Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-09-03
rHE IkNNlNus HEIRS.
who They are and what the
Estate is They hope TO
Inherit.

The heirs of the Jennings estate
In New England have resolved to
raise 1000 to send over to the old
country a lawyer who will secure for
them an estate Of 100000 on
the very reasonable terms of two per
cent. commission. These are prOba-
bly the same heirs that met at Bridge
port in January last. There was an
uprising of another set of heirs 10
Virginia not long ago. They valued
the estate at $500. 600. 600, it having
increased to that value from Sl5. OUO>
900, its original amount when Jen-
nings died in Virginia one hundred
years ago. Mr. Joshua Z. Benjamin
was then represented to be the coun
sci for the heirs in England, and to
have given assurance that this tedI-
Gus case was now drawing to a close,
and that the cashier of the Bank OF
England, in whose custody the cash
was. would soon pay the Virginia
claimants about S., GOO. 900 apiece -
This was a very old case. More than
a quarter of a century ago the Cen
heman's Mdguzine, the good sylvia
nus Urban, Esqr.. nodding, printed a
story to the effect that the case had
Just been settled by the Court OF
Chancery, which divided One-half
of it, valued at $l7 100000. Nay,
the Gentleman's Magazine vouched
for it that one of the heis, a journ-
aman painter of Chelmsford, had re-
ceived his share, 100000. Next
month, unhappilY, came the explana-
tion that the painter being in his do
tage, had been sent for TO town to
sign some document, and thereupOn
fancied that he had by his autograph
secured the property, but the fact
came out incidentally that there was
then a Jennings, or rather Jennens
family association, whose members
were in constant expectation of HAYS
ing all doubts as to their identity
cleared away. 4 generation later,
in various parts of the United States.
similar associations seem to be cher
ishiDg like hopes. TIE Jennens
family was one of the first to grow
wealthy in the metal trade-button
making, etc.-at Birmingham
Humphrey left several sons, Of whom
Robert became aide>de>camp TO
William Ill, dealt largely In land,
and was intrusted with the manages
ment of much of the duke Of Mari
borough's property. He ieft son,
William, godson-saUe said the son
of William Ill, who died in 1898,
leaving. beside real estate, the all
most unprecedented sum of 81. 00O.>
600 sterling. For years he had not
claimed his dividends or the interest |
on his mortgages, and some 43O.>
900 in new gold and ten year old |
bank notes were found an his strong |
box. There was a viii found but it |
was unsigned. as he had net bad his
spectacles in his pocket when he
vent to execute the deed, In the !
a absence of the will the realty passed |
to his heirs>at-law, the descendant
of his father s elder brother. 1t is
now held By Earle Howe. The per-
sonality went to his nearest of kin,
Lyon and the Viscountess
grandchildren of his aunt.
Precisely how many lawyers have
made living by encouraging folk in
The belief thar the estate of from
$50. 600. 600 to $500. 100000 is await
ing claimadts there is no method of
nor is it very clear when
and by whom the story was originally
set afoat. In August. 1851, Mr. W
w. Whiddet, of New burgh, adver
Used for heirs to the Jennings estate.
In December, 1865. a similar adver-
-isemen was published by r. r. Hill
Ter, of Jersey City. There was an
,ther fury in 1876. Now there is a
-enewal of the excitement. 1t is
lutte likely that the crack of
loom will surpVise several Of the con-
rentions of these patient and long
hoping folk in session. raising the 81
300 which are always necessary to
complete the evidence and enable
hem to enter into possession of
wealth beside which the riches of the
are contemptible.