New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-17
BROOKLYN CLAIMANT TO EARLDoM

BROOKLYN CLAIMANT TO EARLDOM.
Like so many other English peerages, the title
Of the Earl OF Huntingdon IS neither entirely clear
nor uncontested. A claimant thereto makes his
home in this country. and is a furniture dealer in
Dean street. Brooklyn, where he goes by the name
Of George Plantagenet Hastings The tenth Earl
OF Huntingdon died little over hundred years
ego without male issue. the estates RAISING into
the possession Ct his sister Countess Of Mora,
through whom they passed By marriage into the
ownership Of the earls Of Loudoun, who now hold
them The earldom Of Huntingdon remained IN
allegiance for about twenty years. when claim
was put forward 10 II by erandunce of the furni-
1ure dealer in Brooklyn. He a relatively poor
man and it required a considerable amount OF
money 70 carry the legal proceedings necessary
q recover possession % the peerage in England.
In his case il involved the obtaining Of certified
copies OF marriage, birth and death certificates in
parishes all the United Kingdom, proving
his direct descent from Sir George PIantagenet
Hastings younger brother OF the fifth earl
who died as far back as 1911. This would
have entailed \ very heavy expense The Countess
Of Moira, heiress Of the Huntingdon estates.
fearing that II the claimant proved his
tile 70 the earldom ne might likewise demand
possession OF the extensive estates resolved to put
Up rival claimant TO the earldorn and 10 paw all
the expenses IN connection with the proving Of his
descent, the stipulation that he should leave
hey in undisturbed possession OF the estates The
contests Overwhelmingly. the Earl Of MORA
" as one OF the most influential members of the
committee Of Privileges Of the House of Lords
which had 10 sit in judgment upon the question
Hence il is not surprising that the committee find
!As itself confronted by Lady Moira's candidate
who had all his papers ready to prove his descent
from the second Earl OF Hastings, should have
pronounced judgment in his favor ignoring the
claims Of the pretender who, as stated above
lacked the means to obtain the various documents
needed 10 show his descent from the Younger
brother Of the fifth earl The defeated claimant
disappointed and having spent ali his means IN
enceaForing 70 push his claims. came 10 this coun-
Try. along with his younger brother and II is the
latter's grandson who is to-day the representative
OF the rights which he possessed to the earldorn
of Hunt ngdon. II must be thoroughly understood
mat were the furniture dealer in Brooklyn 70 be
able to-day TO prove TO the satisfaction of the
House Of Lords his title the carbon OF Hunting
oon L would al the best be "A barren honor for
according 20 a law passed during the reign Of
queen Victoria, after estates have been for a GER
vain length Of time in the possession Of q family
they can no longer be recovered by process of law
even though the original title OF the holder is de-
.ecuVe The successful claimant lived more or
Iess as dependent on the bounty of his patroness
ne countess Of MORA. and IL IS his great grandson
VINO Is the present Earl Of Huntingdon. Having
no fortune whatsoever by Inheritance he is never
tneless comfortably OFF through his Australian
wife. daughter OF the late Sir Samuel Wilson the
Queensland squatter and sheep multi-niliionaire
whom irreverent persons Used to describe as nut
tonaire"
CoGNTEss's ROLE N AMERICAN METHODIsM
Methodists in the United States NAV he inter-
80 70 Nho" that it was the wife Of the ninth Earl
o. huntington who one OF the nrircinal sun
Po''eFs % Inc Methodist community of f.ra.t nj,
am n the eighteenth century She devoted ,ar
large portion Of the immense fortune ,,ticb che
possessed TO The endowment and fo,rd,,tor .,
METHODIST chapels throughout the I-ni,.d g..
and among Ter chapialns were C;oorge y,-A,to.,s
me TWO brothers Wesley and Rowland nan CO,
Fought many battles with The English a,,,hort.,
tellaf Of Metnod.sm. which used IN those -,
he known as Lady Huntingdon's Connexion IS IT., -
pTe9@nt Lord and Lady Huntington MAKE ,l,ot -
az SharavOgue, IN tie heart If Kings co,,,f, -
land and tie mansion IS TYPICAL horoe ~ tn -
eFn Aimrod' the walls being covered with ere.,, -
rety q whip, singiesticlls. foIIs and bo,i,,
stays heads fox masks ana brushes el,tr
heads Of bears, lions and other big earne LitI,
nc Earl IN the Rocky Mountains and In c.,
AREA likewise are to be found dec,rati, -
Iooing Ia the coachhouses are several Ar,o.,.
buggies' wiiich are a favofitc form Of eonyn,
q Lord Huntington, and n tie extensive cro,,nds
mere are a big racecounse ana splendid no.o
ground N POO
REAL BOMBS OF PEACE
var more effective Ga ayerfin@ v,ar 49, A..