The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-08-22
TOWNLEY'S HEIR.


ing who still remember the Fourteen
Chimneys," noted city landmark dat
ing back to the Revolution. They were
recognized in the old directories thus;
'Sam. May, oysterman, No. s Fourteen
Chimneys. :" They stood ON the west
side of Fifth street, above Race, and ex-
tended from the southwest corner of
Mulberry alley south to the present No.
22s, now an ink factory. In fact, the
back part of this establishment is the
only portion of the building left, and
this was part Of the Ettris mansion,
belonging to curious family who owned
much Of the land whereabouts and noted
for eccentricities in dress and opinions.
There were in all eight houses, and they
had been built to fit the chimneys, as
these were much higher than the two
story dwellings. These stood back from
the street and had gardens in front from
which the neighbors were supplied with
vegetables.
The principal industry here in early
times must have been butchering, as
layers of bones, cattle horns and heads
are turned up when the street has been
opened. In 1918 one of the most re-
spected residents of the Fourteen
Chimneys' was Miss Rachel Barron,
a bright mulatto who had been left a
small fortune by member of the Bid
die family, whose servant she had been
for 90 years.
Miss Barron was very charitable and
did much good in aiding the poor, who
were plenty enough in the numerous
courts and alleys of that vicinity, and
it is in this connection that our story
begins.
In 1906 man named Richard Vant
Townley was living in Philadelphia
He was an Englishman, handsome il
appearance, with polished manners anC
pleasing address. He had many friends,
as it was reputed that he came from al
excellent family at home, but there was
mystery about his means of living.
| He always had plenty of money, dressed
and lived extensively, so it was sup
posed that he had an income from prop
erty in England, but all this was dissi
pated by the report that he had beer
principal in duel at Saratoga Springs
that the alleged cause was quarrel a
the card table, and that the courteous
stately Englishman was in effect a pro
fessional gambler.
When this was known, it affected
Mr.. Townley's position in society ad
versely, but card playing was a recog
nized industry in those times and carried
no popular odium with it, and that gen
tleman still seemed to prosper.
When he came to Philadelphia, his
companion was u boy about 10, who
was his only child the mother being
dead James was delicate lad, but
| gentle, and he was put in q private
school and much liked by his associates,
but his father, mindful of the vicissi
tudes of his profession, bound James t
Benjamin Jones, at the southeast corner
of Second and Chestnut streets, to Learn
engraving, and this he did, becoming {
| good workman. His father, however
supplied him with too much money
and he ceased to work, became unsteady
and finally dissipated. When left with
out resources by the death of the eide
Townley, he was forced to go to worl
at his trade.
Richard Townley left nothing to hi
son, but before dying he confided to {
well known member of the old bar Ger
tain papers and told that gentleman tb'
story of his wasted life. I'd. "a
In the latter part of the eighteenth
century Apley Park, in Shropshire, nov
one of the show places Of England, wa
owned by Sir Edmund Foster. 1t hat
once belonged to the Lucys of Charli
cote and came to the Fosters by mar
| riage Sir Edmund had two sisters
One married Devonshire rector named
Childs, the other Philip Maley Town
ley of Shrewsbury. Both Mr.. and Mrs
Townley died early, leaving an only sol
Richard Vane Townley.
Richard was adopted by his bachelo
uncle, Sir Edmund, and was sure t.
enter on an inheritance Of e12, 600 pc
annum, but he was wild and rockies
and was sent away from Oxford i'll dis
grace, and for time forbidden to ap
pear at Apley Park. Sir Edmund wa
getting quite infirm and much CONTROL
ed and influenced by his housekeeper
Mrs. Darby, who had been in the fam
lily from girlhood. She interceded 70
Richard, and he was finally restored t
favor and came back to the park, onl
to get into fresh scrape. Mrs. Darb.
had niece staying with her, yer.
beautiful and good girl, and with he
Richard fell madly in love, and failing
| t,N ,.nt In,. ~, loco bnnorabla tar1nc ppr
suaded her to elope and get married.
The aunt had been away on visi
and returned to find her niece gone
Suspecting the worst, she at once i'll
formed Sir Edmund Of his nephew
new delinquency and had him send TO
his lawyer A new will was made ant
no mention therein of Richard Townley
Shortly afterward Mrs. Darby Learned
the truth and found that she had sue
ceeded in disinheriting her son-in- law
but was too shrewd to let the maste
know the real facts, as he was intense
ly proud and would regard the misalli
ance as more hagitious than the sup
posed seduction.
Mr.. Scrope of Shrewsbury was tn
family SOllclUoT, al upiiBho Bon"ioiA~'
who had known Townley's father, AM
he persuaded the baronet to make hi
will as follows: Mrs. Childs, his niece
had the property for life; then her chill
dren by seniority inherited, and thel
heirs male, and failing them or issu
the son of Richard Townley to inheri
in fee. AS there were nine of the Child
children, James Townley's chance G
gaining the inheritance his father ha
forfeited seemed very remote.
Sir Edmund died, leaving q larg