The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
A DUKES HOME.

New York Tribune.

New YORK TRIBUNE.
Floors Castle, which, like Benheim Palace
and kimbolton Castle. Is to have American
born duchess for its chatelaine in the person OF
Miss May Goelet. whose marriage to the Duke
of Roxburghe takes place in November.
built for the first duke In l71s by Sir John Van
brugh, the architect who designed Blen-
helm. but was subjected to an extensive recon-
struction some fifty years ago by Playfair. Of
Edinburgh. who transformed ii into the stately
and splendid Tudor edice of to-day. 1t is sit
uated a terraced lawn on the north bank OF
the Tweed. on the site OF the old Roxburghe
Castle which figured conspicuously in the
early history Of Scotland, and which was for
many years the residence of the Kings of Scot
land. There only few fragments of the
OF the WHICH ad xth ~aer Om ss
Tevoit, formed part OF its defenses. have now
been converted into sunken gardens.
princes of Northumbria before Earl David be-
a na hn ses on from Long dF tho
continued to be the principal royal residence
the end of the reign Of Alexander ILL., and courts.
councils and even Rariia,ments were held within
mint.
subsequently, in the possession OF the Kers. It
the crown. and gnarled holly tree marks the
place where VII King James II Of Scotland tia was
Of Roxburghs. while within thirty feet thereof
lourishes the splendid oak planted by Queen
burghe shortly after her marriage, the Duchess
OF Roxburghe OF that day. grandmother OF the
roess adg m ng ne se EARLIEST of I'll
innate friends of the late Queen. Sir Walter
Scott was frequent visitor to Floors Castle.
which, stated above, occupies the site
Of the old Roxburghe border stronghold, and
references thereto. as wei as to dramatic cpl
Ker of which his friend and patron. the biblio-
phils third Duke of Roxburghe, was the chief,
will be found IN many of his works.
In view of the role played by the ancestors
it may be considered fitting that he should take
his bride from family which Is Of AIgusnot
fee from their French home at Rochelle to Hol-
land in order to escape the penalties to which
they would have otherwise been subjected D.. for
Ollie faith. Seventy years after their migration
to Amsterdam they came to this country Fan
York with his son Jacob In 1876. 1t was Jacobs
grandson. Peter Goeet. born in 172I. who may be
fortune. The firm of Goelet & Curtenius, at
the 'sign of the Golden Key" in Hanover
Square. among the most notable and pros
porous of the mercantile houses of New York in
those days. Peter Goeet invested most of his
t t mis- house, So $ he Wss reputed
one OF the wealthiest citizens OF New York
His son Peter, who inherited nearly all his
fortune. followed his fathers example OF in
vesting his accumulations in city real estate sta,
augmented to his childrsn-Peter; Hannah and
Robert. Peter who never married, left his real
estate equally to his surviving brother Robert
and to his sister Hannah, wife or Thomas Gerry
and mother of Elbridge 7. Gerry. This younger
brother, Robert Goelet, was the grandfather OF
Miss May Goelet. and was born In ls0s married
Miss Sarah Ogden I'm 1889. and died about twenty
five years ago, at his home, in the old Goeet
house at Broadway and Nineteenth street. which.
surrounded by gardens filled with bright plum
landmarks Of the city, and constant object OF
interest to it's inhabitants and OF curiosity TO
strangers. Robert Goelet, who, like King Louis
XVI Of France, was an amateur locksmith OF
extraordinary skill. had two sons. Robert and
Ogden. VIII both dead. Robert, the elder
OF the two, married in 1879 Miss Harriet Louise
Warren of this city, who survives him, as does
also his son, Robert Walton Goelet. the daugh-
ter, Beatrice Goelet. having died in New York
about two years ago. Ogden Goelet married In
1871 Miss Mary Wilson, daughter OF Richard T.
Wilson and succumbed to pulmonary affection
at Cowes some six years ago leaving his large
ert Goelet and Miss May Goelet. who Is
about to become the Duchess OF Roxburghe.