The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-16
BURR'S ALLY, BLENNERHASSETT
His True story Related at Last by a
Member of the Family.

THE True Story of Hartman Blennerhas-
sett' is related for the first time in the
Century for July by Mrs. Blennerhassett-
Adams:
Hartman Blennerhassett. born in Hamp-
shire, England, in 1865, was direct descend
ant of King Edward III of England
through Constance of Langley wife of the
Earl of Gloucester and daughter of Edward
Duke of York and Isabel of CASTLE. The
Blennerhassetts are English in origin, none
of them having been known in Ireland be-
fore the reign of Elijah beth: but previous
TO that time. far back 1887, the fam
ily-originally of Blennerhassett, a small
town in Cumberland, afterward of Carlisle,
subsequently of Flimby Hall, Cumberland
many times represented Carlisle in Par
lament. They have been continuously in
Parliament for more than five hundred
years; one occasion a 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 Lonsdale, whose
ancestors bought the Blennerhassett es-
tates over three of the doorways OF Film
by Hall the Blennerhassett crest is cut in
stone the walls are ten feet thick. and
the great oak beams look as If they would
last forever.
When Hartman Blennerhassett broke the
entail and sold the estate TO Thomas Null
lin, afterward Lord Nentry, he received
$3.50 600 in money Outside of this was an
income not vested in the s16O,O0J. and be-
sides a small income of $1,000, which be-
longed 10 the entailed property as a sep
arate portion, and could not be transferred
the use of which he had until he died His
wife also came OF a family with money;
when she married Hartman Blennerhassett
Her sisters, however. laid aside money for
her benefit. and sent it to her regularly.
Early in 1876 Hartman Blennerhassett,
then thirty-one years old. married in Eng
land, Miss Margaret Agnew, daughter of
Captain Robert Agnew, of Howlish, County
Durham. a young lady of eighteen Her
father was lieutenant governor of the Isle
q and a General
of revolutionary fame. Soon after their
marriage the young couple embarked for
America, landing Aug. l. 1896. After ex-
tensive travels through the eastern part of
the country, a portion of the island in the
Ohio which bears their name was pur-
chased, and preparations for building were
begun. The house and grounds when COM
pleted represented an investment of 1000
After the island house was no longer an
abode, Blennerhassett and his family re-
moved to a plantation of 1000 acres on the
Mississippi river six miles above Port Glib
SON. This home they called La Cache"
and here they lived for twelve years, when
they sold the property for $4,000. and. after
stopping in New York to pay visit to the
family of Mr.. Emmett. proceeded 10 Mont
real. In 1921, Blennerhassett. after resi-
dence i'm America OF twenty-five years, left
Canada for England, where he hoped TO be
benefited through an influence he no longer
possessed. Ten years of heartache and buff
fetng passed, and then came failing health,
which ended in his death at Port Pierre on
sixty-sxth year of his age.
We now come to the secret of the Blen-
nerhassetts which was carefully kept from
their children. Catharine. one of the sis
tiers of Hartman Blennerhassett, married an
Agnew 1t was her daughter Margaret who
married Hartman Blennerhassett, her moth
er's brother and IL was for this cause that
she was disinherited. The young lady was
absent at school; her uncle sent TO
take her home; instead OF doing he
married her. But he reckoned without his
hsa1e aarAa ~ ill
When he returned with his bride the family
affection that he thought would greet them,
the family Influence that he thought would
protect them, were wanting. The couple
was met only with reproaches: because of
his thirty-one years. he was held RESPONSE
BILE; because of her eighteen years. she was
pitied, but not the less blamed Since re-
naming In his own country meant social
ostracism Blennerhassett sold his property
and brought his young wife 10 America.
No political entanglements We're about him
10 cause him TO come TO this country, for
though a close observer OF current events
he took little interest in politics. his tastes
were quiet-literary and musical Nothing
brought him 10 Arrerica but the fact that
his family would not countenance his mar
riage
A letter from Blennerhassett 70 Colonel
Aston states Blennerhassett losses
through Burr at $50 600 Si2 800 OF which
had been paid. request Is made for the
payment OF $1,000 six months hence. the
balance 10 be adjusted by agreement the
alternative OF dcquleScence 10 this PROPOSE
ton being the publication or book con-
tanning much inner history which Blenner-
hassett believes will yield $4,000 ON Burr
return from England "a similar communica-
ton was addressed TO him. But that was
not demanding $1,000 hush money" IL was
simply calling Burr and Aston TO fulfill
an obligation OF long standing, a just and
honest debt which they were seeking to
eVade
Blennerhassett's reason for joining Burr
was not love OF adventure. but to remove