Ralph Tollemache
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Ralph William Lyonel Tollemache-Tollemache MA JP
( ; 19 October 1826 – 5 October 1895) was a British
clergyman in the Church of England
. He is best known for the unusual and increasingly eccentric
names
that he chose for his numerous children.
Born Ralph William Lyonel Tollemache, he was the eldest son of the Hon. Reverend Hugh Francis Tollemache
(1802–1890) and his wife, Matilda, the daughter of Joseph Hume. His father was the fourth son of William Talmash, Lord Huntingtower
, the eldest son and heir of John Manners
and Louisa Tollemache, 7th Countess of Dysart. He was a Church of England clergyman, serving as rector
of Harrington
in Northamptonshire
for 58 years.
Tollemache was educated at Uppingham School
and Peterhouse, Cambridge
, graduating with his BA in 1850. He followed his father's vocation, and was ordained
as a deacon
in Manchester
in 1849 and as a priest
in Lincoln
in 1850. He became rector of South Wytham in Lincolnshire
in 1850, and retained that living until his death. He was also a Justice of the Peace
in Lincolnshire.
He married his cousin
Caroline Tollemache (7 June 1828–6 June 1867) on 15 February 1853. She was the daughter of the Hon. Felix Thomas Tollemache
, the second son of William Talmash, Lord Huntingtower (eldest son and heir of John Manners
and Louisa Tollemache, 7th Countess of Dysart) and Catherine Gray.
A dispute arose with his wife's trustees in 1859. He built up debts of approximately £
4,000, and was declared bankrupt
1863. He was discharged from the bankruptcy on 26 June 1868, the year after his wife died.
He remarried on 22 February 1869, to Dora Cleopatra Maria Lorenza de Orellana, the daughter of Colonel Ignacio Antonio de Orellana y Revest, an officer in the Spanish
army. He doubled
his surname in 1876, becoming "Tollemache-Tollemache".
He died in 1895, leaving an estate with a probate
value of £1,619 19s. 7d. He was survived by his second wife, who died on 8 August 1929.
His imagination took flight when he named the many children from his second marriage:
His eldest son, Lyonel Felix Carteret Eugene, inherited the Scottish 1793 baronetcy (Tollemache, of Hanley Hall) from William John Manners Tollemache, 9th Earl of Dysart, 3rd Baronet, on his death in 1935. He also inherited Ham House, which he gave to the National Trust
in 1948.
Lyulph emigrated to New Zealand
, where he had 17 children. Leo Quintus Tollemache-Tollemache de Orellana Plantagenet Tollemache-Tollemache renamed himself by deed poll
in 1908, becoming Leo de Orellana Tollemache-Tollemache. He and his brother both died in the First World War
, the former in action in 1914 and the latter of Spanish flu
in 1917. It is often said that Leone holds the world record for the most multiply barreled surname, with six, including one repeated four times (Tollemache-Tollemache-de Orellana-Plantagenet-Tollemache-Tollemache), but this overlooks his father's eccentric naming choices.
The Tollemache family's names are parodied in Book 1, Episode 4 of James Joyce
's novel Finnegans Wake
, as Helmingham Erchenwyne Rutter Egbert (HERE) Crumwall Odin Maximus Esme Saxon (COMES) Esa Vercingetorix Ethelwulf Rupprecht Ydwalla Bentley Osmund Dysart Yggdrasselmann (EVERYBODY).
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
( ; 19 October 1826 – 5 October 1895) was a British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
clergyman in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He is best known for the unusual and increasingly eccentric
Eccentricity (behavior)
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive...
names
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
that he chose for his numerous children.
Born Ralph William Lyonel Tollemache, he was the eldest son of the Hon. Reverend Hugh Francis Tollemache
Hugh Francis Tollemache
Hugh Francis Tollemache was an English clergyman in the Church of England.Tollemache was the son of William Tollemache, Lord Huntingtower and Catherine Rebecca Grey. He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge...
(1802–1890) and his wife, Matilda, the daughter of Joseph Hume. His father was the fourth son of William Talmash, Lord Huntingtower
Sir William Talmash, 1st Baronet
William Manners Tollemache, Lord Huntingtower , known as Sir William Manners, Bt, between 1793 and 1821, was a British nobleman and Tory politician.-Background:...
, the eldest son and heir of John Manners
John Manners (MP)
John Manners was an English politician, and the eldest natural son of Lord William Manners.In 1754, he replaced his father as Member of Parliament for Newark, which he represented until 1774....
and Louisa Tollemache, 7th Countess of Dysart. He was a Church of England clergyman, serving as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Harrington
Harrington, Northamptonshire
Harrington is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, administered by Kettering Borough and Northamptonshire County councils. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 154 people. The parish church of St. Peter and St...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
for 58 years.
Tollemache was educated at Uppingham School
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
and Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
, graduating with his BA in 1850. He followed his father's vocation, and was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
as a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1849 and as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
in 1850. He became rector of South Wytham in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
in 1850, and retained that living until his death. He was also a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Lincolnshire.
He married his cousin
Cousin marriage
Cousin marriage is marriage between two cousins. In various jurisdictions and cultures, such marriages range from being considered ideal and actively encouraged, to being uncommon but still legal, to being seen as incest and legally prohibited....
Caroline Tollemache (7 June 1828–6 June 1867) on 15 February 1853. She was the daughter of the Hon. Felix Thomas Tollemache
Felix Thomas Tollemache
Felix Thomas Tollemache was a British gentleman and Tory politician. He was the second son of William Tollemache, Lord Huntingtower and Catherine Gray.On 1 October 1825, he married Sarah Gray Felix Thomas Tollemache (1796 – 5 October 1843) was a British gentleman and Tory politician. He was...
, the second son of William Talmash, Lord Huntingtower (eldest son and heir of John Manners
John Manners (MP)
John Manners was an English politician, and the eldest natural son of Lord William Manners.In 1754, he replaced his father as Member of Parliament for Newark, which he represented until 1774....
and Louisa Tollemache, 7th Countess of Dysart) and Catherine Gray.
A dispute arose with his wife's trustees in 1859. He built up debts of approximately £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
4,000, and was declared bankrupt
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
1863. He was discharged from the bankruptcy on 26 June 1868, the year after his wife died.
He remarried on 22 February 1869, to Dora Cleopatra Maria Lorenza de Orellana, the daughter of Colonel Ignacio Antonio de Orellana y Revest, an officer in the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
army. He doubled
Double-barrelled name
In English speaking and some other Western countries, a double-barrelled name is a family name with two parts, which may or may not be joined with a hyphen and is also known as a hyphenated name. An example of a hyphenated double-barrelled surname is Bowes-Lyon; an example of an unhyphenated...
his surname in 1876, becoming "Tollemache-Tollemache".
He died in 1895, leaving an estate with a probate
Probate
Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A probate court decides the validity of a testator's will...
value of £1,619 19s. 7d. He was survived by his second wife, who died on 8 August 1929.
Children
Tollemache is best known for the unusual names that he gave to his many children. He had at least five children from his first marriage:- Sir Lyonel Felix Carteret Eugene Tollemache, 4th BaronetTollemache BaronetsThere have been two Baronetcies created for people with the surname Tollemache , one in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of Great Britain....
, of Hanley Hall (15 January 1854 – 4 March 1952), inherited the baronetcy in 1935. - Florence Caroline Artemesia (19 February 1855 – 24 May 1935)
- Evelyne Clementina Wentworth Cornelia Maude (7 June 1856 – 1919)
- Granville Grey Marchmont Manners Plantagenet (8 June 1858 – 20 April 1891)
- Marchmont Murray Reginald Grasett Stanhope Plantagenet Tollemache (24 December 1860 – 10 April 1898)
His imagination took flight when he named the many children from his second marriage:
- Dora Viola G. I. de Orellana Dysart Plantagenet (11 November 1869 – 4 July 1874)
- Mabel Helmingham Ethel Huntingtower Beatrice Blazonberrie Evangeline Vise de Lou de Orellana Plantagenet Toedmag Saxon (11 March 1872 – 5 January 1955)
- Lyonesse Matilda Dora Ida Agnes Ernestine Curson Paulet Wilbraham Joyce Eugénie Bentley Saxonia Dysart Plantagenet (9 November 1874 – 26 August 1944)
- Lyulph Ydwallo Odin Nestor Egbert Lyonel (LYONEL) Toedmag Hugh Erchenwyne (THE) Saxon Esa Cromwell Orma Nevill Dysart (SECOND) Plantagenet (21 August 1876 – 1961)
- Lyona Decima Veroica Esyth Undine Cyssa Hylda Rowena Adela Thyra Ursuala Ysabel Blanche Lelias Dysart Plantagenet (19 April 1878 – 17 November 1962)
- Leo Quintus Tollemache-Tollemache de Orellana Plantagenet (19 November 1879 – 1 November 1914)
- Lyonella Fredegunda Cuthberga Ethelswytha Ideth Ysabel Grace Monica de Orellana Plantagenet (14 January 1882 – 3 October 1952)
- Leone Sextus Denys Oswolf Fraudatifilius Tollemache-Tollemache de Orellana Plantagenet (10 June 1884 – 20 February 1917)
- Lyonetta Edith Regina Valentine Myra Polwarth Avelina Phillipa Violantha de Orellana Plantagenet (14 February 1887 – 7 January 1951)
- Lyunulph Cospatrick Bruce Berkeley Jermyn Tullibardine Petersham de Orellana Dysart Plantagenet (11 January 1892 – 30 November 1960)
His eldest son, Lyonel Felix Carteret Eugene, inherited the Scottish 1793 baronetcy (Tollemache, of Hanley Hall) from William John Manners Tollemache, 9th Earl of Dysart, 3rd Baronet, on his death in 1935. He also inherited Ham House, which he gave to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in 1948.
Lyulph emigrated to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where he had 17 children. Leo Quintus Tollemache-Tollemache de Orellana Plantagenet Tollemache-Tollemache renamed himself by deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
in 1908, becoming Leo de Orellana Tollemache-Tollemache. He and his brother both died in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the former in action in 1914 and the latter of Spanish flu
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
in 1917. It is often said that Leone holds the world record for the most multiply barreled surname, with six, including one repeated four times (Tollemache-Tollemache-de Orellana-Plantagenet-Tollemache-Tollemache), but this overlooks his father's eccentric naming choices.
The Tollemache family's names are parodied in Book 1, Episode 4 of James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
's novel Finnegans Wake
Finnegans Wake
Finnegans Wake is a novel by Irish author James Joyce, significant for its experimental style and resulting reputation as one of the most difficult works of fiction in the English language. Written in Paris over a period of seventeen years, and published in 1939, two years before the author's...
, as Helmingham Erchenwyne Rutter Egbert (HERE) Crumwall Odin Maximus Esme Saxon (COMES) Esa Vercingetorix Ethelwulf Rupprecht Ydwalla Bentley Osmund Dysart Yggdrasselmann (EVERYBODY).