Burke's Peerage on the Anson Family

It almost goes without saying that the Ansons of Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire, England, are of great interest to the descendants of George and Margaret Anson. Since our George Anson was born in Wolverhampton, a town roughly twenty miles away from Shugborough Hall, and as he shares the name of Shugborough's most famous owner, Admiral George Anson, it is tempting to link our George Anson to this famous family. In our Frequently Asked Questions about George Anson, we have discussed the claims of our George Anson being related to the first Earl of Lichfield, Thomas William, or to the first Anson Baronet, Sir William Anson. As this excerpt from Burke's Peerage makes clear, all of the children of these men are accounted for, and none of them can be linked to our George Anson of Wolverhampton.

The following information is taken directly from the 1938 Coronation Edition of Burke's Peerage. This edition contains more complete information about the Ansons of Shugborough Hall (the Earls of Lichfield), and the Anson Baronets than can be found in later editions of Burke's Peerage. For those wanting a copy of the actual pages, please contact us.

Key to Abbreviations:

Vital Statistics
b. = born
m. = married
d. = died
d. unm. = died unmarried
d. s. p. = decessit sine prole, or died without issue
s. = succeeded to the title

Titles and Occupations
Bart. = Baronet
C. B. = Companion of the Bath
D. D. = Doctor of Divinity
G. C. B. = Grand Commander of the Order of the Bath
K. C. B. = Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
K. C. M. G. = Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George
K. T. S. = Knight Commander of the Order of the Thistle
M. A. = Master of Arts
M. P. = Member of Parliament
R. A. = Royal Artillery
R. E. = Royal Engineers
R. N. = Royal Navy
V. A. = Lady of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert

Lichfield

(Burke's Peerage, 1938 Coronation Edition, pp. 1550-1551)

Lineage -- The family of Anson has resided in the co. of Stafford for several generations; first at Dunston; but since the time of James I. at Shugborough, which manor, together with those of Bolehall and Glascott, Warwick, was then purchased by,

WILLIAM ANSON, who had been an eminent lawyer in the previous reign. This William Anson m. Joan, dau. of Richard Mitchel, or Whitehall, of Oldbury, in Warwickshire; and d. 1644 (admon. 7 Oct. 1644), was s. by his son,

WILLIAM ANSON, of Shugborough, b. 1628, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas Stafford, of Botham Hall, in Derbyshire, and was s. by his son,

WILLIAM ANSON, of Shugborough, who m. Isabella, dau. and co-heir of Charles Carrier, of Wirkworth, and had (with younger daus.),

  1. THOMAS, of Shugborough, M.P. for Lichfield, d.s.p.
  2. GEORGE, of whom presently.
  1. Janette, m. Sambrooke Adams, of Sambrooke, Salop, and left a 4th son. GEORGE ADAMS, afterwards ANSON, of whom presently.

Mr. Anson d. August 1720. His younger son,

GEORGE ANSON, LORD ANSON, b. 23 April 1697, so celebrated for his voyage round the world was soon after his return appointed rear-admiral of the Blue, and one of the lords of the Admiralty. In April, 1745, he was made rear-admiral of the White, and in July, 1746, vice-admiral of the Blue.  In 1747 (13 June), he was elevated to the peerage by the title of LORD ANSON, Baron of Soberton, Hants, and the same year appointed vice-admiral of the Red. In 1751, his lordship was constituted First Lord of the Admiralty; and he continued in that high office, with a very brief interval, until his death. He m. 25 April 1748, Lady Elizabeth Yorke, dau. of Phillip, 1st Earl of Hardwicke. She d. 1 June 1760. He d.s.p. 6 June 1762, when the barony of Anson became EXTINCT, while his fortune devolved upon his nephew,

GEORGE ADAMS, afterwards ANSON, of Orgrave, co. Stafford, M.P. for Lichfield, 1770-83, bapt. 25 July 1731, who inherited the estates of Shugborough from his uncle, THOMAS ANSON, and assumed, by sign manual, 30 April, 1773, the surname and arms of ANSON. He m. 5 Jan. 1763, Mary, dau. of George Venables Vernon, 1st Lord Vernon, and had issue,

  1. THOMAS, 1st Viscount.
  2. George (Sir), G.C.B., K.T.S., M.P., a general in the army, and col. of the 4th dragoon guards, equerry to the Duchess of Kent, groom of the bedchamber to Prince Albert, and governor of Chelsea Hospital. Sir George established a high military reputation in the Peninsular War. He was b. 1769; m. 1800, Frances, dau. of the late John Hamilton, and sister of Sir Frederick Hamilton, bart. She d. 1834. He d. 4 Nov. 1849, leaving issue.
  3. Charles, archdeacon of Carlisle; d. 20 June 1827
  4. WILLIAM (Sir), created a baronet in 1831 (see ANSON, BART.).
  5. Henry (Rev.), M.A., b. 19 Dec. 1773; d. 1854.
  6. Edward, b. 1775; m. 1808, Harriott, dau of J. Ramsbottom, d. 1837, having had issue.
  7. Sambrooke, b. 18 Feb. 1778, lieut-col. 1st foot guards; m. Elizabeth Hawkins, of Staffordshire, and d. 10 Oct. 1846, leaving by her (who d. 22 March, 1866) one dau., Elizabeth Grace, m. 1st, 29 March, 1831, Thomas King, of Alvediston House, Wilts. She d. 23 Dec. 1863; and 2ndly, 22 Nov. 1867, Thomas Jarvis Bennett, M.D. of Wilton, Wilts. She d. 24 Jan. 1882.
  8. Frederick (Very Rev.), D.D., dean of Chester, b. 23 March, 1779; m. 1807, Mary Anne, only dau. of the Rev. Richard Levett, of Milford, Staffordshire, and d. 8 May, 1867, having had issue.
  1. Mary, m. 1785, Sir F. Ford, Bart.; and d. in 1837.
  2. Anne, m. 1792, Bell Lloyd.
  3. Catherine Juliana, m. 1807, Henry Stuart, and d. 5 July 1843.

Mr. Anson d. 27 Oct. 1789, and was s. by his eldest son,

THOMAS, 1st Viscount Anson, created VISCOUNT ANSON of Shugborough and Orgrave, co. Stafford, and BARON SOBERTON of Soberton, co. Southhampton, 17 Feb. 1806; b. 14 Feb. 1767; m. 15 Sept. 1794, Anne Margaret, 2nd dau. of Thomas William Coke, of Holkham Hall, co. Norfolk, afterwards Earl of Leicester, and by her (who d. 23 May, 1843) had issue,

  1. THOMAS WILLIAM, 1st earl.
  2. George, major-gen. in the army, commander-in-chief in India, b. 13 Oct. 1797; m. 30 Nov. 1830, Isabella Elizabeth Annabella, 3rd dau. of Cecil Weld, 1st Lord Forester, and d. in India, 27 May, 1857, leaving issue by her (who d. 29 Dec. 1858),
    1. Isabella Marie Katherine, m. 8 Feb. 1858, Richard, 3rd Earl Howe, who d. 25 Sept. 1900. She d. 29 March, 1922, leaving issue.
    2. Alice Louisa, m. 18 March, 1865, Hon.George Wentworth Fitzwilliam. He d. 4 March, 1874. She d. 14 Jan. 1879, leaving issue [...]
    3. Geraldine Georgiana Mary, lady of Grace of St. John of Jerusalem, m. 4 March, 1862, 3rd Marquess of Bristol, and d. 25 Jan. 1927, leaving issue. He d. 7 Aug. 1907.
  3. Charles Littleton, a midshipman in the R.N., killed in 1812, off Lissa, by the accidental explosion of a gun on board the "Bacchante" frigate.
  4. William, capt., R.N., C.B., b. 26 Feb. 1801; d. 19 Oct. 1830.
  5. Henry, b. 1804, d. 1827.
  6. Edward Harcourt, b. 1808, d. 1817.
  1. Anna Margaret, m. 1819, Archibald John, Earl of Rosebery, and d. 19 Aug. 1882.
  2. Georgiana, d. 10 Feb. 1821.
  3. Frances Elizabeth, m. 1st, in Sept. 1835, Hon. Charles John Murray (son of William, Earl of Mansfield), who d. 1 Aug. 1851; and 2ndly, 10 Sept. 1853, Ambrose Isted, of Ecton, co. Northampton, who d. 13 May, 1881. She d. 25 Dec. 1899.
  4. Frederica Sophia, m. 21 April, 1838, Hon. Bouverie Francis Primrose, 2nd son of Archibald, 4th Earl of Rosebery, and d. 11 Oct. 1867.
  5. Elizabeth Jane, V.A., m. 18 July 1837, Henry, 3rd Lord Waterpark, and d. 15 Sept. 1894.  He d. 31 March, 1863.

His lordship d. 31 July 1818, and was s. by his eldest son,

THOMAS WILLIAM, 1st Earl of Lichfield, b. 20 Oct. 1795, who was created EARL OF LICHFIELD, 15 Sept. 1831. His lordship m. 11 Feb. 1819, Louisa Catherine, dau. of Nathaniel Philips, of Slebech Hall, co. Pembroke, and by her (who d. 20 Aug. 1879) had issue,

  1. THOMAS GEORGE, 2nd earl.
  2. William Victor Leopold Horatio, R.N., b. 1 Aug. 1833; d. 1856
  3. Augustus Henry Archibald, lieut-col. in the army, late 8th hussars, V.C., M.P. for Lichfield, 1859 to 1868, b. 5 March, 1835; m. 1 Dec. 1863, Amelia Maria, eldest dau. of the Right Rev. Thomas Legh Claughton, D.D., Bishop of St. Albans, and sister of late Sir Gilbert Henry Claughton, Bart. Col. the Hon. Augustus Anson d. 17 Nov. 1877. His widow m. 2ndly, 13 Aug. 1881, George Douglas, 8th Duke of Argyll, K.G., and d.s.p. 4 Jan. 1894. He d. 24 April, 1900.
  4. Adelbert John Robert (Right Rev.), D.D. Oxford, asst. bishop of Lichfield, 2nd Canon residentiary and chancellor, late Bishop of Qu'Appelle, Canada, 1884-92, b. 20 Dec. 1840, d. unm. 27 May, 1909.
  1. Louisa Mary Anne, m. 26 Nov. 1838, Edward King Tenison, of Kilronan Castle, co. Roscommon, lord-lieutenant of that co., who d. 19 June, 1878. Lady Louisa d. 27 Aug. 1882.
  2. Anne Frederica, m. 29 Aug. 1843, Francis, 10th Earl of Wemyss and March, and d. 22 July, 1896, leaving issue. He d. 30 June, 1914.
  3. Harriet Frances Maria, m. 7 June, 1851, Augustus Henry, 6th Lord Vernon. He d. 1 May, 1883. She d. 15 Feb. 1898, leaving issue.
  4. Gwendoline Isabella Anna Maria, m. 19 April, 1865, Nicholas Power O'Shee, of Gardenmorris, co. Waterford. He d. 30 March 1902. She d. 14 March, 1912, leaving issue [...]

The earl d. 18 March, 1854, and was s. by his eldest son . . .

Anson

(Burke's Peerage, 1938 Coronation Edition, pp.130-131)

Lineage -- GENERAL Sir William Anson, 1st Bart., K.C.B., b. 13 Aug. 1772, younger brother of the 1st Viscount Anson, and uncle of Thomas William, 1st Earl of Lichfield (see that title), entered the army, and acquired considerable distinction in the Peninsular war. He was created a baronet 30 Sept. 1831. He m. 26 Jan. 1815, Louisa Frances Mary, only child of John Dickenson, by Mary his wife, only child of Charles Hamilton, son and heir of Lord Archibald Hamilton, 7th son of William, 3rd Duke of Hamilton, and by her (who d. 25 July 1837) had,

  1. JOHN WILLIAM HAMILTON (Sir), 2nd bart.
  2. William Vernon Dickenson, R.N., b. 10 Feb. 1819; d. 1842.
  3. George Henry Greville (Ven.), M.A., rector of Birch, archdeacon of Manchester, hon. canon of the Cathedral, b. 19 July 1820; m. 27 May 1848, Augusta Agnes, eldest dau. of the Very Rev. Walter F. Hook, D.D., dean of Chichester, and d.s.p. 8 Feb. 1898.
  4. ARCHIBALD EDWARD HARBORD, (Sir) K.C.M.G. (1882), major-gen. R.A (retired), J.P. Sussex inspector-gen. of police, Mauritius, 1858-67, lieut.-governor Penang, 1867-82, administrator of Government Straits Settlements, 1871-2, 1877, and 1879, served in Crimea 1855, and in Malay Peninsula 1875-6, b. 16 April, 1826; m. 1st, 9 Jan. 1851, Elizabeth Mary, dau. of the late Richard Bourchier and by her (who d. 23 Sept. 1891) had issue,
    1. Archibald John George, b. 4 Nov. 1851; m. 29 April 1916, Gwendolene, dau of the late Rev. Jonathan Havard-Jones, rector of Alpheton, and widow of Francis Charles John Du Cane (son of late Maj. Francis Du Cane, R.E.), and d. 11 Jan. 1929. His widow m. 3rdly, Rev. Henry Patrick Dawson, Chaplain, R.N. (ret.).
    2. John William Henry, capt. Royal Irish Rifles, b. 5 Nov. 1856; m. 30 Jan. 1883, Frances Anne, dau. of Rev. Thomas Hartshorne Hardinge, rector of Ashley, co. Stafford, and widow of R. Leigh, of Lynwood, St. Leonards, and d.s.p. 4 April 1889.
    1. Elizabeth Mary Louisa, d. unm. 2 Dec. 1934.

    Sir Archibald m. 2ndly, 15 May 1906, Isabelle Jane (who d. 11 May 1923), dau. of the late Robert Armistead, of Dunscar, Lancashire. and d. 26 Feb. 1925.

  1. Mary Louisa, m. 8 July 1848, Rev. Matthew Thomas Farrer, of Ingleborough, and d. 15 Nov. 1856, leaving issue. He d. 14 July 1889 (see Landed Gentry).
  2. Anne Georgiana Frances, m. 19 Feb. 1846, Rev. William Thornton, of Brockhall, Wheedon, Northamptonshire, who d. 20 May, 1881, leaving issue.
  3. Louisa Frances Maria, m. 16 April 1857, Major Francis Du Cane, R.E., who d. 4 Oct. 1880, leaving issue. She d. 14 Jan. 1904.

Sir William d. 14 Jan. 1847, and was s. by his son,

Sir John William Hamilton Anson, 2nd Bart., b. 26 Dec. 1816; m. 27 July 1842, Elizabeth Catherine, dau. of Major-Gen. Sir Denis Pack, K.C.B., by his wife, the Lady Elizabeth Beresford, youngest dau. of the 1st Marquess of Waterford, and by her (who d. 3 July, 1903) had issue . . .

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