Bess of Hardwick & her Ducal descendants
Elizabeth De Hardwick was born in 1521, in Ault Hucknull, Hardwick, Derbyshire.
Her parents were John Hardwick of Hardwick House and Elizabeth Leake daughter of Thomas Leake of Hasland. John died in 1528, and left issue:
- Jane married Godfrey Bosville of Gunthwaite
- John, married three times, but died without issue
- Mary, married to Richard Wingfield
- Alice, married to Francis Leche of Chatsworth
- Elizabeth of Hardwick
- 1534 - in London, Robert Barlow of Barlow, son of Arthur Barlow and Elizabeth Chaworth, Derbyshire neighbours, whom she met at the London home of her Aunt, and nursed when him he fell ill. His death left Bess a teenage widow.
- 20th August, 1547 at Brodgate, Leicestershire - William Cavendish son of Thomas Cavendish. Of the 8 children of this marriage, 6 survived.
- William St. Loe of Tormarton
- George Talbot, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury in 1567
Bess married :
She died 13th February 1608, at Hardwick Hall and was buried at Allhallows, Derbyshire.
Bess of Hardwick, provides a link with the families of the Dukeries¹.
All were directly descended from her or connected by marriage.
Along with Hardwick and Chatsworth, her marriage with George Talbot brought her Wingfield, Sheffield, Rufford, Welbeck, Tutbury and Bolsover, plus two country houses, one at Handsworth and another at Oldcotes.
