Henrietta (Churchill) Godolphin (bef. 1681 - 1733)

Born before 19 Jul 1681 in Westminster, Middlesex, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 24 Oct 1733 after age 52 in Harrow, Middlesex, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Stephne Churchill [send private message]

Biography

Harriet (Churchill) Godolphin was born in Westminster, Middlesex, England.

Harriet (Churchill) Godolphin is Notable.

Lady Harriet Churchill was a member of the aristocracy in England.

Henrietta Churchill was baptised on 19 July 1681 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, London, England. The family lived at Marborough House, St James, London, England.
She was the second child of John Churchill and his wife, Sarah Jennings.

In the family she was known as Harriet, probably as a tribute to her older sister who had nor survived infancy. Her father was a rising soldier in the service of Charles II, her mother a member of the household of Mary of Modena, Duchess of York. In 1698 she married Francis Godolphin son of Sidney Godolphin and his wife, Margaret Blagge whom she bore two sons and three daughters. Her parents' support of the Duke's daughter, Princess Anne, resulted in a strong friendship which took them to the very source of power when Anne became Queen in 1702 and her father Duke of Marlborough. The following year her only surviving brother, John, died and Henrietta became her father's heir.

When her father died in 1722 Henrietta by a special Act of Parliament became Duchess of Marlborough. The Act excluded any of her daughters from inheriting the Dukedom.

In 1722, after the death of the Duke of Marlborough, when Henrietta Godolphin became Duchess in her own right. Henrietta and playwright, William Congreve, retired to Bath, Somerset, together and there, after twenty years, in 1723, her Grace produced a child, Mary (given the surname Godolphin).

Lady Henrietta (Churchill) Godolphin, Duchess of Marlborough, Countess of Marlborough, Marchioness of Blandford and Baroness Churchill of Sandridge passed away on the 24th August, 1733 (aged 52) at Harrow, London Borough of Harrow, Greater London, England.
Henrietta was buried in Westminster Abbey at her own request. ^[1]

Her titles passed to her nephew, Charles Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland Charles Spencer, Earl of Northumberland who was the son of her sister, Anne (Churchill) Spencer.

William Congreve is also buried at Westminter Abbey in the South Transcept which was known as "Poets Corner". He died 4 years before Henrietta (Churchill) Godolphin. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ "Death/Burial Entry" Henrietta (Churchill) Godolphin died 24 Aug 1733 FaG Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 November 2020), memorial page for Henrietta Churchill Godolphin (19 Jul 1681–24 Oct 1733), Find a Grave Memorial no. 14972760, citing Westminster Abbey, Westminster, City of Westminster, Greater London, England ; Maintained by KRW (contributor 46517473) .
2. ↑ "Death/Burial Entry" William Congreve died 19 Jan 1729. Citing this Record: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 November 2020), memorial page for William Congreve (24 Jan 1670–19 Jan 1729), Find a Grave Memorial no. 1273, citing Westminster Abbey, Westminster, City of Westminster, Greater London, England ; Maintained by Find A Grave .

• Wikipedia biography [1]

• James Sambrook, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Godolphin (née Churchill), Henrietta (Harriet), suo jure duchess of Marlborough