Anne Newdigate (1574–1618)

Anne Newdigate, née Anne Fitton, (1574 – 1618) was a gentlewoman and letter writer. Many of her letters have survived including those concerning her scandalous sister Mary Fitton which help to explain whether Mary was Shakespeare's "Dark Lady".

Anne Newdigate
Anne Newdigate in 1592
Born1574
Died1618
Known forCorrespondence

Life

Anne Fitton was the daughter of Lady Alice and Sir Edward Fitton. She learnt how to write and she married John Newdigate when he was sixteen and she was twelve.[1] This was before he went to Brasenose College. They had impressive relatives but their finances were never up their ambitions. Anne is credited with keeping their finances solvent.[2]

Double portrait by unknown artist of Anne Newdigate and Mary Fitton in 1592

For many years they lived on her father's money, especially whilst her husband was at college where she lived at her parents house. In 1592 she and her sister Mary Fitton sat for an oil painting together.[1] In 1595 the couple moved to a house that her father in law had bought in the 1580s. They lived at Arbury Hall near Nuneaton with an income of 300 to 400 pounds a year.

Anne Newdigate had five children of which the eldest was Mary (1598–1643). The eldest son John Newdigate (1600–1642) was his father's heir, the next Richard Newdigate (1602–1678). The last two were daughters - Lettice (1604–1625), and Anne (1607–1637). Anne could have been excluded from society after moving to Arbury but she was a keen correspondent.[2]

The families connections included: Sir William Knollys who was the Earl of Bedford and the Lord Chamberlain of the Household), Vice Admiral Sir Richard Leveson; Sir John Tonstal who was gentleman of the bedchamber; Lettice, Lady Paget; and Elizabeth, Lady Grey. All of these were godparents to her children.

William Knollys was godparent to her daughter who was named Mary. Knollys was besotted with Anne's sister Mary and he wrote several letters to Anne explaining his interest. Knolly's was not only married but he had agreed to serve as a protector to Anne when she went to court and he broke that trust.[3]

Anne's account books and the letters she wrote reveal her role as the financial manager and the respect that she was given by her peers. Francis Beaumont of Bedworth noted her skills as a correspondent and she exchanged news and views with Lady Lucy Percy; Sir Fulke Greville, Lady Margaret Hoby; Lady Grey; and Elizabeth and Lady Ashburnham. Her sister Mary was at the centre of court gossip in her unwanted attention s of ???? and her sister's lover Sir Richard Leveson and another of Anne's children's godparent's manoeuvred on Anne's behalf. He tried unsuccessfully to get Anne the position of Royal wet-nurse to Princess Mary.[2]

Anne became a widow in 1610 and his will made ample provisions for his children but at the risk of leaving his wife and estate without an income. There was even a possibility that she might lose the custody of her children but her letter writing saved her son. Sir Robert Cecil who was the master of the wards commented that her letter was "passionate and moving" and she saw off competitive claims from the Harringtons of Coombe Abbey. She increased her income from her estate aided by William Whitehall who had worked for them since he was at college with her husband. She rejected proposals for her own second marriage and directed her efforts at arranging the marriages of her daughter Mary and her son John. She reached out for advice and support from influential and family contacts. Sir John Tonstal, another of chosen god parents, was to arrange for Anne and her daughter Mary to attend a Royal masque in 1617. She became ill and returned later that year to Warwickshire where she died in the following June. William Whitehall continued his service to the family and her son John gained his majority in 162?[2]

References
  1. Portrait of Anne Newdigate and Anne Fitton, British Library, Retrieved 27 May 2017
  2. Vivienne Larminie, ‘Newdigate , Anne, Lady Newdigate (1574–1618)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 27 May 2017
  3. Vivienne Larminie, ‘Fitton , Mary (bap. 1578, d. 1641)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 27 May 2017
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