Earls of Hampshire

[greann]

Hi would anyone have information on past Earls. Family rumour has it that my Great great granddad was the Earl of Hampshire..This I doubt, but one never knows
Ann

[Fordy]

Hi would anyone have information on past Earls. Family rumour has it that my Great great granddad was the Earl of Hampshire..This I doubt, but one never knows
Ann

What was his name & what era are we looking at?

David.

[greann]

Hi David,
Thanks for your interest. My great reat granddad's name was William Herbert Francis. The only problem is he was born Edwin Charles Bishop. Can't find anything suggesting either name was an Earl to anywhere!!!!! There was a lot of secrecy in my family and any information my graddad had he took it to his grave. The only thing he said before he died is that "when I die you will find something out about me that will knock your socks off". I know that my great granddad spent a lot of his time running from something. My Aunt tried to find out information and was sent some pretty threatening letters telling her to drop her search. This leads us to beieve that there is something to the rumour. But what?? I am not interesed in upsetting anyones apple cart, but I do think we deserve to know the truth. There is no one left to claim any titles etc. Just curious.
I beleive it may have been in the early 1900's.
Thank you,
Ann

[Fordy]

Hi David,
Thanks for your interest. My great reat granddad's name was William Herbert Francis. The only problem is he was born Edwin Charles Bishop. Can't find anything suggesting either name was an Earl to anywhere!!!!! There was a lot of secrecy in my family and any information my graddad had he took it to his grave. The only thing he said before he died is that "when I die you will find something out about me that will knock your socks off". I know that my great granddad spent a lot of his time running from something. My Aunt tried to find out information and was sent some pretty threatening letters telling her to drop her search. This leads us to beieve that there is something to the rumour. But what?? I am not interesed in upsetting anyones apple cart, but I do think we deserve to know the truth. There is no one left to claim any titles etc. Just curious.
I beleive it may have been in the early 1900's.
Thank you,
Ann

Well as far as I know there isn't an Earl of Hampshire, so I wouldn't hold too much hope for that one.
Do you have him on the census returns? Birth certificate? Any clues from these would help.
I have loads of resources for Gentry from 1850 to 1944, but it would be a fruitless search unless there were more concrete evidence to go on.

David.

[Trish]

Well as far as I know there isn't an Earl of Hampshire, so I wouldn't hold too much hope for that one.
Do you have him on the census returns? Birth certificate? Any clues from these would help.
I have loads of resources for Gentry from 1850 to 1944, but it would be a fruitless search unless there were more concrete evidence to go on.

David.

David,

Ann has posted more information here which may give you a bigger picture...

Trish

[hughar]

My great reat granddad's name was William Herbert Francis. The only problem is he was born Edwin Charles Bishop.
.
I beleive it may have been in the early 1900's.
Thank you,
Ann

Not clear if it's him, but since you said early 1900s I thought I would post it.

www.pew-news.hampshire.org.uk/benefice/sbapts1.pdf has a record of the baptism of Edwin Charles Bishop to parents William George & Annie Rosa Bishop at St Stephen's Church, Sparsholt, Hampshire on 29 September 1912. His father was a postman.

[Fordy]

David,

Ann has posted more information here which may give you a bigger picture...

Trish

I think I'm even more confused now :-)

So we are looking for William Herbert Francis born 1850-60's? who is the possible Earl?

[Geoffers]

Family rumour has it that my Great great granddad was the Earl of Hampshire.

There is an Earl of Portsmouth (family name Wallop), but not an Earl of Hampshire. Could this have started off that your family once married into a family whose surname is Earl?

[greann]

Hi everyone,
Thank you all for your responses. You guys think your confused. I'm absolutly batty William Herbert Francis (my great great granddad) went by many names. That is what is so frustrating. I had my doubts about any kind of nobility, but I have a great uncle who insists that there was something...........who knows maybe some day I'll come across it.
Thanks again
Ann