68 BUCKINGHAM. Earldom ? 5. John Villiers, ceiling himself Viscount Pu rbeck and Baron Villiers of Stoke, and, subsequently (1687) Earl of All. Buckingham, &c, being, if the legitimacy of his descent is allowed, „ cousin and h. according to the spec. Urn. in the patent of that bi. Earldom, dat. 14 March 1616/7. He was only surv. s. and h. of Robert Villiers, also styling himself Viscount PtJBBRCK. &e. who was s. and h. of Robert Danvers, alias Villiers, alias Wright, who disclaimed his right to the Peerage ; the said last named Robert being son (tlio' said to be a bastard) of Frances, Viscountess Purbeck (nee Coke) born in the lifetime of her husband John (Villiers), 1st Viscount Purbeck, on whom and the heirs male of his body the reversion of the Earldom of Buckingham, &c. was entailed by the patent of 1617.( a ) He was b. 1677 anil, when 7 years old, was on his Father's death, styled " Vheount Purled; &c." He did not make a formal claim to the Earldom of Buckingham till April 1 709. He m., before 1701, Frances widow of (— ) Heneaoe of co. Lincoln, da. of Rev. (— ) Moyskr, which Lady, like himself, appears to have led a dissolute life. He if. s.p.in.s. 10 Aug. 1723 (at Dancer's Hill), in South Minis, Midx., and was bur. there the 18th as " Lord Buckingham." Admon. 29 Jauy. 1729/30 as " Hon. John Villiers, commonly called Earl ok Buckingham " to his da. Hon. Elizabeth Villiers,( b ) Spinster ; Frances, the relict not appearing. [Jonx Villiers, styled (according to his Father's rank, or assumed rank) Viscount Vilueiis, s. and h. ap., b- 5 and bap. 17 May 1707, at St. Martin's- iu-the-fields.C 1 ) He of. young and v.p., and possibly may be the "John Villers, child," &!<r. there 16 April 1710.] XIII. 4- George Villiers, cousin and lr. male, who, in 1734, made claim to be recognised as Earl of Buckingham, &c, but who 1723. appears never to have actually assumed that, or any other, Peerage title. He was only s. and h. of Edward Villiers, Capt. in the Army, by Joan, da. of William Heming of Worcester, Brewer, which Edward was next br. to John, called Earl of Buckingham as above. He was b. at Worcester 11 April 1690, sue. his Father when but a year old, was ed. at Westm. School, matric. at Oxford (Ch. Ch.) 18 June 1709 ; B.A. 1713 ; M.A. 1716. Vicar of Chalgrove, O-xon. He m. before 1724, Catharine, da. of Thomas Stephens. He d. 174S. W 7 ill dat. 30 March, pr. 10 May 1748. His wife survived him. XIV. 5. George Villiers, who, if entitled to any Peerage, was ih jure E.uil of Buckingham (1617), Viscou.vt Vjllikks 1748, (1616), Viscount Purbeck (1619), Baron Whaddon (1516), and Baron Villiers of Stoke (1619), but who never appears to have W have assumed any Peerage title, s. and h. ; matric. at Oxford ■1771 (Ch. Ch.) 2 July 1742 (as sou of " Oeorgo Villiers of Chalgrove, Oxon, Clerk.") being then 17 ; B.A. 1746 ; M.A. 1749 ; Vicar of Frodshiim, co. Chester, 1772. He m. Mary. He if. s.p. 24 June 1774, when the male line of the first Viscount Purbeck (allowing the legitimacy of his son or reputed son) as also of all those on whom the Earldum of Buckingham, &c, had been entailed under the spec. rem. of 14 March 1617, became exlinet.(' x ) His will as of St. George's, Southwark, dat. 20 June 1770, pr. 16 Dec. 1774. ( a ) See under " Purbeck," Viscountcy (<•;•. 1619), an account of the attempt to bar the right af [that] Peerage by a fine ; a right not acknowledged by the House of Lords, who, however, somewhat inconsistently, refused to recognise any succession to that dignity. It must, however, be admitted that their ground for so doing appears to have been (the questionable one of) adulterine bastardy, ( b ) She appears to have if. 4 July 178'i in Tavistock Court, Tavistock street, Midx., aged about 85. Another da. an infant was bur. 18 May 1703 at Merlon, Surrey, as " Lady Mary Villiers, da. of the lit. Hon. Earl of Buckingham and Lord Viscount Purbeck of this parish." ( c ) " Right Hon. John, Lord Villars, s. to the Rt. Hon. Jno., Earle of Buckingham, Viscount Purbeck and Baron of Stouk, by Frances his Countess." Par. Reg. of Baptism. () Edward Villiers, his only br., cf. (presumably before him) unm. Their sister
