Barbara (Villiers) Palmer (bef. 1640 - 1709)

Born before 27 Nov 1640 in Westminster, Middlesex, England

Ancestors

Wife of Roger Palmer — married 14 Apr 1659 in London, England

Descendants

Died 9 Oct 1709 after age 68 in Chiswick, Middlesex, England

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Biography

Barbara, daughter of William Villiers, 2nd Viscount Grandon, was baptised on 27 November 1640 in St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, England.^[1][2]

Barbara married Roger Palmer on 14 April 1659 at Christ Church, Newgate Street, City of London, England.^[3]

Barbara became King Charles' mistress in 1660, while still married to Palmer, and whilst Charles was still in exile at The Hague. The Palmers had joined the ambitious group of supplicants who sailed for Brussels at the end of 1659. As a reward for her services, the King created her husband Baron Limerick and Earl of Castlemaine in 1661. In many contemporary accounts, including Pepys's Diary, she is referred to as "Lady Castlemaine".^[4] Barbara's first child was acknowledged by both her husband and her lover as their own. Five more children were acknowledged by King Charles as his children and bore the name Fitzroy.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1934"
   The Dean and Chapter of the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter in Westminster; London, England; Registers and Books of St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster; Reference: MA/01/01/005
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 62467 #5155 (accessed 10 January 2023)
   Barbara Villiers baptism on 27 Nov 1640, daughter of Willm Viscount, in St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, England.
2. ↑ England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 index, FamilySearch, Barbara Villiers, 27 Nov 1640; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 908,519.
3. ↑ Marriage: "London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812"
   London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P69/Ctc/A/01/Ms3713/1
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 1624 #921545495 (accessed 10 January 2023)
   Barbarah Villiers marriage to Roger Palmer on 14 Apr 1659 at Christ Church, Newgate Street, City of London, England.
4. ↑ The Diary of Samuel Pepys

See also:

• S. M. Wynne, ‘Palmer , Barbara, countess of Castlemaine and suo jure duchess of Cleveland (bap. 1640, d. 1709)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008
• English Monarchs Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland
• Wikipedia Barbara Palmer, Duchess of Cleveland

Click Baptism Document to Enlarge