----- Original Message ----- From: "Pauline Flewett" <flewett@embarqmail.com> To: <ENG-WORCESTER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 10:26 PM Subject: [WOR] Nobility > Is it possible to actually buy the title of earl, baron, etc? Personally I > didn't think so but rather > than assume felt I should get the facts. Any info on this would be greatly > appreciated. You cannot buy hereditary titles (ie dukedoms, earldoms, etc) for obvious reasons (not unless you find a politican with the power of patronage who is open to bribary) :-). I believe that you can buy "Lord of the Manor" and similar titles. Regards Peter

On 8 May 2011 at 22:34, Peter J Richardson wrote: > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Pauline Flewett" <flewett@embarqmail.com> > To: <ENG-WORCESTER-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 10:26 PM > Subject: [WOR] Nobility > > > > Is it possible to actually buy the title of earl, baron, etc? > > Personally I didn't think so but rather than assume felt I should > > get the facts. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated. > > You cannot buy hereditary titles (ie dukedoms, earldoms, etc) for > obvious reasons (not unless you find a politican with the power of > patronage who is open to bribary) :-). > > I believe that you can buy "Lord of the Manor" and similar titles. > There are some dodgy people out there on the fringes of the genealogy world who will try and sell you anything! My particular bete noir is those websites and stalls you sometimes find in shopping malls (and, to my disgust, sometimes even at pukka family history fairs) who will try and flog you your "Family coat of arms" or a "Coat of arms for your surname" when there is no such thing, not to mention those "Meaning of your surname" scrolls, all of which seem to tell you your ancestors came with William the Conqueror and were anciently lords of the manor of Much-Diddling in the Gorse-Bushes or wherever. Misleading, dishonest, or what? However, as Peter says, you can't buy hereditary titles (though Lloyd George tried selling them) but you can buy Lord of the Manor - usually a piece of paper that costs you an arm and a leg and conveys few benefits. Personally, I don't know why anyone bothers except for the snob value! -- Roy Stockdill Genealogical researcher, writer & lecturer Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History: www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." OSCAR WILDE