Peerage Record – 18408

     Penelope Sylvia Cracroft-Amcotts was born on 20 May 1938.¹ She is the daughter of Lt.-Col. Sir Weston Cracroft-Amcotts and Rhona Clifton-Brown.¹

     Vice-Admiral Francis Clifton Brown was born on 10 July 1874.¹ He was the son of James Clifton Brown and Amelia Rowe.¹ He married, firstly, Violet Galton, daughter of William Pitcairn Galton, on 14 August 1913.¹ He married, secondly, Margaret Maud Halahan, daughter of Samuel Crosby Halahan, on 2 July 1952.¹ He died on 6 September 1963 at age 89, without issue.¹
     He fought in the First World War, where he was metnioned in dispatches.¹ He gained the rank of Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy.¹ He was appointed Companion, Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.) in 1917.¹ He was awarded the Order of the Redeemer and Military Merit of Greece.¹ He was appointed Companion, Order of the Bath (C.B.) in 1919.¹ He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Berkshire.¹ He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Berkshire.¹ He held the office of High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1931.¹

     Violet Galton was the daughter of William Pitcairn Galton.¹ She married Vice-Admiral Francis Clifton Brown, son of James Clifton Brown and Amelia Rowe, on 14 August 1913.¹ She died on 10 February 1952.¹
     From 14 August 1913, her married name became Brown.¹

     Margaret Maud Halahan is the daughter of Samuel Crosby Halahan.¹ She married, firstly, Philip Wood before 1952.¹ She married, secondly, Vice-Admiral Francis Clifton Brown, son of James Clifton Brown and Amelia Rowe, on 2 July 1952.¹
     From before 1952, her married name became Wood.¹ From 2 July 1952, her married name became Brown.¹

     Samuel Crosby Halahan lived at Littlecroft, Chiddingfold, Surrey, England^G.¹

     Philip Wood married Margaret Maud Halahan, daughter of Samuel Crosby Halahan, before 1952.¹

     Colonel Douglas Clifton Brown, 1st and last Viscount Ruffside was born on 16 August 1879.¹ He was the son of James Clifton Brown and Amelia Rowe.¹ He married Violet Cicely Kathleen Wollaston, daughter of Frederick Eustace Arbuthnott Wollaston and Annie Hargreaves, on 24 June 1907.¹ He died on 5 May 1958 at age 78, without surviving male issue.¹
     He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.¹ He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England^G, in 1901 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)¹ He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England^G, in 1905 with a Master of Arts (M.A.)¹ He gained the rank of Major in the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards.¹ He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry (Territorial Army.)¹ He gained the rank of Brevet Colonel in the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry (Territorial Army.)¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Hexham between 1918 and 1923.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Hexham between 1924 and 1951.¹ He held the office of Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons between 1938 and 1943.¹ He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1941.¹ He held the office of Speaker of the House of Commons between 1943 and 1951.¹ He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Laws (D.C.L.) by Durham University, Durham, County Durham, England^G, in 1945.¹ He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Laws (D.C.L.) by Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England^G, in 1945.¹ He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor by Caen University, Caen, Normandy, France^G, in 1948.¹ He gained the rank of Honorary Colonel in 1949 in the Northumberland Hussars.¹ He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of County Durham.¹ He was created 1st Viscount Ruffside, of Hexham, Northumberland [U.K.] on 14 December 1951.¹ He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for County Durham.¹ He was awarded the Grand-Croix, Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur.¹

     Violet Cicely Kathleen Wollaston was born on 4 July 1882.² She was the daughter of Frederick Eustace Arbuthnott Wollaston and Annie Hargreaves.^1,3 She married Colonel Douglas Clifton Brown, 1st and last Viscount Ruffside, son of James Clifton Brown and Amelia Rowe, on 24 June 1907.¹ She died on 17 November 1969 at age 87.¹
     From 24 June 1907, her married name became Brown.¹ After her marriage, Violet Cicely Kathleen Wollaston was styled as Viscountess Ruffside on 14 December 1951.

     Frederick Eustace Arbuthnott Wollaston was born on 21 June 1853.² He was the son of Major Frederick Wollaston and Josette Eliza Jane Arbuthnott.² He married Annie Hargreaves, daughter of Thomas Hargreaves and Sarah Washington Jackson, on 18 December 1877.³ He died on 26 May 1930 at age 76.²
     He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.)¹ He lived at Shenton Hall, Leicestershire, England^G.¹