The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-12
AN HEIR FOUND
To Comfortable Fortune in a native
or Richmond.
Romantic Story Connected with the Life of
the Inheritor or an Estate In Corsica-IIis
Parentage-secret Marriage 20 n PhIIadel-
phia Lady. &c.

Parentage-Secret Marriage 20 n PhIIadeI-
phia Lady, &c.
| Several OF our northern exchanges re-
ceived yesterday publish accounts OF an ex.
traordinary piece OF good fortune which has
befallen a native Of Richmond and at pres.
ent resident OF Philadelphia. The story,
as detailed, Is q romantic one, and shows a
remarkable combination Of circumstances.
The fortunate individual in this case Is q
young man named Frank j. Bonavita,
whose family were we'll known in this city.
Although . native and TO the manner born,"
| his personal knowledge OF the city OF his
birth Is not extensive, bis family having re-
moved .Jnce aud taken up their residence
| in Baltimore while he was yet quite young.
His career since attaining manhood has
| been chequered and interesting, but in or
der TO make the whole story plain 10 our
readers we give the following account pub
| lshed in the Philadelphia Times, leaving
out some OF the unim portant details:
| Frank j. 8onavta, the young gentleman
| in question, is q book.keeper In the house
OF 5. Simon a. Co., OF this city. He has had
most romantic career, not the least pecu-
| liar OF which Is the combination OF circum-
stances wbic.i has led TO bis presence in
Philadelphia in his present capacity. As
so often happens, there Is lady in the
case-Mr. BOnavita's secret marriage TO a
young lady OF this city and the subsequent
influence OF her friends in persuading her
10 return TO her home being the eXplana-
| tion. This accounts for the opening sem
| tences in the letter received by him from
his mother in Baltimore about a week
ago, bringing to him the first intelligence
Of what bad happened. 81 have good news
TO tell yOu," she says, $50 be Of good heart,
my boy. There is fortune left by your
fathers mother and sisters in Ersa, Corsica,
which has fallen to you. The French Con-
sui has been trying for some time past to
find the heirs. 1t is valued at 800 900.
Dir. AntOni was written to from Corsica
to find out where you were, as you are the
prominent son and heir. being the eldest
male"
The letter then goes on to advise him
about taking the necessary steps to secure
his rights and suggests visit to Baltimore.
YOnDg Bonavita accordingly. upon the re-
ceipt OF the letter, went to Baltimore and
put the matter in the hands OF Charles j.
Bonaparte, one OF the best-known members
OF the bar in that city and q grandson OF
Madame Bonaparte and Jerome the brother
OF Napoleon |. Mr.. BOnaparte comes OF a
COrsican family himself, and has correspon-
dents there with whom be has already en-
tered into communication with view Of
| settling the estate. 1t appears that once
Mr.. BOnavita was found, the intelligence
was substantiated from several quar-
tiers. The Count de MOntcabrier, in
Baltimore, had been seeking his address.
The letter TO the French consul at Balti-
more, it appears, had been received eigh-
| teen months previously, and was from the
| Governor OF Corsica. At that time A. s.
! BOnayta, uncle Of the heir, was seriously
! i'll, and he Is understood to have since died.
The olive and wine-p plantations were in his
! care, but it appears from the letters that he
at no time had more than one third personal
/ interest in the estates, his father having left
everything TO the three brothers, OF whom
the father Of the young gentleman in this
city was one.
The two brothers, who left Corsica In
| their youth, were named Simon and Joseph.
Simon was the father OF the present heir
They both went to Richmond, Va, and en-
gagged in business. They were successful,
and became well known and respected. ST.
mon BOnavita married Amelia, the eldest
daughter OF SignOr George, an Italian gen.
teman, who attracted great attention as a
professor Of music i'm Richmond and else
where. and who was fOuIly murdered in
New York about year ago. Joseph Bona
vita married Miss Mary George, another
daughter OF Signor George. Miss Amelia
George and Simon BOnaylta were married
By Bishop McGill, OF Richmond, who also
baptized young BOnavlta, the son, now re-
siding here. Simon Bonavita, who died in
1856, left a very comfortable sum TO the
widow, which has since been somewhat di-
| ho1 hu I'm rnHf HfaI, 10 in ~
For three years Mrs. BOnayita and her
son resided in Norfolk, Va, after which
they removed to Baltimore, where young
Bonayita grew up and received most Of his
education. Mrs. Bonayila was noted for
her great beauty and remarkable voice, and
was much sought after to grace social enter
tainments. The son, +. j. Bonavta, in
herited her attractive qualities. His man.
ners were graceful and polished, and his
skin was dark like an Italians, his eyes
large and expressive, and his features were
almost artistic in their regularity. He had
a remarkably melodious and thrilling voice,
and played on several instruments. Many
ladies who have been Baltimore bellies may
recall scenes IN which Mr.. BOnavita, with
his sweet voice and tinkliDg guitar, has
mingled.
\ In 1866 young Bonayita entered the
United States navy as paymaster's clerk,
and made q tour Of south America and AZ
rca on the MOnOcacy, spending two years
afterwards in China. and returning In the
United States man-of-war Shenandoah. He
again left from New York on the Wlchusee
for France, Spain, and Italy, spending
eighteen months, when he resigned in con-
sequence OF the illness Of his mother. For
the four and half years succeeding he oc-
cupied a responsible position in the employ
OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com.
pany.
Among young Bonayita's friends was Miss
MacShane, now Mrs. jenkins, daughter OF
the great Baltimore bel-fOunder. Through
the introduction OF his name in letters cor
reSpOndence sprang up between Bonayita
and Miss MacShane's friend, Miss Viola +.
Miller, the daughter Of wealthy gentleman
OF this city. After TIVE years. correspond
ence they met for the first time during the
Centennial. They determined upon a Sc
cret marriage. Miss Miller arrived in Bal
timore on a Saturday, and with the
friend in Baltimore whom she was
visiting called upon Mrs. Bonayita at
her home in Waverly, beautiful ham,
let short distance outside the city.
On Monday Mr. Bonayita and Miss
Miller were married by Father Bartlett, OF
St. Anne's Catholic church. They immedi-
ateIy separated, and The lady spent lhe
whole Of the remaining summer at Newport
without any one knowing OF her marriage
except her mother. Her father bad been
opposed to the marriage from the first. A
little over a year ago she Joined her hus-
band in Baltimore, and together they went
TO Cincinnati, where Mr.. Bonayta's brother
is a member OF the wholesale oil irm OF Z.
Coffin & Co., but getting homesick she per-
suaded him 10 return 10 philadelphia, which