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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: s.read on Monday 24 June 13 10:33 BST (UK)

Title: Royal House of Orange
Post by: s.read on Monday 24 June 13 10:33 BST (UK)
Can anyone tell me where to find names and birth dates; parentage, etc , of ladies in waiting to Queen Mary 2nd, 1650 - 1699 approx
please . There is supposed to be an  family ancestor who worked in the royal household at this time.

Would be very grateful for some help.
Title: Re: Royal House of Orange
Post by: spendlove on Monday 24 June 13 15:20 BST (UK)
Hi,
You give a wide date range 1650 - 1699, which covers a number of Kings not to mention the 11 years when we became a republic 1649-1660.

Mary wife of William of Orange ruled from 1688 - 1694.

If your ancestor was a Lady in Waiting, she would have been from upper class/titled family, and more than likely married into the same class.  If you have her name, and possibly her title you should be able to discover more about her.

Spendlove

Title: Re: Royal House of Orange
Post by: KGarrad on Monday 24 June 13 20:05 BST (UK)
I think that most of Mary's ladies-in-waiting were actually from Holland?

About 1685, following false accusations of William having an affair, Mary's (English) staff were dismissed and sent back to Britain.
Title: Re: Royal House of Orange
Post by: larkspur on Wednesday 26 June 13 14:47 BST (UK)
Mary born 30 April 1662 died 28 Dec 1694, so that narrows down your dates by 17  years. She was only 32  when she died of Smallpox.
Married William 4 Nov 1677 and they lived in Holland.
Became Queen of England 13 Feb 1689.
One of her well known ladies was Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess of Orkney, she was Williams mistress for many years. Another who went to Holland with the newly weds was Lady Mary Bentinck.
Title: Re: Royal House of Orange
Post by: s.read on Wednesday 26 June 13 16:34 BST (UK)
thanks. unfortunately i don`t have her name, but i think she came over from holland with Mary to england.
Title: Re: Royal House of Orange
Post by: Mike in Cumbria on Thursday 27 June 13 08:24 BST (UK)
thanks. unfortunately i don`t have her name, but i think she came over from holland with Mary to england.

How has this information come to you? Is it a family story, passed down the generations, or are you working from some sort of historic record?  Either way, I hope you find some answers but it will be difficult.

Mike
Title: Re: Royal House of Orange
Post by: Yasmina4 on Thursday 27 June 13 08:36 BST (UK)
This thread looks interesting.  Ihope you get there in the end.  sandra
Title: Re: Royal House of Orange
Post by: s.read on Thursday 27 June 13 15:08 BST (UK)
Hi
It`s a family story, passed down through generations. My guess is that she was dutch and came to live/ marry over here. Just don`t know where to get more details/ info, so thought I`d try here.

Title: Re: Royal House of Orange
Post by: larkspur on Thursday 27 June 13 17:07 BST (UK)
A few more Ladies, who went to Holland with her, Anne and Elizabeth Villiers, Anne Trelawney and Jane Wroth. I have not found any of her Dutch household.
Title: Re: Royal House of Orange
Post by: halhawk on Friday 28 June 13 01:22 BST (UK)
Have a look at google books.  There is a book called 'Register of appointments to the household of Queen Mary II'  (or similar - I've accidentally closed the page!) published 1689, but not apparently digitised. It looks like this might have the information you are after, assuming your possible ancestress was in Royal service from the start of the reign.  Whether you could access a copy of this book anywhere is another matter.  Otherwise the Royal Archives at Windsor would probably have this sort of information.
Title: Re: Royal House of Orange
Post by: s.read on Friday 28 June 13 09:51 BST (UK)
thank you. I will look for that register.