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Somerset, Earl of (E, 1613 - 1645)

Creation: let.pat. 3 Nov 1613

Extinct: 17 Jul 1645

Family name: Carr

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Arms:

Gules on a Chevron Argent three Mullets Sable in dexter chief a Lion passant guardant Or

Crest:

A Stag's Head erased Or attired Argent

Supporters:

Dexter:  a Lion guardant Gules;  Sinister:  a Stag Or attired and hoofed Argent

Motto:

 Probitas Sibi Ipsi Securitas

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Robert [Carr], 1st Viscount Rochester later 1st Earl of Somerset, KG PC

3rd son of Sir Thomas Ker of Ferniehirst, by his second wife Janet Scott, sister of Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch, and dau. of Sir William Scott, Yr of Branxholm and Buccleuch

born

c. 1587

mar.

26 Dec 1613 Lady Frances Devereux (b. 31 May 1590; former wife of Robert [Devereux], 3rd Earl of Essex; d. 23 Aug 1632), 2nd dau. of Thomas [Howard], 1st Earl of Suffolk, by his second wife Katherine Rich, widow of Hon Richard Rich and 1st dau. and cohrss. of Sir Henry Knyvett, of Charlton, co. Wiltshire

only child

1. Lady Anne Carr (b. 9 Dec 1615; d. 10 May 1684), mar. 11 Jul 1637 William [Russell], 1st Duke of Bedford, and had issue

died

s.p.m. 17 Jul 1645

created

25 Mar 1611 Viscount Rochester

3 Nov 1613 Baron Brancepeth, of Brancepeth in the Bishopric of Durham, and Earl of Somerset

note

a Page of Honour to King James VI; knighted 1607; a Gentleman of the Bedchamber 1607; granted the estate of Sherborne, co. Dorset, formerly belonging to Sir Walter Raleigh 1608/9; Knight of the Garter 1611; Keeper of Westminster Palace for life 1611; High Steward of Westminster 1612; Privy Councillor [E] 1612 and [S] 1613; Acting Secretary of State 1612-14; Treasurer of Scotland 1613; acting Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal 1614-15; Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports 1614-15; Lord Chamberlain of the Household 1614-15; Lieutenant in the Bishopric of Durham 1614/5; in 1615 an enquiry was started into the involvement of the Earl and Countess of Somerset in the murder of Sir John Overbury in 1613; the Earl and Countess of Somerset were arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London; the Countess was tried first and pleading guilty was sentenced to death bur was later pardoned - the Earl was also found guilty despite his plea of innocence but he and his wife were released from the Tower 1621/2 and the Earl received a pardon under the Great Seal 1624

On the death of the 1st Earl of Somerset both his titles became extinct

 First written 30 Mar 2002

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