The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-24
pEERAGEs IN ABEYANcE.
A Thousand British Titles Awaiting
Claimants.

Claimants.
New York June 22.-As one result OF the
Queens visit to Ireland the report has
been circulated that it is her intention
TO revive an ancient Irish title to which
a claim has been laid by a Chicagoan.
Incidentally this brings out the fact that
over a thousand British coronets are
awaiting heads that can prove their right
to wear them.
That some of these titles are rightfully
the heritage of some of the leading fam
lilies in the United States, authorities ex-
press little doubt, and probably there is
more than one unconscious citizen in COM
paratively humble circumstances whose
name is entitled to a prefxed earl or
Viscount
Beyond this, however, a possible claim
sant must look rather 10 expend money
than to the inheritance of vast estates,
as by the British statute of limitations
all such have long since either passed be-
yond reclaim into private hands or lapsed
into possession of the crown. 1t was re-
Gently officially stated that the largest
sum of money held by the Court of Chan
Gerry awaiting heirs was only a little over
100000 In this connection perhaps the
strangest story told within recent pc
Rod is that of the ancient Barony of Bel
haven In the middle of the century coal
miner of Lancashire, Scotland. named
Watson, found it necessary to occasion
ally visit a pawn brokers' establishment IN
Glasgow, with whose clerk he became up
on intimate terms. In the course of sew
stances of his life. intimated that he be-
leved himself to be the lawful heir TO the
Barony of 3elhaven then about to fall
into abeyance through the anticipated
death of the childless holder of the title.
At the time this information did not
particularly interest the hard working
miner who, in due course, commencing
to find his way up TO better position,
ceased his visits to the pawn broker, and
consequently lost sight of the friendly
clerk. Fifteen years passed away. and
the deliver in the earth found himself
instead the employer of thousands of min
ers. BY his own ability he had become
one of the greatest coal property owners
in the west of Scotland. He was a mill
ionaire many times over and, naturally
then turned his thoughts toward social
| advancement-not perhaps much for
himself as for the sake of his sons and
daughters. He was particularly anxious
/
Scotch aristocracy. With all his wealth
this was a difficult matter to accomplish
in a land where pride of birth and demo-
cratic sentiment strangely enough go
hand in hand 1t is not easy for a self
made native to form an alliance with
Douglas or a Campbell, who stands near
the chieftain of the clan Pondering over
these matters he recollected the story
of the pawn brokers' clerk. The title of
Belhaven was one of the most famous in
| Scottish history. Perhaps, after all, the
clerk was the rightful heir, as he bore the
family name of Hamilton.
Further reflection determined him to
discover If his old Acquaintance was still
alive. This he succeeded in doing, finding
the clerk still in much the same position.
Mr. Watson again heard the story, and,
apparently being satisfied of its genuine
tenor, made what must have seemed to
the clerk a startling proposition. Mr..
Watson agreed to find the money to put
forward the claim to the title, which, if
proved valid, he would then endow with
an income of $4,000 a year. provided the
new peer would undertake to marry one
of his (Mr Watsons) daughters.
Needless to say, the clerk was willing
to fall in with such plans. The claim was
put forward, and after an expensive suit,
| judgment was rendered by the House of
| Lords in the appellants favor. Then Lord
!
| tered upon a life of novel splendor, in
| which everything was emb.azoned with
| coronets, 1t is doubtful, however, If he
| enjoyed much greater happiness, for he
was more than once heard to express a
| longing for a finan haddock or a dish of
hall hrose in place of the elaborate menus
| of Garnock
| 1t was Mr.. Watson's natural ambition
to be able to speak of a grandson as the
future Lord Belhaven, but Fate took lit
| tie heel of the d sire of the millionaire,
| ironically blessing the noble couple with
| seven daughters in succession, but never
a son and heir.
Thus when Lord Belhaven died year
or two ago the title passed away to an
! other branch of the family, though Mr..
Watson's disappointment may have been
somewhat assuaged by being shortly after
created a baronet, and from the reflec-
ton that he may yet live to take another
step and become himself a peer
Michael Clifford White.
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FISH MAnEg