BERESFORD CURSE

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1934, Page 3

BERESFORD CURSE

DISCREDITABLE ORIGIN. (Ama. Sr N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, October 2. A verdict of accidental death was returned by the jury at the inquest on the. Marquess of Waterford, aged 33, who was found fatally shot in the gunroom at his house in County Waterford (Irish Free State), where he had gone to get a sporting gun to shoot a hare he had seen on the lawn. The death of John Charles de la Poer Beresford, seventh Marquess of Waterford, revived the story of what is known as the “Waterford curse.” According to tradition this was caused by a widow, who complained to the Afarquess of the time that her son was unduly wayward. The Afarquess told the widow to go, adding, “I will deal with the lad.” The boy was later found hanging from a tree. The widow then cursed the Afarquess, and his successors for seven generations. According to this legend the latest Afarquess was the final victim. Another tradition attributes the misfortunes to a curse placed on the Waterfords during the land disputes which resulted in all but three having had violent deaths.