The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-15
TOWNLEY'S HEIR.

u Il
There arc few PhtladelphSans hv-
ing who still remember the Fourteen
Chimneys," a noted city landmark dot
Ing back to the Revolution. They wore
recognized i'll the old directories thus:
Sam. May. oysterman. No Fourteen
Chimneys." They stood ON the west
side of Fifth street, above Raoe, and OK
tended from the southwest corner of
Mulberry alloy south to the present No
222, now ON ink factory. In fact, the
back part Of this establishment Ia 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 eooentrioities in dress and opinions.
There were in all eight houses, and they
had been built to At 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 we've supplied with
vegetables.
Tho principal industry here In early
times must have been butohering. as
layers Of bones, cattlo horns and beads
arc turned up when the street has been
opened. In 1918 one of the most re-
spotted residents of the Fourteen
Chimneys" was Miss Rachel Barron,
bright mulatto who had been Left a
small fortune by u member Of tho Bid
die family, whose servant she had been
for 20 years.
Miss Barron was very charitable and
did much good i'll aiding the poor, who
wero plenty enough in the numerous
courts and alleys of that vicinity, and
it is in this connection that our story
begins.
In 1900 man named Richard Vme
Townley was living In Philadelphia
He was an Englishman, handsome In
appearance, with polished manners and
pleasing address He had many friends,
as it was roputed that he came from an
ezcellent family at homo, but there was
q mystery about his means Of living.
He always had plenty Of money, dressed
and lived expensively, 30 1t was sup
posed that he had an Income from prop
erty i'll England, but oil this was dissi-
pated by tho report that he had been
principal i'll duel at Saratoga Springs;
that the alleged cause was quarrel at
the cord table, and that the courteous.
stately Englishman was in effect a pro-
fessional gambler.
Whom this Yves known, it affected
Mir. Townley's position In society ad-
versoly, but GARD playing was reoog-
nizod industry In those times and carried
no popular odium with It, and that gen
tleman still seelned to prosper.
When he oame to Philadelphia, his
companion WAS boy about 10, who
was his only child. the mother being
dead James wOs delicate lad, but
gentle, and he was put in private
school and much liked by his associates,
but his father, mindful of the vicissi-
tudes Of his profession, bound James to
Benjamin Jones, at tho southeast corner
of Second and Chestnut stroets, to learn
engraving and this he did, becoming a
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 older
Townley, he was forced to 40 to work
at his trade
Hichard Iownley left nothing to his
son. but before dying he oonfidod to
we'll known member of tho old bar Ger
tain papers and told that gentleman the
story OF his wasted life
In the latter part of tho eighteenth
century Apley Park, In shropshire, now
ono of the show places Of England, was
owned by Sir Edmund Foster It had
once belonged to the Lucys of Charli-
cote and came to tho Fosters by mar
riage. Sir Edmund had two sisters.
One married Dovonshire rector named
Childs, tho other Philip Maley Town
ley Of Shrewsbury. Both Mr.. and Mrs.
Townley died early, leaving an only son
Richard Vane Townley.
Richard was adopted by his bachelor
unole, Sir Edmund, and was sure to
enter ON an inheritance Of e12, 900 per
annum. but he was wild and reckless
and was sent away from Oxford In dis
grace, and for time forbidden to ap-
pear at Apley Park. Sir Edmund was
getting quite infirm and much oontroll-
cd and Influenced by his housekeeper,
Mrs. Darby, who had been In tho fam
lily from grlhood She interoeded for
Richard, and he was finally restored to
Savor and came back to the park, only
10 set into fresh scrape Mrs Darby
had niece staying with her, very
beautiful and good girl, and with her
Richard fell madly In love, and failing
to get her on less honorable terms per
studded her to elope and get married.
Nf,A H. 4