The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-18
AN AMERICAN DUCHESS.
The Duke of Marlborough WEEDS
Wealthy Widow.
The Ceremony Performed in New
York by Mayor Hewitt.

At o'clock the other afternoon Mrs. Lily
Warren Hamersley, of New York, the
wealthy and beautiful widow Of Louis g.
Hamersley, whose father left him fortune
estimated at s6,OOO,OO0, was married by
Mayor Hewitt in the New York City Hall
to George Charles Spencer Churchill, Duke
Of Marlborough, who had met her in this
country just before his departure for Eng
land last November. The marriage was no
surprise, for it had been announced, but its
celebration at the City Hall was surprise
and unusual interruption of the daily labors
of the Mayor and the reporters. A
metropolitan. PAPER describes the wedding
as follows: The Duke reached the City Hall
at about P. NJ, accompanied by Leonard
W. Jerome, the father-in-law of his brother,
Lord Randolph Churchill He wore dark
business suit, and, as he entered the Mayors
Office, carried a silk hat in his ungloved
hand. His dark hair was carefully brushed
alton to badness in front. A taste
full white hydrangea ornamented the left
lapel of his coat. Henry Clews, Creighton
Webb Arthur Leary, Ward McAllister, DR..
Walter r. Gillette, Robert Sewell and Mr..
Beckwith soon followed the bridegroom.
While awaiting the bride and her friends,
Speaker Carlisle, with Congressman Nc
bell, of this city called to pay their respects
to the Mayor, who introduced them to the
Duke and his party, and they remained to
witness the ceremony.
Mrs. Hamersley was accompanied by Mrs
Nicholas Fish, Mrs. Eugene Cruger and her
mother, Miss McAllister, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Frederic Spedden. The bride is tall and
blonde type, and bore herself with calmness
and a dignity that well became her. She
wore richly-made brown walking suit of
tricot, with paSsementerie trimming, and
bonnet OF tie same color At her waist
nestled bunch of lilies of the valley. The
other ladies were attired in attractive walk
ing dresses
After few preliminariess the Mayor per-
formed the short and official ceremony,
which made Mrs Hammersley the Duchess
of Marlborough. 1t was supplemented by
the bridegroom placing plain ring Of
gold, which he took from his own fin ger,
upon the third finger of the brides left hand.
Having pronounced the pair man and wife,
Mr.. Hewitt said:
with your Grace's permission, having ex-
ercsed the royal prerogative Of making an
American lady Duchess, will now exer-
else the Mayors prerogative Of being the first
to kiss the brideh And without waiting for
the Duke to reply Mr.. Hewitt congratulated
the new member of the English nobility and
gave her hearty kiss The friends of the
bride and bridegroom then offered their con-
gratulations, in which they were Joined by
the Congressman. The party left the hall by
going through the Court House corridors
and took their carriages.
Upon leaving the City Hall the bride and
bridegroom and their invited guests entered
their carriages and were driven uptown. The
Duke and Duchess went to the home of Ward
McAllister, where they held an informal re-
ception for half an hour. They then drove
to the brides house, No. 257 Fifth avenue,
where the second ceremony was performed
by the Rev. DR.. D. c. Potter. The witnesses
and guests at the previous marriage were
present at the religious ceremony.
The Duke of Marlborough is in point Of
rank the tenth in the United Kingdom. He
is forty-fve years of age. While still the
Marquis of Blandford and before succeeding
A. his present title he was married and di-
vorced from his first wife. He had son by
that marriage, who will be the heir to the
dukedom The Dukes income at present is
said to be about go, 900 year. On his an
cestral estate, B!enheim, the first Duke of
Marlborough expended over million pounds:
Mrs. HamerSley was Miss Lille Price, OF
Troy. Her father was commodore in the
United States Navy. Sho was married to
Louis Hamefsley in 1879. Four years after
ward her father-in-law died, leaving her
huSDand tne entlre fortune. eStlmaCed at
S7,000,000. Four months later he died. He
left his wife lfe-interest in the entire estate,
an income estimated at $l50,0OO d year.
The will directed her to distribute the money
among various charities at her death
unless male heir was born to his cousin. ].
Hooker Hamersley, who married Miss
Chrisholm recently. This will was unsuo-
cessfully contested although an appeal still
pending.
On the day after the wedding, the newly
married pair sailed for England, where they
will take up their residence at Blenheim, the
splendid country seat of the MarloorOughs.