1st Duke of Ancaster

DUKEDOM OF ANCASTER

1715-1809

The elevation of the BERTIES was produced by a fortunate marriage at the close of the reign of HENRY VIII with Katherine, de jure 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby, widow of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.  THOMAS BERTIE was Captain of Hurst Castle in the Isle of Wight during the latter end of the reign of HENRY VII, and was living in the reign of EDWARD VI, as appears by a grant of his arms and crest, dated 1550.

This Thomas Bertie had issue, a son and heir,

RICHARD BERTIE (1516-82), who espoused Katherine, 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby, widow of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and only daughter and heir of William, 11th Baron Willoughby de Eresby.

His son and heir,

PEREGRINE BERTIE (1555-1601), 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby,  married Mary, daughter of John, 16th Earl of Oxford, and had issue, a son,

ROBERT, 14th Baron Willoughby de Eresby (1582-1642), who claimed, in right of his mother, the earldom of Oxford, together with the office of Hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain of England.

He was, however, subsequently advanced to the dignity of an earldom, 1626, as Earl of Lindsey; and being on the breaking out of the civil wars appointed General of the King's forces, fell at the battle of Edge Hill, 1642, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

MONTAGU, 2nd Earl (1608-66), who married firstly, in 1627, Martha, Dowager Countess of Holderness, third daughter of Alderman Sir William Cockayne, by whom he had eight children, including his successor, ROBERT.

His lordship wedded secondly, Bridget, Baroness Norris, by which lady he had four children.

He was succeeded by the eldest son of his first marriage,

ROBERT, 3rd Earl (1630-1701), who espoused, in 1654, Mary second daughter and co-heir of John Massingberd, of London, and had issue, a daughter, ARABELLA.

His lordship wedded secondly, Elizabeth, only child of Philip, 4th Baron Wharton, and had further issue,

ROBERT, his successor;
Peregrine;
Philip;
Norris;
Albemarle;
Jane; Caroline.

The 3rd Earl wedded thirdly, Elizabeth, only child of Thomas, 2nd Earl of Downe, and had issue,

Charles;
Elizabeth.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

ROBERT, 4th Earl (1660-1723), who married, in 1678, Mary, daughter of Sir Richard Wynn Bt, and had issue,

Robert (1683-1704);
PEREGRINE, of whom hereafter;
Elizabeth; Eleanor; Mary.

His lordship wedded secondly, 1705, Albinia, daughter of Major-General William Faringdon, and had further issue,

Vere;
Montagu;
Thomas;
Robert;
Louisa.

The 4th Earl was created, in 1706, Marquess of Lindsey; and further advanced, in 1715, to the dignity of a dukedom, as DUKE OF ANCASTER AND KESTEVEN.

His Grace was succeeded by his eldest son,

2nd Duke of Ancaster (Image: Parliamentary Art Collection)

PEREGRINE, 2nd Duke (1686-1742), who espoused, in 1711, Jane, third daughter and co-heir of Sir John Brownlow Bt, and had issue,

PEREGRINE, his successor;
Albemarle;
BROWNLOW, 5th Duke;
Mary; Albinia; Jane; Caroline.

His Grace was succeeded by his eldest son,

PEREGRINE, 3rd Duke (1714-78), who married firstly, in 1735, Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir of William Blundell, of Basingstoke, Hampshire; and secondly, in 1750, Mary, daughter of Thomas Panton, of Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, by whom he had issue,

Peregrine Thomas (1755-8);
ROBERT, his successor;
Priscilla Barbara Elizabeth; Georgiana Charlotte.

His Grace was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

ROBERT, 4th Duke (1756-79), who died unmarried, when the family honours reverted to His Grace's uncle,

BROWNLOW, 5th Duke (1729-1809), who wedded firstly, in 1762, Harriot, only daughter and heir of George Morton Pitt, of Twickenham, Middlesex; and secondly, in 1769, Mary Anne, youngest daughter of Major Peter Layard, of Canterbury, Kent, by whom he had issue,

THE LADY MARY ELIZABETH BERTIE (1771-97), who married, in 1793, Thomas, 4th Earl of Portmore, and had issue.

On the death of the 5th Duke, the dukedom and the marquessate expired, and the earldom of Lindsey passed to his distant cousin, Albemarle [Bertie], 9th Earl of Lindsey.

Former seat ~ Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire.

First published in July, 2017.