FEATHERSTON AND ROMANCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 968, 8 November 1910, Page 4

FEATHERSTON AND ROMANCE.

HISTORY OF A PEERAGE. ■ Did one but know it, there are many romances hidden away in far off country corners of New Zealand, altogether unguessed at by tho people among which the principals live, or at least, in the /course of time forgotten. As briefly reported by our Feathereton correspondent some time ago, events and developments have been taking placo in a quietly-living family in Featherston that bring to light a romance of tho Irish peerage that had its beginning years ago. By the death of Viscount Avonmore (Algernon William Yelverton, County Cork, Ireland), at the ago of fifty-four, in a private hospital, Mr. Barry Squance Yelverton, of Featherston, has been advised that ho has succeeded to the title, as he is the eldest son of Augustus Barrymoro Yelverton, of Castlotown, Isle of Wight: Tho latter was a cousin of the fourth viscount. The viscount prospective - is a second cousin of tho sixth viscount. The'deceased, Lord Avonmore, was sixth in descent from Barry Yelverton, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, who, on tho lust day of creation of Irish peers before tho Union, was made Viscount Avonmore for his services on behalf of tho policy which in 1782 he had donounced. .His grandson, tho fourth viscount, was defendant in a suit which occupied public attention from ISGI to 1881. Tho Irish .trial of Thelwall aud Yelverton ■ turned on an action : for reoovery of .£259, but the real question at issue was whether Miss Maria Theresa Longworth was the wife of Major Yelverton or not. Sho had met him at Galata during tho Crimean War, and subseSuently a form of marriage was gone irough in ■ Edinburgh, the bridegroom himself reading the marriage servico of tho Church of England. On August 15, 1847, another marriage was solemnised, near Rosstrovor, in tho North of Ireland, by a Roman Catholic priest. Tho validity of both these marriages was disputed, the latter on tho ground that Major Yel•verton was not a member of the Roman Catholic Church, therefore, being the transgressor of a statute.of George 111, which declared a mixed marriage by a Roman Catholic priest illegal. Tho Irish jury found for both marriages, declaring Major Yelverton to have been a Catholic. This derision, which was received in Dublin with great popular applause, was reversed by tho House of Lords on appeal in ISlit, and Major Yelvorton's marriage in .Tune, 1858, to another lady became good. The title of Baron Yelverton dales back to .Tune 19, 1795, and Viscount Avonmore to December 29, 1800. The family seats are:—Bell Islo andßosecrea (County Tipperaryi -Ireland), and ; Hazle Rock and Westport (County Mayo). '