Numbering of Stonhouse Baronets

[Paul Theroff]

Can anyone explain the discrepancy in the numbering of the Stonhouse Baronets? It would be easy to explain confusion in the early Baronets, because of the attempted surrender by the 3rd Bt. thus creating a new Baronetcy.

But the confusion seems to have begun much later.

Burke's says that the current baronet, Sir Michael Philip Stonhouse, is 18th & 15th Bt. Debrett's says he is 19th (and impliedly 16th) Bt.

Burke's and Complete Baronetage say that Sir Ernest Hay Stonhouse was 15th & 12th Bt., while Debrett's as early as the 1920s called him the 16th Bt.

The difference seems to have begun some time in the 1800s, because the 1835 Debrett's says that Sir John Brooke Stonhoase was 12th & 9th Bt., which agrees with Burke's.

 

The genealogy (omitting all but the relevant persons):

 

George Stonhouse, d.20 Jul 1573; m.1^st Elizabeth Gibson (dsp); m.2^nd 1 Sep 1555 Elizabeth Woodroffe

1.Sir William Stonhouse, of Radly, cr Baronet 1628 (ca 1556-5 Feb 1632); m.1592 Elizabeth Powell (d.ca 1655)

1.1.Sir John, 2^nd Bt. (ca 1602-14 Jun 1632)

1.2.Sir George, 3^rd Bt. (ca 1608-ca 1675); m.1633 Hon. Margaret Lovelace (d.ca 1693); wishing to disinherit his eldest son, he in 1670 attempted to surrender his Baronetcy and he obtained a new Baronetcy (with precedence to 1628) with remainder to his second and younger sons; it being deemed contrary to law to so surrender a title (query whether this is so only where such surrender affects a person already living who would otherwise inherit), it was deemed that two baronetcies now existed, and both the first and second sons were accorded the respective titles after his death

1.2.1.Sir George, 4^th Bt. (ca 1638-d.ca 1700?); m. Mrs Anne Scarlett

1.2.1.1.Sir George, 5^th Bt., d.24 Feb 1737; m.Anne Ashton à 16 children, all of whom d.young except:

1.2.1.1.1.George, d.1712

1.2.1.1.2.Sir John, 6^th Bt., d.Jul 1740

…

1.2.2.Sir John, 2^nd Bt. [of the 1670 creation] (ca 1639-ca 1700); m.1668 Mrs Martha Spencer, née Brigges, gdau of Sir M Brigges, Bt.

1.2.2.1.Sir John, 3^rd Bt. (ca 1673-10 Aug 1733); m.1^st Mary Mellish (d.in or shortly before 1706); m.2^nd 29 Aug 1706 Penelope Dashwood

…

1.2.2.1.4.Sir John, 4^th Bt. 1733, suc 1740 as 7^th Bt. of the first creation (ca 1710-d.ca 1767)

1.2.2.1.5.Sir William, 8^th & 5^th Bt. (ca 1714-d.by 1777)

1.2.2.1.6.Rev. Sir James, 9^th & 6^th Bt. (ca 1719-13 Apr 1792)

…

1.2.3.James (1641-1729); m.1673 Mary Heron

1.2.3.1.Richard, d.1725; m.Caroline ___

1.2.3.1.1.Rev. Sir James, 10^th & 7^th Bt. (9 Jul 1716-8 Sec 1795); m.1^st by 1744 Anne Neale (d.1 Dec 1747); m.2^nd by 1758 Sarah Ekins (d.10 Dec 1788)

..

1.2.3.1.1.2.Sir Thomas, 11^th & 8^th Bt. (ca 1744-1810)

…

1.2.3.1.1.5.John (1759-Feb 1803); m.Sarah Stephens (d.8 Mar 1855)

1.2.3.1.1.5.1.Sir John Brooke, 12^th & 9^th Bt. (1796/8-2 Dec 1848)

1.2.3.1.1.5.2.Sir Timothy Vansittart, 13^th & 10^th Bt. (26 Jan 1799-30 Jan 1866); m.1825 Mary Diana Sturt (d.31 Dec 1873)

1.2.3.1.1.5.2.1.Sir Henry Vansittart, 14^th & 11^th Bt., used surname VANSITTART only ca 1866-76 (6 May 1827-13 Nov 1884); m.18 Jun 1851 Charlotte West (d.21 Aug 1857)

…

1.2.3.1.1.5.2.1.3.Sir Ernest Hay, 15^th & 12^th Bt. (27 Jun 1855-18 Dec 1937); m.4 Nov 1897 Louise Catherine Rees (d.30 Jun 1930)

…

1.2.3.1.1.6.Rev. Timothy, 1795 STONHOUSE-VIGOR [as heir to his brother-in-law] (18 Sep 1765-3 Jan 1831); m.6 Jul 1796 Charlotte Huntingford (d.9 Feb 1851)

…

 

1.2.3.1.1.6.3.Rev. Arthur (1 Apr 1810-17 Oct 1883); m.Nov 1832 Sophia Sheppard (d.8 May 1868)

…

1.2.3.1.1.6.3.3.George Arthur (8 Jun 1847-1 Jan 1907); m.27 Mar 1880 Ada Allan (d.6 Apr 1929)

1.2.3.1.1.6.3.3.1.Sir Arthur Allan, 16^th & 13^th Bt. (24 Feb 1885-22 Nov 1967); m.2 Apr 1914 Beatrice Feron

1.2.3.1.1.6.3.3.1.1.Sir Philip Allan, 17^th & 14^th Bt. (24 Oct 1916-1993); m.19 Jun 1946 Winifred Emily Shield (d.1989)

1.2.3.1.1.6.3.3.1.1.1.Rev. Sir Michael Philip, 18^th & 15^th Bt. (1948-    )

[Henry W]

Debrett's Online calls Sir Michael the 18th & 15th Baronet.  I happily accept that they were calling him the 19th Baronet though as that is what is in my Debrett's 2008 print edition.  In the intervening time they have obviously realised their mistake.

I agree that is not clear what the source of confusion was, but I wonder if it has any connection to Leigh Rayment's listing: https://leighrayment.com.au/baronetage/baronetsS4.htm

I think Rayment agrees with your line up to Sir John, 4th & 7th Bt (1710 - 1767) [NB Debrett's online says he dies 1757]

It then introduces Sir John, 5th & 8th Bt (died c 1770), who does not appear in your listing (or my copy of Burke's or Debrett's Online), before continuing with Sir William, 6th & 9th Bt (1714 - by 1777) [NB Debrett's online says he dies ca 1776]

[Paul Theroff]

Thanks very much for letting me know that Debrett's has now chagned the numbering. He was still called 19th Bt in the 2019 Debrett's.

[Paul Theroff]

I found a list of numerous Debrett's editions online. Unfortunately many were missing, including many of the relevant ones.

However, I can see that the error began some time between 1835, when Debrett's correctly called Sir John Brooke Stonhouse the 12th Bt., and 1869, when Debrett's called Sir Henry Vansittart Stonhouse the 15th Bt., though he seems to have been 14th Bt.