The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-07-31
ALLY OF AARON BURR
THE FlRsTt TRUE STORY OF HAR
MAN BlENNERHAssETT.
II Il n Romantic Tale Tint Member of
His Family Relates in tho Century -
why He Came to America - The
Reason of His Plotting with Burr.


Is is related. for the first time, in the
Century by Mrs. Blennerhassett-
Adams:
Harman Blenncrhassett. born in
Hampshire, England. in 1865, was n
direct descendant of King Edward
III. of England through Constance of
Langley, wife of the Earl of Glouces-
ter and daughter of Edward Duke of
York and Isabel of CASTLE. The Blen-
nerhassetts are English In origin. none
of them having been known In Ireland
before the reign of Elizabeth; but pre-
vious TO that time, ns far back as 1857,
the familly-originally of Blenner-
hassett. n small town in Cumberland,
afterward of Carlisle, subsequently of
Flimby Hall, Cumberland-many times
represented Carlisle in PARLIAMENT.
They have been continuously in Par
lament for more than five hundred
years; on one occasion n father and
two sons represented their county and
county town at the same time.
The old manor-house of Flimby Hall
is now owned by the Earl of Ions
dale, whose ancestors bought the Blen-
nerhassett estates. Over three of the
doorways of Flimby Hall the Blenner-
| bassett crest Is cut In stone; the walls
are ten feet thick. and the great oak
beams look as If they would last for
ever.
When Harman Blennerhassett broke
the entail and sold the estate to Thom-
as Mullln. afterward Lord Ventry, he
received 100000 in money. Outside
of this was an income not invested in
the 100000 and besides a small in
come of $4,000. which belonged to the
entailed property as a separate portion,
and could not be transferred, the use
of which he had until he died. His
wife also came of family with mon
ey; but, as will be seen, she was disin-
herlted when she married Harman
Blennerhassett Her sisters, however.
laid aside money for her benefit, and
sent 1t TO her regularly.
Early in 179G Harman Blennerhas.
sett. then thirty-one years old. mar
ried In England. Miss Margaret Ag-
new. daughter of Captain Robert Ag-
new, of Howllsh. County Durham, n
young lady of eighteen. Her father
was lieutenant-governor of the Isle of
Man, and son of General James Ag-
new, of Revolutionary fame. Soon
after their marriage, the young couple
embarked for America. landing Au-
gust l, 1I96. After extensive travels,
through the eastern part of the coun-
try, n portion of the island in the
Ohio which bears their name was
purchased, and preparations for build
Ing were begun. The house and
grounds when completed represented
an investment of sixty thousand dol
lars. After the island house was no
longer an abode, Blennerhassett and
his family removed to plantation of
one thousand acres on the Mississippi
River, six miles above Port Gibson
This home they called ia Cache" and
here they lived for twelve years. when
they sold the property for SOS, 900. and
nfteI stopping in New York to pay n
visit to the family of Mr. Emmett, pro-
ceeded to Montreal. In 1921. Blenner-
hassett, after n residence in America
of twenty-five years, left Canada for
England, where he hoped TO be bene-
ilted through an influence he no long
er possessed. Ten years of heart
ache and bulfeting passed, and then
came failing health. which ended in
his death at Port Pierre, on the Island
of Guernsey. February ., 1881, in ,lc
sixty-sixth year of his age.
We now come to the secret OF the
Blennerhassets. which was carefully
kept from their children. Catharine,
one of the sisters of Harman Blenner-
hassett, married nm Agnew. 1t was
her daughter Margaret who married
Harman Blennerhassett. her mothers
brother and 1t was for this cause that
she was disinherited. The young lady
was absent at school; her uncle was
sent TO take her home; instead of do
ing so, he married her. But he reck-
oned without his host, or perhaps he
did not reckon at all. When he re-
turned with his bride, the family af-
fcction that he thought would greet
them, the family influence that he
thought would protect them, were
wanting. The couple were met only
with reproaches; because of his thir-
ty-one years he was held responsible:
because OF her eighteen years she was
pitied, but not the less blamed. Since
remaining in his own country meant
social ostracism. Blennerhassett sold
his property and brought his young
wife to America. No political entan-
clements were about him to cause him
to come to this country, for though n
close observer of current events. he
took little interest In politics; his tastes
were quiet-literary and musical Moth
ing brought him to America but the
fact that his family would not coun-
tenance his marriage.
A letter from Blennerhassett to Col
Aston states Blennerhassetts losses
through Burr at $4,000. $4,000 OF
; which had been paid. A request is
made for the payment of $4,000 six
| months hence the balance to be adj