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Barbara was born on 16 July 1672 at Cleveland House in London. She was the sixth child of Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland, who had been the principle mistress of Charles II of England for 12 years, while married to Roger Palmer, Earl of Castlemaine. [1]
Around the time of Barbara's birth, her mother was losing her position as the King's chief mistress to Louise de Kérouaille. Her mother claimed Barbara was the King's daughter. King Charles did not appear to have acknowledged the child, as she was not officially granted the surname of Fitzroy as her siblings had (see research notes). Barbara was suspected to have been the child of either John Churchill, or Philip Stanhope, Lord Chesterfield.
In March 1691, the eighteen-year-old Barbara gave birth to an illegitimate son of James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, who was named Charles Hamilton. The child was raised by Barbara Villiers, who was said to have disowned her daughter.[citation needed]
Barbara entered the English Abbey of Portoise, near Paris, France as a novice in 1689 [2] and professed in 1691 as a nun, taking the religious name of Benedicta. She was not elected Abbess of that community, and served under a succession of English Abbesses from 1691: Elizabeth Dabridgecourt (1689-1710), Xaveria Gifford (1710-1711), Elizabeth Joseph Widdrington (1711-1730) [3] She removed to the Priory of St Nicholas, Portoise in 1721 as the Prioress and stayed there until her death in 1737. [2]
Roger Earl of Castlemaine died in 1705, [4] and Barbara's mother the Duchess of Cleveland died in 1709. [5] Neither mentioned Barbara or her son in their wills.
An autograph of the Prioress reported said:
Mon nom du monde est Barbe Fitz Roy est en Religion Benedite fille Du Roy De La grande Bretagne Charles 2dc j'ay fait profession dans Le Couuent des Benedictines Angloiscs De Pontoise L'annee 1691 Le 2* D'auril c'est maison est mittige.
This has been roughly translated as "My name in the world is Barbe Fitz Roy, in Religion it is Benedicta, daughter of the King of Great Britain, Charles II. I made profession at the Convent of the English Benedictines in Pontoise, the year 1691, the 2nd of April. It is my place of penance."
She died on 6 May 1737 and lies buried in the church of the Priory of St Nicholas at Pontoise. [6]
Oxford DNB says Charles II never acknowledged Barbara as his daughter, but did acknowledge the sons and two older daughters of Barbara Palmer as his children. It states Barbara was probably the daughter of John Churchill.[1]
"The Calendar of State Papers" during the reign of Charles II has references to Charles, George and Henry all being given the surname Fitzroy. In 1673, Anne and Charlotte were described as the King's "dear and natural daughters, the Ladies Anne and Charlotte Fitzroy, by... Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland" They were granted the right to bear Royal Arms in a lozenge with a baton sinister ermine, the distinction granted to their eldest brother Charles, Earl of Southampton. No such distinction was granted to Barbara. [7]
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Some time ago I sent you an email, requesting a merge. Due to the fact that they represent the same person. Again, I'm requesting a merge. Many thanks, Regards, Megan
I did explain in my previous email to you that I was unaware at the time of creating the profile that another existed,... nothing came up. Cheers, Megan