I am a bit patchy as to the family line but I think Elizabeth Hungerford was the daughter of the Lord Hungerford who stayed in England, while his brother went to Ireland, from where my Great, Great Grandfather emigrated to Australia.
James Smithson was the illegitimate son of Hugh, and therefore his fortune came from the Hungerfords - which was why it was at first bequeathed to poor old cousin Henry.
THE WILL OF JAMES SMITHSON
I James Smithson Son to Hugh, first Duke of Northumberland, &, Elizabeth, Heiress of the Hungerfords of Studley, &, Niece to Charles the proud Duke of Somerset, now residing in Bentinck Street, Cavendish Square, do this twenty-third day of October, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, make this my
last Will and Testament:
Should the said Henry James Hungerford have a child or children, legitimate or illegitimate, I leave to such child or children, his or their heirs, executors &, assigns, after the death of his, or her, or their Father, the whole of my property of every kind absolutely &, forever, to be divided between them, if there is more than one, in the manner their father shall judge proper, or, in case of his omitting to decide this, as the Lord Chancellor shall judge proper. Should my said Nephew, Henry James Hungerford, marry, I empower him to make a jointure. In the case of the death of my said Nephew without leaving a child or children, or the death of the child or children he may have had under the age of twenty-one years or intestate, I then bequeath the whole of my property subject to the Annuity of One Hundred pounds to John Fitall, &, for the security &, payment of which I mean Stock to remain in this Country, to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase &, diffusion of knowledge among men…
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So exactly how is he related? Is he the brother of a Great, Great..... Great, Grandfather?
His mother was the only child of the Lord Hungerford who was the son of the one who lost the castle, Walter. As far as I can work out my Great, Great, Great Grandfather was also Walter's son, but he was sent to Ireland to protect the Protestant land holders from the Irish rebellion (don't tell any friends who are Irish - I think I would have preferred to have been on the other side!). Then his son emigrated to Australia with his family. Obviously Henry James was the son of another brother. I am still trying to get more details from various sites, and want to check out the Hungerford family history book that Rod has.
Thanks for the little piece of family history.
And speaking of Irish family lines my brother and i will be headed off to the "homeland" in less than 2 weeks. My great-great grandfather came to America from Ireland in 1916.
I think i'll be in your neck of the woods within the year. Should be exciting!
You seem to have gotten lost in facebook land. But don't neglect the blog, it has much more useful info, and it's not as much of a time waster.
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