William Cavendish, first Duke of Newcastle, was succeeded by his son, Henry, second Duke, who left no son, and the title became extinct. But the second Duke’s daughter, Margaret, married John Holies, fourth Earl of Clare, who was created Duke of Newcastle in 1694. At his death this second Dukedom of Newcastle also became extinct, as he only left a daughter. She also left an only daughter, who married William Bentinck, second Duke of Portland, and it was through this marriage that Welbeck Abbey became the property of the Dukes of Portland.

Although he left large estates to his daughter and only child, John Holies, the first and only Duke of Newcastle by the second creation of that title, adopted the eldest son of his sister who had married Sir Thomas Pelham. This nephew, after the death of his uncle, was eventually created Duke of Newcastle in 1715. This was the third Dukedom of Newcastle, and it was given with special remainder to his brother. But neither he nor his brother had any children, and he was anxious that his title should descend to the son of his sister, who had married the seventh Earl of Lincoln. To effect this, he had to be given an entirely different Dukedom of Newcastle; and, in 1756, he was created Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyme—he was already Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne—with remainder to his sister’s male heirs. This was the fourth Dukedom of Newcastle, and it continues to this day.