Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-13
A CEMTURY-OLD WAR CLAIM.
:. Remarkable Case Develops in Il
Boston Court.


Boston Court.
BOSTON, Dec. 12-One CT the most I'M
usual of cases is now in the courts here.
It arises out OF war claim. There has
been flied in the probate court by George
q. King. an attorney Of tbs city. pc
tition asking that he be appointed adj
ninistrator of the estate of John Han
cock.
Further administration OF Hancocl.s
estate Involves a war claim The we'll
known Revolutionary leader died on Dc
tober %. 1883 and Dorothy Hancock, his
widow. was appointed Administrative OF
his estate. She could not fully admins
ter it. however.
The claim. to settle which Mr.. King
asks to be appointed administrator, is
one which has arisen since 1885 as the re-
suit OF the act of congress bearing upon
French sDolation claims.
II Eancocll's day the underwriting Of
vessels was common among men OF Bos-
ton. who took advantage frequently OF
notices posted in the reading shipping
o.ices of this city, or rather town, as il
was then, where would be announced the
fact that 4 certain vessel was about to
sail, and merchants were invited TO under
write the insurance, usually at about =
per cent, of the vessels value
This was the form of investment cur
rent in those DAYS before the mad whirl.
OF the, stock exchanges came into eX-
Stence tor speculation ana investment III
shares and bonds. John Hancock. like
other men of the day was wont to take
the proportionate share in the risks o.
irsu1-inS vessels
DURING TROUBLE WITH FRANCE.
Just about this time when Hancock
was taking insurance risks on vessels
out of the port Of Boston relations be
tween France and this country were ver3
greatly strained, in consequence OF .
feeling on the part of the French govern
ment that the American government had
not shown a sufficient recognition of the
services which the French had rendered
during the revolution.
Some OF the vessels SO insured by John
Hancock were captured by French PR
vateers and condemned in the f'renc!
courts The underwriters, when thei'
fate became known hi,G to stand the loss
and pay the insurance and John Han
cock like many others. was loser If
this way.
Since congress agreed to an indemnity
for such losses in 1855. long before tbs
death of John Hancock and his wife
many claims have been pressed, some
with success and others slowly and witt
little encourag cement because of lack OF
approximations by the government e
meet even the claims proven. and many
who felt that they had just claims Were
discouraged from pushing their cases for
ward for consideration. 1t is in part for
this reason that the Hancock claim never
before has been brought forward.
Mrs Elizabeth lowell Hancock Wood
of Brook!ine. is the Hancock heir whs
has retained Mr.. King 10 represent he:
and take charge Of his claim. She is
collateral descendant of John Hancock
Mrs WOOD is the wife Of Charles H
Wood. of Brookline. and belongs to the
Hannah Goddard Chapter. Daughters OF
the American Revolution.
John Hancock did not live long afte'
the revolution and although he has beer
dead more than one hundred years yel
full settlement OF his estate will involve
this war claim. even though not till nov
brought into legal significance. Hence
arises a further need for judicial recours,
to have it legally taken in hand and pro
perly distributed by new administrator
Al Mr. Kings office. No. % State street
It Is given cut that he is in Washngtoi
making researches regarding this claim
OF the HANCOCK estate.
Governor Hancock was one of tEt
wealthiest men Of Boston a the time o.
his death in 1898. In fact, al the time OF
the siege and occupation of Boston. !!
1857. by the British. Hancock was the
largest real estate holder in the town. .
fact that has been emphasized and per
petuated by the fcmous note OF Hancock
20 Washington: Burn Boston and maxi
John Hancock beggar if the public spoo
require it..
The present petition for an admfnistra-
tor does not refer to the wealth OF which
he died possessed. The Hancocks nae
two cAilden. a son named John Geors,
Washington who died in 1887, at the asf
of nine. who was buried by the side o
his illustr.ous father in the Old Granars
ouryirs-ground, and a daughter. Lydie
Henchman Hancock, who died in earl!
infancy.
or the estate which passed to individ
uals, as distinguished from the par,
which was devoted to public beneiac-
tons, ana particularly to Harvard Col
lege a nephew came into the larger part
history repeating itself in this respect
exactly as it diG in Hancock's case
wherein he inherited his wealth from his
childlesS uncle.
The amount involved III the war ciain
s not large. and the claim does not carry
interest Mrs Weed lives or Davis ave
aue, BroolIine. and is in feeble heath
Her daughter, May Eliza oeth Wood. had
the honor OF dwelling the Hancoci
statue, in the Old Granary buryInS-
ground in 1886
sCHwAD TO PLAY SANTA CLAUS.