General Howe

HENRY HOWE, living during the reign of HENRY VIII, left a son,

JOHN HOWE, of Huntspill, Somerset, who died in 1574, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN HOWE (1556-91), MP for Yarmouth, 1589, who married Jane, daughter of Nicholas Grubham, of Bishop's Lydeard, Somerset, and sister of Sir Richard Grubham, of Great Wishford, in Wiltshire, and with other issue, had

JOHN, of whom presently;
George, ancestor of the Howe Baronets, of Cold Barwick.

The eldest son,

SIR JOHN HOWE, obtained the manor of Compton, Gloucestershire, and other estates, by gift of his uncle, Sir Richard Grobham, and was created a Baronet, in 1660, designated of Cold Barwick, Wiltshire.

Sir John wedded Bridget, daughter of Thomas Rich, of North Cerney, Gloucestershire, one of the Masters in Chancery, and had issue,

Richard Grobham, who succeeded to his father's title and estates;
JOHN GROBHAM, of whom we treat;
Thomas.

The younger son,

JOHN GROBHAM HOWE (1625-79), of Langar Hall, Nottinghamshire, MP for Gloucestershire, 1659-79, obtained the manor of Langar by marrying the Lady Annabella Scrope, daughter and co-heir of Emmanuel, 1st Earl of Sunderland, and had issue,

SCROPE, his heir;
John Grobham;
Charles;
Emanuel Scrope;
Elizabeth; Bridget; another son and two other daughters.

The eldest son,

SIR SCROPE HOWE (1648-1713), Knight, MP for Nottinghamshire, 1673-81 and 1689-91, espoused firstly, in 1672, the Lady Anne Manners, sixth daughter of John, 8th Earl of Rutland, and had issue,

John Scrope, died young;
Annabella; Margaret.

He married secondly, in 1698, Juliana, daughter of William, 3rd Baron Alington, by which lady he had further issue,

EMANUEL SCROPE, his successor;
Mary; Judith; Anne.

Sir Scrope was elevated to the peerage, in 1701, in the dignity of Baron Glenawly, County Fermanagh, and VISCOUNT HOWE.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

EMANUEL SCROPE, 2nd Viscount (1700-35); who inherited subsequently as 4th Baronet in 1730, on the demise of Sir Richard Grobham Howe, the ancient baronetcy of the family.

his lordship wedded, in 1719, Mary Sophia charlotte, eldest daughter of the Hanoverian Baron Kielmansegg, Master of the horse to GEORGE I, as Elector of Hanover, and had issue,

GEORGE AUGUSTUS, his successor;
RICHARD, successor to his brother;
John, died in 1769;
WILLIAM, 5th Viscount;
Caroline; Charlotte; Juliana; Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE AUGUSTUS, 3rd Viscount (c1724-58), who served as Brigadier-General in the Seven Years' War, and fell at Fort Ticonderoga, in 1758, when the title devolved upon his brother,

RICHARD, 4th Viscount (1726-99), KG,

The celebrated Admiral Howe; who, for his gallant professional services, was created a peer of Great Britain, in 1782, by the title of Viscount Howe; and advanced, in 1788, to an earldom, in the dignity of EARL HOWE, being, at the same time, created Baron Howe of Langar, with reversion of the latter dignity, in default of male, to his female issue.

Admiral of the Fleet the Rt Hon the 1st Earl Howe

His lordship was installed a Knight of the Garter in 1797.

He married, in 1758, Mary, daughter of Chiverton Hartropp, and had three daughters,

SOPHIA CHARLOTTE, Baroness Howe of Langar;
Maria Juliana; Louisa Catherine.

Lord Howe died in 1799, when the viscountcy and earldom of Howe expired.

The barony devolved upon his eldest daughter; and the Irish honours of Viscount Howe and Baron Glenawly, with the baronetcy, reverted to his brother,

GENERAL THE RT HON SIR WILLIAM HOWE KB (1729-1814), 5th Viscount,  Commander-in-Chief, North America, 1775-78, Governor of Plymouth, 1808-14.

His lordship wedded, in 1765, Frances, daughter of the RT HON WILLIAM JAMES CONOLLY, of Castletown, County Kildare, though died without issue, when the titles expired.

General the Rt Hon the 5th Viscount Howe KB

This nobleman was one of the principal officers employed in America during the war for independence, and had the chief command from the return of General Gage, in 1775, to 1778.

The first and last Earl Howe's eldest daughter having, at the decease of her father, inherited the barony, became

(SOPHIA) CHARLOTTE, BARONESS HOWE OF LANGAR (1762-1835); who espoused firstly, in 1787, the Hon Penn Assheton Curzon, eldest son of Assheton, 1st Viscount Curzon, by whom she had issue,

George Augustus (1788-1805);
RICHARD WILLIAM;
Marianne.

Mr Curzon dying in 1797, the Baroness married secondly, in 1812, Sir Jonathan Wathen Waller Bt, by whom she had no child.

Her ladyship was succeeded by her son,

RICHARD WILLIAM, 1st EARL HOWE (1796-1870).

First published in March, 2020.

General Gage

The family of GAGE, which is of Norman extraction, derives its descent from De Gaga, Guage, or Gage, who accompanied WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR into England, and was rewarded with large grants of land in the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire; adjacent to which forest he fixed his abode, and erected a seat at Clearwell. He also built a large mansion house in the town of Cirencester, where he died, and was buried in the abbey there.

The ancestor of the present Lord Gage,

JOHN GAGE, whose name is found in deeds during the time of HENRY IV, and who was lineally descended from the Norman, left a son,

JOHN GAGE, who married Joan, daughter and co-heir of John Sudgrove, of Sudgrove, Gloucestershire.

The son and successor of this John,

SIR JOHN GAGE (c1420-86), Knight, made great additions to his estate by purchases, and, further, by marrying Eleanor, daughter and heir of Thomas St Clere, lord of the manor of Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, and had issue,

WILLIAM;
John, ancestor of GAGE OF RATHLIN ISLAND;

The elder son,

WILLIAM GAGE (c1456-96), who resided at Burstow, in Surrey, wedded Agnes, daughter of Benjamin Bolney, and was succeeded by his son,

THE RT HON SIR JOHN GAGE KG (1479-1556), a distinguished soldier and statesman in the reigns of HENRY VIII, EDWARD VI, and QUEEN MARY, whose services are thus detailed in an ancient manuscript written by his third son, Robert Gage.

This eminent person espoused Philippa, daughter of Sir Richard Guildford KG, and had issue,

EDWARD, his heir;
John;
Robert;
William;
Alice; Anne; Elizabeth Cicily.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR EDWARD GAGE KB, of Firle, Sussex, who married Elizabeth, daughter of John Parker, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Edward;
Thomas;
Agnes; Philippa; Mary; Margery; Lucy; Margaret.

Sir Edward died in 1568, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN GAGE, at whose decease, in 1595, without issue, the estates, including no less than fifteen manors, devolved upon his nephew,

JOHN GAGE, who was created a baronet in 1622, designated of Firle, Sussex.

Sir John wedded Penelope, daughter of Thomas Darcy, 1st Earl Rivers, and had issue,

THOMAS, his successor;
John;
Edward;
Henry;
Frances; Penelope; Elizabeth; Anne.

Sir John died in 1633, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR THOMAS GAGE, 2nd Baronet, who wedded, in 1635, Mary, eldest daughter and co-heir of John Chamberlain, of Sherburn, Oxfordshire, and had issue,

THOMAS, his successor;
JOHN, 4th Baronet;
Henry, dsp;
Joseph, of Sherburn;
Catherine; Mary; Frances.

Sir Thomas died in 1654, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR THOMAS GAGE, 3rd Baronet, who died unmarried in 1660, and was succeeded by his brother,

SIR JOHN GAGE, 4th Baronet (c1642-99), who espoused firstly, Mary, daughter of Robert Middlemore, of Edgebaston, Warwickshire, and had issue,

Bridget; Mary.

He married secondly, Mary, daughter of Sir William Stanley Bt, and had further issue,

JOHN, 5th Baronet;
THOMAS, 6th Baronet;
WILLIAM, 7th Baronet;
Mary.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN GAGE, 5th Baronet (c1691-1700), who was succeeded by his brother,

SIR THOMAS GAGE, 6th Baronet (c1694-1713), who died on his travels, and was succeeded by his only surviving brother,

SIR WILLIAM GAGE, 7th Baronet (1695-1744), KB, who, conforming to the Church of England, was elected to the last Parliament of GEORGE I, as MP for Seaford, 1727-44.

Sir William died unmarried, in 1744, and his sisters, Lady Shelley and the Viscountess Fauconberg, became his co-heirs, while the title reverted to his kinsman,

THOMAS GAGE, as 8th Baronet (c1702-54); who was created, in 1720, Baron Gage, of Castlebar, County Mayo, and VISCOUNT GAGE, of Castle Island, County Kerry.

His lordship married firstly, in 1717, Benedicta Maria, Theresa, only daughter and heir of Benedict Hall, of High Meadow, Gloucestershire, and had issue,

William Hall, his successor;
THOMAS, of whom we treat;
Theresa.

He wedded secondly, in 1750, Jane, widow of Henry Jermyn Bond, by whom he had no child.

His lordship's younger son,

THE HON THOMAS GAGE (c1718-87), the celebrated General Gage, Commander-in-Chief, North America, 1763-75, Governor of Massachusetts Bay, 1774-5, wedded, in 1758, Margaret, daughter of Peter Kemble, President of the New Jersey Provincial Council, and had issue,

HENRY, his successor;
John;
William Hall (Admiral Sir, GCB);
Maria; Charlotte; Harriet; Louisa; Emily.

General Gage was succeeded by his eldest son,

MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY GAGE (1761-1808), who succeeded to the viscountcy of Gage following the decease of his uncle, the 2nd Viscount.

• Henry Hall, 4th Viscount  (1791–1877);
• Henry Charles Gage, 5th Viscount (1854–1912);
• Henry Rainald Gage, 6th Viscount (1895–1982);
• George John St Clere Gage, 7th Viscount (1932–1993);
• (Henry) Nicolas Gage, 8th Viscount (born 1934).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon Henry William Gage (b 1975).

Gage arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

General Cornwallis

William Harvey, Clarenceux King-of-Arms, in his heraldic visitation of the county of Suffolk, made in 1561, states that THOMAS CORNWALLEYS, of London, merchant, the first of the family mentioned in the visitation, was a younger brother, and born in Ireland, and that he bore the same arms which the house, at the time of the visitation, used. This Thomas was High Sheriff of London in 1378.

Thomas  Cornwalleys died in 1384, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN CORNWALLIS, who added to his patrimony the lordships of Brome and Oakley, with other lands in Suffolk, by intermarrying with Philippa, daughter and one of the heirs of Robert Bucton.

This John represented Suffolk in Parliament in the reign of RICHARD II.

He died in 1446, and was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS CORNWALLIS, MP for Suffolk in the reign of HENRY VI.

The three elder sons of this Thomas having successfully inherited the estate of Brome, and all dying without issue, the youngest son eventually succeeded as

SIR WILLIAM CORNWALLIS KB, of Brome, who married Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Stanford.

He died in 1519, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN CORNWALLIS (c1491-1544), Steward of the Household to the Prince Edward, son of HENRY VIII.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE RT HON SIR THOMAS CORNWALLIS MP (1519-1604), a gentleman who displayed great personal courage against the Norfolk rebels under Kett, the tanner, in 1549, and he subsequently served the office of High Sheriff for Norfolk and Suffolk.

He was also instrumental in the suppression of Wyatt's insurrection, and was commissioned, with the Earl of Sussex and Sir Edward Hastings, for the trial of Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger in 1554.

At this time he was sworn of the Privy Council, and constituted Treasurer of Calais.

Sir Thomas Cornwallis (The National Trust/ Canons Ashby)

Sir Thomas represented Suffolk in Parliament between 1547 and 1558.

Upon the accession of ELIZABETH I, being a Roman Catholic, he was left out of the Privy Council, and removed from the comptrollership of the Household, which he held under QUEEN MARY.

He then retired into the country, and built BROME HALL.

Sir Thomas Cornwallis wedded Anne, daughter of Sir John Jerningham, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
Charles (Sir);
Mary; Elizabeth.

He was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR WILLIAM CORNWALLIS (c1549-1611), of Brome Hall, who espoused firstly, Lucy, eldest daughter and co-heir of John Neville, 4th Baron Latymer, and had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Frances; Elizabeth; Cornelia; Anne.

He married secondly, Jane, daughter of Hercules Meautys, and by that lady had an only son,

FREDERICK, who succeeded his brother.

Sir William was succeeded by his elder son,

THOMAS CORNWALLIS, MP for Suffolk during the reign of CHARLES I; who dying unmarried was succeeded by his brother,

FREDERICK CORNWALLIS (c1610-62), who was created a Baronet in 1627; and for the active part he had taken in the civil wars, and his faithful adherence to CHARLES II, through all fortunes, was elevated to the peerage, in 1661, in the dignity of BARON CORNWALLIS, of Eye, Suffolk.

His lordship wedded firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Ashburnham, and had issue, with two other sons and one daughter, who all dspm),

CHARLES, his successor.

He espoused secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry Crofts, and had a daughter, Jane.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES, 2nd Baron (1632-73), who married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Playsted, and was succeeded by his son,

CHARLES, 3rd Baron (1655-98), who wedded firstly, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir Stephen Fox, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor.

He espoused secondly, Anne Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch, widow of the unhappy James, Duke of Monmouth, and by Her Grace had one son, Lord George, who died in youth, and two daughters.

His lordship filled the office of First Commissioner of the Admiralty during the reign of WILLIAM III, and was Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk.

He was succeeded by his only surviving son,

CHARLES, 4th Baron (1675-c1722), a military officer who served in several campaigns under WILLIAM III, who married the Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter and sole heir of Richard, 1st Earl of Arran, fourth son of James, 1st Duke of Ormonde, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
Stephen, Major-General;
John;
Richard;
Edward, Lieutenant-General;
Frederick (Most Rev), Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England;
Henry;
Charlotte; Elizabeth; Mary.

His lordship was appointed, in 1715, Joint Postmaster-General.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES, 5th Baron (1700-62); who was created, in 1753, Viscount Brome and Earl Cornwallis.

The 1st Earl's armorial bearings are illustrated at the top of this article.

His lordship wedded, in 1722, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Charles, 2nd Viscount Townshend, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
Henry;
JAMES (Rt Rev), 4th Earl Cornwallis and Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry;
William (Admiral Sir);
Mary; Elizabeth; Charlotte.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES, 2nd Earl (1738-1805), KG, who espoused, in 1768, Jemima, daughter of James Jones, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor;
Mary.

His lordship, a General in the Army, played a prominent role in the American War of Independence, and his surrender in 1781 to a combined American and French force at the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, ended significant hostilities in North America.

He was installed a knight of the Garter in 1786.

Cornwallis Monument, St Paul's Cathedral, London

General Cornwallis, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, India, was advanced to the dignity of a marquessate, in 1792, as MARQUESS CORNWALLIS.

He was constituted Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and commander of the forces there in 1799.

General the Most Hon the 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG

In 1804, his lordship had the honour of being appointed, a second time, Governor-General of India; and in that station he died, in 1805, and was succeeded by his son,

CHARLES, 2nd Marquess (1774-1823), Master of the Buckhounds, 1806, who married, in 1797, the Lady Louisa Gordon, daughter of Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon, KT, and had issue, five daughters,

Jane; Louisa; Jemima; Mary; Elizabeth.

The 2nd Marquess died in 1823, when the marquessate expired; but the other honours reverted to his lordship's uncle,

THE RT REV JAMES CORNWALLIS (1743-1824), Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and Dean of Durham, as 4th Earl.

His lordship wedded, in 1771, Catherine, daughter of Galfridus Mann, of Egerton, and sister of Sir Horace Mann Bt, by whom he left an only surviving child,

JAMES, 5th Earl (1778-1852), who espoused firstly, in 1804, Maria Isabella, daughter of Francis Dickens, and had issue,

Charles, Viscount Brome (1813-35);
Jemima Isabella.

He married secondly, in 1829, Laura, daughter of William Hayes, of Wollaston Hall, which lady dsp 1840; and thirdly, in 1842, Julia, fourth daughter of Thomas Bacon, by which lady he had issue, a daughter, Julia.

His lordship's only son had died unmarried at the age of 22, and the titles consequently became extinct on his decease in 1852.

First published in March, 2020. 

General Clinton

JOHN DE CLINTON, son of Thomas de Clinton, and the descendant of Geoffray de Clinton, Lord Chamberlain to HENRY I, marrying Ida, eldest of the four sisters and co-heirs of William de Odingsells, Lord of Maxstoke Castle, Warwickshire, and thus acquiring that lordship, seated himself there.

This John de Clinton was in the wars of Scotland in the time of EDWARD I, and had summons to Parliament, as Baron Clinton, in 1299.

He died in 1315, leaving two sons,

JOHN, his successor;
WILLIAM, created EARL OF HUNTINGDON.

The elder son,

JOHN, 2nd Baron (c1300-35), was summoned to Parliament from 1332 to 1335, in which latter year he died, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN, 3rd Baron (c1325-98), summoned to Parliament from 1357 to 1397.

This nobleman inherited the estates of his uncle, William, Earl of Huntingdon.

His lordship was engaged in the French wars, with little interruption, during the reigns of EDWARD III and RICHARD II.

He wedded firstly, Idonea, elder sister of William, Lord Saye, and aunt and sole heir of Elizabeth, Baronesss Saye; she was also cousin and heir of William, Baron Sele.

By this lady he had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;
Thomas;
Margaret.

He espoused secondly, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of William de la Plaunch.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM, 4th Baron (1378-1431), who married Alice, daughter of William, 2nd Baron Botreaux, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN, 5th Baron (1410-64); who exchanged his manor of Maxstoke with Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, for the manors of Whiston and Woodford, Northamptonshire.

His lordship, being a staunch Yorkist, was attainted in 1461, but on the subsequent re-establishment of his party, he was restored, and enjoyed the favour of EDWARD IV.

He wedded Joan, daughter of Edmund, 5th Baron Ferrers, and was father of

JOHN, 6th Baron (c1429-88), who wedded Anne, daughter of Sir Humphrey Stafford, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN, 7th Baron (1471-1514), who espoused firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Morgan, and was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS, 8th Baron (1490-1517), who married Mary, natural daughter of Sir Edward Poynings KG; and dying of the sweating sickness, was succeeded by his son,

EDWARD, 9th Baron (1512-85), who was one of the most eminent persons of the age in which he lived.

His lordship was created EARL OF LINCOLN in 1571, having previously filled the office of LORD HIGH ADMIRAL.

He married firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Blount, and had issue, three daughters,

Bridget; Katherine; Margaret.

His lordship wedded secondly, Ursula, daughter of William, 7th Baron Stourton, and had further issue,

HENRY, his successor;
William;
Thomas;
Frances; Anne; Elizabeth.

His lordship espoused thirdly, in 1552, Elizabeth, daughter of Gerald, 8th Earl of Kildare.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY, 2nd Earl (1541-1616), KB, who married firstly, in 1557, the Lady Catherine Hastings, daughter of Francis, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, and had issue,

Edward;
THOMAS, his successor.

He wedded secondly, in 1586, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Richard Morrison, and had further issue,

Kendal;
Henry (Sir).

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

THOMAS, 3rd Earl (1568-1619), who espoused Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Sir Henry Knyvett MP, and had issue,

THEOPHILUS, his successor;
Henry;
Thomas;
Edward;
Charles;
Knyvett;
Arabella; Susan; Frances; Dorcas; Sara; Ann.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

THEOPHILUS, 4th Earl (1599-1667), KB, who married firstly, in 1622, Bridget, only daughter of William, 1st Viscount Say and Sele,

EDWARD, Lord Clinton, father of EDWARD, who succeeded his grandfather;;
Catharine; Arabella; Margaret.

He wedded secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Arthur Gorges.

His lordship's grandson,

EDWARD, 5th Earl (1645-92), wedded, in 1674, Jeanne, daughter of Pierre de Guliere, Lord of Verun; though died without issue, when the earldom reverted to his cousin,

FRANCIS, as 6th Earl (1635-93), who espoused firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Killigrew, and had issue, an only child, Francis, who died in infancy.

He married secondly, Susan, daughter of the Rev Anthony Peniston, and had further issue,

Henry, 7th Earl;
GEORGE, of whom we treat;
Susannah.

His lordship's younger son,

ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET THE HON GEORGE CLINTON (c1686-1761), Governor of the Colony of Newfoundland, 1732, Governor of the Province of New York, 1741, wedded Anne, daughter and co-heir of General Peter Carle, and had, with other issue,

HENRY, his heir;
Mary; Lucy Mary.

Admiral Clinton's son and heir,

GENERAL THE RT HON SIR HENRY CLINTON KB (1730-95), Commander-in-Chief, America, 1778-82, who married, in 1767, Harriet, daughter of Thomas Carter, and had issue,

Frederick, died in 1774;
WILLIAM HENRY (General Sir), GCB, his heir;
Henry (Lieutenant-General Sir), GCB;
Harriet; Augusta.

Photo Credit: National Army Museum

Sir Henry was appointed Governor of Gibraltar in 1794, though died in London before taking up the post.

He was interred at St George's Chapel, Windsor.

The Barons Clinton, one of the oldest peerages still extant, are related to the Earls of Lincoln.

First published in April, 2020. General Clinton's arms courtesy of European Heraldry.