New-York tribune., 1879-02-01
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
CLAIMANT TO AN ENGLISH ESTATE.

A CLAIMANT TO AN ENGLISH ESIAlE.
TIE WIFE on A GRoCERY-sToRE KEEPER IN SIC
oNp-tvE. LAYS CLAIM TO An ESTATE OF TWO
MILMoxs-nrR STORY OF THE INHERITANCE OF
THE FORTUNE.
An Irish woman offered to Mr.. McKin-
ney the Probate Clerk in the SurrOgates oUce'
yesterday. the will OF Catherine Ann Whaleu. and
sa that she wanted 1t admitted 10 probate. IL was
very ordinary and brief document. The testarix dp-
points owen Swift executor, and his wife Alice swift
exccuTix, and directs them 20 sell the property TO
which she isenttled in the United States and England
Al residue OF the property is given absolutely 10
Alice Swift the who offered the Will for probate
This WILL Mrs Swift claims. makes her the owner OF an
estate in England worth 80 O0O o00 and forms the eli
max Of a romantic and interesting story.
Tho Rev James Clarence Hill, she said a wealthy
clergyman of the Church OF England who fifty or sixty
living upon his estate at Hazel court
Castle, Hertiordshire, England His only daughter,
Caroline Hill. married the butler, Thomas Whalan aud
ran away from home in 1879. Her father was very
much iDceused and disnherted her by his VIII, now
ever permitted the estate to to the Oldest child of
her oldest child. Whaan, the butor, ana bis young
bride went to ireland, and lived In Limerick. his native
place for several years. Aterward there was recon
citation and the daughter and sOnnlaw returned tothe
Castle and lived there nine years during which time two
children born them and then returned To lelihu
While living in Limerick, Mrs. Wha!en formally re-
nounced the Episcopal Church aud embraced the llh
Of her busband-Roman Catholicism. The couple after
ward proceeded TO Catholic priest, by whom they
were married again. This further ncenscd the father
and he declared most cmphatcally that he would not
revoke the Will Soon aftcrNard be died. IN lSJ5, ana
ms death FASTENED in measure by his daughters
action Before hiz death Tor her. and gave her
$500, which all the money sne received. ,
The couple lived for short time IN LIMERICK; aad
were nc gGhOrs Of a family naWci Murphy' WIN ~
moLcy received from her father they tmlgded 10 ms
country with their children and the MurpIy IllnIi,
Thomas Whalan became hackman ana WIN ms %lie i
suffered much hardship In this country. MIS-. NH'Sh
iii. a IN 1-C 4.
business of a blacksmith and loucshOrcman. In lSoV
ne married Kate Murphy, one of the lalniy VINO calc
to this country with hun, and sister OF At' cN.. nc
present executrN. Ihe!r only cLlid was te a.
her grcat-graudfathcr, would he eHtllcu 10 'n'
whole estate when she becime oi ,;a'; aEe;;
rr mother died many years ago and SHE has since Nel
with her aunt. AiTs. swift. Her fdthcr married aE
ana dcd about year ago. Her tTcnty-nrst Dl tIudy
taken 10 enable her 10 claim the estate. Application
hal been made to the English authorities Tor co lt- ol
the original Slll Whom Catherine sudd'hy utu au"uO
two months ago Inc VIII offered l,S'elu"!t 80
had Do,n made, and Mrs. swift sill proceed 20 pros
tie claim winch she says she mas 10 ne lhsIlsn
The copy Of tAe original VIII Is expected 10 aINc "n
Mrs swift - large. thc,set, coarsefeatur'd IRISH
mill aT0c,ry->or about nitccn feet wide, n 80. 3?2
-cc1nd-ave. Two fiGhis OF dney stairs lead 10 the
apartments whcIo the claimant resides: 9hc ives III
rn0t which coupr,c about quarter oI hJOr; srN-
cral otncr families being her neGhhor on te same hONt
II haven't any doubt about getting the money,
nj lard 10 n hliicss irish boy. " No, i
don't know who lives on the estate and haven't
IdSn't know Who occupies the land. can't say taat
have any documentary evidence Oi lhc cldlH;;
All that [ know Is what was told Dy the GlII
and Mrs Whalen. | don't inrend TO spend
great deal OF money lighting Tor II elmer 0r thihh
that ncre Is any trouble II can nG setteu nv m t
land, one Of whom, Mr.. Murphy, was lhe queen lato
councillor. Ny cousins aad Mr. MltcAeli, tnc VutSh
librarian, Will attend TO the legal matters III LnSnu ior