Lady Anne Spencer, Viscountess Bateman

Biography

http://thepeerage.com/p10542.htm#i105412

Lady Anne Spencer was born in 1702.2 She was the daughter of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland and Lady Anne Churchill.1 She married William Bateman, 1st Viscount Bateman, son of Sir James Bateman and Esther Searle, in 1720.3 She died on 19 February 1769 at Cleveland Row, London, EnglandG.3 Her will (dated 6 April 1757) was proven (by probate) on 27 February 1769.3

From 1720, her married name became Bateman. After her marriage, Lady Anne Spencer was styled as Viscountess Bateman on 12 July 1725. After her marriage, Lady Anne Spencer was styled as Dowager Viscountess Bateman in December 1744.

She was godmother for George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer at his baptism on 16 October 1758 at Wimbledon, London, EnglandG.4

Child of Lady Anne Spencer and William Bateman, 1st Viscount Bateman

1. John Bateman, 2nd Viscount Bateman1 b. Apr 1721, d. 2 Mar 1802. Married Elizabeth Sambrooke, daughter of John Sambrooke and Elizabeth Forester, on 2 July 1748 at St. Anne's, Soho, London, EnglandG.2 He died on 2 March 1802 at age 80 at Shobdon Court, Herefordshire, EnglandG, without issue.1 His will (dated 24 May 1784 to 28 June 1800) was proven (by probate) on 15 April 1802.1

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Extracted from Landed families of Britain and Ireland: (444) Bateman of Shobdon Court, Viscounts Bateman (2021) < link >

Bateman, Sir William (1696-1744), KB, 1st Viscount Bateman. Eldest son of Sir James Bateman (1660-1718), kt., and his wife Esther, daughter and co-heiress of John Searle of Finchley (Middx), merchant, born 6 January and baptised at St Mary, Aldermanbury, London, 9 January 1695/6.

His wife used her influence as the daughter of a former Prime Minister to campaign for him to be given an honour that would reflect her rank, such as being a Knight of the Bath, but King George I chose rather to make him an Irish peer as Viscount Bateman and Baron Culmore of Londonderry, 12 July 1725, reputedly saying 'I can make him a lord, but I cannot make him a gentleman'. George II took a different view and he was made a Knight of the Bath, 12 January 1731/2. He was a notable art collector, making a large collection of paintings and statues during his foreign travels, where (according to Lodge's Peerage), 'he made a better figure than some of the foreign princes through whose dominions he passed'. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, 1733-44.

Despite his marriage, it would appear he was primarily homosexual and in 1738 he was shown to have been having liaisons with the stable boys at Shobdon. His wife was horrified, and went to live at Althorp (Northants) with her brother.

He spent the rest of his life in London and on the Continent, only visiting Shobdon once, in 1740. Although he may have gone abroad in some haste when his activities first came to light, it does not appear to be true that he went into exile to avoid prosecution.

He married, a few days before 10 July 1720, probably in the chapel at Blenheim Palace (Oxon), Anne* (d. 1769), daughter of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland (then the Prime Minister) and granddaughter of the 1st Duke of Marlborough, and had issue:

• (1) John Bateman (1721-1802), 2nd Viscount Bateman (q.v.); He married, 2 July 1748 at St Anne, Soho, Elizabeth (1726-1802), daughter and co-heir of John Sambrooke MP, but had no issue.
• (2) Capt. The Hon. William Bateman (1725-83), born 13 February and baptised at St Anne, Soho, London, 24 February 1724/5; an officer in the Royal Navy, 1737-51 (Lt., 1743/4; Capt., 1745; retired 1751); Equerry to HRH Princess Amelia, 1745-56; MP for Gatton, 1752-54; Extra Commissioner of the Navy, 1756-61; Comptroller of the Storekeeper's Accounts, March-June 1783; married, 17 February 1755 at St James, Bath (Som.), Anne Maria (1727-1802), daughter of Charles Hedges of Finchley (Middx), but had no issue; died 19 June 1783 and was buried at Shobdon (Herefs); will proved in the PCC, 25 June 1783.

He inherited Shobdon Court and Monmouth House, Soho Square, London, from his father in 1718. He completed his father's alterations at Monmouth House by March 1719. He made alterations to Shobdon Court in 1721-22, and purchased additional lands to consolidate the estate. In 1723 he purchased a property at Totteridge and built Totteridge Park. After their separation his wife lived at Althorp.

He died in Paris early in December 1744; his will was proved in the PCC, 31 January 1744/5. His widow died in London, 19 February 1769; her will was proved 27 February 1769.

• Anne was described as clever, but plain and unattractive, awkward, with a big nose and no-nonsense manner, so finding her a rich if rather plebeian husband was counted a success. After 1732, she fell out spectacularly with the Duchess of Marlborough over her own piece of matchmaking for her brother; the Duchess cut off all contact and blackened the face of her portrait, writing on the frame 'she is much blacker inside'. As others found to their cost, the Duchess was a very good hater: in 1738 she called Anne 'the vilest woman I ever knew in my life and deserves to be burnt'.

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References

• http://histfam.familysearch.org/getperson.php?personID=I67590&tree=... (dead link)
• http://www.thepeerage.com/p10542.htm cites

1. [S9] Charles Kidd and David Williamson, editor, DeBretts Peerage and Baronetage (London, U.K.: DeBrett's Peerage, 1999), volume 12, page 1871. Hereinafter cited as DeBretts Peerage, 1999.
2. [S10] John Pearson, Blood Royal: The Story of the Spencers and the Royals (London, U.K.: HarperCollins, 1999), endpiece. Hereinafter cited as Blood Royal.
3. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume II, page 13. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
4. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume XII/1, page 154

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