The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-17
Actor Who Came Into Fortune
Said to Have Ambitions
for Title.
HAS GOOD FAMILY TREE
An Ancestor Accompanied Will
lam the COnqueror to
England's Shore.
Special Cable Despatch to TuE suN.

P'''''' '"''e ''Sbus'H ~ SUN
LONDON. April ls.-Now that James X.
Hackett. the actor. has become wealthy
man through an inheritance from
niece he has an ambition e
become n peer II ne persists in his
present determination he will file a claim
to be recognized as Baron Hackett of
Hackettstown and Sheldon Abbey. County
Carlow. ireland.
According to his pedigree. which Mr.
Hackett has worked out. he is descended
from Heket, one Of the barors who came
over from France with william the Con-
aueror. whose name. he asserts, Is In
scribed in Williamss six and Thirty No
bles." dated 1866, upon a pillar Of Battle
Abbey. near Hastings
One OF Hekets progeny. so the tale goes.
accompanied Henry II. on his famous
Irish expedition and obtained vast estates
and seigniories, his descendants becoming
parons and powerful magnates In ireland.
In 1899, Mr.. Hackett says. the Court
Journal contained the announcement of
the death OF Edmund Baron Hackett The
true inheritor. whose title Mr.. Hackett
claims, was James Henry Hackett Of New
revolutions In Ireland.
While the peerage Is extinct Mr.. Hack
EFT is confident that Il could be revived
IN his favor. He Ii therefore meditatiny
over the idea Of attempting to secure a
peerage for the American stage as an
offset to the knighthoods Of the English
stage.
James n. Hackett's friends were not
surprised to learn last night that he can
be baron IL he wants to be. Surprises
in his case are nothing new to him. After
man has come into about $l.2OO.O0O
from a relative whose dislike for him was
set forth in her will. which gave him the
money, there is nothing else which can
cause surprise.
"Hackett. rightful Baron Hackett OF
Hackettstown! or course he u.s. SAID
A. l.. Jacobs, who has been the actors
counsel and personal friend for years
u have seen the papers. and although
am not an expert heraldry or gene
alogy / am certain he has q genuine
claim,
"Hacketts father. Falstafr Hackett the
actor. was born In this country. but his
grandfather. who was a business man.
came of the distinguished family. II was
always known that the title rightfuiiy
belonged to that branch. Just out OF
curiosity "A few years ago James r.
Hackett had the records traced back
To the time of William the Conqueror
This record had all sorts of official seals
on 1t and was authentic. 1t was lost
somewhere a year or two ago but IL is
easily duplicated.
There need be no fear, however, that
James *. Hackett win ever do more than
establish his claim morally. He will never
become British subject. for he is an
American and proud of IL. II will be
satisfaction. however, for him to hand
the family record down TO his daughter.
whom he idolizes"
James *. Hackett passed through
bankruptcy several years ago after a
disastrous experience as AN actor-mana
ger His fortune turned last fall when
he became one of the few stars" to make
money on the road in a very bad season
Then In February his niece. Mrs Minnie
Hackett Trowbrldge. died. and not hav.
ing disposed OF the residue OF her estate
II goes to him AS the nearest surviving
relative. The amount will be between
sl.l00.O00 and $1,000. 900. The income
from the estate is about S4s, 900 year.