Daubeny , Sir , Henry Charles Barnston , 1810-1903 , knight , general

Daubeny , Sir , Henry Charles Barnston , 1810-1903 , knight , general

The documents in this collection are of two types, here divided into three parts. The first relates to the career of Gen. Sir Henry Charles Barnston Daubeny, G.C.B., 1810-1903, and includes his commissions from the rank of ensign in 1830 to that of colonel in 1857. He subsequently rose to the rank of general, and retired from the army in 1880. He was closely connected throughout his military career with the 55th Regiment of Foot, later the Border Regiment, and achieved the colonelcy of the 2nd Battalion in 1879. Besides being successively created C.B., K.C.B., and G.C.B., (ACC/1096/015,017,020), and honorary commander of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, he was created Knight of The Legion of Honour (15) and Officer of The Imperial Turkish Order of the Medjidie. The latter two decorations were granted as a result of his service in the Crimea, for which he also gained a pension of 100 p.a. (ACC/1096/012,013), and he served in the East Indies and China. He was a justice of the peace for Middlesex, and for Co Clare, Ireland. His appointment to the Commission of the Peace for the latter is included in this collection (ACC/1096/007). For the later years of his life he lived in Spring Grove, Isleworth, and devoted much of his time to a study of family history.

The final two parts of the collection deal respectively with pedigrees and genealogical notes, and with tombs, heraldry, and property connected with the Daubeny family. The division is not altogether clear cut, as some original bundles whose contents fall preponderantly into one category contain a few items from another. The Daubeny family was of direct Norman descent in the male line, and the head of the South Petherton branch was successively Baron Daubeny by tenure, by writ of summons to parliament (c 1295-1486) and by letters patent (1486-1548). The last of this line was Henry Lord Daubeny, later Earl of Bridgewater, who died without issue in 1548; his uncle and heir, James Daubeny of Wayford, never laid claim to the barony.

Later Daubenys had distinguished careers in the Church and the army. Colonel Henry Daubeny, 1779-1853, the father of H.C.B.D., who was also a keen genealogist, collected information concerning the Daubeny family and the related family of Hungerford, and compiled a manuscript pedigree (ACC/1096/041). His son continued his work on the pedigree with additions and corrections, and it was printed in 1884, but only as far as 1841. H.C.B.D. also arranged for the restoration of family tombs at South Petherton, Somerset, and Westminster Abbey. He collected material relating to families connected with the Daubenys by marriage (Hichens, Barnston, and Carpenter) and by name (the D'albinis, Delbenne and Theodore Agrippa D'Aubigne, grandfather of Madame de Maintenon). A recognised authority on the history of the family, he was consulted for advice and information by other Daubenys. Many members of the family took an active interest in the subject, not only in his lifetime, but also after his death, as can be seen in the correspondence concerning Philip D'Aubigni the Crusader (ACC/1086/130-137) and the shields of the barons of Magna Carta (ACC/1096/130-137). After his death the manuscript pedigree (ACC/1096/41) received further limited additions.

A large number of items in this collection have no indication of date, and can only be dated approximately. It should also be mentioned that the spelling of the family name differs between branches of the family, as well as varying at times in the family history; while Col. Henry and Sir Henry Charles Barnston favoured the form "Daubeney", other branches usually used the form "Daubeny". Sir Henry is often described as "Charles" to distinguish him from his father and three of his brothers who also bore the name "Henry" as a first Christian name. The best guide to the various Daubeny branches is the book of pedigrees (ACC/1049/041).