Evening journal., 1888-06-21
WANTING THE EARTH
TIE PETERSONS MAKE AN
ENORMOUS CLAIM.
Advertising for the Heirs of an
Original Settler OF Fort eastman.
Cutting a Triangle out of will
nlfngtOn.

cited at some length that the descendants
Of Gabriel Peterson were about making
claim to the larger portion of the old city
of Philadelphia and down along the Della
ware river to Wilmington. IL is alleged
that one thing stood in the way Of the re-
covery OF the property and that was the
descendants had not the deeds. The
deeds and papers belonging to the estate
for number of years had been
lost. but were found finally by J. Ernest
Smith, ESQ, OF this city. Rev. Martin J.
England, pastor of the Swedish Lutheran
Church in Philadelphia, has the Petersons
In hand, and to reporter OF the Philadelphia
Times who claimed to be Peterson, be
related the many devices resorted 20 by tho
heirs to obtain the papers. He said that
MIR. Smith had the papers but refused to
give them up. TO obtain them, the rev err
end gentleman related that crook had
been hired for $500, some sight or nine
years ago. to come here and rob Mr.. Smiths
house. The thief however accomplished
nothing.
| The absence OF Mr.. Smith at Chicago
prevented an interview with him yesterday
afternoon. and hence the JOURNAL reporter
called at his residence, 1905 Jefferson st. to
see Mrs. Smith. She was out, however,
but sitting In the spacious grounds adjoin-
Ing was Mrs. Henry l.. TatnaIl, Mrs
| Smiths mother. Mrs. Tatnall said
in relation to the matter: Il
have heard OF the Peterson claim. but do
not believe there ia any truth in the story
that Mr.. Smith has any papers. know
every piece OF furniture In Mr.. Smiths
/ house and there ia an old chair there that
was made, believe, by Joshua Wollaston,
ear. Smiths great-grandfather, but / do
not believe that anyone in the Peterson
family ever owned IT, About eight years
ago turglar entered Mr.. Smiths house.
We thought it was "S.im JIM Hagany.
There is certainly a coincidence in tho case
i for the reason that the man had ample
time to steal a large amount OF
jswelry before he was discovered by a ser
want. and yot he took nothing. The night
OF the robbery it was very dark; there
were six or eight young ladies 10 the house
but everyone had gone out exc apt the scr
want girl When the thief saw her he put
cut bis hand as il to shake hands, but the
girl was frightened and RAM Albert w.
Smith and Arthur II. Smith the father and
brother OF J. e, Smith, both rscollected
the robbery, but knew OF no arm chair.
Albert Smith. however,. bad some rec
ollecnon Of his son representing some
one interested in the claim. he was Ger.
tain that he had had clients ia opposition
for the claim.
Mrs Walter g. Tatnall is direct de.
scendant Of the Peterson family. and talk
with her husband last evening revealed
nothing further than that he knew Of an
arm chair. Mr. Tatnall made thorough
examination OF the chair last evening, but
failed TO discover any drawer. In opposi.
tion to the disclaimers OF Mr.. Smiths family
the Rev Mr. England says that repeated
demands have been made upon Ernest
4 Smith, ESQ. for the alleged papers. and
that he has always refused to deliver them
up.
Aside from Mrs. W. @. Tatnall and
Paschall II. Peterson, who is also a de
scendant of the old Petersons there are
none OF the family in Wilmington. 10 the
city directory the names OF IA Petersons
appear, but none OF them are possessed OF
much Of this worlds goods, and within the
recollection OF most people about Whining
ton there has been none OF the family here
for years that was a person Of means
The claim Of the family for the land rests
upon. first, that it was conveyed by the
early Petersons 10 80 year leases, and, sec.
ond. upon ground rents with = clause of
forfeiture In case OF non.payment and that
a large amount of the land has always
been hsId illegally.
The first Of the Peterson family IN the
country was Claes Peterson. VIII o landed at
New Castle In the early part Of 1855 and
received from Vice-Governor Jacquett a
grant for a lot OF 62x30O feet &C Fort
CAsimer New Castlel Hans and Usin
Peterson are the next Of the family in this
country. Hans lived southwest OF Yer
trecht Hook tEdge Moor), and on Shellpot
creek and he located before 1868, as his
patent bears date November IA Of that year,
and called for l27l8 acres He later owned
more property and in 1877 had a dispute
which ended in a suit 10 court. over a title
to land claimed by others He was mem.
ber OF the old Crane Hook Church and one
of the founders and first trustees OF the Old
Swedes Church. He was with most Of the
Swedes Ia the vincinity mentioned as one
OF the confederates OF the "Long Finn,
who was tried at New Castle for insure c
tion and was bsnished in 1876 Before
1871 Hans had other tracts OF land located
to him, comprising what is now almost the
entire eastern end OF the Ninth ward
The land claimed by the Patersons in
this city besides the Ninth ward tract is q
tract sold by John Stallcup to Samuel
Peterson on April 16, 1875, and by later
survey made under Penn, it is described as
follows; Beginning at thorn bush in the
middle Of French St. and on a line with
the south side OF Water St thence easterly
up the middle Of French st. to point be
tween Sd and 4th SITS, thence by a north
westerly course across the square at 4tt
and Market SITS. diagonally to stake near
Rattlesnake run, thence in a southwesterly
direction to a small rivulet flowing into the
Christiana river below the point at Front
aud West SITS.
Samuel Peterson by his will, dated
November 20, 1869, devised to his son tina
should live longest with the mother, all hi.
real estate. By this novel bequest It came
to bis sou Potter. who owned It during BIZ
life BY his will, January 20, TIA. be be.
queathed it to his son, Peter Peterson, who
J on the Sth Of May, l7s7, conveyed one-hali
Of il on ground rent to Andrew Justison
What became OF the rest Of the land ther.
Is no record. and the Petersons claim It Il
held Illegally. This Samuel Peterson and
bis brothers Hans and Adam took the oath
Of allegiance 70 the Eoglish government
after PenD's arrival, on February 30. 1853
, Auorhar larua tract rlafr,ad Ia thar gor,,,