Anne Finch, Countess Of Nottingham

Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea and Nottingham (née Hatton), was born in October 1668 and died on 26 September 1743. She was the daughter of Christopher Hatton, 1st Viscount Hatton, and Lady Cecilia Tufton. Her maternal grandparents were John Tufton, 2nd Earl of Thanet, and Lady Margaret Sackville. Anne's paternal lineage included Christopher Hatton, 1st Baron Hatton, and Elizabeth Montagu, daughter of Sir Charles Montagu.

In her early life, Anne Hatton experienced a traumatic event when an explosion at Castle Cornet occurred on 30 December 1672. During the incident, her mother and grandmother were killed. Anne, along with her young sisters, was rescued from the debris by James Chappell, a Black servant in her household. She had two younger half-brothers, William Hatton, 2nd Viscount Hatton, and Henry Hatton, 3rd Viscount Hatton, from her father's second marriage. Her family background links her to notable noble families through her maternal and paternal relatives.

Anne was reportedly named after her great-grandmother, Lady Anne Clifford, who was alive at the time of her birth. During her time at court, some ladies expressed surprise at her display of religious observance while praying in the royal chapel.

On 29 December 1685, Anne Hatton married Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham. The marriage was conducted when Anne was approximately 17 years old. Her husband was more than twenty years her senior and had previously been married to Lady Essex Rich, who died in childbirth in 1684. Lady Essex Rich was her distant cousin and the mother of Lady Mary Finch.

Anne and Daniel Finch had at least thirteen surviving children out of approximately twenty-two pregnancies. Their offspring included:

- Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea (1689–1769), who married twice but had no male heirs.

- William Finch (1690–1766), married Charlotte Fermor, and the father of George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea.

- John Finch (1692–1763), who had an illegitimate daughter.

- Henry Finch (1694–1761), whose illegitimate daughter Charlotte married Thomas Raikes.

- Edward Finch (1697–1771), a diplomat who married Anne Palmer; he later adopted the surname Finch-Hatton.

- Essex Finch (1687–1721), married Sir Roger Mostyn, 3rd Baronet.

- Lady Charlotte Finch (1693–1773), married Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset.

- Lady Cecilia Isabella Finch (1700–1771), served as Lady of the Bedchamber to Princess Amelia and owned property at 44 Berkeley Square.

- Mary Finch (1701–1761), married Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Marquess of Rockingham.

- Lady Henrietta Finch (1702–1742), married William Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Cleveland.

- Lady Elizabeth Finch (1704–1784), married William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield.

Professionally, Anne Finch served as the Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Mary II of England from 1691 until the Queen's death in 1694. Her appointment in this role connected her to the royal court during her youth.

Anne Finch died on 26 September 1743. Her ancestry includes connections to prominent noble families in England, and her life intersected with significant historical and social contexts of her time.