Life of the last Earl of Stirling

THE LIFE
OF THE
LAST EARL OF STIRLING.
BOOK I.-" GENTLEMAN."
Amongst the numerous descendants of Rys Griffin,
Prince of South Wales, there flourished, in the dark ages,
one Humph-Rys, a Welsh Knight and Crusader. This
warrior followed the fortunes of Strongbow to the land of his
usurpation. His descendants gradually accumulated property
in many parts of the Emerald Isle. His lineal descendant
Humphreys or Humphrey married Lady Arabella Clinton,
sister of the Earl of Lincoln, and his sons were patriarchs
of the Humphreys of Dunard and Hollywood in Wickldvv ;
Portleman, Knockandara, and Queen's County, which latter
branch continued the original method of spelling the name
" Humphrys."
The junior scion of this family, having embraced the
reformed faith, became separated from his family and friends,
and cut off by his father. He fled to England, and in the
year 1689 was already established in Warwickshire. From
slender resources Humphrys gradually amassed considerable
wealth, and founded a commercial house, trading with the
Levant and various Mediterranean ports, the business of
which extended materially in the hands of his son, John
Humphrys. This gentleman died in 1772, having married
Miss Rogers, whose son continued the enterprise and was the
possessor of many vessels of considerable tonnage. He
married Miss Sarah Russell, said to be of the Bedford family,
and she bore him three sons, namely, Joshua, a captain in
in the army, who died in Garrison at Dublin ; William, of
Digbith House, Birmingham ; and George, who, conjointly
with William, expanded even more successfully the business
of their sires. George inherited Sparkbrook House, and his
brother William eventually removed to a noble country
mansion, replete with every comfort, called "The Larches."