New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-20
A FEMALE ADVOCATE.

Divorce ana MdtrlnOnlH thuseo, tho ""i" P"'"'
at issue being the legitimacy Of one William Pat
rick Ralston Sheldon, born in this city OF New
York in 1894. The case came up on the petit
ton of Sheldon for decree OF the Court under
powers recently conferred upon it, to declare the
petitioner the legitimate son of William Ralston
Shedden, late OF Roughwood, IN Scotland, ana
that he was natural-bOrn British subject. The
daughter of the petitioner also joined with him
in the petition, and gave good deal OF eclat TO
the case by herself appearing in Court, and
taking on aciye part in the conduct of 1T. The
petitioner, though formerly man of fortune, Is
now prisoner for debt in the Kings Bench
Prison, and the funds to conduct the case ap-
pear to have been largely supplied by Miss Bur
dett COutts.
The Sbeddens, it appears, are an ancient Scotch
family, whose pedigree runs back to the royal
house of Stuart The father Of the petitioner
succeeded by inheritance 10 the estate Of Rough
wood in Ayrshire, by the death of his father in
1870 Shortly before that event he went out to
Virginia on matters of business for another per-
son. intending soon to return. He remained,
however. in the colony till after the commence
ment of the Revolution, when, having espopsed
the Royalist side, his property there WAS
forfeited and he took refuge within the British
lines in New-York. In 1850 he went into mer-
camille business in Bermuda. In 1884 he estab-
lshed q new business in New-York, where ne
remained, though STILL as the petitioners alleged,
entertaining the intention TO return to Scotland,
till 1893, when he died. About the year 1870 he
formed connection with young woman, Ann
Wilson by name, by whom he had Two children,
a daughter born in 1879, and the petitioner,
born in 1884 and the nature OF this con-
nection was the main point in controversy.
A few days before the death of the petitioners
father, he (then on his death bed) was married
by a clergy man of the Episcopal Church to this
Ann Wilson Before this, as the respondents in
the suit cOntended, there had been no marriage,
and this marriage was contracted under the mis-
taken idea that it would legitimate the children.
The petitioner contended, on the other hand,
that Ann Wilson was the daughter OF respecta-
bic person, formerly an officer in the British
army, who lived at kingsbridge, where the petit
toner's father had country seat, and that they
had been duly married from the beginning. In
the absence of any record or witnesses to such a
marriage, they relied upon the law of New-York,
as testified to by Daniel Lord, esq., and Other
Ncw-York practitioners, to the effect that no
particular fOnnaties were necessary to cons.i-
tllte a marriage, and that in the absence of other
proof, marriage might be presumed from the
fact that the parties lived together as husband
and wife. Dispositions were put IN from num-
Der of old people, taken under commission III
this city, 10 prove that such was the fact in this
The petitioners father had q sister who had
married Mr.. Patrick, by whom she had three
sons. Robert John, and William the eldest of
whom. Robert was the heir.at.aw of the estate
of RoughvoCd, in ease the petitioner and his sis
ter were disqualified to inherit, The petitioner,
after his fathers death, was sent to Scotland
and was taken charge Of by William Patrick
with whom his father had business transactions.
He was sent to school for several years, and in
1910 q situation was found for him in the navy.
In the mean time 10 settle the title to the estate
of RouehwoOd, a suit was commenced in the
Scottish courts, in which a guardian appointed
for that purpose. acted for young Shedden, but of
which suit, as the petitioner averred he at the
time knew nothing. The result of that suit,
which was carried up to the House of Lords
was to confirm Robert PatIick's title. In 1915
the petitioner was sent to India, where he sue.
ceeded in obtaining good situation. He return.
cd in 1923, when, or visit to the Patricks, be
first became acquainted with his family history.
He went back TO India in 1921, where he APP
pcMs TO have acquired fortune. He returned
in 1888, but it was not till lSi3 that be took
any steps TO establish his legitimacy or to recov-
er the estate of RoughwOOd. He then COM
menced suit in the Scottish Courts, which was
carried by appeal to the House of Lords, but
which was decided against him. Advantage
appears to have been taken Of the new
powers conferred on the Court for divorces
and matrimonial causes to revive the matter
A great point in the case was the authenticity
of a letter, duplicate copies Of which were pro-
duced in Court purporting to have been
addressed by the petitioners father Oh his DEATH
bed to William Patrick. This letter contains
the following message: 81 have married Miss
" Ann Wilson, which is approved of by my
- friends here, and which restores her and two
" fine children l have by her to honor and
" credit" This letter informed William Patrick
that the boy was to be sent to him. 1t inclOsed
bills of exchange to the amount of four hundred
and odd pounds sterling, and desires that $500
should be spent III the boys education, of which
the New-York executors of the writer would
furnish the balance. William Patrick who was