The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-07-23
Negro Gets Propertv.

MRS. Sarah VAIN Hendricksen, for many
years resident of Walnford, Monmouth
county, who died last March. has left her
entire estate, including the country place.
to John Wilson, negro overseer, who
had been In her employ for nearly half a
century. In spite of the fact that the
estate Is valued at several thousand dollars
and the country place is one Of tho oldest
and most renowned In this section of the
country, Mrs Hendrickson's relatives have
decided not to contest her will She was
VI years old when she died and, 1t is said,
was not in full possession of her faculties
s. Morris VAIN, a nephew, who has an
office in Philadelphia says:
There is no truth in the rumor that l
contemplate contrasting my aunt's will.
The terms of the will do not concern me
one way or another and the members of
my family have never considered any
action derogatory to the wishes of my
aunt. That is all have to say"
The will giving the property to Wilson
was drawn about fifteen months before the
old lady's death by John Meirs, Camden
lawyer and second cousin to 8. Morris
VAIN. Meirs is alleged to have said that he
objected to his aunt giving her property
to Wilson but she claimed she owed him
considerable for back wages and borrowed
money Though the property was trans
ferred to Wilson some time before Mrs.
Hendrickson's DEATH one of the pro.
visions of the transfer was that she
should be provided for during her life
time. An aged housekeeper named
Ellen Richardson and Wilson were
the two mainstays of the home
stead and 1t is said that Wilson attended
to all Mrs Hendrickson's affairs for several
years prior to her death. The proceeds
from grist mill on the place were handled
by Wilson, as was the profit from the
farming.
Several years ago, it is said, Mrs. Hen
Erickson drew up will devising most of
her property to Richard VAIN Meirs. her
favorite nephew, but for some unknown
reason Meirs declined the offer and Mrs.
Hendrickson then drew the will that
had been probated.
Richard Vain Meirs married Miss Anne
Weightman, daughter of the late William
Weightman, and resides In PHILADELPHIA.
He Is brother of John Meirs, who wrote
the will and is quite prominent in the
social circle of Philadelphia.
The personal possessions of Mrs. Hen
erickson were also willed to Wilson but
Meirs, it is said, has become the owner of
some of her silverware. This is said to
have been given to him in repayment of
moneys he had advanced Wilson Mrs
Hendrickson's father had imported whole
sets of chinaware as we'll as expensive
suites OF furniture!and these, now family
heirlooms, are In the possession of Wilson.
The Walns, quiet and conservative by
nature, are content to lose everything
rather than drag the doings of their dead
relative into the public courts.
Walnford was established by Mrs Hen
dricksons grandfather during the Revo-
lutionary War and rapidly became the
center of social activity. Numerous func-
tions were held by Philadelphians at the
country place and the name became as
well known throughout the State of New
Jersey as in Philadelphia.
Mrs. Sarah VAIN Hendrickson was the
daughter of Nicholas VAIN and was di.
rect descendant of the man of the same
name who came to Philadelphia with Will
liam Penn. Sallie VAIN, as she was ia
miliarly known In society circles, married
Jacob Hendrickson when 80 years old and
became widow nine months later. AT
ter her marriage she spent all her time on
the old country place.
At present Wilson and the old house
keeper are the sole occupants of the vast
estate. One of the provisions of the will
was that Ellen Richardson should receive
81, 900.
If the Walns will pay me what Aunt
Sallie owed me for the time worked for
her and cared for her, said John Wilson,
"they can have the farm, house and all
the things. When it is figured out AIM
got such prize in the old place. Since
Aunt Sallie died l have paid off all the
debts against it-more than So, 900, besides
the 81, 900 which paid Mrs Richardson.
The place is under mortgage of So, 500,
and l don't believe it and the mill and the
Crosswicks home are worth the mortgage
and all have paid"
| Wilson said that Mrs. Hendrickson
made will some years ago, leaving all
she had to Richard VAIN Meirs, a nephew,
of Philadelphia. Mr.. Meirs, the negro
said, wrote to his aunt saying he did not
want the place. whereupon she tore up
the will.
John Meirs said that he had drawn the
deed at the urgent request of his aunt,
aud despite his own protests ut was
purely business proposition" Mr. Meirs
added: "Wilson was without doubt my
aunt's creditor by some thousands of dol
lars, and that was the only way to make
a settlement. The Walns would never
have come forward and paid the colored
man what was owed to him and taken the
place themselves MY aunt knew this,
and she insisted that he should have the
property as his recompense for his faith
full service"