Daily Republican., 1888-06-21

What Wilmington PEOPLE Say or the
story OF the Deed-How the Peter
sons Acquired Their Immense ks-

| btoEy tno Dbou-nOW the f1tEE
sons Acquired Their Immense ss-
tAtea.
Philade'phia Times.
Lawyer ]. Ernest Smith, OF Whining
ton, Del, who is alleged to be the custo-
dian of valuable papers belonging TO The
Peterson estate, is at present attending
the Chicago convention. A reporter yes
terday visited Wilmington to yer iy the
statements of Pastor England and trace
the Peterson family, whose calm TO mil
lions OF dollars worth Of property was
published yesterday.
The story that the deeds to the property
were held by Lawyer j. Err est Smith,
who, 1t was said, found them in an old
arm chair, and that man was paid to
steal them, was the main topic Of CONVEX
sation in Wilmington.
Arthur II. Smith, the younger brother
OF Lawyer Smith, was seen &C his office.
BE disclalmsi all knowledge of the arm
chair, or Of the existence Of such papers.
He said, however, that an attempt had
been made to rob his brothers. house
some years ago by man who was 30 dis
guised as to make his appearance very
much like that Of Lawyer Smith. He
never knew the object OF the attempted
robbery, as the fellow succeeded IN max
ing good his escape. A visit was next
made to Lawyer Smiths home at No.
lO00 Jefferson street, but there was no
one at home.
MRS TATNALL's STATEMENT.
His mother-in law, Mrs. Tatnall whose
grounds Join those of Mr. Smith, said
There 10 an old chair In Mr. smiths
house, but don't believe that 1t ever be-
longed TO any Of the Peterson family.
l know that 1t has no secret dr. lwer or
box, anu 1 never heard anything of his
having any papers belonging to that es-
tate. There was an attempt made to rob
his house some years ago There we're
large numbers OF people, mostly young
women, In the house that evening, and
all were going cut TO party. The man
got into Mr. Smitd's room and when he
was discovered by q servant he said to
her; WON'T you come and shake hands
with meY The girl at once spread the
alarm, but the thiot made good his ca.
cape. never knew that he had any par
ticular object in trying to rob The house, |
yet It may be queer coincidence that
there was good deal Of jewelry in the
room at the time, which he did not
touch. l don't believe that Mr. Smith |
knows anything Of these papers of which
you speak,"
Albert Smith, the father of Lawyer
Smith, lives at No. 6i3 Washington
street. He said that his son had been in !,
terested in the Peterson case He |
thought that he had been asked to repre- |
sent the claimants at one time He
knew nothing OF the Peterson family or
the arm chair story, although he remem-
hprpd The rohharu
Walter Tatnall, who Is a brother In !
law OF Ernest Smith. and whose wife is !
a direct descendant of tie old Peterson |
family, said that h5 knew nothing of the |
matter whatever but If such papers
existed he would have heard OF them !
through his wife.
The OIL other person In Wilmington
who could bs located as descend dant Of |
TIE Peterson family is Paschall h Pet
c sen, OF No. llJl French street, who /
was yesterday appointed police sergeant
by Mayor elect Harrin ton.
THE PETERSON FAMILY.
The story as published has created
great deal OF comment Wilmington, as
the Peterson family is one of the Oldest
In the State OF b lAware, aud has always
been known us a very wealthy family.
The first member OF the family to laud on
these shores was Giles Peterson, who
came here and acquired tract of land
62x300 feet, on April 10, 1867. Follow.
ing him came other members OF the
family. and the amount of property
which they acquired was simply enor. I
nous, one grant alone covering what is
now the city of Wilmington. THIS grant
was made on April 10, 1878. John STILL
cop on that day conveyed to Samuel Pet
teIsson the greater Part of his estate, be-
ginning at thorn bush In the middle of
French street and on liue with the
south side of Wa er street, thence east
eTly up the middle of French street to a
point between Third and Fourth streets,
thence by northwesterly course across
the square at Fourth aud Market streets
to stake near Rattlesnake
run, thence In southwesterly direction
to 4 email rlvulet ilowiLg into the Chris.
tiana river below the point at Front and
West streets This trac; of land covers
the entire business portion of the town. /,
Another large tract OF land wAsgranted
to Aans Peterson, who settled in Della
ware before 1868 His land started on
Vertrecht Hook and ran along the Della
ware to the Rucklaud Manor, q distance
of two miles. He lived on this land be.
tween Vertrecht Hook and ShtllpotI
creek, and the quaint old building,
which was then call a mansion, is still
$ andlng, loobing somewhat the worse .
wear A large number of other mem
bers of the family we found, to whom
vast amounts OF land were granted. |,
OLD oFFICE-HoLDERs. l.
The family were well known and sew. (
eral of them held public office. Adam 8.
Peterson was appointed a Justice OF the
Peace on June 3, 1895 and Andrew Pet
tersson filed the same office fro a June
5, 1928 Hars Peterson was member {
Of the New Castle Council Ia 1885. II
The iami' and their property can be
easily traced until as late as 1887, but !
after thai all traces of them were lost, and | 4
In no instance is the name Of Gabriel Pet r
Lersson mentioned, although the fact is /
to t lat some of the members of i
the family engaged in the Revolutionary
war. Ths fact is also on record that the
family was among the first founders OF
she Swedish church in this country.
The Drowned MuiionAire's VIII.
BALTIMORE, June 81 The will Of the
ate T. Harrison Garrett was admitted to
1robate ypsterdav It. is dated kovem I