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Baron Dudley is a title in the
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. There are five peerages in t ...
. It was created circa 1440 for John Sutton, a soldier who served as
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (), or more formally Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland, was the title of the chief governor of Ireland from the Williamite Wars of 1690 until the Partition of Ireland in 1922. This spanned the Kingdo ...
. The title descended in the Sutton family until the 17th century when Frances Sutton, the heir apparent to the title, married Humble Ward, who, himself, was granted the title Baron Ward in 1644. Their heirs inherited both titles until 1740 when the differing rules of inheritance meant that the Barony of Dudley descended on Ferdinando Dudley Lea, who became the 11th Baron whilst the Barony of Ward went to John Ward, who later became 1st Viscount Dudley and Ward. On Ferdinando's death in 1757, the title fell into abeyance. The title was revived in 1916.


History

Baron Dudley is a title in the
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. There are five peerages in t ...
. It was created circa 1440 for John Sutton, a soldier who served as
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (), or more formally Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland, was the title of the chief governor of Ireland from the Williamite Wars of 1690 until the Partition of Ireland in 1922. This spanned the Kingdo ...
. According to ''
Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage Debrett's () is a British professional coaching company, publisher and authority on etiquette and behaviour, founded in 1769 with the publication of the first edition of ''The New Peerage''. The company takes its name from its founder, John Deb ...
'' he was actually summoned to Parliament as "Johanni de Sutton de Duddeley militi", whereby he is held to have become Baron Dudley. The title is sometimes referred to as ''Baron Sutton of Dudley''. The peerage was created by
writ In common law, a writ (Anglo-Saxon ''gewrit'', Latin ''breve'') is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court. Warrants, prerogative writs, subpoenas, a ...
, which means that it can descend through both male and female lines. It is in fact arguable that the title arose even earlier, as his ancestor John Sutton (died 1359) had a writ of summons to the Council on 25 February 1342, but neither he nor his son (died ), grandson (died 10 March 1396) or great grandson (all called John Sutton of Dudley) were summoned,''Burkes' Peerage'' s.v. Dudley, Baron; Cokayne, ''
The Complete Peerage ''The Complete Peerage'' (full title: ''The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom Extant, Extinct, or Dormant''; first edition by George Edward Cokayne, Clarenceux King of Arms; 2nd edition revis ...
'', new edition.
so that they can probably not be regarded as peers. Lord Dudley's great-grandson, the third Baron, managed to get himself severely into debt and lost the family seat of
Dudley Castle Dudley Castle is a ruined fortification in the town of Dudley, West Midlands, England. Originally a wooden motte and bailey castle built soon after the Norman Conquest, it was rebuilt as a stone fortification during the twelfth century but subs ...
to his cousin
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland (1504Loades 2008 – 22 August 1553) was an English general, admiral, and politician, who led the government of the young King Edward VI from 1550 until 1553, and unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Ja ...
. He became known as ''"Lord Quondam"'' (''"Lord Has-been"'' or ''"Lord Formerly"''). However, Dudley Castle and the other family estates were restored to his son, the fourth Baron. He was succeeded by his son,
Edward Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...
the fifth Baron, who like his grandfather came heavily into debt. To clear his debts his granddaughter and heir,
Frances Frances is a French and English given name of Latin origin. In Latin the meaning of the name Frances is 'from France' or 'free one.' The male version of the name in English is Francis. The original Franciscus, meaning "Frenchman", comes from the F ...
, was married to Sir Humble Ward, the son of a wealthy jeweller. Frances became the sixth holder of the title. In 1644 her husband Humble Ward was created Baron Ward, of
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
in the
County of Warwick Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon an ...
, by
letters patent Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) ( always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, titl ...
. They were both succeeded by their son, the seventh and second Baron respectively. On the death in 1740 of the latter's grandson, the tenth Baron Dudley and fifth Baron Ward, the two titles separated. The barony of Ward, which could only be inherited by males, was passed on to the late Baron's kinsman, the sixth Baron (see the
Earl of Dudley Earl of Dudley, of Dudley Castle in the County of Stafford (now the West Midlands), is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, both times for members of the Ward family. History Dudley was first used for a p ...
for the later history of this title). The barony of Dudley was inherited by the Baron's nephew,
Ferdinando Dudley Lea, 11th Baron Dudley Ferdinando Dudley Lea, 11th Baron Dudley (1710-1757) succeeded his uncle, William Ward, 10th Baron Dudley in the Barony of Dudley in 1740. However, he did not inherit the ancestral estates of the Barony, including Dudley Castle, which descended o ...
. He was the son of Frances, sister of the tenth Baron, and her husband William Lea. However, on Ferdinando's death in 1757 the peerage fell into
abeyance Abeyance (from the Old French ''abeance'' meaning "gaping") 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. ...
between his sisters. The title remained in abeyance for 159 years. In 1869, Bernard Burke, who researched some of the co-heirs of the title during the period of abeyance, wrote of the Barony: "where can we find a more striking contrast than this mournful tale of the Barony of Dudley? The history of that famous title would, in its first chapter, speak of chivalry, warlike achievement, and magnificent hospitality in the ancient castle from which the Barony took its name. The last chapter would tell the story of the Halesowen farmer, the custom-house clerk, and the toll-bar-keeper, all resident within range of that very castle." In 1916 the abeyance was terminated in favour of Ferdinando Dudley William Lea Smith, who became the twelfth Baron. He was the great-great-grandson of Anne, sister of the eleventh Baron, and her husband William Smith. the title is held by his grandson, the fifteenth Baron, who succeeded his mother in 2002 (who in her turn had succeeded her younger brother). The holders of the title (until 1740) were the owners of
Dudley Castle Dudley Castle is a ruined fortification in the town of Dudley, West Midlands, England. Originally a wooden motte and bailey castle built soon after the Norman Conquest, it was rebuilt as a stone fortification during the twelfth century but subs ...
and an extensive estate around it, including the manors of
Dudley Dudley is a large market town and administrative centre in the county of West Midlands, England, southeast of Wolverhampton and northwest of Birmingham. Historically an exclave of Worcestershire, the town is the administrative centre of the ...
,
Sedgley Sedgley is a town in the north of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Historic counties of England, Historically part of Staffordshire, Sedgley is on the A459 road between Wolverhampt ...
,
Kingswinford Kingswinford is a town of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the English West Midlands, situated west-southwest of central Dudley. In 2011 the area had a population of 25,191, down from 25,808 at the 2001 Census. The current economic focus ...
and Rowley Somery in
Rowley Regis Rowley Regis ( ) is a town and former municipal borough in Sandwell in the county of the West Midlands, England. It encompasses the three Sandwell council wards of Blackheath, Cradley Heath and Old Hill, and Rowley. At the 2011 census, the comb ...
. By the 16th century, their main home was
Himley Hall Himley Hall is an early 17th-century country house situated in Staffordshire, England. It is situated in the south of the county in the small village of Himley, near to the town of Dudley and the city of Wolverhampton. Himley Hall is a Grade ...
. On the death of the tenth Baron in 1740, the barony of Dudley passed to a female-line heir (see above), whereas the main estates were entailed to follow the barony of Ward and passed to a cousin. However, certain estates that had recently been purchased passed with the title Lord Dudley to the aforementioned Ferdinando Dudley Lea, the eleventh Baron Dudley. The family surname of the first five barons was formally 'Sutton', but in practice, they seem always to have been called 'Dudley'. In title deeds and other formal documents, the surname often appears as 'Sutton otherwise Dudley'.


Predecessors

*
John de Sutton II John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
(1310–1359), was summoned to the Council in 1342 as first Baron Sutton of Dudley * Sir John de Sutton III (1338) * Sir John de Sutton IV (1361–1396) * Sir John de Sutton V (1380–1406)


Barons Dudley (1440)

*
John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley John Sutton VI, 1st Baron Dudley, KG, (25 December 1400 – 30 September 1487) was an English nobleman, a diplomat, and councillor of King Henry VI. He fought in several battles during the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses, as well as ...
(1400–1487) *
Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley, (c. 1460 – 31 January 1531) was an English nobleman elected as Knight of the Garter (KG) in the beginning of King Henry VIII's reign. He was chamberlain to Princess Mary (later Queen Mary I) from 1525 to 1528 ...
(1459–1532) *
John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley ( –1553), commonly known as Lord Quondam, was an English nobleman. Early life John Sutton was born in 1494, at Dudley Castle, Worcestershire, the eldest son and heir of Sir Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley and his w ...
(1553) *
Edward Sutton, 4th Baron Dudley Edward Sutton, 4th Baron Dudley (circa 1515 – 12 July 1586). The oldest son and heir of John Sutton, 3rd Baron Dudley. He was an English nobleman and soldier. Contemporary sources also refer to him as ''Sir Edward Dudley''. Life He served in Ir ...
(died 1586) *
Edward Sutton, 5th Baron Dudley Edward Sutton, 5th Baron Dudley (baptised 17 September 1567 – 23 June 1643) was a major landowner, mainly in Staffordshire and Worcestershire, and briefly a Member of the House of Commons of England. Through his intemperate behaviour he won wi ...
(1567–1643) *
Frances Ward, 6th Baroness Dudley Frances Ward, 6th Baroness Dudley (1611-1697) succeeded to the Barony of Dudley in 1643 following the death of Edward Sutton, 5th Baron Dudley. She had married Humble Ward, the son of a London goldsmith in 1628. Humble Ward was awarded the title ...
(1611–1697) * Edward Ward, 7th Baron Dudley, 2nd Baron Ward (1631-1701) * Edward Ward, 8th Baron Dudley, 3rd Baron Ward (1683–1704) * Edward Ward, 9th Baron Dudley, 4th Baron Ward (1704–1731) * William Ward, 10th Baron Dudley, 5th Baron Ward (1685-1740) *
Ferdinando Dudley Lea, 11th Baron Dudley Ferdinando Dudley Lea, 11th Baron Dudley (1710-1757) succeeded his uncle, William Ward, 10th Baron Dudley in the Barony of Dudley in 1740. However, he did not inherit the ancestral estates of the Barony, including Dudley Castle, which descended o ...
(1710–1757) (abeyant 1757) *Ferdinando Dudley William Lea Smith, 12th Baron Dudley (1872–1936) (abeyance terminated 1916) *Ferdinando Dudley Henry Lea Smith, 13th Baron Dudley (1910–1972) * Barbara Amy Felicity Hamilton, 14th Baroness Dudley (1907–2002) * Jim Anthony Hill Wallace, 15th Baron Dudley (born 1930) The
heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...
is the present holder's son Hon. Jeremy William Guilford Wallace (born 1964)


See also

*
Earl of Dudley Earl of Dudley, of Dudley Castle in the County of Stafford (now the West Midlands), is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, both times for members of the Ward family. History Dudley was first used for a p ...
* Duke of Northumberland (1551 creation)


References


Attribution

* *Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, *


Further reading

*Grazebrooke, H. S. 'The Barons of Dudley' ''Staffs. Hist. Coll.'' IX(2). *Hemingway, John. ''An illustrated chronicle of the castle and barony of Dudley''. (2006) Friends of Dudley Castle. *Wilson, Derek A. ''The Uncrowned Kings of England: The Black History of the Dudleys and the Tudor Throne''. Carroll & Graf, 2005. {{DEFAULTSORT:Dudley 1440 establishments in England Baronies in the Peerage of England Baronies by writ
Baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
Noble titles created in 1440