NY Times Article about Dunbar of Mochrum title dispute, 1984

[Paul Theroff]

This is not news, but I thought this article might be of interest to some.

"WITH A 'SIR' AT STAKE, FLORIDAN WINS THE DAY"

The article begins:

"To hundreds who have not actually met him, he is the frail, white-haired steward who on a Saturday or Sunday once showed them to a seat in Canterbury Cathedral. He has been a banker and a British Army officer. In childhood, his mother introduced him as ''the little baronet.''

"This week, 91 years into his life, he finally had to concede that he would never be a baronet, only William Henry George Dunbar of Kilconzie.

"The venerable title of Dunbar of Mochrum rests securely in the hands of Colonel Dunbar's American cousin, the 13th baronet, Sir Jean Ivor Dunbar, according to a ruling last week by Lord Lyon, King of Arms, who decides on matters of nobility in Scotland.

" ''Oh I'm a bona fide baron all right,'' said Sir Jean, a 66-year-old retired jockey. ''That bum tried to challenge my title.'' The baronet, who says he once rode for Al Capone, spoke to an interviewer last week at his apartment in Pembroke Pines, Fla., where he moved to be close to Calder Race Course."

It continues at:

https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/05/world/with-a-sir-at-stake-floridan-wins-the-day.html

[Paul Theroff]

an edited genealogy, onitting those not bearing on this tale:

Thomas Clement DUNBAR (6 Sep 1825-1896); m.24 Jul 1849 Caroline Adriana Matthews (d.1911)
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1.Richard Taylor (14 Jul 1855-1940); m.1st 28 Jan 1873 Helen Maas (d.2 Jun 1910); m.2nd 11 Mar 1890 [to which legal objections were made] and again 5 Feb 1912 Grace Mary Stanton (d.23 Jan 1935); m.3rd 20 Feb 1935 Mrs Emma Beetles
1.1.Sir Richard Sutherland, 11th Bt. (7 Jun 1873-25 Jan 1953); m.15 Jun 1911 Daisy Kinman
1.2.William Henry George, of Kilconzie (10 Jun 1893-1987); legitimated with younger brother under Legitimation (Scotland) Act 1968, including as regards remainder to Baronetcy, though his claim was unsuccessful in 1984; Debrett’s still includes them as collaterals, though; m.1st 17 Jan 1917 Stella Kathleen Underdown (k.by enemy action 20 Mar 1941); m.2nd 25 Oct 1941 Joan Marguerite Leopard (d.23 Jun 1966); m.3rd 23 Sep 1967 Mrs Irene Mary Bromley, née Frith ==> issue

2.Clement Adrian (20 Mar 1871-1940); m.1890 Emily Morgan (d.1946)
2.1.Sir Adrian Ivor, 12th Bt. (11 Jun 1893-14 Jun 1977); he suc to title 1953; m.1st 25 Sep 1917 Emma Marie Wittevrongel (d.1 Sep 1925); m.2nd 25 Jun 1930 Esther Naomi Robinson (d.7 Jun 1982)
2.1.1.Sir Jean Ivor, 13th Bt. (4 Apr 1918-1993); m.1st 1944 (div 1979) Rose Jeanne Hertsch (d.14 May 2020); m.2nd 1987 (div 1988) Mrs Vivianna Patricia Arrow de Blonville, née Bloomfield