Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-01-29


deem it proper to insert the enclosed clipping
for the benefit of the heirs in New England,
and in the hope that the questions asked may
be answered by some one who knows the
facts, l would be very glad to have you do 80.
Yours respectfully,
l. Z. WEBSTER.
Gainesville, Fla, Jan. %, 1856
THE TORONTO PRESIDENTS LETTER.
Eijior Worid: Permit to say few words in re-
ply statements made by United States Minis
ter Phelps gentleman OF strict integrity and honesty
Of purpose, which being extensively circulated
through the press In Canada and the United states.
Mr.. Phelps states that there lie no money in the
bank Of England belonging to the Lawrence-Towneey
estate or to any claimants under either.
Replying to this, may say that the consolidated
Lawrence-Towneleya association does not claim that
there Ia any large amount OF money in the bank OF
England for the Lawrence-rowne ley or Chase-Towne-
ley caimapts for, though we have reason TO believe
there was 1t has probably been gobbled up by the
present usurping claimants, who are now and have
been for years wrongfuy receiving the revenues OF
those estates.
Mr. Phelps again states that there ia no such estate
in England the Lawrence-T owneey estate nor any
known family Of that designation.
No one with any great knowledge OF the matter has |
claimed that there was Lawrence-Towneley es-
in England has it been claimed that there is
family Of that designation In England There IL, |
however Towneley estate in England, to which the
Lawrence ow neley and Chase Towneey families OF
America claim TO be entitled-and justly 80; OF which
fact have incontrovertble evidence IN our posses
sion, which can show any person who will call at
the ONCE of our association, al Yonge street arcade
Toronto We have copy Of the act Of the parliament
Of Great Britain aud Ireland passed August 4tb 1883
entitled "The Towneley Estates Act" defined fol-
lows: An act for carrying into effect the division OF
certain Entertainments known as the Towneey estates
in the counties OF Lancaster and York the estate in
the forest Of Rowland aud the Stella and Stanley es
ates in the county Of Durham, aud for other purpos
! es.-4s aud 40 Victoria session, 1885.
The estate ia not in the possession Of any at the
present time, but is held by several trustees IN the
interests OF the true heirs. The names Of the trus-
tees, given in said act, ollowa Sir Nicholas
William George Throckmorton, Sir George Russell
aud Henry Riversdale Grenfel for the Iowneley es,
FnW fhn and liz
Henry Petre, Henry Stourton Arnold, William White
and Samuel BRIGHAM. These trustees appear to have
certain powers over the income of these estates and
paying the greater portion OF to certain parties
who, by long occupation in the absence Of the true
heirs, have gradually become recognized as the own
ers but who have no legal claim to these estates-a
fact which are prepared to prove to the world and
proofs unquestonable Of which are now on Ole in the
English courts 1t is true the act passed directly
in the interest Of the present occupants and for well
known reasons only goes back to 1886.
1t is not absolute and the interests of the Lawrence
Towneley claimants are amply protected by saving
clsuses-in which statement we are confirmed by the
opinions Of the best English and Canadian solicitors
before whom the act has been laid 1t is an incontro
vertibls fact that there Is TOwneley estate Of i'm
mense value in England, the heirs OF which are IN
America, recorded in the chancery books OF the
source, alter this fact Minister Phelps is not in
possession of full information regarding the case aud
perhaps it would be well to ask Minister Phelps to
kindly look into aud investigate the following points
aud give the result Of his investigation to the Amer
' can and Canadian claimants: 1900
LIST. Ascertain the true why the act OF 1855
does go back Of 1886 all the claimants base their
claim prior to that date, and therefore none Of their
names appear in the act.
I'd BY whom, and in whose interest, the Stella
act of 1886 passed?
Sd. Find out for what base purpose and for whom
the recreation act passed on March IS 1881.
4th. Why does the act Of 1885 commence with Pere-
griue Edward Towneley in 1885, substantiAting him
u legal heir without telling anything about who he
a was where he came from?
u 9Th. Ascertain who Peregrine Edward Towneey was
and what his antecedents. II he not legit
innate heir, decreed by the English tribunal be-
fore which the laid certainly his descendants
o
a 9th. Why have things been kept so thoroughly in
the dark In connection with the estate that nearly 80
Y claimants, some Of them Of high standing in England
have been compelled to present their claims through
l. lsh sources And why have important family rec
: ords which relate to these estates been tempered
ss WITH
These are questions Of great Importance to the Can
; adisn and American claimants and should MT Phep,
fail to investigate them and give the result this
citation IL in position to answer them fully and sat
20 isfactorily, aud will be pleased to do so.
BY order Of the executive committee OF the Consoli
p VIM. NoRTHCoTE GEARE, President,
Y, SrURGEoH STEWART, Secretary.
n. We publish the above simply because it il
nj interesting reading, and not because it in tn,
IN least dsproves the explicit statement of Min
id lister Phelps. 1t should be remembered tina
4 Mr.. Phelps is in position where there is n,
ne reason for him to give anything but disinter
IT, ested advice the same cannot be said of tn
10 claim agents, to whose words the "heirs
A. prefer to pin their faith. 1t is true that Mr.
n. Phelpss declaration may conflict with the act
az of parliament on file in St. Louis and Torou
or to and the Consolidated Lawrence Townle
ia. Association have a great advantage over hir
he in being so much nearer the cities which COZ
az tain these valuable documents. Mr. Phelps
we believe, confined himself to the modes
in declaration that no such acts of ParliameI
an have as yet reached England. Indeed the al
ds ticle we have quoted recognizes the fac
re-. that England is a bad place for people to 6
,il to in search of this estate for it propounds Ii
mt conundrum, "Why have things been kept
an thoroughly in the dark in connection wit
rse the estate that nearly fifty claimants some
high standing in England have been con
PEELED to present their claims to u.s. utter
failing TO get any Information from EagR
,os sources ,"
no We fear if the consolidated Lawrenc
IAN Townleys wait for information or for estat
of from English sources they will be disappoin
Dry ed America is the place where these bu
ans bles are blown, and if the heirs wish to
Jay happy in their imaginary wealth they shou
list. always go to Toronto rather than London +
lies their facts.
ms. The following paragraph from Wednesday
urn Boston Herald is very much to the point
irst "Of course, the plain, authoritative stat
in. ment of Minister Phelps that there are abs
n7. lutely no great estates in England waiting
no be seized and enjoyed by fortunate Anne
SIS cans, as 80 many deuded people think,
tie laughed at by the gullible. A woman in We
ngs cester wrote to the Portland Transcript Il
are other day that she kReaO there were estates
nod England just suffering to be called for
- Yankees, and her reason as near as could
rae made out was that she knew it because 8
on did know it, and that was all there was to
ala Hardly any investment in these imagina
to estates has had any better foundation. III
the is good enough for the people who enjoy |
M ing gulled, and they are by no means an
Tue significant minority Of our population"
ire