Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-25

New York Press.
After the death of Mrs. Hetty Green,
said to be the richest woman in the
world, 81. 100000, which has been in htiga-
ton for nearly 40 years, will be divided
among about 800 persons.
The Sylvia Ann Rowland trust, over
which she waged an unsuccessful suit, Is
one of the most famous and interesting In
America. Miss Rowland was Mrs. Green s
maiden aunt. At the present time the trust
amounts to more than one and half
million dollars, of which Mrs. Green Is
the life beneficiary, and on her DEATH
according to the provisions OF her aunt s
will, II is to be divided among the lineal
descendants of Gideon Rowland, OF Dart
mouth, grandfather OF the testatrix.
Considering that Gideon Rowland, who
lived from 1734 to 1904. left Is children, all
but one 'of whom married and had issue,
his line has numbered many hundreds,
and there are probably seven or eight hum
bred living heirs who will inherit the mil
lion and a half upon Hetty Green's death.
Who they are, or where they are, is
known to probably but one person. Mr..
Ellis L. Rowland, the New Bedford news
paper man and singer, who spent two
years in searching them out, but they are
known to be in nearly every state In the
union in all quarters OF the globe and
in all conditions of life.
Among the heirs is Mrs. Olive A..
Hicks. Of Fail River, Mass, the
VIE of DR.. Charles A. Hicks,
and daughter OF Gideon X. Rowland, OF
Dartmouth. other heirs are the four chill
dren Of Nathaniel Parker Willis, the ia
nous American poet, author of 1.-THE Bel-
fry Pigeon" and other much admired
writings, and in the same branch of the
family are descendants of Mr.. Grinnell,
of New York, who fitted out DR.. Kane's
Arctic expedition.
Some Claimants In Hawaii.
Admiral William Fitzhead Ruxton. Of
the British navy, also married a How
land heir, and his four sons, officers IN
the royal navy, will be among the claim
ants. Others will be found In Holland
and Belgium, and in Hawaii are some who
married into the deposed royal family,
so that the name Liliuokalani is to be
found on the list of Hetty Green's cous-
ins.
Some Of the best families Of New Bed
ford are among the heirs, the Howlands,
Aliens, Grinnells, Hathaways, Russells
and Wings.
One fine morning in 1866, New Bedford
awoke to find that Sylvia Ann Rowland,
who had never been noted for her chari-
ties or liberality, had prepared little sur
prise for the people.
Her will was filled with generous public
requests, and provided for the distribu-
ton of large legacies among her friends,
her family servants, her physician and
the trustees and executors under the will.
Nobody was more surprised thap har
niece Hetty Green (then Hetty H. Robin
SOM, who expected to be sole heir. Het-
ty at once claimed her aunt had been I'M
duly influenced. Only year or two ago,
meeting in the street a former acquaint-
ance while on a visit to New Bedford, Mrs.
Green stopped him and abruptly asked:
Did you get a legacy under my aunt
Sylvia AIMS will?"
mo. Mrs Green. Why should II"
"Oh, thought perhaps you happened to
pass the house the afternoon they made
the will and some OF them were looking
out of the window and put you in
Mrs. Green contested her aunt's will and
lost II was a famous legal battle and
cost both sides $4,000. The story is more
interesting than the usual novel.
History Of the Estate.
Sylvia Ann Howland's only sister Abbie
married Edward Mont Robinson, and Het-
ty was their only daughter.
When Mrs. Robinson. Hetty's mother,
died II was decided that the realty should
go to the daughter and the personality to
the husband to settle some complications
which had arisen on account of a trust
deed. but as the personality amounted to
$120O00 and the realty to but $1,000, consid-
cradle feeling resulted on the part of Hetty
anu HtE Aunt CNANtds WnO liAOu5Al lAiiS
money should have followed the Rowland
blood.
In 1862 Hetty who was destined to be-
come one of the most celebrated figures In
the world had finished her education at a
boarding school and was living with her
aunt at Round Hills. near the present To-
cation of Nonquitt.
Her father was living in New York.
There had never been any great intimacy
between the father and child. and the dis
pute concerning the trust property had
widened the breach. The aunt was an in
valid, and the niece became her chief COM
panion and, confdante,
In 1866 Hettys father died leaving her
about S1.0G0,O coo absolutely and S5.OO0.000 to
her in trust, and a month later, in July.
Sylvia Ann Rowland died.
A will bearing the date of September 1,
1863. with a codicil dated about a year
later, beuueathed 100000 to the city Of
New Bedford for public uses 5000 600 to
Thomas Mendall, $4,000 TO her physician.
Dr. William A. Gordon; large sums to va
rious charities and finally about one-halt
her fortune was left in trust, the income
to go 10 Hetty during her life, and at her
death the principal to be distributed
among the lineal descendants of the
grandfather of the testatrix, Gideon How
land
The will of Miss Rowland was proved in
the probate court for this county but an
appeal was taken by Hetty, on the
ground that the testratrix was ineompe-