Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-05-03
Hetty Green's Fortune.

A great many people, scattered all over
this country, viii be better off in this
worlds goods when Hetty Green dies.
Hetty Green, who is descendant of the
famous Rowland family of New Bedford,
had maiden aunt, Sylvia Ann Rowland,
who died generation ago, leaving an
estate valued at several millions of dollars
Hetty was the only heir aud naturally ex-
pected the fortune to pass to herself She
was surprised and so was all New Bedford
when it was learned that Sylvia Ann How
land, who had never been noted for her
charities or liberality, had made will filled
with public requests and providing for the
distribution OF large legacies among her
friends and family servants, her physician
and the trustees and executors under the
will being especially well remembered.
The residuary estate, in those days val
ued at about $1,000,000, was bequeathed
to Hetty Green in trust. She was to enjoy
the income thereof during her lifetime, and
upon her death it was to be divided among
the lineal descendants of Hetty's great
grandfather.
Whatever induced Sylvia Ann Rowland
to make such will is only matter Of con-
lecture. Hetty Green, of course, laid it to
the undue influence of those about the old
lady at the time. Meeting a former
acquaintance when on a visit to New Bed
ford not long ago Mrs. Green asked:
''Did you get legacy under my Aunt
Sylvia AIMS will ?''
mo, Mrs. Green. Why should ?"
"Well, didn't know but what you hap
pened to pass the house the afternoon they
made the will and some OF them were look
ing out of the window"
Mrs. Green contested her aunt's will to
the bitter end, and lost. 1t was a famous
legal battle and cost both sides $4,000.
Gideon Rowland, whose descendants are
to profit by the death of Hetty Green, was
born in 1884 and died in 1928. As he had
comfortable little family of IS children
to start with, it will be seen that in 1865,
when Sylvia Ann Rowland died, his line
must have numbered several hundred, and
by this time it has undoubtedly reached
several thousand, into the fifth and sixth
generations.
1t will readily be seen that with small
army of descendants, widely scattered, the
task of keeping track of them is difficult.
One James Henry Richmond, now dead,
some years ago offered tor sale what he
claimed was complete List, for $1,000, but
the trustees declined to purchase. The
present trustees, one of whom is Mrs.
Green's son Edward, have no full and ac-
curate record. The only complete and up
to-date list is one compiled by Ellis L..
Rowland, newspaper man Of New Bed
ford, who was the greater part Of two years
in collecting and arranging the material.
Mrs. Green became aware Of the existence
of this list and sent an emissary to Mr..
Rowland to secure it. The attempt was a
failure, as the gentleman had compiled his
genealogy with another purpose in view.
What Mrs. Green wanted of it is a subject
of conjecture.
Among the heirs are the four children
| of Nathaniel Parker Willis, one of Amer
| ica's poets, and in the same branch OF the
family are descendants of that Grinnell
who fitted out DR.. Kane's Arctic expedi-
ton. Admiral William Fitzhead Buxton
of the British navy also married How
land heir, and his fouA sons, now of the
royal navy, will be among the claimants.
In Holland and Belgium others will be
found, and in Hawaii are some who mar
ried into the royal family, so that the name
Liliuokalani is to be found among the
nomenclature of Hetty Green's cousins.
One of the latest arrivals on the field is the
child Of Lieut.. David II. Jarvis, late of the
revenue cutter Bear, born two days before
he left to face the perils Of the rehef ex-
petition which went to the succor of the
New Bedford whaleships imprisoned in the
Arctic ice packs.-Exchange.