who was also her son-in-law. She passed away in 1639.

Who Was Dorothy Erskine?

Early Life and First Marriage

Dorothy Smith was the daughter of Ambrose Smith. Her father was a silk merchant who supplied Queen Elizabeth I.

On April 28, 1583, Dorothy married Benedict Barnham. They were married at a church called St Clement Eastcheap. Dorothy and Benedict had eight children together. Sadly, four of their children died when they were very young.

Their four daughters who grew up were:

• Elizabeth, who married Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven.
• Alice, who married the famous Sir Francis Bacon in 1606.
• Dorothy, who married Sir John Constable.
• Bridget, who married Sir William Soame.

When Benedict Barnham died in 1598, he left a large amount of money for Dorothy and their daughters.

Marriage to Sir John Pakington

Within two years of Benedict's death, Dorothy married again. Her second husband was Sir John Pakington. He was a close friend and favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. They got married in November 1598.

Sir John Pakington lived at Hampton Lovett. He also built a grand home called Westwood House near Droitwich.

Westwood House, a home built by Sir John Pakington.

Dorothy and Sir John had three children together:

• Anne, their elder daughter, married Sir Humphrey Ferrers. After he passed away, she married Philip Stanhope, 1st Earl of Chesterfield.
• Mary, their second daughter, married Sir Richard Brooke.
• John, their only son, was born in 1600. He became a baronet in 1620 and served in Parliament. He married Frances Ferrers and they had two children, including his heir, Sir John Pakington, 2nd Baronet.

Family Disagreements

Dorothy's marriage to Sir John Pakington was not always happy. They had disagreements and separated in 1607. Even King James tried to help them reconcile. He wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury, hoping he could bring Dorothy and Sir John back together.

Dorothy moved to London. She also faced challenges trying to arrange good marriages for her daughters. In 1607, she thanked the Earl of Salisbury for helping two of her daughters. He was in charge of the Court of Wards, which looked after young people who had inherited money.

Dorothy also had a disagreement with Francis Bacon, her son-in-law. He had arranged for her daughter Dorothy to marry John Constable.

In 1617, Dorothy took her case to court. Sir John Pakington had to appear before the court and was even put in jail for a time. It was Francis Bacon, who had married Dorothy's daughter Alice Barnham, who had to give a legal opinion against his mother-in-law.

Later Marriages

In 1628, Dorothy had another disagreement, this time with her sons-in-law. It was about how her husband's estate should be managed.

Around 1629, Dorothy married for a third time to Robert Needham, 1st Viscount Kilmorey. He had been married three times before. Viscount Kilmorey passed away in November 1631.

After his death, Dorothy married for the fourth and final time. She became the third wife of Thomas Erskine, 1st Earl of Kellie. He died on June 12, 1639. Dorothy is believed to have passed away in the same year.