New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-13
THE FAMOUS JENNENS ESTATE.

AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN DREAMING OF
CASTLES IN SPAIN.
"It reminds me Of gay castles in the clouds that
pass said David P. Rhoades, president Of the New
York News Company, when his attention was called
TO the article In The Tribune relative TO the william
Jennens estate and the letter 10 the editor signed by
An English solicitor TO the effect that no American
subject has been party TO an action" against
that estate. Mr. Rhoades continued: d" If you Will
permit me will express my own views as to what
the experience has been thus far Of American claim
ants OF English estates by quoting that proverbial
phrase found throughout English literature that 1t Is
building castles in the air and making yourself
Laughing stock The article in The Tribune says
that two English solicitors have come 70 this country
to hunt up all the descendants IN this country, about
$50 in number OF william Jennens who they assert,
died in 1905, the richest commOner In England.
THE name given by these solicitors of this rich com
1noner the date Of his death and other statements
closely identify him with william Jennings, and they
are probably and the same. And | know that
American subjects have been "A party to an action
In connection with the Jennings estate far back
as fifty years ago. Members of my mothers and
crandfather's family, when quite young man
and since came TO with hopeful tales Of the Jen-
nngs estate and the promises held out TO them by the
attorneys, but was CT few who had little c0nn
donce In getting anything out Of Enelands treasury,
hence refused to contribute. Ny great grandfather
Captain samuel Gech, ana ny SidHuI"uICi' N''"'
missary Michel Peck OF Fairfield, Conn, and both ap
ponted in the Connecticut forces In the Revolution
hy Jonathan Trumbull the original Brother Jonathan
were lineal heirs the William Jennings estate, ana
when We are recognized by the Chanccry Court OF
England may get some OF It, But none of the at
torneys heretofore sent 10 England have yet sue
ceeded in doing than spending the thousands OF
dollars contributed by the hundred or more heirs"
As far back as lS46 attorney was sent to Eng
land by the heirs OF the eocalled William Jennings
estate and the following Is from the Official records
furnished and testified by Joshua Bates, OF London
IN December "a 1896 to his sister, Mrs. Sturges OF
Boston, a niece Of Richard Jennings, OF Maine: DIED
On the 10Th of june l798 in his ninety seventh year.
william Jennings, OF Acton Place, near Long Mel
frd in the County suffolk and of Grosvenor Square
esq lie was baptized In September, 17Ol, and was
the son Of Robert Jennings esq, aide decamp to the
Great Duke OF Marlborough, by Ann his WIFE, daughter
and heir OF Carew Gudot esq., nneally descended from
Sir Anthony Knigh-a noble OF FlOrentlne, employed
ON sundry occasions by King Edward Wand grandson
OF Humphrey Jennings, Of Ellington Hail. in the County
of Warwick, esq., lord Of the Of Nathan Whit
mere in that county in 1850, and an eminent iron
master at rmingham. This would seem TO identity
William Jennings with william Jennens In fact,
Mr. Bates adds that the register states that Wllham
Jennens died bachelor in 179e, and Jennens and
Jennings are considered having been originally the
same
Tie last tfnc tDat tne lcllH VI lHc NiiI"'' "Ni'r
estate were called upon for contributions to contest
,,eir claims in England was at a meeting in Morgan
Hall Camden " j. about years when
eomucl A. Cook, a solicitor and agent who had been
10 Europe four times, called for more money Inc
finance committee reported at that time That the
credulous heirs had contributed S1O4l9 toward prose
cu,inc their claims In addition 10 the estimated
yalue Of the estae$J0O, 900 OoO-te heirs are ehtIoi
n the coat of arms, described as follows Breast,
griffin with a plumnet suspended arms, three plum
NETS with a lion couchant gold bed The lol-
lowing are other interesting details Incorporated III
the record copied by Mr.. Bates
.King william III was godfather TO the late Mr.
Jennings and among other valuables discovered In his
bouse is a silver ever which present from that
monarch at his baptism He had been page 10
George l. and during the long period Of lis life re
manned a bachelor. more given to penu1ousness thai
hospitality. lie was the last assistant Of the OK
ebeouer tontine of 600 share, for which he had
received $4,000 year for many years past lie hau
property in almost every fund, and such was MS I'm
mense wealth that the dividends on most OF his stock
have not been received since l77S nor the Interest
h,s mortgages for a long time In his iron chest, tn
kew OF which could not be found until after Ion
.earch and was hid In Of his mortgages, there
Vere banknotes OF the year 1898 to the amount oil
$4,000 and several thousand euneas Abou
100000 were fc nd In money and banknotes at al
town and county houses and also key TO the ches
containing his mothers plate and valuables, winch
deposted at Chd's the bankers and has never beer
opened since his dccease. lie Is reported TO have
always kept $4,000 In his bankers hands for sud
den emergencies. lie was very regular In nj
habits and kept accurate account OF his househol
Affairs and noticed his bills OF expenses were not
,xceed ca 600 per annum . A will found In his
,cat pocket sealed and not signed owing. as his
teryants say, to his leaving his spcctacies at nonis
rbcn he went TO his solicitors for the purpose OF dull!
executing II, which he afterward forgot TO do" :,
Then follows a statement OF the amount OF M
oroperty in South Sea stock. consols. bank stool
snnuities. accounts at his banks and bankers II
snrance companies New River concern. mortgages
Endod estate. and interest due. amounting