Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-12-22
THE TOWNELEY ESTATE.

bDD EnNeNtT-aliu 10 "Uitii Iali'c WI
America are the rightful heirs il now
beyond question
On August ith the British parlia-
meni passed an act, covering some 400
pages quarto, entitled, IAN act for
CARRYING into effect the division Of
certain hereditaments known as the
Towneley estate, in the counties of
Lancaster and York, the estate in the
Forest of Rowland in the same coun-
ties, and the Stella and Stanley es-
la;es in the county o! Durham and for
other purposes.
The most important question for
the American claimants seems TO be
whether the Towneley estate, the
Chases or the Lawrence's shall inherit
the earth.
in wears antecedent TO the coming to
this country of the much Rewritten
pilgrim fathers one Sir Something
Towneley was in possession OF all
these fire properties, and while the re-
cords do not show whether he was
engaged in raising cattle or swine,
they do show. however, that his only
son died without issue and that his
only surviving child-Mary Towneley
was ;he last of the direct line, and
heiress TO all these fine farms and
and much town property, but there is
nothing 10 show that Mary ever came
into possession, while il does appear
that another branch of the Towneleys
did enjoy possession of the estates
until 1913. when Sir John (the last
Legitimate Towneley) joined the ma
jority. II seems "SIr John the last
INDUCED in forbidden pleasures and
left at least one one ilIegitimate son,
namely "Peregrine Edward Townc-
lev" who commenced suit 10 establish
his legitimacy, but failed, after spend
ing 700 pounds sterling of the rev.
cnues OF the estate in the attempt, the
courts decreeing his illegitimacy.
Prior, however, to his suit to sstab-
fish his legitimacy. he seems to have
been appointed life trustee Of the es
tatcs and TO have enjoyed much of the
revenue, as did his two sons and six
granddau9hters, who have married
scions of prominent English families.
At some period, say about 1886, the
estates were thrown into chancery
and the high court Of chancery has
decrccd THAT all these estates
and the accommodations of revenue
thcrefrcm belong TO the lineal dcsccn-
dants and the heirs of Mary Towne-
lev"
Mary Towneley, il seems, was twice
married, once TO John Lawrence and
once TO Robert Chase, but no mortal
man seems able TO determine whether
John or Robert first woed and won
the maiden's heart. At all events she
seems to have been the prolific
mother To whom multitudes of Law
renee and Chase heirs look back and
call her blessed, and vet doubt if Bob
Lawrence or myself would take much
interest in her at this late day, but
for the fact that she was the only sur
viving child of old "Sir Something
Towneley'
| am unable 10 say how much of
family John and Mary Lawrence LEFT
TO mou II their taking off, but Robert
and Mary Chase LETT four sons, named
Robert. William. Acquilla and Thomas.
The eldest, Robert, remained in Eng
land, while Thomas joined the colony
of Governor Winthrop and came TO
New England in 1880, and from
Mary Towneley's obstinacy in
ouiliving her brothers has grown
this bother about the Lawrence
Chase Towuelcy heirs"
understand that the Lawrence
claim that the records show that Mary |
Townelcy married John Lawrence but |
that there is no record showing her |
marriage TO Robt. Chase. On the |
other hand the Chases' claim that the |
records show just the contrary and |
hold that the Lawrences' are quite I'M
able To establish their claims TO de-
scent from old "Sir Something .Towne-
ley's' only daughter.
In the Towneley family there have
been beheadings, attainders and re-
versions ofattainder and all the vicis-
itudcS attendant on blue blood, high |
station and much property and all this
terminiug what branch of the family |
should possess the property at differ
ent periods.
From the vast number of Lawrence
and Chase heirs-the woods are full of |
thcm-it is clear that both John Law
renee and Robt. Chase were married |
to somebody or ought TO have been.
Ii is claimed by the Lawrences' that
the chanccry degree giving the estates
to the defendant of Mary Townely |
shows she married John Lawrence |
and that herself and husband came to |
America, and here ended their days. |
If the decree does not show this, it |
goes TO prove that Robert Chase |
either never married Mary Towneley,
or that he was her first lover and hus-
band. which, 10 me, is the most prob
able. as | cannot. as descendant of |
Robe-t, for q moment admit that he |
failed TO do his whole duty TO pos
terIiy, as he clearly would had he not |
given Us part in this heritage by mar
rying the only heir. The first we
know of the Chsses the old man. Viii
liam,was an officer in the household OF |
King Henry the Eighth. He of the
sayory reputation.
This matter is being thoroughly in |
vestigatcd and IN due time we shall |
all know how much money old "Sir |
Something Towneley" provided for
each of us, and what is quite as i'm
portant, who was Mary Towneley's
first love. What We know is that the |
estate exists. Ii does not amount 10 |