She was born Henrietta Churchill and became The Hon. Henrietta Churchill when her father was made a Scottish Lord of Parliament in 1682. She became Lady Henrietta Churchill in 1689, when her father was created Earl of Marlborough. Upon her marriage to The Hon. Francis Godolphin in March 1698, she became Lady Henrietta Godolphin, then Viscountess Rialton in 1706, when her father-in-law was created Earl of Godolphin. When her husband succeeded as 2nd Earl of Godolphin in 1712, she became Countess of Godolphin.
An act of the English parliament in 1706 allowed the 1st Duke's daughters to inherit his English titles. Following his death in 1722, Lady Godolphin became suo jureDuchess of Marlborough.
She bore five children during her marriage to Lord Godolphin:
Lady Mary Godolphin (1723–1764), married the 4th Duke of Leeds and had issue. It was rumoured that Lady Mary Godolphin was not, in fact, the daughter of the 2nd Earl of Godolphin, but rather daughter of the playwright William Congreve and Henrietta Godolphin.[2]
