Royal Mistress. Born in Musbury, Devonshire, England the daughter of Elizabeth Drake and Winston Churchill, one of the five surviving of their twelve children. She served as a Maid of Honor to Anne, Duchess of York in 1663. By 1665, she had also become the Duke of York's mistress. She gave birth to four children; Henrietta, Countess of Newcastle, James, Duke of Berwick; Henry, Duke of Albemarle, and Arabella, all of whom were given the surname of FitzJames and recognized by the duke. She was said to have been possessed of a lively intelligence but diffident looks, and she remained with him for ten years. By the time the duke ascended the throne as James II in 1685, their relationship had been over for a decade. She married Colonel Charles Godfrey about 1675, and with him had at least three children. In 1698, her husband was made Master of the Jewels, and in 1704 a Clerk of the Green Cloth. Two of her daughters were maids of Honor to Queen Anne. When she died at age 82, she was buried near her brother, Admiral George Churchill, in Westminster Abbey. She has no memorial or gravestone of her own.
Royal Mistress. Born in Musbury, Devonshire, England the daughter of Elizabeth Drake and Winston Churchill, one of the five surviving of their twelve children. She served as a Maid of Honor to Anne, Duchess of York in 1663. By 1665, she had also become the Duke of York's mistress. She gave birth to four children; Henrietta, Countess of Newcastle, James, Duke of Berwick; Henry, Duke of Albemarle, and Arabella, all of whom were given the surname of FitzJames and recognized by the duke. She was said to have been possessed of a lively intelligence but diffident looks, and she remained with him for ten years. By the time the duke ascended the throne as James II in 1685, their relationship had been over for a decade. She married Colonel Charles Godfrey about 1675, and with him had at least three children. In 1698, her husband was made Master of the Jewels, and in 1704 a Clerk of the Green Cloth. Two of her daughters were maids of Honor to Queen Anne. When she died at age 82, she was buried near her brother, Admiral George Churchill, in Westminster Abbey. She has no memorial or gravestone of her own.
Bio by: Iola
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