Kitty Hunter

References:

Unpublished research on Kitty Hunter and family, by Raymond Crawfurd.

Four genuine letters, letters between Kitty and 10th Earl in 1762, with an extra letter from a friend. "With a copious preface, ... By a friend of the Earl of -----." Several copies survive. [BL] shelf no. 10920.c.30(1). Also in Beinecke library. The letters:

10th Earl to Kitty.
Kitty to 10th Earl.
10th Earl to Kitty.
Kitty to 10th Earl.
A female friend to Kitty, saying don't elope.
Sources yet to be consulted:
- Lenox-Conyngham papers at [PRO.NI], D/1449, D/501, T/3161, T/406, etc.
  - Letters on the elopement of the 10th Earl of Pembroke with Kitty Hunter.
- Hervey/Bruce papers at [PRO.NI], D/2798, D/1514 and T/2960.
  - Correspondence of 3rd Earl of Bristol, 1763-67.
- Catalogue of Pictures at Norton Hall (his own house), Beriah Botfield, London, 1848, new edn 1863.
  Norton Hall, Norton, E of Daventry, Northamptonshire, was the residence of the bibliophile and antiquary Beriah Botfield, who died in 1863.
- Recueil de Posies Diverses Addresses .. a Madam [Kitty] Croyland de Clarke. An unpublished autograph manuscript by "Vassal de St Hubert" written on 16 leaves, the last blank; a four-line Envoi on leaf 8 crossed through presumably by the author. A very small corner torn from the title-page, disbound. c.1782. [probably written in England].
  - Was for sale as at 1998 at Ken Spelman Rare and Antiquarian Books (or via here). Apparently sold and whereabouts now unknown.
  - "Vassal de Saint Hubert" or "Vassal de St Hubert" is not an alias. He was a Frenchman, worked for the brother of the King of France, admirer of Kitty. He died 1783. [Raymond Crawfurd]

Kitty Hunter, born est c.1740,
descendant of Edward III,
there is a portrait of her at Wilton, showing her dressed as a boy groom holding a horse,
this has led to her being described as the Earl of Pembroke's "stable girl", but this is NOT true,
she was the daughter of an MP and Lord of the Admiralty, of the family who were lords of the manor of Croyland, she had affairs with two Earls, and still married an officer afterwards, and has her portrait painted a number of times,
think she used visit Wilton undercover, possibly using the Wilton Riding School as cover, but she did not work there,
think they met socially, their families knew each other,
the Longleat guide book describes her as "an actress", but this also is surely wrong,
described as "a young woman of fashion" in [Letters, 1762],

brief affair early 1762 with the married Henry Herbert, 10th Earl of Pembroke [born 1734] and had issue,

another affair 1763 with the married Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol [born 1724] and had issue,

finally mar 12 Feb 1770 to Capt. Alured Clarke [later Field Marshal Sir Alured Clarke, born 1744], no issue,
she died 1795, age est c.55 yrs.
See images at [NPG].

The Riding School, Wilton House

In the North Forecourt of Wilton House.
Now the visitors centre.

The Riding School, Wilton House.
Photo 2003. See full size.

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