Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-10-08
a FORTUNE FOR TENNESsEANs
A $4,000, 600 Estate Near Edin-
borough, Scotland.
A valuable Old Family Bible.
Nashville Banner. etb.l

Nashville Banner, 6th.l
An important meeting of the legal
heirs OF the James McEwen estate
near Edinborough, Scotland, was held
in the hall over A. B. Payne 4 Co. ssta.
tionery establishment, Union street,
yesterday afternoon. Judge w. A.
Clean, of Nashville, was made chair
man OF the meeting, and j Ii. An
drews, OF Columbia, appointed secre-
tary. The meeting lasted several
hours, and the object for which it
was called was fully discussed
The following persons wCr3 present
at the meeting:
j. IL. Bullock, J. B. McEwen, in !,
Campbell, Joseph B. Camgbell, Jas.
*. z. McEwen, James McEwen, OF
Williamson county; Finley McKin
ney OF Memphis; James A. Demeni.
Of West Tennessee; L. Ii. CART, Of
Alabama } IL. Andrews, of Colum
bia; j. G. Webber, John A. Webber.
of East Nashville; DIR. j. w. Nelson.
Gen. j. b Palmer, DR.. j. r. Bed
ford, of Murfreesbore; Judge w. A.
Glenn, S. p Chestnut, j. i. Glenn, of
Nashville; j 9. Stephens, of West
Tennessee; Nat Gooch, Of Smyrna;
h. f. Knox, Of Wilson county; w. d.
Martin, Of Rutherford county; Mrs. S.
2. Chestnut, OF Nashville; Mrs. j. H
Andrews, of Columbia; Mrs. DR..
Doughty, OF Murfreesboro; Mrs. Annie
Falconet Of Lebanon; Mrs. Margaret
Mckay, OF West Tennessee Mrs.
Mary 7. Valentine (mother-in-law of
General j b. Palmer), of Murfrees
boro; Mrs. i. b. Weakley. Of Ruther-
ford county; Mrs. r. S Campbell. of
West Tenless e, and Miss Sallie
McLemore, Of Williamson county.
James McEwen died in l776 and
was buried near Statesville, North
Carolina. Soon after his death his
wife removed to Rutherford county
where she died in 1896 Her brother
David Miller, died in Marlborough,
Scotland, leaving Mrs, McEwen his
sole legatee. His estate at the time
of his death was valued at $500 0O0,
consisting of money deposited in the
Bank of England, lands and large
Moolen factory known as the govern
ment woo en- mills
This factory, which IS located nclr
Edinborough, rents for f40,000a year.
The money accruing from the rent of
this factory, and the interest thereon,
and the $3,500,000 in the bank of
England, and the interest on that (24
per cent per annum) for 63 years is
due the heirs Of David Miller, or, more
correctly speaking, to the heirs Of
Mrs McEwep, amounting to about
64,O00,0O0.
Until very recently the heirs were
doubtful whether they could recover
the i'm mense fortune. In order to
prove their tide it was necessary to
bring to light a C rtain old Bible con
tanning marriage certificates. This
Bible was found recently by Prot.
VIM. Stanford, of West Tennessee, in
salisbury, North Carolina. Soon
after the discovery Of the Bible, at a
conferences of the heirs, il was agreed
to send Pref Stanford to Scotland to
look into the matter Prof. Stanford
accordingly visited Scotland, and sub
scquently had conference with the
lord chancellor of England; who in
formed him that the Bible containing
the marriage certificates was all that
was necessary to establish the claims
OF the heirs. Prof Stanford also
read the will of David Miller. He
was told that in order to obtain copy
Of it, that it would be necessary to
expend about 5000. This amount Of
money has been contributed by those
interested for that purpose.
Professor Stanford and Mr.. Camp
bell will leave on the 10th of October
for New York, from whence they will
sail for England. They Will be absent
three months.
The heirs are the descendants of
seven children and number l30.
1t is said that the land on which
the factory is situated consists of 81
acres.