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Home , Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire

Occasional Papers, no. 26

TWO SCUDAMORE BROTHERS - - AND THEIR GRAND DELUSION

An account of Frank Scudamore (1875-1950) and his brother Alfred Scudamore (1877-1945) can be found under Wellow, in my book Thirty Generations on the Scudamore/Skidmore CD-ROM.. It does not include any mention of the brother’s belief that they were entitled to untold wealth as the sole heirs of several different branches of the Scudamore family. These newspaper clippings from 1930 tell an interesting story.1 Frank Scudamore seems to have eventually given up on claiming and Holme Lacy, but he was still pursuing an estate at Dead Mill in Swainswick as late as 1949. He employed a firm of London solicitors who wrote him on 2 September 1949 from 71, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, that after a look at the evidence, “your side o the family has no interest therein.” (WS)

[First story, Evening World, Monday, January 29, 1930]

TWO WORKERS CLAIM A FORTUNE

LINK TO VAST FORTUNE MISSING

ROMANCE OF A BATH MAN

TWO CLAIMANTS

NOW LIVING IN COTTAGES.

“EVENING WORLD” EXCLUSIVE NEWS

Two brothers, one a house decorator in Bath, and the other a salesman in , claim to be the missing heirs to hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of property in , Somerset, and Mr. Frank Scudamore, of 35, Dafford-street, Larkhall, Bath, and Mr. Alfred Scudamore of

1There was a later story in the Chronicle and Herald for 25 September1937, noticed but not reprinted here.

−1− High-street, Devizes, told me today they are convinced that their claim is undeniable, telephones an Evening World reporter from Devizes. The they assert belong to them are Upton Scudamore, , , , Corsely, and Norridge. They also claim the Dead Mill estate at Swainswick, and the historic mansion and land at Holme Lacy, Herefordshire. TWENTY YEARS SEARCH I spent three hours in Mr. Alfred Scudamore’s little sitting room at Devises today while the brothers showed me dozens of genealogical trees, copies of wills, and records of births and deaths to explain the grounds on which they are basing their claim. It was hard to believe that these two working men sitting in front of the fire were claimants to a vast fortune. Mr. Frank Scudamore, who is 54 years old, is a house decorator in Bath. His brother is two years younger and is a salesman. “Our claimed is the result of 20 years hard work in collecting the necessary information,” said Mr. Frank Scudamore. THE MISSING LINK “I spent all my spare time examining the church records and documents, family vaults and wills, while Alfred helped by Mr. Charles Jennings of Devises, pieced together the information I had collected. “We have traced our descent back to 1086 when our ancestors came over with William the Conqueror. William gave the land at Upton Scudamore to Sir Walter Scudamore. It passed out of his hands for a time but Henry II restored it to the family. “Sir Walter was the son of Sir Alan Scudamore of Holme Lacey, Herefordshire. “Our claim to that particular estate in Hereford will be completed when we to find the missing link in our ancestry. That link is believed to lie in the old register of the church at Wellow near Bath. “There is no other link missing to their claim to the Wiltshire property and the land on Dead Mill estate at Swainswick. Mr. Alfred Scudamore told me that thousands of pounds worth of land and property are represented in their claim. “It says in a book in the Bath reference library that the Scudamores were wealthiest family in at one time” he said. “Yet my brother and I have to scrape along to live, and our grandfather died in the workhouse. NO MORE CLAIMANTS “We have only to connect up two families by the link that we believe lies in lies in the Wellow church records to prove our claim. “We also want to find a missing will of John Griffin Scudamore who died in 1811 to determine details of the property to which we say we are entitled at Swainswick. Both the brothers assured me that no other claimant stands in their way. “There is only one alive,” said Frank. “He lives in Swansea it is a brother of our father. He has already said that he has no intention of claiming any part of the property. “Our descent from the missing heir to the estate is clear, and we are determined for our own sake and for the sake of our relations to press forward with our claim.”

−2− The properly which is claimed is under the care of trustees until ownership is proved. It includes in addition of the six Wilshire villages and Holme Lacey, the Bruton Hospital, Sexey’s School, Bruton, and the Manor House at Swainswick. The Manor House is built on the site of what is said to be the home of Bladud, the mythical King of England.

[Second story, February 3, 1930]

WEST ESTATE CLAIMED FIND

BROTHERS HELD UP BY LACK OF MONEY

“WE COULD ACT AT ONCE IF WE HAD BACKING”

CLAIM TO ESTATES CONFIRMED

MISSING LINK HOPE

EVENING WORLD SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT BATH Sunday Lack of financial backing is holding up the two brothers Scudamore, of Bath and Devizes, in their claim to be the missing heirs to large estates in the . “We could take immediate action if we had the money behind us,” said Mr. Alfred’s Scudamore, when I saw him in his little home in Dafford-street, Bath, today. “I know our claim is sound and I confirmed it yesterday when I visited a distant relation in Hereford. “Our claim to the Wiltshire and Bath property has no flaw in it, but we still want to find the missing link which will entitle us to the land at Holme Lacey near Hereford.. LOADS OF DOCUMENTS “Our kinsman told me that two wagon loads of documents from Church, Holme Lacey, were taken to Somerset House during a lawsuit in 1812 and I am hoping that the birth certificate we want is among them. “Searches are also being made at Holme Lacey. “We have only to prove that Thomas Scudamore, who was buried at Wellow in 1718, was the husband of Millicent Scudamore who died at Weston, Bath, in 1692. Our line of ancestry will then be complete. “My brother and I are already convinced that this is so, but we must have the documentary

−3− proof. “Our belief was confirmed yesterday by finding that the arms of the Scudamores at Holme Lacey, bore the three stirrups, the armour, the crown, and the motto of the Scudamore family, which is also in the church at Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire. FAMILY CHART “The motto is Scuto Amoris Divini. “Our kinsman in Hereford said that he always believed that the missing heir to the property was alive. He has promised to help us in any way possible. “He showed us a chart to prove that he can trace the Scudamore family back to the year 988.” Mr. Scudamore told me that he had seen one of the trustees of the land which he claims at Swainswick, and put his claim before him. “My brother and I told him that we should take steps to seize the property if our claim were disregarded, he said. Mr. Scudamore has received many letters from people who have read the “Evening World” account of the brother’s romantic claim to a fortune. Many of them have offered to help by supplying information. “A relation of mine has written to say that she believes she can supply the missing link in our chain of ancestry,” said Mr. Scudamore.

[Third story, February 4, 1930]

WEST COUNTRY FORTUNE TO BENEFIT WORKLESS IF ---

BROTHERS PLAN TO HELP POOR WITH WEALTH

SCHEME TO HELP UNEMPLOYED OF WEST

HOPES IN FORTUNE CLAIM

“EVENING WORLD” SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT BATH, Monday. Mr. Frank Scudamore of Bath, one of the West Country claimants to the estate of the Scudamore family told me today what he intended to do with the money and property if the claim was successful. Mr. Scudamore and his brother Alfred, who live at Devizes, claim the Scudamore estates in Somerset, Wiltshire and Herefordshire. “My brother and I hope to be able to provide work for unemployed men when we gain

−4− possession of the estate, Mr. Frank Scudamore said to me. “We have both lived our lives with only the necessities of life, and they have sometimes been hard to find, and naturally we can understand of others who are poor. “I hope we shall soon be in a position to give them a helping hand. CREST MOTTO Mr. Scudamore has been given a book which explains the origin of the motto “escu amoris divin,” which appears on the Scudamore crest. It means “with the shield of love divine” and the name Scudamore is composed of the two words-“escu d’amour” - - shield of love. The motto has been has been fulfilled by descendants of the family through the ages, for they have given money and service to church-building and other good works. The name Scudamore has been perpetuated in musical circles, for Scudamore organs have been installed in many churches in all parts of England This Scudamore pipe organ was invented in 1290 by Sir Peter de Scudamore, High Sheriff of Wiltshire and . The first was placed in the chancel at St. Mary’s Church, Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire, and it was followed by others in churches at Brottan near Westbury, Wiltshire, Clavedon Court, near Bristol, Mells, Somerset, and , near .

[Fourth story, February 4, 1930]

SOUTH WALES CLAIM TO WEST FORTUNE

WOMEN DESCENDANTS OF A SOMERSET BARONET

“EVENING WORLD” SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT CARDIFF Tuesday Two South Wales women have put forward claims to part of the fortune of land and property in Wiltshire, Somerset and Herefordshire, to which two West Country brothers assert they are the heirs. The Southwest claimants are Mrs. Mary Jane Jones of 27 Little Frederick-street, Cardiff, and Mrs. Georgina Fisher of 20 Mill Parade, Newport. Mrs. Jones, who is 77 years old, told me today that her grandmother was a Miss Scudamore before she married and Mr. George Holland and went to , Somerset, where she died. The estate which the women and the two brothers Mr. F. Scudamore of Bath, and Mr. A. Scudamore of Devizes are claiming is that of the late Sir John Scudamore, who died at early last century. It is now under the care of trustees until ownership is proved. SIX VILLAGES The property is worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and includes six villages in Wiltshire, Holme Lacey mansion and land, Herefordshire, the Bruton Hospital, Sexey’s School, Bruton, and

−5− the Manor house at Swainswick. A will purporting to be that of Lady Scudamore who is believed to have survived her husband came into the possession of Mrs. Jones’ family but it has been lost. “I had four sisters and the will was given to my eldest sister who has been dead 31 years. But we are descendants of Sir John Scudamore,” said Mrs. Jones. CLAIM INQUIRIES Mrs. Jones husband, Mr. Charles Jones, was formerly employed by the Cardiff Corporation, but has now retired on a pension. The two sisters are making inquiries with a view to establishing their claim. Worry has taken its toll of the health of Mr. Frank Scudamore, of Bath, who with his brother Alfred, of Devises, claim to be the missing heirs to the property. Mr. Scudamore has been compelled to stay at home and rest. The worry of the claim, and my own work as a decorator, had been too much for me,” he said, when I called at his house in Dafford Street, Larkhall today. The warm glow of the coals burning in the grange lit up the pale face as he told me how the “Evening World” publicity had led him one step forward ib his investigations. THEORY PROOF “Mrs. Piper, of 14 Herbert-road, Oldfield Park, Bath, saw the account of our claim and wrote asking me to see her,” he said. “She is my aunt and I went to her house on Sunday. She told me she had always believed that the Thomas Scudamore who was buried at Wellow was the husband of Millicent Scudamore whose body lies in Weston churchyard, Bath. “It would prove our theory of the missing link in our ancestry, but we must have documentary proof. I am writing to Somerset House to ask for it.

[Final story, February 5, 1930]

BATH HEIR REPUDIATES RIVAL CLAIMANTS

WELSH CLAIMS TO WEST ESTATE DENIED

“I AM THE ONLY SURVIVING HEIR” ----BATH BROTHER

PLAN TO ESTABLISH RIGHT INVESTIGATIONS FOR 20 YEARS

“EVENING WORLD” SPECIAL

−6− CORRESPONDENT

BATH Wednesday Claims of two South Wales women to be entitled to part of the Scudamore estate in the West of England are denied by the Bath and Devizes brothers, who state they are the missing heirs to the property. I discussed the matter with Mr. Frank Scudamore, the elder of the two, and he reasserted that he was the only surviving direct heir to the estate. “Mrs. Mary Jones, of Cardiff, and Mrs. Georgina Fisher, of Newport, are probably relations of mine,” he said, “but they are not in the direct line of descent which would entitle them to claim the property. NO OTHER CLAIM “We have spent 20 years investigating our ancestry and my brother and I are convinced that there is no other valid claim. “The women in Wales are no doubt descendants of my own ancestors, but there are so many relatives living that it is hard to trace them all. “Our investigations have only dealt with those members of the family who might be regarded as possible heirs, and our claim is straight as a ram-rod.” Mr. Scudamore is waiting to see his brother Alfred of Devizes, before he decides or any plan of action to establish his claim.

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