New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-21
PLAYING ON CREDULOUS PEOPLE.
IFFICI1TIEs IN THE WAY OF PROVING HEIR

DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF PROVING HEIR
SHIP TO OLD ENGLISH ESTATES
The Tribune has upon several occasions denouhceo
the practices of so-caed solicitors who iepcae0V dP
peal to the supposed heirs OF large Eughsh estates
which are said 10 remain IL the keeping Of TIE Ehehsh
Treasury. simply waiting for come one TO come ana
p:ove his title and get 1t. The Tribune recently pub
lished a warning sgalnst putting TOO much trust In
a recent arrival from England one Of those phiIan-
thropic legal men whose chief delight 1t is 70 re
cover large English estates and hand them over 10
the poor and lawful heirs In America These fellows
come here with plausible stories about how easy IL
IS to mythical millions OF pounds sterling
locked up in the Bank Of England, simply waiting to
be claimed and all these solicitors ask is subscriptions
lust to prosecute the claims. Many thousands OF
dollars have been expended IN this way By the over
confident heirs, but the millions have not yet been
distributed In the last weeks many letters eave
been received thanking The Tribune for its warning,
and one or two from the solicitors have criticised it
unjust.
one Of these letters from Benjamin Wills Jennens,
O. salt Lake City says 81 remember the efforts made
10 discover the Ineal descendants OF Williams Jeunens
over fifty years ago. 1t may serve to show any
claimants in America the difficulties before them in
cndeavorng 70 establish any claim to the estate. OF
course, something have turned up since the time
] speak OF put different light upon the matter.
Ny father was an important manufacturer In Birmins-
ham, England, closely connected with the fine arts, 80
prominent that he appointed manufacturer 10
George " William " and to the present Queen Vic
tora In his frequent visits to the palace he became
well known to Lord Howe and to his sons, the
Curzans and with the latter had many conversations
about the Jenncns estate.
"They honestly admitted that they believed him TO
be one Of the heirs TO the estate, but the difficulty
lay In establishing the proof. am now s4xty-fve
years OF age and well remember the efforts made by
my father 10 establish his claim. lie and some
relatives employed lawyers and others to search church
registry books for entries Of births deaths and mar
r.aCcs Of the Jennens family and nv father mad
piles Of documents testifyg to the thoroughness of
the Investigation at that period. was naturally
deeply in the proceedings and used 10 read
all writings that compiled. well remember
tina, there came reports from those engaged in making
the search OF missing leaves from the church registers
corresponding with dates OF the events referred 10 In
the Jennens family. At length, after many years OF
time aud great expenditures OF money, my father
gave up the hopeless. A missing Ink In the
coupling brought the business 10 an end, as under
Another letter from L. W. Kervsn. OF Norwalk Fla.
such circumstances serve Two purposes, even
though the funds remain in Old ENGLAND where thcS
were accumulated 1t leads msny people 70 !oOk up
their eenealogy who never would othef"iat TIL"
they Lad any such thing; and 1t Is productive 81
estate, OF course ii is big subject to think OIL one
OF the peculiar features ! learned some twenty -hVc
can be an heir, unless By marriage into the families
Of the descendants through tie female lnc Tor The
jennings OF that particular FAMILY OUT Win
The generation of greagrandfather's grandfather.
Michael Jennings.
:" Here is the line: John Rhoad-s and Easter Peck
married at Milford Conn. December 3, 1905. John
was born at wethersheld Conn January 20, IVA The
parents OF John Joseph Rhsades, OF Wethesfcd.
and sarah Green. 81 Milford. The parents Of Easter,
who died at Bethlehem Conn. on MAY 10, 1870. were
Michael Peck. born in Milford In 1875, and samuel
Marchant, who came this country from England.
The parents q Michael Peck Samuel Peck and
Hannah Jennings. samue Peck born In 1705. and
came TO the United States from Egnland. He died at
Milford, where he was owner OF large property. in
1894. Hannah a daughter OF Michael JenniDg~
who a OF Joshua Jennings, a OF Humphrey
Jennings, OF Ellington Hail. Warwickshre. England
Joshua Jennings landed NJ Saybrook from England
on the ship Martin IN 1C30 In company with two
brothers, John and samuel