The Washington herald., 1907-03-11
Two New York Women Lead
Movement to Get Lands.
SISTERS FORM CORPORATION
Heirs TO Estate Left by Abraham
BassfOrd Claim They Have Been
MuIcted by Doubtful transactions.
Boss Tyveed's Regime said to Have
Been Responsible for Loss.

was Abraham BaSSiOTQ, q wealthy pid4lo
who died in this city In
1864
Those who have led the persistent
search for his scattered estate are two
grandchildren-Estell Clayton Evesson,
well-known dramatist. and her sister
Isabelle Evesson. The estate they are
seeking to recover comprises lands in
nearly every section of New York City,
but is chiefly located in the Bronx and
covers many acres OF the most valuable
property in that section.
With a capital of 100000 a corporation
has been formed to carry on the work
begun by the two sisters, and by experts
it is asserted that Il the heirs regain any
thing approaching the holdings of Abra-
ham Bassford at the time Of his DEATH
II will be one Of the largest estates in
this country. Even now II is said title
has practically been established to many
millions Of dollars worth Of property
north Of the Harlem River.
Claims to valuable lands in New York
City based on ancient titles are by no
means unusual, but this particular case OF
the Abraham BassfOrd heirs is viewed
with much seriousness by many important
interests. because nearly all the facts and
records come within the last half century,
and may be supported by indsPutabie
proof. In many respects the contest IS
bound TO become extremely important TO
many persons in New York City.
Tweed Regime Recalled.
First. if the many original titles Of
Abraham Bassford are established, very
large number of individual owners, be-
sides some of the title guarantee com
panies. may be affected. Even the pres
ent maps and records Of the city viii be
disturbed and may have TO be revised.
And back Of the whole matter comes the
story of alleged conhscation and fraud OF
the Tweed regime, through which the
estate was craftily taken from its right
full inheritOrs. Many Of the men who are
said 20 have been interested in the trans
actions are dead A few of them became
exiles following the exposures OF the
Tweed administration, but some are stIll
living, and will. &c is expected. be called
on 10 give valuable information concern
ing some of the things that happened
after Abraham Bassford's death.
Large tracts OF the farms owned by
Abraham BassfOrd in the Bronx have
since been sold for taxes, and at the last
annual tax sale in the Bronx December
&c. 1906, Florine A. EvessOn. the only sur
vIving child OF Bassford. bought in thirty
seven parcels OF these lands and a half
interest in this property has been turned
over to the corporation recently formed
for carrying on the work OF reclamation
Valuable Tracts in Bronx.
This step, it is expected. viii form a
basis upon which 20 carry on the contest
for other tracts. It is stated that at
least forty acres Of the most valuable part
Of the Bronx will be shown TO have been
parts OF the original Abraham Bassford
farms, and 10 which title may be ac-
quired In addition 20 this are many
other tracts the title 70 which will be
contested.
Abraham Bassfords life and the sin
gular heritage of Kicissitude that followed
him would be supremacy more fitting I'm a
tale of fiction than in a cold narration Of
facts He was born in England Of an
aristoCratic family in 1875, came TO this
country when boy. had amassed a large
fortune I'm the manufacture of pianos and
billiard tables at the age Of forty mine
retired from business at that time and
died IN August, 1864 at the age of seven
ty-nine, supposed 20 be one Of the wealth
lest men I'm the city. His wife was Abby
Catherine Kipp. Il member Of one Of the
old Knickerbocker families, anG In her
youth one of the distinguished society
beauties of the city.
Vanderbilt Friendly.
In his early business life Abraham Bass
ford and Commodore Vanderbilt were
neighbors on Staten Island, and through
life they had many interests in common
Some years before his retirement the elder
Bassford began purchasing farms in the
Bronx. then known as Westchester Coun-
~. and the old deeds show that a consider
able portion Of the land obtained for the
Harlem and Hudson River Railroad were
purchased by the elder Vanderbilt from
his neighbOr. BassfOrd- The first railroad
station in Fordham was built by Abraham
Bassford, and in doing this he evinced his
shrewd business instinct by recording at
that time that he purposed making more
attractive and available my tracts Of
land in Westchester tTaversed by said
railroad" He also had a private rail-
road running from Fordham station to
his marble quarry, several miles distant.
Bought Lands on Large Scale.
His investment in lands, particularly in
the Bronx. continued or a large scale for
many years. tt was known generally that
he was one Of the wealthiest and at the
same time one Of the most conservative
investors in the city. It was also known
to his family a few weeks before his death
that his estate was unincumbered, and
that his only outstanding obligations were
few relatively small accounts among
various tradesmen. He was known as
large lender of money on real estate, and
held many mortgages.
Should the heirs succeed in proving their
claim even to small part Of the old
BassfOrd farms it viii cause many very
important changes in the present official
maps of the city, and the possibility Of
such a contingency has caused Controller
Metz considerable concern. Speaking Of
the matter recently, he said:
L have caused a very thorough in
vestigatiOn to be made of the claims Of
the heirs Of the BassfOTd estate. and the
maps and records of the city as they exist
to-day show they have little on which TO
base their claims. But it cannot be denied
that there may be other records ante
dating those we have, and of course they
have the right TO prove title If they can.
We must rely on the records we now
have. We cannot go back of those"
Mr.. Metz said the records showed that
large tracts of the Bassford estate had
been Sold for taxes and that a consider
able amount of it was still held by the
city. This, he said, the rightful heirs
could reclaim. 1t is understood that the
accumulated taxes and interest on these
lands now amounts to several millions Of
dollars, but if the title can be established
beyond question the present value of the
land Is many fold greater than the cost
Of retaining it.
LynchbUFE's \. vi. c. a. Busy.
Special 10 The Washington Herald.
Lynchburg, Va. March ia canvass