Elizabeth Hardwick, or Hardwicke, Countess of Shrewsbury, known as Bess of Hardwick, (1527-1608) was the 3rd surviving daughter of John Hardwick of Hardwicke in Derbyshire. At the age of fifteen she contracted the first of four marriages, to 13-year-old Robert Barlow, heir to a neighbouring estate. However they were too young, and he too sick, to consummate their marriage before he died. Wikipedia
The definitive Wikipedia entry for Bess Of Hardwick. Wikipedia is the biggest multilingual free-content encyclopedia on the Internet. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bess_of_Hardwick
"Bess Of Hardwick" Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury Birth: 1527 Death: 1607 She was a formidable landowner and businesswoman of the 16th century. www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8278
