Our common ancestors - Sidney - Contents

4th Earl of Leicester

Robert Sidney, 4th Earl of Leicester,
of Penshurst, born 1649,
mar Lady Elizabeth Egerton [born 1652, dau of John Egerton, 2nd Earl of Bridgwater, descendant through Stanley of Henry VII],
died 10th Nov 1702, age 53 yrs [grave, Penshurst chapel],
Elizabeth died 1709, age 57 yrs [grave, Penshurst chapel],
had issue:

1. Robert Sidney, eldest child, born 1674,
   died 1680, age 6 yrs [grave, Penshurst chapel].

2. Philip Sidney, 5th Earl of Leicester, born 1676,
   died 24th July 1705, age 29 yrs [grave, Penshurst chapel].

3. John Sidney, 6th Earl of Leicester, born 1680,
   died 27th Sept 1737, age 57 yrs [grave, Penshurst chapel].

4. Jocelyn Sidney, 7th Earl of Leicester, born 1684,
   died 7th July 1743, age 59 yrs [grave, Penshurst chapel], title extinct,
   had illegitimate issue:
   1. Ann Sidney (his "Nancy"), born 1729, illegitimate,
      lived with 7th Earl at Penshurst,
      mar Henry Streatfeild [son of Henry Streatfeild, senior, the co-executor of the last will of 7th Earl] and had issue.

      Chiddingstone Castle (nr Penshurst) in Kent was the home of the Streatfeilds, and has a portrait of Henry Streatfeild, senior. The text says that the 7th Earl left no legitimate heir but on his death-bed wrote a will leaving everything to his 14 year old illegitimate daughter, Ann.
      On his death this will was immediately contested by her legitimate cousins, and the husband of one of these cousins, Mr. Perry, "descended" on Penshurst and threw Ann out.
      Henry Streatfeild eventually arranged a settlement whereby Ann got other Sidney property (and married Streatfeild's son), while the Perry family took Penshurst.

5. Frances Sidney, born 1686,
   died 1692, age 6 yrs [grave, Penshurst chapel].

6. Hon. Thomas Sidney, this line inherited Penshurst.

7. Catherine Sidney.

8. 1 other child who lived.
9. 7 other children who died young.

Grave of 4th Earl and his wife Elizabeth Egerton and their infant children, Penshurst chapel, erected 1704.
She is described as the wife of the 4th Earl, "whose Death she survived seven tedious years, haveing lost in him her better life."
Photo 1998.

   
(Left) Grave of the 5th Earl onwards to Shelley-Sidney, Penshurst chapel.
Erected by William Perry 1743. Photo 1998.
(Right) Detail of same, showing ancestry back to Edward Grey and Elizabeth Talbot.