Hannah Harrison Lowe
Encyclopedia
Hannah Harrison Barnes (née Lowe), 1795–1883, is believed by some descendants and others (see below, "The claim") to have been the daughter of George IV of the United Kingdom and his early wife and continuing paramour Maria Fitzherbert, a relationship whose trajectory was defined when the marriage was declared illegal for want of royal approval (as required by the Royal Marriages Act of 1772).
Lowe was born at Knightsbridge, London in 1795 and lived a simple life in Coventry; she married Samuel Barnes and is reported to have worked many years as a ribbon maker, and to have died alone in a workhouse (see below). She died at age 87 in January 1883 (date discrepancy, 26 or 29 January), and was predeceased by her husband Samuel in 1875 (aged 79) with whom she is buried at London Road Cemetery in Coventry.
The claim of royal descent comes from Barnes' extensive personal journal, which establishes that she believed herself to be the daughter of King George IV; the yet unpublished, and personally held document is reported to contain details and dates that corroborate the claim. The matter was investigated for an on-air television segment by a biographer of George IV's early life and academic military historian Saul David
, Professor of War Studies at the University of Buckingham
, with some attribution of credibility. Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only legitimate issue of King George IV and Caroline of Brunswick
, died in childbirth at the age of 21, leaving no descendants of this later union approved by King George III.
Given the early and childless death of Princess Charlotte, should the Lowe history be further substantiated, the line descended through the Barnes family joins the list of claimed surviving descendants of King George IV. In addition to James Ord (who was father of American Civil War General Edward Ord
and so grandfather of at least 13, also reportedly from the long-term affair with Fitzherbert), the reported list of lineages include the Herveys (of the East India Company, from 1786 liaison with Lady Anne Barnard née Lindsay), the Croles (from 1798 liaison Eliza Crole), the Hampshires (from 15 year mistress Sarah Brown), and the Candy descendants (from an otherwise unknown Frenchwoman with that name); in each of these cases, largely inexplicable financial care was expressed directly or indirectly to the immediate descendant, by the person of or peers in relation to King George IV. Notably, any such historical claim is accompanied by controversy, and many on the preceding list have been challenged.
A consolidated list based on genealogical research in Coventry has Lowe's descendants to include:
Lowe was born at Knightsbridge, London in 1795 and lived a simple life in Coventry; she married Samuel Barnes and is reported to have worked many years as a ribbon maker, and to have died alone in a workhouse (see below). She died at age 87 in January 1883 (date discrepancy, 26 or 29 January), and was predeceased by her husband Samuel in 1875 (aged 79) with whom she is buried at London Road Cemetery in Coventry.
The claim of royal descent comes from Barnes' extensive personal journal, which establishes that she believed herself to be the daughter of King George IV; the yet unpublished, and personally held document is reported to contain details and dates that corroborate the claim. The matter was investigated for an on-air television segment by a biographer of George IV's early life and academic military historian Saul David
Saul David
Julian Saul David, known popularly as Saul David, was born in 1966 in Monmouth, Wales and is an academic military historian and broadcaster. He is best known for his work on the Indian Mutiny and the Anglo-Zulu War, as well as for presenting and appearing in documentaries on British television...
, Professor of War Studies at the University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
, with some attribution of credibility. Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only legitimate issue of King George IV and Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the Queen consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom from 29 January 1820 until her death...
, died in childbirth at the age of 21, leaving no descendants of this later union approved by King George III.
Given the early and childless death of Princess Charlotte, should the Lowe history be further substantiated, the line descended through the Barnes family joins the list of claimed surviving descendants of King George IV. In addition to James Ord (who was father of American Civil War General Edward Ord
Edward Ord
Edward Otho Cresap Ord was the designer of Fort Sam Houston, and a United States Army officer who saw action in the Seminole War, the Indian Wars, and the American Civil War. He commanded an army during the final days of the Civil War, and was instrumental in forcing the surrender of Confederate...
and so grandfather of at least 13, also reportedly from the long-term affair with Fitzherbert), the reported list of lineages include the Herveys (of the East India Company, from 1786 liaison with Lady Anne Barnard née Lindsay), the Croles (from 1798 liaison Eliza Crole), the Hampshires (from 15 year mistress Sarah Brown), and the Candy descendants (from an otherwise unknown Frenchwoman with that name); in each of these cases, largely inexplicable financial care was expressed directly or indirectly to the immediate descendant, by the person of or peers in relation to King George IV. Notably, any such historical claim is accompanied by controversy, and many on the preceding list have been challenged.
A consolidated list based on genealogical research in Coventry has Lowe's descendants to include:
- Daughter Sarah Dadley (née Barnes), baptized 29 September 1817, St. Michaels Church, Coventry; died age 79; buried 2 February 1896 (incl. information from Barnes gravestone/burial records).
- Son Samuel Barnes, baptized 9 June 1826, St. Michaels Church, Coventry; died at age 82; buried 12 December 1908 (incl. information from Barnes gravestone/burial records).
- Daughter Emma Marson (née Barnes), baptismal date unknown, died age 83; buried 5 June 1928 (incl. information from Barnes gravestone/burial records).
- Joseph Barnes, baptized 14 June 1819, St. Michaels Church, Coventry.
- Ann Barnes, baptized 1 October 1821, St. Michaels Church, Coventry.
- Hannah Barnes, baptized 24 March 1824, St. Michaels Church, Coventry.
- Mary Barnes, baptized 20 October 1828, St. Michaels Church, Coventry.
- Thomas Barnes, baptismal record and other dates and locations unknown.
- Jane Barnes, baptismal record and other dates and locations unknown.
- Ann Barnes, baptismal record and other dates and locations unknown (redundancy with earlier entry noted).
- Ibrahim Leadley, surviving great-great-great grandson, Barnes lineage uncertain, baptismal record and location unknown.
- Kay Donald Clark, surviving great-great-great granddaughter, descended through youngest daughter Ann of Hannah and Samuel Barnes, baptismal record and location unknown.