General history: Baronets | British History Online

Pages 221-229

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

Citation:

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.


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.