The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-02
NEWARKERS MAY
Be GIVEN Part OF
TRINITY MILLIONS
Nehemiah WyckOff a descendant
of Man Who Leased Lands
to the Church.
$500, 600, 900 CONTEST Is
TO BE INAUGURATED
He Says He Is Busy with Other
Matters, but Will Take Money
If Awarded.

There is q man in Newark who is ir
line to inherit a good1y share of a V a
fortune of $500. ZOO, 600. If his relatives
prove successful in the fight which they
are about to i~naugurate against tim
Trinity Church Corporation of New
York. The Newarker does not intend
to bother about it, declaring that he
has other matters to think about.
He is Nehemiah L.. Wyckoff, of 10
Broad street, one of the direct heirs of
Peter WycE;off, who is said to have
owned land in 1903 which he leased to
the church for ninety-nine years, and
which time has now expired.
Mr.. Wyckoff, who is so years old and
a granddaughter of old Peter Wyckoff,
feels that he has weathered enough
storms in this life, and is decidedly in
elined to let this new matter severely
alone.
They'll never get it," declares he,
pessimistica7ly. THE best lawyers they
could get would only be bought off by
the other side Look how big and pow
erful they are. / don't take any stock
in it at ALL He refectively stroked
his gray beard. They've got the
power he said, ''and what have we
got"
Wife shows More Interest.
| Mrs. Wyckoff. his wife. who is about
twelve years his junior, was a little
more Interested. Before her death
my mother-ln-law used to often speak
of the matter" said she. She used to
say it was an outrage that Uncle
Peters people should be deprived of
their rights. Both she and my father
in-law always declared that the title
to all thai land ought to be investi-
gated.
my father-in-Iaw. whose name was
Isaac,'' continued Mrs. Wyckoff, died
in 1873, at the age of s6, and he was the
son Of Jacob Wyckoff, VIII came here
from Holland with his three brothers.
zone of the brothers was Peter, the
original owner OF the land, which con-
sisted of about $500 acres in Manhat
tan and Long Island, and which was
leased to the Trinity hurc people,
Mrs. Wyckoff probably will be active
in the suit, which will be instituted this
fail. The prime movers in the contest
will be DR.. Battleson Smith, of Calves
ton, and Peter Wyckoff, of Bay City,
Texas. both direct descendants of Old
Peter.
Il suppose you could use the money
if you really did get it," was remarked
to Mr.. Wyckoff.
"You can bet our bottom dollar on
that" was his quick reply; "but you
needn't worry. We won't"
1.-The money would be most accept
able" declared Mrs. Wyckoff, with a
smile. "Of course there would be a
long line of claimants. but neverthe-
less when you come to divide $500. 900, 900
there would be a fine share for all"
He's n Grand-ncpheyv.
''There is no question about the fact
that my husband is a direct grand
nephew of Peter Wyckoff, and if the
Trinity Church Corporations title to
the property is not clear the
must expect to face a contest
Miss Helen Weidenfeller, g~raddaugh-
! ter of Mr.. Wyckoff. was almost as
skeptical about ever getting the money
as was he.
What would you do with your share
of the %fortune?" she was asked. Miss
Weidenfeller responded with a laugh:
please let me have it In my hands
before you ask me to spend it, was
her reply. Grandfather doesn't bother
his head about it. and neither do [. But
| guess | could get away with a good
share of it If I had the opportunity.
"All this notoriety is decidedly dis
tasteful to u.s." she continued. II
wouldn't mind it a bit if there was
really a chance of getting it; but it's
all too shadowy to talk about"
Mr.. Wyckoff was born in Morris
county, September Is. 1928. He was the
first member of the Wyckoff family to
settle in Newark and Essex county. He
has resided here for nearly a half CEN
fury.