David Carnegie Andrew Agnew

“ The eldest surviving son is now the head of the family — namely, Melville Portal, Esq. of Laverstoke, Chairman of the Quarter-Sessions of Hampshire, born in 1819, married in 1855 Lady Charlotte Mary Elliot, daughter of the second Earl of Minto, whose eldest son is Lieutenant Melville Raymond Portal. ”

“ Captain Harry Portal, born in 1752, an officer in the 10th Hussars, died unmarried on 19th March 1801, and Laverstoke passed to the next brother.
(2) . William Portal, barrister-at-law, who retained Ash, but thenceforth was styled "of Laverstoke"; he was born 12th February 1755, and died 12th February 1846, aged ninety-one. Of his only child, Sophia, I have spoken in a former chapter. The Will of “William Portal, late of the Inner Temple, now of Laverstoke,” was dated in 1837, the executors being Charles Palmer Dumons and Sophia Portal (the Rev. William Knight was named in 1841) . ”

“ He left three estates in Hampshire to his three sons and their heirs-male, females being excluded, but portions being allotted to them and to younger sons, the destination being as strict as a Scotch Entail. The estate of Laverstoke fell to his eldest son, Harry ”