Lady Rebecca Staunton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lady Rebecca Staunton
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1685 Hampton, London, England |
| Died | February 1775 Bath, Somerset, England |
| Resting place | St. Andrew's Church, Surrey, England |
| Spouse | Sir William Gooch, 1st Baronet |
Lady Rebecca Staunton Gooch (born 1685 – died February 1775) was an important English noblewoman. She was also known as "Lady Gooch" or "Dame Rebecca Gooch." She was married to Sir William Gooch, 1st Baronet, who was the Colonial Governor of Virginia from 1727 to 1749. The city of Staunton, Virginia is named after her. Even a type of daylily flower is called "Lady Rebecca Staunton" in her honor!
Her Life Story
Lady Staunton was born in 1685 in Hampton, London, England. Her father, Robert Staunton, was a squire, which meant he was a wealthy landowner.
In 1714, she married Sir William Gooch. When he became the Colonial Governor of Virginia in 1727, they moved to the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia. While living there, Lady Staunton was in charge of their large home and all the social events. She was like an early "first lady" of Colonial Virginia. People described her as a woman with "queenly graces of mind and heart." This means she was seen as very kind and elegant.
Lady Staunton and Sir William had one son, Major William Gooch. He was born in 1716 but sadly passed away in Virginia in 1742 at the age of 26 from a serious illness.
In 1749, Lady Staunton and her husband moved back to England. They lived at the Benacre Hall estate in Suffolk. Lady Staunton lived there until she passed away in 1775.
Her Passing and Burial
Lady Staunton died in February 1775. She was buried at the St Andrew's Churchyard in Surrey, England. In her will, which is like a last set of wishes, she left a special four-volume Bible and a fancy silver cup to the Bruton Parish Church. This church was connected to the College of William & Mary.
Family Honor
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The Gooch Baronetcy was a special title created for Sir William Gooch. It was given to him by King George II on November 4, 1746. A "Baronetcy" is a title that can be passed down through a family, making them part of the nobility. This title was named "of Benacre Hall" because that was the family's estate in Suffolk.
