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Then there was Charlotte Murray. Debrett of 1802 lists her as The Baroness Strange, De Knoockyn, Wooten, Mohun, Burnet, Basset and Lacy. One had no problem addressing the lady, though, for she was also Her Grace, the Duchess Dowager of of Athol.
Of course, there were also females who were created peeresses by patent and a few who became peeresses by a remainder in the original patent.
Most peerages of England were created by patent and limited to male descendants. However, there are some peerages which could be , and were, inherited by women. Rarely this was made possible by a special condition put into the original patent, though parliament had the right to amend such peerages, as well.
A very well-known one was that of the Dukedom of Marlborough. After the duke’s son died, the patent for the dukedom was amended by parliament to allow his daughters and their sons to inherit the dukedom successively. After his death, the dukedom descended to his oldest daughter Harriot. Harriot’s next sister, Anne, died before Harriot, but Anne’s son succeeded to the dukedom on Harriot’s death.
The more usual way for a female to inherit a peerage was for her to be the only daughter of a baron possessing a barony by writ.
A barony by writ was established when a man was summoned to take a seat in the House of Lords. These baronies were all established in the early years of the development of parliament, for it wasn’t long before all peerages were only created by patent.
Baronies by writ are also known as baronies in fee. They can be inherited by any child of the possessor. Of course, sons were preferred and an infant son would inherit before an adult daughter. However, if there were no sons, the daughter would inherit and become a Baroness in her own right. Her oldest son would inherit on her death.
Shenfield, or Shenefeld, or, according to Domesday Book, Chenefeld, was held by Jeoffrey de Magnavilla, or Mandeville, in whose family it continued till the issue male failing, it came to Maud, great grand daughter of Jeoffrey, and wife of Henry de Bohun, earl of Hereford, who became in her right, earl of Essex, and had the inheritance of this manor settled in his family.
The rectory is appendant to the manor, and was in the Bohuns so long as the Usue male continued; but that failing, it was translated with Ann, the daughter of Humphrey Hnlum, the last earl, to Edmund earl of Stafford, in whose family it remained, till it was seized by king Edward IV. as forfeited by Humphrey earl of Stafford, and after duke of Bucks, taking part with king Henry VI. for whom fighting, he was killed at the battle of Northampton. From this time both remained in the crown, till they were given to John Lucas, Esq. in the reign of Mary I. in whose family they were in 1688, but since came to the duke of Kent, by his father's marriage with Mary, the only daughter of John lord Lucas, created by the special favour of king Charles II. baroness Lucas ot Crudwell in Wiltshire. Their descendant lady Jemima Campbell, marchioness Grey, baroness Lucas, in her own right, was mother of the present earl of Hardwicke.
from: London: Being an Accurate History and Description of the British Metropolis and Its Neighbourhood : to Thirty Miles Extent, from an Actual Perambulation By David Hughson
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Matters become more complicated when there is more than one daughter. Unlike male primogeniture, females inherit equally. This means that while all could take place in precedence as a baroness, none of them could use the title. The peerage was considered in abeyance.
Peerages stay in abeyance until one of the descendants comes forth and successfully petitions to claim it. A few peerages have been called out of abeyance after several hundred years.
 Peer
Law
Succession
when a Peer Dies
Contested
Peerages
Number
of Peers
Introduction
of a New Peer - Fees for Promotion
Introduction
of a New Peer to the House of Lords
Table
of Precendency Among Men
Parliamentary
Robes
Female Peerage
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