Background
Stanhope was the only son of Sir John Stanhope of Shelford, Nottinghamshire by his first wife, Cordell Allington, but was raised by his father's second wife, Catherine Trentham (d1621).
Stanhope was the only son of Sir John Stanhope of Shelford, Nottinghamshire by his first wife, Cordell Allington, but was raised by his father's second wife, Catherine Trentham (d1621).
Stanhope was knighted in 1605 by James I. On 7 November 1616, he was created Baron Stanhope of Shelford and was further elevated as Earl of Chesterfield on 4 August 1628. Leading up to the English Civil War, Chesterfield was summoned to Parliament in 1640 and took the side of King Charles I in the threatening conflict. The Parliamentarian army took the house and burnt it to the ground.
Chesterfield, with an army of some 300 gentlemen and supporters sometime earlier had taken Lichfield for the King. They were attacked by a force led by Sir John Gell and Lord Brooke with 200 men and cannon. Lord Brooke was killed in the encounter on 2 March 1643.
Chesterfield's forces were forced to surrender and were made prisoner. Chesterfield himself was imprisoned and died still in captivity on 12 September 1656, some three and a half years before the Restoration in 1660. 1584-1605: Mr Philip Stanhope
1605-1616: Sir Philip Stanhope Kt
1616-1628: The Rt Hon The First Baron Stanhope Kt
1628-1656: The Rt Hon The First Earl of Chesterfield Kt
In 1604, Stanhope married Catherine Hastings (d 1636), daughter of Francis Hastings, Lord Hastings.
According to Sir Egerton Brydges pp. John (bur 27 July 1623)
Henry Stanhope, Lord Stanhope (died 29 November 1634), the husband of Katherine Wotton, together the parents of Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Chesterfield
Charles (1607–1645)
Edward (1607–1614)
William (1608–1614)
Thomas (died young)
George (1610–1616)
Ferdinando (d 1643), married Lettice Ferrers and had issue he was an M.P. he had three children
Philip (27 October 1645), became a Royalist officer
Sarah (d May 1698), married Sir Richard Hoghton, 3rd Baronet
Michael (1624–1648)
Elizabeth, married Edward Darcy
Arthur (1627–1677) M.P. for Nottingham from whom the fifth Earl and succeeding earls of Chesterfield descend
James (1673–1721), a soldier-statesman and 1st Earl Stanhope.