Description
Our Inspiration
An elegant 5-6mm white pearl necklace with a white drop pearl pendant below a double row of cubic zirconia, on a steel magnetic ball clasp.
Elizabeth Palmer, first wife of John, Viscount Fermanagh
Elizabeth Palmer was the daughter of Ralph and Alice Palmer of Little Chelsea. She was born on 5th June 1664 and married John Verney, later Viscount Fermanagh, on 27th May 1680, just before her 16th birthday.
Although John had half-heartedly entered into marriage negotiations before, they had fallen through with other prospective brides when an acceptable settlement could not be reached. This time was different though and although John was considerably older than Elizabeth (he was 39), he seems to have fallen in love and was determined to win her.
The Palmers and the Verneys both bargained hard for an advantageous Marriage Settlement, and at one point Ralph Palmer banned John from seeing Elizabeth. Fearing he would never be able to marry her, he wrote her a farewell letter reminding her that “I live and love EP”.
They eventually reached a compromise and married at Henry VII’s chapel at Westminster Abbey.
They had 4 children, Elizabeth, Mary, Ralph and Margaret. Sadly Elizabeth died on 20 May 1686, just 2 weeks before her 22nd birthday. Her husband did not marry again until 1692 when he married Mary Lawley. He was left a widower again in 1694 when Mary died of smallpox and in 1697 he was married a third time, to Elizabeth Baker.
The portrait is thought to be from the studio of Lely. Elizabeth is wearing a russet dress and a blue wrap, with pearl jewellery.
