House of Jocelyn

EGIDIUS JOSSELIN, a nobleman of Brittany, in France, took up his abode in England during the reign of EDWARD THE CONFESSOR, and left a son, SIR GILBERT JOCELYN, who returned to Normandy and came back into England with the CONQUEROR, from whom he obtained extensive territorial grants in Lincolnshire, among which were the lordships of Sempringham and Tyrington.

Sir Gilbert had two sons, namely,

Gilbert of Sempringham (c1083-1190), the elder, devoting himself to a religious life, retired to Sempringham Priory, where he had founded the order of St Gilbert, known as the GILBERTINES, possessed, at the dissolution of religious houses, twenty-one monasteries in England, containing nearly 1,200 persons.

This Gilbert died at the singularly advanced age of 106, and was canonized by POPE INNOCENT III in 1202.

GEOFFREY DE JOCELYN, the younger son, married the daughter of John Blisset, and from that marriage descended lineally,

THOMAS JOCELYN, who wedded, in 1249, Maude, daughter and co-heir of Sir John Hyde, of Hyde Hall, Hertfordshire, and granddaughter, maternally, of John, Baron Sudeley, of Gloucestershire; by which marriage the Jocelyns obtained that estate, which continued for a very lengthy period in the family.

From this Thomas, we pass to his lineal descendant,

SIR RALPH JOCELYN KB, citizen and draper of London, of which city he was sheriff, 1458, and Lord Mayor, 1464.

In 1467, Sir Ralph represented the city of London in parliament, and was again Lord Mayor in 1476.

The elder brother of this opulent citizen,

THOMAS JOCELYN, of Hyde Hall, was great-grandfather of

SIR THOMAS JOCELYN KB (1506-62), of Hyde Hall, who married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Geoffrey Gates, Knight, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD JOCELYN, of Hyde Hall, whose grandson,

SIR ROBERT JOCELYN (1623-1712), Knight, of Hyde Hall, and of Newhall, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, 1677, was created a baronet in 1665, designated of Hyde Hall, Hertfordshire.

He wedded Jane, daughter and co-heir of Robert Strange, of Wiltshire, and had nine sons and five daughters; of whom

STRANGE, 2nd but eldest surviving son, inherited the title and fortune;
Edward, in holy orders;
Thomas, father of ROBERT, 1ST VISCOUNT JOCELYN.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR STRANGE JOCELYN, 2nd Baronet (c1651-1734), who wedded Mary, daughter of Tristram Conyers, of Walthamstow, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN (1689-1741); at whose decease, unmarried, the baronetcy devolved upon his only brother,

SIR CONYERS JOCELYN, 4th Baronet (1703-78), MD, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, 1745, who died unmarried, when the baronetcy devolved upon the son and successor of

THE RT HON ROBERT JOCELYN (1688-1756); (refer to Thomas, son of 1st Baronet), a lawyer of great eminence, who filled the offices of Solicitor-General and Attorney-General in the reigns of GEORGE I and GEORGE II, and was constituted LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND, 1739.

This eminent gentleman, MP for Granard, 1725-7, Newtownards, 1727-39, was subsequently twelve times one of the Lords Justices of Ireland, and died in government, 1756.

He was elevated to the peerage, in 1743, in the dignity of Baron Newport, of Newport, County Tipperary; and advanced to a viscountcy, in 1755, as Viscount Jocelyn. 

His lordship espoused firstly, Charlotte, daughter and co-heir of Charles Anderson, of Worcester, and had a son,

ROBERT, his successor.

He wedded secondly, in 1754, Frances, daughter of Thomas Claxton, of Dublin, and widow of Richard, 1st Earl of Ross.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

ROBERT, 2nd Viscount (1731-97), who succeeded to the baronetcy of the family upon the decease of his kinsman, Sir Conyers, 4th Baronet, in 1770.

Tollymore Park

His lordship, Auditor-General of Ireland, was created, in 1771, EARL OF RODEN.

He married, in 1752, the Lady Anne Hamilton, only surviving daughter of James, Earl of Clanbrassil, and eventually heir of her brother, James, the last earl, and had issue,

ROBERT, his successor;
George;
Percy;
John;
Harriet; Caroline; Charlotte; Sophia; Louisa; Emelia.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT, 2nd Earl (1756-1820), KP PC MP, who was appointed a Knight of St Patrick, 1806.

Dundalk House

His lordship espoused, in 1788, Frances Theodosia, eldest daughter of the Very Rev Robert Bligh, Dean of Elphin, and niece of John, 1st Earl of Darnley, and had issue,

ROBERT, his successor;
James Bligh, Lieutenant RN;
Thomas;
George;
Frances Theodosia; Anne.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT, 3rd Earl (1788-1870), KP PC, who wedded, in 1813, Maria Frances Catherine, second daughter of Thomas, Baron le Despencer.

His lordship was installed a Knight of St Patrick, 1821.

Hyde Hall

The 3rd Earl was installed as a knight of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick in 1821.

• Robert Jocelyn, 3rd Earl (1788–1870);

• Robert Jocelyn, 4th Earl (1846–80);

• John Strange Jocelyn, 5th Earl (1823–97);

• William Henry Jocelyn, 6th Earl (1842–1910);

• Robert Julian Orde Jocelyn, 7th Earl (1845–1915);

• Robert Soame Jocelyn, 8th Earl (1883–1956);

• Robert William Jocelyn, 9th Earl (1909–93);

• Robert John Jocelyn, 10th Earl (b 1938).

The heir apparent is the present holder's only son, Shane Robert Henning Jocelyn, styled Viscount Jocelyn.

Former seats ~ Hyde Hall, Hertfordshire; Tollymore Park, County Down; Dundalk House, County Louth.

First published in February, 2012.