BARONETAGE
Last updated 02/05/2018 (26 Mar 2025)
Date	Type	Order	Name	Born	Died	Age
Names of baronets shown in blue have not yet been placed on the Official Roll of the Baronetage.
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.
STEWART of Ramelton, co. Donegal
2 May 1623	I	1	William Stewart		c 1647
c 1647		2	Alexander Stewart		3 Sep 1653
Oct 1653		3	William Stewart, later [1683] 1st Viscount Mountjoy	Oct 1653	24 Aug 1692	38
24 Aug 1692		4	William Stewart, 2nd Viscount Mountjoy		10 Jan 1728
10 Jan 1728		5	William Stewart, 3rd Viscount Mountjoy, later [1745] 1st Earl of Blessington	7 Apr 1709	14 Aug 1769	60
14 Aug 1769		6	Annesley Stewart MP [I] for Charlemont 1763‑1797	1725	Mar 1801	75
Mar 1801		7	James Stewart MP [I] for Enniskillen 1783‑1790; MP for Donegal 1802‑1818	c 1756	20 May 1827
20 May 1827		8	James Annesley Stewart	1798	13 Apr 1879	80
13 Apr 1879		9	Augustus Abraham James Stewart	29 Apr 1832	26 Aug 1889	57
26 Aug 1889		10	William Augustus Annesley Stewart	1865	4 Jan 1894	28
4 Jan 1894		11	Harry Jocelyn Urquhart Stewart	1871	12 May 1945	73
12 May 1945		12	Jocelyn Harry Stewart	24 Jan 1903	3 Mar 1982	79
3 Mar 1982		13	Alan D'Arcy Stewart	29 Nov 1932	20 Jun 2024	91
20 Jun 2024		14	Nicholas Courtenay D'Arcy Stewart	4 Aug 1953
STEWART of Corsewall
18 Apr 1627	NS	1	James Stewart He subsequently succeeded to the Earldom of Galloway in 1649 with which title the baronetcy remains merged		Jun 1671
STEWART of Traquair, Peebles
c 1628	NS	1	John Stewart He was subsequently created Earl of Traquair in 1633 with which title the baronetcy then merged until it became dormant in 1861	c 1600	27 Mar 1659
STEWART
2 Oct 1628	NS	1	Andrew Stewart He subsequently succeeded as Baron Castle Stewart in 1629 with which title the baronetcy then merged		30 Mar 1639
STEWART of Ochiltree
18 Apr 1630 to     7 Jun 1632	NS	1	James Stewart, 4th Lord Ochiltree The patent was cancelled 7 June 1632		1659
STEWART of Blackhall, Renfrew
27 Mar 1667	NS		See "Shaw-Stewart"
STEWART of Castlemilk, Lanark
29 Feb 1668	NS	1	Archibald Stewart		c 1670
c 1670		2	William Stewart		Nov 1715
Nov 1715		3	Archibald Stewart		5 Jan 1763
5 Jan 1763		4	John Stewart		1 Apr 1781
1 Apr 1781 to     15 Jan 1797		5	John Stewart Extinct on his death	c 1740	15 Jan 1797
STEWART
23 Sep 1681	NS	1	Charles Stewart He subsequently succeeded to the Earldom of Moray in 1701 with which title the baronetcy then merged until its extinction in 1735	c 1660	7 Oct 1735
STEWART of Blair, Fife
2 Jun 1683	NS		See "Drummond-Stewart"
STEWART of Allanbank, Berwick
15 Aug 1687	NS	1	Robert Stewart For information about the Allanbank ghost, "Pearlin Jean", see the note at the foot of this page	1643	1707	64
1707		2	John Stewart	c 1685	19 May 1753
19 May 1753		3	John Stewart	1714	7 Oct 1796	82
7 Oct 1796		4	John Stewart	1754	1817	63
1817 to     29 Jan 1849		5	John James Stewart Extinct on his death	1779	29 Jan 1849	69
STEWART of Burray, Orkney
4 Nov 1687	NS	1	Archibald Stewart		13 May 1689
13 May 1689		2	Archibald Stewart		1704
1704 to     24 Aug 1746		3	James Stewart On his death the baronetcy became dormant. It is now merged with the Earldom of Galloway		24 Aug 1746
STEWART of Goodtrees, Edinburgh
22 Dec 1705	NS	1	James Stewart MP for Edinburgh 1713‑1715	1681	9 Aug 1727	46
9 Aug 1727		2	James Steuart-Denham He succeeded to the baronetcy of Steuart (creation of 1698) in 1773 when the titles merged until their extinction in 1851	10 Oct 1713	Nov 1780	67
STEWART of Tillicoultry, Clackmannan
24 Apr 1707	NS	1	Robert Stewart	c 1655	1 Oct 1710
1 Oct 1710 to     4 Mar 1767		2	Robert Stewart On his death the baronetcy became dormant	c 1700	4 Mar 1767
STEWART of Athenree, co. Tyrone
21 Jun 1803	UK	1	John Stewart MP [I] for Augher 1794‑1798 and Bangor 1798‑1800; MP for co. Tyrone 1802‑1806 and 1812‑1825; Attorney General [I] 1799‑1803	c 1758	1 Jun 1825
11 Jun 1825		2	Hugh Stewart MP for co. Tyrone 1830‑1835	14 May 1792	19 Nov 1854	62
19 Nov 1854		3	John Marcus Stewart	19 Nov 1830	28 Feb 1905	74
28 Feb 1905		4	Hugh Houghton Stewart	15 Sep 1858	18 Jan 1942	83
18 Jan 1942		5	George Powell Stewart	7 Oct 1861	16 Jul 1945	83
16 Jul 1945		6	Hugh Charlie Godfray Stewart	13 Apr 1897	31 Jul 1994	97
31 Jul 1994		7	David John Christopher Stewart	19 Jun 1935	20 Mar 2022	86
20 Mar 2022		8	Hugh Nicholas Stewart	20 Apr 1955
STEWART of South Kensington, London
11 Jun 1881	UK	1	Sir Donald Martin Stewart Field Marshal 1894	21 Mar 1824	26 Mar 1900	76
26 Mar 1900		2	Norman Robert Stewart	27 Sep 1851	9 Nov 1926	75
9 Nov 1926 to     12 Aug 1951		3	Douglas Law Stewart Extinct on his death	1 Jul 1878	12 Aug 1951	73
STEWART of Southwick, Kirkcudbright
7 Oct 1892	UK		See "McTaggart-Stewart"
STEWART of Balgownie, Dunbarton
2 Jul 1920	UK	1	James Watson Stewart	12 Feb 1852	3 Nov 1922	70
3 Nov 1922		2	Alexander Stewart	5 Nov 1886	4 Feb 1934	47
4 Feb 1934		3	James Watson Stewart	6 Aug 1889	4 Jun 1955	65
4 Jun 1955		4	James Watson Stewart	8 Nov 1922	15 Mar 1988	65
15 Mar 1988		5	John Keith Watson Stewart	25 Feb 1929	13 Mar 1990	61
13 Mar 1990		6	John Simon Watson Stewart	5 Jul 1955
STEWART of Fingask, Lanark
10 Dec 1920	UK	1	John Henderson Stewart	1877	6 Feb 1924	46
6 Feb 1924 to     5 Sep 1979		2	Bruce Fraser Stewart Extinct on his death	Sep 1904	5 Sep 1979	74
STEWART of Stewartby, Beds
4 Mar 1937	UK	1	Percy Malcolm Stewart	9 May 1872	27 Feb 1951	78
27 Feb 1951 to     26 Jan 1999		2	Ronald Compton Stewart Extinct on his death	14 Aug 1903	26 Jan 1999	95
STEWART of Callumshill, Perth
28 Mar 1957	UK		See "Henderson-Stewart"
STEWART of Strathgarry, Perth
17 Aug 1960	UK	1	Sir Kenneth Dugald Stewart	29 Mar 1882	21 May 1972	90
21 May 1972		2	David Brodribb Stewart	20 Dec 1913	17 Oct 1992	78
17 Oct 1992 to     13 Feb 2022		3	Alastair Robin Stewart Extinct on his death	26 Sep 1925	13 Feb 2022	96
STEWART-CLARK of Dundas, West Lothian
12 Feb 1918	UK	1	John Stewart-Clark	14 Sep 1864	3 Mar 1924	59
3 Mar 1924		2	Stewart Stewart-Clark	4 Jul 1904	1 Dec 1971	67
1 Dec 1971		3	John Stewart-Clark	17 Sep 1929
STEWART-RICHARDSON of Pencaithland, Haddington
13 Nov 1630	NS	1	Robert Richardson		Apr 1635
Apr 1635 to     c 1640		2	Robert Richardson On his death the baronetcy became dormant	24 Jan 1613	c 1640
c 1678		3	James Richardson		1680
1680		4	James Richardson		28 May 1717
28 May 1717		5	James Richardson		13 Apr 1731
13 Apr 1731		6	William Richardson		4 Apr 1747
4 Apr 1747 to     1752		7	Robert Richardson On his death the baronetcy again became dormant		1752
c 1783		8	James Richardson		24 Nov 1788
24 Nov 1788		9	George Richardson		11 Dec 1791
11 Dec 1791		10	George Preston Richardson	c 1778	21 Oct 1803
21 Oct 1803		11	James Richardson		8 Nov 1804
8 Nov 1804 to     12 Apr 1821		12	John Charles Richardson On his death the baronetcy again became dormant	c 1785	12 Apr 1821
9 Jan 1837		13	John Stewart-Richardson	1 Sep 1797	1 Dec 1881	84
1 Dec 1881		14	James Thomas Stewart-Richardson	24 Dec 1840	14 Feb 1895	54
14 Feb 1895		15	Edward Austin Stewart-Richardson	24 Jul 1872	28 Nov 1914	42
28 Nov 1914		16	Ian Rorie Hay Stewart-Richardson	25 Sep 1904	16 Jun 1969	64
16 Jun 1969		17	Simon Alaisdair Ian Neile Stewart‑Richardson	9 Jun 1947
STEWKLEY of Hinton, Hants
9 Jun 1627	E	1	Hugh Stewkley	c 1604	1642
1642 to     1719		2	Hugh Stewkley Extinct on his death		1719
STILES of London
1 Dec 1714	GB		See "Eyles"
STIRLING of Glorat, Stirling
30 Apr 1666	NS	1	George Stirling		c 1680
c 1680		2	Mungo Stirling		21 Apr 1712
21 Apr 1712		3	James Stirling		30 Apr 1771
30 Apr 1771		4	Alexander Stirling		22 Feb 1791
22 Feb 1791		5	John Stirling For further information on this baronet's wife, see the note at the foot of this page		16 Mar 1818
16 Mar 1818		6	Samuel Stirling	28 Jul 1783	3 May 1858	74
3 May 1858		7	Samuel Home Stirling	28 Jan 1830	19 Sep 1861	31
19 Sep 1861		8	Charles Elphinstone Fleming Stirling	31 Jul 1831	8 Sep 1910	79
8 Sep 1910 to     1 May 1949		9	George Murray Home Stirling Lord Lieutenant Stirling 1936‑1949 On his death the baronetcy became dormant For further information on a possible claimant to the baronetcy, see the note at the foot of this page	4 Sep 1869	1 May 1949	79
STIRLING of Ardoch
2 May 1666	NS	1	Henry Stirling		Feb 1669
Feb 1669		2	William Stirling		Feb 1702
Feb 1702		3	Henry Stirling	18 Nov 1688	24 Nov 1753	65
24 Nov 1753		4	William Stirling	c 1730	26 Jul 1799
26 Jul 1799 to     8 May 1808		5	Thomas Stirling Extinct on his death	Oct 1733	8 May 1808	74
STIRLING of Mansfield, Ayr
19 Jul 1792	GB	1	James Stirling	c 1740	17 Feb 1805
17 Feb 1805 to     13 Feb 1843		2	Gilbert Stirling Extinct on his death	c 1779	13 Feb 1843
STIRLING of Faskine, Lanark
15 Dec 1800	GB	1	Walter Stirling MP for Gatton 1799‑1802 and St. Ives 1807‑1820	24 Jun 1758	25 Aug 1832	74
25 Aug 1832		2	Walter George Stirling	15 Mar 1802	1 Dec 1888	86
1 Dec 1888 to     7 Jun 1934		3	Walter George Stirling Extinct on his death	5 Sep 1839	7 Jun 1934	94
STIRLING-HAMILTON of Preston, Haddington
5 Nov 1673	NS	1	William Hamilton	c 1645	c 1690
c 1690		2	Robert Hamilton	1650	1701	51
1701		3	Robert Hamilton		c 1720
c 1720		4	William Hamilton	6 Mar 1681	25 May 1749	68
25 May 1749		5	Robert Hamilton	1714	1756	42
1756		6	William Hamilton	1748	1756	8
1756		7	John Hamilton	c 1750	1778
1778		8	Robert Hamilton	1754	8 Jun 1799	44
8 Jun 1799		9	William Stirling Hamilton	1788	6 May 1856	67
6 May 1856		10	William Hamilton (Stirling-Hamilton from 1889)	17 Sep 1830	26 Sep 1913	83
26 Sep 1913		11	William Stirling-Hamilton	4 Dec 1868	7 Oct 1946	77
7 Oct 1946		12	Robert William Stirling-Hamilton For further information on this baronet, see the note at the foot of this page	5 Apr 1903	14 Feb 1982	78
14 Feb 1982		13	Bruce Stirling-Hamilton	5 Aug 1940	17 Sep 1989	49
17 Sep 1989		14	Malcolm William Bruce Stirling-Hamilton	6 Aug 1979
STIRLING-MAXWELL of Pollock, Renfrew
12 Apr 1682	NS		See "Maxwell Macdonald"
STOCKDALE of Hoddington, Hants
5 Dec 1960	UK	1	Sir Edmund Villiers Minshull Stockdale	16 Apr 1903	24 Mar 1989	85
24 Mar 1989		2	Thomas Minshull Stockdale	7 Jan 1940	28 Oct 2021	81
28 Oct 2021		3	John Minshull Stockdale	13 Dec 1967
STOCKENSTROM of Cape of Good Hope, South Africa
29 Apr 1840	UK	1	Andries Stockenstrom	6 Jul 1792	15 Mar 1864	71
15 Mar 1864		2	Gysbert Henry Stockenstrom	11 Mar 1841	1912	71
1912		3	Andries Stockenstrom	22 Sep 1868	1 Dec 1922	54
1 Dec 1922 to     20 Jun 1957		4	Anders Johan Booysen Stockenstrom Extinct on his death	13 Mar 1908	20 Jun 1957	49
STOKER of Dublin
21 Jun 1911 to     1 Jun 1912	UK	1	Sir William Thornley Stoker Extinct on his death	6 Mar 1845	1 Jun 1912	67
STOKES of Lensfield Cottage, Cambs
6 Jul 1889	UK	1	George Gabriel Stokes MP for Cambridge University 1887‑1892	13 Aug 1819	1 Feb 1903	83
1 Feb 1903 to     12 Jun 1916		2	Arthur Stokes Extinct on his death	27 Sep 1858	12 Jun 1916	57
STONHOUSE of Radley, Berks
7 May 1628	E	1	William Stonhouse	c 1556	5 Feb 1632
5 Feb 1632		2	John Stonhouse MP for Abingdon 1628‑1629	10 Sep 1601	14 Jun 1632	30
14 Jun 1632		3	George Stonhouse MP for Abingdon 1640, 1640‑1644 and 1660‑1675	28 Aug 1603	31 Mar 1675	71
31 Mar 1675		4	George Stonhouse	c 1638	May 1700
May 1700		5	George Stonhouse		24 Feb 1737
24 Feb 1737		6	John Stonhouse		Jul 1740
Jul 1740		7	Sir John Stonhouse, 4th baronet He had previously succeeded to the baronetcy of Stonhouse (cr 1670) in 1733	c 1710	c 1767
c 1767		8	John Stonhouse		c 1770
c 1770		9	William Stonhouse	c 1714	by 1777
by 1777		10	James Stonhouse	c 1719	13 Apr 1792
13 Apr 1792		11	James Stonhouse	9 Jul 1716	8 Dec 1795	79
8 Dec 1795		12	Thomas Stonhouse	c 1744	1810
1810		13	John Brooke Stonhouse	c 1797	2 Dec 1848
2 Dec 1848		14	Timothy Vansittart Stonhouse	26 Jan 1799	30 Jan 1866	67
30 Jan 1866		15	Henry Vansittart Stonhouse	6 May 1827	13 Nov 1884	57
13 Nov 1884		16	Ernest Hay Stonhouse	27 Jun 1855	18 Dec 1937	82
18 Dec 1937		17	Arthur Allan Stonhouse	24 Feb 1885	22 Nov 1967	82
22 Nov 1967		18	Philip Allan Stonhouse	24 Oct 1916	15 Oct 1993	76
15 Oct 1993		19	Michael Philip Stonhouse	4 Sep 1948
STONHOUSE of Amberden Hall, Essex
11 Jun 1641	E	1	James Stonhouse		c 1652
c 1652		2	James Stonhouse		c 1654
c 1654		3	Blewet Stonhouse	c 1653	c 1670
c 1670		4	George Stonhouse		c 1675
c 1675		5	John Stonhouse		1681
1681 to     13 Apr 1695		6	George Stonhouse Extinct on his death	14 Jan 1679	13 Apr 1695	16
STONHOUSE of Radley, Berks
5 May 1670	E	1	George Stonhouse		1675
1675		2	John Stonhouse MP for Abingdon 1675‑1689 and 1690	c 1639	27 May 1700
May 1700		3	John Stonhouse MP for Berkshire 1701‑1733; PC 1713	c 1672	10 Oct 1733
10 Oct 1733		4	John Stonhouse He subsequently succeeded to the baronetcy of Stonhouse (cr 1628) in 1740 when the baronetcies merged	c 1710	c 1767
STOREY of Settrington, Yorks
30 Jan 1960	UK	1	Samuel Storey, later [1966] Baron Buckton [L]	18 Jan 1896	17 Jan 1978	81
17 Jan 1978		2	Richard Storey	23 Jan 1937
STOTT of Stanton, Gloucs
3 Jul 1920	UK	1	Philip Sidney Stott	20 Feb 1858	31 Mar 1937	79
31 Mar 1937		2	George Edward Stott	20 May 1887	11 Jul 1957	70
11 Jul 1957		3	Philip Sidney Stott	23 Dec 1914	9 Dec 1979	64
9 Dec 1979		4	Adrian George Ellingham Stott	7 Oct 1948
STOUGHTON of Stoughton, Surrey
29 Jan 1661	E	1	Nicholas Stoughton	8 Feb 1635	30 Jun 1686	51
30 Jun 1686 to     Jan 1692		2	Laurence Stoughton Extinct on his death	17 Sep 1668	Jan 1692	23
STOW of Lodsworth, Sussex
26 Jul 1907	UK		See "Philipson-Stow"
STRACEY of Rackheath Hall, Norfolk
15 Dec 1818	UK	1	Edward Stracey	4 Jun 1741	16 Jan 1829	87
16 Jan 1829		2	Edward Hardinge John Stracey	Sep 1768	14 Jul 1851	82
14 Jul 1851		3	George Stracey	Dec 1770	27 Dec 1854	84
27 Dec 1854		4	Josias Henry Stracey	13 Nov 1771	6 Nov 1855	83
6 Nov 1855		5	Henry Josias Stracey MP for Norfolk East 1855‑1857, Great Yarmouth 1859‑1865 and Norwich 1868‑1869	31 Jul 1802	7 Aug 1885	83
7 Aug 1885		6	Edward Henry Gervase Stracey	3 Dec 1838	6 Jun 1888	49
6 Jun 1888		7	Edward Paulet Stracey	5 Jul 1871	23 Aug 1949	78
23 Aug 1949		8	Michael George Motley Stracey	7 Jul 1911	25 Sep 1971	60
25 Sep 1971		9	John Simon Stracey	30 Nov 1938	5 Jul 2022	83
5 Jul 2022		10	Rupert Stracey	28 May 1951
STRACHAN of Thornton, Kincardine
28 May 1625	NS	1	Alexander Strachan	c 1587	c 1659
c 1659		2	James Strachan		1686
1686		3	James Strachan	c 1640	1715
1715		4	William Strachan		c 1725
c 1725		5	Francis Strachan		c 1753
c 1753		6	John Strachan		c 1765
c 1765		7	John Strachan	10 Mar 1729	26 Dec 1777	48
26 Dec 1777 to     3 Feb 1828		8	Richard John Strachan On his death the baronetcy became dormant	27 Oct 1760	3 Feb 1828	67
STRACHAN of Inchtuthel
8 May 1685 to     after 1685	NS	1	Thomas Strachan Extinct on his death		after 1685
STRACHEY of Sutton Court, Somerset
15 Jun 1801	UK	1	Henry Strachey MP for Pontefract 1768‑1774, Bishop's Castle 1774‑1778 and 1780‑1802, Saltash 1778‑1780 and East Grinstead 1802‑1807	23 May 1737	3 Jan 1810	72
3 Jan 1810		2	Henry Strachey	6 Dec 1772	11 Apr 1858	85
11 Apr 1858		3	Edward Strachey	12 Aug 1812	24 Sep 1901	89
24 Sep 1901		4	Edward Strachey, later [1911] 1st Baron Strachie	30 Oct 1858	25 Jul 1936	77
25 Jul 1936		5	Edward Strachey	13 Jan 1882	17 May 1973	91
17 May 1973		6	Charles Strachey	20 Jun 1934	23 Jan 2014	79
23 Jan 2014		7	Henry Leoffric Benvenuto Strachey	17 Apr 1947
STRADLING of St. Donats, Glamorgan
22 May 1611	E	1	John Stradling MP for St. Germans 1624‑1625, Old Sarum 1625 and Glamorgan 1626	1563	9 Sep 1637	74
9 Sep 1637		2	Edward Stradling MP for Glamorgan 1640	1601	21 Jun 1644	42
Jun 1644		3	Edward Stradling	c 1624	c 1660
c 1660		4	Edward Stradling	c 1643	5 Sep 1685
5 Sep 1685		5	Edward Stradling MP for Cardiff 1698‑1701 and 1710‑1722	11 Apr 1672	5 Apr 1735
5 Apr 1735 to     27 Sep 1738		6	Thomas Stradling Extinct on his death	24 Jul 1710	27 Sep 1738	28
STRANG-STEEL of Philiphaugh, Selkirk
2 Jul 1938	UK	1	Samuel Strang Steel MP for Ashford 1918‑1929; Lord Lieutenant Selkirk 1948‑1958	1 Aug 1882	14 Aug 1961	79
14 Aug 1961		2	Fiennes William Strang Steel	24 Jul 1912	13 Dec 1992	80
13 Dec 1992		3	Fiennes Michael Strang-Steel	22 Feb 1943
STRICKLAND-CONSTABLE of Boynton, Yorks
30 Jul 1641	E	1	William Strickland MP for Hedon 1640‑1653 and Yorkshire East Riding 1654‑1655 and 1656	c 1596	1673
1673		2	Thomas Strickland MP for Beverley 1659	c 1639	20 Nov 1684
20 Nov 1684		3	William Strickland MP for Malton 1689‑1698, 1701‑1708 and 1722‑1724, Yorkshire 1708‑1710 and Old Sarum 1716‑1722	Mar 1665	12 May 1724	59
12 May 1724		4	William Strickland MP for Malton 1708‑1715, Carlisle 1715‑1722 and Scarborough 1722‑1735; PC 1730	c 1686	1 Sep 1735
1 Sep 1735		5	George Strickland	Mar 1729	13 Jan 1808	78
13 Jan 1808		6	William Strickland	12 Mar 1753	8 Jan 1834	80
8 Jan 1834		7	George Strickland MP for Yorkshire 1831‑1832, Yorkshire West Riding 1832‑1841 and Preston 1841‑1857	26 Nov 1782	23 Dec 1874	92
23 Dec 1874		8	Charles William Strickland	6 Feb 1819	31 Dec 1909	90
31 Dec 1909		9	Walter William Strickland For further information on this baronet, see the note at the foot of this page	26 May 1851	9 Aug 1938	87
9 Aug 1938		10	Henry Marmaduke Strickland-Constable	4 Dec 1900	26 Mar 1975	74
26 Mar 1975		11	Robert Frederick Strickland-Constable	22 Oct 1903	11 Dec 1994	91
11 Dec 1994		12	Frederick Strickland-Constable	21 Oct 1944
STRONGE of Tynan Abbey, co. Armagh
22 Jun 1803	UK	1	James Stronge	1750	1 Dec 1804	54
1 Dec 1804		2	James Matthew Stronge	6 Apr 1786	2 Dec 1864	78
2 Dec 1864		3	James Matthew Stronge MP for co. Armagh 1864‑1874	25 Nov 1811	11 Mar 1885	73
11 Mar 1885		4	John Calvert Stronge	21 Feb 1813	29 Dec 1899	86
29 Dec 1899		5	James Henry Stronge PC [NI] 1924	8 Dec 1849	20 May 1928	78
20 May 1928		6	Walter Lockhart Stronge	5 Sep 1860	5 Jun 1933	72
5 Jun 1933		7	Charles Edmond Sinclair Stronge Lord Lieutenant Londonderry 1938‑1939	5 Feb 1862	5 Dec 1939	77
5 Dec 1939		8	Charles Norman Lockhart Stronge Lord Lieutenant Armagh 1939‑1981; PC [NI] 1946 For further information on the death of this baronet, and of his son listed below, see the note at the foot of this page	23 Jul 1894	21 Jan 1981	86
21 Jan 1981		9	James Matthew Stronge He, together with his father the 8th baronet, was murdered by the IRA on 21 Jan 1981. He was presumed to have outlived his father and to have therefore succeeded to the baronetcy	21 Jun 1932	21 Jan 1981	48
21 Jan 1981		10	James Anselan Maxwell Stronge	17 Jul 1946
STRUTT of Little Warley Hall, Essex
5 Mar 1642 to     Sep 1661	E	1	Denner Strutt Extinct on his death		Sep 1661
STUART of Bute
28 Mar 1627	NS	1	James Stuart		1662
1662		2	Dugald Stuart		1672
1672		3	James Stuart He was subsequently created Earl of Bute in 1703. The baronetcy is currently merged with the Marquessate of Bute		4 Jun 1710
STUART of Hartley Mauduit, Hants
27 Jun 1660	E	1	Nicholas Steward MP for Lymington 1663‑1679	11 Feb 1618	15 Feb 1710	92
15 Feb 1710		2	Simeon Stuart MP for Southampton 1708‑1710 and Hampshire 1710‑1713	17 Nov 1685	11 Aug 1761	75
11 Aug 1761		3	Simeon Stuart		19 Nov 1779
19 Nov 1779		4	Simeon Stuart		14 Jan 1816
14 Jan 1816		5	Simeon Henry Stuart	23 Oct 1790	23 Oct 1868	78
23 Oct 1868		6	Simeon Henry Stuart	15 Jun 1823	21 Aug 1891	68
21 Aug 1891		7	Simeon Henry Lechmere Stuart	15 May 1864	25 Nov 1939	75
25 Nov 1939		8	Houlton John Stuart	30 Dec 1863	3 May 1959	95
3 May 1959		9	Phillip Luttrell Stuart	7 Sep 1937	13 Mar 2016	78
13 Mar 2016		10	Geoffrey Phillip Stuart	5 Jul 1973
STUART of Oxford, Oxon
5 May 1841	UK	1	James Stuart	4 Mar 1789	14 Jul 1853	64
14 Jul 1853		2	Charles James Stuart	24 Jan 1824	25 Feb 1901	81
25 Feb 1901		3	Edward Andrew Stuart	20 Dec 1832	19 Aug 1903	70
19 Aug 1903 to     5 Jun 1915		4	James Stuart Extinct on his death	22 Oct 1837	5 Jun 1915	77
STUART-FORBES of Monymusk, Aberdeen
30 Mar 1626	NS	1	William Forbes		c 1650
c 1650		2	William Forbes		c 1680
c 1680		3	John Forbes		c 1700
c 1700		4	William Forbes		c 1720
c 1720		5	William Forbes		12 May 1743
12 May 1743		6	William Forbes	5 Apr 1739	12 Nov 1806	67
12 Nov 1806		7	William Forbes	21 Dec 1773	24 Oct 1828	54
24 Oct 1828		8	John Stuart Forbes	25 Sep 1804	27 May 1866	61
27 May 1866		9	William Forbes	16 Jun 1835	5 Jul 1906	71
5 Jul 1906		10	Charles Hay Hepburn Stuart-Forbes	3 Jun 1871	Aug 1927	56
Aug 1927		11	Hugh Stuart-Forbes	9 Nov 1896	26 Jun 1937	40
26 Jun 1937		12	Charles Edward Stuart-Forbes	6 Aug 1903	28 Mar 1985	81
28 Mar 1985		13	William Daniel Stuart-Forbes	21 Aug 1935	17 Apr 2024	88
17 Apr 2024		14	Kenneth Charles Stuart-Forbes	26 Dec 1956
STUART-MENTETH of Closeburn, Dumfries
11 Aug 1838	UK	1	Charles Granvill Stuart-Menteth	15 May 1769	3 Dec 1847	78
3 Dec 1847		2	James Stuart-Menteth	19 Aug 1792	27 Feb 1870	77
27 Feb 1870		3	James Stuart-Menteth	29 Jul 1841	28 Oct 1918	77
28 Oct 1918		4	James Frederick Stuart-Menteth	26 Feb 1846	7 Sep 1926	80
7 Sep 1926		5	William Frederick Stuart-Menteth	18 Jun 1874	20 Feb 1952	77
20 Feb 1952		6	James Wallace Stuart-Menteth	13 Nov 1922	9 Oct 2008	85
9 Oct 2008		7	Charles Grieves Stuart-Menteth	25 Nov 1950
STUART-TAYLOR of Kennington, London
11 Jul 1917	UK	1	Frederick Taylor	6 Apr 1847	2 Dec 1920	73
2 Dec 1920		2	Eric Stuart Taylor	28 Jun 1889	25 Oct 1977	88
25 Oct 1977		3	Richard Lawrence Stuart-Taylor	27 Sep 1925	10 Sep 1978	52
10 Sep 1978		4	Nicholas Richard Stuart-Taylor	14 Jan 1952
STUCLEY of Affeton Castle, Devon
26 Apr 1859	UK	1	George Stucley Stucley MP for Barnstaple 1855‑1857 and 1865‑1868	17 Aug 1812	13 Mar 1900	87
13 Mar 1900		2	William Lewis Stucley	27 Aug 1836	19 Feb 1911
19 Feb 1911		3	Edward Arthur George Stucley	12 Feb 1852	7 Dec 1927	75
7 Dec 1927		4	Hugh Nicholas Granville Stucley	22 Jun 1873	25 Oct 1956	83
25 Oct 1956		5	Dennis Frederic Bankes Stucley	29 Oct 1907	17 Sep 1983	75
17 Sep 1983		6	Hugh George Coplestone Bampfylde Stucley	8 Jan 1945
STUDD of Netheravon, Wilts
16 Oct 1929	UK	1	Sir (John Edward) Kynaston Studd	26 Jul 1858	14 Jan 1944	85
14 Jan 1944		2	Eric Studd	10 Jun 1887	11 Jun 1975	88
11 Jun 1975		3	Robert Kynaston Studd	9 Jul 1926	27 May 1977	50
27 May 1977		4	Edward Fairfax Studd	3 May 1929	20 Jan 2025	95
20 Jan 2025		5	Philip Alastair Studd	27 Oct 1961
STUDHOLME of Perridge, Devon
3 Jul 1956	UK	1	Henry Gray Studholme MP for Tavistock 1942‑1966	13 Jun 1899	9 Oct 1987	88
9 Oct 1987		2	Paul Henry William Studholme	16 Jan 1930	31 Jan 1990	60
31 Jan 1990		3	Henry William Studholme	31 Jan 1958
STURDEE of Falkland Islands
19 Jan 1916	UK	1	Sir Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee Admiral of the Fleet 1921	9 Jun 1859	7 May 1925	65
7 May 1925 to     19 Dec 1970		2	Lionel Arthur Doveton Sturdee Extinct on his death	3 Sep 1884	19 Dec 1970	86
STYCH of Newbury, Essex
8 Oct 1687	E	1	William Stych		12 Mar 1697
Mar 1697 to     11 May 1725		2	Richard Stych Extinct on his death		11 May 1725
STYDOLPH of Norbury, Surrey
24 Dec 1660 to     13 Feb 1677	E	1	Richard Stydolph Extinct on his death	c 1630	13 Feb 1677
STYLE
13 Sep 1624 to     10 Nov 1659	I	1	Humphry Style Created a baronet of England 1627 Extinct on his death		10 Nov 1659
STYLE of Wateringbury, Kent
21 Apr 1627	E	1	Thomas Style	1587	18 Oct 1637	50
18 Oct 1637		2	Thomas Style MP for Kent 1656‑1658 and 1659	Dec 1624	19 Nov 1702	77
19 Nov 1702		3	Oliver Style	c 1670	12 Feb 1703
12 Feb 1703		4	Thomas Style MP for Bramber 1715		11 Jan 1769
11 Jan 1769		5	Charles Style		18 Apr 1774
18 Apr 1774		6	Charles Style		5 Sep 1804
5 Sep 1804		7	Thomas Style		5 Nov 1813
5 Nov 1813		8	Thomas Charles Style MP for Scarborough 1837‑1841	21 Aug 1797	23 Jul 1879	81
23 Jul 1879		9	William Henry Marsham Style	3 Sep 1826	31 Jan 1904	77
31 Jan 1904		10	Frederick Montague Style	20 May 1857	22 Jul 1930	73
22 Jul 1930		11	William Frederick Style	11 Jul 1887	27 Jun 1943	55
27 Jun 1943		12	William Montague Style	21 Jul 1916	1981	64
1981		13	William Frederick Style	13 May 1945
STYLE of Beckenham, Kent
20 May 1627 to     10 Nov 1659	E	1	Sir Humphry Style, 1st baronet Extinct on his death	c 1596	10 Nov 1659
SUDBURY of Eldon, Durham
25 Jun 1685 to     27 Mar 1691	E	1	John Sudbury Extinct on his death		27 Mar 1691
SULLIVAN of Thames Ditton, Surrey
22 May 1804	UK	1	Richard Joseph Sullivan	10 Dec 1752	17 Jul 1806	53
17 Jul 1806		2	Henry Sullivan MP for Lincoln 1812‑1814	13 Mar 1785	14 Apr 1814	29
14 Apr 1814		3	Charles Sullivan	28 Feb 1789	21 Nov 1862	73
21 Nov 1862		4	Charles Sullivan	13 Jan 1820	3 Dec 1865	45
3 Dec 1865		5	Edward Robert Sullivan	29 Oct 1826	22 Jul 1899	72
22 Jul 1899		6	Sir Francis William Sullivan	31 May 1834	13 May 1906	71
13 May 1906		7	Frederick Sullivan	28 Apr 1865	24 Jul 1954	89
24 Jul 1954		8	Richard Benjamin Magniac Sullivan	26 Oct 1906	22 Aug 1977	70
22 Aug 1977		9	Richard Arthur Sullivan	9 Aug 1931	Nov 2022	91
Nov 2022		10	Charles Merson Sullivan	15 Dec 1962
SULLIVAN of Garryduff, Cork
29 Dec 1881	UK	1	Edward Sullivan MP for Mallow 1865‑1870; Solicitor General [I] 1865‑1866; Attorney General [I] 1868; Lord Chancellor of Ireland 1883	10 Jul 1822	13 Apr 1885	62
13 Apr 1885		2	Edward Sullivan	27 Sep 1852	19 Apr 1928	75
19 Apr 1928 to     7 Jul 1937		3	William Sullivan Extinct on his death	21 Feb 1860	7 Jul 1937	77
SUMMERS of Sholton, Flint
2 Jul 1952	UK	1	Geoffrey Summers	2 Sep 1891	17 Jan 1972	80
17 Jan 1972 to     1993		2	Felix Roland Brattan Summers Extinct on his death	1 Oct 1918	1993	74
SUTHERLAND of Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland
16 Jun 1921	UK	1	Sir Arthur Munro Sutherland	2 Oct 1867	29 Mar 1953	85
29 Mar 1953		2	Benjamin Ivan Sutherland	16 May 1901	6 Nov 1980	79
6 Nov 1980		3	John Brewer Sutherland	19 Oct 1931	11 May 2024	92
11 May 2024		4	Peter William Sutherland	18 May 1963
SUTTIE of Balgone, Haddington
5 May 1702	NS		See "Grant-Suttie"
SUTTON of Norwood Park, Notts
14 Oct 1772	GB	1	Richard Sutton MP for St. Albans 1768‑1780, Sandwich 1780‑1784 and Boroughbridge 1784‑1796	31 Jul 1733	10 Jan 1802	68
10 Jan 1802		2	Richard Sutton	16 Dec 1798	14 Nov 1855	56
14 Nov 1855		3	John Sutton	18 Oct 1820	5 Jun 1873	52
5 Jun 1873		4	Richard Sutton	21 Oct 1821	2 Oct 1878	56
2 Oct 1878		5	Richard Francis Sutton	20 Dec 1853	25 Feb 1891	37
26 Apr 1891		6	Richard Vincent Sutton	26 Apr 1891	29 Nov 1918	27
29 Nov 1918		7	Arthur Sutton	24 Sep 1857	4 Feb 1948	90
4 Feb 1948		8	Robert Lexington Sutton	18 Jan 1897	6 Jan 1981	83
6 Jan 1981		9	Richard Lexington Sutton	27 Apr 1937	7 Apr 2021	83
7 Apr 2021		10	David Robert Sutton	26 Feb 1960
SUTTON of Moulsey, Surrey
5 Mar 1806 to     6 Nov 1813	UK	1	Thomas Sutton Extinct on his death		6 Nov 1813
SUTTON of Castle House, Barnstead, Surrey
30 May 1919 to     7 Nov 1947	UK	1	George Augustus Sutton Extinct on his death	21 Sep 1869	7 Nov 1947	78
SUTTON of Beckenham, Kent
24 Jun 1922 to     30 Apr 1934	UK	1	George Sutton Extinct on his death	24 Aug 1856	30 Apr 1934	77
SUTTON of Hertford Street, London
26 Jun 1925	UK		See "Bland-Sutton"
SWALE of Swale Hall, Yorks
21 Jun 1660	E	1	Solomon Swale MP for Aldborough 1660‑1678	14 Feb 1610	19 Jun 1678	68
19 Jun 1678		2	Henry Swale	c 1639	19 Jan 1683
19 Jan 1683		3	Solomon Swale	c 1665	30 Dec 1733
30 Dec 1733 to     after 1741		4	Sebastian Fabian Enrique Swale On his death the baronetcy became either extinct or dormant The baronetcy was, however, assumed in 1877. For further information see the note at the foot of this page		after 1741
SWAN of Southfleet, Kent
1 Mar 1666	E	1	William Swan	6 Dec 1631	9 Oct 1680	48
Oct 1680 to     7 Apr 1712		2	William Swan Extinct on his death	17 Mar 1667	7 Apr 1712	45
SWANN of Princes Gardens, London
16 Jul 1906	UK	1	Charles Ernest Swann (Schwann until 1913) MP for Manchester North 1886‑1918; PC 1911	25 Jan 1844	13 Jul 1929	85
13 Jul 1929		2	Charles Duncan Swann (Schwann until 1913) MP for Hyde 1906‑1909	27 Jan 1879	10 Mar 1962	83
10 Mar 1962		3	Anthony Charles Christopher Swann	29 Jun 1913	3 Feb 1991	77
3 Feb 1991		4	Michael Christopher Swann	23 Sep 1941
SWINBURNE of Capheaton, Northumberland
26 Sep 1660	E	1	John Swinburne		19 Jun 1706
19 Jun 1706		2	William Swinburne		17 Apr 1716
17 Apr 1716		3	John Swinburne	8 Jul 1698	8 Jan 1745	46
8 Jan 1745		4	John Swinburne	2 Jul 1724	1 Feb 1763	38
1 Feb 1763		5	Edward Swinburne	24 Jan 1733	2 Nov 1786	53
2 Nov 1786		6	John Edward Swinburne MP for Launceston 1788‑1790	6 Mar 1762	26 Sep 1860	98
26 Sep 1860		7	John Swinburne MP for Lichfield 1885‑1892	1831	15 Jul 1914	83
15 Jul 1914		8	Hubert Swinburne	24 Jan 1867	22 Jun 1934	67
22 Jun 1934		9	James Swinburne	28 Feb 1858	30 Mar 1958	100
30 Mar 1958 to     1 Mar 1967		10	Spearman Charles Swinburne Extinct on his death	8 Jan 1893	1 Mar 1967	74
SWINNERTON-DYER of Tottenham, Middlesex
6 Jul 1678	E	1	See "Dyer"
SYDENHAM of Brimpton, Somerset
28 Jul 1641	E	1	John Sydenham	c 1620	1643
1643		2	John Sydenham MP for Somerset 1669‑1679	1643	19 Dec 1696	53
19 Dec 1696 to     10 Oct 1739		3	Philip Sydenham MP for Ilchester 1701 and Somerset 1701‑1705 Extinct on his death	c 1676	10 Oct 1739
SYKES of Basildon, Berks
8 Jun 1781	GB	1	Francis Sykes MP for Shaftesbury 1771‑1775 and 1780‑1784 and Wallingford 1784‑1804	25 Feb 1730	11 Jan 1804	73
11 Jan 1804		2	Francis William Sykes MP for Wallingford 1794‑1796	11 Nov 1767	7 Mar 1804	36
7 Mar 1804		3	Francis William Sykes	8 Aug 1799	6 Apr 1843	43
6 Apr 1843		4	Francis William Sykes	10 Jun 1822	1 Jan 1866	43
1 Jan 1866		5	Frederick Henry Sykes	12 Feb 1826	20 Jan 1899	72
20 Jan 1899		6	Henry Sykes	9 Dec 1828	10 Apr 1916	87
10 Apr 1916		7	Arthur Sykes	2 Sep 1871	5 Sep 1934	63
5 Sep 1934		8	Frederic John Sykes	10 Nov 1876	17 Mar 1956	79
17 Mar 1956		9	Francis Godfrey Sykes	27 Aug 1907	19 Apr 1990	82
19 Apr 1990		10	Francis John Badcock Sykes	7 Jun 1942	15 Oct 2020	78
15 Oct 2020		11	(Francis) Charles Sykes	18 Jun 1968
SYKES of Sledmere, Yorks
28 Mar 1783	GB	1	Mark Sykes	Apr 1711	14 Sep 1783	72
14 Sep 1783		2	Christopher Sykes MP for Beverley 1784‑1790	23 May 1749	17 Sep 1801	52
17 Sep 1801		3	Mark Masterman-Sykes MP for York 1807‑1820 For further information on this baronet, see the note at the foot of this page	20 Aug 1771	16 Feb 1823	51
16 Feb 1823		4	Tatton Sykes	22 Aug 1772	21 Mar 1863	90
21 Mar 1863		5	Tatton Sykes For further information on this baronet, see the note at the foot of this page	13 Mar 1826	4 May 1913	87
4 May 1913		6	Mark Sykes MP for Hull Central 1911‑1919	16 Mar 1879	16 Feb 1919	39
16 Feb 1919		7	Mark Tatton Richard Sykes (Tatton-Sykes from 13 Jul 1977)	24 Aug 1905	24 Jul 1978	73
24 Jul 1978		8	Tatton Christopher Mark Sykes	24 Dec 1943
SYKES of Cheadle, Cheshire
17 Jul 1917 to     21 May 1950	UK	1	Alan John Sykes MP for Knutsford 1910‑1922 Extinct on his death	11 Apr 1868	21 May 1950	82
SYKES of Kingsknowes, Selkirk
17 Jun 1921	UK	1	Sir Charles Sykes MP for Huddersfield 1918‑1922	31 Dec 1867	16 Nov 1950	82
16 Nov 1950		2	Benjamin Hugh Sykes	8 Jun 1893	22 Dec 1974	81
22 Dec 1974		3	John Charles Anthony le Gallais Sykes	19 Apr 1928	12 May 2001	73
12 May 2001		4	David Michael Sykes	10 Jun 1954
SYMONS of The Mynde, Hereford
23 May 1774 to     4 Jul 1796	GB	1	Richard Symons MP for Hereford 1768‑1784 Extinct on his death	c 1743	4 Jul 1796
SYNGE of Kiltrough, King's Co.
12 Aug 1801	UK	1	Robert Synge		1804
1804		2	Edward Synge	6 Apr 1786	22 Jul 1843	57
22 Jul 1843		3	Edward Synge	19 Nov 1809	13 Jan 1884	74
13 Jan 1884		4	Noah Hill Neale Synge	5 Feb 1811	16 Jul 1886	75
16 Jul 1886		5	Robert Synge	8 Jul 1812	11 Sep 1894	82
11 Sep 1894		6	Francis Robert Millington Synge	27 May 1851	1 Nov 1924	73
1 Nov 1924		7	Robert Millington Synge	17 Nov 1877	21 Dec 1942	65
21 Dec 1942		8	Robert Carson Synge	4 May 1922	17 Aug 2011	89
17 Aug 2011		9	Allen James Edward Synge	15 Jan 1942
SYNGE-HUTCHINSON of Castlesallagh, Wicklow
11 Dec 1782	I	1	Francis Hutchinson MP [I] for Jamestown 1783‑1790	1726	18 Dec 1807	81
18 Dec 1807		2	James Hutchinson	c 1732	early 1813
early 1813		3	Samuel Synge-Hutchinson	22 Apr 1756	1 Mar 1846	89
1 Mar 1846 to     3 Nov 1906		4	Edward Synge-Hutchinson Extinct on his death	31 Aug 1830	3 Nov 1906	76

	Sir Robert Stewart, 1st baronet of Allanbank
	Sir Robert is a central figure in the legend of "Pearlin Jean", a famous Scottish ghost said to haunt the family home of Allanbank. The following story is extracted from The Haunters and the Haunted edited by Ernest Rhys (1859‑1946) [Daniel O'Connor, London, 1921].
	It was Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe [c 1781‑1851], the antiquary, who furnished this account of Pearlin Jean's hauntings at Allanbank.
	"In my youth," he says, "Pearlin Jean was the most remarkable ghost in Scotland, and my terror when a child. Our old nurse, Jenny Blackadder, had been a servant at Allanbank, and often heard her rustling in silks up and down stairs, and along the passages. She never saw her, but her husband did.
	"She was a French woman, whom the first baronet of Allanbank, then Mr. Stuart, met with at Paris, during his tour to finish his education as a gentleman. Some people said she was a nun; in which case she must have been a Sister of Charity, as she appears not to have been confined to a cloister. After some time, young Stuart either became faithless to the lady or was suddenly recalled to Scotland by his parents, and had got into his carriage at the door of the hotel, when his Dido unexpectedly made her appearance, and stepping on the forewheel of the coach to address her lover, he ordered the postilion to drive on; the consequence of which was that the lady fell, and one of the wheels going over her forehead, killed her.
	"In a dusky autumnal evening, when Mr. Stuart drove under the arched gateway at Allanbank, he perceived Pearlin Jean sitting on the top, her head and shoulders covered with blood.
	"After this, for many years, the house was haunted; doors shut and opened with great noise at midnight; the rustling of silks and pattering of high-heeled shoes were heard in bedrooms and passages. Nurse Jenny said there seven ministers called in together at one time to lay the spirit; 'but they did no mickle good, my dear.'
	"The picture of the ghost was hung between those of her lover and his lady, and kept her comparatively quiet; but when taken away, she became worse-natured than ever. This portrait was in the present Sir J.G.'s possession. I am unwilling to record its fate.
	"The ghost was designated Pearlin, from always wearing a great quantity of that sort of lace.
	"Nurse Jenny told me that when Thomas Blackadder was her lover, they made an assignation to meet one moonlight night in the orchard at Allanbank. True Thomas, of course, was the first comer; and seeing a female figure in a light-coloured dress, at some distance, he ran forward with open arms to embrace his Jenny; when lo and behold! as he neared the spot where the figure stood, it vanished; and presently he saw it again at the very end of the orchard, a considerable way off. Thomas went home in a fright; but Jenny, who came last, and saw nothing, forgave him, and they were married.
	"Many years after this, about the year 1790, two ladies paid a visit at Allanbank - I think the house was then let - and passed the night there. They had never heard a word about the ghost; but they were disturbed the whole night with something walking backwards and forwards in their bed-chamber. This I had from the best authority."
	To this account may be added that a housekeeper, called Betty Norrie, who, in more recent times, lived many years at Allanbank, positively averred that she, and many other persons, had frequently seen Pearlin Jean; and, moreover, stated that they were so used to her as to be no longer alarmed at the noises she made.'
	Sir John Stirling, 5th baronet [NS 1666] and his wife
	The following romantic tale of the marriage of Sir John Stirling, 5th baronet, appeared in the Hobart Mercury of 5 June 1871:-
	The following story of a young Canadian girl is told by the St.Mary's Vidette:- Many years ago a young man made his appearance in Stratford [in what is now Ontario in Canada], and spent a few weeks at the tavern which then existed to afford shelter to stage-coach travellers. Whence he came, and what his business, none could guess. Directly opposite the tavern stood a small cottage and forge of a blacksmith named Folsom [some sources say Folsome or Tolson]. He had a daughter who was the beauty of the village, and it was her fortune to captivate the heart of the young stranger. He told his love, said that he was travelling incognito, but in confidence gave her his real name, claiming that he was heir to a large fortune. She returned his love, and they were married. A few weeks thereafter the stranger told his wife that he must visit New Orleans: he did so, and the gossips of the town made the young wife unhappy by disagreeable hints and jeers. In a few months the husband returned, but before a week had elapsed he received a large budget of letters, and told his wife he must at once return to England, and must go alone. He took his departure and the gossips had another glorious opportunity to make a confiding woman wretched. To all but herself it was a clear case of desertion. The wife became a mother, and for two years lived on in silence and hope. By the end of that time a letter was received by the Stratford beauty from her husband, directing her at once to go to New York with her child, taking nothing with her but the clothes she wore, and embark in a ship for her home in England. On arrival in New York, she found a ship splendidly furnished with every convenience and luxury for her comfort, and two servants ready to obey every wish she might express. The ship duly arrived in England, and the Stratford girl became the mistress of a superb mansion, and, as the wife of a baronet, was saluted by the aristocracy as Lady Samuel [sic] Stirling. On the death of her husband, many years ago, the Stratford boy succeeded to the title and wealth of his father, and in the last edition of "The Peerage and Baronetage", he is spoken of as the issue of "Miss Folsom, of Stratford, North America."
	Early editions of Burke's Peerage state that, by his wife, Sir John had a very numerous family. In Playfair's Baronetage [1811] it is said that by her he had "19 children in the first 18 years of their marriage." [!] The timing of the marriage of Sir John and his wife, who is named as Gloryanah in The Complete Baronetage, is debateable - The Complete Baronetage has it as "apparently before 1771" with a second ceremony taking place in Glasgow in January 1774. Lady Stirling died 4 January 1826.
	Following the death of the 9th baronet in 1949, the article below appeared in the Los Angeles Times on 5th May 1949:-
	An American undertaker today emerged as the probable heir to a 300-year-old Scottish baronetcy. The claim of Robert Wilson Stirling, 58, of Indianapolis, was certified by none other than Debrett's Peerage.
	Sir George Murray Home Stirling, the 9th baronet, died Sunday [1 May 1949].
	Some of the other baronets were a bit startled by the news from Debrett's. Undertakers are rare in the aristocracy of this land. "Indeed, I should say that he must be our first one," said C.F.J. Hankinson, who as editor of Debrett's is the No. 1 authority on British blue blood.
	There is very strong evidence - almost conclusive, Hankinson said - that the title will go to Indianapolis. Sir George, who was 80, had only one son, Capt. George Archibald, and he was killed in the war. The male closest to the title, it was established after long inquiry, is a grandchild of the 5th baronet - the undertaker in Indianapolis.
	At Indianapolis, Stirling, 58, said he isn't going to give up his American citizenship to become a Scottish baronet. "I've always been an undertaker," he added. "I'm happy here. I wouldn't consider going over there to live."
	This statement must have gladdened the heart of one of his relations, since, according to The Washington Post of 6 May 1949:-
	Undertaker Robert W. Stirling declared today that he's "just as blue-blooded" as the Scottish spinster who doesn't want him to have a baronetcy.
	And if she wants to fight, why, he'll fight that too, he said.
	Stirling's pride was aroused when he was told Elizabeth Stirling, daughter of the late Sir George Stirling, 9th baronet of Glorat, had scoffed at him as an heir.
	Stirling, who has never been in Scotland, inherited the baronetcy when Sir George, his first cousin [sic] died Sunday. The peerage [sic] goes to male heirs only.
	The Indianapolis mortician said he would forego the title if it meant giving up his citizenship. But authorities in London said he could become Sir Robert Stirling as is.
	Elizabeth Stirling said in Scotland that her cousin will have to wait a long time before he takes over the stately home with its 4000-acre estate. "Good heavens," she said, "we Stirlings are one of the oldest families in this part of Scotland. Why, we've been here since 1508 in this very house. Do you think we are going to turn the whole thing over to some undertaker from Indianapolis, Ohio, or wherever it is?"
	Stirling said that if Miss Stirling wanted to take that attitude, he would fight for his rights. He said he understood the estate was valued at $1,000,000, but said that much money would "worry me to death."
	As the baronetcy currently appears on the Standing Council of the Baronetage's listing of baronetcies to which no succession has been proved, it seems that the undertaker was true to his word and never sought to take up the title.
	Sir Robert William Stirling-Hamilton, 12th baronet
	Sir Robert was missing for 12 days in September 1948 after the plane in which he and four other persons were travelling was forced to land in northern Manitoba, Canada. The first report below appeared in The Times of 14 September 1948:-
	Captain Sir Robert Stirling-Hamilton, British Admiralty representative in Canada, is one of the passengers in a United States Navy aircraft which has been missing for 24 hours on a flight between Churchill and The Pas, Manitoba. Sir Robert Stirling‑Hamilton went to Churchill during the week-end to see the arrival there of two Canadian warships, the Nootka and Haida, on a training cruise.
	Four others on board the missing Beachcraft aircraft include Captain Ben Scott Custer, American Naval Attaché at the United States Embassy in Ottawa.
	Many R.C.A.F. Machines are taking part in the search. The missing aircraft had only enough petrol to last until 2.30 yesterday afternoon and was meeting heavy weather.
	The Times 15 September 1948:-
	Seventeen Canadian and American aircraft were engaged to-day in searching the wild bush-land territory of northern Manitoba in the hope of finding the missing United States Navy aircraft which left Churchill on Sunday with five passengers for Ottawa. So far no trace of the missing flyers has been reported in Ottawa.
	Among the passengers are Captain Sir Robert Stirling-Hamilton, naval adviser to the British High Commissioner in Ottawa, and Captain B.J. Custer, naval attaché at the American Embassy here [Ottawa], both of whom had taken their appointments in Ottawa only a few weeks ago.
	The Times 16 September 1948:-
	A north country trapper to-day reported having seen an aircraft on Sunday morning at Setting Lake, 60 miles north of Lake Winnipeg, that might be the missing machine in which Sir Robert Stirling‑Hamilton and four other persons were flying to Ottawa. The report gave fresh impetus to the search, which is now the biggest ever made in Canada. An international force of 35 aircraft is combing an area of over 60,000 square miles. About 300 airmen and ground staff are taking part. Three Lancasters left The Pas, Manitoba, to-day to scour the country north of Lake Winnipeg.
	The London Daily Mail of 25 September 1948:-
	Twelve days after it vanished, a U.S. Navy plane carrying Captain Sir Robert Stirling‑Hamilton, senior British Naval officer in Canada, and four others, was found tonight in the wilds of northern Manitoba. The discovery was made by a Royal Canadian Air Force Lancaster search plane.
	A white arrow printed in the sand near the plane pointed south. Following its direction, five survivors were found about 25 miles from the plane. Rescue operations have been launched from a flying-boat station nearby. Maps have been dropped to the survivors with instructions telling them where a rescue craft will land.
	The plane was located on the shore of a mapped but unnamed lake 250 miles north-west of The Pas in northern Manitoba. It disappeared on a flight from Churchill, Manitoba, to Ottawa on Sunday, September 12.
	Sir Walter William Strickland, 9th baronet
	Sir Walter was known as the 'anarchist baronet', due to his revolutionary ideals. As a young man he had lived in India, Ceylon, Java and Singapore, and had travelled extensively in Russia, where he appears to have acquired his anarchist beliefs. He is described as "an extraordinary character, a scholar, anarchist, and gypsy. For thirty years he wandered over the world, botanizing, translating Horace and Moliere, getting into trouble with most civilized governments, and writing violent pamphlets and verses against established things."
	His name was often in the newspapers by reason of his constant disappearances. It was said that during his whole life, he spent only one week in London. He once declared that he had hidden himself on the Continent because he had received a warning from 'an absolutely reliable source' that powerful officials were plotting his assassination. In a letter to a London newspaper Sir Walter declared that 'the vulgar, ungentlemanly, and, indeed, murderous persecution to which I have been subjected is exclusively British.'
	Once, in Vienna, he was mistakenly arrested in the belief that he was a wanted murderer. Sir Walter commented that 'this was a great compliment, since the wanted man was described as extremely handsome and aristocratic looking.' A series of newspaper reports just prior to WW1 comment on his disappearance, only to be followed a short time later by further reports that he had been located - at various points he was in the south of France, Spain (where he refused to disclose his address for 'political reasons') and Geneva.
	In January 1923, Sir Walter announced that he had become a citizen of Czechoslovakia, and that he had dropped the use of his title. In 1931, he moved to Java where he died in 1938. His ill was typically eccentric. It stated that, for the first 21 years after his death, his estate was to be used in publishing various manuscripts left by him. After the completion of the 21 years, "the income is to be paid to a Buddhist society to found a chair or laboratory of physics on Buddhist lines at such university or place not in the British Islands; to found a chair or laboratory of practical psychology on similar conditions; any surplus income to be used for propaganda purposes in the spread of Buddhism."
	Sir Charles Norman Lockhart Stronge, 8th baronet
	Sir Charles sat in the Northern Ireland Parliament between 1938 and 1969 and was Speaker [of] the Northern Ireland Parliament between 1945 and 1969. He, together with his son and heir, was assassinated by the IRA in 1981.
	The following report appeared in The Times on 23 January 1981:-
	The Provisional IRA announced yesterday that it killed Sir Norman Stronge, former Speaker of the Northern Ireland Parliament, and his son James on Wednesday night in reprisal for killings by "loyalist" gangs,
	Sir Norman, aged 86, and his son, a bachelor aged 48, were shot at point-blank range in the library of the family home, Tynan Abbey, a mile from the border in South Armagh. Most of the home was left in ruins after the killers set off at least two incendiary bombs.
	An intensive search on both sides of the border continued throughout yesterday without success.
	The IRA said in a statement in Belfast: "This deliberate attack on the symbols of hated Unionism was a direct reprisal for a whole series of loyalist assassinations and murder attacks on nationalist people and nationalist activities.
	That was a reference to the attempt to murder Mrs. Bernadette McAliskey, the former MP, and her husband Michael at their remote home in co. Tyrone on Friday, as well as the murder of four leading republican activists since last May: Mrs. Miriam Daly, Mr. John Turnly, Mr. Noel Lyttle and Mr. Ronald Bunting.
	Sir Norman and his son let off flares from the house after the killers had burst open the door with an explosive device, and the bright light alerted the police.
	At least ten terrorists were involved in the operation, which began when two families were held captive in the village of Tynan. Other terrorists used their cars to drive to the abbey, built in 1790 and set in 900 acres of farm and woodland.
	The police arrived as the killers were escaping in the stolen cars. One vehicle was rammed by a police car and a 10-minute gun battle followed. There would have been police casualties but for the armour plate and bullet-resistant glass in their vehicles.
	Some of the police returned fire, using high-powered Armalite rifles and hand guns. The killers ran across the fields in the pitch darkness towards the border.
	The terrorists were wearing black berets and combat gear, typical of the IRA. They did not wear masks and their age was estimated at around 23.
	Helicopters with searchlights were brought in by the Army, when reports of the attack came through. Police in the Irish Republic set up roadblocks and within a short time hundreds of men were involved in the search.
	Almost every section of opinion in Ireland yesterday condemned the murders, but the IRA said: "For us, the decision to take such reprisals represents a real departure, no matter how sections of the media and the politicians have attempted to misconstrue, with a sectarian label, IRA attacks on the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Ulster Defence Regiment. Our operations against these targets have been based on their involvement in the Crown forces, But our decision to take reprisals for the activities of loyalist paramilitaries is being taken on a political basis. The responsibility for reprisals rests four square on their shoulders."
	Although Sir Norman and his son were killed in the same attack, the law assumed that Sir Norman, being the older party, had died first, with the result that James Stronge was assumed to have succeeded to the baronetcy, even if only for a few seconds. For a discussion on such circumstances, see the note under the Barons Stamp in the peerage pages.
	The Swale baronetcy
	This baronetcy was assumed in 1877, such assumption being announced in The Times of 10 March 1877, when the following notice appeared in the classified advertising section:-
	Whereas King Charles II, by his letters patent bearing date the 21st day of June 1660, conferred the rank, style and title of a Baronet upon SOLOMON SWALE, of Swale Hall and South Stainley, in the county of York, Esq., M.P. (in consideration for his great sufferings for his loyalty to King Charles I, and having in his place in Parliament proposed the Restoration of the said King Charles II), to hold to the said Solomon Swale and his heirs male lawfully begotten of his body for ever. And Whereas the said Solomon Swale, Baronet, had, amongst other children lawfully begotten of his body, two sons namely HENRY SWALE and ROBERT SWALE. And Whereas upon the death of SIR SEBASTIAN SWALE, the 4th Baronet, all the issue male lawfully begotten of the body of the said Henry Swale, eldest son of the late Sir Solomon Swale, Baronet, aforesaid, became and was entirely extinct and ended. And whereas I, who have hitherto been known as the Reverend JOHN SWALE, O.S.B. [Order of Saint Benedict], of Birtley in the county of Durham, am the son and heir male of WILLIAM SWALE, son and heir of WILLIAM SWALE, son and heir of WILLIAM SWALE, son and heir of the said ROBERT SWALE, second (surviving) son of the said Sir Solomon Swale, Baronet, as aforesaid; and by virtue of my said lineage as aforesaid I am the heir male lawfully begotten of the body of the said Sir Solomon Swale, so created a Baronet as aforesaid, and as such I am lawfully entitled to the said rank style and title of a Baronet under the said limitations of the same letters patent by which the said title was created as aforesaid, and which is fully set forth in a pedigree compiled by the celebrated genealogist, James Philippe, and enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery on the 2nd day of March 1877. And Whereas I consider it a sacred duty which I owe to the memory of my ancestors, and for the future benefit and welfare of my family to assume and take unto myself and the heirs male of the body of the said Sir Solomon Swale, Baronet, lawfully begotten of his body, the title of a Baronet. Now be it known to all whom these presents may concern that I the said John Swale, have assumed the said Baronetcy and will hereafter be known only as the Reverend Sir John Swale, Baronet, O.S.B., at present of Birtley aforesaid. Dated this 8th day of March 1877. [Signed] JOHN SWALE. WITNESS, John Johnson, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, Agent. Vouched by me, G.H. De S. N. Plantagenet Harrison.
	The baronetcy appears to have been recognised by Dod's Peerage, appearing in various editions until at least 1899. The "Sir" John Swale who placed the notice in The Times died in July 1888 and was "succeeded" by his younger brother, Benjamin. When he died in October 1889, the baronetcy "passed" to the next brother, James, who died in October 1901, to be succeeded by his son, James Bishop Swale. This "baronet" appeared in Who's Who, with the note "claims as 11th baronet", until at least 1911, but disappears shortly thereafter, presumably because he was unable to substantiate his claim following the establishment of the Official Roll of the Baronetage.
	Sir Mark Masterman Sykes, 3rd Baronet of Sledmere, Yorkshire [created 1783]
	Sir Mark was involved in an interesting legal case in 1812 which was reported in The Weekly Entertainer and West of England Miscellany on 6 April 1812:-
	A curious trial, in which the Rev. R. Gilbert was plaintiff and Sir M.M. Sykes, Bart., M.P., defendant, came on at the York Assizes, for the recovery of a bet on the life on Buonaparte; the condition of which was, that the plaintiff, on paying 100 guineas, should receive one guinea per day so long as Buonaparte should live. The contract had been performed on the part of the plaintiff, and for a considerable period, nearly three years, the defendant continued to pay the stipulated sum.
	It was contended on the part of the defendant, that the offer made by Sir M. Sykes, "to receive 100 guineas to pay one guinea per day during the life of Buonaparte", was a hasty expression in a moment of conviviality. Mr. Gilbert did, indeed, when he found the feeling of the company against the bet, say, "If you will submit, Sir Mark, to ask it as a favour you may be off." Mr. Topping said, he should contend that the proposal of Sir Mark was not meant as a serious bet; and if this should be the opinion of the jury, he would be entitled to a verdict; but if it should be thought a real wager, he should even then submit some observations on the law of the case and contend, that in the event of an invasion an interest might be revealed in this wager totally inconsistent with the public safety.
	"Putting the case," said Mr. Topping, "that Buonaparte should, at the head of an immense army, succeed in effecting a descent upon this country, it is clear that the plaintiff would have an interest in protecting that life, which every true subject and friend of his country would be interested in destroying; he would have an annuity of 365 guineas per annum depending upon the personal safety of this inveterate enemy of our country. I know not whether the Rev. Clergyman frequently attends the church, where we are commanded to pray for our enemies, but the plaintiff has a most cogent motive for being devout in this part of the service - an interest of 365 guineas a year."
	The judge then proceeded to state the evidence to the jury, with his observations upon it, leaving them to decide on the fact - whether there was an intention of betting on the part of Sir Mark Sykes, and reserving the point of law. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant.
	The Rev. Gilbert, having lost his action, then appealed to the Court of King's Bench, where the appeal was heard on 12 June 1812. Gilbert again lost as the jury found "the wager to be contrary to law, contrary to morality and contrary to Christianity."
	Sir Tatton Sykes, 5th Baronet of Sledmere, Yorkshire [created 1783]
	The following is extracted from The Emperor of the United States of America and Other Magnificent British Eccentrics by Catherine Caufield (Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1981)
	Sir Tatton Sykes believed that the human body should be kept at a constant temperature. In order to achieve this he had a sequence of overcoats, each a different colour, made to fit over one another. Every morning he set out wearing several or all of them; as the day progressed, he shed them one by one. Rather than carrying his unwanted layers about with him, he just left them wherever they dropped and made a standing offer to the local children, a reward of one shilling for each coat returned to the house. He often wore two pairs of trousers for the same reason and was once seen in a railway carriage taking off his shoes and socks and sticking his feet out of the window in an effort to maintain the correct body temperature.
	The tenants on the estate at Sledmere, in Yorkshire, got used to his appearance fairly quickly, but it must have taken them somewhat longer to come to terms with his views on the landscape. One of Sir Tatton's first acts on inheriting the property in 1863 was to plough up all the gardens and lawns on his property and to forbid the growing of flowers - "nasty, untidy things" - in the village. He used his walking stick to knock down any offending blossoms which caught his eye and he advised one of his tenants "if you wish to grow flowers, grow cauliflowers!"
	Sir Tatton also disliked people using their front doors and he forbade his tenants to do so. Their doors had be barred or bolted and he had a number of houses built with trompe-l'oeil front doors and entrance possible only through the back. He also objected to gravestones, as a result of which the graves of members of Sykes' family who died during his 'reign' and were buried at Sledmere are unmarked and impossible to distinguish.
	Sir Tatton travelled a great deal - to Japan, Mexico, Russia, China and America, as well as on the Continent. On these trips he took his cook with him, not so that he could indulge in spectacular meals but to ensure a continuous supply of milk puddings, the only really fit food for a delicate stomach.
	One morning in 1911 Sledmere caught fire. Sir Tatton, warned to get out, stayed at table saying with his characteristic nervous stammer "First I must finish my pudding, finish my pudding." Finally he emerged, settled into a chair on the front lawn and watched for eighteen hours as the old house was utterly destroyed. Rebuilding began at once, but when he died two years later, Sir Tatton was staying in London at the Metropole Hotel. The manager, fearful of the effect that this news might have on his other guests, wanted to smuggle the body out in a specially designed hollow sofa. Tatton's son Mark Sykes protested "however my father leaves this hotel, he will leave it like a gentleman", and his mortal remains were eventually carried out in a more conventional manner - though one suspects that the hotel manager's idea might have pleased the old man who left instructions that he was to be conveyed to his grave in a farm-cart.
	In January 1898, Sir Tatton was one of the central figures in a sensational court case which involved himself, his wife, and a moneylender. The following summary of the case appeared in the Christchurch, New Zealand Star of 5 March 1898:-
	The action of Jay v. Sykes came to an end in London in January, after a trial of five days. The case revealed something more than the ordinary story of moneylender and needy client. It disclosed, on the part of a lady of society, a career of reckless extravagance which resulted in financial embarrassments, from which the lady gambler sought to free herself by a series of audacious forgeries, backed up by ingenious and unblushing perjury. The facts of the case lay in a nutshell. Mr. Daniel Jay, a bill discounter, claimed from Sir Tatton and Lady Sykes a sum of nearly £16,000 (including interest at the exorbitant rate of 60 per cent) upon five promissory notes bearing the signatures of both defendants. Lady Sykes admitted liability, but Sir  Tatton bluntly affirmed that the signatures purporting to be his to the promissory notes and to the letters authorising Mr. Jay to pay the money to Lady Sykes were forgeries. Forgery or no forgery was, therefore, the question for the jury, for Lady Sykes swore positively that Sir Tatton had signed all the documents in her presence.
	The case was a remarkable one, both from the character of the dramatis personae and from the diametrically opposed tales they told. Sir Tatton is a man of seventy-two, the eldest son of the eccentric Sir Tatton Sykes, well-known for his sporting proclivities. The son seems to have inherited both his father's eccentricity and love of the turf. He divides his time between breeding yearlings and building churches. He avoids society, never going out, except to race meetings. He has a large rent-roll, a handsome income, a country seat at Sledmere, in Yorkshire, with some 34,000 acres, a house in Grosvenor  street, and a cottage at Newmarket. His wife, Lady Jessica, who is much younger, married him twenty-four years ago, and is well-descended, being the eldest daughter of the Right Hon. George Cavendish‑Bentinck, and great granddaughter of the third Duke of Portland. Coming fresh from her governess's hands, the young girl, introduced into no society but that met with on the racecourse, took to betting on a system and gambling on the Stock Exchange, with the inevitable result - the accumulation of a large number of private debts. It was her struggle to extricate herself from these that led to litigation. Sir Tatton at the end of 1896 was in communication with his solicitors about the heavy liabilities contracted by his wife, and in December of that year he advertised in the papers his repudiation of liability for her debts, and took from her a promise in writing that (in consideration of his paying £12,000 to discharge her liabilities, and guaranteeing her £5,000 a year) she would not speculate any more on the Stock Exchange or bet for credit on the turf. At this time, apparently nothing was said by Lady Sykes about the debts to jay. More and more claims followed, and at last in May, 1897, Sir Tatton heard for the first time of Jay's existence.
	Mr. Jay did not go into the box, but Lady Sykes came up smiling with a strange but plausible story. According to her, Sir Tatton was a wealthy, parsimonious "old hunks", who never paid for anything. She had to keep both his establishments going, and to do so had to borrow money. The debts, once started, kept growing like a snowball. She was always trying to get Sir Tatton to settle, but he would never do so. He always wanted to postpone the evil day, and as he was singularly ignorant of business, he made an arrangement with his wife that, instead of supplying money from time to time, he should lend his signature on the understanding that she should in some way manage to provide the money periodically and involve him in no responsibility. In this way he became a party to various securities, and by means of renewals a very large liability was kept floating without his being driven, except in cases of necessity, to make provision for it. When financial crises came she had to persuade him to come down with the cash. In spite of his parsimony she knew how to manage him. It was easier to get a large sum out of him than a small one, and although he was like a naughty child with regard to money matters, often throwing dividend warrants into the waste-paper basket, he would sign anything she put before him. Unfortunately, having a lack of memory in business matters that amounted almost to imbecility, he had a habit afterwards of repudiating his signatures to cheques and bills. Hence his professed ignorance of Mr. Jay and Mr. Jay's securities. To support her assertion of her husband's imbecility Lady Syke's produced her son's tutor, who considered that Sir Tatton was suffering from incipient insanity, because he wore seven or eight coats at once.
	Lady Sykes's story was told with a cool assurance and a quick wit that had a retort ready for every question, however disconcerting. Her tale, however, was just a little "too artistic". She struck several heavy snags. The first of these was the position of Sir Tatton's bank account. His bank at Leeds allowed him to overdraw his account to a far larger extent than the whole amount of Jay's promissory notes, and charged him only 5 per cent on the overdraft. Why then should Sir Tatton, if he wanted money, borrow at 60 per cent from a money lender?
	Then when the account of Sir Tatton's payments for household expenses was put in evidence, it showed that for the last six years Sir Tatton had made payments for household expenses amounting to a yearly average of £7,665. During the time Lady Sykes had accused him of parsimony he had, in addition to many other sums of money, paid her for her private use one lump sum of £10,000 and another of £16,000.
	The dissimilarity of handwriting between the signatures on Jay's securities and those admitted to be Sir Tatton's was another awkward point to get over. The usual number of graphologists were called, but the testimony of Sir Tatton's banker, who would never have passed the bills, and the evidence of the jury's own eyes, clinched the matter. Unfortunately, too, for herself, Lady Sykes had chosen some unfortunate dates on which to obtain Sir Tatton's signature to incriminating documents. On Oct. 2, 1895, when she declared she saw him sign one of them in England, he seems, as a matter of fact, to have been staying in Brussels with his nephew. And on Jan. 2, 1897, the date of one of the bills which Lady Sykes swore he signed in London, he was shown by greatly preponderating evidence to have been at Sledmere, whither he went on New Year's Day.
	Sir Tatton, in the witness-box, certainly showed that he possessed no very reliable memory, but he gave his evidence intelligibly, and exhibited none of that softening of the brain with which he must undoubtedly have been afflicted if the whole of the Jay transactions had faded from his mind. His story, indeed, although largely corroborated, was scarcely less incredible than his wife's. He suggested that two or three years after his marriage, Lady Sykes, in her hurry to get possession of the house in Grosvenor Street, had forged his signature to the lease of it, and that ever since, although she had been living on friendly terms with him and accompanying him on his travels, she had - in her career of prodigality - been forging his name time after time. Each time he hushed the scandal up and paid like a saint until at last he could pay no longer. He put his foot down by running away to get up his pluck for the final expose; told his wife to go to Patagonia, and finally made his appearance in Court to testify to the very wicked and criminal proceedings on the part of his wife.
	The two characters might well have been the creation of some imaginative novelist's brain. The Judge directed the documents to be impounded.
	The jury found that Sir Tatton had not signed the promissory notes in question, and, as a result, gave its verdict in his favour.

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