The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-05
MILLIONS IN 1T.
Claims of an AngeIeno to
British Wealth.
BACK To THE LAST CENTURY.
An Heir of Old sir William Ponitney
Is Found in Southern
California.
ppeciaI to THE MORNING CALL

California is likely 10 nave anotner cause
celebre sprung upon her before long. The
title Of Sir William Poultney has been
vacant since 1907. There is property
involved besides the tite to the value
of some S100O00,0O0. In consequence
of ny connection with The Blythe case
l have been applied to and have no
doubt that have discovered the heir of Sir
William, who, by the way, was English
Chancellor of the Exeheqper during the
Revolutionary War"
This is an extract from an interview with
Acknowledgement Hart, which was pub
Iished IN THE CALL December ], 1892. It
was no boast on Mr.. Harris part, and now
may be set forth thrilling romantic story
in the exact words of the heir himself. Who
is the heir? Nearly every resident OF This
city knows Josiah S. Poultney. the veteran
millman. Yes, plain, honest, bluff old
Josiah P0uitney of 209 College street is the
heir TO an English estate which he claims is
worth not less than S4O0.0OOCO without
counting the seat in the British Parliament
The heir is IS years old and his wife is
only ten years his junior, but both are still
active and vigorous. To-day the heir sat
on q little wooden bench Just outside the
front door of his modest home reading the
daily papers, when he was accosted by your
correspondent.
With his ruddy, honest face, laughing blue
eyes, frosty hair and beard, he presented the
very picture of good-nature. He wore very
plain clothes and velvet skull car, while
lie 2utfed cOrtentedly at big, old-Iashioned
pipe. AS he glanced over my letter Of in
PRODUCTION he shook hands cordially and at
once led the way within the house. calling
cut. merrily, Mother motheri come here
and meet THE CALL man." In response to
LIS summons, a bright-appearing little
woman without a gray hair in her head
made her appearance. She was his
'mother''-a wife of whom lie might be
proud anywhere.
Now for the heirs story. Here 1t is in
his own words, and he has documentary
evidence and witnesses TO prove every word
of it:
LAS near as 1 can learn Sir William
Poultney was born at Shaston or WaTtcn,
Warwickshire. England. He was lawyer
and practieed his profession in England
with great financial success, acquiring his
title during his lifetime.
AT either Bath or London he married
Hiss Henrietta Laura Johnston, daughter
Of the Earl of Bath. In 1905 Sir William
died intestate, leaving to survive him and
as heirs Of the estate of the Earl of Bath
his vidow and an apprentice girl, who came
from Narton and whose name prior 10 ap-
premiership was Rebeeca Ward. As to his
parents or relatives on their side. the only
one L know of was MY grandfather, of
whom l will speak later. At Sir Williams
death q statue to his memory was erected in
Westminster abbey.
During his lifetime Sir William owned
estates in Windsor, England, but l don't
know just how he acquired them. He also
bppamp nOSsaSSed of 1arua fra of 10 al
In the State of Virginia and whole town
ship near Poultney, in Vermont. He also
owned 100 acres in Rochester, y. Y. and
10000 acres in Steuben and Genessee couu-
ties, \. y, the boundary extending ali the
way to the Pennsylvania line. All of this
property was owned by him at the time Of
his death and in his own name, except GER
tain small portions which he sold.
The real estate at Poultney, VT, was
granted TO him by George ". and has been
Ill litigation some time, the county records
there showing these facts. The parties now
holding the land have clouded title. The
1G0 acres in Rochester was owned by an
Indian named Allen, who borrowed $50
from Sir William Poultney through Cap
tain Charles Williamson, the attorney in
fact. With this money the Indian built
the first mill in Rochester. The money
was not repaid and Sir William acquired
the Indians lands.
"After his death the land was sold and
the pro eeds sent TO Larthur Johnston of
Edinburgh for the heirs. The 200, 600 acres
already referred to was bought in 1888 from
man named Gordon at the rate of 10 cents
an acre, a record of which purchase is in
tile private land Office of the Pou.tney
estates in Steuben County. Ny. This
record 1 copied myself. There is also at
Albany, n. Y. deed of confirmation of
this 100000 acres from the State Of New
urk to Sir William. dated 1888.
The widow of Sir William died intes-
tate between the years 1905 and 1903, leav-
ing only Rebecca Ward. the apprentice, as
her survivor. Rebecea Ward came into
possession of the property and held the
same until her death, which occurred few
years later, she being unmarried and leav-
iEg no descendants.
Il know nothing of her family. Some
time before her death. and in company with
Sir Charles Williamson Ghe captain already
referred toy, she went to the West Indies to
claim some property left by Sir William.
She died at the islands, but upon which ISL
and she died or claimed property l do not
know. have been told by people from the
West Indies who claim to know that she
died of poisoning at the instance OF Will
hanson.
THE first person claiming the estate in
New York after the death Of Sir William
was Larthur Johnston, who lived in Scot
land The estate in New York went into
tie SurrOgate's Court, and the records show
that the following four trustees were ap-
pointed: The Duke of Cumberland, Lord
Cathcart commonly called Lord Holloway,
Sir William Courtney and Captain Charles
T do hat - ,beo
quent proceedings have been other than
that one Gordon had some cor nection with
the estate, and, after the death of William
son other agents were appointed. Joseph
Fellows acted in his stead. Larlhur John
ston died about 1868. and the four original
trustees are also dead. ! have talked with
Fellows, who was acting agent at Bath, N.
L, twenty-five years ago. George Gardi-
ner was the acting agent eleven years ago,
when last heard of him.
u first heard of the estate in New York
while was living in Canada in about 1853
from Two men who resided in Steuben
County. They had bought some of the
, land and came TO see me about the title.
'Ihey wished to know if L claimed any In
terest in the land. | therefore decided to
investigate. AT once | examined the re-
cords In Rochester. Bath, and in Steuben
and Genessee counties, New York, [
should here state that am the only mem
Der oil the Poultney family who came to the
United States. Sir William never came to
this country himself.
After examining the records secured
an attorney named Wood at Warsaw n
y. who. after investigation, brought the
matter 10 public notice to such an extent
that tenants and parties who had rented
and purchased land there refused longer to
pay rent.or make further payments. They
g. finally held an Indignation meeting at War
saw which eliminated IN a riot and which
resulted in threats being made by them of
personal violence to me or to any one at
tempting 10 DISPUTE their title