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Check to Your King

Appendix Two

page 227

Appendix Two

I regret that full particulars cannot be given those who might be interested in the subsequent fate of the de Thierry family, which, even before the Baron's death, became widely scattered. One branch became extinct with the death of his daughter Isabel, who was predeceased by her baby daughter, Isabella Matson. These two, like the old Baron himself, are buried in an unmarked grave in Grafton Cemetery, Auckland.

After the Baron's death in 1865, his eldest son, Charles Frederick, assumed the title, and, strangely enough, there was still a Baroness de Thierry in the Auckland directory and telephone-book until a few years ago. Charles Frederick married three times, his eldest son by the first marriage, Mr. Frederick de Thierry, did not assume the title. The second marriage, of which there was plentiful issue, was with a Maori woman. The third wife, Mary Jane Brown, was a widow and a little Irish emigrant, and it was she who remained “the Baroness de Thierry” to all Auckland long after her husband's death. Mary Jane, who lived to be a hundred in a red-brick cottage in Symonds Street, Auckland, was a character. At ninety-odd, she had all her wits about her, did her own housework, and spun her own linen. But she was most punctilious about the title. Strictly speaking, she admitted, she was only the Baroness Dowager, but as the rightful heir, Mr. Frederick de Thierry, refused to make use of it, somebody must keep it up. However, she compromised in favour of the children of Mr. Frederick de Thierry, by invariably calling his daughters (who are still alive) Lady Emily and Lady Isabel.

Mr. Frederick de Thierry, who died only a few years ago, and whose widow is still alive, was a quiet and intensely reserved gentleman; the teak-wood writing-desk referred to in this book was in his possession, and it was only a few days before his death that he allowed anyone to explore its contents. Fortunately, nearly all his grandfather's records and papers had, on the latter's death, fallen into the hands of the late Sir George Grey, and were thus preserved intact.

Mr. Frederick de Thierry left a son, Lionel, who would thus be today's “Baron de Thierry” if the title were ever employed, but Mary Jane of the red-brick cottage was the last to insist on it. Incidentally, one of her younger relatives can remember seeing the Sèvres figure mentioned in this book on many visits to the old lady.

Mr. Richard de Thierry, another son of “Our Charles”, made endeavours to recover from Chancery a very large fortune in France, to which his family lays claim. This sum, which amounts to nearly £7,000,000, has a romantic enough history in itself; the last member page 228 of the family who sought to lay hands on the phantom gold was a Lieutenant de Thierry in the French Navy, probably a descendant of one of Charles's younger brothers. Among the de Thierry papers is a letter from a Mr. Miller, of Dunedin, offering his services to Richard de Thierry in investigating the claim abroad.

Margaret Neilsen survived the old Baron, the Baroness, and her beloved Isabel, and was buried in Auckland.

Despite the reserve of the family – a quality of people whose parents were driven into cover by the hostility which surrounded their youth – they take a great deal of individual pride in the old Baron, and every now and again one sees a death notice with “Direct Descendant of the Baron de Thierry” attached as a footnote. Not many years ago there was an extraordinary affair in which a Mr. Terry – said to be really “de Thierry” – walked quietly out and murdered a Chinaman, because he did not believe that Chinese should be allowed to come into the country. Those who met him said he was a most interesting personality. I cannot vouch for him as a member of the family, but certainly, though Our Charles had no colour prejudices, one feels that if he had ever murdered anyone, it would have been on a strong principle of this kind.

The youngest descendants today alive in Auckland are Della and Arnold Morrison, the children of a daughter of Mr. Frederick de Thierry. They take a great interest and pride in their great-great-grandfather, and warmly defend him when at school his memory arouses unfair comment from all those little Bolshevists and Heretics who do not Believe in Barons. (Still less Kings or Sovereign Chiefs.)