The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-12-16
MRS. HAMILTON'S Luck.
Her Christmas Present Will
Be a Fortune from
England.

While there are many of the towns
some and substantial presents the
approaching holidays none will be as
fortunate or so generously considered as
Mrs Sarah Hamilton, widow of the late
Thomas Hamilton, who resides at No.
217 Monmouth street. Unless there is
some unforeseen delay she will receive, in
cold cash. between $2O0, 900 and 100000. a
fortune which she has been endeayoring
to obtain since her husbands death,
about three years ago.
Over 100000 of the inheritance has
been in the custody of the Court of Chan
Gerry of England for forty years, or so
long that the accumulated interest ex-
ceeds the principal, to all of which she
has succeeded after a hard struggle and
much difficulty in proving clear title,
which has been recognized by the Eng
lish authorities.
Briefly related, the circumstances of
Mrs. Hamilton's good fortune are these:
Many wears ago John Shaw, captain
in the Royal navy, while in command of
one of Her Majesty's ships, purchased a
tract of land on the harbor of Port Royal,
Island of Jamaica. The deed for the same
was duly recorded. In his last will and
testament John bequeathed the property
and considerable sum of money in
the Bank of England to his brother,
James Shaw, of Londonderry, ireland.
James, after Johns death, applied for
letters of admi 1istration, which were
granted. He was unable to readily
secure the requisite bonds, and the mat
ter drifted along for some years.
During this period the English Govern
ment acquired title to the land by con-
demnation commission of jurors COM
posed of prominent business men of Port
Royal being selected They valued the
property at 100000, which amount was
set aside by the Court of Chancery of
England for the heirs Of John Shaw, in
case any such should turn up. James
died, leaving an only daughter, Sarah.
who was married to Thomas Hamilton
i'll Londonderry some years ago. in 1874
Mr.. and Mrs. Hamilton came to this
country and settled in New York. Sub
sequently they moved to Hanover Town
ship, Morris county, where Mr. Hamilton
died.
Prior to his death steps were taken to
establish Mrs. Hamilton's title to the
money. To the satisfaction of Her
Majesty's Consul at New York, William
Lane Barker; the American Consul at
Port Royal, w. G. Glen, and the Lord
High Chancellor of England she sue
ceeded in establishing the fact that she
was the only surviving heir of John
Shaw.
The death of her husband. however,
sufficed to delay the payment Of the
money, amt made it necessary for her to
prove her identity and the fact that she
was the widow of the late Thomas Ham
ilton and the daughter of James Shaw,
referred to in the previous proceedings.
This she has succeeded in doing.
She visited Port Royal in person, and
found that the property owned by her
uncle is now occupied by the naval hos
pital and warehouses of the British Gov
ernment. She saw one or more of the
gentlemen who served upon the commits
sion Of jurors, and easily convinced them
and the American Consul that she was
the only legitimate living heir to the in
heritance.
The final papers of Identification were
forwarded to England some days ago
and in reply her counsel in this city has
received word that they have been re-
ceived and recognized and that the
money will be forwarded without delay.
Mrs Hamilton is about sixty years of
age