AGNEW, Hon Mrs (Hon Eleanor Frances Anna Maria Josephine nee ffrench) (1918-2018)

[colinp]

The death has occurred of Eleanor Agnew Cregmore, Ardrahan, Galway

Eleanor Agnew (known as Ellie), Cregmore, Ardrahan, Co. Galway. Peacefully in U.H.G.. In her hundredth year. Sadly missed by her nephews, nieces, grand nephews,  grand nieces,  relatives,  carers and friends [….]

Date of Death: Tuesday 28th August 2018

Death Notice of Eleanor Agnew (Ardrahan, Galway) | rip.ie

She was b 1 Dec 1918 (Burke's) and therefore died aged 99.  She was the dau of the 7th Baron ffrench and m 1946 Thomas Anderson Courtenay AGNEW.  DPB last print edition gave her (their) address as Cregmore, Ardrahan, co Galway.  Her death may have been overlooked as both Burke's and Debrett's give her first forename as Ellen

If her husband is still alive he could well be a centenarian

[Paul Theroff]

I think she may have been sister, not daughter, of the 7th Lord ffrench. Were she and her sisters granted the rank of Baron's daughters?

[bx...@yahoo.com]

In DPB Online, her full name is listed as Ellen Frances Anna Maria Josephine..

Paul, you're right, she was his sister.  They were not granted the rank of Baron's daughters.

Brooke

[Paul Theroff]

From time to time I have to remind myself where the initial "ff" comes from, and then I forget by the next time I want to know.

At any rate, if Wikipedia is correct, it is an error which slipped into the language because there was no Capital F in the Middle Ages, so a Capital F was shown by writing "ff".

Wikipedia (I know, there must be more authoritative sources online somewhere) indicates that scholars tend to write "ff" as "F" when transcribing old manuscripts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word-initial_ff

On Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 6:17:05 AM UTC-5 colinp wrote:

[bx...@yahoo.com]

I always wondered where the double f came from.

Thanks, Paul, for the explanation.

Brooke

[Ivan Prekajski]

If she wasn't  granted the rank of Baron's daughter then she was not honourable or did she take it anyway?

[Ivan Prekajski]

Her sister Katharine used her prefix. From her grave: The Hon. Katherine Mary Frances Margaret Josephine BANON 25 Jun 1917 - 26 Nov 2004

[Paul Theroff]

No.. she was apparently never "Hon." She and her sisters seem to have lived in Ireland, and that is probably why they never asked for that to be granted.

[Paul Theroff]

Burke's doesn't say that she was granted that style, but she may have used it without permission, being a non-resident of the UK.

[S. S.]

There is no heir to the title, so it is a shame it will become extinct upon the death of the present 8th Baron ffrench (b 1956). Rather a unique name in the peerage. 

S.S.