Elizabeth Carey

biography

Historical Anecdotes of the Families of the Boleynes, Careys, Mordaunts, Hamiltons, and Jocelyns, arranged as an elucidation of the Genealogical Chart at Tollymore Park, etc. (2017). Google Books. Retrieved 16 March 2017, from page 35-37

Elizabeth Carey, the second daughter of Thomas Carey, seems to have inherited her mother’s beauty, as she was celebrated by some of the Rhymers of the day—one of whom said of her that,

• “ Betty Carey‘s lips and eyes,
• “ Make all hearts their sacrifice.”

She married about the year 1656, John Mordaunt, created afterwards Viscount Mordaunt, of Avalon, the second son of John, first Earl of Peterborough, Clarendon mentions heras “ a young, beautiful Lady, “of a very loyal spirit, and notable vivacity of wit “ and humour”—“ who concurred with her husband “ in all honourable dedications of himself.” She assisted him with activity and zeal in his exertions for the restoration of Charles II. ; and when her husband was arrested, in 1658, by the order of Cromwell, and brought to trial, she, by her judicious management in bribing some of the Judges, getting a chief witness out of the way, and though strictly guarded in the Tower, had a note of instruction conveyed to him, how to conduct himself upon the trial—so that she was, under Gon, the means of having him acquitted. Besides being gifted with superior sense and beauty, this excellent Lady was eminently pious ; she kept .a Diary, which is still extant, in her own hand-writing, in which she gives an interesting account of her feelings, with a strict examination of them, on the various events of her life, with her prayers and thanksgivings on those occasions, especially during the imprisonment of her husband, his difl‘erences and law-suit with his brother, Lord Peterborough, the birth of her children, &c. 8:0. But I regret I cannot give more from this interesting volume, as it is some years since I have seen it—it is bound in vellum, and closed with a silver lock. About forty years ago this valuable family relic was discovered, at the back of the books, in the old . library at Dundalk House, by Anne, Countess of Roden, and came into the possession of her daughter, Hariot, Countess of Massereene, who bequeathed it,‘ amongst her valuable papers, to her son-in-law, Visct. Ferrard. ‘Lady Massereene made some few extracts from it and had them printed as a Religious Tract, not long after it was found.

Lady Mordaunt appears to have survived her husband about three years, dying probably in 1678, when the Diary ceases. She became sole heiress to her father, on the death of her sister, Lady Lyttleton, and this was the last of the Careys of the Monmouth line.

She left five sons and four daughters.

• Her eldest son, Charles Mordaunt, who was created Earl of Monmouth, and succeeded as third Earl of Peterborough, was the famous General in the time of Queen Anne-his descendants in the male line are extinct—but some of the family honors were carried, through his grand-daughter, to the Dukes of Gordon.
• The second, General Harry Mordaunt, whose line failed in the third generation—
• the third, Lewis, whose male line is now extinct—
• the fourth, Osmund, killed at the battle of the Boyne, unmarried—and
• George, born after his father’s death, who left two daughters.
• Her eldest daughter Charlotte, married Benjamin Albin, and had no children.
• Carey, the second, died unmarried.
• The third, SOPHIA, married James Hamilton of Bangor, and
• the fourth, ANNE, married James Hamilton of Tollymore.

There is, at Tollymore Park, besides other portraits of Lady Mordaunt, one full length, in a curious groupe, a fine painting, by Louisa Princess Palatine, and there is a copy of it at Castleward.

Historical Anecdotes of the Families of the Boleynes, Careys, Mordaunts, Hamiltons, and Jocelyns, arranged as an elucidation of the Genealogical Chart at Tollymore Park, etc. (2017). Google Books. Retrieved 16 March 2017, from page 116

• Elizabeth, Lady Viscountess Mordaunt, daughter of Thomas Carey, son of Robert, Earl of Monmouth, a full-length group, a beautiful picture, painted by “ Louise, Princess Palatine,” whose name is on it in a wreath, surmounted by an:Electoral Crown, dated 1654.
• John, Lord Viscount Mordaunt—head size.
• Charles Mordaunt, Earl of Peterborough. A.D., 1736.
• Honourable Henry Mordaunt.
• Honourable Lewis Mordaunt.
• Honourable Charlotte Mordaunt, afterwards Mrs. Albin.
• Honourable Carey Mordaunt.
• Honourable Sophia Mordaunt, afterwards Mrs. Hamilton, of Bangor.
• Honourable Anne Mordaunt, afterwards Mrs. Hamilton, of Tollymore.

These last six are small head-size Portraits of the Children of Lord and Lady Mordaunt.

• Honourable Charlotte Mordaunt,
• Honourable Sophia Mordaunt,
• Honourable Anne Mordaunt,

Larger size than the former, and taken when they were older.

• Elizabeth, Lady Viscountess Mordaunt, daughter of Thomas Carey, son of the Earl of Monmouth, half length.
• Elizabeth, Viscountess Mordaunt. A. D. 1670, half length.
• Lady Elizabeth Spelman, daughter of John, Earl of Middleton.
• Anne Hamilton, daughter of John, Lord Viscount Mordaunt, half length. Dogar, delt. A.D. 1690.
• James Hamilton, of Tollymore. A.D. 1680, half length.
• Anne Hamilton, daughter of John, Lord Viscount Mordaunt, head size.
• James Hamilton, of Tollymore, head size. Hill, delt.
• James, Lord Viscount Limerick, half length, a spirited piece. Trevesani, delt.

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• A Genealogical History of the Dormant. (2017). Google Books. Retrieved 16 March 2017, from page 380
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Mar 16 2017, 22:58:08 UTC