Birth & early life
Born at Kingston, near Dublin, on the 14th [15th?] of February 1834, the son of William Henry, the 2nd Earl Annesley, M.P. for Downpatrick, 1815-20, and his second wife, Priscilla Cecilia, daughter of Hugh Moore, Esq., of Eglatine, Co. Down.
William Richard Annesley [father]
William Richard Annesley, 3rd Earl Annesley was born on 16 July 1772. He was the son of Richard Annesley, 2nd Earl Annesley and Anne Lambert.
He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Whig) for Downpatrick between 1815 and 1820. He held the office of Sheriff of County Down in 1822. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Earl Annesley, of Castlewellan, co. Down [I., 1789] on 9 November 1824. He succeeded to the title of 4th Baron Annesley, of Castle Wellan, co. Down [I., 1758] on 9 November 1824. He succeeded to the title of 4th Viscount Glerawly, of co. Fermanagh [I., 1766] on 9 November 1824. His last will was dated from 29 June 1836 to 16 August 1838.
He died on 25 August 1838 at age 66 at Oriel Lodge, Cheltenham, London, England. He was buried on 1 September 1838. His will was proven (by probate) on 2 October 1838.
He married, firstly, Lady Isabella St. Lawrence, daughter of William St. Lawrence, 2nd Earl of Howth and Lady Mary Bermingham, on 19 May 1803. He and Lady Isabella St. Lawrence were divorced on 8 June 1821 by Act of Parliament, after she eloped with Lt. Henry John Burn.
Child of William Richard Annesley, 3rd Earl Annesley and Lady Isabella St. Lawrence: Lady Mary Annesley d. 1837.
He married, secondly, Priscilla Cecilia Moore, daughter of Colonel Hugh Moore and Priscilla Cecilia Armitage, on 15 July 1828.
Priscilla Cecilia Moore [mother]
Priscilla Cecilia Moore b. 8 September 1808, d. 29 March 1891
Priscilla Cecilia Moore was baptised on 8 September 1808 at Lisburn Cathedral, Lisburn, County Antrim, Ireland. She was the daughter of Colonel Hugh Moore and Priscilla Cecilia Armitage.
She married William Richard Annesley, 3rd Earl Annesley, son of Richard Annesley, 2nd Earl Annesley and Anne Lambert, on 15 July 1828.
She died on 29 March 1891 at age 82 at Donard Lodge, Newcastle, County Down, Ireland. She was buried at Castlewellan, County Down, Ireland. Her will was proven (by probate) on 6 May 1891.
As a result of her marriage, Priscilla Cecilia Moore was styled as Countess Annesley on 15 July 1828. From 15 July 1828, her married name became Annesley.
Children of William Richard Annesley, 3rd Earl Annesley and Priscilla Cecilia Moore
William Richard Annesley, 4th Earl Annesley b. 21 Feb 1830, d. 10 Aug 1874
Lt.-Col. Hugh Annesley, 5th Earl Annesley b. 26 Jan 1831, d. 15 Dec 1908
Hon. Robert John Annesley b. 15 Feb 1834, d. 28 Sep 1854
Captain Hon. Arthur Annesley b. 20 Sep 1835, d. 25 Apr 1881
Hon. George Annesley b. 22 Feb 1837, d. 4 Sep 1903
Hon. William Octavius Beresford Annesley b. 29 Nov 1838, d. 20 Jul 1875
[Source: http://www.thepeerage.com/p1164 (accessed 15.3.2016), edited for readability. [PB]]
[PB: Educated at Harrow School, as recorded in the School Register.]
ENTRANCES, JANUARY EASTER 1848.
Annesley, Hon. Robert John (Druries), son of William, 3rd Earl Annesley. Left 1848. In 11th Hussars. DIED of cholera in the Black Sea, Sept. 28th, 1854.
[R. Courtenay Welch et al, The Harrow School Register, 1800 – 1901, 3rd edition, 1911. Online at Project Gutenberg: archive.org/details/harrowschoolregi00harruoft (accessed 6.3.2016).]
[PB: Check his relationship to Arthur Lyttelton Annesley, who went to Harrow and joined the 11th Hussars a few years later. Cousins?]
Service
Robert Annesley entered the army at the age of 17, as a Cornet, by purchase.
"Statement of the Services of The Honble Robt Jno Annesley of the Eleventh Regt of Hussars". The document was signed by himself, "Cardigan Col", and others.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Cornet in the 11th Hussars: 16th of September 1852, by purchase.
Lieutenant, 11th Hussars: 31st of December 1853, by purchase
Lieutenant Robt John Annesley, in Hart's New Army List, 1854.
(Click on image to enlarge)
[Journey out?]
Sick on board ship en route to the Crimea [Tony Margrave says it was the Trent] from the 5th of September 1854.
Lieutenant Annesley served in the Eastern campaign of 1854, including the battle of the Alma.
Died, "of Cholera", on board ship [presumably to Scutari] on the 28th of September 1854.
Death & burial
Robert Annesley is known to have been sick (unspecified cause) during his passage from Bulgaria to the Crimea (Tony Margrave, British Officers in the East, 2009, p.121, says he was aboard the Trent, 5th-17th September 1854), but fought in the battle of the Alma (20th September) soon after landing. It is not known whether he had fully recovered. He was sent to Scutari and died of cholera on board ship in the Black Sea on the 28th of September 1854.
His death is commemorated in the Royal Garrison Church, Portsmouth.
HARROVIANS WHO FELL DURING THE CRIMEAN WAR D:D: HARROVIANS
(Click on image to enlarge)
The original list detailing Old Harrovians who died in the crimea has been lost, but a copy exists from 187?:
LIEUTENANT THE HON. ROBERT ANNESLEY, 11th Hussars, died of cholera in the Black Sea on the 28th September, 1854, aged 20 years.
[Source: http://www.memorialsinportsmouth.co.uk/churches/royal_garrison/harrovians.htm (accessed 6.3.2016).]
[PB: No information about his burial. See also:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/royal-garrison-church-portsmouth/
"Lieutenant Robert J. Annesley – 11th Hussars – died of cholera on board ship – 23 Sept. 1854
Third son of the late Earl of Annesley."
