Lady Henrietta Berkeley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lady Henrietta Berkeley
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Portrait of Lady Henrietta Berkeley (1807)
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| Born |
Henrietta Harriett Berkeley
c. 1664 |
| Disappeared | 1682 Epsom, England |
| Status | Found in London later that year |
| Died | 1706 (aged 41–42) London, England
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| Nationality | English |
| Known for | Her connection to Lord Grey of Warke |
| Partner(s) | Lord Grey of Warke |
| Parent(s) | George Berkeley, 1st Earl of Berkeley Elizabeth Massingberd |
Lady Henrietta Berkeley (around 1664–1706) was an English noblewoman. She was known for her close relationship with Lord Grey of Warke. He was married to her older sister.
Their connection began in 1681. Henrietta was still quite young at the time. Her mother found out about it the next year. Henrietta was then sent to her family's home in Epsom. However, she soon left and went into hiding in London. Lord Grey helped her stay hidden.
Her father, George Berkeley, 1st Earl of Berkeley, took legal action against Lord Grey. This court case became very famous in 1682.
At the King's Bench court, Henrietta said she had left home on her own. She also claimed to have married William Turner. He was a servant of Lord Grey. After a disagreement with her father outside the court, she was briefly held in prison with Turner. This was done for her own safety.
The next year, Lord Grey was linked to the Rye House Plot. This was a plan against the King. Henrietta fled with him to Cleves. William Turner also went with them. It is not known if she came back to England with Grey in 1685. This was when Grey was involved in the Monmouth Rebellion. Lady Henrietta Berkeley passed away in London in 1706.
Contents
The Court Case of 1682
| The trial of Lord Grey of Warke and others | |
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| Court | King's Bench |
| Full case name | The Trial of Ford Lord Grey of Werk, Robert Charnock, Anne Charnock, David Jones, Frances Jones, and Rebecca Jones, at the King's Bench, for a Misdemeanor in taking Lady Henrietta Berkeley away, AD 1682 |
| Decided | 1682 |
| Transcript(s) | Cobbett's Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and Other Crimes and Misdemeanors from the Earliest Period [1163] to the Present Time [1820] |
| Court membership | |
| Judge(s) sitting | Sir Francis Pemberton |
Lady Henrietta's father, the Earl of Berkeley, sued Lord Grey. He also sued others who helped Grey. The Earl claimed they had worked together to take his daughter away.
The prosecution accused Grey of "taking Lady Henrietta Berkeley away." They said he caused her to live a life away from her family. They also said he moved her from place to place. This was against God's will and harmful to the young lady. It was also seen as a bad example to others.
At the King's Bench court, the jury was about to decide the case. Then, Henrietta made a surprising statement. She announced that she had left her home willingly. She also said she was now married to William Turner. He was a servant of Lord Grey.
When the court session ended, Henrietta's father tried to take her home. But she did not want to go. A struggle broke out. To stop the fight, the judge decided Henrietta and her supposed husband should be held in prison. This was for their own safety. They were later released.
The jury found Lord Grey guilty. However, he did not receive any punishment. Other important events happened soon after.
Lord Grey's Escape and Flight
In 1683, Lord Grey was involved in the Rye House Plot. This was a secret plan to harm King Charles II of England. It also targeted his brother, James, Duke of York. Grey was arrested but managed to escape. His guard had fallen asleep.
Henrietta fled with him to the Netherlands in June. William Turner was also part of their group. In July, Grey was accused of high treason while he was away. They traveled to Cleves. This area was then part of Brandenburg-Prussia. After this, it is not clear what Henrietta did. We don't know if she returned to England soon. Or if she stayed in Europe for a long time.
Lord Grey returned to England in 1685. He was a leader in the unsuccessful Monmouth Rebellion. Later, King James II pardoned him. Grey got his honors back. He later became the 1st Earl of Tankerville.
Lady Henrietta's Later Life
Lady Henrietta Berkeley passed away on August 10, 1706. She died in Tonbridge, Kent. It is not known if she and Lord Grey were still close. However, Lord Grey had died in 1701. He left her an annual payment of about £200.
In her will, Henrietta left about £370. About £100 of this money went to her niece, Elizabeth Germain.
A Story Inspired by Her Life
A novel called Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister was published in 1684. This book was based on the events of Henrietta's story. It was published without an author's name. Many believe it was written by Aphra Behn.
Later, in the 1800s, a writer named George William MacArthur Reynolds wrote about Henrietta. He said she had "unfortunately lost her good name." He also said she lost the love of her parents. He believed this happened because of a very bad person.
Images for kids
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Portrait of Lady Henrietta Berkeley (1807)
