New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-06

t-aordinary pike story at Durham Massey his
country place near Altrincham in Cheshire anu
he has been I'll ever since that he may yet sue
cumb to the effects OF the accident. He has many
friends in this country, who will recall him as
ekins out rather scanty subsistence one OF tlie
tutors OF Codrington College, of Barbados. under
the name Of Professor William Grey. The earidoIn
he inherited number Of years ago, along WIN
an income of about $4,000 a year. but II was only
last year that the death OF the widow of the sew
enth earl and the termination of a lease eTableo
him to secure possession of Durham Hall. wfl0h
has been the ancestral home of his family since
the days Of Oliver Cromwell. It is of the most
picturesque and important country seats IN
Cheshire. surrounded by moat and by an I'M.
mense park full Of glorious trees hundreds Oh
years old. Durham Park itself figures in DoonlS-
day Book. complied by William the Conqueror'
while the older portions of the hall date from lZ9o
Lord Stamford. who has a boy of eleven. known
as Lord Grey of Groby. to succeed to his honors'
was compelled to go to the expense of defending d
claim before the Committee OF Privileges OF the
House Of Lords, brought by the coal-black Hotten-
tot widow of his cousin. tho eighth earl IN behalf
or her mulatto son. whose case was, however
thrown out Of court when the fact was brought 10
light that he had been born previous instead OF
subsequent to the marriage of his parents Other
wise there would be to-day a mulatto occupying
seat in the upper house Of the national leSls-
lature at Westminster a peer OF the realm
The late and eighth Earl of Stamford was. al
though clergyman. something Of an old repro
bate. Shortly after becoming clergyman OF the
Church of England he married domestic servant
and became involved in difficulties which rendered
his leaving England necessary. He migrated TO
South Africa. his wife abandoning him. After her
death he married again. IN South Africa, white
woman of humble station. who died two years
later. and then for a time he lived with coal
black Hottentot woman, who occupied the place
Of cook and laundress in his household Eventually
OF the missionaries in the district in which
he lived persuaded him to legalize his relations
with her by marriage. This took place after the
birth Of their son. John Grey, who was rendered
by this tardy marriage legitimate, according TO the
terms Of the old Dutch law still IN force in the
portion OF South Africa where he was born But
did not Legitimate him sufficiently 70 enable him
TO establish his rights 10 his fathers peerages-
daughter was born after this marriage and is
like her brother, a muatto AS the legitimate
daughter OF earl, she entitled 70 style her
self Lady Mary Grey, and about three years ago
she married a Boer bur still retains her title Her
mother. that is 10 say the widow of the eighth
earl. has since his death married again-to South
African half-breed OF the name Of Pieter Pieterse
and has thereby forfeited her rank and preroga-
uves as peeress. Moreover. she has had the good
sense to drop the title which she enjoyed during
her first marriage.
The peerages held BY the present Lord Stamford
date from the beginning Of the seventeenth century
King James I conferred the Bsrony Of Grey Of
Groby in 1913 upon Sir Henry Grey. son Of Lord
John Grey and only nephew Of that Marquis Of
Dorset and Duke Of Suffolk who was the father OF
Lady Jane Grey. for a few days Queen Of England,
while the earldom OF Stamford was conferred upon
the first Lord Grey OF Groby's grandson in spite
OF his having been a Parliamentary commander
during the civil and one Of the judges who
signed the warrant for King Charles rs execution.
The Grey family seems 70 have been founded by
Henry DE Grey. who obtained from Richard Conur
de Lion the manor OF Turroe IN Essex. along with
the privilege which Lord Stamford still enjoys. OF
hunting the fox and hare in any lands belonging
10 the Crown, except the Kings own private de-
r1esnes" The Creys have almost always been IN
not water. Sir John dc Grey was killed at the
battle Of St Adams fighting for Henry VI. and
his widow 10 show that there was no III feellng'
became Queen Consort 70 Edward " after having
declined 10 become his favorite Thomas Grey was
peheaded for participating in WAITS rebellion in
155 His brother Leonard also lost his head upon
the scafrold. and so did Lady Jane Grey, and her
father the Duke OF Suffolk. Thomas Grey, con or
the Earl OF Stamford arrested and thrown INTO
the Tower for having been concerned in the Rye
House Plot but pardoned by James H.