3-22-1883

The Old Colony Memorial.

PLYMOUTH,

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1883

$100,000,000 for the Bradfords.

Our readers are familiar with the romances of great fortunes in England seeking owners that appear now and then in the newspapers, but we do not remember to have met one connected with the Pilgrims of the Mayflower until now. We don't like to disappoint our Western cousins, but lest they become unduly elated we are constrained to inform them that there is quite enough of the Bradford stock remaining in Plymouth to absorb this little bagatelle, the last of the sixth generation from the Governor having passed away only within the last twelve month, in the one hundredth year of her age. The Memorial editor being an "heir" in the next generation, is of course a sharer in these "great expectations," but will hypothecate his claim for a reasonable sum with any of his Western relatives. But here is the story in full bloom, from the Springfield (Ohio) Globe:

The Bradford Family in Springfield, and Their Right to Share in an Enormous Fortune.

Readers of the Globe are probably familiar with the history of the celebrated Bradford fortune, amounting to $100,000,000, that now lies in the Bank of England, awaiting claimants this side of the ocean. The enormous wealth has been the subject of active litigation for a century. It represented the estate of Gov. Bradford, of Mayflower fame. The story of this great fortune is rather a simple one. Gov. Bradford received his great fortune from his second wife, Alice Carpenter, who in turn received her great wealth from her first husband, an English nobleman. The story of the courtship in England, the separation of Gov. Bradford and Miss Carpenter, and their subsequent meeting and marriage in America, when Gov. Bradford was a widower and his first live a widow, is familiar to every reader of history. This interesting revival of a well known story is a matter of more than usual interest. The wealth brought Gov. Bradford by his second wife was left by him at the time of his death unbequeathed. With that native honesty so characteristic of Englishmen, the property has been left untouched, and has increased to almost compound ratio, until it now almost equals the famous wealth of the Vanderbilts.

Of course there are numerous applicants to this mountain of gold. Five McIlrath brothers of Cleveland, closely related to Gov. Bradford, are aspirants to its possession. Mrs. Francis Hillar, of Lake county, is perhaps the nearest living blood heir to the great fortune. Numerous of her descendents will come in for a slice of the fortune. The Bradford family of this city are directly related to Gov. Bradford, and will make a strong fight for a share of the wealth. Mr. Almon Bradford, of South Charleston, has a bundle of parchment manuscript that directly details their relationship, and contains a history of the Bradford family from the landing of the Mayflower to the present time, demonstrating the family connection. An interesting fight may be expected, as efforts of the Bradfords are likely to be commensurate with the value of the objectOur readers are familiar with the romances of great fortunes in England seeking owners that appear now and then in the newpapers, but we do not remember to have met one connected with the Pilgrims of the Mayflower until now. We don't like to disappoint our Western cousins, but lest they become unduly elated we are constrained to inform them that there is quite enough of the Bradford stock remaining in Plymouth to absorb this little bagatelle, the last of the sixth generation from the Goverrnor having passed away only within the last twelve month, in the one hundredth year of her age. The Memorial editor being an "heir" in the next generation, is of course a sharer in these "great expectations," but will hypothecate his claim for a resonable sum with any of his Western relatives. But here is the story in full bloom, from the Springfield (Ohio) Globe:

The Bradford Family in Springfield, and Their Right to Share in an Enormous Fortune.

Readers of the Globe are probably familiar with the history of the celebrated Bradford fortune, amounting to $100,000,000, that now lies in the Bank of England, awaiting claimants this side of the ocean. The enormous wealth has been the subject of active litigation for a century. It represented the estate of Gov. Bradford, of Mayuflower fame. The story of this great fortune is rather a simple one. Gov. Bradford received his great fortune from his second wife, Alice Carpenter, who in turn received her great wealth from her first husband, an English nobleman. The story of the courtship in England, the separation of Gov. Bradford and Miss Carpenter, and their subsequent meeting andmarriate in America, when Gov. Bradford was a widower and his first live a widow, is familiar to every reader of history. This interesting revival of a well known story is a matter of more than usual interest. The wealth brought Gov. Bradford by his second wife was left by him at the time of his death unbequeathed. With that native honesty so characteristic of Englishmen, the property has been left untouched, and has increased to almost compound ratio, until it now almost equals the famous wealth of the Vanderbilts.

Of course there are numerous applicants to this mountain of gold. Five McIlrath brothers of Cleveland, closely related to Gov. Bradford, are aspirants to its possession. Mrs. Francis Hillar, of Lake county, is perhaps the nearest living blood heir to the great fortune. Numerous of her descendents will come in for a slice of the fortune. The Bradford family of this city are directly related to Gov. Bradford, and will make a strong fight for a share of the wealth. Mr. Almon Bradford, of South Charleston, has a bundle of parchment manucript that directly details their relationship, and contains a history of the Bradford family from the landing of the Mayflower to the present time, demonstrating the family connection. An interesting fight may be epected, as efforts of the Bradfords are likely to be commensurate with the value of the object--and $100,000,000 is lots of money.