The History of the Fanshawe Family by H C Fanshawe 1927 Preface
The History of the Fanshawe Family by H C Fanshawe 1927 Preface is in The History of the Fanshawe Family by H C Fanshawe 1927.
This volume, printed privately as a family memoir, is a continuation, in a double sense, of my edition of Lady Fanshawe's Memoirs published some years ago. In the first place it supplements that volume with information collected since its compilation; and in the second place it provides a connected account of the various branches of the family down to our own time. The new information has been derived largely from the Journals kept by the Earl of Sandwich during his Embassy to Spain in the years 1666-68, which the present Earl has courteously permitted me to use: from papers in the State Record Offices at Paris, Simancas, Rome, Yenice, and Vienna; from our own Public Records, and from the original Heathcote MSS. published by the Historical MSS. Commission in 1899. The last passed into the hands of Mr. Evelyn Eanshawe of Parsloes, and were subsequently sold by him. They had, however, all been carefully re-examined meanwhile, and the most interesting papers, from the family point of view, were acquired at the sale by Mr. Basil Eanshawe, of Holywell, Bratton Fleming.
At the instance of the Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Arthur B. Fanshawe, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., the family pedigree was registered up to date in the College of' Arms in 1912; and in preparing that record much genealogical information relating to it was brought to light and is preserved in this volume. It may be of interest to note here the principal Fanshawe Pedigrees of earlier date now existing:-
1633-63 Heralds Visitations of London (1633-34), Derby (1634), and Kent (1663), at the College of Arms;
1671 Pedigree on vellum drawn up and illuminated at the College of Arms for Lady Faushawe, widow of the 1st Baronet. In the possession of Mr. Evelyn Fanshawe.
1716-17 Pedigree of the Viscounts Fanshawe at the College of Arms, dating to 1716-17.
1719 Illuminated Pedigree on vellum, dated 1719. In possession of the Head of the family.
1832 Pedigree dating to 1832. In the possession of B. M. Ridout.
1868 Illuminated Pedigree on vellum, drawn up for John Gaspard Fanshawe of Parsloes in 1868. In the possession of his eldest son.
1907 Pedigree, printed in several parts, included in my edition of Lady Fanshawe's Memoirs.
1908 Extensive Pedigree drawn up by Beaujolois Mabel Ridout during the years 1906-08 and carefully verified
The collection and preparation of the present material has been a task of great interest and pleasure to me, and has occupied most of my leisure time for nine years - the seven years preceding the Great War, and two years succeeding its close. Certain variations in names may be noticed in this volume. I have considered it expedient to adhere to the old spelling when quoting from ancient documents and in all cases where children's baptisms have been located, their names are given as they appear in the church registers.
It is my intention to republish Sir Richard Fanshawe's poems, and to have a Brass put up in Ware Church to the memory of the Ware Park Fanshawes buried there.
The record of the family is one of which we are all fairly entitled to be proud I think, and I venture to hope that its remembrance, using1 the vora in its old sense, will be of encouragement and benefit to future generations. The record of the family includes the Viscountcy conferred upon Sir Thomas Fanshawe by King Charles II in 1661 which expired with the 5th Viscount, and the Baronetcy created by the same King in 1650 which died out in the succeeding generation. Many have received the Honour of Knighthood, the first from King James I seven weeks after his accession, the first and Second Viscounts being created Knights of the Bath by King Charles I and King Charles II at their Coronations. The latter creation was the last that occurred until after the Order was placed on a new foundation by King Geoige I. in 1725 (Nicholas' Order of the Bath). Two Grand Crosses of that Order and a Grand Cross of the Victorian Order are included in the list of principal Honours conferred since that date. Between forty and fifty Orders have been bestowed by Foreign Powers since 1787-that of Alexander-Newsky (First Class) by the late Czar of Russia, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure (First Class) by the Emperor of Japan, being among the more recent. There were eleven Members of Parliament between the years 1571 and 1784 and the family Arms carry the distinction of an honourable Augmentation consisting of the red cross of St. George on a field of white and blue chequer (indicating the Exchequer Office with which the family was connected for 170 years), granted in February, 1649-50, in recognition of services to King Charles during the unhappy Civil War as is set forth in the Grant at the Herald's College, a small portion of which runs as follows:-"whereas during that wicked rebellion that gentle family of Fanshawe unanimously shone forth with courage and fidelity towards our aforesaid most gracious father and us . . We will that the remembrance of their loyalty and losses be preserved".
* "I cannot but condemn the carelessness, not to say the ingratitude of those (I am safe while containing myself in general terms) who can give no better account of the place where their fathers or grandfathers were born than the child unborn, so is sometimes we have been more beholden to strangers than to their nearest kindred. However this I must gratefully confess I have met with many who could not, never with any that would not furnish me with information herein." Thos. Fuller, Worthies.
Those of the family who have been actively engaged during the Great War 1914-1918 are, in order of Rank:
Lieut.-General Sir Edward Fanshawe, K.C.B.
Lieut.-General Sir Hew Fanshawe, K.C.M.G., C.B.
Major-General Sir Robert Fanshawe, K.C.B., D.S.O
Lieut.-Colonel Reginald Fanshawe, C.M.G., A.P.D.
Major Lionel Fanshawe, D.S.O., O.B.E., R.A.
Captain Richard Fanshawe, late Scots Guards.
Captain Evelyn Fanshawe, the Queen's Bays.
Lieut. George Fanshawe, the Queen's Bays.
Temporary 2nd Lieut. Arthur Hew Fanshawe, King's (Liverpool Regt.).
Rear-Admiral Basil Fanshawe, C.B.E., R.N.
Captain Arthur Hope Fanshawe, R.N.
Commander Guy Fanshawe, R.N.
Lieut. Aubrey Fanshawe, R.N.
Commander Lionel Fanshawe, D.S.O., Imperial Russian Navy.
Those who have made the Supreme Sacrifice:-
Temporary Lirtit. Leighton Dalrymple Fanshawe, Machine Gun Corps. Killed in Action on the Ypres Front on 3 August, 1917, aged 21.
Temporary 2nd Lieut. Harvey Vernon Fanshawe, Irish Guards. Fatally wounded on the Ypres Front on 9 October, 1917; died on the 11th, aged 26.
Captain Archibald Campbell Denison, 2nd Bn. the Black TV atch. Hilled in Action at the battle of Loos on 25 September, 1915, aged 25-only grandson of Mrs. Denison, sister of John Gaspard Fanshawe of Parsloes.
Second-Lieut. Gaspard A. E. Bidout, ILF .A. Fell in Action near Hesbecourt on 21 March, 191S, aged 19 son of Arthur George Bidout and his wife Beaujolois Mabel Fanshawe.
Second-Lieut. Frederick Athelstan Fanskave Baines, 4th Bing's Boyal Bifle Corps. Billed in Action on 25 May 1915; aged 19-only son of Athelstan Arthur Baines and his wife, Batherine Mary Fanshave
"Avis atavisqve potens."
H. C. Fanshawe.
Mr. Herbert Fanshawe deeply regretted the loss of Fanshawe Gate which, except for a comparatively short period in recent years, has been held by the family from time immemorial. No one would have rejoiced more than he to know that Mr. Basil Fanshawe of Bratton Fleming, has lately regained possession of the Old Home.
At the moment when Mr. Herbert Fanshawe was struck down by serious illness which made further exertion on his part, impossible, the Family History was still unfinished and one of the parly chapters not yet commenced. In the circumstances it was his wish that I should complete his work for him. To the best of my ability I have endeavoured to carry out his wishes, should, however, errors have crept in, Mr. Fanshawe's scholarly attainments preclude the possibility of their being attributed to him. The line beneath his name, on the Title Page, is taken from his Memorial Brass in Ware Church.
I should like to add a few words of appreciation of his fine character. The singleness of purpose that marked his career and the openhanded generosity that was a part of his nature were well known outside the family-his unfailing kindness at all times, especially to those who bore his name, no matter how distant or frail the link that bound them to him, leaves a feeling of sorrow and regret in the hearts of many for the cruel fate that so suddenly overtook him, end for the two years of suffering that ended in his death on 26 March, 1923.
Beaujolois Mabel Ridout.