The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-29
THE DUKE AND DUCHESS.
WHERE MARLBOROUGH FOUND
THE MILLIONS BE is ENJOYING.


THE MILLIONS he IS ENJOYING.
Married a Gold Mine - Much of the
Money Already Sunk in Blenheim
Castle - Mrs, Hamersley's Reckless
Plunge.
From the 81. Louis Republic
When Mrs. Lillie-Warren Hamsrsley was
welded to the Duke Of Marlborough two
years ago IN the New York city hall by
Mayor Hewitt, the swelldom OF the city
was thrilled with pride and delight at the
fact that one of their number had con-
tracted an alliance so noteworthy and dis
tinguished.
They felt that the glamour of fame that
descended upon the pretty head OF Mrs
Hamersley was reflected to a certain degree
upon themselves They also saw in the
immediate future prolonged visits to the
dukes historical castle, Blenheim. where the
duchess would entertain them with the
same magniticence and grandeur accorded
the royal guests Of centuries ago.
Some of these seekers after blue>blooded
attention were disappointed, others were
not With her ascension to one of the
proudest stations in England the once unas-
Stunning and simple New York girl did not
turn her back on old associations and
friends, but treated them with the same
kindness and regard that had always been
one Of her leading characteristics.
Consequently the Duchess of Marlborough
has few If any enemies among the rich and
socially distinguished people of New York.
And when the news of her financial difficult
ties burst upon the social horizon like an
ominous black cloud ten days ago. she had
the honest sympathy and regard of every
one in and out the Four Hundred
But recent developments, have shown the
monetary perplexities of the duchess to be
much smaller than originally supposed, and
while they may cause ner some temporary
Inconvenience, nothing serious Of perma-
nent character will result.
THE DAWN OF THE DUCHESS.
While all the world is talking about and
discussing the Marlborough or Hamersley
millions, unusual interest is conferred upon
the fair duchess herself.
There are scores of hardy old farmers liv-
ing around Troy who can tell you stories by
the yard about the beauty of Lille Price,
who was one of the bellies of that neighbor-
hood twenty years ago.
Then, like hundreds of other American
girls, she had beauty, grace and wit, and
but lit lie MORE She had some little claim
to distinction, however, being the daughter
of Commodore Price of the United States
navy.
While blessed with boundless beauty and
ambition, Lille Price was not much richer
than the proyerbial church mouse until she
married Mr.. Louis Care Hamersley. This
union made her the mistress of fortune
between Sc, 100000 and 100000. Shortly
after their marriage, which occurred in the
latter part of the '70s, Mrs Hamersley be-
came one of the leaders in metropolitan
society. She also Travelled abroad extern
sively, and her charm Of manner, combined
with the lavish use of the many millions
placed at her disposal, made her famous as
a society queen.
But the history Of those millions which
became hers with her marriage is an inter-
esting one
As near as can be learned, the first Ham-
orsley to come to this country was Will
lam Hamersley, who came from England
and died in 1892. William Hamersley
accumulated considerable money for those
days, and his eldest son, who died i'll 1919,
and who received one-fourth of the formers
estate, was the great-grandfather OF Louis
Care Hamersley. Andrew Gordon Ham
ersley was the father of Louis Care Ham
ersley, and the latter's uncle, John w.
Hamersley, married the wealthy Miss
Hoover Of Poughkeepsie.
Andrew Gordon Hamersley married Miss
Sarah Mason, daughter of John Mason,
founder and president of the Chemical Ma
tional Bank, 1t is due to this marriage that
the Duke of Marlborough can avail him
self of the income Of many millions to keep
in proper style the princely and historical
castle bequeathed him by his forefathers
John Mason owned an immense farm,
which covered all the ground now occupied
by Central park. and considerable ground
on either side OF it. This land is now the
most valuable Of any In the city.
A LEGACY OF MILLIONS
When John Mason died he bequeathed to
the husband of his daughter seven fifty
slxths of his estate. This would not be
much OF legacy from an ordinary rich
man, but from MIR. Mason it meant at least
81, 200, 900.
This legacy included Nos. 796 and 73S
Broadway and the property running from
Fourth through Madison to Fifth avenue,
and from Sixtieth to Sixty-Fitfh street.
Louis G. Hamersev, the husband Of the
duchess and the grandson of old John
Mason, received one fifty-sixth of the lat
ter's estate. The small fraction meant
the possession of fifteen lots beginning at
the southeast corner OF Fifth avenue and
n fsy-hftdb down street Fftys and street ea''nda
distance Of 375 feet. When Andrew Gordon
Hamersley died he left oil his property,
then worth 100000, to his son Louis G.
Hamersley.
Before his marriage to Lille Price the
latter Travelled all over the world. He had
been educated at Oxford, England, and,
| after incessant study, which considerably
impaired his health, had obtained degree.
Mr.. Louis G. Hamersley died in 1883,
leaving his young widow, as his next of
kin, the use Of his whole fortune during her
life. He left his estate in the custody of
three trustees, who were directed to pay to
his widow the entire income of the
estate, and after that 1t was disposed Of in
this way in the will:
In the event that no issue of mine shall
survive my said wife then on her decease
give my seid estate, real and perso al. to
the male issue OF my cousin, j. Hooker
Hamersley, then living, and to the male is
sue Of such Of them as shall have previously
died leaving issue. In tbe event, however,
that my said cousin shall die without leav-
ing male issue, him surviving or surviving
my wife, then, on the decease of my wife.
give the whole of my said estate to such
charitable and benevolent corporations
located in the city of New York, and in
such shares and proportions as my dear
wife shall by her last will and testament
designate.
The trustees were George Williams,
Jacob Lockman and Mrs. Hamersley. At
the time of the death Of Mr. Hamersley, j.
Hooker Hamersley was not married, and
for some years his friends despaired Of his
ever entering the matrimonial state He
lsl ,,ot On ro ct al for oroiafv b,,f Aiuidad