The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-19
THE TROTTER ESTATE.
What One of the Heirs to $500, 600,
600, Now in This City, Has to Say.
A Final Effort Being Made by the Heirs to
Recover What Is Due-An Inter-
esting Story.

INTEREST IN Jne famous IrOttcr estate Wnlcn
periodically comes to the surface of public at
tentlon, is being revived. and it is now thought
that there is some probability of the heirs soon
securing n part if not all, OF the many millions
which have long rusted in the Bank of England
awaiting the establishment OF legal claims. The
entire estate is estimated about $500, 0O0, 000
and was originally scattered over Europe-Eng-
land, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, but under the
administration of the government courts
1t has been reduced largely to funds
This wealth, which seems fabulous
in its enormty, left fifty
five years ago, by the death of DR.. Thomas
Trotter, of the East India Company, and by his
cousin, William Trotter, of London, q descendant
OF the Earl of Gowery, Scotland. The estate left
by the two, with it's accumulation of value. is
estimated at about 5000, 600 900, and $500, 000.-
900 more, left by the house of Clifford, Great
Britain is claimed by the family, making in all
S5o0,oOO,0oO. Before an estate can be divided
1t is required, under the laws of England, that
all the members of the family shall file their
claims, with sufficient and satisfactory evidence,
that they are legal heirs. At the time of the
death of the two Eillionalres there were only
three four members of the Trotter
family living in England, the others
having all emigrated to America and settled
in widely separated parts of the country,
making it lmpracticable for them to readily get
matters in the proper shape for realizing from
the estate. The exasperatinG condition in which
che immense fortune was kept beyond their
grasp had a discourag ing effect, and, n move
was made to have 1t settled according TO the
tedious form required, 1t was permitted to lie for
years without any united effort being made to
get possession of it,
THE AMERICAN HEIRS.
Many OF the members of the family in America
were aware that they were entitled TO a share of
the unsettled estate, but not until the close of
the late war was any effort made to obtain
possession OF 1t. majority of the de-
scendants who had come to this country had
settled in the South and become Shareholders
and in the adversities of the they re-
duced from wealth to poverty. The English es-
tate was then thought Of and n London attor-
ney was employed to look after their interests
Becoming dissatisfied with his management of
the case, however, letter was written asking
| the advice of United States Minister Motley,
| and, upon his recommendation, c. Nj. Fisher, a
| distinguished London barrister, WAS employed.
Mr.. Fisher, after year or two, reported that
the estate was in Il condition 70 be recovered,
hut that iG WIS necessary that the American
heirs should act in unity. and every member of
the family, dead or alive, should be represented.
Accordingly, in hebalf or the family, DR.. j. Nj.
Trotter, OF Virginia, began the work of gather
Ing all information that could be obtained
winch would be of any aid in establishing the
clDlms of the heirs. He has been engaged in this
cution of II has travelled over America, visiting
every State in the Union, besides spending sew
eral years in Canada, England, Ireland, Scot
land ana South America. A genealogical hiS.o-
ry of the family has been compiled from the
mass of information collected in these researches,
and will he published 10y the Doctor. In the
meantime, however, dissatisfaction arose among
soma of the members of the family, who became
| suspicious from causes which could not be eX-
planned, and proceedings were seri-
Ously delayed. AS harmonious rela-
tions could not be brought about
and for nearly six years no further effort was
made to estaDllsh tile claims OF the heirs.
UNITED EFFORTS,
Another movement was made, however, which
resulted in convention of the heirs being held
at Clarksville, Tenn, on the Attn of July, 1878,
with the heads of thirty families in attendance,
| but nothing was accomplished by the meeting,
| as the representation was too small for con-
| certed action. At the solicitation OF ]. II.
McClosky, of Vincennes, second convention
was held In this city, on the 5lh of August fol-
lowing, when Dr. ]. NJ .TrOtter was chosen to take
charge of all documents necessary to estab-
lish the claims of the heirs, and to employ
attorneys TO press the case. He has since de-
voted his time TO working up the matter having
visited Europe and had two interviews with
Queen Victoria relative to the estate.
In the embarrassing intervals which ELAPSED
during the dissatisfaction in the family, the law
| yer who had been working mp the case, C. NJ.
Fisher, died, and shortly after the convention
| held in TINS city DIR. TrotTer, in behalf of the
families in America, entered into cOntrct with
| ". A. Cook and c. G. Cole, of Washington, ID. C.,
| for the collection of the claims for 90 per cent.
| of the amount recovered These attorneys arc
very confident that they can obtain possession
| of the estate, and offer to make no charges
other than the per cent. upon the sums actually
| paid to the heirs.
WHAT DIR. TRoTTER SAYS.
DR.. ]. NJ Trotter is now in the city and will re-
main for some time. He feels very confident
that possession of the estate will now be OBJ
| tanned as soon as the claims of the heirs are
properly presented In England. He has held
| conventions OF the Trotter families in different
parts of the United States and has collected q
mass of documents which will be forwarded to
| the attorneys, who are now waiting for the evil
dence required to establish claims before they
can proceed. He, therefore, asks all members OF
the Trotter family to forward to him documents
comforting power of attorney, with n remittance
OF $25 to defray their share OF the expenses.
There are IT'S members of the family in this
| country who are heirs to the estate. and from
| among these the following-named persons have
| been appointed trustees act in conjunction
with Dir. j, NJ. Trotter in pressing the case 10 n
| settlement: W. II. Hendricks. NJ D., and John
S. Parsons, NJ. D., OF Indianoplis: William b.
| TrOtter, of Clrrsville. KY: II. Hayes. Gosport,
IuG.: James Sehrer, Springfield, H.; Milton Trot-
ter, Decatur, Iii; n. F. Troter, Jackson, Ark;
ter's Store, Tenn: A. d. Troter, stauntnn, VA;
| W. E. Trotter, Vihion Miss; Dr. W. c. Phillips,
Austin, Text, D. NJ. Trotter, St. Charles, Ky;
Mrs. Elizi Trotter's agent, Santa Rosa, Cal;
Alexander Trotter, Eddyviile, Ia; Samuel Trot-
ter, Chatham. Canada; Robert Morrison, Pitts
burg, Pa; John A. Organ, Lawrenceville,
Va; DIR. William II. Trotter. SEWER
vile, Tenn; John c. Trotter, Portsmouth, b.,
O.; Major NJ. R. Marks, Wilcox. Fla; Addington
Violet, New Orleans, La; Hon. NJ. H. Weborn,
Washington, Ga; Fl. g. TroIter, Franklin, N. c.;
]: II. McClosky, Brnceville, Ind; Dr. Norville.
of Jeffrrsonville; Joseph Tarwalter. Warrington.
N. c.; Mrs. T. f. Ellsworth, West Richtied O.;
| Dr. W. NJ. H. Irotter. Sevierville, N. G. DIR.
Trotter will remain IN this city indefinitely, and
all communications relating to tho estate should
be directed to him here.