The Payne Baronetcy, of St Christopher's in the West Indies, was a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain that likely ended around the beginning of the 20th century, after a long-standing familial dispute on who should inherit the title: a legitimate, but younger, son, or an illegitimate, but older, son.
History The Payne Baronetcy was first created on 31 October 1737 for Sir Charles Payne.
According to some sources, the title became extinct on the death of the second Baronet, Sir Gillis Payne, in 1801. Sir Gillis was in a relationship with a farmer's daughter, Maria Keeling. They apparently married in 1761, although several children had been born before this date. Peter Payne was their eldest son born after the marriage and would normally have succeeded in the title. However, he allowed his eldest brother John Payne to assume the title, although John was illegitimate.
Sir John Payne died in 1803 and his son Charles assumed the title. However, in 1828, Peter Payne raised the question in the courts over who was the rightful baronet. The Court of Chancery declared that he was the rightful heir to his father, but this was overturned by the Lord Chancellor in 1829.
Nonetheless, during his lifetime Sir Peter was universally acknowledged as a baronet. He sat as Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire between 1831 and 1832.
Most reference books on the British nobility and baronetage include the title, although they describe it as being in dispute between rival branches of the family. Charles Robert Salusbury Payne, the supposed sixth Baronet, appears to have discontinued the claim around 1900.
Abraham Payne, brother of the first Baronet, was the grandfather of Sir William Payne-Gallwey, 1st Baronet (see Frankland-Payne-Gallwey baronets) and of Ralph Payne, 1st Baron Lavington.
Title holders Depending on one's view point, there are two possible lineages for the baronetcy title. The 1st and 2nd Baronets, Sir Charles Payne and Sir Gillies Payne, are not in dispute. The dispute begins with who should have inherited the title from Sir Gillies Payne: his eldest legitimate son, or his eldest son (who was not legitimate). +Title holders, following the legitimate son Sir Peter PayneNumberNameLife spanNotes1st BaronetSir Charles Payne died 17382nd Baronet Sir Gillies Payne 1720–1801Possibly, the title became extinct on his death.3rd BaronetSir Peter Payne1762–1843The eldest legitimate son of Sir Gillies Payne.4th BaronetSir Charles Gillies Payne1793–18705th BaronetSir Salusbury Gillies Payne1829–18936th BaronetCharles Robert Salusbury Payne1859–1942Appears to have discontinued claim to title . +Title holders, following the illegitimate son Sir John PayneNumberNameLife spanNotesde facto 3rd BaronetSir John Paynedied 1803Succeeded his father, Sir Gillies, without dispute, although he was not legitimate.de facto 4th Baronet Sir Charles Paynedied 1841Succeeded his father, Sir John, without dispute.5th BaronetSir Coventry Paynedied 18496th BaronetSir Coventry Paynedied 18747th BaronetSir Philip Monoux Payne 1858–1935Debrett's peerage, baronetage, knightage, and companionage, 1893Community Archives: The Payne Family
Arms
See also Frankland-Payne-Gallwey baronets Ralph Payne, 1st Baron Lavington
References