The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-23
OVER HALF A MILLION
LATEST ESTIMATE on MRS.
CLINCH's WEALTH ARE THAT
CHARITY MAY GET 100000.
NEW YORK PROPERTY SAID TO BE
WORTH ABOUT 100000.


Owned by Mrs. Clinch's Father,
Jacob WaIdburg-Assets of the
Estate in Savannah Will Foot Up
Several Hundred Thousand Dol
Iars-AnnOuncemen of Wealth of
Estate Created Much Comment.
The princely legacies, which under
the will of Mrs. Elizabeth L. w. Clinch,
will ultimately be devoted to Savannah
charities, were the topic of a great deal
of discussion yesterday. The es-
innate which appeared in the
Morning News that each of the six
charities which were named as resid-
uary legatees in the will would receive
| about $4,000, is considered a most con-
servative one, and there are many who
believe that the amount will be very
much larger.
One prominent citizen, familiar with
the value of realty and having some
| knowledge of the assets of the estate,
is authority for the statement that the
estate will be found to be worth up
wards of 100000. The charities, he
| thinks will receive nearer 500, 900 each,
than the sum stated. This of course
| gives rise to a great deal of specu
lation, though the legacies are contins-
ent requests, and in the consideration
of the matter the representatives of
the residuary legatees are 10th to dis
cuss the matter, lest their utterances
| might be construed to contemplate the
death of the legatee of the life estate
Inventory Yet to BE Made.
| The inventory and appraisement of
| the estate will be awaited with inter-
! est. Much of the property of the es-
tate is situated in Savannah, though it
| is understood that it's most valuable
portion consists of realty in Brooklyn,
N. Y. Among the assets of the estate
| In savannah are the property on the
| corner of Whitaker and Broughton
| streets. now occupied by Jackson &
Gutman, and by Allen Bros, which, it
| is said is worth at least 800 900; the
property on Bay street, occupied by A.
| +. Churchill and NJ. S. & D. A. Byck ex-
tending from Bull street to the Savan-
nah Grocery Co. building; the property
| on Congress and jefferson streets, on
which is the drug store of Shuptrine
" Co.; the family residence on the
southwest corner of Oglethorpe avenue
| and Barnard street and a great deal
the city, in the vicinity of Forsyth
Park, and in other localities.
The Brooklyn Property.
The history of the ACQUISITION of
the Brooklyn property is interesting,
more especially since the value of ST.
Catherines Island is a question which
| is indirectly connected with the liti-
cation which is now being waged in
the United States Courts between the
ami ~
which the government is attempting
to condemn a portion of the island for
the acquisition of a lighthouse site
The island was formerly owned by ia
cob Waldburg, the father of Mrs
Clinch. In effecting it's sale certain
property in Brooklyn, which then had
a market valuation of about $50. OO0
but which now, it is understood. il
| worth nearer half a million, was an
| important factor. Just what part this
| property played in the exchange does
not appear on the record of title but
it is thought that the two properties
were practically snapped.
The Sale of st. GATHERINGS.
The person to whom Mr. Waldburg
| sold the island was wealthy Cuban
| M Rodriguez, who, during the ten
| years war in Cuba, moved to New
| York, in search of health, disposing of
his vast landed and slave interests in
his native land. Finding the climate
of New York too cold, he subsequently
moved to Savannah. In about 1873,
he and his wife, Mrs. Anna Rodriguez
| purchased the Island of st. GATHERINGS
from Jacob Waldburg. His executors,
in turn, sold it to Mr.. Rauers, the
| present owner, in 1876.
History of st. GATHERINGS Island.
1t was rumored that the purchase
of the island by the Cuban was made
| for the purpose of using it in operat-
ing filibustering expeditions. There is
a great deal more connected with the
history of the island, which, in view
of the prominence which circumstances
| have combined to give it Just at this
time, is very interesting Its grant to
Mrs. Mary Bosomworth formerly
Mary Muskgrove), a half-C Creek Indian
interpreter for Gen. Oglethorpe, for the
services which she rendered the crown,
is familiar to readers of Georgia his
tory. On account of her familiarity
with the Indians, gained through her
connection with them in the fur trade,
they being her hunters, she interceded
| in behalf of the King, and rendered
invaluable service. The first title to
ST. GATHERINGS was a deed from the
head of the Creek nation to the King.
dated April %, 1858.
Confiscated by RoyaIists.
The BoSomworths sold the island to
| Gov. Button Gwinnett, and others, but
in 1894 it was sold by the Commission
ers of Confiscated Estates under acts
of the Royalists. In 1799 Jacob Wald-
burg gained possession of the north
ern end of it, and subsequently, in 1856
obtained possession of the whole of it.
it having, in the interim, been owned
by the Johnstons, Kollocks and others.
Besides the Brooklyn property which
was virtually traded for the Island of
st. GATHERINGS, and the Savannah
realty. it is understood that the estate
is possessed of a considerable amount
in stocks and bonds. so that an esti-
mate that the estate is worth in the
neighborhood of three quarters of a
million dollars does not seem unpredi-
Gated.
Speculation Is Rife
What purposes the money to be de-
rived from the estate will be put to
the contingent beneficiaries decline Just
at present to state. They desire to
wait until the time arrives for its pay
ment, when they know what amount
they are to receive. Speculation and
discussion is, nevertheless, rife.
The matter was indirectly brought
to the attention of the congregation Of
st. Paul's Free Episcopal Church, one
of the beneficiaries. in the sermon Of
Rev. Scully yesterday when he said
that there was a great deal OF work
to be accomplished by the church, and
he trusted that no prospects, however
10.