The Washington times., 1925-03-28

Chalmers Seymour Mcconnell
Seeks Somerset" Title
Over Which Fight RACES

A Washington youth may be-
come Duke of Somerset as a
result of contest now raging
before a special investigating
committee of the British House of
Lords over the title and estates
of the Dukedom of Somerset, one
of the oldest and most historic
houses of England.
The decision of the committee
will affect the properties and
ducal perquisites of one of the
most powerful families of the
British kingdom. The contest has
resulted in dragging to light one
of the most romantic stories of
the British peerage, after nearly
a century and a half of obscurity.
Chalmers s. McCOnneII's Claim.
The Washingtonian who, it Is
claimed, is the rightful Duke of
Somerset, is Chalmers Seymour Nc
Connell, son of Mrs. Samuel Bur
leigh Milton, wife of Major Milton,
Washington newspaper man. Mrs.
Milton was Inez Seymour, daughter
OF John Marshall Seymour, of Vir.
ginia, direct descendant of Duke
of Somerset.
Mrs. Inez Seymour Millions great
Observation-Disclosures was son
of the sixth Earl Of Hartford. His
son served as a colonel in the
French and Indian war under the
British crown in this country, when
Governor Baron de Botetourt, who
was a Berkeley and closely related
to the Seymours. was the third and
last royal governor Of Virginia, &C.
cording to testimony submitted to
the committee. Reference to Mrs.
Millions lineage is officially recorded
In the Virginia house of burgesses'
records, it is stated.
Mrs. Milton has many papers and
historic documents in proof Of her
claim for the title and Dukedom of
Somerset for her son, which have
been placed in the hands Of her at
torney, who will represent her in
the House Of Lords hearing in
London.
Lady Jane Seymour, the third
wife OF Henry VII, was a member
or the famous Seymour family OF
England. Her son became Edward
vi OF England, and Lady Jane Sey-
mour's brother, Edward, became
lord protector Of England, in his
day the most powerful nobleman in
the realm.
Family Records Support Claim.
Family records which II is
claimed, are supported by authentic
historical authority, show that
three strains Of royal blood flow
in the veins of this branch Of the
Seymours in America and their
right to quarter the PIantaRenet
arms OF England's monarchs with
the coat-of-arms Of Seymour is
claimed.
The contest arose as result OF
the failure of the fifteenth Duke
or Somerset to leave a son to in
merit his estate and titles, upon his
death nearly two years ago One
or the claimants is General Sir Ed.
ward Hamilton Seymour, third
cousin to the late Duke. The gen.
eral claims his descent from Sir
EDWARD Seymour, brother of Jane
Seymour. One Of his ancestors
was Colonel Francis Compton Sey-
mour, whose matrimonial affairs
are playing a vital part in the
contest.
According to the family records,
Colonel Francis Seymour, while
walking through Lincoln's Fields.
London, one night in 1885, heard
the screams Of woman. He
found a lovely girl struggling to
escape from two burly seamen.
Though armed only with a cane,
the doughty Colonel sprang to her
rescue. When the seamen drew
knives he fought them using his
cane as a rapier, and routed them.
The young woman refused to let
him accompany her home and for
more than a year the infatuated
colonel, smitten on his first en-
counter, tried Vainly to trace her.
Then he met her again almost in
the same spot, wearing widow s
weeds. In 1887. he led her to the
altar and they lived happily until
the widow saw the husband she
thought had died
Colonel Seymour tried to rectify
any possible illegality after falling
to locate the husband. but by this
time a son had been born. 1t is
from this son that today's claimant
to the duchy Of Somerset traces his
descent.