Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-19
American Not Only Claimant of
Scottish Estate.
CONSISTS OF 10000 ACRES
Rent Roll Approximate Nearly
$4,000 a Year-Baronetcy
Created in 1865.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

this country never diminishes The latest
and most interesting of these is claim
ant from over the pond" to the grea,
| Menzies estate in Scotland which con-
ssts OF more than 10000 acres. with a
rent roll of nearly $4,000 a year.
Since the death of Sir Neil Menzies. the
eighth baronet of that line, in December
1910. the title has been dormant, and the
question has arisen whether it is or Is
not extinct, there being no direct heir By
the recognized authorities there seems to
be no doubt on the subject, for the rec
ords bear that the title is extinct. va
rous members of the Menzes 1amlis
have been Investigating their pedigree
with view of ascertaining their exact
| relationship to the chief of the clan and
| their right to the title. and although NJ
| actual claim has been entered, there are
several who may be counted on to contest
the American claim. but who thus far
cannot show a clear title to succession.
Coachman Nearest Heir.
! 1t is believed that the nearest heir was
| Duncan Menzies. son of Donald Menzies,
| Tighchraggan, Weem. He was employ ed
| as coachman in a Dumfriesshire man g
| family quite a number of years ago. and
| II is recorded that on one occasion when
F. " Menzies brother of Sir Robert. the
| father Of Sir Neil. the last holder OF the
| title, was at an annual show OF the Agrl-
cultural Society in Dumfries. he met TINS
| coachman and strongly advised him to
give his children a good education, pre-
sumably having in view that one of them
| might succeed to the baronetcy and es.
| tates. From what can be learned, all
trace of the coachman ard his family has
since been lost. Two men have now
| turned up one from Australia and an
! other from America. to present their
claim. and it is just possible that one or
the other might be son of the COACH
man. Duncan Menzies.
| The family history dates back for a
| long period. Sir Robert de Merners seems
| to have occupied high state office in the
reign Of Alexander III: and his son, Sir
Alexander. took an active part In the
| struggle for Scottish independence which
terminated in the battle of Bannock-
burn. The baronetcy, however. was not
created till 1865. and was conferred on
| Sir Alexander Menzies of Weem. He
was the son and heir Of Sir Duncan Men
| zies. knight, by Jean. daughter OF the
| Hon. James Leslie master of Rothes.
1t was conferred with remainder to his
| heirs male of the body Sir Alexander
was member of parliament for Perthshire
| from 1893 till his death, in 1865.
Son Dies Without Issue.
| He had two sons, Capt. Robert and
Capt. James Menzies, the latter Of whom
was designated as ''of Comrie." Capt.
Robert, the eldest son, predeceased his
| father and the title descended to Capt.
| Roberts eldest son. Sir Alexander tile
second baronet, by his wife. who was
daughter of the sixth Lord Torpichen.
The third baronet, Sir Robert. son Of Sir
| Alexander, the second baronet, held the
| title from 1870 to 1856, when he died with
out issue. Reverting to the nearest male
koir J0hn
Menzies. fourth baronet. only son OF
James Menzies, merchant. Edinburgh.
who was a son of Capt. James Menzies
of Comrie. the second son of the first
baronet. Sir John died in 1900, also with
out issue. The fifth baronet was Sir ROB-
ert Menzies, cousin and heir male OF his
predecessor.
The first Sir Neil, sixth baronet. held
| the title from 1913 to 1874. when he died.
He was the only son of Sir Robert. He
| pa ssed as an advocate and was lieuten4
| ant colonel of the Royal Highland Perth
shire Militia. He took great interest In
agricultural matters, and initiated the
policy of planting the estate with trees,
| which was carried out to even greater
extent by his immediate successor. Sir
| Robert The first Sir Neil was twice
| married, his second wife being Grace
Charlotte Conyers. sister of Fletcher Nor
ton, third Baron Grantley.
A Soldier and Athlete.
| By her he had two sons-Sir Robert
Menzies the seventh baronet, and Fetch
err Norton Menzies. Sir Robert Menzes
was born in 1917; he matriculated at OK
| ford in 1887. rowed in the university
eight and succeeded to the baronetcy in
| 1874 He was captain in the Perth
| shire Militia. and an honorary colonel OF
| the 5th V. b. Black Watch. Sir Robert
was married to Anne Balcarres. daughter
of Maj. James Aston Stewart of Urrard,
| and his family consisted of two sons and
| two daughters-Sir Neil James, born in
1858; Robert Fletcher. born in 1853 and
| died in his eleventh year: Caroline Marie
! Stuart, who married In 1878 Atholl Mac
gregor, brother OF Sir Malcolm Macgre-
gor who died in 1906. and Egidia Char
/ lotte Menz!es. who is now the only surviv-
! ing representative of that branch of the
/ family.
Sir Robert was a true specimen of the
Eoid Highland chief and. Sd far modern
| requirements permitted, he did what he
could to preserve the old relationship
! which in times past existed between
| the chief and his clansmen. and so keep
alive the old customs. He spent consider
| able sums Of money in the improvement,
| OF the estates and was an ardent support
er of every movement tending TO the adj
vancement of agriculture. Tall spare
big-boned and why, he retained his grea,
powers of physical endurance even to an
old age. He died in 1903. aged seventy
six. and was succeeded by Sir Neil, the
| nth baronet.
Expect Claimants to Appear.
SIR Neil was born in 1SJ5 He was a
| captain in the Scots Guards and served
| in the Suakim expedition. In 1905 he
was married to Susan Harriet. eldest
daughter of the late Sir James Grant
Suite. and his death took place while he
was on the continent in December, 1910.
without issue. Lady Menzfes survives
him. There can be no doubt that there