The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-03-20
Tho First Baronet.

There died ia Neysmbsr last .
gentleman who, though not remark
able himself, was tho head and re-
preventative OF SO famous . family
and order that his death Is an event
deserving OF seine notice. This was
Sir Henry Hickman Bacon, premier
baronst Of England. THIS gentle
man was not the descendant OF the
great Francis Bacon, Baron Vsrulam
but head OF the family wkencs that
eminent mar, cadet OF tbs house
spring.
The origin OF this family ia lost in
the ohscurity Of centuries. SIR Mich
olas, an eminent lawyer OF England.
in the reign OF Queen Mary, succeed
ell, when Elizabeth assembled the
throne, TO the iordkeepsrshlP OF the
great seal lie married twice, and
had numerous issue, and the baro
net lately deceased is the direct re-
preventative OF tie lordkespers cid
ost son by his first marriage, who
was the first person ed--by
James l., on May %, lola baro'
net.
And it is not little remarkable
TIM. Wills, OF the baronetclss since
created in immense percentage have
become extinct, and only some halt
dozen Of those created in 1911 r..
main, the first ever created has sur
yived, and bids fair to do so tor
some time. The. ,baronetcy OF Ho.
bart (Earl of Bnckinghamshirel-
whose ancestral scat OF Blickling, in
Norfsrk, passed some time since,
with is magnificent collection OF
books, by marriage, into the Scotch
family of Ker, and now belongs to
tn. Marquis OF Lo,han-ana that OF
Shirley (held by Earl Forrsrs) seem
to be the only baroneclss now extent
whose patents bear date the same
day as that OF Bacon.
But to pass to the origin Of the
order of baronsts. After ono OF the
almos, chronic Irish insarrsc-
tions against British rule, James
l. conceived in 1909 the idea
OF offering to English and Scotch
settlers, known to be possessed OF
capital, a large portion OF the forfeit
cd estates IN Ulster. Th. supposed
necessity of a military force tor the
protection Of the coonists suggest.
ed TO Sir Anthony Shirley a project
of raising money for the king. lie
proposed the creation OF new hon
OF, between those OF knight and ba
ron, and that 1t be conferred by pat
ent fixed prlce tor tho support OF
TIE army IL Ulster-that it should
descend 10 heirs male, and be con
fined TO two hundred gentlemen OF
three dssosnts in actual possession
OF lands worth one thousand pounds
year-a sum equal to five thousand
now
James I. approved Of the scheme,
as he probably would Of any which
seemed feasible for raising the wind,
and the patents were offered at a
price of 1905 pounds, the estimated
amount OF the charge OF thirty sol
disrs during three years. The pnr-
chassrs did not prove 30 numerous
as had been expected. In tho first
six years nine,y-three patents were
sold 1ol $3.50 pounds. at is unnsces
sary to add" says Dr. Llnsard, that
the money never found its way 10
Ireland in the shape OF forces paid
for by the process.
It was promised in tho patents
that no new title Of honor should
be created between Barons and Bare
nets, and that when the Number Of
two hundred had been filled up, nc
more should ever after be added
The promise has been kept.
There have bsen three or toul
creations OF Baronetsssss in theil
own night, but nearly two centuries
have elapsed since such erection.