The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-02-06
A Missing Link in the British Peerage.

A Missing Link in the British Peerage.
1t was about the year 1918 that the British
Parliament reviewed the ancient title OF Earl
of Marchmont, lineally descended from Robert
the Bruce of Scotland. 1t was then necessary
to ascertain who it was among living men enti-
tied by descendant to bear the title. After
careful investigation it was found that John
Hume, Sr., of Charleston, S. c., was the legiti-
mate heir.
At this time John Hume was wealthy and
thriving rice planter in South Carolina. Dreams
of belonging to the peerage never disturbed
his equanimity, and he had gone on amassing
fortune in the cultivation of rice, all una
ware that he was really entitled to emblazon
the panels of his carriage with noble and an
cient coat of arms. He enjoyed the true roy
alty-that of an American citizen-and when
the intelligence came to him that across the
ocean an earldom awaited him, it failed to fire
his latent ambition. By carefully enquiring,
he learned that the estate was encumbered by
debts fully equaling its value, and therefore re-
solved to have nothing to do with the empty
honor. Acting on this principle, he relinquish-
ed all claims to the earldom in favor of his
next of kin, the late Sir Abram Hume Bart.
Sir Abram, not being the legitimate heir, could
only bear the title of Baronet He received
the estate, however, and by good management,
assisted by his own ample property, became
immensely wealthy. Robert Buist, horicultu-
rist, near Philadelphia, was gardener to the
late Sir Abram Hume, and is now a living
witness in this country TO the family record.
Sir Abram Hume died recently. John Hume
died in 1S4l. They were first cousins.
At this date, January, 1873, the sole sur
viying son of John Hume lives near Rome,
Ga, very aged and infrm. By recent treaty
between Great Britain and this country, Amer
leans can inherit not only property, but also
titles in the British realm. This John Hume
is now undoubtedly the legitimate heir to the
vacant Earldom of Marchmont; but nice
question here arises, j. e., whether the success
sion will be continued in his family after his
death or in that of the eldest child of Earl
John Hume. This child was the late Mrs. Ann
Simons The eldest son of Mrs. Simons is
DR.. John Hume Simons, editor of new COM
mercial paper, called the Southern Independent
said DIR. John Hume Simons is now in New
York, awaiting further issues and Developments
before visiting England to investigate the sub
ect. If the claim is prosecuted, the success
sion will have to be determined by the British
Parliament. We are informed that all the
Humes in this country are willing to relinquish
all claims in favor of DR.. John Hume Simons.
But another question is likely to arise. the
most important of all. When Earl John Hume
relinquished his claim to title and estate in favor
of his cousin, Sir Abram Hume, he could not
will them away, for such is forbidden by the
British statutes. The estate left by Sir Abram
Hume is of immense value, and all the March
monts of England, relatives of the family, are
immensely wealthy. This gives room for spec
ulation as to what may be the results, if the
claim of the American Hume is prosecuted.
We have been credibly informed that offers
have been made to DR.. John Hume Simons,
and that he has now at his control ample
means to defray all the expenses Of prosecuting
his claim, whatever may be the result. Such
proceedings being instituted this case will be
q very interesting one, as proving what are the
real international relations between this coun-
try and Great Britain in such matters.
There is another interesting fact in this mar
ratiye worthy of note The family of Simons,
the paternal branch from which DIR. John
Hume Simons is descended, dates back to
very remote period. The name SimOns is
corruption of ST. Simon. The progenitor of
the family in this country was Hugenot,
driven out of France at the revocation of the
Edict of Nantes. He married in London the
daughter of one Dupre, also nobeman and
Huguenot. He is said to have settled on st.
Simon's Island which derived its name from
him. The family escutcheon inthe Herald's
Office at Paris, is bird buried, with one wing
still Tapping, and the motto, ''Resurrgere Ten
TO-" The arms of the Hume family is griffin,
surrounded by four jackmuths- fabulous bird.
Finally the family tree of the Hume family is
now preserved in Charleston, S. G.
The first Earl, whose patronymic was Hume,
obtained his title by his prowess in guarding
the marches of Wales during the days of the
Heptarchy. (Marchmont means march noun
tains.) The Hume family tree shows the de-
sent of the family through Robert, the Bruce,
and the Earl of Douglass.-New York Evening
Telegram.