William JollyThe Baron of Stobo
The Much Honoured Baron of Stobo (William Jolly, 30th Baron of Stobo)
baron bailie Henry The Younger of Stobo
Credentials
- • Verified by The Roll 4 Jun 2025 seeing original Letters Patent "registered in the Scottish Barony Register 6th October 2016 the Petitioner prima facie holds the barony of Stobo" officially recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms 29th Oct 2018
- • PLEDGED HEREDITARY TITLE, this label indicates that the holder has formally signed the Roll’s Baronial Pledge — a non-legal declaration of intent that the barony be preserved within the family line and treated as a hereditary dignity. The Pledge operates as a family compact, intended to be retained with the holder’s will and estate papers. In accordance with Roll policy, the title becomes unrecognised by the Roll if the barony is later conveyed outside the family.
- • Stair Society, vol. 1 (1936), p. 433: "Whilst the heir-apparent of a feudal baron is invariably styled 'younger of', the heir, whether apparent or presumptive, of an earl or peerage-lord is 'Master'." The same passage says that in the 15th century being called "Master" was the surest sign a house was of peerage rank.
- • Innes of Learney, writing as Lord Lyon in 1945: "Masters" are the heirs of peerage houses.
- • The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs' heirs' reception in 2014, with the Lord Lyon present, peers' heirs were introduced as "Master of X" and everyone else as "younger of X". The Lyon Court's published guidance doesn't address heir styles at all.
Authentication
A note on terminology: “Scottish feudal barony” or “feudal title” is an incorrect, defunct historical term for extant barons. Baronies were feudal until 28 November 2004, when feudal baronies were abolished and the dignity of baron was retained — an extant barony is no longer “feudal”. The correct term is Scottish barony or Scottish baron (or baron, lord or earl in the Baronage of Scotland, collectively the minor barons of Scotland); never “feudal baron”. Why the term is defunct →
A barony pledged on the Roll of Scottish Barons is treated by the Roll as hereditary and not in commercio. A pledged barony later conveyed outside the family forfeits its recognition on the Roll in perpetuity. What “Hereditary on the Roll” means →