The Indianapolis journal., 1890-04-22
B0YD'S $l7,OOo,oOO
A Maine Man Receives Notice That He Is En-
titled to a Big Slice ola Scotch Estate.
Easton fare.) Special


Wilson r.. Boyd, one of the best-known
man of considerable wealth, is preparing to
60 to England next month, expecting to
bring back the very neat sum of Sl7, ,0O0, 600,
besides proving title to still neater sum
of 500 600 600 in real estate. Mr. Boyo's
story of inherited wealth through European
ancestors differs from that ordinarily told
by those who are looking for such estates.
He said to a reporter that in the year 1863
he happened to buy copy of a New York
paper, and In glancing over the advertise
ments saw one calling for information about
the descendants of William Mckay, de-
ceased. The advertisement was inserted
by the British government, and said that q
large amount of money was then in the
Mckay. Mr.. Boyd pricked up his ears
very quickly ON reading that, because his
great grandfather was William Mckay,
who had emigrated to America from Scot
land. Going home he got ont a lot of old
from the old gentleman, in all three
barrelsful. The old documents were sorted
over carefully, and after awhile q yellow
old bit of parchment was found that made
Mr.. Boyd exceedingly comfortable. 1t was
the original will of the man whose British
estate was the subject of the advertise
ment.
The will was dated Dec. 5. 1874. 1t left
to each of three children of a widow he had
married the use for life of ten acres of land
death the land was to become the property
of Andrew Boyd, or heirs. of Frederick
City. Md. who had married William Nc
Kay's own daughter. Mary. by his first
wife. 1t appears that the relations between
the three step-daughters of old Mr.. Mckay,
who lived in Scotland. and the Boyds Of
Maryland were not cordial and intimate,
and that the old mans will was somehow
overlooked and forgotten in the Boyd fam
lily. The Boyds appear to have had no
idea about the value of the property left to
the three step-danghters, and SO kept no
track of them, and made no effort to learn
whether they were dead or alive. 1t has
since been proved that the first step
daughter died in 1S45, and the second in
1853 and the third in 1862 and that it was
soon after her death that the advertisements
for the heirs Of William Mckay was pnb-
| lished. es tele.-ez
Mr.. Mckay was of no great value when he
died. in 1896. 1t has since. by the spread
| ing of the city of Glasgow, become i'm.
| mensely valuable. On learning that he was
direct descendant of the Mckay in ques-
ton. Mr.. Boyd went over to ENGLAND to see
about it, He called on Judah p. BENJAMIN
and was told at first that the claim could
| not be prosecuted successfully, but on
| closer examination Mr.. BENJAMIN took
hold of the case for 20 per cent. of the pro-
ceeds. 4...--s ..tss
He prosecuted the case until his death
spending at one time S25,OOe to get hold of q
! valuable document that had been stolen by
some of the English heirs TO the estate
| that is. heirs of the step-daughters, who
| would hold some of the property in case
Mr.. Boyd could not establish his claim to
| the whole.
After Mr.. Benjamin died in 1885 the case
went into the hands of Mr.. George Bell, OF
| London and has been carried on ever since
and with success Mr.. Boyd has had to col.
lect facts about the life of William Mckay
that amounted TO pretty complete biogra-
I ply, even going so far as to prove the date
on which the old gentleman left England
| for France. the day he landed in France,
| the day he sailed thence to America the
name of the ship he sailed on, the day he
| arrived here, the port at which he arrived
| all about his life as a Maryland planter,
and so on. 1t involved all bnt endless Ia
Dor and patience. bnt it has at last been ac-
! complished Mr. Boyd was in Washington