Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-06-13
MISS GILPlN'S WEALTH
BAuIs CONCERNING HBR VIII
MIRGTON IETEREs2is.
,Ths strange Career OF the Eccentric
Wilmington Lady Who Recenlly v
Died I'm esaiveston-Rer Property
ia Tnis City.

ton. Texas, on May zubh, ls Rfauualiy uh-
folding itself, and true history of her
eventful oareer would make as interesting
reading as novel. She was born and
raised in this city, and spent the most Of
her life on the hills overlooking the
Brapdywine. She was born on the banks
Of that romantic stream at or near the
present site OF the Augustine Paper Mills.
There stood the old Gilpin mansion for
msuy years.
The Gilpins came OF good, old English
saock, and their social standing was of
the highest in the old country. II is said
OF Miss Gilpin's parents that when they
were married, the father OF the bride
placed his daughter on one side of some
barge scales and filled the other side with
gold until the two were evenly balanced.
That would be pretty respectable dowry
for rich father to give his daughter
even in these days of great wealth.
The will which she is reported to have
left bequeathing 5000, 900 with which to
found school for educating young girls
iD this State, is not 30 visionary as ii
seemed. She left enough property in
this city to mako faiS start toward
that sum, and ID. G.. Peabody of Dem
yer, COL, her banker for many years,
states that before she left Denver Bhe
| placed valuable package of money, drafts
and notes In his vault for safe keeping
| In all her continual travels she WAS always
| we'll supplied with money, and when
| she was found dead in Galveston. several
money orders for considerable amounts
mot yet drawn, were found upon her
| person.
An examination of the city assessment
books shows the following properties
| which are assessed to her and which she
owned In fee simple: A lot on Sixth be-
| tween DUPONT and Scott streets, assessed
| at $500; lot on Clayton between Ninth
and Tenth streets, SO, 100; lot corner of
| Riddles road and Shallcross avenue,
l 4470; lot corner OF Shalloross avenue and
| Scott street, $500; lot on Tenth between
1 SCOTT and Lincoln streets, So 500; lot at
4 Tenth and Union streets, ST. ,000 lot on
4 Union between Tenth and Eleventh
llstreets, 81 800; lot on Lowering avenue
between lincoln and Union streets,
81 $50; lot on Shallcross avenue between
| same streets, 81, $50; two frame houses
on Lowering avenue between Lincoln and
\ Union streets, 81, 100; lot between nsme
streets, $780, lot on Wawaset street near
Uulon, $50; SIX two. story houses on Wa
waset street between Lincoln and Union
streets, 81, 900: lot OF Lincoln and Wa
waset strests, $50; lot on Sixth between
Franklin and Broome streets, 81 GOO; lot
south-west corner Sixth and dupont
streets, $3.50.
These represent total assessment OF
S2S, $50, and real estate men can appre-
| ciate the fact that this is oonsiderAbly
below the market value OF thig property.
Besides, she had an interest in the Joshua
Gilpin estate at Ninth and Tenth and
DUPONT streets, which is assessed al
| SI4,5I0; much below Its real value. The
value of her personal property must
have been considerable and it is very
probable that her estate will settle up
handsomely and il the provisions of her
will are reported correctly, Delaware will
be the richer by the addition Of one more
valuable school to her public institutions
II true, her odd bequest is in keeping
with her eccentric career throughout life
She was always doing the unexpected
| and her queer freaks soons alienated hel
from her relatives and friends whom they
found that they could not control heI
actions. In fact, she wss like many Other
old maids, wilful and headstrong. She
did not want for rich and powerful
relatives but nhe seemed to avoid any
thinglIike reatraint and was sasindependeni as
in her actions and movements as the
birds of the sir. She lived for many
years in one OF two frame houses on
Lowering avenue between lincoln and
Union streets which she owned and it il
not more than 10 years ago that she
finally left this city. She lived alone fol
long time but occasionally she would
take some little girls from the neighbor-
hood as companions. She seemed to be
specially fond of little girls although her
treatment of thera ia inexplicable. On
one occasion she locked one of the little
girls who was living with her at the tims
In the second story Of her house where
the little victim was kept for two or three
days without food, it is stated, and il
was not until her plaintive posture at the
window attracted she attention OF passing
pedestrians that her release was secured
with the aid of the law. She does moi
seem to have inflicted the punishment
malioiously but ber actions were more
the result OF m eccentric nature.
She often seemed to forget her yolun'
tary charges and neglected them until
they became miniature editions of her
self, SO far as appearances were con
cerned. She was always poorly, evor
miserably olnd, and IN old bonnet and 8
threadbare dress OF calico or some Other
cheap material were apparently her sole
articles OF dress for many years. In thi.
condition she travelled all over the globe
but always provided with q plentiful
supply of money. When she died IN
Galveston she Was dressed more like a
tramp or begear than q woman who had
competency or could even be oonsid'
cred wealthy.
Her last ward in this city resulted in
the most romantic incident Of her event
full career. Mrs. Chapman IL the aged
housekeeper for Robert Smith Of No
l403 Rodney street. who formerly KEEP
the marble yard at Delaware avenue an6
Tatnall street. She is Rs eccentric a.
Miss Gilpin was and recently her Eind
has begun to fail her utterly. Her hus-
band was Il dealer in nd-hande6
goods in this city for many years and
when he married Mrs. Chapman, who
was his second wife, he was her senior by
Is or 20 years. a daughter blessed theii
union, but shortly after the ohild's birth
the father died and the widowed mother
was left alone with her child. The latter,
who was named Bella, grew to be bright,
pretty little girl. She was about eight
years old when the late Miss Gilpin took
fancy to her aud insisted on taking the
child TO Europe with her, as she had just
about been seized with another one Of
her wandering trips. This was about
1872. Little Bella was delighted at the
proposed trip. The odd pair sailed for
Europe and travelled all over the CONT.
nent and in due time they reached Florence
In Italy. There the attention of some
Americans was called to little Bella Chap.
man. The child had been Hhamefully
neglected and maltressed, simply because
her freaky guardian seemed to have for