The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-29
A Hundred Millions i'm 1t,
MEETING OF THE HEIRS OF THE JENNINGS E
TATE-JCDGE BACON REPORTS PROGRESS.
IErn1n lie / npn,t CnnStitutinnalist.l


From the augusta Constitutlonalist.J
Some time iaSt summer convention was
held in Edgcfield. :. c., Of portion of the
heirs of william Jennings, who ''died intes
| tate" in Birmingham, England, in IDS
| The heirs are scattered all over the country
| but PRINCIPALLY hail from Tennessee, Viz.
ginia, Georgia, and South Carolina, although
some Of them arc located in the northern
S'a.cs, principally ia Vermont. The Amerl'
can heirs claim descent from Edward Jen
nings, nephew Of William Jennings, who
emigrated to Virginia, where he died, lcaY'
! ipga family Of ten children.
Yesterday tuesday another convention
vas held in Room AZ of the Contra
| Hotel. There were present. about fifty per
Sops, half dozen OF whom we're ladies. The
company vas most intellgent-Iookng set
ct people, ard took q deep interest in the
proceedings.
Rev. Ii. A. Duncan was called to the
chair, J. Il. Wilkinson acted as financial Sec
rerary. and ?. II. Wood recording secretary
judge John Z. Bacon, of Columbia, who
has been to England on behalf of the heirs,
made q most elaborate report. In his open
Ing remarks he stated be intended 10 use no
cllptrap in the business, but would deal
w..
He called On the secretary to read the letter
OF Instructions under which be acted in bis
iourpcyinr to England. After the reading
of tue minutes, Judge Bacon resumed bis re-
marks. He said the estate in question was
worth $3.50 100000. but he bad lately seen
statement in the Richmond Wing placing
the amount az $500, 1000. He was sorry
the value was raised, because it would
lo CT
tracted one. He then read letters addressed
TO him while in England, two Of which were
from Hon. Judah Benjamin; the last letter
from thatdistinguished gentleman being very
brief, and declining 10 answer any legal or
other questions in regard TO the subject mat
ter. on the ground that he was Laws
officer Of the English Crown. The learned
gentleman then recitetl the difficulties he
met with in England in prosecuting bis
search, and the very evident desire to keep
Information away from the American claim
ants. He read an editorial from the London
Tcle1ruph. a leading authority on law nat
tiers, favoring the idea that there was a
chance tor the heirs eventually establishing
their claim. The judge exhibited pedigree
which bad been prepared at great expense
and labor The remarks of Judge Bacon
were listened to with great interest, and
were delivered with the ease OF the gentle
man. the profounduess of the jurist, and the
honesty Of expression which are marked
traits of his character. He took pains to
avoid eXcilin. false hopes, or expressing any
decided opinions. He simply related the
circumstances connected with the search for
information.
Judge Branch, of Lynchburg, Va, being
called upon, said he represented some oil thc
Virginia heirs, and came simply as an H.
uuirer. He would advise his clients to JON
the present association.
J. H.. 2. Folks made some very sensible
remarks about each claimant establishing
bis cilm to kinship before engaging in I'M
necessary trouble or expense.
Mr.. Shand, of Spartanburg, asked If the
American claimants could inherit and claim
real estate in England.
Judge Bacon replied that the well-known
principle of England, "once an Englishman,
always an EngIishmau,' would hold in this
case, and he should decide they could. True
it was that English lawyers had stated there
might be obstacles raised on this question OF
real estate, but there could be no difficulty
about the personal estate, if the claimants
could establish the claim. The rule of the
English courts was TO hear pleas under the
statutes oil limitations first, before decldingon
the other branches OF cases, and this most im1.
portant point was the first TO be decided in
the prosecution OF the claim.
Judge Twiggs said although he was not
member of the Convention he would sag
gest that one important part to be decided
was the amount each was to contribute TO
the fund to delray the expenses OF the lti-
CATION. The question of the degree of kins.
manship was Il most important one, and
should, regulate the quota each was to con-
tribute to the fund. He suggested On addl'
ton to the Conimittee Oh Lineage. The
question was pat into a motion-to have
three men added to that committee.
The Chairman appointed J. Il. T. Folks,
Judge Twiggs, and A.. V. Early as such
committee.
Judge Ty.isgs moved that Rev. Mr. Dun
can be addsd to the committee.
1t was announced that the several commit
tees would meet through the day, and the
Convention adjourned.