New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-13
n DUKES HOME.
fomething About the Ancestry of
Its Future ChdteIdine.

Floors Castle which, like Blenheim Palace
and Kimbolton Castle, Is to have an American
born duchess for its chatelaine in the person of
Miss May Goelet, whose marriage to the Duke
Of Roxburghe takes place in November, was
Wilt for the first duke in 171S by Sir John
Vanbrugh, the same architect who designed
Blenheim but was subjected to extensive
reconstruction some fifty years ago by Playfair,
OF Edinburgh who transformed ii into the
stately and splendid Tudor edifice of to-day.
1t is situated on a terraced lawn on the north
bank of the Tweed. the site Of the old Rox-
burghe Castle which figured so conspcuously
In the early history of Scotland. and which
was for many years the residence of the kings
OF Scotland There are only a few fragments
OF the old structure now remaining; and the
Jemnants of the moat, which, filled with water
3rom the Tevoit, formed part of its defences
have now been converted into sunken gardens
The old castle was the stronghold Of the
princes Of Northumbria before Earl David be-
came King OF Scotland. Long after Northum-
bria had been severed from Scotland the castle
continued TO be the principal royal residence
In fact it was the seat of the government
until the end of the reign Of Alexander III, and
courts, councils and even parliaments were held
within it's walls which likewise contained the
royal mint
Subsequently, in the possession OF the Kers, 1t
sometimes became the headquarters OF foes to
the crown and gnarled holly tree marks the
place where King James ii of Scotland was
killed by an arrow while besieging the Castle
of Roxburghe, while. within thirty feet thereof
fourishes the splendid oak planted by Queen
Victoria on the occasion of her visit to Rox-
burghe shortly after her marriage the Duchess
Of Roxburghe of that day, grandmother of the
present duke having been the mistress Of the
robes lady in waiting and the earliest Of the in
innate friends OF the late Queen Sir Walter Scott
a frequent visitor to Floors Castle. which.
stated above, now occupies the site Of the
old Roxburghe border stronghold. and references
thereto. as well as to dramatic episodes in the
history Of the houses of lines and>Ker, OF which
his friend and patron the bibliophie third Duke
OF Roxburghe. the chief. will be found in
many of his works.
In view of the role played by the ancestors
Of the Duke OF Roxburghe in the Reformation.
# may be considered fitting that he should take
his bride from family which is of Huguenot
origin, and whose forebears were compelled to
fee from their French home at Rochelle to Hol-
land in order TO escape the penalties to which
they would have otherwise been subjected for
refusing TO become converts to the Roman
Catholic faith. Seventy year. after their mi
grafton to Amsterdam they came to this coun-
try. Francis Goelet establishing himself here in
New-York with his Jacob in 1876 II was
Jacobs grandson, Peter Goelet born in 1927
the great Goelet fortune. The firm Of Goelet
Curtenus. at the Sign Of the Golden Key. -
in Hanover Square, was among the most notable
and prosperous OF the mercantile houses of
New-York IN those days. Peter Goelet invested
most of his profits in real estate and when he
died, in 1890. at his house, No. So Broadway
he was reputed as one Of the weaIthiest citi-