Milford chronicle., 1919-03-28

court or the Levy Court OF Kent County
AS early as 1867 members OF the Lew
Court OF Kent County took some interest
n the estate, for it was at their request
that the Attorney General filed the bill
against Fleming as above mentioned.
In 1898 the Levy Court OF Kent County
/ appointed the Trustees Of the Poor Of
Kent County agents to distribute such
moneys Of the estate as by the Chaneel-
or may be ordered distributed, and d.
rected that reports OF the manner Of max
ng the distribution be made annually in
March to the Levy Court. or otherwise
as the Chancellor should require. (Rec-
ord p. 224)
1t has been the practice Of late years
Tor the Chancellor to direct the trustee
to pay to the Treasurer of the Trustees
Of the Poor, at their request. such moneys
As they need and as are available from
The net income. Recently. at my request,
The several members Of the Board exhibit
statements Of the use made Of the moneys
which they receive, and these accounts
,re audited by the Register in Chancery
Probably the first distribution Of moneys
20 the intended benehclaries was made
n iS94. BY petition, the Levy Court
stated that although Benjamin Potter
iad then been dead about fifty years
here had been no distribution OF the
'ents. Thereupon, Chancellor Wolcott on
March %. 1894. directed that $3.50 be paid
o the Trustees of the Poor as agents ap-
pointed by the Levy Court Of Kent County
% distribute the income of the estate
(Record PIP. 224-225.) For several years
4 600 was paid over for distribution. ana
the last two years $4,000 There has
been. however. an accumulation Of in
ome For the year ending July 10, 1918
'Overed by the last account of the trustee
tfter paying expenses OF taxes, fertilizer
,eed, repairs and other current expenses
.Xpending about $1,000 in new buildings
paying to the Trustees of the Poor 81, 900,
INVESTING $1,000 in Liberty Bonds, there
vas in the hands of the trustee S7,9OO.9s
# unexpended income. eThe gross re-
urns from the farms was nearly 10000,
he current expenses about $4,000. about
$1,000 was expended for buildings, anC
he net receipts were nearly $4,000.
A fun explanation of the location, size
and character of the several tracts con-
the trust property is not nov
s received from twenty five parcels o.
various sizes. and located mostly in the
leighborhood Of Milford. Ten farms are
rented on shares from year to year. The
rest pay money rent on leases, nine OF
hem on leases for ninety-nine years. three
)thers on leases from twelve to thirty /
lears, and three rented from year to year
The rents received vary from IS pei
Innum to $2.O50.7O. Some Of the long
erm leases formerly existing have been
terminated. and it is the policy to make
hese changes when practicable.
II Is said that there is much ripe tim
Ter which could be sold without harm to
he land and with benefit TO the estate.
III view of the increase in the value and
of the estate, II is worthy
# consideration whether the present
method Of administering the trust and
sing the income is the best, and whether
here is some broader, wiser use which
an be made Of the fund, not only to give
nancial help, but also educational ad-
to those whom Benjamin Potter
Intended 10 be helped.
All the information that l have had as
0 the personal history of the benefactor
f Kent County is this:
Benjamin Jotter was the son of Edmund
otter, was born in 1870 and came TO Del
ware from near Bellehaven, in AccOmac
ounty, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
nd died at Milford October 21, 1s43. Ben
amin f. Potter, now about eighty-four
ears old, Of Milford, whose grandfather,
ohm Potter, was a brother of Col. Ben
min Potter remembers Col. Potter and
lys that he was engaged in selling mer-
landise, operated a lanyard with slaves
rought from Virginia, and also owned
vessel which sailed the Mispillion Creek.
1929 he was a member Of the Legisla-
ire from Kent County. He died october
|, lS43, and his body and that Of his
ife, Elizabeth. and two sons, Edmund
Potter and Dr. Benjamin Potter, and
daughter, Mary Hall Williams, the wife
Rynear williams. were buried near the
utter homestead in the outskirts Of North
ilford, in a small family burial ground,
land not now part OF the trust estate.
the ground is not enclosed,
I'D from lack Of care has grown up In
eeds.