THE SEAFIELD EARLDOM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19527, 9 July 1925, Page 9

THE SEAFIELD EARLDOM

NEW CLAIMANT TO TTTTJB.

LORD STRATHSPEY’S COMPLAINT,

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, July 7. The Edinburgh. Court of Session adjourned till October Mr Alexander Grant's claim to the Soafield peerage. Counsel said that Mr Grant bad been investigating his claim for 20 years. There were immense difficulties owing to the ago of the witnesses who were to give evidence relating to Mr Grant’s birth in 1846, and also trouble in obtaining identifying letters bearing on that particular. In an interview Lord Strathspey said that ho was unable to understand why the Seafield Estates of 400,000 acres went to his niece instead of to him. He declares that the trustees will not respond to his appeals for assistance, and adds: “It is strange that they should adopt this attitude. Most people agree that it would be only just to allow me at least a portion of the estates. They are content that I should live on a mere pittance of £7OO a year. If they would only find mo some suitable occupation, such as a directorship, I would be only too happy, but they have never given me assistance in any such direction.” —Sydney Sun Cable.

It was announced last month that Mr Alexander Grant, a septuagenarian, formerly a schoolmaster, was claiming the title and the huge fortune of the Earl of Seafield. Both are at present held by the 19-year-old Lady Seafield, one of the few countesses in her own right, whoso grandfather lived in humble circumstances in New Zealand prior to succeeding to the title. Mr Grant claims to be the son of the seven tli earl, who, ho says, paid for his education at Aberdeen.

Lady Nina Caroline Ogilvie-Grant, Countess of Soafield, was 19 years of ago on April 17 last. She is one of 23 ladies of Great Britain who are peeresses in their own right. She is the daughter of the lllh earl, and Nina, daughter of Dr J. T. Townsend, of Christchurch, New Zealand. The Ear] fell in France in the service of his country in November, 1915, at the ago of 39 years. The young Countess of Seafield is the representative of two great families of high antiquity — the Grants and the Findlater branch of the Ogilvies. As a Grant, she can point to a lineage that extends back to a time that is hidden by the mist, of ages, and' to a known time that extends to over 600 y ears —from Sir I>aurence de Grant, who was Sheriff of Inverness in 1263, and whose family became head of the great Speyside house and chiefs of the histone Clan Grant. The Findlater branch of the Ogilvies is sprung from Sir Walter Ogilvie of Auchleven and of Deskford, second son of a Knight of the same name, who in 1425 was Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. By marrying in 1437 the daughter and heiress of Sir John Sinclair, of Deskford and Findlater, Sir Walter Ogilvie acquired these Lands, and the sixth in descent from him, also a Sir Walter, was elevated to the Peerage under the title of Baron Ogilvie of Deskford. Lord Ogilvie’s son was in 1638 created Earl of i< India ter. The 4th Earl of Findlater, who was created Earl of Seafield and Viscount Reidhavesi, was that Chancellor of Scotland to whose industry, ability and address at was mainly duo that the proposals for the union of the Parliaments of Scotland and England were brought to a successful conclusion. Ono of the daughters of the 2nd Earl of Soafield, Margaret, married Sir Ludovic Grant of Grant, and her issue ultimately succeeded to the Earldom of Seafield. His son, James, 6th Earl of Findlater, and 3rd Earl of Seafield, was one of the great land improvers in Scottish history. Ho practically transformed the face of his territories, and the advanced state of agriculture in Banffshire at the present day is to be traced in no small degree to the inspiration, of his efforts and example. His son, James, 7th Earl of Findlater, and 4th Earl of Seafield, died at Dresden in 1911 without issue, and there began the line of Ogilvie-Grants, which is represented to-day in the young Countess of Soafield.