New-York tribune., 1908-09-07
PERPETUAL PENSIONS
Present Benefcia7ies Not Related to
the Original Grantees.
tcopyrisht. 1908. by the Brentwood company.i

copyright. 1908 by the Brentwood Companyl
English newspapers somewhat at sea in
serting that OF the much decried perpetual pen
sions only three remain. namely those payable
the Lords Rodney, Earls Nelson and to the heirs
OF the Duke OF Schomberg. 1t is true that very
large number of these perpetual pensions have been
commuted but considerably more than the three
mentioned are still in evidence. Thus there is the
perpetual pension of 5000 a year stin payable TO
the heirs of Henry de Nassau d'Auverquerque, son
OF the Famous marshal Of the name, and who,
favorite of King William III had been invested
as token Of the latter's good will with the Earl
dom of Grantham which became extinct his
death, and with perpetual pension of $4,000 a
year This Lord Grantham like many Of the
grantees OF pensions of this kind. aenated a por-
ton of II by sale for cash, and when he died,
leaving as his only heiress Henrietta, married to
Earl Cowper. she found that she had merely in
herfted $500 year of the pension. Her descend
ants, the third fourth. fifth, sixth and seventh
Earls Cowper. continued to enjoy this perpetual
pension of 5000 until it coumuted by the late
and last earl, some thirty years ago, for lump
sum of Ss00o0 II all the more easy for him
10 do this he had children. But the national
treasury is still compelled TO go paying the re-
naming fifth of the original pension-that Is to
say the 5000 which had been ahenated by the first
Lord Grantham-and its present benehciaries are
some people OF the Hebrac of Cohen, who
can certainly not claim any descent in blood from
the Nassau d d'Auverqrerque, Earl Of Grantham-
Another perpetual pension still III existence IS
that Of $500 per annun bestowed by King Charles
II upon the farmer Penderel, VINO concealed him
in the Boscobel oak when he fed from the battle
field of Worcester in 1851. In this case there is
one descendant Of PendereI. old London cab
driver of the name OF Robert McLaren, who
driven by financial straits sell his rights TO his
half Of the annuity, which is now drawn by the
purchaser, who, Of course is not q descendant OF
the Penderels. The other annuitant, James With
ington, also descendant Of Penderel, came to
America at the time of the Civil War and has dis
appeared from view. II he left any legitimate de-
scendants they are entitled $3.50 year and
for nearly half century; whereas if it can
be proved that he died and left descendants the
annuity viii go to the old cab driver. There are
quite number Of other perpetual pensions which
have been alienated from the descendants OF the
original grantees. But these will show that the
abuse still continues and is only slightly abated
The Rodney pension amounts to $4,000 q year,
that of the Esrls Nelson to $4,000 year. to con-
s1nue as long as there remains any bearer OF the
titles. The heirs of the Duke of Schomberg who
killed IN battle fighting for the English IN the
early part the eighteenth century, draw. about
$4,000 year representing moiety of the original
annuity. It is the portion which has not been
compromised and is paid to persons OF the name OF
Godschmidt, who obtained it by purchase and not
by virtue of descent relationship to the Duke of
Schomberg.