The Glyns

The main focus of this series of articles is the baronetcy of Ewell, held by a Glyn since it was created for Sir Richard Glyn on 29 September 1759. After the death of the 7th Baronet, Sir Arthur Robert Glyn, in 1942, the title was merged with the baronetcy of Gaunts in Dorset. Sir Arthur died leaving no direct heirs and the next in line was Sir Richard Fitzgerald Glyn of Gaunts. The titles remain merged and the present Baronet of Ewell (the 10th) is Sir Richard Lindsay Glyn (6th of Gaunts), born in 1943. However, the strong personal connection of the Glyn family with Ewell effectively ended on the death of Sir Arthur's sister, Margaret, in 1946.

The Ewell and Gaunts baronetcies were always connected, in that the latter was created in 1800 for a son of Sir Richard Glyn. There was and is a third and more senior Glyn title, created much later, which is the barony (a peerage) of Wolverton¹. This is also connected with the Ewell and Gaunts titles. The 1st Baron Wolverton was a son of the 1st Gaunts Baronet and thus grandson of the 1st Ewell Baronet. For a short period there was even a fourth Glyn title, initially a baronetcy and later a barony, of Farnborough in Berkshire: this belonged to Sir Ralph Glyn, a descendant of the 1st Baron Wolverton, but became extinct on his death in 1960.

I am not going to say too much about the Gaunts and Wolverton branches, but will cover them briefly in due course, on the basis that I have decided to call this series 'The Glyns' rather than the narrower 'Glyns of Ewell'. However, I am going to deal at some length with the descendants of one Thomas Glyn, another son of the 1st Baronet of Ewell. Thomas did not have a title and was not connected with Ewell, but his grand-daughter, Henrietta Amelia, eventually did and was.

The following chart shows the succession to the various titles.

Notes:

1. All three titles descended from Sir Richard Glyn, 1st Baronet of Ewell. The Gaunts and Wolverton titles were created for two of his descendants.
2. The chart shows the lines of succession to the various titles but not necessarily parentage. For example, the 6th and 7th Baronets of Ewell were brothers.
3. A barony ranks as a peerage and is more senior than a baronetcy. Barons are peers of the realm and baronets are 'commoners'.
4. On the death of Sir Arthur Robert Glyn, 7th Baronet of Ewell, the title passed to his relative, Sir Richard Fitzgerald Glyn, 4th Baronet of Gaunts, who then also became 8th Baronet of Ewell.

Inevitably, bare historical facts play their part in the Glyn story, especially in the earlier years when there were no photographs, no censuses and few anecdotes. However, from the 19th century onwards we have a wealth of material and it is some of this that I hope will bring the Ewell Glyn characters to life for you.

This series is in eight parts, as follows:-

1. Sir Richard Glyn, 1st Baronet
2. Sir George and Sir Lewen Powell Glyn, 2nd and 3rd Baronets
3. Thomas Glyn and descendants
4. Sir George Lewen and Lady Henrietta Amelia Glyn
5. Sir Gervas Powell Glyn and Sir Arthur Robert Glyn
6. Margaret, last of the Ewell Glyns
7. Gaunts and Wolverton, a brief synopsis of the 'other Glyns'
8. The Ewell Glyns Picture Show