Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-04-15
THE HEDGES FAMILY.

An immense fortune, amounting
with interest 10 over $3.50 600 600, is
now lying in the Bank of England
belonging to the Hedges Family in
AmeIica. This fortune was lett by
Sir Charles Hedges, who died in
17l4 Sir Charles Hedges, of the
Doctors Commons. was an English
Tory Politician of note. who gradu-
ated at Oxford. in 1875. He was APP.
pointed Secretary of State, by King
William III in 1700-bping then
Judge of Admiralty in place of the
Earl of Jersey, and was returned To
Parliament about the same time.
While there he drew upand present
ed the Bill to enforce the Ahjura.
ti0n Act, which forever set at rest
the claims of the Pretender. and es
tablished Ann-'S succession to the
Throne. In 1901 he was repIaced 10y
Earl of Manchester. In 1902 Queen
Anne assembled the throne aud Sir
Charles Hedges was ain appoint
ed Secretary of State, for which he
was pressed by the Earl of Noting.
ham, who declined to serve in the
cabinet unless Sir Charles was re-
appointed; giving as reason why
he should be restored, that he had
lost his place by reason of II consci.
entious vote in the House of Com
mons. In 1905 he was appointed one
of the commissioners on the part of
England to settle the terms of the
union of the English and Scottish
K Kingdoms He remained Secretary
of State until 1907, when, owing to
the power of the Duke of Marlbor-
Ough, and Influence and intrigue of
the Duchess of Marlborough, tOgpth
er vii h the threats of then son in
law, Godolphin, Lord Treasurer, 10
resign; and pressure brought to bear
by prominent wings, then getting in
tn power, the Queen was impelled to
provide a place in her cabinet for
another son-in law of Marlborough,
the Duke of Sunderland, aud with
the utmost reluctance she appointed
him Secretary of State in place OF
Sir Charles Hedges. He died in 1714
leaving IA son Charles Hedges, Gent,
who dltd in 1920, leaving "a son and
four daughters. This son was nam
ed Joseph Hedges, and he emigrattd
to America about this time and set
tied III Maryland He died in Mon
0cacy, Md III 1882. Joseph Hedges
LETT several SOILS and daughters,a ll OF
whum settled in Prince George and
Frederick counties. Md, and in
Berkeley and Brooke counties, Va
The descendants of these children
then moved TO Ohio, Kentucky,
Missouri Louisiana and other States,
aud wherever found are amongst
the most enterprising and inf1uen-
tiaI people of their locality. There
is an "AsSOci tion of the Hedges
Family in the United States" with
Headquarters IN Kentucky, DR.. L
W. Hedges Cynthiana, President,
There was we'll attended meeting
vi Llllo AooOCldCtOh III NlnClnndOis
May, 1881. IL is not yet known
when aud where the next meeting
will be held. There are also several
State Associations in various States,
auxiliary TO u. ). Association. All
editorial in the New York Evening
Post IN referring to this fortune re-
marks:
The Hedges family, which, like
so many other families, is said to be
scattered all over the United States,
has recently learned THAT there Is d
nice little property OF $3.50 600 900 III
England ready To be divided among
all Hedges who can prove descent
from 'comman ancestor" who
died some century or two ago III
England He did not leave behind
him $3.50, 900 900, but his unclaimed
property has been accommodating ever
since his death and now has reached
the very remarkable figure We have
given. 1t is Of course, in the Bank
OF England, where all unclaimed
sums of this sort accumulate, but
how it is invested does nor appear.
Invested funds, it is well known,
double every few years or so, and If
the Hedges meet, as they probably
will, some obstacles in the way OF
effecting distribution, the delay
Will after all only make the family
richer IL 1890 the fund ought to be
alb mt $500, 900 900 and by the begin
ming of The next century $1,000.000,-
600, and however large the family
may be-, the division of sums OF this
magnitude will make IA perceptible
difference not only in their private
fort unes, but in national resources
themselves The sudden transfer of
81 900 100000 or even $3.50 600 900
from the vaults of the Bank of Eng
land to IA foreign country would a
hundred years ago have been regard