Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-09-09
A FORTUNE OF ss,OOO,OOO.
What a Lucky New York Farmer Is
Likely to Fall Heir 70.
Rochester Democrat and Chroniele1


A few weeks since Stephen Fursu-
son, of Gorham, Ontario county, learn
ed from some source that in Scotland
a large sum of money was waiting for
the rightful heirs to prove relation
ship to the deceased owner, and that
the estate was to be settled upon
family by the name Of Furguson.
Impressed with the idea that he was
direct descendant of the wealthy old
gentleman, who had died leaving a
fortune to his heirs, he wrote to Scot
land, asking for information. A few
months later he was astounded 10
learn in reply to his letter of inquiry
that there was large sum of money
On deposit in the Bank of England
money that would fall to the descend
ants Of deceased person named Fur
guson, but that in the absence of an
authorized agent who had recently
died all investigation would be sus-
pended until new agent was appoint
ed, information that accompanied his
money inclosed for postage, etc.
Elated with the prospect of proving
an heirship to the deceased, with
the hope that some distant day would
find the family of Furgusons linked by
ties of consanguinity with the old Scot.
tish royalty OF an early day, the anx-
ious inquirer waited to see what de-
velopments would result from the
investigation. At this juncture of
the narrative comes the almost
incredible statement that an agent.
empowered with authority from the
officers of the Bank of England. is
now in America, and has visited the
old homestead at Maryland, and
found that the names of the brothers
and nephews of the wealthy deceased
uncle correspond with those of his
family, lawful heirs to the estate,
among which are John Furguson and
family, Of Gibson street, Canandagua,
and also relative in Orleans county,
New York, by the name Of Furguson.
That the agent, Mr.. Bradley is rep
resentative of the bank there is evi-
IDENTIFY no question, for he comes with
the credentials of the bank officials,
and asks no compensation for services
rendered, and is now in Washington,
ID. o., in communication with mem
bers of the family. That the proba-
bility seems likely that John Purgu-
son is an heir to the estate, appears
/ conclusive when it is known that he
has family record of the names of
his ancestors which correspond with
the names ESQ far as his list is
completely with those of the
agent. The work of investigation
is progressing, and at this writing the
revelations are such as to warrant us
in saying that beyond doubt what
ever proportion of the S6,000,000 due
the few heirs will fall into the posses
sion of Mr.. John Furguson. He is
one of the sturdy, respectable old
gentlemen of our village, who has the
good sense to know how to bear the
honors Of a royal inheritance and
enjoy the pleasures that wealth always
brings. We have given the facts as
revealed by the family, and congratu-
late them on the prospect before them,
facts that prove that truth is really
stranger than fiction when we consider
that 100 years have passed since the
wealthy Farguson ceased to exist, and
that following the long line of lineal
descendants the few remaining heirs
are found to inherit the accumulated
wealth of years, even though miles
separate the inheritance and the heirs.
Mr.. Furguson has two sons, exem-
plary men, one the present incumbent
Of the Office of county treasurer, an
Office he has filled creditable alike to
himself and the party he represents /;
the other, an Industrious clerk in the
store of Mr.. Sherman Kingsbury.