CLAIM TO EARLDOM OF DUDLEY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 65, 7 September 1911, Page 3

CLAIM TO EARLDOM OF DUDLEY

ROMANCE OF A PEER'S SON AS A DARING SMUGGLER. AUSTRALIAN CLAIMANT William Ward, a Melbourne builder, is expected soon in England to prosecute his claim to the title and estates of the Earl of Dudley, the late GovernorGeneral of Australia. » Ward, -who left London for Australia in ISS3, asserts tliati he is descended in a direct line from Thomas, the son of the second Baron Ward and eleventh Lord Dudley. Of this Thomas, who was born about 1085, a romantic story is told. Whilst a young man he married and settled down in the town of Great Torrington. situated on a hill above the River Torridge, seven miles out of Bideford. He soon made a reputation for himself as ''the bold smuggler of Plymouth." In his fast lugger he ranged the Bristol Channel from' Barnstaple to Land's End, and ran many rifch cargoes- along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall. At last his exploits became so obnoxious to the authorities that he was practically outlawed', and a price put upon his bead.

Then, fearing that the hundred guineas offered by the Government for his capture might lead some of his. smuggling comrades into treachery, he sailed away to Jamaica. There he contracted a bigamous marriage with the (laughter of a Spanish planter, and, incidentally, acquired veryconsiderable estates. !!e died in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1730, leaving sons by both marriages. In due course one of his Jamaica descendants, who had risen to the dignity of a judge, sailed for England to d'o battle for the fa'iiily possessions. ■}ud"'e Ward died, however, either on the voyage or immediately after landing. Thecrupon his nurse, a clever adventuress, finding herself out of employment through the death of her master, seized his papers and boldly set up as the judge's widow. In this capacity, it: is said, she succeeded in drawing a pension from the Government of Jamaica for several years. Some, years ago the lV.vtm«hir" Wards —from which William Want ivi.-es his descent-began to put forward their claims, but without any substantial result. The present, claimant has a brother living in Kingston.