HENRY SWINBURN was born at Bristol on 8 July 1743. In 1762 he was given the small estate of Hamsterley (picture shows Hamsterley Forest) and an annuity by his elder brother Sir JOHN SWINBURNE, 4th Baronet, who died in the following year and this combined with his patrimony left him in easy circumstances. He married at Aix-la-Chapelle on 24 March 1767, MARTHA BAKER, a young lady with a good fortune ( daughter, by his 2nd wife Mary Ryan, of JOHN BAKER of Chichester, Sussex, Solicitor General of the Leeward Islands). Henry was an extensive traveller and was author of some very able and popular travels; 'Travels Through Spain, 1775 and 1776', and 'Travels in the Two Sicilies, 1777-1780'. Henry and his family went to Vienna in 1781 when the Empress Queen conferred on Mrs. Swinburne the female order of "La Croix Etoilee" and the Emperor Joseph stood godfather to their son JOSEPH. Henry died from a sunstroke at Trinidad on 1 April 1803 and was buried at San Juan (admon. 16 September 1806) where his friend Sir Ralph Woodford raised a monument to his memory. Martha died in February 1809, 'Death - Monday sen'night at Arundel, Sussex, Mrs. Swinburne, relict of the late H. Swinburne, esq., of Hamsterley, Co. Durham' (Newcastle Courant Saturday, 11th February 1809)

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Henry and Martha were parents of:

Eldest daughter, born October 1768 'Monday: The Lady of Henry Swinburn, esq., was safely delivered of a daughter, at his house at Newton Gap in the Co. Durham' (Newcastle Courant 15th October 1768), she died in Rome in September 1778, aged 9 'Died last month at Rome Miss Swinburn eldest daughter of Henry Swinburne, esq., of Hamsterley in the co. of Durham' (Newcastle Courant 10th October 1778)

MARY FRANCES SWINBURNE, born 25 February 1771 Hamsterley, baptised 26 February 1771 Medomsley, died 1828, married 7 September 1793 PAUL BENFIELD of Woodhall Park, Hertfordshire and of Grosvenor Square, M.P. for Shaftesbury

HENRY JOSEPH SWINBURNE, Captain 82nd Regt., born 1772, lost in H.M.S. Babet, in the Gulf of Mexico, November 1801, on his way to Jamaica.

JOSEPH ANTHONY SWINBURNE, born c 1773 Capheaton, christened 12 November 1783 St. Cuthbert's Chapel, Lanchester and at Pontop Hall [rc], Durham, died (reg. Q1) 1852 Romsey

THOMAS SWINBURNE, born 1776, 1st Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, lost in H.M.S. Athenienne 20 October 1806 'Death, on the 20th October on board the Athenienne, of which he was 1st Lieutenant, Thomas Swinburne, esq., late of Hamsterley in co. Durham' (Newcastle Courant 3rd January 1807)

CAROLINA MARIANNA SWINBURNE, born c. 1780, died Weston-super-Mare 15 August 1856 aged 76, married RICHARD WATT WALKER of Michelgrove Park, Sussex

MARIA ROSA LOUISA SWINBURNE, christened 12 November 1783 St. Cuthbert's Chapel, Lanchester and Pontop Hall [rc], Durham, died (reg. Q2) 1848 Pershore, aged about 65

HARRIET SWINBURNE, died 1861, married 1814 JOHN WALKER of Purbrook Park, Hampshire

MARIA ANTONIA SWINBURNE, married at Marylebone Church, London (or on IGI Hamsterley Hall) 20 February 1811 Major-Gen. OLIVER THOMAS JONES, 'Married Wednesday sen'night at Mary-le-bone church, Colonel Jones of the 18th Light Dragoons, to Antonia, youngest daughter of the late Henry Swinburne, esq., of Hamsterley in co. Durham' (Newcastle Courant 2nd March 1811)

1 other son

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Sources: Debrett's Peerage, Gents. Mag. Vol.63, Newcastle Courant Newspaper