Born to Colonel Sir Edward Villiers of Richmond and Lady Frances Howard (a descendant of John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk), Barbara became a maid of honour to the princesses of York before Mary married William in 1677. Instead of accompanying her sisters Anne, Katherine and Elizabeth to The Hague, Barbara remained in England to join Anne's household, attracting the companionship of Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and invoking a sense of jealousy and rage within their royal mistress, Queen Anne.[1] Naturally ambitious like the rest of her family, Barbara mixed scintillating wit with devious deception in order to promote dissatisfaction against the Churchills, who came to abhor the reign of William III and Mary II (1689–1702).
Barbara married John Berkeley, 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge of Berehaven (1650 – 19 December 1712). They had two daughters, neither of whom inherited their father's title:
Hon. Frances Berkeley, married Sir Thomas Clarges, 2nd Bt. before 1721. They had two children.[3]
^ abField, Ophelia. The Favourite: Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 2002. (ISBN0-340-76808-8), pp. ix and 73.
^Exhibition of the Royal House of Guelph, Harvard University. 32044012939096X, p. 3.
^ abBurke, John Evelyn. A General and heraldic dictionary of the peerage and baronetage of the British Empire, Volume 1. London: H. Colburn and R. Bentley, 1832, p. 287.
^"Inventory of Monuments of Westminster Abbey: The Church Pages 17-76 An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in London, Volume 1, Westminster Abbey". British History Online. HMSO 1924. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
Further readingedit
Hamilton, Elizabeth. The Illustrious Lady: A biography of Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine and Duchess of Cleveland Readers Union, 1981. (ASIN: B0007B1JXY)
April 12, 2024
barbara, berkeley, viscountess, fitzhardinge, née, villiers, 1654, september, 1708, lady, waiting, queen, anne, great, britain, governess, prince, william, duke, gloucester, sister, elizabeth, villiers, later, countess, orkney, acknowledged, mistress, william,. Barbara Berkeley Viscountess Fitzhardinge nee Villiers c 1654 19 September 1708 was a lady in waiting to Queen Anne of Great Britain and governess to Prince William Duke of Gloucester 2 Her sister Elizabeth Villiers later Countess of Orkney was the acknowledged mistress of William III of England from 1680 to 1695 Barbara left playing cards with her closest friend Sarah Duchess of Marlborough by Sir Godfrey Kneller c 1702 1 Born to Colonel Sir Edward Villiers of Richmond and Lady Frances Howard a descendant of John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk Barbara became a maid of honour to the princesses of York before Mary married William in 1677 Instead of accompanying her sisters Anne Katherine and Elizabeth to The Hague Barbara remained in England to join Anne s household attracting the companionship of Sarah Churchill Duchess of Marlborough and invoking a sense of jealousy and rage within their royal mistress Queen Anne 1 Naturally ambitious like the rest of her family Barbara mixed scintillating wit with devious deception in order to promote dissatisfaction against the Churchills who came to abhor the reign of William III and Mary II 1689 1702 Barbara was thought to be a secret Jacobite Issue editBarbara married John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge of Berehaven 1650 19 December 1712 They had two daughters neither of whom inherited their father s title Hon Frances Berkeley married Sir Thomas Clarges 2nd Bt before 1721 They had two children 3 Hon Mary Berkeley bef 1671 3 June 1741 married Walter Chetwynd 1st Viscount Chetwynd of Bearhaven on 27 May 1703 in St Martin in the Fields in Church Covent Garden London She was a maid of honor to Queen Anne No issue 3 Lady Fitzhardinge died in 1708 and is buried in Westminster Abbey 4 Notes edit a b Field Ophelia The Favourite Sarah Duchess of Marlborough London Hodder and Stoughton 2002 ISBN 0 340 76808 8 pp ix and 73 Exhibition of the Royal House of Guelph Harvard University 32044012939096X p 3 a b Burke John Evelyn A General and heraldic dictionary of the peerage and baronetage of the British Empire Volume 1 London H Colburn and R Bentley 1832 p 287 Inventory of Monuments of Westminster Abbey The Church Pages 17 76 An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in London Volume 1 Westminster Abbey British History Online HMSO 1924 Retrieved 11 April 2023 Further reading editHamilton Elizabeth The Illustrious Lady A biography of Barbara Villiers Countess of Castlemaine and Duchess of Cleveland Readers Union 1981 ASIN B0007B1JXY Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Barbara Berkeley Viscountess Fitzhardinge amp oldid 1162265612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
