Elizabeth Finch, 1st Countess of Winchilsea
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Elizabeth Finch, née Heneage, 1st Countess of Winchilsea (9 July 1556–23 March 1634) was an English peeress.
Elizabeth was the daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Heneage, who was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Vice-Chamberlain of the Household in the latter years of the reign of Elizabeth I. At 16 years old, she was married to Moyle Finch on 14 November 1572 and they had six children:
- Theophilius (1573-1619), later 2nd Baronet.
- Heneage (born 1576, died young)
- Hon. Thomas (1578-1639), later 2nd Earl of Winchilsea.
- Hon. Heneage (d. 1631), later Speaker of the House of Commons.
- Hon. Francis, a barrister.
- Lady Catherine, married Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet and had issue.
Her husband became a politician soon after their marriage and was knighted in 1584 and given a baronetcy in 1611. When Sir Moyle died in 1614, Elizabeth and her sons made considerable efforts to have the family's status elevated and almost nine years later, James I created her Viscountess Maidstone, with a remainder to her heirs male. In 1628, she was further elevated by Charles I as Countess of Winchilsea. On her death in 1634, her titles passed to her eldest surviving son, Sir Thomas (who had already inherited his elder brother's baronetcy in 1619).
Elizabeth and Sir Moyle are depicted in repose in a monument commemorating members of the Finch family, sculpted by Nicolas Stone ca 1630. The piece was created after Sir Moyle's death but before Elizabeth's and is now displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
| Peerage of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New creations |
Viscountess Maidstone 1623–1634 |
Succeeded by Thomas Finch |
| Countess of Winchilsea 1628–1634 |
||
