BARONETAGE
			Last updated 03/09/2024
			Names of baronets shown in blue
			have not yet proved succession and, as a
			result, their name has not yet been placed on
			the Official Roll of the Baronetage.
Date	Type	Order	Name	Born	Died	Age
			Dates in italics in the "Born" column indicate that the baronet was
			baptised on that date; dates in italics in the "Died" column indicate
			that the baronet was buried on that date
			BERESFORD of Coleraine,Londonderry
5 May 1665	I	1	Tristram Beresford		15 Jan 1673
15 Jan 1673		2	Randal Beresford		19 Oct 1681
Oct 1681		3	Tristram Beresford	1669	16 Jun 1701	31
			For further information on this baronet's wife,
			the subject of a famous Irish ghost story,
			see the note at the foot of this page
16 Jun 1701		4	Marcus Beresford	16 Jul 1694	4 Apr 1763	68
			He was subsequently created Earl of
			Tyrone (qv) in 1746. The second earl was
			created Marquess of Waterford (qv) in
			1789 with which title the baronetcy
			remains merged
			BERESFORD-PEIRSE of Bagnall,co.Waterford
21 May 1814	UK	1	John Poer Beresford	1769	2 Oct 1844	75
			MP for Coleraine 1809-1812,1814-1823 and
			1832-1833,Northallerton 1826-1832 and Chatham
			1835-1837
2 Oct 1844		2	George de la Poer Beresford	1 Mar 1811	11 Feb 1873	61
11 Feb 1873		3	Henry Monson de la Poer Beresford-Peirse	25 Sep 1850	8 Jul 1926	75
8 Jul 1926		4	Henry Bernard de la Poer Beresford-
			Peirse	9 Jan 1875	14 May 1949	74
14 May 1949		5	Henry Campbell de la Poer Beresford-
			Pierse	24 Apr 1905	11 Aug 1972	67
11 Aug 1972		6	Henry Grant de la Poer Beresford-Peirse	7 Feb 1933	24 Jan 2013	79
24 Jan 2013		7	Henry Njers de la Poer Beresford-Peirse	25 Mar 1969
			BERKELEY of Wymondham,Leics
29 Jun 1611	E	1	Henry Berkeley	c 1566	c 1630
to			Extinct on his death
c 1630
			BERKELEY of Bruton,Somerset
2 Jul 1660	E	1	Maurice Berkeley	15 Jun 1628	13 Jun 1690	61
			He subsequently succeeded to the
			Viscountcy of Fitzhardinge (qv) in 1668
			with which title the baronetcy then
			merged until its extinction 13 Jun 1690
			BERNARD of Huntingdon,Hunts
1 Jul 1662	E	1	Robert Bernard	1601	18 Apr 1666	64
			MP for Huntingdon 1640
18 Apr 1666		2	John Bernard	Nov 1630	25 Jun 1679	48
			MP for Huntingdon 1654-1655,1656-1658,
			1659 and 1660
25 Jun 1679		3	Robert Bernard	by 1670	26 Jul 1703
			MP for Huntingdonshire 1689-1690
26 Jul 1703		4	John Bernard	c 1695	15 Dec 1766
15 Dec 1766		5	Robert Bernard	c 1739	2 Jan 1789
to			MP for Huntingdonshire 1765-1768 and
2 Jan 1789			Westminster 1770-1774
			Extinct on his death
			BERNARD of Nettleham,Lincs
5 Apr 1769	GB	1	Francis Bernard	c 1712	16 Jun 1779
16 Jun 1779		2	John Bernard	c 1746	16 Aug 1809
16 Aug 1809		3	Thomas Bernard	27 Apr 1750	1 Jul 1818	68
1 Jul 1818		4	Scrope Bernard (Bernard-Morland from 1811}	1 Oct 1758	18 Apr 1830	71
			MP for Aylesbury 1789-1802 and St.Mawes
			1806-1808 and 1809-1830
18 Apr 1830		5	Francis Bernard-Morland	7 Jun 1790	23 Jan 1876	85
23 Jan 1876		6	Thomas Tyringham Bernard	15 Sep 1791	8 May 1883	91
to			MP for Aylesbury 1857-1865
8 May 1883			Extinct on his death
			BERNARD of Snakemoor,Hants
27 Jan 1954	UK	1	Dallas Gerald Mercer Bernard	22 Mar 1888	26 Nov 1975	87
26 Nov 1975		2	Dallas Edmund Bernard	14 Dec 1926
			BERNEY of Parkhall,Norfolk
5 May 1620	E	1	Richard Berney		1668
1668		2	Thomas Berney		1693
1693		3	Richard Berney		May 1706
May 1706		4	Richard Berney	c 1688	1710
1710		5	Thomas Berney		1742
1742		6	Hanson Berney		1778
1778		7	John Berney	c 1757	4 Sep 1825
4 Sep 1825		8	Hanson Berney	3 Dec 1780	Sep 1870	89
Sep 1870		9	Henry Hanson Berney	30 Nov 1843	27 Feb 1907	63
27 Feb 1907		10	Thomas Reedham Berney	6 Jul 1893	5 Jan 1975	81
5 Jan 1975		11	Julian Reedham Stuart Berney	26 Sep 1952
			BERRY of Catton,Yorks
12 Dec 1806	UK	1	Edward Berry	1768	13 Feb 1831	62
to			Extinct on his death
13 Feb 1831
			BERRY of Long Cross,Surrey
4 Jul 1921	UK	1	William Ewart Berry	23 Jun 1879	15 Jun 1954	74
			He was subsequently created Viscount
			Camrose (qv) in 1941 with which title
			the baronetcy remains merged
			BERRY of Farnham Royal,Bucks
25 Jan 1928	UK	1	James Gomer Berry	7 May 1883	6 Feb 1968	84
			He was subsequently created Viscount
			Kemsley (qv) in 1945 with which title
			the baronetcy remains merged
			BERTIE of the Navy
9 Dec 1812	UK	1	Albemarle Bertie	20 Jan 1755	24 Feb 1824	69
to			Extinct on his death
24 Feb 1824
			BEST-SHAW of Eltham,Kent
15 Apr 1665	E	1	John Shaw	c 1615	1 Mar 1680
			MP for Lyme Regis 1661-1679
1 Mar 1680		2	John Shaw	c 1660	11 Dec 1721
11 Dec 1721		3	John Shaw	1687	4 Mar 1739	51
4 Mar 1739		4	John Shaw	22 Nov 1728	18 Jun 1779	50
18 Jun 1779		5	John Gregory Shaw	25 Jul 1756	28 Oct 1831	75
28 Oct 1831		6	John Kenward Shaw	15 Mar 1783	17 Mar 1857	74
17 Mar 1857		7	John Charles Kenward Shaw	8 Jun 1829	7 Jan 1909	79
7 Jan 1909		8	Charles John Monson Shaw	24 Nov 1860	11 Sep 1922	61
11 Sep 1922		9	John James Kenward Shaw (Best-Shaw
			from 1956)	11 Jun 1895	26 Feb 1984	88
26 Feb 1984		10	John Michael Robert Best-Shaw	28 Sep 1924	22 Apr 2014	89
22 Apr 2014		11	Thomas Joshua Best-Shaw	7 Mar 1965
			BETENSON of Wimbledon,Surrey
7 Feb 1663	E	1	Richard Betenson	c 1602	29 Aug 1679
29 Aug 1679		2	Edward Betenson	c 1675	17 Oct 1733
17 Oct 1733		3	Edward Betenson	c 1688	24 Nov 1762
24 Nov 1762		4	Richard Betenson		15 Jun 1786
to			Extinct on his death
15 Jun 1786
			BETHELL of Park House,Essex
26 Jun 1911	UK	1	Sir John Henry Bethell	23 Sep 1861	27 May 1945	83
			He was subsequently created Baron
			Bethell (qv) in 1922 with which title
			the baronetcy remains merged
			BETHUNE of Kilconquhar,Fife
7 Mar 1836	UK	1	Henry Lindsay Bethune	12 Apr 1787	19 Feb 1851	63
19 Feb 1851		2	John Trotter Bethune	3 Jan 1827	12 May 1894	67
to			He established his claim to the Earldom
12 May 1894			of Lindsay (qv) in 1878 with which title
			the baronetcy merged until the
			baronetcy became extinct on his death
			BETHUNE of Scotscraig,Fife
21 Apr 1683	NS	1	William Sharp	c 1655	27 Jan 1712
Jan 1712		2	James Sharp		25 Apr 1738
25 Apr 1738		3	James Sharp		c 1748
c 1748		4	William Sharp		c 1754
c 1754		5	Alexander Sharp		c 1770
c 1770		6	William Sharp	28 Jan 1729	13 Feb 1780	51
13 Feb 1780		7	Alexander Sharp (Bethune from Aug 1815)	20 Aug 1771	Dec 1847	76
Dec 1847		8	Alexander Bethune	21 Jul 1824	10 May 1900	75
10 May 1900		9	Alexander Sharp Bethune	21 Mar 1860	31 Mar 1917	57
			For further information regarding this baronet's
			successful claim to the baronetcy,see the
			note at the foot of this page
31 Mar 1917		10	Alexander Maitland Sharp Bethune	28 Mar 1909	20 May 1997	88
to			Extinct on his death
20 May 1997
			BETTERTON of Blackfordby,Leics
30 Jul 1929	UK	1	Henry Bucknall Betterton	15 Aug 1872	18 Nov 1949	77
			He was subsequently created Baron
			Rushcliffe (qv) in 1935 with which
			title the baronetcy then merged until
			its extinction in 1949
			BEVAN of Cadoxton Juxta,Glamorgan
9 Jul 1958	UK		See "Evans-Bevan"
			BEYNON of the Coldra,Monmouth
18 Jun 1920	UK	1	John Wyndham Beynon	2 Dec 1864	13 Oct 1944	79
to			Extinct on his death
13 Oct 1944
			BIBBY of Tarporley,Cheshire
8 Jul 1959	UK	1	Sir (Arthur) Harold Bibby	18 Feb 1889	7 Mar 1986	97
7 Mar 1986		2	Derek James Bibby	29 Jun 1922	9 Oct 2002	80
9 Oct 2002		3	Michael James Bibby	2 Aug 1963
			BICKERTON of Upwood,Hunts
29 May 1778	GB	1	Sir Richard Bickerton	23 Jun 1727	25 Feb 1792	64
			MP for Rochester 1790-1792
25 Feb 1792		2	Richard Hussey Bickerton	11 Oct 1759	9 Feb 1832	72
to			MP for Poole 1808-1812
9 Feb 1832			Extinct on his death
			BICKLEY of Attleborough,Norfolk
3 Sep 1661	E	1	Francis Bickley	c 1582	11 Aug 1670
11 Aug 1670		2	Francis Bickley	c 1623	1681
1681		3	Francis Bickley	19 Apr 1644	1687	43
1687		4	Francis Bickley	28 Jan 1667	4 Jul 1746	79
4 Jul 1746		5	Humphrey Bickley		18 Sep 1754
to			Extinct on his death
18 Sep 1754
			BIDDULPH of Westcombe,Kent
2 Nov 1664	E	1	Theophilus Biddulph	c 1612	25 Mar 1683
			MP for London 1656-1658 and 1659 and
			Lichfield 1661-1679
25 Mar 1683		2	Michael Biddulph	18 May 1654	2 Apr 1718	63
			MP for Lichfield 1679-1681,1689-1690,
			1695-1701,1701-1705 and 1708-1710
2 Apr 1718		3	Theophilus Biddulph	c 1685	16 May 1743
16 May 1743		4	Theophilus Biddulph	c 1720	c 1798
c 1798		5	Theophilus Biddulph	28 Mar 1757	30 Jul 1841	84
30 Jul 1841		6	Theophilus Biddulph	28 Mar 1785	15 Jul 1854	69
15 Jul 1854		7	Theophilus Biddulph	18 Jan 1830	1 Mar 1883	53
1 Mar 1883		8	Theophilus George Biddulph	3 Apr 1874	31 Jan 1948	73
31 Jan 1948		9	Francis Henry Biddulph	8 Jun 1882	7 Jan 1980	97
7 Jan 1980		10	Stuart Royden Biddulph	24 Jun 1908	8 Jul 1986	78
8 Jul 1986		11	Ian D'Olier Biddulph	28 Feb 1940	28 Aug 2024	84
28 Aug 2024		12	Paul William Biddulph	30 Oct 1967
			BIGGE of Kings Sutton,Northants
14 Feb 1919	UK		See "Selby-Bigge"
			BIGGS of Lenchwick,Worcs
26 May 1620	E	1	Thomas Biggs	c 1577	11 Jun 1621
to			MP for Evesham 1614 and 1621
11 Jun 1621			Extinct on his death
			BILSLAND of Park Circus,Glasgow
25 Nov 1907	UK	1	William Bilsland	17 Mar 1847	27 Aug 1921	74
27 Aug 1921		2	Alexander Steven Bilsland	13 Sep 1892	10 Dec 1970	78
			He was subsequently created Baron
			Bilsland  (qv) in 1950 with which title
			the baronetcy then merged until its
			extinction in 1970
			BINDLOSSE of Borwick,Lancs
16 Aug 1641	E	1	Robert Bindlosse	8 May 1624	6 Nov 1688	64
to			MP for Lancaster 1646-1648 and
15 Nov 1688			Lancashire 1660
			Extinct on his death
			BINGHAM of Castlebar,co.Mayo
7 Jun 1634	NS	1	Henry Bingham	1573	c 1658
c 1658		2	George Bingham	c 1625	1682
1682		3	Henry Bingham	1654	5 Jul 1714	60
5 Jul 1714		4	George Bingham		c 1730
c 1730		5	John Bingham	1690	21 Sep 1749	59
21 Sep 1749		6	John Bingham	Nov 1728	27 Nov 1750	21
27 Nov 1750		7	Charles Bingham	22 Sep 1735	29 Mar 1799	63
			He was subsequently created Earl of
			Lucan (qv) in 1795 with which title the
			baronetcy remains merged,although at
			30/06/2014 the baronetcy does not appear
			on the Official Roll of the Baronetage
			BINGHAM of West Lea,Sheffield,Yorks
12 Dec 1903	UK	1	John Edward Bingham	27 Jul 1839	18 Mar 1915	75
18 Mar 1915		2	Albert Edward Bingham	22 Nov 1868	25 Feb 1945	76
to			Extinct on his death
25 Feb 1945
			BIRCH of Hasles,Lancs
30 Sep 1831	UK	1	Joseph Birch	13 Jun 1755	22 Aug 1833	78
22 Aug 1833		2	Thomas Bernard Birch	18 Mar 1791	3 Mar 1880	88
to			MP for Liverpool 1847-1852
3 Mar 1880			Extinct on his death
			BIRCHENOUGH of Macclesfield,Cheshire
4 Feb 1920	UK	1	Sir John Henry Birchenough	7 Mar 1853	12 May 1937	84
to			Extinct on his death
12 May 1937
			BIRD of Solihull,Warwicks
27 Jan 1922	UK	1	Sir Alfred Frederick Bird	27 Jul 1849	7 Feb 1922	72
			MP for Wolverhampton West 1910-1922
			For information on the death of this baronet,
			see the note at the foot of this page
7 Feb 1922		2	Robert Bland Bird	20 Sep 1876	20 Nov 1960	84
			MP for Wolverhampton West 1922-1929
			and 1931-1945
20 Nov 1960		3	Donald Geoffrey Bird	3 Jul 1906	18 Oct 1963	57
18 Oct 1963		4	Richard Geoffrey Chapman Bird	3 Nov 1935
			BIRDWOOD of Anzac and Totnes
6 Oct 1919	UK	1	Sir William Riddell Birdwood	13 Sep 1865	17 May 1951	85
			He was subsequently created Baron
			Birdwood (qv) in 1938 with which title
			the baronetcy remained merged until its
			extinction in 2015
			BIRKBECK of Horstead Hall,Norfolk
9 Mar 1886	UK	1	Edward Birkbeck	11 Oct 1838	2 Sep 1908	69
to			MP for Norfolk North 1879-1885 and
2 Sep 1908			Norfolk East 1885-1892
			Extinct on his death
			BIRKIN of Ruddington Grange,Notts
25 Jul 1905	UK	1	Thomas Isaac Birkin	15 Feb 1831	16 Jan 1922	90
16 Jan 1922		2	Thomas Stanley Birkin	18 Oct 1857	7 Apr 1931	73
7 Apr 1931		3	Henry Ralph Stanley Birkin	26 Jul 1896	22 Jun 1933	36
			For further information on this baronet,see
			the note at the foot of this page
22 Jun 1933		4	Alexander Russell Birkin	9 Sep 1861	5 May 1942	80
5 May 1942		5	Charles Lloyd Birkin	24 Sep 1907	8 Nov 1985	77
8 Nov 1985		6	John Christian William Birkin	2 Jul 1953
			BIRKMYRE of Dalmunzie,Perth
29 Jan 1921	UK	1	Sir Archibald Birkmyre	28 Jun 1875	24 Jun 1935	59
24 Jun 1935		2	Henry Birkmyre	24 Mar 1898	10 Mar 1992	93
10 Mar 1992		3	Archibald Birkmyre	12 Feb 1923	7 May 2001	78
7 May 2001		4	James Birkmyre	29 Feb 1956
			BISSHOPP of Parham,Sussex
24 Jul 1620	E	1	Thomas Bishopp	c 1550	1626
			MP for Gatton 1584-1585
1626		2	Edward Bishopp	c 1601	Apr 1649
			MP for Steyning 1626 and Bramber 1640
Apr 1649		3	Thomas Bishopp	3 Dec 1627	1652	24
1652		4	Cecil Bishopp	c 1635	3 Jun 1705
			MP for Bramber 1662-1679
3 Jun 1705		5	Cecil Bishopp		25 Oct 1725
25 Oct 1725		6	Cecil Bishopp		15 Jun 1778
			MP for Penrhyn 1727-1734 and
			Boroughbridge 1755-1768
15 Jun 1778		7	Cecil Bishopp		10 Sep 1779
Sep 1779		8	Cecil Bisshopp,later [1815] 12th Baron Zouche	29 Dec 1753	11 Nov 1828	74
			MP for New Shoreham 1780-1790 and
			1796-1806
11 Nov 1828		9	George William Bisshopp	5 Jul 1791	22 Mar 1834	42
22 Mar 1834		10	Cecil Augustus Bisshopp	6 Jul 1821	22 Jan 1849	27
22 Jan 1849		11	George Curzon Bisshopp	10 Apr 1823	15 Dec 1865	42
15 Dec 1865		12	Edward Cecil Bisshopp	23 Feb 1826	27 Jan 1870	43
to			Extinct on his death
27 Jan 1870
			BLACK of Louth Park,Lincs
2 Feb 1918	UK	1	Alec Black	23 Dec 1872	28 Jun 1942	69
to			Extinct on his death
28 Jun 1942
			BLACK of Midgham,Berks
19 Jun 1922		1	Robert James Black	19 Jul 1860	28 Sep 1925	65
28 Sep 1925		2	Robert Andrew Stransham Black	17 Jan 1902	14 Dec 1979	77
14 Dec 1979		3	Robert David Black	29 Mar 1929	22 May 2021	92
to			Extinct on his death
22 May 2021
			BLACKADDER of Tulliallin,Perth
28 Jul 1626	NS	1	John Blackadder	1596	c 1670
to			On his death the baronetcy became
c 1670			dormant
			BLACKETT of Newcastle,Northumberland
12 Dec 1673	E	1	William Blackett	c 1620	16 May 1680
			MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1673-1680
16 May 1680		2	Edward Blackett	25 Oct 1649	22 Apr 1718	68
			MP for Ripon 1689-1690 and
			Northumberland 1698-1700
22 Apr 1718		3	Edward Blackett	c 1683	1 Mar 1756
1 Mar 1756		4	Edward Blackett	9 Apr 1719	3 Feb 1804	84
			MP for Northumberland 1768-1774
3 Feb 1804		5	William Blackett	16 Feb 1759	27 Oct 1816	57
27 Oct 1816		6	Edward Blackett	23 Feb 1805	23 Nov 1885	80
23 Nov 1885		7	Edward William Blackett	22 Mar 1831	13 Sep 1909	78
13 Sep 1909		8	Hugh Douglas Blackett	24 Mar 1873	13 Nov 1960	87
13 Nov 1960		9	Charles Douglas Blackett	15 Aug 1904	26 Dec 1968	64
26 Dec 1968		10	George William Blackett	26 Apr 1906	22 Jan 1994	87
22 Jan 1994		11	Francis Hugh Blackett	16 Oct 1907	9 Feb 1995	87
9 Feb 1995		12	Hugh Francis Blackett	11 Feb 1955
			BLACKETT of Newcastle,Northumberland
23 Jan 1685	E	1	William Blackett	14 Jun 1657	Dec 1705
			MP for Newcastle upon Tyne 1685-1690,
			1695-1701 and 1705
Dec 1705		2	William Blackett	11 Feb 1690	25 Sep 1728	38
to			MP for Newcastle upon Tyne 1710-1728
25 Sep 1728			Extinct on his death
			BLACKETT of Calverley,Yorks
11 Dec 1711	GB		See "Calverley"
			BLACKHAM of London
13 Apr 1696	E	1	Richard Blackham		29 Jun 1728
			For further information on this baronet,
			see the note at the foot of this page
29 Jun 1728		2	John Blackham		2 Jul 1728
to			Extinct on his death
2 Jul 1728
			BLACKWELL of Sprowston Hall,Surrey
16 Jul 1718	GB	1	Lambert Blackwell		27 Oct 1727
			MP for Wilton 1708-1710
27 Oct 1727		2	Charles Blackwell	c 1700	18 Jul 1741
18 Jul 1741		3	Lambert Blackwell	c 1732	9 May 1801
to			Extinct on his death
9 May 1801
			BLACKWOOD of Ballyleidy,co.Down
1 Jul 1763	I	1	Robert Blackwood	5 Nov 1694	1774	79
1774		2	John Blackwood	1722	26 Feb 1799	76
26 Feb 1799		3	James Stevenson Blackwood	8 Jul 1755	8 Aug 1836	81
			He succeeded to the Barony of Dufferin
			and Claneboye (qv) in 1800 with which
			title the baronetcy remains merged,although,
			as at 30/06/2014,the baronetcy does not
			appear on the Official Roll of the Baronetage
			BLACKWOOD of the Navy
1 Sep 1814	UK	1	Henry Blackwood	28 Dec 1770	14 Dec 1832	61
14 Dec 1832		2	Henry Martin Blackwood	11 Jun 1801	7 Jan 1851	49
7 Jan 1851		3	Henry Blackwood	7 May 1828	26 May 1894	66
26 May 1894		4	Francis Blackwood	11 Nov 1838	20 Jun 1924	85
20 Jun 1924		5	Henry Palmer Temple Blackwood	12 May 1896	1 Sep 1948	52
1 Sep 1948		6	Francis Elliot Temple Blackwood	11 Mar 1901	2 Mar 1979	77
2 Mar 1979		7	Francis George Blackwood	20 May 1916	13 Nov 1991	75
			He succeeded to the Barony of Dufferin
			and Claneboye (qv) in 1988 with which
			title the baronetcy remains merged
			BLADES of Epsom,Surrey
14 Jan 1922	UK	1	George Rowland Blades	15 Apr 1868	24 May 1953	85
			He was subsequently created Baron
			Ebbisham (qv) in 1928 with which title
			the baronetcy then merged until its
			extinction in 1991
			BLAIR of Kinfauns,Perth
18 Sep 1666	NS	1	William Blair		after 1666
to			Extinct on his death
after 1666
			BLAIR of Dunskey,Wigtown
27 Jun 1786	GB		See "Hunter-Blair"
			BLAIR of Harrow Weald,Middlesex
19 Jun 1945	UK	1	Sir Reginald Blair	8 Nov 1881	18 Sep 1962	80
to			MP for Bow and Bromley 1912-1922 and
18 Sep 1962			Hendon 1935-1945
			Extinct on his death
			BLAKE of Menlough,co.Galway
10 Jul 1622	I	1	Valentine Blake		2 Jan 1634
2 Jan 1634		2	Thomas Blake		c 1640
c 1640		3	Valentine Blake		c 1653
c 1653		4	Thomas Blake		c 1670
c 1670		5	Valentine Blake		c 1672
c 1672		6	Walter Blake		May 1748
May 1748		7	Thomas Blake		c 1749
c 1749		8	Ulick Blake		Jun 1766
Jun 1766		9	Thomas Blake		3 Mar 1787
3 Mar 1787		10	Walter Blake		Apr 1802
Apr 1802		11	John Blake	15 Jul 1753	6 May 1834	80
6 May 1834		12	Valentine John Blake	23 Jun 1780	Jan 1847	66
			MP for Galway 1813-1820 and 1841-1847
Jan 1847		13	Thomas Edward Blake	25 May 1805	3 Jan 1875	69
			For information on events which took place at his
			funeral, see the note at the foot of this page
3 Jan 1875		14	Valentine Blake	2 Dec 1836	24 Jul 1912	75
			For information on the destruction of the family
			home, Menlough Castle, see the note at the
			foot of this page
24 Jul 1912		15	Thomas Patrick Ulick John Harvey Blake	18 Mar 1870	15 Dec 1925	55
15 Dec 1925		16	Ulick Temple Blake	6 Aug 1904	5 Oct 1963	59
5 Oct 1963		17	Thomas Richard Valentine Blake	7 Jan 1942	29 May 2008	66
29 May 2008		18	Anthony Teilo Bruce Blake	5 May 1951	23 Jan 2014	62
23 Jan 2014		19	Charles Valentine Blake	13 Jul 1994
			BLAKE of Langham,Suffolk
8 Oct 1772	GB	1	Patrick Blake	c 1742	1 Jul 1784
			MP for Sudbury 1768-1774 and 1775-1784
1 Jul 1784		2	Patrick Blake	c 1768	25 Jul 1818
25 Jul 1818		3	James Henry Blake	1770	21 Apr 1832	61
21 Apr 1832		4	Henry Charles Blake	23 Nov 1794	22 Jan 1880	85
22 Jan 1880		5	Patrick James Graham Blake	23 Oct 1861	15 Jan 1930	68
15 Jan 1930		6	Cuthbert Patrick Blake	2 Jan 1885	27 Jun 1975	90
to			Extinct on his death
27 Jun 1975
			BLAKE of Twizel Castle,Durham
25 May 1774	GB	1	Francis Blake	c 1709	29 Mar 1780
29 Mar 1780		2	Francis Blake	c 1737	22 May 1818
22 May 1818		3	Francis Blake	18 Aug 1774	3 Aug 1860	85
to			MP for Berwick 1820-1826 and 1827-1835
3 Aug 1860			Extinct on his death
			BLAKE of Tillmouth Park,Northumberland
22 Jul 1907	UK	1	Francis Douglas Blake	27 Feb 1856	5 Feb 1940	83
			MP for Berwick 1916-1922
5 Feb 1940		2	Francis Edward Colquhoun Blake	11 Aug 1893	24 Nov 1950	57
24 Nov 1950		3	Francis Michael Blake	11 Jul 1943
			BLAKER of Brighton,Sussex
5 Sep 1919	UK	1	Sir John George Blaker	15 Oct 1854	11 Jun 1926	71
11 Jun 1926		2	Reginald Blaker	27 Apr 1900	3 Jan 1975	74
			MP for Spelthorne 1931-1945
3 Jan 1975		3	John Blaker	22 Mar 1935
			BLAKISTON of Blakiston,Durham
27 May 1615	E	1	Thomas Blakiston	8 Jul 1582	1630	47
to			Extinct on his death
1630
			BLAKISTON of Gibside,Durham
30 Jul 1642	E	1	Ralph Blakiston	c 1589	20 Dec 1650
Dec 1650		2	William Blakiston		26 Feb 1692
Feb 1692		3	Francis Blakiston		8 Oct 1713
to			Extinct on his death
8 Oct 1713
			BLAKISTON of London
22 Apr 1763	GB	1	Matthew Blakiston	c 1702	14 Jul 1774
14 Jul 1774		2	Matthew Blakiston	1761	20 Sep 1806	45
20 Sep 1806		3	Matthew Blakiston	13 May 1783	23 Dec 1862	79
23 Dec 1862		4	Matthew Blakiston	15 Jan 1811	3 Dec 1883	72
3 Dec 1883		5	Horace Nevile Blakiston	2 Aug 1861	12 Sep 1936	75
12 Sep 1936		6	Charles Edward Blakiston	28 Dec 1862	12 Aug 1941	78
12 Aug 1941		7	Arthur Frederick Blakiston	16 Jun 1892	31 Jan 1974	81
31 Jan 1974		8	Arthur Norman Hunter Blakiston	26 Apr 1899	1977	78
1977		9	Ferguson Arthur James Blakiston	19 Feb 1963
			BLAND of Kippax Park,Yorks
30 Aug 1642	E	1	Thomas Bland	c 1614	24 Oct 1657
Oct 1657		2	Francis Bland	c 1642	14 Nov 1663
14 Nov 1663		3	Thomas Bland	21 Dec 1662	14 Dec 1668	5
14 Dec 1668		4	John Bland	2 Nov 1663	25 Oct 1715	51
			MP for Appleby 1681 and Pontefract
			1690-1695 and 1698-1713
25 Oct 1715		5	John Bland	10 Sep 1691	9 Apr 1743	51
			MP for Lancashire 1713-1727
9 Apr 1743		6	John Bland	13 Jan 1722	3 Sep 1755	33
			MP for Ludgershall 1754-1755
			For information on the death of this baronet,
			see the note at the foot of this page
3 Sep 1755		7	Hungerford Bland	c 1726	16 Oct 1756
to			Extinct on his death
16 Oct 1756
			BLAND-SUTTON of Hertford Street,London
26 Jun 1925	UK	1	Sir John Bland-Sutton	21 Apr 1855	20 Dec 1936	81
to			Extinct on his death
20 Dec 1936
			BLANE of Blanefield,Ayr
26 Dec 1812	UK	1	Gilbert Blane	29 Aug 1749	27 Jun 1834	84
27 Jun 1834		2	Hugh Seymour Blane	29 Jul 1795	14 Apr 1869	73
14 Apr 1869		3	Seymour John Blane	1 Feb 1833	26 Jun 1911	78
26 Jun 1911		4	Charles Rodney Blane	28 Oct 1879	31 May 1916	36
to			Extinct on his death
31 May 1916
			BLAQUIERE of Ardkill,Londonderry
16 Jul 1784	I	1	John Blaquiere	15 May 1732	27 Aug 1812	80
			He was subsequently created Baron de
			Blaquiere (qv) in 1800 with which title
			the baronetcy then merged until its
			extinction in 1920
			BLENNERHASSET of Blennerville,co.Kerry
22 Sep 1809	UK	1	Rowland Blennerhassett	1741	14 Mar 1821	79
14 Mar 1821		2	Robert Blennerhassett	26 Jan 1769	21 Sep 1831	62
21 Sep 1831		3	Arthur Blennerhassett	30 Jul 1794	Feb 1849	54
Feb 1849		4	Rowland Blennerhassett	5 Sep 1839	22 Mar 1909	69
			MP for Galway 1865-1874 and Kerry 1880-
			1885. PC [I] 1905
22 Mar 1909		5	Arthur Charles Francis Bernard
			Blennerhassett	14 Apr 1871	29 Jan 1915	43
29 Jan 1915		6	Marmaduke Charles Henry Joseph
			Blennerhassett	20 Nov 1902	25 May 1940	37
25 May 1940		7	Marmaduke Adrian Francis William
			Blennerhassett [he was born the same day as	25 May 1940	9 Apr 2022	81
			his father was killed in action]
9 Apr 2022		8	Charles Henry Maramaduke Blennerhassett	18 Jul 1975
			BLOIS of Grundisburgh,Suffolk
15 Apr 1686	E	1	Charles Blois	14 Sep 1657	10 Apr 1738	80
			MP for Ipswich 1689-1695 and Dunwich
			1700-1709
10 Apr 1738		2	Charles Blois	25 Jun 1733	26 Feb 1760	26
26 Feb 1760		3	Charles Blois	3 Apr 1692	27 Dec 1761	69
27 Dec 1761		4	Ralph Blois	16 Jun 1706	8 May 1762	55
8 May 1762		5	John Blois	21 Nov 1740	17 Jan 1810	69
17 Jan 1810		6	Charles Blois	4 Mar 1766	20 Aug 1850	84
20 Aug 1850		7	Charles Blois	Apr 1794	12 Jun 1855	61
12 Jun 1855		8	John Ralph Blois	18 Aug 1830	31 Dec 1888	58
31 Dec 1888		9	Ralph Barrett Macnaghten Blois	21 Nov 1866	18 Mar 1950	83
18 Mar 1950		10	Gervase Ralph Edmund Blois	6 Jun 1901	22 May 1968	66
22 May 1968		11	Charles Nicholas Gervase Blois	25 Dec 1939
			BLOMEFIELD of Attleborough,Norfolk
14 Nov 1807	UK	1	Thomas Blomefield		24 Aug 1822
24 Aug 1822		2	Thomas William Blomefield	24 Mar 1791	30 Jun 1858	67
30 Jun 1858		3	Thomas Eardley Wilmot Blomefield	3 Aug 1820	21 Nov 1878	58
21 Nov 1878		4	Thomas Wilmot Peregrine Blomefield	31 Dec 1848	20 Jul 1928	79
20 Jul 1928		5	Thomas Edward Peregrine Blomefield	31 May 1907	26 Feb 1984	76
26 Feb 1984		6	Thomas Charles Peregrine Blomefield	24 Jul 1948
			BLOSSE of Galway
8 Jun 1622	I		See "Lynch-Blosse"
			BLOUNT of Sodington,Worcs
5 Oct 1642	E	1	Walter Blount	c 1594	27 Aug 1654
			MP for Droitwich 1624-1625
27 Aug 1654		2	George Blount		12 Nov 1667
12 Nov 1667		3	Walter Kirkham Blount		12 May 1717
12 May 1717		4	Edward Blount		16 Feb 1758
16 Feb 1758		5	Edward Blount	c 1724	19 Oct 1765
19 Oct 1765		6	Walter Blount		5 Oct 1785
5 Oct 1785		7	Walter Blount	3 Sep 1768	31 Oct 1803	35
31 Oct 1803		8	Edward Blount	3 Mar 1795	28 Apr 1881	86
28 Apr 1881		9	Walter de Sodington Blount	19 Dec 1833	26 Oct 1915	81
			For further information on this baronet's wife,
			see the note at the foot of this page.
26 Oct 1915		10	Walter Aston Blount	9 Oct 1876	13 Jun 1958	81
13 Jun 1958		11	Edward Robert Blount	2 Dec 1884	21 Jan 1978	93
21 Jan 1978		12	Walter Edward Alpin Blount	31 Oct 1917	18 Dec 2004	87
to			Dormant on his death
18 Dec 2004
			BLOUNT of Tittenhanger,Herts
27 Jan 1680	E	1	Thomas Pope Blount	12 Sep 1649	30 Jun 1697	47
			MP for St.Albans 1679-1681 and
			Hertfordshire 1689-1697
30 Jun 1697		2	Thomas Pope Blount	19 May 1670	17 Oct 1731	61
17 Oct 1731		3	Harry Pope Blount	13 Sep 1702	8 Oct 1757	55
to			Extinct on his death
8 Oct 1757
			Nicola Sophia Beresford, wife of Sir Tristram Beresford, 3rd baronet (1666-1713)
			and the "Black Ribbon"
			One of the most famous Irish ghost stories concerns Nicola Sophia, Lady Beresford, wife of
			Sir Tristram Beresford, 3rd baronet. The following edited version is taken from "The Book of
			Dreams and Ghosts" by Andrew Lang (Longmans, London, 1897).
			'There is at Curraghmore, the seat of Lord Waterford, in Ireland, a manuscript account of
			the tale, such as it was originally received and implicitly believed in by the children and
			grandchildren of the lady to whom Lord Tyrone is supposed to have made the supernatural
			appearance after death. The account was written by Lady Betty Cobbe, the youngest
			daughter of Marcus, Earl of Tyrone, and granddaughter of Nicola S[ophia], Lady Beresford.
			She lived to be a good old age, in full use of all her faculties, both of body and mind…….
			'John le Poer, Lord Decies, was the eldest son of Richard, Earl of Tyrone, and of Lady
			Dorothy Annesley, daughter of Arthur, Earl of Anglesey. He was born 1665, succeeded his
			father 1690, and died 14th October 1693. He became Lord Tyrone at his father's death, and
			is the 'ghost' of the story.
			'Nicola Sophie Hamilton was the second and youngest daughter and co-heiress of Hugh,
			Lord Glenawley [see Hamilton of Glenawley], who was also Baron Lunge in Sweden. Being a
			zealous royalist, he had, together with his father, migrated to that country in 1643, and
			returned from it at the Restoration. He was of a good old family, and held considerable
			landed property in the county Tyrone, near Ballygawley. He died there in 1679. His eldest
			daughter and co-heiress, Arabella Susanna, married, in 1683, Sir John Macgill, of Gill Hall, in
			the county Down.
			'Nicola S[ophia], (the second daughter) was born in 1666, and married Sir Tristram
			Beresford in 1687. Between that and 1693 two daughters were born, but no son to inherit
			the ample landed estates of his father, who most anxiously wished and hoped for an heir.
			It was under these circumstances, and at this period, that the manuscripts state that
			Lord Tyrone made his appearance after death; and all the versions of the story, without
			variation, attribute the same cause and reason, viz., a solemn promise mutually inter-
			changed in early life between John le Poer, then Lord Decies, afterwards Lord Tyrone, and
			Nicola S. Hamilton, that whichever of the two died the first, should, if permitted, appear to
			the survivor for the object of declaring the approval or rejection by the Deity of the
			revealed religion as generally acknowledged: of which the departed one must be fully
			cognisant, but of which they both had in their youth entertained unfortunate doubts.
			'In the month of October, 1693, Sir Tristram and Lady Beresford went on a visit to her
			sister, Lady Macgill, at Gill Hall, now the seat of Lord Clanwilliam, whose grandmother was
			eventually the heiress of Sir J. Macgill's property. One morning Sir Tristram rose early,
			leaving Lady Beresford asleep, and went out for a walk before breakfast. When his wife
			joined the table very late, her appearance and the embarrassment of her manner attracted
			general attention, especially that of her husband. He made anxious inquiries as to her
			health, and asked her apart what had occurred to her wrist, which was tied up with black
			ribbon tightly bound about it. She earnestly entreated him not to inquire more then, or
			thereafter, as to the cause of her wearing or continuing afterwards to wear that ribbon;
			'for,' she added, 'you will never see me without it.' He replied, 'Since you urge it so
			vehemently, I promise you not to inquire more about it.'
			'After completing her hurried breakfast she made anxious inquiries as to whether the post
			had yet arrived. It had not yet come in; and Sir Tristram asked: 'Why are you so particularly
			eager about letters today?' 'Because I expect to hear of Lord Tyrone's death, which took
			place on Tuesday.' 'Well,' remarked Sir Tristram, 'I never should have put you down for a
			superstitious person; but I suppose that some idle dream has disturbed you.' Shortly after,
			the servant brought in the letters; one was sealed with black wax. 'It is as I expected,' she
			cried; 'he is dead.' The letter was from Lord Tyrone's steward to inform them that his master
			had died in Dublin, 14th October, at 4 p.m. Sir Tristram endeavoured to console her, and
			begged her to restrain her grief, when she assured him that she felt relieved and easier now
			that she knew the actual fact. She added, 'I can now give you a most satisfactory piece of
			intelligence, viz., that I am with child, and that it will be a boy.' A son was born in the
			following July. Sir Tristram survived its birth little more than six years. After his death Lady
			Beresford continued to reside with her young family at his place in the county of Derry, and
			seldom went from home. She hardly mingled with any neighbours or friends, excepting with
			Mr. And Mrs. Jackson, of Coleraine. He was the principal personage in that town, and was,
			by his mother, a near relative of Sir Tristram. His wife was the daughter of Robert Gorges,
			LL.D (a gentleman of good old English family, and possessed of a considerable estate in
			the county Meath), by Jane Loftus, daughter of Sir Adam Loftus, of Rathfarnham, and sister
			of Lord Lisburn. They had an only son, Richard Gorges, who was in the army, and became
			a general officer very early in life. With the Jacksons Lady Beresford maintained a constant
			communication and lived on the most intimate terms, while she seemed determined to
			eschew all other society and to remain in her chosen retirement.
			'At the conclusion of three years thus passed, one luckless day "Young Gorges" most
			vehemently professed his passion for her, and solicited her hand, urging his suit in a most
			passionate appeal, which was evidently not displeasing to the fair widow, and which,
			unfortunately for her, was successful. They were married in 1704. One son and two
			daughters were born to them, when his abandoned and dissolute conduct forced her to
			seek and obtain a separation. After this had continued for four years, General Gorges
			pretended extreme penitence for his past misdeeds, and with the most solemn promises
			of amendment induced his wife to live with him again, and she became the mother of a
			second son. The day month after her confinement happened to be her birthday, and
			having recovered and feeling herself equal to some exertion, she went to her son, Sir
			Marcus Beresford, then twenty years old, and her married daughter, Lady Riverston. She
			also invited Dr. King, the Archbishop of Dublin (who was an intimate friend), and an old
			clergyman who had christened her, and who had always kept up a most kindly intercourse
			with her during her whole life, to make up a small party to celebrate the day.
			'In the early part of it Lady Beresford was engaged in a kindly conversation with her old
			friend the clergyman, and in the course of it said: 'You know that I am forty-eight this
			day.' 'No, indeed,' he replied; 'you are only forty-seven, for your mother had a dispute
			with me once on the very subject of your age, and I in consequence sent and consulted
			the registry, and can most confidently assert that you are only forty-seven this day.' 'You
			have signed my death-warrant, then,' she cried; 'leave me, I pray, for I have not much
			longer to live, but have many things of grave importance to settle before I die. Send my
			son and daughter to me immediately.' The clergyman did as he was bidden. He directed
			Sir Marcus and his sister to go instantly to their mother; and he sent to the archbishop
			and a few other friends to put them off from joining the birthday party.
			'When her two children repaired to Lady Beresford, she thus addressed them: 'I have
			something of deep importance to communicate to you, my dear children, before I die. You
			are no strangers to the intimacy and the affection which subsisted in early life between
			Lord Tyrone and myself. We were educated together when young, under the same roof,
			in the pernicious principles of Deism. Our real friends afterwards took every opportunity to
			convince us of our error, but their arguments were insufficient to overpower and uproot
			our infidelity, though they had the effect of shaking our confidence in it, and thus leaving
			us wavering between the two opinions. In this perplexing state of doubt we made a solemn
			promise one to the other, that whichever died first should, if permitted, appear to the
			other for the purpose of declaring what religion was the one acceptable to the Almighty.
			One night, years after this interchange of promises, I was sleeping with your father at Gill
			Hall, when I suddenly awoke and discovered Lord Tyrone sitting visibly by the side of the
			bed. I screamed out, and vainly endeavoured to rouse Sir Tristram. 'Tell me,' I said, 'Lord
			Tyrone, why and wherefore are you here at this time of the night?' 'Have you then
			forgotten our promise to each other, pledged in early life? I died on Tuesday, at four
			o'clock. I have been permitted thus to appear in order to assure you that the revealed
			religion is the true and only one by which we can be saved. I am also suffered to inform
			you that you are with child, and will produce a son, who will marry my heiress; that Sir
			Tristram will not live long, when you will marry again, and you will die from the effects of
			childbirth in your forty-seventh year.' I begged from him some convincing sign or proof
			so that when the morning came I might rely upon it, and feel satisfied that his appearance
			had been real, and that it was not the phantom of my imagination. He caused the hangings
			of the bed to be drawn in an unusual way and impossible manner through an iron hook. I
			still was not satisfied, when he wrote his signature in my pocket-book. I wanted, however,
			more substantial proof of his visit, when he laid his hand, which was cold as marble, on my
			wrist; the sinews shrunk up, the nerves withered at the touch. 'Now,' he said, 'let no mortal
			eye, while you live, ever see that wrist,' and vanished. While I was conversing with him my
			thoughts were calm, but as soon as he disappeared I felt chilled with horror and dismay, a
			cold sweat came over me, and I again endeavoured but vainly to awaken Sir Tristram; a
			flood of tears came to my relief, and I fell asleep.
			'"In the morning your father got up without disturbing me; he had not noticed anything
			extraordinary about me or the bed-hangings. When I did arise I found a long broom in the
			gallery outside the bedroom door, and with great difficulty I unhooded the curtain, fearing
			that the position of it might excite surprise and cause inquiry. I bound up my wrist with
			black ribbon before I went down to breakfast, where the agitation of my mind was too
			visible not to attract attention. Sir Tristram made many anxious inquiries as to my health,
			especially as to my sprained wrist, as he conceived mine to be. I begged him to drop all
			questions as to the bandage, even if I continued to adopt it for any length of time. He
			kindly promised me not to speak of it any more, and he kept his promise faithfully. You, my
			son, came into the world as predicted, and your father died six years after. I then
			determined to abandon society and its pleasures and not mingle again with the world,
			hoping to avoid the dreadful predictions as to my second marriage; but, alas! in the one
			family with which I held constant and friendly intercourse I met the man, whom I did not
			regard with perfect indifference. Though I struggled to conquer by every means the
			passion, I at length yielded to his solicitations, and in a fatal moment for my own peace
			I became his wife. In a few years his conduct fully justified my demand for a separation,
			and I fondly hoped to escape the fatal prophecy. Under the delusion that I had passed my
			forty-seventh birthday, I was prevailed upon to believe in his amendment, and to pardon
			him. I have, however, heard from undoubted authority that I am only forty-seven this day,
			and I know that I am about to die. I die, however, without the dread of death, fortified as
			I am by the sacred precepts of Christianity and upheld by its promises. When I am gone, I
			wish that you, my children, should unbind this black ribbon and alone behold my wrist before
			I am consigned to the grave.'
			'She then requested to be left that she might lie down and compose herself, and her
			children quitted the apartment, having desired her attendant to watch her, and if any
			change came on to summon them to her bedside. In an hour the bell rang, and they
			hastened to the call, but all was over. The two children having ordered every one to retire,
			knelt down by the side of the bed, when Lady Riverston unbound the black ribbon and
			found the wrist exactly as Lady Beresford had described it--every nerve withered, every
			sinew shrunk.'
			Sir Alexander Sharp Bethune, 9th baronet
			Following the establishment of the official roll of the baronetage in 1910, Bethune petitioned
			for inclusion upon that roll. His petition, which was not opposed, was heard by the
			Baronetage Committee of the Privy Council on 11 December 1916, and was reported in 'The
			Times' on the following day.
			'By Letters Patent dated at Windsor, April 21, 1683, the dignity of Baronet was conferred on
			Sir William Sharp of Scotscraig, son of James Sharp, Archbishop of St. Andrews, who was
			assassinated in 1677 [sic for 1679]. In the case for the claimant it was stated that Sir
			William Sharp married Margaret Erskine, daughter of Sir Charles Erskine, Bt., of Cambo, and
			by her had three sons and several daughters. He died in January, 1712, and was succeeded
			by his eldest son, James. Sir James married Mary, daughter of the first Earl of Melfort, and
			on his death in April, 1738, was succeeded by his only son James. Sir James Sharp died
			without issue. He was succeeded in his estate by his sister, whose son Robert was served
			heir to him in 1783, and in the title by his uncle and heir-male, William Sharp.
			'Sir William Sharp was twice married. Dying without surviving male issue he was succeeded
			in the baronetcy by his brother Alexander. Sir Alexander Sharp was a merchant in St.
			Andrews. He died about 1769 and was succeeded by his eldest son William. Sir William Sharp
			was born in January, 1729, took part in the rising of 1745, was taken prisoner and pleaded
			"Guilty" to a charge of treason, but on account of his youth he obtained a reprieve. After his
			release he served in the French Army. In 1761 he returned to England. When France and
			Spain declared war against Portugal he entered the Portuguese Army. In 1768 he returned
			to England and presented a memorial for a formal pardon that he might be entitled to enjoy
			the baronetcy. In 1769 his prayer was granted by George III. The claim said that about this
			time he appeared to have succeeded his father and to have returned to Scotland and
			married Margaret Bethune, the eldest daughter of John Bethune, of Blebo. Of this marriage
			a son was born, who was baptized at Blebo on August 20, 1771. The entry in the register
			of the Episcopal Church of St. Andrews was as follows:-
			"At Blebo, 20 Aug., 1771, Alexander, son to Sir William Sharp, was baptized, and Mr.
			Bethune of Blebo, the mother's father. The Rev. Mr. James Hutchinson, and my Lady Sharp,
			the father's mother, were sponsors."
			'Sir William Sharp died in London in February, 1780. The entry of his death in the Scots
			Magazine was as follows:-
			"13 Feb., 1780, at London, Sir William Sharp, Bt., Major-General in the Portuguese service,
			Governor of the Province of Minho and Colonel of a regiment of Infantry."
			'He was buried in the churchyard at St. Marylebone. So far no doubt could arise as to the
			right of Alexander Sharp, the son of Sir William Sharp and Margaret Bethune, to succeed his
			father in the baronetcy. No certificate of their marriage was known to be in existence and
			no entry of the banns or of the celebration of the marriage could be found. But no register
			of banns or marriages for the parish of Kemback existed from 1703 to 1787.
			'Sir William seemed to have returned to Portugal, for when he died his mother applied for
			and obtained letters of administration, stating in her affidavit that Sir William had left behind
			him his lawful widow, a native of Portugal and believed to be resident there, and an infant
			daughter. Alexander Sharp [was] never served heir to his father or assumed the title. It
			might, therefore, be suggested that at the time of Sir William's marriage to Margaret
			Bethune he had already been married in Portugal, that he had concealed this from the
			knowledge of his family and friends, that somehow this prior foreign marriage became known
			in Scotland, and that thereafter without any formal legal proceedings his marriage with
			Margaret Bethune was treated as invalid.
			'In 1789 Alexander Sharp obtained a commission in the Army. Having obtained possession of
			the family estates he was, by Royal Licence, dated August 23, 1815, authorized to take the
			name of arms of Bethune of Blebo. General Bethune of Blebo, as he afterwards became,
			married, and on his death in 1847 he was succeeded by his elder son Alexander, the father
			of the claimant.
			'Counsel for the claimant contended that by the law of Scotland where a marriage turned
			out to be null because of some pre-existing impediment the legitimacy of the children would,
			nevertheless, be saved if even one of the parents was in honest ignorance of the existence
			of the impediment.
			'At the close of the hearing Lord Desart [Chairman of the Committee] said that the
			Committee would formally postpone the advice they would give his Majesty for a week.'
			At the end of the week's postponement, the Committee announced that it would advise
			that Sir Alexander Sharp Bethune's name should be added to the official roll of the
			baronetage.
			Sir Alfred Frederick Bird, 1st baronet
			Sir Alfred, who had been created a baronet only 11 days previously, was killed in a traffic
			accident in February 1922. The following report appeared in 'The Scotsman' on 10 February
			1922:-
			'The inquest upon Sir Alfred Bird, M.P. for Wolverhampton West, who was knocked down by a
			motor car at Hyde Park Corner in the early morning of Tuesday, was held before Mr. Ingleby
			Oddie at the Westminster Coroner's Court yesterday. Sir Alfred was returning from a political
			reception at the residence of Lord and Lady Farquhar in Grosvenor Square when he met his
			death. He was 73 years of age, and leaves a widow and several children.
			'Evidence of identification was given by Sir Robert Bland Bird, of Warwickshire, the eldest son
			of the deceased, whose full name, he said, was Alfred Frederick Bird. He last saw his father
			alive on Sunday night, when he was in excellent health. Sir Alfred had normal sight for his age,
			but was very slightly deaf. He was most sober in his habits.
			'Joan Maud Hamilton, of 33 Gillingham Street, Victoria, a witness to the fatality, said that the
			car was going very slowly. She saw Sir Alfred going from the direction of Park Lane towards
			the car, which slowed down a little. He seemed to hesitate, and the car went to go round him,
			and then he appeared to lose himself and not know what to do. Then the car struck him
			sideways, and she saw him beneath the vehicle, The Coroner - He was hesitating and dodging?
			Witness - Yes. He appeared not to know which way to go.
			Mrs. Mary Flynn, of Blythe Road, West Kensington, the occupant of the car, said that she was
			being driven from Piccadilly to West Kensington. They were going very slowly. She heard the
			horn sounded, looked up, and saw a figure moving backwards and forwards. "I could see what
			was going to happen," continued witness, "and could not look any longer. The next thing I saw
			was a man lying by the side of the car. The driver pulled up at once. He had been driving very
			carefully."
			'Dr. Smith, house surgeon at St. George's Hospital, said that Sir Alfred was alive when he was
			brought in, but unconscious, and died a few minutes afterwards. The cause of death was a
			fractured skull.
			'Lewis Marshall, the driver, living at West Hendon, said that he was an owner-driver. At the time
			he was driving at about eight to ten miles an hour. He saw deceased in the centre of the road.
			There was ample room for witness to go round the back of him. Witness sounded his horn as a
			warning. Deceased looked straight at the car, and instead of carrying on seemed to get flurried,
			and came straight into the front wing of the car. The front wheel passed over the lower part of
			the body. Witness pulled up dead, and the body was still partially under the front wheel.
			'John Henry Thorpe, M.P. [for Rusholme], of 6 Northumberland Street, said that he had just
			parted from the deceased about a quarter of twelve, when they were both going home from the
			reception at Lady Farquhar's. He had some conversation with Sir Alfred, and remembered him
			saying "It is a nice fine night. I am going to walk home." Sir Alfred was perfectly sober.
			The Coroner, in summing up, said that Sir Alfred evidently lost his head, went first one way and
			then another, and all that the driver could do was to pull up and hope for the best. He put the
			driver in a hopeless condition, and in this case the driver had pulled up with such great
			promptitude that the body was still partly underneath the car. It exemplified the truth of the
			saying that he who hesitated was lost in London traffic, and one could not but regret that the
			deceased did not realise that he should have stood still and would have been perfectly safe. He
			recorded a verdict of "Accidental Death," and exonerated the driver from all blame.'
			Sir Henry Ralph Stanley Birkin, 3rd baronet
			Sir Henry Birkin, who was generally known by the nickname of Tim [after the cartoon character
			"Tiger Tim"], was one of Britain's leading figures in motor racing during the late 1920s and early
			1930s.
			The following report appeared in 'The Irish Times' of 23 June 1933:-
			'Sir Henry Birkin, Bart., one of the most spectacular figures in motor racing, died yesterday in
			a London nursing home. His death is believed to have been caused by blood-poisoning, which
			set in as a result of his arm being burned on the exhaust pipe of his Maserati car during the
			Tripoli Grand Prix in May last. Sir Henry finished third in that race. [Apparently Birkin had
			dropped his cigarette lighter and burned his arm against the exhaust pipe as he reached to
			retrieve it.]
			'Upon his return to England he went into a nursing home, but his condition became worse, and
			two blood transfusions were performed, which, however, caused only a temporary improvement.
			'With the possible exception of Earl Howe, no British driver in the past six years had shown
			such "dash" as Sir Henry Birkin. He possessed something of the continental drivers' flair for
			spectacular racing tactics, which was in sharp contrast to the more conservative style of
			English driving.
			'In recent years he drove foreign cars, believing that they were superior for racing to any
			motors of the same size produced at home. He would have preferred to handle British cars, and
			in his book on motor racing ["Full Throttle" G T Foulis & Co. London 1932] published about a
			year ago, he made an appeal for the manufacture of big, fast cars with which the foreigner
			could be defeated in the leading road races.
			'It was with a British car - the Bentley - that Sir Henry achieved fame. In the first of the Tourist
			Trophy races in Ulster - the event which led to an awakening of interest in motor racing in the
			British Isles - he made fastest speed. In the following year, 1929, his duel with T.
			Thistlethwaite's Mercedes was one of the most thrilling incidents in the Grand Prix races in the
			Phoenix Park.
			'On that occasion Captain Birkin drove one of his supercharged 4 and a half litre Bentleys, and
			his task was to make Thistlethwaite drive so fast that he would damage his car, leaving a clear
			field for the other Bentleys. He succeeded in eliminating the Mercedes, and, in doing so, over-
			drove his own car, as he had expected to do. Ivanowsky, in an Alfa-Romeo, won the race,
			beating Commander Glen Kidston by a few seconds.
			'The job of forcing the pace became Birkin's usual part in other races - notably at Le Mans,
			where the Bentley team won a great reputation in the Grand Prix d'Endurance. He became a
			regular competitor in the Irish races, and was a most popular figure in both Belfast and Dublin.
			'He started racing in 1927, and had some successes at Brooklands in that year. His most
			important victories were at Le Mans in 1931, when, with Lord Howe as co-driver, he won the
			Grand Prix, and in the Irish Grand Prix in the same year, when he won the Eireann Cup. He held
			the Brooklands lap record.'
			Sir Richard Blackham, 1st baronet
			Sir Richard was found guilty in 1716 of counterfeiting foreign coins, as reported in "The Bloody
			Register. A select and judicious collection of the most remarkable trials...." [London 1764]
			'Sir Richard Blackham, Bart. in the parish of St. Pancras, in the county of Middlesex, was
			indicted at the Old Bailey, for counterfeiting a Foreign coin called Dutch Skillings, on the 16th
			of November 1716.
			'One Bennison deposed, that Mr. Angel bespoke of him two pairs of flasks, and that he was paid
			for them by Sir Richard, ten shillings at one time, and ten shillings at another. Being asked who
			he delivered them to, he said, to Sir Richard's Lady. That when he went to receive the last ten
			shillings at Sir Richard's house at Kentish town, he was persuaded by Sir Richard to stay there
			all night to help them in the morning: That on the next morning, Mr. Angel and he got up, and
			went to work in making those shillings; Sir Richard was there, and ordered the fire himself, and
			he saw several made while he was there.
			'Mr. Angel deposed, that Sir Richard sent for him, and told him, he heard he could make a very
			fine white metal; Angel answered, it was very good for buckles. Sir Richard asked him, whether
			it would not make Dutch Skillings? He said he could not tell; but Sir Richard said it would do
			very well. That then he replied, but is it no crime to make them? Sir Richard said, I believe not.
			He replied again, Sir, you living in the midst of the law, can easily ask Council. The next time
			he saw him, he told him there was no harm in it, and he did not care in the Lord Mayor and
			Court of Aldermen saw him at it. That Sir Richard proffered him ten pounds to live at Kentish-
			town with him as a more convenient place for the purpose. Accordingly he removed with his
			family thither; where he several times with Sir Richard did practice the counterfeiting of Dutch
			Skillings. Sir Richard was always there, managing the fire and giving directions in working.
			'The Constable deposed, that having searched Sir Richard's chambers in the Temple, he found
			in two drawers in a scrutore [i.e. escritoire], two parcels of counterfeit Skillings; and in the
			bottom of a box of writings, another parcel of about an hundred, which he produced in court;
			and in searching Sir Richard, found a pocket pistol about him loaded with powder and ball; and
			asking Sir Richard why he carried it about him, he replied, he did it for fear of a surprise.
			'Another evidence deposed, that he was in the room with the Constable, when those skillings
			were found in his lodgings, he caused an essay [assay] to be made upon them, and found they
			had no silver in them.
			'Two other evidences deposed, that they saw Sir Richard several times assisting and ordering
			the matters in making of counterfeit Dutch skillings.
			'Sir Richard called divers people to invalidate the evidence of Angel; but the Court asking them
			questions, they appeared to be most of them sollicitors for the prisoner, and that they had
			endeavoured to persuade Angel not to appear against the prisoner, and offered him a reward
			if he should take the fact upon himself.
			*
			'Sir Richard made a long defence for himself, but little to the purpose. The evidence against
			him being very full, the Jury found him guilty upon the statute of the 24th of Elizabeth, and he
			was sentenced to forfeit all his goods, chattels, lands and tenements, and to remain in prison
			during his life.'
			Sir Thomas Edward Blake, 13th baronet  [I 1622]
			On the death of Sir Thomas Blake, the 13th baronet, in January 1875, his son and successor, Sir
			Valentine Blake, made the mistake of attempting to have his father buried according to Protestant
			rites, whereas his father had been born and raised as a Catholic. Sir Thomas's tenants were
			greatly angered by such attempt, with the result that Sir Thomas's funeral degenerated into a
			riot. The following, edited, report appeared in [Dublin's] "Freeman's Journal" of 7 January 1875,
			reprinted from the "Galway Vindicator":-
			'The funeral of the late Sir Thomas E. Blake, Bart., took place yesterday at Menlough. From
			twelve o'clock carriages and cars began to arrive; and at the appointed hour - two o'clock -
			there was a line of vehicles extending from the hall-door at Menlough Castle to a considerable
			distance up the avenue, in all over a hundred. [Then follows a lengthy listing of the names of
			clergymen and local gentry who were in attendance]. There was a very large assemblage of
			country people from the surrounding villages. The castle was open to all visitors and abundance
			of refreshments were supplied. The coffin, which was of oak, richly mounted, rested on a
			catafalque in a large room entering from the hall, which was draped in black, with a white cross
			opposite the coffin. The coffin bore the following inscription on a polished brass plate:-
			Sir Thomas E. Blake
			13th baronet
			Born 12th May, 1805;
			Died 1st January, 1875;
			Aged 69 years
			'About a quarter past two the tenantry entered the castle, the coffin was shouldered by a dozen
			men, and the funeral procession was formed. The cortege proceeded to the ancient graveyard
			adjoining the village of Menlough, on a slope of the Corrib, and may be said to be almost in the
			Menlough Castle demesne. The tenantry surrounded the coffin, and relieved each other as the
			procession passed up the avenue to the entrance gate at the village. Here the procession should
			have to pass across a field to the graveyard, which is surrounded by a broken wall of the rudest
			description. Sir Valentine Blake, supported by [another list of names] followed the coffin as chief
			mourners. The Rev. Mr. O'Sullivan and the Rev. Mr. Browne [both Protestant clergymen] came
			close after.
			'At the entrance to the field adjoining the graveyard a commotion amongst the Menlough men
			carrying the coffin took place. They expressed their determination not to permit any funeral
			service to be performed by the Protestant clergymen, the Rev. Messrs. O'Sullivan and Browne,
			who were pushed back on attempting to enter the field. The Rev. Mr. Commins, the Rev. Mr.
			Kiernan [both Catholic clergymen], and several gentlemen surrounded the Protestant clergymen
			to protect them, and administered some hard blows to the villagers, who were pressing on them.
			Sir Valentine Blake came up and spoke to the people, and said he had always worked well with
			them, and he would not interfere with them: they might bring his father as they pleased. Sir
			Valentine, however, took the Rev. Mr. O'Sullivan's arm, and the field was traversed in a kind of
			scuffle, the Catholic clergymen and other gentlemen driving the people before them. Meantime
			the men who were carrying the coffin went at a quick pace, and when they reached the grave-
			yard most of them stood behind the wall or rude stone ditch, and, facing the gentlemen and
			clergymen, refused them an entrance. The Rev. Messrs. O'Sullivan and Browne did not cross the
			graveyard wall, but several gentlemen did, and exerted themselves to make way for them. Some
			hard blows were given by gentlemen, and some of the people were bleeding. They maintained
			their ground however by pushing, and could not be said to have retaliated in any way approach-
			ing violence upon the gentlemen, who struck at them so freely, and almost furiously.
			'While this free fight was going on at the wall, the coffin was entombed. There was no telling how
			it might have ended, for blood was flowing and popular passion was being aroused, when Sir
			Valentine Blake brought matters to a very peaceful conclusion by taking the arm of the worthy
			parish priest, the Rev. Jas. Commins, and walking with him up to the tomb, leaving the Protestant
			clergymen in the field outside the wall. He spoke friendly to the people, told them to pray for his
			father, which they did apparently very fervently, and the vault having been closed, the people
			began to disperse, having first cheered lustily at the tomb. The Rev. Mr. O'Sullivan and the Rev.
			Mr. Browne remained standing in the field for an hour, along with some gentlemen, and it was
			understood the police had been sent for, and it was feared there might be bad work. However,
			they yielded to the entreaties of several gentlemen and went away. There was the usual
			shouting, and we heard there were some missiles thrown, but we did not hear of any gentleman
			being hit or hurt.
			'Some incidents of the scene were most regrettable, and one could not help admiring the
			forbearance exercised by some of the unsophisticated peasantry, whose blood was trickling down
			their faces from blows which they did not even essay to return. The commotion, however, was
			most natural, and we could by no means share in the wholesale denunciations that were hurled
			at the poor people. The were actuated by the noblest emotions of the human heart.
			'The late Sir Thomas was a genial, kind-hearted man. He lived amongst [the peasantry] and was
			beloved by them. He had unbounded influence over them. He was the "Master," and a very good,
			indulgent master he was. There is no question that he was born and baptized a Catholic, and
			bred up a Catholic until he was twelve or fourteen years of age. For the last six years he had
			been an invalid, and there is not a question that the villagers of Menlough believed that he was
			always a Catholic, and that he died a Catholic. His remains were waked and watched for four
			days and four nights in the grand old Irish style, and were visited by every man, woman, and
			child in the village of Menlough. The people were called upon to give him a public funeral, to
			carry the remains of their loved "old master" on their shoulders to their last resting-place in the
			graveyard adjoining their own village. An intensely Catholic people, and believing firmly that the
			late Sir Thomas lived and died a Catholic, was it likely that they would surrender without a
			struggle the remains of their old master to be interred with other rites than those to which they
			believed them entitled? What was natural to happen occurred; and nothing else could be
			expected.'
			The Blake baronets and their home at Menlough Castle
			Menlough Castle, ancestral home of the Blake baronets, was completely destroyed by fire
			in 1910. The following report appeared in the Adelaide 'Advertiser' on 8 September 1910:-
			'Menlough Castle, Co. Galway, the ancestral residence of Sir Valentine and Lady Blake, was
			burned to the ground one Tuesday last month [i.e. 26 July 1910]. Their daughter, Miss [Eleanor]
			Blake, was burned to death and no traces of her remains could be found. A servant, named Miss
			Earley, in trying to escape from the castle, jumped from the roof of the north wing, and was
			killed instantaneously, and a fellow-servant, named Miss Browne, who jumped with her,
			sustained such dreadful injuries that her life is despaired of.
			'Sir Valentine and Lady Blake were in Dublin and were expected home on the Tuesday. They are
			both immensely popular in Galway and the disaster which has overtaken them is universally
			deplored. The castle was beautifully situated on the shores of Lough Corrib, within two miles of
			Galway, and was a solidly built structure, flanked by towers at each end and was covered with
			ivy. It is completely gutted and only the outer walls remain, a sad reminder of its ruined beauty.
			Not a single item of its valuable contents, which included many priceless heirlooms of the family,
			has been saved, the fire having destroyed the entire place.
			'The coachman, James Kirwan, who occupied a room on the top storey over the hall door, heard
			the two female servants, who were sleeping in the other wing, screaming at the top of their
			voices, and on jumping out of bed and opening the room door, he was driven back by the inrush
			of flames and smoke. His room was immediately enveloped and seeing escape cut off by the
			staircase, he burst open one of the windows, flung his clothes out on the lawn, and, seizing the
			ivy which covered the entire front, succeeded in reaching the ground. The ivy gave way, but
			it had a sufficiently firm grip of the wall to break the fall. He was very scantily attired, and
			after hurriedly donning the remainder of his clothes, he rushed round to the frontage facing
			the lake, only to find this portion of the castle enveloped in flames.
			'He then ran round to the fourth side and was horrified to find the two servants on the roof of
			the castle. They were screaming, "For God's sake, save us." Behind them the flames were
			roaring fiercely. Kirwan rushed to the porter's lodge, close at hand, and procured assistance,
			after which he and Ward (the porter) and a man named Flaherty from the village of Menlough
			obtained a ladder and placed it against the wall. Unfortunately the ladder was 10 or 12 ft.
			short, and as the girls were clearly in great agony from the heat, their skin beginning to peel
			off, it was decided to place bundles of hay on the ground and let them jump on it.
			'The hay was quickly placed in position, and the poor girls, still screaming with terror, plunged
			headlong to the ground, a distance of 60 ft. Miss Earley fell on her face and never spoke
			afterwards. Miss Browne fell partly on her feet and was rendered unconscious for a time. On
			regaining consciousness she said her back was broken. During all this time there was no word
			of Miss Blake. Her apartments were apparently the seat of the fire and all attempts to reach
			her room were hopeless. Kirwan then took out a horse and galloped to Galway, where he
			reported the matter to the police, and sent for a priest and doctor. The occurrence was also
			reported at Renmore Military Barracks.
			'District-Inspector Mercer and all the available police force cycled out to the castle. At Renmore
			Military Depot the fire alarm was sounded, and the whole force of the Connaught Rangers,
			under Major Sarsfield, were quickly on parade, and with their engine hose proceeded at the
			double to the seat of the fire, about five miles distant. The fire appliances of the Urban Council
			were also requisitioned and arrived about the same time as the military. But when there hose
			was placed in position it was found that there was some defect in the apparatus which
			prevented it from working for a time. However, the military engine was in full working order and
			soon six lines of hose were playing on the flames. The soldiers worked like Trojans, but their
			efforts were futile, as long before either brigade arrived all hopes of saving the premises were
			abandoned. Efforts were made again and again to find some trace of Miss Blake's body, but
			without success. She had apparently been cremated in the flames.'
			Sir John Bland, 6th baronet  [E 1642]
			In an article entitled "Whimsical Wagers," the Sydney "Star" newspaper of 17 March 1910
			describes a wager entered into between Sir John Bland and Lord Montfort. The wager hinged
			upon which of fashion leader Beau Nash or poet Colley Cibber would outlive the other. However,
			neither party collected his wager, since both had committed suicide while both Nash and Cibber
			were still alive. The story of Lord Montfort's suicide is found within the newspaper article, but
			the death of Sir John Bland is not described. The following is taken from Bland's entry in the
			"History of Parliament 1754-1790.":-
			"Bland was said ‘by his wild dissipation and his unconquerable disposition to play’ to have
			squandered 'immense estates and the whole of Manchester and its environs.' Horace Walpole
			described him as 'good-natured and generous and well-bred', but added about his passion for
			gambling: 'never was such infatuation; I can call it by no term but flirting away his fortune.'
			After an evening's play during which he lost £32,000, Baird, to escape his creditors, went to
			France, and lost further large sums to Theobald Taaffe (M.P. 1747-1754 [for Arundel]), an
			Irish adventurer of infamous reputation. Unable to pay immediately, Bland gave post-dated bills
			which Taaffe at once presented and, on their being dishonoured, procured Bland's arrest under
			a lettre de cachet. 'To save him from the affront, and prevent him killing himself on the spot'
			Charles Selwyn, the English banker in Paris, advanced him £500. 'But,' wrote Selwyn to Henry
			Fox, 6 Sept. 1755, 'his resentment was so great, as we had taken from him the power of
			procuring himself any satisfaction by engaging his honour that he would not see the person
			who had done him this injury till he had paid us this money, that he could not get over it,' and
			on 3 Sept. 1755 he committed suicide at Clermont-en-Beauvoisis."
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