New-York tribune., 1908-01-03
HOW BOGUS RARoNETs ARE MADE.


George Bropn Ibbetsons announcement IN the
advertisement columns of the London Times and
Of other English papers that he has succeeded
10 the dignity. state and degree OF a btronet
which dignity state and degree was conferred upon
my ancestor Henry Ibbetson, OF Leeds. in the
County Of York. by grant Of letters patent of his
late majesty King Geotge II in the year 1I4s
would be unworthy Of notice were II not for the
fact that il shows once more the powerlessness Of
crown government in England TO prevent the
urwsrrantable assumption of titles OF honor that
s-e in the gift Of the sovereign, who is fgurativey
the fountain of all honors-'
This pseudo haronet's pretension is all the more
pTeposterous when II is borne in mind that ac-
oordtng 10 his own assertion it is based the
fact that his great at-grandfather was first
cousin Sir Henry Ibbetson. the first baronet.
who received the distinction q reward for his
services in raising a corps of cavalry at his own
expense in Yorkshire for the crown at the time OF
the Jacobite rebellion OF I745. Mr. George Broun
Ibbetson might possibly have sorns claim to this
baronetcy IL he descended from Sir Henry
Ibhetson. the first baronet whom he. without any
right, describes the advertisement his AN
cestor." But according TO his admission his
only connection with the first bsronet is the cousin
ship OF his grandfather with the latter.
Bsronetcies and peerages invariably conferred
with the proviso that they should pass exclusively
20 descendants the grantee in the male line,
excepting where there is a special clause or re
r1ainder in the patent, decreeing that the honors
should pass the grantees daughter or brother
70 a first cousin is altogether unknown and would
have been especially incomprehensibie in the case Of
the baronetcy of Sir Henry IhbeIson seeing that he
lad no less than Of his own. The seventh
baronet. Sir Henry John Ibbetson was created a
peer of the realm Lord lockwood in 1892 for his
political services as Member Of Parliament for
Essex. Under Secretary OF State for the Home
Department and Secretary OF the Treasury, and
5ied in Iaoe, Hhereupon all his honors became
nct his considerable property going to his sisters
T0r-
mana Of Ibbetson and who s married TO Sibyl
Disraeii. daughter of that Ralph DisraeH who was
Lord Beaconsfelds brother, and sister. therefore.
o. Coufngsby DisraeI. the owner Of Nughenden
Manor.
The Ibbetsons are very old Yorkshire family.
and one would have imagined that Mr.. George
Ibbetson would have been content TO bear name
60 honored. only in the north. but also in the
south Of England, instead Of rendering himself
ridiculous in the eyes Of all sensible people by
the assumption Of title to which he has no
earthly right whatsoever. The members Of his
own family likely 10 be among those who
most bitterly resent his fooshness. especially Sir
Derzu Ibbetson. who rules the Punjab for Eng
land and who Is one Of the most valuable MEM
bers Of the Eiceroy's council at Calcutta Sir
Derzil who is & son Of the late Rev Denzll looet-
son and was born in Australia, owes the handle
10 his name the fact that he has been decorated
with the Knight Commandershp Of the Star OF
India for his services IN King Edwards great
Oriental dependency
TIE action OF Sir George Broun iope'Soh III
assuming the late Lord Rookwood's baronetcy has
served once more to emphasize the fact that there
* no court of law now in existence that is COM
nereut TO determine claims 10 baronetces. In the
case D peerages. claims are referred TO the com
-,ittec Of Privileges of the House Of Lords which
,,-,orts 10 the King who usually acts in accord
a3re with its recommendation and either con-
resas the claim or rejects it But there IS no
srtcr tribunal where baronetcfes are concerheo
nowadays. and in order To meet TINS want II .
hn Ia
-bs1s ro4,-+ which when il was in existence, had
+ra mower Of administering osths and Of conpel-
1f,,r +a testimony Of witnesses The Earl MarshaI
is the Duke OF Norfolk, who nolas MS once %
t,.r,.irarv right and his court used 10 be heid
:. En- hall Of the College Of Arms Indeed. the
hall is still in existence. but the court. Whlch
80 70 he officially described as the fountain
or the law Of arms" has not been helo within
1,,i-7r memory although it does not appear ihaC
- - of parliament was ever passed abolish-
L.