The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-04-27

RGs~ 1t will be seen by the following that the
celebrated Jennens fortune is all humbug There
never was an estate of the kind without an heir
From the National h,telliqencer -......s'
| THE JENNENs ESTATE.
It may be agreeable to many persons to obtain
some reliable information concerning this estate
rumors of which have laid the foundation of sc
many air castles in the United States An estate
wanting heirs has been a favorite haucination
and Is easily endowed with credence, 81 nee there
are always plenty of lawyers and agents ready to
take fees for investigation, whether there is a
shadow of case or not. Such is the fact with
regard to this famed Jennens estate The Jen-
nenses III England have propagated the deluson,
and amassed large sums from guinea contributions
for genealogical researches and legal Investigations
with the hope Of establishing claim to this IA
bulous estate. The property is said to be under
litigation to wait heirs; to be about to revert to
the Crown to amount to forty or fifty millions
sterling; to consist of untold gold in chests in the
Bank of England for security, and the baronal
estate of Acton Place. With all these incentive
tancies vividly displayed, the Jennenses have sup
ported cheerfully an agency called the clemens
Society,", Ill Sun street London, for years,
and the agents no doubt find it profitable, since
there is nothing for them to do, if they have
little to receive. Our American papers have
been laden, from time to time with golden ac-
counts of millions in store for the lucky heirs in
this country, if they would only emerge from their
retreats and accept of affluencc. Agents have
been found willing to assume the responsibility
Of going to London to investigate the title, and
having modestly received liberal sums for going
on what they knew to be fools crrand, have re-
turned with such meagrc reports that the would
be heirs in their enthusiasm, have fancied the
rascally agents were bought off by parties inter-
cstcd in London.
William Jennens, Esq, of Acton Place, near
London, Medford, County Suffolk, and Grosvenor
Square, was born in 100, and baptized in Sep
tember, 17G1, when King William Ill stood as
his godfather He the son of Robert Jennens,
Esq, aid-de-camp to the great Duke of Marl-
borough, and grandson of Humphrey Jennens of
Erdington Hall, County Warwick. He was in
his youth page to George |, and during the long
period OF his life remained bachelor, more given
to parsimoniousness than hospitality, and his ac-
cumulations of wealth magnified even beyond his
powers of computation He became the last an
nuitant of the Exchequer Tontine of hundred
pounds share, for which he had received three
thousand pounds share for many years. lie had
property in almost every fund.- and such was his
immense wealth that the dividends most of his
stocks were not received by him for the last ten
years of his life. He died at his residence in
Grosvcnor Square the 10Th of July, 1913,
leaving no will, but an unsigned bequest to one
John Beacon, who would have been the residuary
lcgatce had not Mr. Jennens, as his servant stated,
forgotten his spectacles going to his solicitor S
to sign the tcstamentary instrument, which he
finally neglected to sign altogether In his iron
chest, the key of which could not be found till
after long search, hid in a mortage deed, there
were bank notes of the year 1874 to the amount
of nineteen thousand pounds, and several thousand
new guineas. About twenty thousand pounds
were found, in money and bank notes, at his
town and country houses and also key to the
chest containing his mothers plates and 1aluabcs
which had been on deposit at the bankers, un-
opened, since her dcceasc in 1861. lie was re-
ported to have always kept fifty thousand pounds
in his bankers hands for any sudden emergency,
and had not made draft for the last fourteen
years of his life He was very regular and exact
i'm all his accounts insOmuch that he even noticed
the excess of his household bills over their usual
weekly amount. His expenses were about three
thousand pounds year, although his property was
estimated at not less than two millions. lie was
considered the richest private individual III Eng
land.
On the 2Gth of July ten days after his decease
his body was inferred in the ,mil vault at Acton
church, with much funeral pomp, and in compli-
ance with his instructions, an inscription was put
ON the monument in the church giving the lineage
of the family and an account of Acton HALL The
family ceneaOgv as it is to be found IN the Town
send Collection in the Hcrads College, will show
the heirship to the immense estate, both personal
and real John Jenncns, of birmingham, LETT
son, Humphrey Jenncns, Erding and Neither
Whitacre in the county of Warwick. Humphrey
by Mary daughter of John Milward Of Snltter-
ton. county Derby, had ISSUE Charles Jennens
eldest son, from whom dcsccnds Earl Howe and
Robert Jennens, the father Of William Jennens,
of Acton Place. Also, two daughters, Esther
who married VIM Hammer, Esq, and Ann, who
married Sir Clement Fisher. Bart, Of Packlngton
From Esther descended William l.ygcn, Esq
afterwards Earl Beauchamp and from Ann des-
cended Lady Mary Finch, who married VIM Wis
count Andover As the will Of Mr. Jenncns,
without signature, could not convey his estate,
letters of administration, with the will annexed,
were Immediately granted to VIM Lygon, Esq,
and the Hon Mary, Viscountcss Dowager An
dover the cousins german oGce removed, and next
of kin Of the deceased IS next Of kin the per-
sonallv was shared between these parties, while
the real estate descended to the tCsttors hcirat-
law. George Augustus VIM CUllcn infant grand
son of Earl Howe, and franz him 10 the present
Earl Howe.
In September, l79S, the effects Of William
.Jenpcns. at Acton Place, were advertised for a
week in the Times, the 81 ignatures OF the adj
minisrators and the heirs-atlaw, and at the elcse
of the month an auction was held at Acton Hall
of the furniture, library, pictures, old china, and
ether moveables of the mansion. Aeon Hall
+bo Oft tbn nd