Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle de RUVIGNY 9th Marquis Ruvigny & Raineval [33698]

  General Notes:

Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle de La Caillemotte de Massue de Ruvigné, "9th Marquis of Ruvigny and 15th of Raineval" (25 April 1868 \endash 6 October 1921) was a British genealogist and author, who was twice president of the Legitimist Jacobite League of Great Britain and Ireland.

Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle De Rewigness
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 17 Jun 1868
Baptism Place: Peckham St Andrew, Southwark, England
Father: Charles Henry Theodore Brune De Rewigness
Mother: Margaret Melville De Rewigness
Register Type: Parish Registers

Biography
Ruvigny was born in London to Colonel Charles Henry Theodore Bruce de Massue de Ruvigné, soi-disant Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval, a native of Switzerland, by his marriage to Margaret Melville Moodie, a daughter of George Moodie, of Cocklaw and Dunbog in Fife, Scotland. Ruvigny's grandfather, Lieutenant Lloyd Henry de Ruvynes,[3] an Irishman of French origin, changed his name to "de Massue de Ruvigné", because of his descent from a daughter of Henri de Massue, 1st Marquis de Ruvigny.
In one of the few sources to discuss the de Massue family, the genealogist and College of Arms herald George Edward Cokayne states that at the death of the 1st Marquis's son, Henri de Massue, 2nd Marquis de Ruvigny, created Earl of Galway,

"all his honours, both French and English, became extinct. This statement is made after a careful investigation of all the facts".

The genealogist Guy Stair Sainty viewed Ruvigny as
"a very fine scholar, but occasionally his romantic (in the 19th century sense) inclinations got the better of him, and that is certainly the case with regard to his own title. He was a female line heir, and he simply ignored the provisions regarding nobiliary succession introduced post 1814..." "Ruvigny... since the male heirs of this family were extinct, considered himself the heir since the original patent allowed for mixed succession (like so many French creations). He ignored the fact that after the restoration all French titles became inheritable by male heirs only. His argument was that he was the heir according to the original patent- unfortunately he was treating this title like a British title, i.e. that the title itself was what mattered. However in France before the revolution territorial titles like this were tied to the original lordship which had been "erected" into a barony, county, marquisate or dukedom, and possession of the title required possession of the land. Ruvigny's claim would have been stronger (although not sufficient) if he had inherited the property in addition to the title."

On 30 August 1893 Ruvigny married Rose Amalia Gaminara, daughter of Poncrazio Gaminara of Tumaco, Colombia, by his wife, Doña Amalia Cabezas, daughter of Don Felipe Cabezas, LL.D. of the University of Quito, Ecuador.

Ruvigny was an early member of the Jacobite Order of the White Rose (1886\endash 1915), though he found the sentimental nature of the Order restrictive. In 1891, he co-founded the Legitimist Jacobite League of Great Britain and Ireland, with Herbert Vivian and Ruaraidh Erskine, as a more political and radical Jacobite society.[10] He was President of the League in 1893, 1894 and 1897. The League was one of the principal organization driving the Neo-Jacobite Revival of the 1890s. In 1898 he was made a Knight of the Order of Charles III by the Spanish Carlist claimant Don Carlos, Duke of Madrid, known as "King Carlos VII".

Ruvigny Marquis de, 12 Buckingham St, Strand, WC; and 7 and when mansions, Queens club Gardens W.
London Post Office Directory 1910.

Ruvigny was a prolific author of genealogical works and a committed member of the Roman Catholic Church, which he joined in 1902. He died in a London nursing home and was succeeded by his second son, Charles, "Comte de la Caillemotte", his first son having died unexpectedly shortly before the First World War.
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melville_Henry_Massue

Death of the Marquis of Ruvigny
The Morning Post announces the death of Henry Melville Amadeus 9th Marquis of Ruvigny which occurred on Thursday in London.
Born in London 53 years ago, he was the son of the 8th Marquis and of Margaret Melville the daughter of George Moodie of Cocklaw and Dunbog Fife. He succeeded his father in 1883. Although a British subject he was as his title would indicate of French origin. As far back as the 16th century his antecedents were playing a prominent part in the affairs of France.
The first Marquis was a distinguished diplomat whose son the 2nd Marquis rendered good service to his King Louis XIV by carrying out some delicate negotiations for a compact with Charles II of England.
Coming to England, he entered the service of William III, was naturalised by act of Parliament, and subsequently became Lord Justice of Ireland and commander-in-chief there. For his services he was created Earl of Galway and received a large grant of forfeited estates. He died unmarried in 1790 [?], and with him died the English peerage, but not the French Marquisate. The Marquis was noted for his genealogical research work, and was the author of several works on the subject, among which was "the Moodie Book, being an account of the families of Melsetter, Muir etc."

Runaway Marriage Romance Recalled.
Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle de Caillemotte de Massue de Ruvigny 9th Marquis de Ruvigny, of Kensington, W, who compiled and edited "The Titled Nobility of Europe" an International Peerage, and was the author of "The Royal Blood of Britain" and of "The Plantagenet Role of the Blood Royal" and of the "Jacobite Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage" has left property to the value of £2417 14s 2d, so far as can at present be ascertained. He leaves everything to his son Charles Rupert Wriothesly Douglas Townsend Morris on his attaining 21 years, or if dead then in trust for his widow and children if any.
Should these trusts fail then the executors "are to enquire for and ascertain the grandchildren of my paternal Aunt Augusta, [33721] who ran away and married a man known as James Russell Morrison [33722], and as to such grandchildren as their parents shall be willing to hand over to the executors to be maintained and educated, or, if of mature years, as shall be themselves willing to undertake a proper course of study under the direction and supervision of the executors" then the income from the property is to be used for the purpose of such maintenance and education and subject thereto, divided among them in equal shares.
In the event of the preceding bequest failing then the multiple residue is to go to the West London Hospital Hammersmith to found a Ruvigny Ward in remembrance of his son who was accidentally shot and who died in the said Hospital.
Sheffield Daily Telegraph 18 January 1922 (G. Tatham - 2020)

Marquis de Ruvigny and Raineval Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle de la Caillemotte de Massue de Ruvigny of 52 Avonmore Rd Kensington MDX died 6 Oct 1921 at 46 St Georges Rd MDX Probate London 13 Jan 1922 to Archibald Baird Craig merchant and Arthur Charles Fox-Davies barrister at law. Effects £2417 14s 2d
National Probate Calendar.

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, North Stoke Oxfordshire. Melville is recorded as a son aged 12 a scholar born London

2. Census: England, 2 Apr 1911, Fulham LND. Melville is recorded as head of a 5 roomed house aged 42 an author born London

Melville married Mary Helen MACMILLAN [33723] [MRIN: 12071], daughter of James Coutts MACMILLAN [33733] and Unknown, on 15 May 1918 in Orange County New York USA. (Mary Helen MACMILLAN [33723] was born on 4 Jan 1857 in Hobart Tasmania, baptised on 15 Mar 1857 in Congregational Church Hobart Tasmania and died on 27 Jul 1921 at Sea.)

Melville next married Marchioness Rose Amalia Cabezas GAMINARA [33704] [MRIN: 12061] on 24 Jan 1894 in London Registery Office St George Hanover Sq. (Marchioness Rose Amalia Cabezas GAMINARA [33704] was born in 1870 in Tumaco Narina Colombia South America and died on 21 Mar 1915 in London.)