The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-12-02
FIGHTS FOR VAST ESTATES.
Long List Recalled by Latest Move Of
The Washington Heirs.


According TO the latest information
the famous case Of Mym Clark Gaines.
who laid claim 70 about half Of New
Orleans. viii be more than rivaled by
the descendants OF the Washington fam
ily, who assert a legal ownership of n
large part OF the land upon which the
city Of Cincinnati stands.
A highly interesting article could be
written about claimants TO vast estates
in this country and the general disap-
pointment that has attended efforts Of
heirs to repossess themselves 81 them.
The instances are legion. The litigation
between the descendants Of that remark
able woman, Aueke Jahns, and Trinity
church corporation would fiji a volume
Philadelphia has It's enduring mystery
in the attempts made BY the heirs o.
Rachel pegg to recover title 10 the Pegg
farm, now in the heart Of the Quaker
city. The Pegg farm consisted OF 400
acres, beginning at Willow creek and
extending north as far as the present
line Of Diamond street. Willow Creek
was then called pegg's Run, and retained
the name until generation ago. BY a
strange circumstance, the 0wnee Of this
valuable farm died in Mount Pleasant,
o.. IN the house Of my grandmother.
The two women had known each other
in the East. The Philadelphia heircss
was on Journey 70 visit relatives in
western Ohio; the long trip over the AL
leqhenies in a Conestoga wagon was
very irving to the old lady's health. She
was broken down when she reached Pitts
burg. but she insisted upon going for-
ward. The trip on the river rs far as
SteunbenYille appeared TO benefit her
She landed from the boat, but on resum
ing her journey BY stage or wagon, she
suiTered relapse. After several days
Illness at Mount Pleasant, she sue
canbed. Nothing was known or spoken
abont her farm Oh the northern borders
If Philadelphia. Years later a clue was
obtained by q lawyer engaged in search
mo the TITLE 10 some property IN what
had formerly been q part Of the Pegg
farm. The disclosure was then made
that the old lady had given q power Of
attorney to d trusted lawyer, and that
he disposed Of the property as rapidly
as possible. The titles To most 81 that
property have been cleared from amy
ciDNu IflMb was ttItH hHNAA ~ 49, n
sales al special legislation at Harrisburg
Several hundred thousand dollars were
spent upon litigation, all to no purpose.
The territory of the Pegg farm i now
worth S35, 100000, at moderate esti-
mate.
The strange case Of Peck ys. Borden,
which has been in the courts Of Staun-
ton. va. was concluded on Thursday,
ANA an award III 100000 made An
heir Joined iii the original suit as an
infant. died some time ago at the age
of nj. always talking and dreaming Of
Ina successful conclusion Of the case.
the originally small estate in litigation
has increased in value to Sl00.O00i but
LAWYERS have squeezed nearly three
times as much money out Of their hope
f,l clients during the long fight.
The lands claimed BIZ the descendants
II George Washington are alleged to
have been granted to him BY royal pat
ent fer his service in the Indian wars,
This alleged grant Is declared to have
been confirmed BY the Continental Con-
Rress. nominalIy for his Valorous con-
duct during the Revolution. The theme
"A likely to form 8 fruitful one for anti
ouarians and disputatious lawyers; 80
FAR a. The heirs Of the Father Of His
Country are cOueerned, they would do
well to forget. ! would dislike to give