BY DEATH REMOVED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15194, 14 April 1917, Page 4

BY DEATH REMOVED.

AN OLD WANGANUITE. HISTORY OF THE "CLAN ROSS." A LINK WITH THE PAST. DEATH. ROSS.—At his late residence, Abbott (after long illness), Richard O'Halloran, the beloved husband of Ellen Jane Ross. Deeply re- / gretted. Aged 76 years.—W. Cumberland, Undertaker. The above brief announcement in the "Herald" of Saturday, March 24, placed on record the removal of one of the oldest links with the past. Richard O'Halloran Ross, th,p deceased, was a direct descendant of the Clan of Ross, which, dates back to the. year 1220. This" clan is designated by the Highlands as the clan Aurias. In the ancient genealogical history they are called "Clan Atirias," and it began with. Paul Mac Till, to whom William, Earl of Ross, Lord of Skye, granted a chartor for the land of Gairlock in 1355. This was witnessed by Alexander, Bishop of Ross, Heigone, brother of Earl William, Henry the Seneschal, and others. Robertson mentions that in the Earl of Haddington's collection he met with an entry in the reign of Alexander 11., dated about 1220, of a charter to "Ferquhavd Ross of the Earldom of Ross. This Ferquhard Ross, from whom deceased was a direct descendant, founded the Abbey of Fearn, in Rossshire, in the reign of Alexander 11. His son, Earl William, was one of the Scottish nobks who, under Alexander 111-, bound themselves to make no peace with Eingland in which the Prince and the chiefs of Wales were not included. This line ended in Euphemia, Countess of Ross, who became a nan, and resigned the Earldom of Ross to her uncle John, Earl of Buchan. The Rosses of Bahnagowan were a very ancient line, as they sprang from William, Earl of Ross—a great patriot and -*■ steadv friend of Robert I. His son was killed gi Halidon Hill fighiin-g for his king and country in 1333. The ancient Rosses of failed, and by an unusual circumstance the estate came by purchase to another family of the same name—tie Lord Ross of Hawkhead, an old and very honourable branch of the Clan which again failed on the death of George XII. Lord Rose, in 1754, at Ross House, and hie son. The title then went to the Earl of Glasgow. Hugh Ross, second son of Hugh Earl of Ross, married the heiress of Balnagowan, and was succeeded by William, second Laird of Balnagowan, who married a daughter of Lord Livingston, and so the line went on till David, the last Laird of Balnagowan, married Lady Ann Stewart, daughter of the Earl of Murray, and, dying without issue, conveyed his estates to Brigadier Charles Rcsj, son of George, tenth Laird Ross of Hawkhead by his second Lacey Jean Ramsay, daughter of the Earl of Dalhousie. The brigadier was an officer of high military reputation, and in 1729 was colonel of the old sth. Royal Irish Horse, raised in 1688, and disbanded after the rebellion in 1798. Richard O'Halloran Ross was of tbei Cromarty family, one of the oldest in Scotland, and one of the last of the Balnagowan family. His great great grandfather was colonel of the sth Royal Irit'h Horse, and his grandfather, John Ross, was Colonel of the 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch). The latter was married to a Miss Stewart, a near relative of the Earl of Strathmore and Lord Panmaure, also to Lord Rossmore aud Sir John Leslie. The eldest son of John Ross (Thomas) was in the army. Subsequently <he went to Australia. The latter'« half-brother, Captain Richard Ross, also went to Australia. James Ross, second son of John Ross and brother of Thomas, was resident magistrate of 13 Counties in Ireland. Frederick H. Ross, eldest son of James Ross, was County Inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary. He married a Miss Arniia Casement, daughter of Julius Casement, County Wisklow, Ireland. Her brother is a Major in the Royal Artillery, and her brother a Lieutenant in the Royal Nary. Richard O'Halloran Ross, brother of Frederick and Ernest Ross, and son of James Ross, wps a Lieutenant in the Dragoons before coming out to N<?w 7/ealand, where he was in the Defence Force. Deceased was 1 with Colonel McDonell at Rotorua in 1867. Tlw late Richard O'Halloran Ross married Isabella Rosetta Agnes Ross, daughter of George Ross, Ross-shire, Scotland, and -her family were of the Hoggs of Scotland.

On his mother's side, deceased was connected with Baron Firbes, his grandmother being a daughter of the Baron's. His cousins were Judge Harrison, of Irelaaid, and Judge Orr. He also had cousins in fthe Hussars and Dragoon Regiments who had distinguished themselves in the South African W»r. On January 12, 1896, Colonel £. E. FRoss, business manager of the Weekly Picayune, St. Louis, Mo., U.S.A., died. He was a brother of the deceased, who was well-known in Wanganui. Mr Ross has left a son, James F.< Ross, and his second wife to mourn feis loss. As it will be seen, James F. Ross is the grandson of James Ross, Rostrevor Park, Monagban, Ireland, and great great grand-nephew of the Late Lord Panmure, War Minister of England, and great great grand-nephew of the Earl of Strathmore, Glaimes Casttej Forfarshire, Scotland; also second cousin to Baron .Forbes, Nidri, Scotland.