The second son of Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven, by his marriage to Elizabeth Barnham, and a younger brother of James Tuchet, 3rd Earl of Castlehaven, Touchet began life as George Tuchet in Stalbridge, Dorset.
James Tuchet, 3rd Earl of Castlehaven (c. 1617 – 11 October 1684) was the son of Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven and his first wife, Elizabeth Barnham (1592 – c. 1622).
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Lady Alice, Dowager Countess of Derby was already living at Harefield Place, although she became concerned that Lord Castlehaven, the second husband of her eldest daughter, Lady Anne Stanley, would attempt to claim her estate in the event of her death.
A son of George Tuchet, 1st Earl of Castlehaven and 11th Baron Audley, and his wife, Lucy Mervyn, he was known as Lord Audley in his father's lifetime, and succeeded his father on 20 February 1616/7 as the 2nd Earl of Castlehaven and 12th Baron Audley.
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At his trial by peers it was claimed that Henry Skipwith arrived at Fonthill Gifford in 1621 and within a few years was so close to the Earl that he sat at the family table and was to be addressed as “Mister” by the servants.
He passed sentence of death on Lord Audley in 1631, drafted and enforced the proclamation of 20 June 1632 ordering the country gentlemen to leave London, and in 1634 joined in William Laud's attack on the Earl of Portland for peculation.