Anne Worsley (née Anne Hyde; born c. 1675 – died 1717) was an English gentlewoman from a prominent aristocratic family, known for her lineage through both her birth and marriage. She was the daughter of Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester, and a niece of Anne Hyde, Duchess of York, making her a cousin to two future British monarchs, Queen Mary II and Queen Anne.
Early Life and Family
Born Anne Hyde around 1675, she was the daughter of Laurence Hyde (1641–1711), who was created 1st Earl of Rochester in 1681 and held various high offices, including Lord High Treasurer and Lord President of the Council. Her mother was Henrietta Boyle (1646–1687), daughter of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Burlington and 2nd Earl of Cork.
Anne's paternal grandfather was Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, the influential statesman and historian of the English Civil War. This heritage placed Anne within one of the most powerful and well-connected families of the late 17th-century English aristocracy, linking her to the royal House of Stuart through her aunt, Anne Hyde, who was the first wife of King James II.
Marriage and Later Life
Anne Hyde married James Worsley (c. 1675–1717) of Pilewell, Hampshire. The Worsleys were a respected landed gentry family with estates in Hampshire. Through her marriage, she assumed the name Anne Worsley.
Anne and James Worsley had several children, including:
- James Worsley (c. 1700–1756), who inherited the family estates at Pilewell.
- Henrietta Worsley, who later married Hon. Thomas Archer, 2nd Baron Archer.
Her status and connections are further evidenced by a portrait painted by the renowned court artist Sir Godfrey Kneller, which is an important historical record of her likeness. Anne Worsley died in 1717, the same year as her husband, James Worsley. She is remembered as a figure emblematic of the interconnected aristocratic society of the late Stuart and early Georgian periods in England.