Daily Republican., 1884-10-23
En- ding HIS Public Career

Sewell G. Biggs, who has filled the
important office of Register Of Wills
for New Castle County for ten years
(two terms), will step down and out In
the course Of few days, histerm of Of
fice expiring Oh Monday next, the 9th
inst. During Mr.. Biggs' dministra-
ton he has filled the Office with credit
to himself and the party he represents.
while the people have ever found him
genial, whole. souled and obliging in
the discharge of his duties. Upon re-.
firing from the office, Mr.. Biggs will,
IN q measure, retire into the shades Of
private life and will occupy his mind
in looking after his farms in Pencader
Hundred, where he will reside.
The Office thus soon to become vacant
will be filled by appointment by Gov
ernor Stockley, and as usual in such
cases there are several applicants,
among the most prominent being Rubt.
G. Jnstis, Esq, Of Christlana Hundred,
and Ignatius 9. Grubb, Esq OF this
city. Both gentlemen are fully compe-
tent to fill the position, while both are
working hard for their appointment.
Opinions differ as regards to the success
of the above applicants for the office,
politicians predicting Grubb's appoint
ment, while many others are confident
/ that Mr.. Justis, who Is a deserving
man, will carry off the prize.
AS the Office Is made quite lucrative
by the fees attached TO it, the place Is
quite a desirable one. During Mr..
Biggs' term he has been very fortunate,
as the business done during his two
terms has far exceeded that of any pre-
vious decade, consequently he retires
with evident satisfaction. During his
career of two telms, Mr.. Biggs has
granted letters upon about Q, 100 estates,
an average of about Is per month.
OF this number, several we're very
large, which swelled tue fees ac-
cordingly. The largest estate that has
ever been brought before Ally Register
in this State has just been s.ttl.u be-
fore Mr.. Biggs. Reference is made 10
the estate of the late Col. Henry S. Nc
Comb, whose personal property as sched
uled foots up TO 81, 400, ,0t0, upon which
the Register receives about $3.50,
quite snug sum from one estate alone,
but the settlement of this estate entaied
. very large amount Of work, and re-
lqulred pages and pages OF copying, etc,
before 1t WAS closed up
The next largest estate coming before
the same cffirt in the past ten years
| WAS tUdb VI tnt lhte O6f DO hooo
personal PR perry footed up to S772,-
023. 81. The tIir: largest was the estate
OF the late Samuel Harlan, Jr., whose
personal property reached IL total value
Of $763, 1850. The next in order was
the estate of The late James +. Kirk
patrick, Jr., whose heirs passed &C.
counts npon personal estate valued at
$519, 1927 So. aud the personally Of f.
Irene DUPONT, deceased, aggregated
$51O, 100 56 Tue laie Daniel COrbit's
estate reached total valuation o! $l4,-
5l2 80, and John Ferris footed up to
about $500, There were n W other
estates amounting to $.dO, ,O0O and quite
a number oyerst. pped the $780, 900
notch.
Basing calculations upon the above,
it is estimated that during Mr.. Biggs'
career the office has averaged about
"a, 900 per annum, which is an unusual
Occurrence, As in ordinary times the
position will not pay much over $3, 900,
out of which 81 600 must be deducted
for clerical and other expenses. In
addition to the desirability Of the Office
on account Of Its pecuniary returns II
r, euires good sound Judgment to
properly administer its affairs, but in
the hands of either Mr.. Justis or Mr..
Grubb, the outgoing official will have
. worthy successor.