THE EGMONT EARLDOM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 15

THE EGMONT EARLDOM.

CLAIM BY LONDON BAKER.

SON OF NEW ZEALAND SETTLER.

MISSING BIRTH CERTIFICATE. [FIIOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, May 28. Mr. James William Porcoyal, a 65-year-old baker, of Hornsey, North London, whoso father and uncle went to New Zealand in 1852, is reported to bo making a claim to tho Earldom of Egmont. He alleges that tho earldom has been in wrong hands since 1897. Tho ninth carl died last January, and in March n distant kinsman, Mr. Frederick Perceval, for 25 years a Canadian rancher, returned to England ns tho heir. Mr. J. W. Perceval, tho claimant, states that be is tho son of Augustus George Perceval, son of tho sixth earl. Ho has been legally advised that if this can be proved ho should liavo been tho eighth earl and ought to liavo succeeded to the title in 1897. If his claim is upheld it will mean, therefore, that tho eighth Earl of Egmont, who died in 1910, and tho ninth carl, who died hist January, had no riglit to tho title, which enabled them to sit and vote in tho House of Lords, nor to Avon Castlo and estate, near Ilingwood, liampshiro.

It will mean, also, that tho "Rancher Earl" is not entitled to be called "Earl of Egmont. Baron Perceval, Baron Arden, Baron Lovel and Holland, and Sir Fredcrick Perceval, baronet." His 14-year-old son will not be entitled to bo known as Viscount Perceval. It is understood that tho presont holder of tho title has not yet received any money from tho estate, and that it is unlikely that anything will bo done until the question of tho claim is settled. Mr. Perceval's Statement.

Mr. Perceval gives the following statement in support of his claim.—"ln 1852 Augustus George and Charles John, first and second sons of Arthur Phillip, brother of the then earl, went to New Zealand, and met on their voyage two sisters, whom they married. In 1863 Augustus George returned to England with his wife. Ho returned to Australia the same year, leaving his wife in England. The family gavo his wife money to go after him. She went to Sydney, where I was born. My father told mo tlio date was December 11, 1863. After my birth she found hor husband, and, as ho refused to leave a woman* with whom ho had gono away, handed me over to him. She returned to Sydney, where she died on March 27, 1873. "In 1875 we three camo to England, my father and the woman being married on the way in Sydney, at St. Phillip's Church. We reached England on June 25, 1875. My father took a house at 109, Finborough Road, Kensington. Afterwards wo moved to Lang fords, known as tho White House, at Buckhurst Hill, Essex.

"About 1878 wo moved to Bournemouth. Three or four years later wo returned to London. Whilo living there—at Clapham —I went to King's College. Strand, in tho namo of James William Perceval. I was taken away from King's College because Augustus Arthur, who was afterwards earl, was at tho fire brigade headquarters and used to visit mo too often.

"At tho ago of 18 I was apprenticed to ft pastry cook and confectioner, E. Cresswell, of Park Street, Camden Town, in the name of James William Offley (the name of ]iis Australian nurso). J served loss than two years because tho firm changed hands. When I was unemployed I went back to live with my father at Clapham. A few years later Augustus George and Margaret Amelia Perceval moved to Denmark Villas, Hove, where my father died on August 19, 1896. 1 used to stay with them at this address for long periods." Son Takes up the Claim.

It is understood that the whole matter of prosecuting tho claim of Mr. James William Perceval to the earldom of Egmont is in tho hands of his son, Mr. Augustus William Perceval, who lives at Ferrestone Road, Ilornsey, North London.

Mrs. Augustus William Perceval, the claimant's daughter-in-law, said in an interview that her husband was very busy trying to establish his father's claim. She continued"My father-in-law has been a baker for many years, and ho feels that all tho bother of" this thing is too much for him at his ago, so my husband is in charge of tho matter. Tho claim was first advanced in 1907, but tho solicitors advised my father-in-law to await a more opportune time. He took it that that would bo when the earl died. lie is very sanguine of being able to provo his claim, but this mainly depends on his birth certificate being found, and a search for it is being inado in Australia, whore ho was born."

A furthor grant in respect of settled land valued at £61,265 has been issued in connection with the estate of Charles John, ninth Earl of Egmont. He died on January 10 last, leaving unsettled property of tho gross value of £61.152. Tho total valuo of tho property passing at his death thoreioro amounts to £122,417.