Baron Cobham
Encyclopedia
The title Baron Cobham has been created numerous times in the Peerage of England
; often multiple creations have been extant simultaneously, especially in the fourteenth century. The earliest creation was in 1313 for Henry de Cobham
, from Cobham in the county of Kent. The eleventh baron
was attainted
in 1603, and the peerage was forfeit; in addition, the heirship to the forfeited barony fell into abeyance
twice In 1916, the attainder was removed and abeyance terminated in favor of Alexander Leith, 12th Baron Cobham. This barony became abeyant again in 1951.
In 1324, Sir Ralph de Cobham was summoned to parliament as Baron Cobham, but this creation became extinct roughly a year later on his death. In 1326, Stephen Cobham was summoned to parliament, again as Baron Cobham. This Cobham came from Rundale
, and was apparently of no relation to Sir Ralph. This creation became abeyant no later than 1429. A further creation came in 1342, when Reginald de Cobham
was summoned to parliament. However, this creation became extinct on the death of the second baron in 1403.
There was no other creation until 1645, when John Brooke was created Baron Cobham, but this title became extinct upon his death in 1660.
There was a final creation in the Peerage of Great Britain
in 1714 for Richard Temple
, who was created Viscount Cobham
four years later, with which the barony has remained united. He was grandson of Sir Peter Temple, 2nd Baronet and his wife Christian, daughter of Sir John Leveson and his wife Frances, daughter of Sir Thomas Sondes and his wife Margaret, daughter of the tenth Baron Cobham.
The date of the Barony, and thus the numbering of the Lords Cobham, is based on the decision of the Committee on Privileges of the House of Lords in 1916; it varies from their usual practice, which would require proof of actual presence in Parliament to establish a peerage; none such was presented earlier than the 3rd Baron in the Parliament of 1377.
At this point the barony became forfeit. The following persons were heirs to this barony of Cobham; if the attainder of the 11th Baron and George Brooke
, his brother, had been reversed, they would have been Lord or Lady Cobham.
Mrs. Disney's third daughter Harriot (1744-1787) married Dr Robert Alexander (d.1822); their eventual heir was their third son, Gervase Alexander (1773-1856); his heir was his third son William Alexander (1806-1888); his second son Dr. Reginald Gervase Alexander (1847-1916) petitioned to be recognized as coheir to the Barony of Cobham.
The attainder was reversed in 1916, and the abeyance of three titles terminated; the Barony of Cobham was restored to Dr. Cobham's son:
This barony of Cobham of Kent is now in a third abeyance between the Barons Burgh and Strabolgi, and the heirs of two sisters of the 12th and 13th baron:
John de Cobham, who was never summoned to Parliament, left his lands to the Crown, from affection to Edward, the Black Prince
; his attestation of this is the last document to mention him. Presumably he died without family, and the barony (insofar as it existeed) is extinct.
of Kent above; his father married Joan Penchester (one of the two daughters of Stephen Penchester of Rundale), who died in 1324. He was first summoned to Parliament two years after his mother's death; his last summons was in Jan 1334, more than a year after his own; his son and further heirs were never summoned.
No writ was issued for this barony after 1372; if the fourteenth-century writs establish a hereditary peerage, it fell into abeyance with the Burgh barony in 1602, and is still in abeyance between the same potential claimants.
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
; often multiple creations have been extant simultaneously, especially in the fourteenth century. The earliest creation was in 1313 for Henry de Cobham
Henry de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham
Henry de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham was the son of John de Cobham of Cobham, Kent, and of Cowling or Cooling, Kent Sheriff of Kent, Constable of Rochester and Chief Baron of the Exchequer, by wife Joan de Septvans, daughter of Sir Robert de Septvans.His father was a brother of Sir Henry de Cobham,...
, from Cobham in the county of Kent. The eleventh baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
was attainted
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
in 1603, and the peerage was forfeit; in addition, the heirship to the forfeited barony fell into abeyance
Abeyance
Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
twice In 1916, the attainder was removed and abeyance terminated in favor of Alexander Leith, 12th Baron Cobham. This barony became abeyant again in 1951.
In 1324, Sir Ralph de Cobham was summoned to parliament as Baron Cobham, but this creation became extinct roughly a year later on his death. In 1326, Stephen Cobham was summoned to parliament, again as Baron Cobham. This Cobham came from Rundale
Rundale
The rundale system was a form of occupation of land, somewhat resembling the English common field system. The land is divided into discontinuous plots, and cultivated and occupied by a number of tenants to whom it is leased jointly...
, and was apparently of no relation to Sir Ralph. This creation became abeyant no later than 1429. A further creation came in 1342, when Reginald de Cobham
Reginald de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham
Reginald de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham, KG was an English soldier and diplomat.-Life:He was the son of Sir Reginald de Cobham by Joan, the daughter and heir of William de Evere...
was summoned to parliament. However, this creation became extinct on the death of the second baron in 1403.
There was no other creation until 1645, when John Brooke was created Baron Cobham, but this title became extinct upon his death in 1660.
There was a final creation in the Peerage of Great Britain
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
in 1714 for Richard Temple
Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham
Field Marshal Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham PC was a British soldier and Whig politician. He was known for his ownership of and modifications to the estate at Stowe and for serving as a political mentor to the young William Pitt.-Early life:Temple was the son of Sir Richard Temple, 3rd...
, who was created Viscount Cobham
Viscount Cobham
Viscount Cobham is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1718 for Field Marshal Richard Temple, 1st Baron Cobham and 4th Baronet, of Stowe...
four years later, with which the barony has remained united. He was grandson of Sir Peter Temple, 2nd Baronet and his wife Christian, daughter of Sir John Leveson and his wife Frances, daughter of Sir Thomas Sondes and his wife Margaret, daughter of the tenth Baron Cobham.
Barons Cobham (of Kent; 1313)
The following numbering is now conventional; it derives from the abeyance petition granted in 1916. The numbering of the last two barons varies; the question is whether, now the attainders of 1603 have been reversed, to count those who would have held the Barony if there had never been an attainder.The date of the Barony, and thus the numbering of the Lords Cobham, is based on the decision of the Committee on Privileges of the House of Lords in 1916; it varies from their usual practice, which would require proof of actual presence in Parliament to establish a peerage; none such was presented earlier than the 3rd Baron in the Parliament of 1377.
- Henry de Cobham, 1st Baron CobhamHenry de Cobham, 1st Baron CobhamHenry de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham was the son of John de Cobham of Cobham, Kent, and of Cowling or Cooling, Kent Sheriff of Kent, Constable of Rochester and Chief Baron of the Exchequer, by wife Joan de Septvans, daughter of Sir Robert de Septvans.His father was a brother of Sir Henry de Cobham,...
(1260–1339) - John de Cobham, 2nd Baron Cobham (d. 1355)
- John de Cobham, 3rd Baron CobhamJohn de Cobham, 3rd Baron CobhamJohn de Cobham, 3rd Baron Cobham was the son of John de Cobham, 2nd Baron Cobham and Joan de Beauchamp. He was given a licence to crenellate by Richard II in 1381 and built Cooling Castle at the family seat in Cowling or Cooling, Kent....
(d. 1408)- Also numbered 1st Baron Cobham in some sources.
- Joan Oldcastell, 4th Baroness Cobham (d. 1434)
- Her fourth husband, Sir John OldcastleJohn OldcastleSir John Oldcastle , English Lollard leader, was son of Sir Richard Oldcastle of Almeley in northwest Herefordshire and grandson of another Sir John Oldcastle....
, was summoned to Parliament on her behalf.
- Her fourth husband, Sir John Oldcastle
- Joan Brooke, 5th Baroness Cobham (d. 1442)
- Edward Brooke, 6th Baron CobhamEdward Brooke, 6th Baron CobhamEdward Brooke, 6th Baron Cobham was a late medieval aristocrat.His parents were Sir Thomas Brooke and Joan Braybroke, 5th Baroness Cobham....
(d. 1464) - John Brooke, 7th Baron Cobham (d. 1512)
- Thomas Brooke, 8th Baron Cobham (d. 1529)
- George Brooke, 9th Baron CobhamGeorge Brooke, 9th Baron CobhamGeorge Brooke, 9th Baron Cobham was an aristocrat during the early Tudor dynasty in England. A soldier and magnate, he participated in the English wars of his days and in the political turmoil following the death of Henry VIII....
(1497–1558) - William Brooke, 10th Baron CobhamWilliam Brooke, 10th Baron CobhamWilliam Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and a Member of Parliament for Hythe. Although he was viewed by some as a religious radical during the Somerset protectorate, he entertained Elizabeth at Cobham Hall in 1559, signalling his acceptance of the moderate regime.His...
(1527–1597) - Henry Brooke, 11th Baron CobhamHenry Brooke, 11th Baron CobhamHenry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham was an English peer who was implicated in the Main Plot against the rule of James I of England.- Life :...
(1564–1619) (attainted 1603)- Henry Brooke, Lord Cobham, was attainted for involvement with the more serious of the plots formed against James I of EnglandJames I of EnglandJames VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
in the first year of his English reign, the so-called Main PlotMain PlotThe Main Plot was an alleged conspiracy of July 1603 by English courtiers, to remove King James I from the English throne, replacing him with his cousin Arabella Stuart. The plot was supposedly led by Henry Brooke, Lord Cobham, and funded by Spain...
; his brother George was part of the other, the Bye PlotBye PlotThe Bye Plot was a conspiracy by a Roman Catholic priest, William Watson, to kidnap James I of England and to force him to repeal anti-Catholic legislation.-Background:...
.
- Henry Brooke, Lord Cobham, was attainted for involvement with the more serious of the plots formed against James I of England
At this point the barony became forfeit. The following persons were heirs to this barony of Cobham; if the attainder of the 11th Baron and George Brooke
George Brooke
George Brooke may refer to:*George Brook , English cricketer*George H. Brooke , American football player and coach...
, his brother, had been reversed, they would have been Lord or Lady Cobham.
- William BrookeWilliam BrookeWilliam Brooke may refer to:*William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham, English peer*William Brooke , a Master in Chancery in Ireland and Commissioner of the Great Seal of Irelnad*William Brooke , MP for Kent...
(1598–1643), son of George Brooke. Restored in blood 1610, but "not to enjoy the title of Lord Cobham".- Heirship abeyant among his four daughters. The three youngest ones were granted the precedence of a baron's daughters in 1665; the eldest had married Matthew Tomlinson, the regicide. The third daughter Margaret was about to marry Sir John DenhamJohn Denham (poet)Sir John Denham was an English poet and courtier. He served as Surveyor of the King's Works and is buried in Westminster Abbey....
, the poet and courtier, who probably secured this favour.
- Heirship abeyant among his four daughters. The three youngest ones were granted the precedence of a baron's daughters in 1665; the eldest had married Matthew Tomlinson, the regicide. The third daughter Margaret was about to marry Sir John Denham
- Hill, Lady Boothby, (c.1635-1704), 2nd daughter, wife of Sir William Boothby, 1st Baronet; abeyance of heirship terminated 1703, when the last of her sisters' descendants died.
- Sir William Boothby, 3rd Baronet (1664–1731), son; the 2nd Baronet, grandson of the 1st Sir William by his first wife, died young and unmarried.
- Sir William Boothby, 4th Baronet (1721–1787), grandson.
- At his death, the baronetcy passed to his cousin and heir male; see further the Boothby baronets of Broadlow Ash; the heirship of the Lords Cobham to his only sister and heiress general:
- Mary Disney (1716–1789); sister.
- Heirship abeyant among her daughters and their children 1789.
Mrs. Disney's third daughter Harriot (1744-1787) married Dr Robert Alexander (d.1822); their eventual heir was their third son, Gervase Alexander (1773-1856); his heir was his third son William Alexander (1806-1888); his second son Dr. Reginald Gervase Alexander (1847-1916) petitioned to be recognized as coheir to the Barony of Cobham.
The attainder was reversed in 1916, and the abeyance of three titles terminated; the Barony of Cobham was restored to Dr. Cobham's son:
- Gervase Disney Alexander, 12th Baron Cobham (1880–1933) (abeyance and attainder terminated in 1916). Since he left no children, the barony was again abeyant between his brother and the other co-heirs of Mary Disney, but this was resolved in favor of his brother by 5 December 1933.
- Robert Disney Leith Alexander, 13th Baron Cobham (1885–1951), brother. Barony abeyant upon his death.
This barony of Cobham of Kent is now in a third abeyance between the Barons Burgh and Strabolgi, and the heirs of two sisters of the 12th and 13th baron:
- Mary Isobel Bazley-White (1882-1978)
- Muriel Thornley (1887-1978)
Barons Cobham (1324)
- Ralph de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham (d. 1325)
- Hie widow married Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of NorfolkThomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of NorfolkThomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk, Lord Marshal of England was the son of Edward I of England and Margaret of France.-Early life:...
and Marshal of England.
- Hie widow married Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk
- John de Cobham, 2nd Baron CobhamJohn de Cobham, 2nd Baron CobhamJohn de Cobham, 2nd Baron Cobham was an English nobleman. He was the second baron of the family of Cobhams of Cobham. He married Joan of Beauchamp, daughter of John Lord Beauchamp; after her death, he married one Agnes Stone of Dartford....
(b. 1324 or 1325; d. after 1377)
John de Cobham, who was never summoned to Parliament, left his lands to the Crown, from affection to Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
; his attestation of this is the last document to mention him. Presumably he died without family, and the barony (insofar as it existeed) is extinct.
Barons Cobham (of Rundale; 1326)
As often in the fourteenth century, only one member of this family was ever summoned to Parliament. Stephen de Cobham was cousin of Henry de Cobham, 1st Baron CobhamHenry de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham
Henry de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham was the son of John de Cobham of Cobham, Kent, and of Cowling or Cooling, Kent Sheriff of Kent, Constable of Rochester and Chief Baron of the Exchequer, by wife Joan de Septvans, daughter of Sir Robert de Septvans.His father was a brother of Sir Henry de Cobham,...
of Kent above; his father married Joan Penchester (one of the two daughters of Stephen Penchester of Rundale), who died in 1324. He was first summoned to Parliament two years after his mother's death; his last summons was in Jan 1334, more than a year after his own; his son and further heirs were never summoned.
- Stephen de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham (d. 1332)
- John de Cobham, 2nd Baron CobhamJohn de Cobham, 2nd Baron CobhamJohn de Cobham, 2nd Baron Cobham was an English nobleman. He was the second baron of the family of Cobhams of Cobham. He married Joan of Beauchamp, daughter of John Lord Beauchamp; after her death, he married one Agnes Stone of Dartford....
(1319–1362) - Thomas Cobham, 3rd Baron CobhamThomas Cobham, 3rd Baron CobhamThomas Cobham, 3rd Baron Cobham was an English nobleman and politician. He was the third baron of the family of Cobhams of Cobham.He lived at Allington Castle near Maidstone-References:...
(1343–1394) - Reynold Cobham, 4th Baron Cobham (d. 1405)
- Thomas Cobham, 5th Baron CobhamThomas Cobham, 5th Baron CobhamSir Thomas Cobham of Sterborough Castle, and from 1460 de jure 5th Baron Cobham, was an English nobleman.-Life:Sir Thomas was the second son of Reginald de Cobham, 3rd Baron Cobham de jure and first wife Eleanor, daughter of Sir Thomas Culpeper...
(1397- before 1429)- His only daughter, Elizabeth Cobham sued in chancery for her father's lands, out of which she had been kept for 24 years and more; the result of the suit is unknown. Complete Peerage declares that the barony is in abeyance between her descendants "if any".
Barons Cobham (of Sterborough; 1342)
- Reginald de Cobham, 1st Baron CobhamReginald de Cobham, 1st Baron CobhamReginald de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham, KG was an English soldier and diplomat.-Life:He was the son of Sir Reginald de Cobham by Joan, the daughter and heir of William de Evere...
(1295–1361) - Reginald de Cobham, 2nd Baron Cobham (1348–1403)
- Reginald Cobham (1381-1446)
- Margaret Cobham, later Margaret Neville, Countess of Westmorland, granddaughter; second wife of Ralph Neville, 2nd Earl of WestmorlandRalph Neville, 2nd Earl of WestmorlandRalph Neville, 2nd Earl of Westmorland was an English peer.The eldest son of John Neville, Lord Neville, he became heir apparent to his grandfather Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland upon his father's death in 1420...
, (d. c. 1470; mentioned as living 1466) - Thomas CobhamThomas Cobham, 5th Baron CobhamSir Thomas Cobham of Sterborough Castle, and from 1460 de jure 5th Baron Cobham, was an English nobleman.-Life:Sir Thomas was the second son of Reginald de Cobham, 3rd Baron Cobham de jure and first wife Eleanor, daughter of Sir Thomas Culpeper...
, uncle (d. 1471) - Anne Cobham, daughter, married Edward Burgh, now de jure 2nd Baron BurghBaron BurghBaron Burgh is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of England. The first creation was for William de Burgh in 1327.The second, and still existing, peerage is of uncertain date...
, (d. 1526) - Thomas Burgh, 1st Baron BurghThomas Burgh, 1st Baron BurghThomas Burgh, 1st Baron Burgh or Borough , 1st Baron Borough of Gainsborough, also de jure 5th Baron Strabolgi and 7th Baron Cobham of Sterborough, was an English peer. He was knighted on Flodden Field in 1513 where he was one of the King's Spears . He was a Member of Parliament in 1529 and Lord...
, her son. - his descendants, for which see Baron BurghBaron BurghBaron Burgh is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of England. The first creation was for William de Burgh in 1327.The second, and still existing, peerage is of uncertain date...
.
No writ was issued for this barony after 1372; if the fourteenth-century writs establish a hereditary peerage, it fell into abeyance with the Burgh barony in 1602, and is still in abeyance between the same potential claimants.