Husband of the Countess of Loudoun dies...
Michael Rhodes
was the third husband of the Countess of Loudoun (a Peeress in her own
right); and was born Peter Griffiths, son of William Griffiths, of
Hastings, Sussex.
He married Barbara, the 13th holder of the Loudoun peerage in 1954.
Three daughters, Margaret, Mary & Clare were born to this union.
He assumed with his wife, by deed poll, in 1955, the surname of
Abney-Hastings in lieu of Griffiths.
A Requiem Mass will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ashby de la
Zouch, Friday 11 January, 2002, at 12.45 p.m.
...Michael Rhodes.
Brian Watson
"Michael Rhodes" <michaellawr...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:8f00a961.02010...@posting.google.com...
> Peter Abney-Hastings, of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, who died 4 January, 2002,
> was the third husband of the Countess of Loudoun (a Peeress in her own
> right); and was born Peter Griffiths, son of William Griffiths, of
> Hastings, Sussex.
>
> He married Barbara, the 13th holder of the Loudoun peerage in 1954.
>
> Three daughters, Margaret, Mary & Clare were born to this union.
>
> He assumed with his wife, by deed poll, in 1955, the surname of
> Abney-Hastings in lieu of Griffiths.
Any idea why he did that, apart from it looking good on the family
stationary?
--
Brian
Michael Rhodes
The 11th Earl of Loudoun was a Hastings, and was succeeded by his
daughter, who married a Huddleston. He took the name Abney-Hastings in
1918. The 12th holder of the peerage died in 1960 and was succeeded by
the present Countess. So this has become something of a tradition.
I think the first Earl of Loudoun was a Campbell, of the same family
as the Duke of Argyll.
...Michael Rhodes.
Brian Watson
Thank you. I'm still a bit baffled, but that's no fault of your explanation.
--
Brian
Michael Rhodes
(...Snip)
> Thank you. I'm still a bit baffled, but that's no fault of your explanation.
It's just an attempt by the Loudouns to retain the same surname even
though the peerage has descended down the female line. It also tidies
things up. Lady Loudoun has had three husbands, surnamed Lord,
Greenwood & Griffiths, and children to all three. This decision
ensured that all her children had the same surname too.
...Michael Rhodes.