Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-10-21

A WEALTHY vIRGINIAN's ooLoRED CHILDREN
CLAIM HIS EsTATR-$l00,O00 INvoLED.

A WEALTHY vIRGINIAN's ooLORED CHILDREN
CLAIM HIS EsTATR-$l00,O00 INvoLED.
At the Husting's Court in Richmond, Vir-
ginia, on the 9Th inst, Samuel Shippen,
Esq, of the Philadelphia Bar, moved that
Lee George, of Philadelphia, be allowed to
qualify as administrator of the estate of the
late William o. George, of Richmond, who
died in September last. The Richmond
Dispatch thus reports the case:
Lee George, who was present when the
motion was made, is an intelligent and well
educated colored man, apparently about
twenty-tbree years Of age, and claims to be
son of the deceased by Caroline jackson,
colorcd woman, born out Of wedlock, but
subsequently legiiimized according to the
laws of Pennsylvania, and recognized as a
child.
Mr.. George was wel-known citizen of
Richmond, who died intestate, owning at
the time real estate in the city valued at
about 100000. The petitioner claimed
that the deceased had two children by his
connection with Caroline Jackson-himself
and sister named Adelaide George. Wish
ing her to be better provided for than she
could be at the South, and desiring to give
bis children complete education, he took
them to Philadelphia several years before
the war Theie they have since resided,
and been well cared for at an expense of
about one thousand two hundred dollars
per annum to Mr.. George, and receiving
constant repr0ofs of his affection, not only
on the occasions when he went North 10
visit them, but also by n correspondence al
most uninterrupted. 1t is also claimed that
in April last deceased put into execution a
oI,n 4,
of his children, and claiming them publicly
various occasions acknowledged the near
relationship.
In support of these claims and of the mo-
tion referred to above, Mr.. Sbippen and his
legal associates, Messrs. Holladay and White
presented certificate in their form prescrib-
ed by the laws of Pennsylvania, and signed
by Philadelphia alderman duly authorized
to perform the ceremony, setting forth that
on the 2lst of April. 1869. William Orville
George was legally married to Coroline
Jackson, a woman of color, particularly de-
scribed as being very dark. The counsel
also cited several laws of the State of Penn
sylvania showing that marriage legitimizes
the birth of children born out of wedlock.
After establishing The fact of the marriage,
Mr.. Shipper exhibited package of letters
| W l'c iloll otOiSC w nio ul-
legged wife Caroline, his son Lee, his son-in-
law Mr.. Willemcr, and his daughter Ade-
laide. Providing that these were in the
handwriting Of the deceased, and that they
had been received by the parties to whom
they were addressed, several of them were
read to the court to show that the father had
always exhibited towards the children true
parental affection.
William Johnson, who had known Mr..
George iu Richmond and Philadelphia, was
then called. and testified that he was present
at the marriage on tue 2lst of April of AIDE
laide, and Mr.. Willemcre on the 22d. He
also identified a portrait exhibited in cour
as likeness of MIR. George.
Lee George was also sworn, and testified
that he was present al the marriage. MIR
George lived with his mother at various time'
before and after the marriage, and always
recognized The witness and his sister as hi
children. Witness hld child named aftel
him-William Orvile George.
AT this point the counsel were about t.
introduce other letters, hut the Court sale
further evidence was unnecessary, and or
dered tina, Lee George 5e allowed to qualii.
as administrator (his mother having resigne
: the right in his fivor), and fixed the penalt.
of the bond at $1,000
II Is understood that the title to the rea
estate of The deceased will be male a sub
jcct of suit al law.