James Clarence Hill of "Hazel Court"

[rittrock]

Apologies if this is an old topic or (as seems likely) a 19th century fraud.
The 1879 American papers (see attached snippets) including the New York Herald picked up the story of the Rev. James Clarence Hill (died 1853) and his "Hazel Court" or "Hazelcourt Castle" property in Herts. Dramatic elopement, large inheritance, legal squabble between alleged relations in America etc. Was there any truth in the story, or any sequel?

[CaroleW]

Presumably both Hill & Whelan died in the USA as there are no deaths recorded in 1853 for Hill or 1878/9 for Whelan?

If Whelan lived with Swift it must have been in the USA.  Assume Whelan was a widow?  Any children?

It would therefore follow that Whelan's will was made in the USA so have you checked to see the outcome of the probate?

[AMBLY]

The Boston Globe - February 4, 1879
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/56011298/

* Reverend James Clarence HILL of Hazel Court
* Had half a century ago (circa 1829) a daughter: Catherine Ann, Caroline who fell in love with a servant at the castle, named WHELAN.
* Cut off without a penny, Caroline & WHELAN came to the USA and they had  a son, James WHELAN - "a dissipated sort of fellow".
* Circa 1853: The Reverend Clarence Hill died, leaving a will giving all his estate to the children, if any, of his grandson, James Whelan, when they should arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
* James WHELAN had married, and had 1 child - a daughter named Katie. It is she who made her home with Mrs Alice SWIFT, who keeps a snug grocery at 592 2nd Ave.
* Katie turned 21 in March 1878 and died Dec 1878. (So  born March 1857), She devised her estate - which she inherited from her mother's father, her grandfather -  to Mrs Swift.
* Mrs Swift was planning a trip to England to take up her inheritance.

Edit: The daughter of Reverend was named as Caroline, mytypo

Cheers
AMBLY

[rittrock]

Yes, that's the case, copied in the Herald and the Globe and probably many other papers. But I have not seen the sequel or any other sign that the story was genuine. The squabble - if it came to a squabble in court - would be because of the failure to reach age 21. Rival claimants would have turned up from (at least) New York and S Carolina. But I don't know any more about the US family or Whelan than is in the papers.
Was there indeed a reverend James Clarence Hill in Herts at Hazel Court or Hazelcourt? That seemed an obvious thing to check.

thanks

[CaroleW]

Report says Katie was 21 in March 1878 and died later that year so her age could not be the reason for any dispute

[rittrock]

That is right by some accounts but not all. The Herald reporter (article 1 February 1879) claims that Mrs Swift (of a "singularly honest, candid look"...) was sure that Catherine was only 18. Hence excitement among other relatives, lawyers perking up etc.

But were the readers left dangling, or was there a follow-up?

thanks

[avm228]

Familysearch has index details for the death of a Catherine WHALEN, 18, in Manhattan, 6 Dec 1878.

[rosie99]

* Reverend James Clarence HILL of Hazel Court
* Had half a century ago (circa 1829) a daughter: Catherine Ann, who fell in love with a servant at the castle, named WHELAN.
* Cut off without a penny, Catherine & WHELAN came to the USA and they had  a son, James WHELAN - "a dissipated sort of fellow".

The other article says Catherine MURPHY married James Whelan 
It also says that the Murphys and Whelans lived close to each other in Limerick before moving to the USA

So presumably we are after a connection between the Murphys in Ireland & James C Hill at Hazel Court (wherever that is situated  )

[AMBLY]

Here's Owen and Alice - and one of the will Witness':

1880 Census: at 471 Third Avenue Between 33d & 32d Streets (East Side), New York
Head: Owen SWIFT 50, Retired Grocer, b Ireland, parents b Ireland
Wife: Alice SWIFT 45, Keeping House, b Ireland, parents b Ireland
Son: Harry SWIFT 8, AT School, b New York, parents b Ireland
Cousin: Lizzie SELLERS 25, single, At Home, b Ireland, parents b Ireland
Cousin: John SHIELDS 18, single, works in Tailor's shop, b England, parents b Ireland

Cheers
AMBLY