The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-11-03 00:00:00

A ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
(From the Morning Star).

Many years ago, Sir Roger Charles Tichbourne,
Bart, then heir to the estates of his father, the late
Sir James Tichbourne, of Tichbourne Park, Hamp-
shire, suddenly left England, unaccompanied by ser-
vants, and news was shortly afterward, received at
home that the Rhin Bella, in which he had embarked,
was wrecked off the American coast, and young Sir
, Roger was drowned. Since that period the father has
been borne to the tomb, also his yourger and last son,
Sir Alfred Tichbourne, at whose decease • few months
ago great sorrow was expressed by all the friends of
the family that no son remained to inherit the vast
posseesions, which had descended to the family from
• period long prior to the Norman conquest. Shortly
after this, however, all anxiety on this subject was
removed by the announcement that the widow of Sir
Alfred Tichbourne had given birth to a postliumne son
and heir, and great were the rejoicings that ensued.
For [several years nothing positive has occurred to dis-
turb the general conviction that Sir Roger was dead,
though it has once or twice been rumoured that he was
still afire in the colonies. About three weeks ago, how-
ever, public curiosity was again kindled by vague
rumours that the missing baronet was still alive, and
not only alive, but that he might be expected with his
wife shortly in England, as he had taken a passage
from Australia with a view of returning to claim his
inheritance. This rumour has received some confir-
mation by the recent arrival of Australian maile from
which it would appear that either Sir Roger is really
alive, or that somebody has personated him in the
colonies. Thus the Wagga Wagga Express, of July If,
contains • circumstantial narrative of his career ever
since he has left England. It seems that "a rumour
to which very little credulity was attached hae been
current in Mr agga Wagga for some month, past that a
British peer was quietly residing in our midst under an
assumed name. It now turn, out that, though
not quite correct in form, it still approximated
very nearly to truth. He has been known to our
townsmen as "Tom Castro," and occupied a very
humble position in life, but recent events have
disclosed the fact that he is Roger Charles Tich-
bourne, eldest son and heir at law to the late Sir
James Tichbourne, baronet, of Tichbourne Park,
Hants. To the title and estates he now succeeds,
together with an income of between 10,000/. and
15,000/. a year." A perfect history of the "new
baronet" succeeds—of his roving disposition. his ship-
wreck, hie escape minus hi. goods, his dislike to
American manners, his various callings and travels,
till he became connected with • small businese in
Tumnt, which he subsequently gave up, and removed
to Wagga Wagga, where, in the early part of the
present year, he wee married. It is added that "Sir
Roger warn acquainted with hie father'. death, but, as
he was much attached to his younger brother in his
early childhood, and aa he felt that his lengthened
colonial wanderings had in a measure unfitted him for
the life of an English country gentleman, he did not
attempt to disturb the succession, and still continued
to preserve hie incognito. Hie brother Alfred i. now
dead—the strongest reason for the voluntary resigna-
tion of the patrimony in now removed—Mr. Castro
has resumed hie real name and taken the title
which belongs to him of right, and is now about to
I Proceed to England. Sir Roger, we believe, was to
have sailed by the Haikoura, hut arrived in Sydney a
few hours too late." The Goutturst Herald, of the
25th July, says :—" The mother-in-law of the new
baronet is Mrs. James Pain, a Goulburn resident, and
wife of a labouring man. Lady Tichbourne is the
aesg•soi vf fiest husband. who was a
plasterer named Bryan. and met his death some years
ago by falling down stairs or off a ladder during the
progress of the erection of a house ;" and the nowt
I Tinges, of the 27th August, rives further corroborative
evidence of "Thomas 1)0 Castro," who, "left
Tumult, and opened a butchering establishment in
Wagga Wagga," with a description of the "said
'Thomas Castro.' being no lees a person than Sir
Roger Charles Tichhourne." It, however, slightly
differs from the preceding accounts, by stating that
"not having been in communication with his family for
some years, he was not aware of his good fortune."
Altogether, the affair appears to be one of the most
romantic in the record. of the wonderful.