New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-30
4 CLAIM 10 PHILIDELTHIA LiND.

WILLIAM sKfLLINKS's HEIRS TO CONTEST THE
TITLE TO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH.
cane MAY. y j. Iec - CSpeciaD. The heirs 81
william Sk!lilnks now schellngcr. which includes
a large number Of the prominent families Of
Hands. Schcliugers. Townscnis. Bcnneti". Rose
mans. Stcycnses ana Hughes. who reside IN thiS
.Dd 81 w-Icr~cy. have decd bed % bring action In
the courts OF Pennsylvania To- regain tho Ownership
% al that portion OF the city of Philadelphia prn-
c.paly known as southwark. which includes all
thu, land between Christdn-sf. ana League Island,
and between the Delaware River and what Is now
South Broad-sL This land comprises about three
AMI one-thlrd square miles OF the most thckiy IN
hablicl and sodly bulii-up portion Of Philadelphia
and ~ estimated g. be worth millions OF dollars
william skllinks was brother Of Cornelius
Sklllnh,s a Swe,le who. sim" during the mid
die ~ the eighteenth century. owned this property
Tho latter leased II some time during mon for a
term " nlncty-nine years. which. with the twenty
years Of grace allowed 20 occupants of land for a
perfect title. viii expire in 1895. The heirs claim
that a very large sum 81 money Is held In trust BY
either the Pennsylvania Trust Company or the
philadelphia Trust Company. which & right ought
rived they claim. from the Skillinks lease. ndi-
eating logically that such trust company must hod
some docket or document Of authority upon which
such trust is founded They contend that skiilinks
received his right for this property from indenturss
granted from the charter given to William Penn by
1harics H. King Of England. In 1851 and from this
title granted May g. 1854. 10 the sven (Swenson)
family by the Dutch Governor at Delaware. which
grant afterward confirmed by Sir Francis
lOveace. the subsequent English Governor OF Penn
syvanla. and recorded at place then called Up
land. August 3D. lit.
mensing Creek. and extended up the Delaware
River some 80 rods and back from the said river
rods, comprising some Np acres. There appears
on record "A gift by grant by Queen Chrs,iana ~
Sweden. to Captain Sven tSwcnsonl OF lands on the
Delaware River comprising part OF the land now In
dispute
II IL alleged that In the treaty Il william Penn
with the Indians under the old treaty elm when
stood where H. now the northeastern section Of the
city OF Philadelphia. and marked by the treaty
monument certain rights were granted 10 Penn
which. In the course of affairs made II possible Tor
Penn 90 make a transaction with sven whereby the
latter pied lands the SctGylkill River. above
Lemon Hi. and yielded 10 Penn "A portion OF his
lands the Dc!aware River. From these facts tho
heirs claim to have knowledge that there were TWO
grants to Swenson tho FIRST beginning at Nova
mensng creek ana extending up the river when
recognized and confirmed. and The second eN-
tending from tho northern Linz OF the first mp To the
vicinity the treaty elm the land In which vicinity
would naturally be- suggested to Penn rs q more
favorable site for city than that further down
the river being higher and having better drainage
facilities.
II is also alleged that in the conflict between
PENIS land granted by the Indians only the
upper land granted TO Sven was involved I'm lieu Of
Captain sven resided near the OH Swedes' Church.
which Is called tho Gloria Del Church. located
at Second and chrlstiin sta. At one time he was
proprietor Of part II not all. Of the present site Of
Philadelphia. The Skillinks 1t Is claimed. acquired
their title these lands from the Swcnsons Cor
ncus Sk!lnks was rich trader and a descendant
OF the Swcdc3 who settled In Delaware. He was
bachelor and his brother William fell heir to his
estate William resident Of Cape May and
has a large family OF descendants. who
thusiasc and hopeful over their