The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-25
Inherits Considerable Amount of
American Property, Under
Heavy Mortgage.
ny LA MAnauIsE DE FoNrENoY.

ClR GEORGE, TOMBSTONE. who has
Just succeeded through his uncle's
death TO the family baronetcy.
created over 200 years ago, inherits
very considerable amount of American
property. burdencd. however with very
heavy mortgages. Part of 1t was ac-
quired BY sir Georges great-great-
grandfather. Commodore George John
stone. OF the royal navy. who was
British colonial governor of Florida
after the latter had been given TO
Great Britain by Spain in return for
the restoration OF Cuba. the commodore
marrying Virginian helress of the
name OF Charlotte Dee. The remainder
of the American property of the family
came to it through the marriage of
the commodore's elder brother Sir
William Johnstone. fifth baronet of the
line. TO Frances Pulteney. heiress Of
Daniel Pultcney, who was not only the
cousin, but also the chief heir. OF Will
liam Pulteney. Earl Of Bath 1t is in
deed from this cousin, the Earl Of Bath
that the Ne" York town of Bath takes
It's name. In 1903 much OF this landed
property in the State OF New York was
advertised for sale by Sir Frederick
tombstone. the late baronet But It
was generally understood that owing
to the impossibility OF obtaining fair
prices. Sir Fredericl<s agents content
cd themselves with heavily mortgage
ing the property.
The American estates in the latter
part OF the eighteenth century amount
cd TO considerably over a million acres,
in what is now the state of New York
consisting largely OF grants by the
English crown to the Pulteneys. es-
pecaily to William Pulteney. Earl Of
Bath. who had a perfect passion for
money, and who made use of the favor
which ne enjoyed on the part of Queen
Anne. OF George L. and OF George H..
each Of whom he served as Secretary
OF American land. Under the circum-
stances II is not astonishing that Sir
William Johnetonc. the fifth baronet.
should have been accounted the rich
est man OF the British empire. This
great fortune was still further in
creased by John Johnstone, who com
manded Lord Gives artillery at the
battle of Plassey, in India. amassing
great wealth there by the familiar pro-
cess of shaking the pasoda tree"
When SIR George Frederick John
stone. the seventh baronet. was killed
in 1871 by 4 fall from his horse. all
this great property was still unen-
numbered. the New York estates hav-
ing. however. been reduced to about
$1,000 acres by advantageous sales
realizing millions OF dollars Four
months after his death. his widow gave
birth to twins, namely, the late Sir
Frederick tombstone and his brother.
George Charles. popularity known as
Colonel Doddy tombstone, whose cid
est son has now succeeded to the baro-
netcy and property. Sir Frederick
tombstone was therefore a baronet
from the very moment of his birth.
and during mis- long life. which was
brough, TO a close on Friday last.
managed TO involve himself In such
financial difficulties that three years
ago ne was obliged to sell his ances-
trail home OF Weeterhall. in Dumfries-
shire. which had been in the family
for several centuries.
He would have been made bankrupt
eighteen months ago, had it not been
for the intervention of his intimate
and lifelong friend. Henry Cha plin,
Minister of Agriculture in the last
Salisbury cabinet (and widower OF the
sister OF the present Duke OF Suther-
lnndl. who secured his commitment rs
an inlbecile, and his own appointment
as the scptuaGenarian haronets guar
dian IN lunacy Thanks TO this step,
it was possible TO rescue a consider
able portion of Sir Fredcricks prop
erty from the hands of more or less
bona hde creditors. who had taken adj
vantage OF his failing mental facul-
ties TO induce him to deed away near
~ every vestiGe OF his fortune
Henry Chaplin succeeded in having
many of these deeds OF gift signed
by Sir Frederick set aside on the
ground that they were obtained
through undue influences. and that the
baronet was not In possession of his
10 ut
thereto. Henry Chaplin likewise pur-
sued the same course with regard to
the numerous mortgages which Sir
Frederick had been persuaded to ne
gotiate and demanded an accounting
and return of the money thus raised.
Thanks TO this. the new baronet will
have at least enough to live on. with
his wife and children
Sir George also succeeds to his
uncle's claim to the dormant Scotch
marquisate of Annandale. The claim
was prosecuted before the Committee
OF Privileges Of the House OF Lords by
Sir Frederick. and by his father be-
fore him. But although Sir Frederick
was indisputably male heir of tha
Johnstone Marquesses of Annandale
the patent OF the marquisate states
that it is heritable by heirs male
whatsoever" and the committee de-
clined in each instance to grant any
decision. owing to the differences OF
opinion as to the construction to be
placed upon the words heirs male
Whatsoever"
Sir Frederick was n university class
mate at oxford, of Edward VII. for
years his racing partner. and intima te
friend, and was a prominent figure on
the turf, winning the Derby in 1888
and again in 1891. He was one OF the
correspondents against whom a YER
diet of guilty was rendered In the
celebrated Mordaunt divorce case in
1870; and also created nine days SEN
sation in London society by clipping
with the wife of fellow baronet He
lived with her for years quite openly
at his villa at Monte Carlo. unable,
however, to legalize their relations, by
the refusal of her husband to sue for
a divorce.
The Countess OF Hohenfclsen. whose
name appears on the title page Of the
French translation OF the Russian Fro
lessor Eltchaninoffs book, dealing with