EARLDOM OF SEAFIELD

Evening Star, Issue 16782, 10 July 1918, Page 5

EARLDOM OF SEAFIELD

THE LATEST CLAIMANT

Sapper William John Giant, formerly of Dralla, who is now serving with the Australian Army in France., has been named as the prospective Earl of Seafield, and it is probable that in due course his claim to the title and estates will be formally made and tested Young Giant is the eider eon cf »-he Lite Mr John Grant, of Ward's l'iver. and grandson of Mr and Mo John Grant, who arrived in Australia in 1852. The claim on behalf of Sapper Grant has been initiated as the result A an advertisement which was brought under the notice of a resident of Gloucester and a relative of young Grant. He placed the facta in the* hands of a firm of solicitors, and inquiries were opened. No finality respecting the claim cut be reached tiii ifter the war, and the exact basis on which -the claim rests is not known at present. It is largely a matter for lawyers, but it is stottd that the legal advisers of the family consider that Sapper Grant has excellent chances of establishing himself as the heir to the Seaiield title and estates.

The eleventh Earl of Seafield fell in battle in 1315 while leading the Cameron Highlanders. His only child is a, girl, who was then lune years of age. The Karl was also Viscount Reidhaven, Hai-on Ogilvie, Boron Strathspey, and 30th Chief of Grant. Upon his death Ms daughter became Countess of iieafield, Vi-countess Reddha-ren, and Lady Ogilvie of Desk ford and Cullen, but it was impossible for tiu other titles to be owned by a girl. Consequently the Hon. Trevor Ogiivie-Grant, her uncle, and a brother of the hit© Ear!, became Baron Strathspey and Chief of Grant. But the laws of entail and succession in Britain axe so com plicated that there is no certainly about the legality of the sx;cceasion'of tie Earl's daughter, _ because there mar be a male in the direct line. In 1888 the ninth Karl of ScaheM died, and the title went to his son, who was Imng in New Zealand at the time. ITi-s wife was formecrlr Miss Ann Trevor Corey Evans, daughter of Major George Thomas Evau3, of Clooneavin,_ Otago. There were four sons oF the marriage, the eldest being .lair.i-j. who married MUs Marv Elizabeth Nint Townend, daughter of the late Dr Townend, of ChristchWeh. James succeeded to the title and estates on tho death of hi 3 father.

Before becoming tenth Earl, Mr Grant was a well-known resident of Oamaru. He discharged the duties and functions of bailiff there, and signed the distress warrants " James Ogilvia Grant." He was not anxious about the family titles, as they did nob carry anything attractive in the" wit of financial benefits. It is "told that a Mayor of Oamaru once contemplated a trio to England. He mentioned the fact to Grant, who proffered a letter of iriroductioit to his uncle, who was a somebody in Scotland. The Mayor thought it was a joke, and told his friends £O. Grant beard of it and expressed regret to the Mayor for having made the offer, adding that his uncle would most likely have received him only in the hall. It -was not lotvg after that Oamaru learned that the town's bailiff had become the tenth Earl of Seafield. Ha did not go to take hia place among tho aristocracy of Britain. After hia death, his son James went Home .as the eleventh Earl, takine ■with him his wife and their only child Nina. This is the girl, now 12 years of age- who has come into so many titles. Writine to his friends recently Sapper Grant said that after serving 10 month* in Franoe he wa3 due for a holiday. When ha got it he intended to visit Scot hud. _ It is believed by a member of the family th/it a claim to the Seafield title and estates will be advanced by an American branch of the Grants. It is therefore nuite within the bounds of possibility that the succession amy be the subject of much litigation. The Hon. Trevor Ojflvie-Grant. who succeeds his brotheT as Baron St,rathspe\ and Chief of Grant, married Mis 3 Alice Louisa Hardy-Johnson, daughter of a Christchurch engineer.