Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-02
Fabulous Fortunes - Explosion OF
the FalIacyiof Extraordinary Brit

the FaIIacylof Extraordinary Brit.
fsh Estates.
From the Boston Traveler.1
Why is it that so many persons
persuade themselves that there are
large estates in England coming to them
by inheritance2 Has any one, owing al
legiance to the Government of the United
States, ever received property from Eng
lsnd2 Strange as it may seem, this
| notion of inheriting property prevails in
more than half of our New Euglsnd
families. Every genealogist OF much
experience will not only bear witness to
the correctness of this statement, but
also to the fact that it is almost impossi-
BILE to obtain information for the simple
purpose of family history, by the reason
of the Withholding of facts by some
members of these property families, for
fear they may lose their share of the
mythical fortune in England. Ia some
families this notion prevails in one
branch only, and it is kept profound
secret from the other branches lest the
fortuue should come to be divided
Whether it be honest for part of fam
lily to take what belongs to all, we leave
to the consideration of our readers with
this observation, that persons entrusted
with the distribution of the property of
an intestate seldom commit 80 great an
error as to pay the whole to part of the
family.
Now and then family meetings are called
for the purpose of taking steps" to re-
cover the millions (note particularly, al
ways millions } left in England without
heirs, and bearing "interest" for an un-
known period of time. These families
raise money and send agents into En-
gland to recover the long-taked of for
tune. This is the last you hear of prop
erty' in this family. Some of the more
credulous members shake their heads,
doubling the honesty of the agent; and
certainly, if be should ever after display
little money! few thousand dollars
that would be regarded the great fortune
oat of which this family had been de-
frauded
We have sought far and wide, and so
have others of our acquaintance, to find
q single family that ever got penny of
their supposed English fortune, and with
out success. The name and residence of
such family cannot be found; and yet
we hear these deluded people talk conf
IDENTIFY OF their fortune in England.
The truth and the fact is, that no such
fortunes exist ia England for s1y fsmi-
lies here; and even if they did, no per-
son not owing allegiance to England
could inherit them. Blackstone. in his
Commentaries on the laws of England,
states the law thus: "Aliens are incapable
of taking by descent or inheritance; for
they are not allowed to have any inherit
able blood in them. Wherefore, If a man
leaves no other relations but aliens his
land shall escbest to the Lord" Our
own Chancellor Kent, says: An alien
cannot acquire a title to real property
BY descent or created by mere operation
of law. This is we'll settled rule of the
common law" 10 the face of this clearly
expressed rule of law of England, we'll
known to every lawyer, persons de.
scended from the Pilgrim Fathers and
owing allegiance to the United States
Government, still cherish the delusion
that they can inherit property in Eng
land.
1t is amusing to hear people, who
could not prove their legitimate descent
from their great grandfathers, in court
of law, if it were to save them from hang
ing, talk of inheritipg property in Eng
land through their ancestors How
many know that their great ancestor
ever came from England and if they
did, how are they to prove title back six
or eight generations in England, and
down as many at honey
Why should estates in England without
heirs be more common occurrence than
here2 Is property often found here
without heirs We spprehend MOI. While
in England it is notoriously true that
property is tied up for the benefit Of
future generations by every means that
the law will allow. Every owner provides
for its future enjoyment to the utmost OF
his ability. An estate in England with
out an heir is almost, il not entirely, an
unknown thing.
This whole fortune business is the
veriest nonsense now extsnt, Other fol-
lies have had their day and disappeared
but this still fingers Recently we have
seen q printed list of families entitled TO
property in England. II embraces nearly |
ell the principal New EnRl,n families. |
We know precisely what this means. 1t
will catch among all credulous people,
not already affected with this malady Of
fortune hunting. 1t is q remarkable |
truth, and without exception, that fami-
lies whose history is known or written are
never affected with this malsdy. II pre-.
walls among those who have little or no
knowledge of their ancestors, and but
little more of themselves This enables
them to exercise their imsginstions in
castle-building. Nothing is so ugly as
hard facts, and established truths, in the
eyes of fortune hunters.