General history: Baronets

The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 1. Originally published by W Bristow, Canterbury, 1797.

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'General history: Baronets', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 1, (Canterbury, 1797) pp. 221-229. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol1/pp221-229 [accessed 24 March 2024]

In this section

Baronets

THE degree of baronet was instituted in 1611, in the 9th year of king James I. as a means of raising money for the security of a plantation in the province of Ulster, in the kingdom of Ireland. For which end, the person raised to this dignity gave a supply to the king, sufficient to maintain and support thirty men in the foot forces in Ireland, for three entire years, for the defence of that kingdom, and especially of the said province, which was paid in a sum into the exchequer, upon sealing of their patent, but which has been in general long since discontinued. For this reason each baronet bears, over his usual coat of arms, those of Ulster, either in a canton or in an escutcheon, viz. In a field argent, a sinister hand, couped at the wrist, extended in pale, gules. They are created by patent, under the broad seal, to them and the heirs of their body, lawfully begotten, and sometimes with remainder to another in like manner. By their patent they have the addition of sir to themselves, and the title of madam, and lady, to their wives, with precedency before all persons whatever, under the degree of barons of parliament, excepting knights of the garter, privy counsellors, chancellor and undertreasurer of the exchequer, chancellor of the duchy, the chief justices, the master of the rolls, the chief baron, and all other the judges and barons of the degree of the coif, the younger sons of viscounts and barons, and bannerets made by the king, under his standard displayed in an army-royal in open war, in the presence of the king; they have also place in gross near the king's standard. Their eldest sons, attaining the age of twenty-one, may receive knighthood, and they and all their other sons and daughters, and their wives, have place respectively before the eldest sons, and other sons, daughters, and wives of all others whomsoever, whom their fathers precede. In the universities, by the statutes, baronets enjoy much the same privileges as the higher nobility, and are there stiled noblemen.

At the first institution it was designed, that they should not exceed two hundred, and that after this number should be completed, if any of them became extinct, for want of heirs male, there should never be any more created in their room, but that the number aforesaid should diminish, and on that account be reduced to a lesser number; king James exceeded this by four only, and those were to fill vacancies that happened not by death or attainder, but by promotion to a higher dignity, so that he did not go beyond the bounds of his first engagement. But the succeeding kings have been pleased to increase the number greatly, and this degree is now, like the higher hereditary titles, without limitation, at the pleasure of the prince.

At first it was ordered, that none were to be admitted to this degree of honor, unless, upon good proof, they were men for quality, state of living, and good reputation, worthy of it; and, at the least, descended from a grandfather, by the father's side, that bore arms, and had also a clear revenue in lands of at least one thousand pounds per annum. Thus it is very plain, they were designed at first to be men of family, figure, and fortune; but how far this has of late years been deviated from is so visible to every one that it needs no farther comment in this place. (fn. 1)

LIST OF THE BARONETS OF THIS COUNTY,

FROM THE FIRST INSTITUTION OF THE ORDER TO THE PRESENT TIME.

CREATED BY KING JAMES I.

No. in the gen. order of creation. NAME. RESIDENCE. DATE.
25 SIR Moyle Finch, knt. of Eastwell 1611
Now earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham. Two patents; June 29, 1611, and June 7, 1660.
60 Sir John Tuston, knt. of Hothfield
Now earl of Thanet. June 29.
61 Sir Sam. Peyton, knt. of Knowlton
Extinct.
63 Sir Henry Baker, knt. of Sisinghurst
Extinct.
65 Sir Wm. Sidley, knt. of Aylesford
Extinct.
66 Sir Wm. Twysden, knt. of East-Peckham
Now Sir William.
67 Sir Edward Hales, knt. of Woodchurch 1611
New Sir Edward, of St. Stephen's.
68 William Monyns, esq. of Waldershare
Extinct.
105 Sir Wm. Hervey, knt. of Kidbrook 1618
Extinct. March 1.
124 Adam Newton, esq. of Charlton 1620
Extinct. April 2.
138 Sir Tho. Roberts, knt. of Glassenbury
Extinct. July 3.
151 Sir Tho. Palmer, knt. of Wingham 1621
Now of Buckinghamshire. June 29.
153 Sir John Rivers, knt. of Chafford
Extinct. July 19.
155 Sir Isaac Sidley, knt. of Great Chart
Extinct. September 14.
191 Wm. Meredith, esq. of Stansty, Dorset. 1622
Afterwards of Leed's-abbey in this county. Extinct.
193 Giff. Thornhurst, esq. of Agnes-court
Extinct. November 12.

CREATED BY KING CHARLES I.

209 Sir Edw. Dering, knt. of Surrenden 1627
Now Sir Edward. February 1.
217 Thomas Style, esq. of Watringbury
Now Sir Charles. April 21.
223 Wm. Colepepyr, esq. of Aylesford
Extinct. May 17.
226 Sir Humph. Style, knt. of Beckingham
May 20.
242 Michael Livesey, esq. of Eastchurch
Extinct. July 11.
249 Basil Dixwell, esq. of Terlingham
Extinct. February 18.
307 John Maney, esq. of Linton 1641
Extinct. June 29.
310 William Boteler, esq. of Teston
Extinct. July 3.
333 Norton Knatchbull of Mersham-hatch
Now Sir Edward. August 4.
344 Henry Heyman, esq. of Somerfield 1641
Now Sir Henry. August 12.
362 Sir Hum. Tuston, knt. Mote, Maidstone.
Extinct. December 24.
366 Sir John Rayney, bart. of Wrotham 1642
Extinct. January 22.
373 Sir Wm. Cowper, knt. of Ratling-court
Now Earl Cowper. March 4.
380 John Williams, esq. of Minster, Thanet
Extinct. April 22.
395 Sir Rich, Hadres, knt. of Hardres
Extinct. June 3.
408 Stephen Lennard, esq. of West Wickham
Extinct. August 15.
432 Sir E. Waldegrave, knt. of Hever-castle
Now Earl Waldegrave. August 1.

CREATED BY KING CHARLES II.

460 Richard Browne, esq. of Deptford 1649
Extinct. September 1.
466 Sir Arth. Slingsby, knt. of Bifrons 1657
Extinct. October 19.
492 Basil Dixwell, esq. of Brome 1660
Extinct. June 19.
Charles Hudson, esq. of Eltham
Now Sir Charles. July 3.
524 Robert Austen, esq. of Bexley
Extinct. July 10.
526 Robert Hales, esq of Bekesbourn
Now Sir Philip. July 12.
534 Edw. Honywood, esq. of Evington
Now Sir John. July 19.
569 Humphry Miller, esq. of Oxenhoath
Extinct. October 13.
571 John Beale, esq. of Maidstone
Extinct. October 19.
582 John Wroth, esq. of Blenden-hall
Extinct. November 29.
NUMB. NAME. RESIDENCE. DATE.
588 John Fagg, esq. of Whiston, Suffex 1660
Now Sir John of Mystole Chartham. December 15.
William Wilson, esq. of Eastbourne, Suf.
Now Sir Tho. Spencer Wilson, bt. of Charlton. Mar. 4.
647 Nathaniel Powell, esq. of Ewherst, Suffex
And of Wiarton in Kent. Extinct. May 10.
667 John Selyard, esq. of Delaware 1661
Extinct. June 18.
669 Reginald Forster, esq. of EastGreenwich
Extinct. July 11.
679 John Banks, esq. of London
And of Maidstone. Extinct. August 22.
730 Sir Richard Betenson, Wimbledon, Surry 1663
Afterwards of Bradbourn in Sevenoke. Extinct. June 7.
737 Sir John Marsham, knt. of Cuckstone
Now Lord Romney. August 12.
738 Robert Barnham, esq. Bougn Monchelsea
Extinct. August 15.
754 Sir Theoph. Biddulph, knt. Westcombe 1664
Now of Warwickshire. November 2.
761 Thomas Taylor, esq. Park house, Maid. 1665
Extinct. January 18.
765 Sir John Shaw, knt. of London
Now Sir John of Eltham. April 15.
777 Sir William Swan, knt. of Southfleet 1666
Extinct. March 1.
779 Maurice Diggs, esq. of Chilham castle
Extinct. March. 6
783 Sir Tho. Twisden, knt. of Bradbourn
Now Sir John. June 13.
784 Sir Anthony Aucher of Bishopsbourn
Extinct. July 4.
821 Thomas Williams, esq. of Eleham 1674
Now of Brecknockshire. November 2.
822 Robert Filmer, esq. of East Sutton
Now Sir John. December 24.
831 Richard Head, esq. of Rochester 1676
June 19.
836 Thomas Dyke, esq. of Horeham, Suf. 1677
Now Sir John of Lullingstone. March 3.
847 Sir Hen. Oxenden, knt. of Dean 1678
Now Sir Harry of Brome, near Barham. May 8.
878 Timothy Thornhill, esq. Ollantigh 1682
Extinct. December 24.
883 George Chout, esq. of Hinxhill 1684
Extinct. September 16.
886 Richard Sandys, esq. of Norbourn.
Extinct. December 15.

CREATED BY KING JAMES II.

894 Robert Guldeford, esq. of Hemsted 1686
Extinct. February 4.
907 Sir Tho. Fytche, esq. of Eltham. 1688
Extinct. September 7.
908 John Morden, esq. of Blackheath
Extinct. September 20.
909 Jn. Narborough, esq. of Knowlton.
Extinct. November 5.

CREATED BY QUEEN ANNE.

948 Charles Sedley, esq. of Southfleet 1702
Extinct. July 10.
956 Sir Henry Furnese, esq. of Waldershare. 1706
Extinct. June 29.
973 Wm. des Bouverie, esq. of London 1714
Now Earl of Radnor. February 19.

CREATED BY KING GEORGE I.

978 Sir W. Humphreys, knt of London.
And of Hever-castle. Extinct. November 30.
981 Gregory Page, esq. of Greenwich
Extinct. December 3.
995 Thomas D'Aeth, esq. of Knowlton 1716
Now Sir Narborough. July 16.
1000 Brook Bridges, esq. of Goodnestone, 1718
Now Sir Brook. April 19.
1009 Sir W. Sanderson, knt. of Combe 1720
In Greenwich. Extinct. July 19.
NUMB. NAME. RESIDENCE. DATE.
1014 Henry Fermor, esq. of Sevenoke 1725
With remainder to Charles Eversfield of Dean, in Sussex, who now enjoys it. May 4.
1015 Sir Cha. Farnaby, knt. of Kippington. 1726
Now Sir Charles Ratcliffe. July 21.

CREATED BY KING GEORGE II.

1052 Horatio Mann, esq. of Linton 1755
Refident at Florence; with limitation, in failure of issue male, to his brother Galfridus, and his heirs male. Now Sir Horace of Linton and Egerton. March 3.
1064 Sir Sam. Fluyder, knt. of London 1759
And of Lee in this county. Now Sir Samuel. Nov 14.
Sampson Gideon, esq. of Belvidere
Now Lord Eardley. May 19.

CREATED BY KING GEORGE III.

1093 Merrick Burrell, esq. of Sussex 1766
With remainder in default of male issue to Peter Burrell, esq. of Beckenham, and his heirs male. Now Lord Gwydir. July 12.
1099 Rob. Ralph Foley, esq. of Halsted-place 1767
Now removed into Surry. June 27.
1101 Peter Dennis, esq. of St. Mary's.
And of Blackmanstone, Romney-marsh. Extinct. Oct. 28.
John Boyd, esq. of Danson-hill 1775
The present baronet. May, 1775.
William James, esq. of Eltham 1778
Now Sir Edward William. July 2.
Richard Heron, esq. of Newark
Now of Speldhurst. The present baronet. And to his heirs male; remainder to his eldest brother, Thomas. Hern, esq. late of Chilham-castle, deceased, and his heirs male. July 25.
Sir Rt. Gunning, K. B. of Horton
Northamptonshire. Now of Eltham. October 27.
Charles Middleton, esq. of Teston 1781
The prefent baronet. And to his heirs male; remainder to Gerard Noel Edwards, esq. of Dartford, and his heirs male. September 4.
NUMB. NAME. RESIDENCE. DATE.
Richard Rycroft of Penshurst 1783
Now Sir Nelson. December 10.
William Green, esq. of Woolwich 1786
The present baronet. June. 10.
Henry Hawley, esq. of Leyborne 1795
The prefent baronet. April 11.

Footnotes

  • 1. Chauncy's Herts. p. 503. Baronetage, vol. iii. p. 252 et seq.