Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-15
THE MAITLAND CASE.

A Resume of the Lawsuit in Which sena-
tor Edmunds Was Called to England TO
Testify.
NEW YORK, June 12.-The case ia the
English courts, concerning which Senator
Edmunds is to testify, is the Maitland
contest. The Earldom of Lauderdale, to
which is attached an income of $4,000
year, is now yacant through the death Of
Sir Charles Barclay Maitland, Baronet
and twelfth Earl Of Maitland, VINO was
struck by lightning while riding over a
moor OF his estate ut Lauder, Berwick
shire, Scotland, on Aug. II, last year. He
was unmarried, and the authorities on
the peerage credited the present claimant
as the rightful heir, but the contestant.
Sir james Maitland, who is a descendant
Of the fifth son Of the sixth Earl OF Lauder
dale. asserts that Sir Richard Maitland,
the fourth son Of the sixth Earl, aud frOm
whom the claimant alleges no Is descend
cd, was never married, and, therefore, had
no legitimate issue.
Sir Richard Maitland was Adutant
General Of New York colony about 1895.
He was very popular among the bellies
Of the town, and Miss Mary MoAdam. one
of the prettiest, became enam0red Of bin.
With him she made q short trip to Con-
neoticut, where their marriage banns
were published, after which they returned
to New York. Then the young girl found
that according to English law and custom
there had been no marriage, but she lived
with the English officer, much to the scan
dial OF the colony. BY him she had two
children. lie subsequently gave her bis
name, and Feb. 8, l772, wrote will maxi
ing her and her children mis- sole heirs,
and in July Of the same year, three days
before his death, there is reason 10 believe
that he was married 10 her by Rev. DIR.
Ogilvie, Of Trinity Church.
The widow removed TO the home Of some
relatives at New Barbados ia New Jer-
sey, whore one OF Sir Richards brothers.
an officer Of Lord Corn wallis. stationed at
the place, recognized her as hts sister.in-
law, gave her cottage Ia Rector street,
New York, and took her eldest son, Pat
rick-Or P0tar, as he is called In his
father's will--tO Scotland. From this
son, who was educated ut one OF the Eng
lish universities, and who afterwards
prOspered and was married IN India, MAJ.
Frederick Henry Maitland is descendant.
Sir Richards will is in the surrogate's
office. His widow was supposed to have
been buried IN Trinity churchyard, next
20 the tomb OF Alexander Hamilton. buta
search there a few months ago revealed
nothing, and no record Of the marriage
was found in Or. Ogiivie's diary.
The lawyer for the claimant believed,
as the English common law was sup
posed 10 prevail in colonial New York,
and as the marriage was acknowledged
by the family, and II recorded in Burke's
'Peerage," the contestants claim win be
set aside.
a similar case was tried in the House
Of Lords some years ago. One Of the
SheddOns family went 10 America near
the close Of the eighteenth century, lived
for years witt Ann Mason, and two days
before he died he married her. He wrote
to hts brother In Scotland: ~ have this
day married Ann Mason and made an
honest woman Of her" His eldest boy
was educated In Scotland by his uncle,
who WINS defeated in a suit 10 establish
the lads legitimacy.
The boy gained wealth IN India after he
became Of age, and learned the facts OF
his parontage Dy finding among some Old
papers a letter written 10 him twenty
years previously by his sister In America,
OF whom he had never heard. Further
search brought to light hts fathef's letter
acknowledging his marriage, which had
ney0r reached his uncle. he then brought
suit 10 reverse the decision given years
previously, and as the estate had become
extremely valuable through the growth
OF Edinburgh and the discovery Of coal
and iron on the land, Mr.. sheddOns'
daughter had The case argued before the
House Of Lords, and decision was given
against her.