My wife's ancestors - Gerard - Contents

Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield

• References:
  • 1st Earl of Macclesfield in [DNB]
  • 1st Earl of Macclesfield in [Enc.Britannica, 1911].

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • The "Progress" of the Duke of Monmouth in Cheshire, in September 1682, J.P. Earwaker, Journal of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, vol 46 (1894). This has account of Monmouth's visit to Gawsworth Hall.

Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield.
Portrait by William Dobson, c.1645.
Dunedin Public Art Gallery, New Zealand. Online at NZMuseums.
Also on Wikimedia Commons.

Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield,
born c.1618.
See wikipedia and thepeerage.
He was educ Leiden University, Holland, entered 1633.
He was a senior Royalist commander for Charles I in Civil War of 1642-51.
Through his mother he inherited the Fitton property Gawsworth Hall, Cheshire, in 1643. Though he fought a legal battle with his Fitton cousins for its ownership until 1662.
He was created 1st Baron Gerard in 1645.
Left England 1646. Stayed on the Continent until 1660 [DNB].

He mar Jeanne de Civelle [or Jane, French, dau of Pierre de Civelle, Equerry to the queen Henrietta Maria].
Restoration 1660. Gerard returned to England.
Jeanne in 1662 was made lady-in-waiting to the new queen, Catherine of Braganza.
She lost her post in 1663, for telling the queen details of the king's affair with the countess of Castlemaine.
Jeanne died 28 Sept 1671.

Gerard developed the Gerard estate, Soho, London, after 1677.
He was created 1st Earl of Macclesfield in 1679.

Gerard took a London house, Gerard House, Soho, in 1682.
He died 7 Jan 1694 [at the time regarded as the end of 1693], age c.76 yrs. Though [Westminster Abbey Registers] says died 9 Jan 1694. He presumably died in London.
He was bur 18 Jan 1694 [new style year] in Westminster Abbey, London.
1st Earl and Jeanne had issue:

1. Charlotte Gerard, born c.1652.
   She mar 1stly to Thomas Mainwaring [or James, of Cheshire].
   He died.
   She had issue by 1st husband:
   1. Charlotte Mainwaring.
      She mar 1691 to Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun.
      They separated.
      He remained a friend and follower of her uncle the 2nd Earl of Macclesfield.
      He was a gambler, rake, fighter and dueller.
      In 1701 he inherited Gawsworth from the 2nd Earl of Macclesfield.
      He died in the Hamilton-Mohun Duel in 1712.

   She mar 2ndly, est c.1685, to Sir Thomas Orby, 3rd Baronet and had issue.
   3rd Baronet died 1724.
   She was party to a legal case of March 1727.
   She apparently mar 3rdly (in old age) to Edward Manby.
   [Green, 1879] says she died c.1727, age 75, in parish of St.George Hanover Square, London.
   She might be Charlotte Orby, died 5 Apr 1727, who is listed in Musgrave's Obituaries Prior to 1800, parts 3 & 4.
   Administration of will 7 March 1729 [new style year, at the time this was regarded as the end of 1728].
   Probate in Ireland in 1729. See image from index. Lists her as "Charlotte Dame Lady Orby". Which casts doubt on whether she did marry Edward Manby.
   Edward Manby fl 1736.

   
   

2. Charles Gerard, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield, born c.1659,
   succ 1694, died 1701.

3. Fitton Gerard, 3rd Earl of Macclesfield, born 1663,
   succ 1701, died 1702.
   Title extinct.

Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield.
From National Galleries Scotland.

Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield.
From NPG. See terms of use.

Burial entry of Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield, 18 Jan 1694, Westminster Abbey.
From p.233 of [Westminster Abbey Registers].

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• There is a bust of the 1st Earl of Macclesfield in the Gold Room at Gawsworth Hall. See picture in [Turner, 1990, p.21].
• There is a portrait of the 1st Earl of Macclesfield at Longleat.

• Earls of Macclesfield