The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-03
The Jenninga Rstnte in England.

The following letter appears in the London
Times:-
Your American correspondent of Philadel-
phia, who writes concerning the claims by Ame-
ricans of estates In England belonging to the
names of 'Wilbraham' and Dudley is IN error
in some particulars. The coming over to England
by lawyers in 1854 and other years, refers TO the
great domestic question OF the heirship to that
which is very widely known as the Great Jen-
nings property from which Dickens is under
stood to have derived his famous Jarndyce v.
Jarndyce,' and concerning which repeated adver-
tisements and illusions appear from time to time
in your own paper This enormous property,
variously estimated at from two to seven mil
lions sterling, and including estates in eleven
counties in England and money in all the old
banks in London, is still in vigorous dispute.
1t was left by an extraordinary mlser named
William Jennings, described in the AnnudL
Register of 1898 the richest commoner in
England He was born in l70l, and died at his
seat, Acton Hall, near Long Meltord, Suffolk,
instanced as one of the most sOlendId private
edihc9s in Great Britain. and boasting ball
room which was never once used) constructed
at cot of 100000. Notwithstanding his in
calculable wealth, so mean were the habits of
this old man that he lived in the underground
story of his great house, permitting, for the
space of nearly thirty years, the approach of no
woman. He died unmarried aud cbtdless, and
lett no will. The Baroness Howe, daughter of
the celebrated Admiral Lord Howe, took pos.
session of the old mans property, through a
claim of lntermarriage between memoer of the
Jennings family with that of the Curzons. Ad-
mlllSLraLlOn WAS, uOW0N6Ty uOL IOf
eighteen years-a significant fact.
civilian Jennings was the godson of King
William III, and served as a page to that
monarch. In connection also with his family
at this period we're Sarah jennings, afterwards
Duchess OF Marlborough; Frances jennings
(her sister), Marchioness of Tyrconnel, wife of
Richard Talbot, the Lord Deputy of Ireland for
King James II; and, little as 1t is supposed
Miss Hills afterwards the famous rival and
successor of the Duchess in the affection and
favor of Queen Anne-birs. Masham, in reality
the creator of the fortunes OF Harley, Earl of
Oxford Mrs. Masham was cousin of the
Duchess of Marlborough, and was introduced
at court by her. Frances, the Marchioness of
Tyrconnel, was, in the days of her Distress
the celebrated white milliner' appearing In the
domestic history OF George l, and commemo-
philosopher, and Constantine jennings (there
are eleven different ways OF spelling the name)
the possessor of three fortunes, who, notwith-
standing, died IN poverty In 1913, in the
Rules of the Kings Bench Prison, and who is
known as Dog jennings, on account of his pur-
chase of 'Alcibiades' Dog were also of this
family. The supposed hgure OF 'Alcibiades'
Dog cost two thousand guineas. However, the
public interest in regard to property and a
story which read more like romance than plain
matter of fact, rests in the circumstance that
the property is still IN litigation, new claimants
appearing every day. The Earl Howe, Earl
Beauchamp, and other members OF aristocratic
rank. claiming affinity (though remote) with
The original family, are in possession, although
the claim has Detu dlWdJb pIOleoLCu OF
this extensive property. Altogether, this attrac-
ton of the great property lying open to heir
shin of some persons undiscovered yet, If at all
discoyerable draws claimants not only from the
limited States, but, TO nv familiar knowledge,
from the Cape of Good Hope India, and Aus
iraIia. / omit Ireland and Canada, which coun-
tries have sent to England claimants IN profu-
SION. with the proper proportion of lawyers and
nedioree fanciers. Such Is a story of wealth.
II am, sir, your obedient servant
"HARGRAvE JENNINGS
'TOndon, August IT,"