Melusina von der Schulenburg, Countess of Walsingham

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About Melusina von der Schulenburg, Countess of Walsingham

Additional Curator's Notes:

There have been many theories that Petronilla Melusine von der Schulenburg was the mother of Benedict Swingate Calvert. While certainly possible as Petronilla Melusine lived in the correct era and circulated in the same social circles as Charles Calvert, Lord Baltimore, there has never been found definitive proof that she was the mother.The most commonly cited source for this relationship is American genealogist George W. H. Washington, FASG (alias S.H. Lee Washington), who developed a reputation as eccentric in his later years. However, as no other name has surfaced as the mother of Benedict, many modern historians continue to show Petronilla Melusine as the mother, with qualifying statements that the relationship is unproven.

Petronilla Melusine von der Schulenburg, Countess of Walsingham was born circa 1693 illegitimately.Her mother registered her birth as her niece to disguise the birth. She was actually the daughter of George I Louis Hanover, King of Great Britain and Ermengarde Melusina Baronin von der Schulenburg.

Petronilla Melusine married Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, son of Philip Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Chesterfield and Lady Elizabeth Saville, on 14 May 1733. She died on 16 September 1778, without issue. Her will was probated in September 1778.

Petronilla Melusine von der Schulenburg was created 1st Countess of Walsingham, co. Norfolk [Great Britain] on 7 April 1722, for life. She was created 1st Baroness of Aldborough, co. Suffolk [Great Britain] on 7 April 1722, for life. As a result of her marriage, Petronilla Melusina von der Schulenburg, Countess of Walsingham was styled as Countess of Chesterfield on 14 May 1733.

She is easily confused with her mother because of the similar names. Ehrmengarde Melusine von der Schulenburg was the mistress of a future king and had illegitimate children. Petronilla Melusine von der Schulenburg was the illegitimate daughter of a future king and had no children.

Maria Edmonds-Zediker, Volunteer Curator, August 2, 2014

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==Links:==

The only fact known about the mother of Benedict Swingate Calvert is that she was a woman "of high social standing.

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Melusina von der Schulenburg, Countess of Walsingham's Timeline

1693
April 1, 1693
April 13, 1693
Ramstedt, Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
1778
September 16, 1778
Age 85