The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-04
4 Washington Woman the Claimant TO
Two Fortunes in Europe.
LOCATED IN FRANCE AHD ENGLAND
Mrs. Laura Taylor, by Virtue Of Her
descent from Lord Walden. Will
Lay Clnirt, to tho CasiIe OF Ravens.
croft and Pars OF ~ Lnrse Amouns
or Money.
washington Post.)

l
IS u suit involving 1000, 900, and brings
| 70 light some of the famous heroes Of
me past IN the person of an English
peer, LORD John Walden. Of Rayenscroft
Sasle: and the Counts of Condo, who
were the most powerful Of the Hug,je
nots. The matter Is in the hands of
lawyers. who have already sent for
certified copies of needed court records.
ana the affair Is expected to be settled
within a. few weeks. 7Ss
ihe Lady who claims the estate does
SO IN the name Of many heirs whose in
| terests. as we'll as her own, she repre
| SCENTS. This claimant Is a. Mrs I,a,Jra
| Taylor. who is ait present making her
nome IN washington. She is a widow.
| with two boys. the eldest son being in
business in Chicago, and the youngest
| handsome boy Of fourteen, named
| Leon, is with her. Knowing OF her de-
scent from the Counts of Condo, she ha s
Tor several years spent her time in
facing up the relationship. hoping to
recover some of the old family property.
ana II was while engaged in this search
| mat she learned that she, with MANY
others. was entitled to large amount
or money and land left III England by
| Lord Walden.
| The family Of Walden In England IS
one OF the oldest and most prominent in
| the united Kingdom. and Is descended
from ancestors who were conspicuous in
the early italian wars, and men who
| fought with the Black Prince at Cressy
Bishop Walden, one Of the best known
dlvines OF the established church, was
| g. nephew OF the last Lord Walden.
| Inc last Lord holding tho title was
Jom His eldest son. also John, came
70 america IN the latter part OF the last
century, ana settled at a beautiful seat
known as Walden Towers. eight miles
from Bowling Green. In Caroline county.
Va. This John Walden was one of the
most prominent men In the revolution
airy period, and was intimate with al.
the great spirits of the day When his
| FATHER In the old country died he tool,
| no steps to claim the title or property
saying that nothing could induce him
| to cross the ocean again
He was the father of ten children, four
Dogs anu six girls but only four Of these
children left heirs. the others having
died before reaching maturity, or never
being married. The boys were John
William. Thomas. Ambrose and the girls
Eliza beth. Sally. Lucy, Polly, Nancy and
| Rachel. John Walden OF Virginia was
one Of the largest landholders OF early
DAYS. and held vasi. tracts of ground in
| the Old Dominion. as well rs In Ken
lucky, al of this property left being
| equally divided between the heirs at
law.
Walden made his Will on November II
Iva. but 1t was not admitted to probate
| TIL 1925 a copy of this will Is now In
possession Of the heirs, and was only
brought to light a few months ago, hay
ing been hidden for at least fifty years
IN some obscure corner. The witnesses
70 the testament are John Pendleton,
| William Levi and Louis Hutchinson.
'Pendleton being also Clerk Of Court at
that time for Caroline county The will
deals only with the American property,
and that in England, left by the last
Lord Walden. is not mentioned Yet It
Is this will which establishes the heir
ship to the English property
| GROUNDS OF HER CLAIM.
Mrs. Taylor claims descent from Lucy,
third daughter Of John Walden, Of Viz
gina. This Lucy Walden married a. doc
tor. James Harris. and the child of this
union was Dr. James Harris, Jr, who
| married "a Nancy Ralnes Annie Harris,
daughter Of Nancy Reines and DR..
James Harris. Jr., married Mr.. Collins,
or Richmond, Va, and their child is the
present Mrs. Taylor, she being the great
great -granddaughter Of John Walden,
| OF Walden Towers
The will Of the last Lord Walden ls
now on file in England. and 1t left a vast
estate to his two sons The younger son
got his portion. no doubt, but that of
John Walden. Of Virginia. has never
been claimed, and 1t is to get this that
the heirs of this Walden are entering
suit The property was left in the care
Of trustees so has not been outlawed by
want of claimants or confiscated by the
crown. Being held In trust, the lands
and moneys are still in the hands OF men
who have cared for the property, and as
soon as the American heirs can prove
to the satisfaction OF the English Court
OF Chancery that they are the rightful
heirs Of John Walden. to whom Lord
Walden left the estate in trust, the Eng
itsh trustees will turn over the property
| to them
| These possessions are said to consist Of
very valuable land in the city OF Lon
! don. an estate outside Of the town, and
big sum Of cash In bank This amount
is stated to be at least $40. 000. 900, while
| among the real estate may be numbered
the Castle OF Ravenscroft. AS John
Walden died only seventy-one years ago
1t will not be difficult to procure All
| Mrs. Taylor Will take with her 70 Eng
land. for which place she expects to SOIL
In about three weeks.
ANOTHER FORTUNE IN GRANGE.
| While abroad Mrs. Taylor win also
make All. attempt to get property which
| she thinks ought TO come to her In
France by the right Of descent from the
| famous Counts of Condo, who were lead
ers OF the Huguenot faction and once
almost as powerful as the King himself.
Mrs. Taylor states that her ancestor.
GILES Rednes, who came to America as @
| refugee. was g. brother OF the last Count
Of Condo, and was here m arried. It Was
his daughter, Nancy Reines who mar
rled Dr.. James Harris, Jr.;i the grand
son Of Lord Walden; 80 J ohm Walden
was IN rs. a raylorig great great grand
! fyther and GILES Reiness her great