_Henry, Earl of Wotton_ (Vol. viii., p. 173.).--Philip, first Earl of
Chesterfield, had a son Henry, Lord Stanhope, K.B., who married Catherine,
the eldest daughter and co-heir of Thomas, Lord Wotton, and had issue one
son Philip, and two daughters, Mary and Catherine. Lord Stanhope died s. p.
Nov. 29, 1634. His widow was governess to the Princess of Orange, daughter
of Charles I., and attending her into Holland, sent over money, arms, and
ammunition to that king when he was distressed by his rebellious subjects.
For such services, and by reason of her long attendance on the princess,
she was, on the restoration of Charles II. (in regard that Lord Stanhope,
her husband, did not live to enjoy his father's honours), by letters patent
bearing date May 29, 12 Charles II., advanced to the dignity of Countess of
Chesterfield for life, as also that her daughters should enjoy precedency
as earl's daughters.
She took to her second husband John Poliander Kirkhoven, Lord of Kirkhoven
and Henfleet, by whom she had a son, _Charles Henry_ Kirkhoven, the subject
of the Query.
This gentleman, chiefly on account of his mother's descent, was created a
baron of this realm by the title of Lord Wotton of Wotton in Kent, by
letters patent bearing date at St. Johnstone's (Perth) in Scotland, August
31, 1650, and in September, 1660, was naturalised by authority of
parliament, together with his sisters. He was likewise in 1677 created Earl
of _Bellomont_ in Ireland, and, dying without issue, left his estates to
his nephew Charles Stanhope, the younger son of his half-brother the Earl
of Chesterfield, who took the surname of Wotton.
This information is principally from Collins, who quotes "Ec. Stem. per
Vincent." I have consulted also Bank's _Dormant Baronage_, Burke's _Works_,
and Sharpe's _Peerage_.