Sir Ashley Charles Gibbs Ponsonby, 2Bt. KCVO, MC, DL

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 22 Mar 1921
• Military Service: Between 1945 and 1946
• Residence: 1949, Westminster, London
• Residence: 1951, Chelsea, London
• Residence: 1952, Chelsea, London
• Residence: 1956, Chelsea, London
• Residence: 1957, Windsor, Berkshire
• Arrival: 26 Nov 1961, Hamilton, Bermuda
• Residence: 1969, Windsor, Berkshire
• Residence: 1982, Woodstock, Oxfordshire

Notes:

Baptised 22 March 1921 at Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, Westminster. Educated at Eton College and Oxford (Balliol College).

1941 2nd Lieut. Coldstream Guards. 1942-45 served in Second World War in North Africa and Italy. Wounded in Italy. Captain 1943. Awarded Military Cross.

From 1946 worked initially with Helbert Wagg & Co., Merchant Bankers and, after the merger in April 1962, with J. Henry Schroder Wagg & Co. Ltd. A Managing Director of Helbert Wagg since January 1957 and of J. Henry Schroder Wagg & Co. Ltd., since 1962.

Director of: The Associated Biscuit Manufacturers Ltd.; Australian & International Trust Ltd.; City & Commercial Investment Trust Ltd.; The Colville Estate Ltd. (Chairman); The Equitable Life Assurance Society; Fundinvest Ltd.; Romney Trust Ltd.; Rowntree mackintosh Ltd.; Schroder Executor & Trustee Co. Ltd.; Schroder Properties Ltd.; Triplevest Ltd.; Updown Investment Co. Ltd.; Cheapside Dollar Fund (New York).

Church Commissioner (since 1963), serving on the Assets Committee, which looks after their Stock Exchange securities, urban property and farmland. A member of the Council of the Duchy of Lancaster. Trustee of The Dulverton Trust. Deputy Chairman of London House for Overseas Graduates. Trustee of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre Trust. Trustee of the Oxford and District Hospitals Improvement Fund. Vice-President of the Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association, Governor of the Ditchley Foundation. Governor of the Church School at Wootton and Member of the Wootton PCC. Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire from 1 January 1980.

Runs a small Dairy Farm at Woodleys, Woodstock. Interested in forestry and gardening.

Four sons: Charles Ashley, born 1951, Chartered Account, and married Mary Bromley Davenport in 1983; Rupert Spencer, born 1953, Scrap Metal Merchant, and married Amanda Colvin in 1985; Luke Arthur, born 1957, 9/12th Lancers; John Piers, born 1962, Page of Honour to HM The Queen 1976-1978,

Clubs: Brook's, Pratt's.

Ashley married Lady Martha Butler on 14 Sep 1950 in Westminster, London. Martha (daughter of James Arthur Norman Butler, 6th Marquess of Ormonde, CVO, MC and Jessie Carlos Clarke Marchioness of Ormonde) was born on 14 Jan 1926 in Farnborough, Berkshire; died on 8 Aug 2010 in Grim's Dyke Farm, Woodleys, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1HJ; was buried in Wootton, Oxfordshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Charles Ashley Ponsonby, 3rd Baronet

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1952, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Age: 73

Notes:

1st Baronet (created 1956). 1st son of Hon. Edwin Charles William Ponsonby (born 1851), for whom see 'The Ponsonby Family', by Sir John Ponsonby (1929), and de Mauley in 'Burke's Peerage', by his 1st wife Emily Dora (died 1897), daughter of Octavius E. Coope, MP. Born in Grosvenor Street, Westminster. Educated at Eton College 1893-8, matric: Oxford (Balliol College), 1898, BA 1901.

Admitted a solicitor 1904. Joined West Kent (Queen's Own) Yeomanry 1910 - subsequently The 97th (Kent Yeo.) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Territorial Army - Lieut. April 1914; Capt. 1917; Major 1920; Lieut-Col. 1930. Served in the Great War in Gallipoli and Egypt with West Kent (Q.O.) Yeomanry which became, January 1917-June 1919, the 10th (Yeo.) Battalion of The Buffs, with whom he served in Palestine and France. Temporary Lieut-Col. 1919 (?Jan). Croix de Guerre (avec palme), May, 1918. British War Medal; Allies' (Victory) Medal. Territorial Decoration 1925. Managing Director of British Central Africa, Ld., 1922-32; Director of The Uganda Co., Ld.; On the Council of the Joint East African Board, the Africa Society, etc.; Dep. Chairman of the East African section of London Chamber of Commerce. Hon. Member of the House Committee of the London Hospital. In Masonry, Past Provincial Guard Swordbearer of Oxfordshire.

Lieut-Col. and Brevet Col. 97th (Kent Yeo.) Field Brig. R.A. 1930-36, and Hon. Col. 297th (Kent Yeo.) Light Anti-Aircraft Regt. RA 1942-9; Deputy Leiutenant for Oxon; appointed Parliamentary Private Sec. to Sec. of State for War 1940, and to Sec. of State for Foreign Affairs 1941. Chairman of Council of Royal Commonwealth Society 1954-57; President of Royal African Society 1963-70; MP for Sevenoaks Division of Kent (C) July 1935-February 1950. Author of West Kent (QO) 'Yeomanry 1914-19; Woodstock, the History of an Oxfordshire Parish, 1946; 'Wootton, The Anatomy of an Oxfordshire Village, 1968'; and 'Ponsonby Remembers'. Awarded medal of Royal Society of Arts for a paper on Nyasaland, 1914.

Charles married The Hon. Winifred Marian Gibbs, JP on 23 Jul 1912 in Hunsdon, Hertfordshire. Winifred (daughter of The Hon. Herbert Cokayne Gibbs, 1st Baron Hunsdon of Hunsdon and Anna Maria Durant, Lady Hunsdon) was born on 29 Mar 1886 in 34 York Terrace, St Marylebone, Middlesex; died on 11 Mar 1984 in Garrett's House, Woodstock; was buried in Wootton, Oxfordshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 8 May 1886, Aldenham, Hertfordshire; Parish Church
• Residence: 2 Apr 1911, London; Age: 25; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Daughter

Notes:

1st daughter of Herbert Cokayne (Gibbs) Lord Hunsdon. Baptised 8 may 1886 at Aldenham.

Justice of the Peace, 1942-51. A director of Southover Manor School, Lewes. She and her husband lived from 1925-1939 at Cobbe Place, Beddingham, Sussex, and from 1940-1976 at Woodleys, Woodstock, Oxon.

Edwin married Emily Dora Coope. Emily died on 28 Jan 1976. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Departure: Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Residence: Shenley, Hertfordshire
• Baptism: 23 Jun 1854, St John's, Hampstead
• Residence: 1861, St Marylebone, London
• Residence: 1871, Hampshire
• Residence: 1891, London
• Residence: 1901, London
• Residence: 2 Apr 1911, London; Age: 56; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head
• Arrival: 17 Dec 1921, Southampton, Hampshire

Notes:

4th son of Henry Hucks (Gibbs) Lord Aldenham, of Briggens, Herts. Baron Hunsdon of Hunsdon (created 1923). born at Frognall in Hampstead, London and baptised 23 June 1854 at St. John's Hampstead. Educated at Winchester College, 1868-71. Matric. Cambridge (Trinity College) 1873; B.A. 1877, M.A. 1884. Died 22 May 1935 at Briggens and was buried 25 May 1935 at St. Dunstan's, Hunsdon.

After a course of training (1877-9) in the offices of Wallace Bros. London; Ventura Marco del Pont, Paris; Gibbs Bright & Co., Liverpool; and Henry Bath & Son, Swansea; he joined Antony Gibbs & Sons 1879; was with their Chilean Branch, Gibbs & Co., 1880-1, and a manager thereof 1881: a manager of the London firm 1881 and a partner thereof from 1882. Original Chairman of the Alianza (Nitrate) Co. Ld., 1895-1928, and of the Pan de Azucar Nitrate Co., Ld., 1901-26; Director of the Rio de Janeiro City Improvements Co. Ld. from 1884 and Chairman from 1905: Director of the Australian Mutual Provdent Soc. from 1908: and sometime Director of other public companies. Chairman of the City of London Conservative Association Sep. 1912 to 1932. On the Public Works Loan Board from July 1884 (dep. Chairman 1908-21, Chairman from 1921). Justice of the Peace for Herts, from 1916. High Sheriff of Herts. for 1913. He was a member of the Deputation sent by the British Government to Russia in the winter of 1912-13 to return the visit of the Duma to England. In the Great War he was director of Purchases of Nitrate of Soda for the Allies (see 'Antony & Dorothea Gibbs' by J.A. Gibbs p.389). Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (?1918). Created Baron Hunsdon of Hunsdon 24 July 1923. First speech in the House of Lords 7 July 1924, the subject being 'Trade and Unemployment'. Chairman of the City of London Club 1928-31; Member of the Carlton Club, Pall Mall, from 1910. Author of 'History of Gibbs of Fenton' in Dartington (1925), 'The Parish Registers of Hunsdon (1915)', several pamphlets on Bimetallism and the Currency, 1894-5, including 'A Bimetallic Primer' 1894 (rd ed. 1896), and one on 'The Incidence of Income Tax and Wasting Securities (1904)'. His evidence on 'Wasting Assets Abroad' before the Royal Comn. on Income Tax of 1920 is in an appendix to their Report.

He bought Biggens in the parish of Hunsdon and the lordship of the Manor of Hunsdon in 1908. His successive London residences from 1885 were 34 York Terrace, 17 Portman Street, 9 Portman Square (1898-1923), all in St. Marylebone.

Portraits: Drawing by W.E. Miller, 1882, another by E.U. Eddis in a group with his mother and brother Vicary, 1860, both in possession of Lord Aldenham. Oil, three quarter length, 1891, by W. Ouless, R.A., at Briggens (copy by Miss Richardson in possession of A.Gibbs & Sons). Crayon by John Hay, presentation from City of London Conservative Association, 1932, in possession of Antony D. Gibbs, 5th Lord Aldenham.

Herbert married Anna Maria Durant, Lady Hunsdon on 12 Feb 1885 in Shenley, Hertfordshire. Anna (daughter of Richard Durant and Charlotte Still Dashwood) was born on 8 May 1862 in High Canons; died on 30 Dec 1938 in Ware, Hertfordshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Shenley, Hertfordshire
• Birth: 8 May 1862, Shenley, Hertfordshire
• Residence: 1871, Shenley, Hertfordshire; Relation to Head of House: Daughter
• Residence: 1881, Shenley, Hertfordshire; Relation to Head of House: Daughter
• Residence: 1891, London; Age: 28; Relation to Head of House: Wife
• Residence: 1901, London; Age: 38; Relation to Head of House: Wife
• Residence: 2 Apr 1911, London; Age: 48; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Wife

Notes:

4th and youngest daughter and coheir of Richard Durant of High Canon, Shenley, Herts., and Sharpham, Devon, for whom see Parker of Sharpham in Burke's 'Landed Gentry', by Charlotte Still, daughter of Lieut. Colonel Alexander Wilton Dashwood, for whom see Dashwood (Bart.) of Oxfordshire in 'Burke's Peerage'. Born at High Canons 8 May 1862 and baptised at Shenley Church. Married at Shenley 12 February 1885. Died 30 December 1938.

Lady Hunsdon. President of the Herts. Federation of Women's Institutes and of the Women's Branch of the City of London Conservative Association.

Portrait: oil, three quarter length, 1891, by Sir John Millais, P.R.A., a companion to the Ouless of her husband at the Manor House, Clifton Hampden in possession of Stephen C. Gibbs.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Title Of Nobility: Baron Aldenham
• Occupation: South American Merchant, Justice of the Peace
• Title: High Sheriff, Hertfordshire
• Baptism: 4 Oct 1819, Northamptonshire
• Residence: 1851, Hampstead, London
• Residence: 1861, St Marylebone, London
• Residence: 1871, St Marylebone, London
• Residence: 1881, London
• Residence: 1891, London

Notes:

Henry Hucks Gibbs of Aldenham and Clifton Hampden. 1st Baron Aldenham (1896). Born at 2 Powis Place, Bloomsbury, Holborn, 31 August and baptised at Stowe-Nine-Churches, 4 October 1819. Educated Rugby 1832-6, matric. at Oxford (Exeter College) 16 February 1837; 3rd Class Classics and BA. 1841. M.A. 1844. Died aged 88 at Aldenham House 13 September and was buried 18 September 1907 at Aldenham. Will was dated 16 (cod. 28) 1906, proved 20 December 1907. Monument in Clifton Hampden churchyard.

Before Rugby he was at Redland, nr. Bristol. On his father's death he succeeded to the estates in and about Clifton Hampden and on his mother's to those in and about Aldenham. He made various changes in them by sales and purchases (see 'Antony & Dorothea Gibbs' by J.A. Gibbs), pp. 45-6). Lord of the Manor of Burston (Herts), sometime of that of North Moreton (Berks), and till 1902 of that of Clifton Hampden, which estate (and at that time about 1340 ac. nearly all of Oxon.) he then transferred to his son Alban, and, by purchase in 1877, patron of Aldenham. He augmented, 1901-5, the living of Clifton Hampden by restoring to it the Parsonage of 1832-46 and buying the overlarge one of 1846 for his son Alban's Manor House and he built there the beautiful brick bridge over the Thames in 1864 (designer Gilbert Scott), The Coppice house and the Village Hall. He made extensive alterations in Aldenham House and laid out the famous gardens there, his son Vicary helping largely in developing them. He restored and reseated Aldenham Church, 1882 (architect Sir A. Blomfield) and gave a new choir screen in 1903. In St. Alban's Abbey he restored the High Altar Screen 1884-9 (sculpted by H. Hems), gave the reredos with sculpture representing the Resurrection by Sir Alfred Gilbert and reconstructed the organ. He contributed to the building and endowing of Christ Church, Radlett, 1864, erected sundry buildings and cottages in Aldenham and Elstree, and diverted the public road on the west of Aldenham House.

He was entered at Lincoln's Inn Jan. 1840: Joined Antony Gibbs & Sons in the City of London 1843; a manager thereof 1847; partner 1848; head 1875-1907. Under him the Firm closed their Peru Branch in 1880 (at the time of the Peru-Chile War) and concentrated in Chile, and the next year took over Gibbs Bright and Co. with their English & Australasian Branches, and West Indian business. A director of the Bank of England 1853-1901 (Governor 1875-7). A director of the Mexican Railway Co. 1864-1905; of the Indemnity Mutual Marine Assurance Co. 1869-1906; and sometime of the Colne Valley Co., and of other companies. Member of Lloyds 1855. President of the London Institution in the City of London 1888-94. President of the Bimetallic League from 1881 and of the City of London Conservative Association 1881-1907. Served on Royal Commissions on the Stock Exchange 1877-8, on the City Parochial Charities 1880, on the Depression of trade 1885-6. He and other members of the family founded the London St. James Gazette (Conservative paper) in 1880 and owned it till 1888. Member of Parliament (Conservative) for the City of London 18 April 1891-July 92 when he retired. A commissioner of Lieutenancy for the City of London. Member of the English Church Union from 1862 (a Trustee 1876-1907), on the Council 1886-1907) and vice-pres. of the Herts (West) Branch 1897-1907. On the Council of Keble College, Oxford, 1873-1907. Member of the House of Laymen of Canterbury Convocation 1887-1907 and treasurer sometime to 1907. A Life Member from 1888 of the Corporation of the Church House, Westminster. Governor of Aldenham Grammar School 1881-1907. A Justice of the Peace for Herts. and Middlesex. High Sheriff of Herts. 1884. A Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery 1891-1907. Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society 1859 and of the Society of Antiquaries 1885 (sometime on its Council). President of Guy's Hospital 1880-96.

Created Baron Aldenham 31 Jan. 1896.

Among his books he had the best collection of copies of the 'Book of Common Prayer' in English hands. Author of catologues of his own books and MSS (printed 1876, 1888 and 1890 with supplements to the last 2 in 1898 - all since revised in a new catalogue, see his son Alban): 'Pedigree of the family of Gibbs' with historical introduction, 1st edn. 1890, 2nd edn. 1904: 'The Game of Ombre' 1st edn. 1874, 2nd 1878, 3rd for Roxburghe Club 1902; 'Account of the High Altar Screen in the Cathedral of St. Alban's' 1890: 'A Colloquy on Currency' (Contemp. Review 1889, 2nd edn. separate 1893, 3rd 1894, 4th 1899): various pamphlets on the currency and bimetallism from 1876, including 'The Double Standard' (1881) of which a French edn. 'Le Double Etalon' was published by the Belgian Bimet. Association 1883. Minutes of his evidence before the 'Indian Currency Committee', 1899, are printed in Appendix to their Report. Editor, 1868, of 'The Romance of the Chevalere Assigne' for the Early Eng. Text Soc.; and, for the Roxburghe Club, the 'Life and Martyrdom of St. Katherine of Alexandra, 1884 and the 'Hystorie of the most noble knight Plasidas' 1873. To the latter club he contributed 'The Royal History of the Knight Generides' 1865. He was a member of the Philological Society from 1859 and assisted in the production of the 'New Oxford English Dict. (pub. 1888-1928) edr. Murray and others) from 1857 to 1907, subedited the greater part of letter C and was one of the sub-editors of K (see Prefaces to Vols. I, II, V, and VI, Pt.2).

Member of the Club 'Nobody's Friends' from 1851 (president 1895-1907); of the Roxburghe Club 1863-1907) (treasurer 1878-92, vice pres. 1892-1903, pres. 1903-7); of the Carlton and Athenaeum Clubs.

He lost his right hand September 1864 from a gun accident at Mamhead, Devon, (rented for a season by his uncle William).

He resided at Frognal, Hampstead, 1849-56 (a house with 18 acres, since destroyed, in the North Angle of Finchley Road and Frognal Lane); at St. Dunstan's in Regent's Park, St. Marylebone 1856-1907 (then the Blinded Soldiers and Sailors Home). Aldenham House, which passed to him on his Mother's Death, was let till 1868 but occupied by him 1868-1907.

His Life is in the 'Dictionary of National Biography' Vol II of 2nd supplement, but there are a few mistakes in it some of which are corrected in 'Errata' printed in Vol. III of the supplment. For some other particulars see 'Antony & Dorothea Gibbs' by J.A. Gibbs. See also 'Complete Peerage', 2nd edn., I, 104 (note). His diaries 1841-1907 are in possession of his great-grandson, Antony Aldenham.

Portraits: Drawing by J. Slater (1823); miniature by Sir William Ross (1852) in possession of his great grandson Antony Aldenham; oil by G. F. Watts R.A. 1876, (engraved by James Faed) in possession of Christopher Gibbs 2009 and another copy in possession of Vicary Gibbs: oil by W.W. Ouless R.A., full length; oil by T.C. Gotch; chalk (with his son Alban) by E.U. Eddis (1860). Oil by Watts (1896) in possion of VIII; replica of the Gotch in possession of his grandson Andrew Antony; but three-quarter length in possession of A. Gibbs & Sons. Copy of Ross' miniature by Ross's daughter, and crayon head by her in possession of Lord Cullen.

Standing monument and steps to his memory in Clifton Hampden churchyard by Walter Tower (1907).

Henry married Louisa Anne Adams on 6 May 1845 in Thorpe, Surrey. Louisa (daughter of Dr William Adams, LLD and Mary Anne Cokayne) was born on 10 Sep 1818 in Southampton Row, Holborn, London; died on 17 Apr 1897 in St. Dunstan's, Regent's Park, London; was buried on 21 Apr 1897 in Aldenham, Hertfordshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 1818, Brompton, Middlesex
• Residence: 1851, Hampstead, London
• Residence: 1861, St Marylebone, London
• Residence: 1871, St Marylebone, London
• Residence: 1891, London

Notes:

Louisa Anne, Lady Aldenham, 3rd daughter of William Adams of Thorpe, Surrey. L.L.D (1772-1851), life in the 'Dictionary of National Biography', and sister of George E. Cokayne (born Adams) by the Hon. Mary Anne, daughter and coheir of Hon. William Cokayne of Rushton Hall, Northants, who was brother of the 6th and last Viscount Collen. See Cullen of Ashbourne in 'Burke's Peerage', 1930. Born in Southampton Row, Holborn, 10 September and baptised 9 November 1818 at St. George's, Hart Street, Holborn. Married at Thorpe 6 May 1845 (licensed), died at St. Dunstan's, Regents Park, London 17th and, and was buried 21 April 1897, at Aldenham. Administration February 1898.

Portraits: Chalk (with her son Kenneth) by E.U. Eddis (1859) was (1931) in possession of her son Vicary. Oil by the same (1859) with daughter Edith and son Kenneth in possession of her grandson Andrew Antony; drawing by the same (1860) with sons Vicary and Herbert was in possession of her son Alban (1932).

For her 'Royal Descents' see Burke's 'Royal Descents' (1858) under Adams & under Gibbs; 'Cockayne Meoranda' by Andreas Cockayne (2nd series 1873) and Ellacombe's Clyst St. George (1862).

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 9 Dec 1812, St. Botolph Bishopsgate,London

Richard married Charlotte Still Dashwood on 20 May 1856 in Shenley Parish Church, Shenley, Hertfordshire. Charlotte (daughter of Lieut. Colonel Alexander Wilton Dashwood and Marian Still) was born on 23 May 1828 in Marylebone, Middlesex; died on 23 Apr 1863 in Barnet, Hertfordshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 28 Jun 1828, St Mary, St Marylebone, London